8 - 15 May '40 - Portugal joins the Allies, Hungary joins the Axis
"Soldiers of the Western Front! Your hour has come. The battle beginning on this day will determine the fate of the German nation for the next one thousand years."
- Adolf Hitler, May, 1940 -
Ah, my good chap! come in, come in. Have a seat. Let me find the dossier. Ah, here it is... The world has changed so much over the last months, and I do believe it is to change plenty more in the next few days. Battles are currently raging all over the world, from the Netherlands to Africa. The war to end all wars proved to be but a prelude to a 1940 engulfed in flames. Churchill and the War cabinet are now orchestrating a collapsing war on multiple fronts, and I must say we are not as prepared as we hoped we would be, not after last week's surprises. But, let us rather talk about what transpired this week.
FAILING TO INITIATE A REVOLT IN DENMARK:
Churchill and the SIS have started to fund the resistance in Denmark. Unfortunately this week we failed as the revolt did not materialise. Gestapo discovered what was about to transpire and issued a full crackdown on the safe houses in the bigger cites. Unfortunate, but it will not quell our resolve. We will keep funding them, and perhaps look to other factions elsewhere, within the enemy nations.
ITALIAN EAST AFRICA MILITIAS POURING IN OVER UNPROTECTED BORDERS:
Like the Italian East Africa, which so far has meet no resistance in their invasion of Middle-Africa. We pulled out most of our boys there for Operation Bernard, and now there's nothing left to prevent the Italians from claiming vast, vast areas of land. Hopefully in a short amount of time the British Raj divisions will be shipped down to Alexandria to deal with the problem. There are bigger fish to fry though, as even North-Africa is in severe trouble and frankly there aren't enough soldiers on route to battle the Italian army.
THE BATTLE OF SIDI BARRANI:
Egyptian and Iraqi infantry are now engaged in a bloody battle to slow down the invading army in the North. But they are loosing, chap. And as I said last week; these boys might as well put down their rifles and join the bloody Italians. We've had problems with the Middle-East going back as far as the Crusades, and Jerusalem is close to erupt in a revolution. We will be lucky if Africa still stands come new-years.
FRANCE ATTACKS NORTH ITALY:
The French army has however managed to find a point of pressure to apply on the Italians. It is in the Alpes-Provence. Several large division are now crossing the mountains at perilous heights, fighting a brutal battle against the smaller Italian army there. It would be a crucial victory if they were to gain some momentum in North Italy. No doubt Mussolini would have to pull out forces from Africa in order to combat it. The French knows the score, and they are fighting tooth and nail for it.
ITALY DESTROYING THE FRENCH MEDITERRANEAN FLEET:
Oh dear, more bad news. The French army and airforce might be pushing forwards against the Italians, but their navy is on the ropes. The enemy have kept himself rather busy wrecking French presence in the Mediterranean. Listen to this report:
- CL: French light cruiser Marseillaise sunk on May 9th.
- DD: 5 French destroyers (14ème Flottille de Contre-Torpilleurs) sunk on May 9th.
- CA: French heavy cruiser Duquesne sunk on May 10th.
- CA: French heavy cruiser Tourville sunk on May 10th.
- DD: 5 French destroyers
(5ème Flottille de Contre-Torpilleurs) sunk on May 10th.
Bloody hell, chap! We are slowly crumbling on all sides. Our own Royal Navy has yet to be attacked in the Mediterranean sea, but I figure it is only a question of time, we need to bolster up our naval defence in that area as soon as possible.
BLOCKADE OF THE ITALIAN MERCHANT NAVY:
The Royal Navy in the North sea has not been slacking about. This week we gave their merchant fleet a proper licking. If we keep this up the Italians will soon feel the bitter sting of attrition. Note however that all of these attacks have been outside of the Mediterranean sea.
In order to combat our own convoy problems, we have decided to ramp up our production of escorts. We could also re-outfit some of our older models of transport ships, but as of now it looks as we will need of all of them for Operation Bernard. Also, the factories are producing a splendid amount of Anti-Air equipment for our divisions in France, they should be ready to go by the time the Luftwaffe comes knocking on our door. ETA. Mid-June.
The new RAF interceptor wings should be coming off the lines next month too. This will leave us with a strong 8 fighter wings. A combined force that should be able to handle your average Luftwaffe attack. Also, the HMS Illustrious will be ready to set sail next week. Who would have thought the Royal Navy would find herself in need of more ships? But we are, Churchill and Dudley Pound are looking into re-assigning ships in order to create a command force capable of fighting off the Italian Navy.
PORTUGAL JOINS THE ALLIES:
Oh, dear. More headache for the British Empire. We were hoping Portugal would remain neutral in this conflict. Nothing good will come of Spain's likely entrance in response. But Portugal is our oldest ally, and they have felt the increase tension of war, nations plotting against her. I'm not 100% sure what happened behind the scenes. But I believe there was some sort of ultimatum delivered to Churchill in order to secure Portugal defensively. And here we are, more land to defend, less soldiers to do so with. Sod it to Hades, old boy. Just one thing after the other.
CHURCHILL OFFERS WILHELM II ASYLUM:
Ah, on a side note. Churchill offered The former Kaiser of Germany; Wilhelm II asylum here in London in response to the Nazi invasion of the Netherlands - Where he is currently receding. Churchill went as far as to even send a RAF plane over the Channel to retrieve him. But the old bugger rejected it. I must say I do admire his tenacity. He has decided to stand with the Dutch and take his chances with Hitler, who is probably not too keen for any royal competition. I would have loved the look on his face as he fled into Churchill's open arms. Here at the last bastion of hope.
THE DISASTER AT GRONINGEN:
Speaking of which. The German army a few days ago split the Dutch nation in two by moving in to Nijmegen, successfully encircling Rotterdam, Amsterdam. Taking Arnheim, Groningen, and capturing a large French force there. 30 000 people. The German army is now in the process of strengthening their flanks, destroying the pockets, while also moving in over Belgium and Luxembourg.
THE BATTLE OF EINDHOVEN:
But all is not lost. The French and Dutch at Eindhoven fought back early today.
delaying the advancing German forces from Nijmegen. The Huns are flanking the province however, attempting to pinch the army down, whiles moving across Belgium. This German machine does not fight where it cannot win, it flows down like water, encircling, tying down, strangling, drowning. Damn the Boche.
HUNGARY JOINS THE AXIS:
Yes, it appears that all the wolves are coming out to play now. Hungary this week declared its alliance with Germany and thus at war with the Allies. This war is spiralling out of control. Hungary, a nation land-locked with the Axis, should be able to mobilise 6 divisions to the Western-front within 3 week, not to mention the large amount of resources they will be able to transport to Germany by train, thus bypassing our rather ineffective naval blockade. Seems that Germany has learned a trick or two after the Great War.
THE BATTLE OF LUXEMBOURG:
Luxembourg..... Where the hammer has fallen...
The Allies have currently 19 divisions there as of right now.
Lord Gort has decided not to send in British reinforcements. Another tough choice, old boy. The Lowlands will fall, it is only a matter of time. But the French are softening up the German hammer. And it is vital, crucial, that when those German forces finally manage to break through the tenacious and gritty French defence. Then they will find themselves breaking against the shields of the greatest British army the world has ever seen. One well rested, well trained, and well motivated to halt the advancing enemy dead in his tracks. Also, with every division we can assign to a French province we free up the French army to mobilise more of their own boys up the line to secure the battlefield how they see fit.
NORE COMMAND. FROM THE BARENTS SEA TO JUTLAND:
With the successful war against the Soviet Navy we have re-deployed Nore Command to help out in the North sea. The Royal Navy Submarine Fleet is still guarding entrances to the ports up in the Barents Sea. But next week we should probably examine a possible re-assigning of a major fleet from Jutland and down to the Mediterranean sea.
OPERATION CARPATHIA CALLED OFF:
Ah, our great gamble was not to be. The Chiefs of staff have crunched all the numbers, and General Ironside says it simply does not add up. Ålborg, Denmark is too well defended, and we would not be able to establish a strong enough supply line. Next week we will start mobilising the
Ålesund, Norway force and ferry it to Dunkirk. Once there we will send a smaller force to Toulon, France, and then to Alexandria, North-Africa.
And that is it for this week.
In the next weeks the German army will at long last meet the British boys on the battlefield. One second, chap. Let me fetch a book.
Yes, you have time to wait, you're young.
Let's see, ah, here it is. Perhaps not a perfect fit, seeing as we fought the French on Saint Crispin's day. But I think we can allow ourselves some Shakespeare on this dreadful day.
"From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remember'd;
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition:
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accursed they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day."
So let us think ourselves accursed, old chap. And wish our boys the best of luck.
Until next time.
England Expects.
