A Land of Vast Opportunity & Promise - A TBL USSA AAR

[stevefitz744]

Well, only a couple days later than promised...its finally time for the next chapter

Chapter 9 - September-October 1940
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The overall strategic situation in the War of Reunification at the start of September 1940 is extremely positive for the USSA. In the East the Red Army have brushed the weak Confederates aside capturing the vital city of Atlanta and coming within sight of their final objective of Savannah. Further west the Confederates seem much more organized but are still being pushed back slowly while a bitter tug-of-war is being fought in Southern Arkansas. Abhorrent as their cause is, nobody can fault the southerners for their bravery but despite this their defeat is surely inevitable.

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Meanwhile out west the meaningless gains the Confederates had made are being reversed with Wichita being liberated by Red Army forces on September 3rd. Not long after the USSA launch a fresh offensive against Pine Bluff in Arkansas. The city has already seen some of the heaviest fighting of the war and is undoubtedly the most destroyed city in North America, if not the world. This time the Red Army push south in force and surely this will be the last battle fought for Pine Bluff...

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...and sure enough within a day the Confederates are already retreating south in disarray with the Red Army poised to recapture the embattled city. Meanwhile in Europe ethnic tensions in the Balkans continue with Serbia imitating the Revisionist Imperialism of their Soviet allies.

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However, the Confederates soon demonstrate that they still have plenty of fight in them by launching two separate offensives. In Arkansas a surprisingly strong attack is launched towards Jonesboro and even enjoys some initial success, preventing the movement of reinforcements to Pine Bluff needed to continue the USSA's push south. It seems as if the Red Army has badly underestimated the strength of the remaining CS Armed Forces in the Mid-South and several officers in the area have made the mistake of becoming overconfident due to their earlier successes. There is a smaller offensive launched out west with General Patton attempting to drive into Colorado.

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There is much better news on September 7th as leading elements of the Red Army enter Savannah having encountered little resistance. This is a momentous occasion as it marks the success of Operation Sickle Cut with the Confederacy now cut in two by the armies of the USSA. Despite the setbacks in Arkansas there is still hope that this war will be over by Christmas.

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Despite the ongoing Confederate offensive in Arkansas the Red Army continues to push further south into Louisiana. This is a dangerous move as a defeat for the USSA in the ongoing Battle of Jonesboro could leave these forces in danger of being cut off. President Browder is supposedly monitoring the situation closely and should a military disaster occur in Arkansas certain military leaders will have to pay the price for their failures. Hopefully this will not happen and the Confederate offensive can be stopped before it causes too much damage.

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Out west Patton's offensive into Colorado ends in failure as the general responsible for the USSA's heaviest defeat in the war so far has apparently been relegated to a secondary front with not enough support to make any significant progress. There are many rumors regarding Patton's supposed banishment with some saying it was a result of an incident in which he apparently slapped a soldier with combat fatigue, a story that has been backed up by Confederate POW's. Such incidents just show the blatant disregard the political and military leadership have for their fighting men, it makes one wonder why anyone would want to fight for such a malevolent regime.

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Back at Jonesboro things were going from bad to worse for the Red Army forces there as the Confederates achieved a major victory just south of the city. Several USSA divisions are now forced to retreat north leaving the western flank of Operation Rosebud dangerously exposed. The potential for a military disaster is growing in Arkansas and brave soldiers are paying the price for their commanders' overconfidence.

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However, reinforcements arrive in Jonesboro in time to prevent the Confederates from quickly capturing the city itself. Bitter fighting occurs in the suburbs of Jonesboro the success of which is of vital to the Red Army, who are now behind schedule in Operation Rosebud and the longer this Confederate advance continues unchecked the longer it will take to achieve victory in this war.

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After another couple days of heavy fighting the Confederates are forced to retreat from Jonesboro having failed to advance beyond the suburbs. The heroic defence of the city has undoubtedly saved the USSA from a possible disaster that could have prolonged the war by months. However, the bulk of the Red Army forces in Eastern Arkansas are still disorganized following their defeat south of Jonesboro and will need time to move south to aid in the ongoing advance into Louisiana.

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A week after the victory at Jonesboro there is further good news to the south as Red Army forces enter Monroe, Louisiana, bringing them within striking distance of the state capital of Baton Rouge. However, Baton Rouge is not currently a target for an offensive with the USSA leadership being more concerned with capturing the important coastal city of New Orleans as well as the Naval Base at Mobile.

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However, any thoughts about advancing further into Louisiana will have to wait as the Confederates are able to organize and launch a counteroffensive against Monroe. The defeats in Arkansas have left the divisions further south understrength and so the Confederates have picked a good time to go on the attack in Louisiana.

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The Confederate make good progress towards Monroe and achieve a victory not far from the city. It seems likely the city will be recaptured by the southerners and now the priority must be not to allow them to regain a foothold in Arkansas.

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Monroe does indeed fall to the Confederates days later but the Red Army are able to reorganize and launch their own counteroffensive in Northern Louisiana. Meanwhile out west General Patton continues to make small but desperate attacks that have no real hope of success.

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Reinforcements continue to flood into Louisiana as the line has stabilized in Arkansas. It has taken longer than it should have but now the Confederates are forced to face the full might of the Red Army who are no longer making the mistake of underestimating their opponents' remaining strength. The result of all this is a decisive victory not far from Monroe itself not long after.

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On October 23rd Monroe is retaken by the Red Army as the Confederates are once again in disarray with the way to New Orleans open. It may be possible that the this Confederate defeat has broken their mid-south divisions which up until now have remained the strongest resistance to the USSA.

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As October comes to an end there is certainly a feeling that the Confederate Armed Forces are really on their last legs now. Of course, nobody wants to make the mistake of underestimating the CSA again after the near-disaster that occurred in Arkansas back in September, but there is still plenty of reason for positivity in the USSA. Whether or not this war can be ended by Christmas remains uncertain but one thing is certain, the USSA is winning this war!

 

[Specialist290]

Impressive progress on the road to New Orleans, but at such a cost in blood, sweat, and steel... And, as you've noted, the bottlenecks on your salients are looking awfully narrow.

On the other hand, just at first blush, I'd say the time is about ripe for a general offensive into Mississippi and Alabama. Even if you don't commit to a full-on press, a few spoiling attacks to take a few provinces on the edges might help widen the gap and draw off troops from other parts of the front, both of which might help relieve some pressure.

 

[JodelDiplom]

Impressive progress on the road to New Orleans, but at such a cost in blood, sweat, and steel... And, as you've noted, the bottlenecks on your salients are looking awfully narrow.

On the other hand, just at first blush, I'd say the time is about ripe for a general offensive into Mississippi and Alabama. Even if you don't commit to a full-on press, a few spoiling attacks to take a few provinces on the edges might help widen the gap and draw off troops from other parts of the front, both of which might help relieve some pressure.

Nah that's scare mongering nancy talk. He should just keep his spearheads on course for the strategic targets and barrel through to the coasts like the plan says. Victory will be his!

 

[stevefitz744]

Impressive progress on the road to New Orleans, but at such a cost in blood, sweat, and steel... And, as you've noted, the bottlenecks on your salients are looking awfully narrow.

On the other hand, just at first blush, I'd say the time is about ripe for a general offensive into Mississippi and Alabama. Even if you don't commit to a full-on press, a few spoiling attacks to take a few provinces on the edges might help widen the gap and draw off troops from other parts of the front, both of which might help relieve some pressure.

Yeah could have gone better but hey it keeps things interesting. I was actually kinda considering such an offensive before that defeat at Jonesboro after which I was too busy with damage control to be starting any new offensives, although I might have done something had they actually taken Jonesboro. For now my priority is to get to New Orleans especially since the way's open now but I don't imagine it will be long before the time's right for a general offensive once the CSA is cut in three

Nah that's scare mongering nancy talk. He should just keep his spearheads on course for the strategic targets and barrel through to the coasts like the plan says. Victory will be his!

Yep that's the plan, hopefully there'll be no more setbacks to delay the inevitable victory

 

[serutan]

That's awesome, did it take much work to make that happen?

If you choose the Social Democrat in the 1936 Socialist primary, the country becomes a democracy on his inaguration. I think there's an event between then and 1940 that allows you choose again between democracy and dictatorship, choose the democratic option again and there will be a two party election in 1940.

 

[RV-Ye]

Finally got some time to read the latest updates, nice advance!

Kinda sad as I root for the CSA haha, your plan proved to be quite good.
Though that battle at Monroe kinda delayed the inevitable, the Southerners even if outnumbered seem to be quite good at planning some offensives.

It's a shame to see Patton's potential being cut out due to lacking enough troops to attack.


Wondering where will the USSA focus after beating the Confederates.

 

[stnylan]

Neatly (if bloodily) dividing the Confederacy

 

[stevefitz744]

If you choose the Social Democrat in the 1936 Socialist primary, the country becomes a democracy on his inaguration. I think there's an event between then and 1940 that allows you choose again between democracy and dictatorship, choose the democratic option again and there will be a two party election in 1940.

Cool, will have to try that for a playthrough soon

Finally got some time to read the latest updates, nice advance!

Kinda sad as I root for the CSA haha, your plan proved to be quite good.
Though that battle at Monroe kinda delayed the inevitable, the Southerners even if outnumbered seem to be quite good at planning some offensives.

It's a shame to see Patton's potential being cut out due to lacking enough troops to attack.


Wondering where will the USSA focus after beating the Confederates.

Thanks very much, I'll excuse your counter-revolutionary sympathies for now haha

Yeah they were some Battle of the Bulge-esque offensives by the Confederates that caught me off guard. Always outnumbered never outfought indeed

Kinda surprised they moved Patton out west alright, luckily I had a good in-universe reason to explain it...would have been an enjoyable challenge trying to advance on New Orleans if he had stayed around there with a large force to defend...oh well.

I'm not actually sure if there are more expansion events for the USSA after the Confederacy falls or I will have to do it manually...either way I'm not done going to war with other powers yet.

 

[stevefitz744]

New chapter time!!

Chapter 10 - November-December 1940
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As November began on the North American Continent the focus of the USSA was on their ongoing war with the vile Confederate States, in particular the current offensive towards New Orleans which would successfully conclude Operation Rosebud and cut the ailing Confederacy in three, once New Orleans falls the end of this brutal but necessary war will be in sight and hopes of victory by Christmas remain but such an eventuality seems more and more unlikely due to errors in judgement by Red Army officers in recent months...but whether this war lasts for another two months or two years the USSA will win this war and once again restore the perfect union with Government by the people for the people that the founding fathers had undoubtedly envisioned!!

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There was, however, still a ways to go to reach New Orleans but Confederate resistance in Eastern Louisiana was light with only a light force standing between the Red Army and their target but this force was easily brushed aside in a small battle near Natchez. Interestingly, in the aftermath of this battle Red Army soldiers discovered that many of the POW's taken were black. Apparently the increasingly desperate Government in Charleston has taken to conscripting African-Americans, often against their will, to bolster their rapidly dwindling ranks. Naturally many of these POW's were extremely willing to fight for the Red Army against their Confederate oppressors in rapidly formed Auxiliary Divisions. Also amongst the Confederate POW's were many members of a Reactionary Militia who were laughably known as the 'Minutemen' and had apparently been formed under the direction of Louisiana Governor Huey Long. While passionately committed to their abhorrent cause they were essentially an armed rabble who could not hope to effectively combat the Red Army.

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However, the Confederacy still had some fight in them and were able to launch an offensive of their own into West Virginia in the direction of Clarksburg. This attack was well planned and saw some early gains, however the USSA who had been making preparations for an Offensive of their own into Northern Virginia were ordered forward against the vulnerable flanks of these Confederate Forces.

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Meanwhile out west General Patton's Campaign in Colorado came to an end after a decisive defeat at Grand Junction forced him to withdraw back across the Pre-War border into New Mexico. Some Confederate forces remain in Colorado and once they are defeated then no enemy troops will remain in the territory of the Pre-War USSA.

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Back in the East the Red Army's offensive into Virginia was making good progress after a major victory against the Confederates near Charlottesville. For now the USSA's intentions in Virginia are simple: to end the Confederate Offensive and to reach the Roanoke River and to capture the the former Confederate capital of Richmond.

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Back in Louisiana, the Red Army closed in on New Orleans and after defeating the poorly organized Minutemen in front of the city it was now open for capture by the USSA. New Orleans had been captured by the Union Army during the War of Secession and soon it shall by occupied by Northern Forces again, only this time it will be permanent.

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In Virginia meanwhile the Confederate Offensive towards Clarksburg was ended as the Southern Forces wisely chose to withdraw to prevent their being cut off by the Red Army. Further East soldiers of the Red Army entered Arlington. The capture of Arlington was also a major propaganda victory for the USSA as not far from the city was the cemetery at which was located the grave of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, whose Northern Campaign of 1862 had effectively secured Confederate Independence. Surely the loss of their famous general's final resting place will help break the will of the Confederate people.

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On November 19th lead elements of the Red Army entered New Orleans, finally claiming the long-established target of Operation Rosebud. With this the Confederate States of America is now cut in three and now it is only a matter of destroying these three withering territories to finally end this war.

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With the completion of both Operation Sickle Cut and Operation Rosebud a look at the map shows the effects of these highly successful Operations. Now that these objectives are finally complete final preparations are now being made for the next phase, a General Offensive all along the line to crush the three large pockets created by the Red Army's successes.

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Meanwhile the Red Army also captured the port city of Mobile unopposed. Looking at the situation in the Southeast with the Confederate Forces there extremely overstretched, it seems likely that the general offensive currently being prepared will not face serious opposition in this region.

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And Finally on December 1st the USSA's General Offensive along the entire line with the Confederacy began. The Offensive was split into four separate Operations. Firstly, there was Operation Jupiter which was launched into Virginia and the parts of Tennessee that remained in Confederate hands.

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Then there was Operation Pluto which was launched into Alabama and Mississippi against the light Confederate Forces there. Also a smaller offensive was launched into Western Louisiana known as Operation Vulcan which aimed to advance as far as Texas.

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Finally there was Operation Ares in the West which aimed to capture the Confederate Western States of Arizona and New Mexico. Of course, these states were taken by the Confederacy in 1933 along with Missouri so the Red Army should expect some strong support from the locals, especially with the current state of the Confederate Armed Forces.

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As these operations were put into action the Red Army saw initial success all along the front with only limited delays to the irresistible advance of the armies of the USSA.

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Along the East Coast there was some major successes for the USSA after Richmond was occupied against barely any opposition and the subsequent advance on the vital city of Norfolk also saw an almost uncontested advance. Norfolk is also where the remnants of the Confederate Navy is having been blockaded into the city by the Red Navy in the first days of the war. There was also a major victory in Louisiana at the Battle of Shreveport with only the Southwest of the State now unoccupied.

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In Mississippi a short battle was fought near Vicksburg before several thousand Confederate soldiers surrendered. Many of these soldiers were conscripted blacks of whom many were recruited into the ever growing Auxiliary Divisions whose brave actions on the battlefield were surely challenging the Confederates' ridiculous belief of racial superiority. There was also further success in Virginia where, despite the extremely difficult terrain the Red Army were making steady progress.

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Soldiers of the USSA were also advancing into East Texas where they achieved a major victory near Tyler. The Red Army encountered few regular Confederate Troops in Texas instead finding their main resistance to be State Militias and Texas Rangers who naturally failed to be a major deterrent to the advance of the Red Army.

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Meanwhile the advance of the Red Army into Northern Alabama continued virtually unopposed with the bulk of the Confederate Forces in the state being decisively defeated in a battle near Gadsen. The offensives into South Carolina and Texas also continued to make great progress.

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Out west progress was also good with the Red Army entering Flagstaff on December 22nd. But the USSA were not having everything their own way in the west as Confederate Forces, particularly those under the command of General Patton, continued to stubbornly resist the USSA. Surely they are only barely delaying the inevitable with their limited successes in this region.

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The following day Phoenix, Arizona fell under the control of the USSA as well while back East the Red Army captured the vital industrial centre of Birmingham, Alabama. This victory also brings the Red Army within striking distance of Montgomery, the first capital of the Confederacy, while also creating the opportunity to encircle the entirety of the Confederate forces in Mississippi, not that there are many of them left.

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Then, on Christmas Day, the Red Army entered Jackson, Mississippi. Just days before their arrival conflict had broken out as the Black Panthers in the city began an Uprising to seize control of the State Capital. By this time, state authority had been almost entirely taken over by the Minutemen and the Black Panthers were soon joined in Rebellion by a deserting force of Confederate soldiers opposed to the Minutemen as well as a force of Mexican Imperialists who had fled their own country after the recent Civil War. This strange conflict was still raging as the Red Army entered the city but those still loyal to Charleston fled the city with the exception of a handful of diehards who were soon killed or captured. The cooperation in Jackson between Black & White Confederates gives the USSA hope that the two races will be able to live together as equals once they are absorbed into the USSA. The Mexicans, however, would be sent back home to face the overdue justice of their rightful government although it is hoped that their service here will be considered when such justice is applied.

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Back on the East Coast the rapid advance along the coast into North Carolina continued with Raleigh being occupied by the Red Army. It is hoped that this force can soon reach Charleston which could potentially trap a massive amount of the remaining Confederate Military in a large pocket in the Western Carolinas. Meanwhile there were further successes elsewhere as the remaining Confederate Forces in the Mississippi Pocket surrendered and the Red Army achieved a decisive victory at Roanoke in Virginia.

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The Red Army's advance all along the line was continuing at a rapid pace with the battered remains of the Confederate Army being routed on several occasions in a series of small battles. In quick succession, the Confederates cities of Tyler, Montgomery and Roanoke fell to the USSA and now most of the Confederate heartland lay under the control of the Red Army. While the victory by Christmas obviously didn't happen it surely cannot be much longer for the Confederacy to collapse entirely. Soon the Red Army also entered Florida, capturing the city of Pensacola without a fight.

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Not long after Baton Rouge, the state capital of Louisiana, was also captured by the Red Army. Unfortunately Huey Long and his cronies were able to flee the city before the Red Army's arrival but that criminal will be forced to face justice sooner or later.

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As the Red Army made further uncontested gains in Alabama there was good news from the west as the city of Tucson was liberated, bringing all of Arizona back under control and as the year of 1940 came to an end the former state was reinstated to the USSA.

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The defeat of the Confederacy is now near as 1940 ends, surely by now even the most fanatical of Confederate loyalists must see that their cause is hopeless and doomed. The Union, broken just over 80 years ago, will finally be reunited under the USSA who will strive to ensure liberty and equality for all as well as justice for those who deserve it.

 

[Specialist290]

The Confederacy crumbles, its forces broken and routed by the Red Army. The end is clearly in sight here.

 

[stnylan]

The noose is nearly shut.

 

[stevefitz744]

The Confederacy crumbles, its forces broken and routed by the Red Army. The end is clearly in sight here.

The noose is nearly shut.

Indeed, shouldn't be long now

 

[Aniknk]

You'll of course invade Europe? You can't give all glory from defeating nazi to USSR.

 

[stevefitz744]

You'll of course invade Europe? You can't give all glory from defeating nazi to USSR.

I want to Invade Europe eventually but for now its not a priority...once the Confederates are defeated I'll still have a tough occupation to look forward to in the south and of course New England still has to be dealt with as does ridding the Western Hemisphere of European influence. That's not to say I'll be ignoring Europe, far from it...once the Confederates are defeated I'll be resuming my attempts to influence Socialist countries in Europe not already under Soviet control (such as Portugal) and I should be able to retain a foothold that way.

 

[DensleyBlair]

My knowledge of HoI and its related games has always been minimal, but I'm massively enjoying the world building going on here. Looks like a fascinating scenario offered by the mod you're using. Here's hoping for swift victory against the racists in the south! (And then internal victory against the crypto-Stalinists in power... )

 

[youstas]

I don't know much about Lore of this mod, did Confederacy abolish slavery or it existed until 1930s?

 

[stevefitz744]

My knowledge of HoI and its related games has always been minimal, but I'm massively enjoying the world building going on here. Looks like a fascinating scenario offered by the mod you're using. Here's hoping for swift victory against the racists in the south! (And then internal victory against the crypto-Stalinists in power... )

Glad to hear your enjoying it, yeah It's a great alternate scenario this mod and its always fun to play a bit of Alternate History

I don't know much about Lore of this mod, did Confederacy abolish slavery or it existed until 1930s?

The CSA abolished slavery in the 1880s in this timeline

 

[Pasha]

Better Reb than Red

 

[stevefitz744]

So hey obligatory 'this AAR isn't dead' post time...but this AAR is not dead, I've just been busy the last month or so and doing a course which is taking up a good bit of my free time at the moment but thats finished next week so I should be able to resume work on this soon enough. Thanks for your support and patience etc

No matter what I will finish this AAR even if it takes another five years haha...after all those traitors aren't gonna torch themselves XD

 

[DensleyBlair]

Glad to hear it. I'd been wondering what was going on in the USSA.