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Incidentally, I'm extremely emotionally invested in whether or not the Indian Empire beats Delhi. Please tell me, at least in PM?
Part 27: The Enlightenment
America
The outcome of Second American Civil War, as it appeared in 1941, was favourable to Canadian, and therefore royalist, interests: old United States were divided and newest version of 'Pax Britannica' kept the stability in the region on acceptable levels. Luck was on the Mexican side just as much: the pragmatic Canadians agreed to tolerate their possession of Texas, as long as they won't dare to join Internationale or interfere with politics in any of the three states carved from the broken country. It gave royalists the economic edge necessary to make plans for planned liberation of Britain and reconquest of Africa, without further wasting time and lives in Americas.
Mexican soldiers, equipped with mixture of local and French equipment, from propaganda photos, training in occupied Texas. Many U.S. citizens left the occupied territory during the war, not allowed to return, as all the property deemed 'abandoned' was nationalized, same as basically entire industry. Mexican citizens were arriving in sheer numbers from poorest parts of the syndicalist state, taking over half-empty cities and villages.
In the first elections since the Second Civil War, John Nance Garner was again elected to the office: an event, which surprised only few people in North America, as MacArthur refused to recognize the realities of destroyed country and still called for re-unification by force: something not at all approved by Canadians and their Californian allies, rather satisfied with independence. Divisions between South and North were same strong as in 1861, due to America First's brief victory and actions afterwards. In addition, it was the last President of the United States, who convinced the Canadians that occupation of New England and Alaska is no longer necessary, under condition, that any future 'border adjustments' will be made only with Entente's approval.
And the Entente was focused on areas outside North America, to win the much important war. Mexico and the syndicalist South America were lesser concerns.
The Brazilian army was the main political force in the now syndicalist state: revolutionary officers seized the power for the new regime quickly, with Getulio Vargas' rebellion crushed almost immediately, before it was a too serious threat and helped to impose many unpopular policies throughout the country and pushed for military alliances with other countries, to secure future victory over their southern rival.
The fire of war arrived to South America at last, and just like the Europe, North America and Asia, the outcome will surely change everything, as four countries were involved, with rest of the world deep in own troubles.
Asia
Second-Sino Japanese War continued, with Qing forces defeated in every major battles, since German support disintegrated due to loss of their homeland and retreat of all available resources and reserves to 'Free Germany' in Africa. Why was that? Significant forces had to be kept in reserve in case of Imperial Japanese Navy's increasing activity around the Chinese coasts, otherwise unprotected.
German-trained divisions proved to be only reliable forces of the Qing Dynasty in their second war against Empire of Japan, unlike the last attempt to create modern military: the infamous Beyiang Army. Lack of infrastructure and air force, however, forced them to retreat many times: more than enemy's firepower, the actual lack of ammunition, medical care and food supplies caused the ultimate defeat, as units repeatedly suffered lack of everything essential. Desertions remained as rare sight, due to harsh Japanese occupation policies, with some regiments fighting to the last man or dispersing into many guerilla groups.
In 1941, Qing military struggled greatly to at least slow Japanese advance, aggresively pushed from the north, eager to stop flow of Russian supplies from their puppet Chinese muslim clique, and take all the German colonies in the south along with crumbling Qing Empire, as the Imperial Japanese Navy renewed attacks on German-controlled ports, now poorly defended by forces loyal to 'Free Germany' in Africa.
So, in mere months, all the defense plans dissapeared with the bulk of the Qing military. After fall of Nanjing, the court and the imperial government was moved to Guangzhou, where Xuantong Emperor urged all the Chinese to resist: that he will never sign any armistice or peace treaty, as long as there will be single Japanese soldier of China's soil. Making encouraging speeches was the last thing he could do, as the only Great Power able to help was too tied in Europe, facing much greater threat. This didn't stopped the aristocrats in the Senate with approval of their monarch to recognize Qing government-in-exile and reject all the Japanese attempts to negoatiate - a succesful Russian bluff, as no side actually desired a total war with another...in this very moment.
The war in China, in fact, was an archetype of term 'Pyrrhic victory': most of the IJA's divisions barely resembled military units, with millions perished in battles and ambushes, as seemingly less organized Qing forces mastered asymetric tactics, with small units pouring through quickly changing frontlines, targeting supply lines and Japanese commanders.
The Chinese forces fought against Japanese mostly with German and Russian weapons, the latter being the only source of heavy weapons and vehicles after Fall of Germany and retreat of Kaiser's remaining forces in Asia back to Indochina and Malaya, knowing it's only matter of time, before Japanese will come there. Some pieces of foreign weaponry became iconic in later Qing's depiction of Second Sino-Japanese War, as heroic 'War of Resistance'. In addition to the later legend, the Xuantong Emperor declared he'll never leave China, the promise he eventually fullfiled, but he was never in command of Chinese resistance, as was depicted. Instead, he spent the years in monastery on the Tibetan-Huijang borders, never to know, that Peter Wrangel personally ordered his guards to kill him if there was a risk of Japanese capturing him.
In the Summer 1941, the Second Sino-Japanese War was officially over: with many Qing units not destroyed or captured. The most loyal ones followed Germans, slowing Japanese, others simply crossed borders to Russian protectorates or joined warlord Long Yun's remnant of the first Chinese experiment with republican regime. The general was no fool, and after he realized that immediate interests of both Great Powers lies elsewhere, Yun more than happily accepted Qing gold and silver in exchange to be 'generous' to 'war refugees', sometimes crossing borders repeatedly and armed: if there was no 'firm' Russian political support for the monarchy, though, Yun later in his memoires admitted, that killing Puyi and other nobles for previous insults or lead the resistance himself, was a tempting idea.
Because not only Japanese conquered China at the terrible cost, almost destroying their entire land army on the unforgiving Chinese battlefields, they created puppet Republic, only led by few figureheads with no political power or public support: and so the number of troubles in barely subjugated lands only grew.
The war on the subcontinent, despite all the military and industrial power behind the British Empire in exile, Osman Ali Khan's conquest of the Raj seemed imminent, with both the Japanese and the Russians already congratulating, sending more diplomats (and agents) to Hyderabad.
Emperor of India had seven legitimate wives in total, countless concubines and mistresses, thirty-four legitimate children and many, many more illegitimate children over the all decades of his rule. Many of them found themselves in civil service, military or received new land and title, starting their own dynasties. In decades afterwards, his descendants controlled much of the India's vital parts of economy and major part of armed forces, to ensure security of the Hyderabad's imperial rule.
The key to victory was quick and pragmatic use of conquered territory of what was once syndicalist experiment: hunger and diseases spreading over brutally subjugated land forced it's inhabitants into service of Kaisar-i-Hind, who gladly used 'useless people' as he said himself, in human wave attacks against Delhi's hastily prepared positions, bolstered by fanatical Razakars and best-equipped Guards.
Nothing was without price, though: only the weapons and food for his troops not only forced Nizam of Hyderabad to sell whatever was necessary (like particularly giant diamond Osman used as paperweight for years) and to endanger the heart of the Empire.
Delhi was captured in the end of the May, declared an open city. Canadians frustrated by apparently utter incompetence of loyalists in the Raj, launched a massive invasion behind enemy lines, to capture the Hyderabad itself and force some kind of deal with the, now undisputed, Emperor of India. But the old monarch invested and risked too much, to make such a mistake: there will be war, until the Entente will recognize India as independent sovereign state, with Osman Ali Khan and his dynasty as only rightful rulers.
Most of the Delhi's forces surrendered to Khan's forces during Summer 1941, often because of lack of supplies. Entente's forces had no intention to prolong the lost war and evacuation of military and civilian personnel was the primary objective, after Operation Jubilee, the attempt to capture Hyderabad, failed and changed into virtual catastrophe: entire divisions of Rakazars managed to encircle Entente's invasion force - only few survived the onslaught.
The deeply conservative, an old feudal values, not only returned throughout India in full, but was promoted also in newly established client states.
November 11th, became a 'Day of Glory', the day when old monarch showed the world a Declaration of the Unified Indian State.
Europe
It became an another historical irony, that European state actually best prepared for the coming war, was the one which will be hardly noticed by anyone in the world and will be never directly involved in any coming conflict, although thoroughly prepared by it's own funds and the funds of the Orthodox Church and from Russian religious organisation 'Faith and Nation'.
The 'Metaxas Line' was designed and slowly build piece by piece since the end of the Weltkrieg, after the loss of many territories to the victorious Central Powers: as the number of bunkers, trenches and minefields increased, the part of broken Greek spirit healed, as described by later Prime Minister Metaxas, after whom the main lines of defenses were named.
It was the Russian gift of many claimed territories, though, including all the islands in Aegean Sea, Cyprus and historical Macedonia, which gave Greeks back their national dignity: but perhaps their greatest luck was the certain amount of Russian sentiment towards them: the Empire gave them huge interest-free loans and their companies were allowed to take over most of the Anatolia - which led even greater transformation of Greek state into Spartan-like military state, as the career of mercenary, officially a 'private security forces', was as typical for the common Greek man, as is mining for inhabitants of Urals or farming in Ukraine.
Africa
Askari unit in Kamerun, 1930. The German methods in Mittelafrika to make natives loyal were efficient mixtures of the old principles of 'divide et impera' and 'bread and games'. Goring and the other administrators in the colonies tried to put tribe against tribe, religion against religion: while some could be considered as enslaved peoples, others enjoyed European luxuries and privileges, being civil servants and soldiers and now with also an autonomy, provided by Chancellor Lettow-Vorbeck of Free Germany (basically free reign of well-armed warlords dominating 'hostile elements', with full German approval).
America
The outcome of Second American Civil War, as it appeared in 1941, was favourable to Canadian, and therefore royalist, interests: old United States were divided and newest version of 'Pax Britannica' kept the stability in the region on acceptable levels. Luck was on the Mexican side just as much: the pragmatic Canadians agreed to tolerate their possession of Texas, as long as they won't dare to join Internationale or interfere with politics in any of the three states carved from the broken country. It gave royalists the economic edge necessary to make plans for planned liberation of Britain and reconquest of Africa, without further wasting time and lives in Americas.
Mexican soldiers, equipped with mixture of local and French equipment, from propaganda photos, training in occupied Texas. Many U.S. citizens left the occupied territory during the war, not allowed to return, as all the property deemed 'abandoned' was nationalized, same as basically entire industry. Mexican citizens were arriving in sheer numbers from poorest parts of the syndicalist state, taking over half-empty cities and villages.
In the first elections since the Second Civil War, John Nance Garner was again elected to the office: an event, which surprised only few people in North America, as MacArthur refused to recognize the realities of destroyed country and still called for re-unification by force: something not at all approved by Canadians and their Californian allies, rather satisfied with independence. Divisions between South and North were same strong as in 1861, due to America First's brief victory and actions afterwards. In addition, it was the last President of the United States, who convinced the Canadians that occupation of New England and Alaska is no longer necessary, under condition, that any future 'border adjustments' will be made only with Entente's approval.
And the Entente was focused on areas outside North America, to win the much important war. Mexico and the syndicalist South America were lesser concerns.
The Brazilian army was the main political force in the now syndicalist state: revolutionary officers seized the power for the new regime quickly, with Getulio Vargas' rebellion crushed almost immediately, before it was a too serious threat and helped to impose many unpopular policies throughout the country and pushed for military alliances with other countries, to secure future victory over their southern rival.
The fire of war arrived to South America at last, and just like the Europe, North America and Asia, the outcome will surely change everything, as four countries were involved, with rest of the world deep in own troubles.
Asia
Second-Sino Japanese War continued, with Qing forces defeated in every major battles, since German support disintegrated due to loss of their homeland and retreat of all available resources and reserves to 'Free Germany' in Africa. Why was that? Significant forces had to be kept in reserve in case of Imperial Japanese Navy's increasing activity around the Chinese coasts, otherwise unprotected.
German-trained divisions proved to be only reliable forces of the Qing Dynasty in their second war against Empire of Japan, unlike the last attempt to create modern military: the infamous Beyiang Army. Lack of infrastructure and air force, however, forced them to retreat many times: more than enemy's firepower, the actual lack of ammunition, medical care and food supplies caused the ultimate defeat, as units repeatedly suffered lack of everything essential. Desertions remained as rare sight, due to harsh Japanese occupation policies, with some regiments fighting to the last man or dispersing into many guerilla groups.
In 1941, Qing military struggled greatly to at least slow Japanese advance, aggresively pushed from the north, eager to stop flow of Russian supplies from their puppet Chinese muslim clique, and take all the German colonies in the south along with crumbling Qing Empire, as the Imperial Japanese Navy renewed attacks on German-controlled ports, now poorly defended by forces loyal to 'Free Germany' in Africa.
So, in mere months, all the defense plans dissapeared with the bulk of the Qing military. After fall of Nanjing, the court and the imperial government was moved to Guangzhou, where Xuantong Emperor urged all the Chinese to resist: that he will never sign any armistice or peace treaty, as long as there will be single Japanese soldier of China's soil. Making encouraging speeches was the last thing he could do, as the only Great Power able to help was too tied in Europe, facing much greater threat. This didn't stopped the aristocrats in the Senate with approval of their monarch to recognize Qing government-in-exile and reject all the Japanese attempts to negoatiate - a succesful Russian bluff, as no side actually desired a total war with another...in this very moment.
The war in China, in fact, was an archetype of term 'Pyrrhic victory': most of the IJA's divisions barely resembled military units, with millions perished in battles and ambushes, as seemingly less organized Qing forces mastered asymetric tactics, with small units pouring through quickly changing frontlines, targeting supply lines and Japanese commanders.
The Chinese forces fought against Japanese mostly with German and Russian weapons, the latter being the only source of heavy weapons and vehicles after Fall of Germany and retreat of Kaiser's remaining forces in Asia back to Indochina and Malaya, knowing it's only matter of time, before Japanese will come there. Some pieces of foreign weaponry became iconic in later Qing's depiction of Second Sino-Japanese War, as heroic 'War of Resistance'. In addition to the later legend, the Xuantong Emperor declared he'll never leave China, the promise he eventually fullfiled, but he was never in command of Chinese resistance, as was depicted. Instead, he spent the years in monastery on the Tibetan-Huijang borders, never to know, that Peter Wrangel personally ordered his guards to kill him if there was a risk of Japanese capturing him.
In the Summer 1941, the Second Sino-Japanese War was officially over: with many Qing units not destroyed or captured. The most loyal ones followed Germans, slowing Japanese, others simply crossed borders to Russian protectorates or joined warlord Long Yun's remnant of the first Chinese experiment with republican regime. The general was no fool, and after he realized that immediate interests of both Great Powers lies elsewhere, Yun more than happily accepted Qing gold and silver in exchange to be 'generous' to 'war refugees', sometimes crossing borders repeatedly and armed: if there was no 'firm' Russian political support for the monarchy, though, Yun later in his memoires admitted, that killing Puyi and other nobles for previous insults or lead the resistance himself, was a tempting idea.
Because not only Japanese conquered China at the terrible cost, almost destroying their entire land army on the unforgiving Chinese battlefields, they created puppet Republic, only led by few figureheads with no political power or public support: and so the number of troubles in barely subjugated lands only grew.
The war on the subcontinent, despite all the military and industrial power behind the British Empire in exile, Osman Ali Khan's conquest of the Raj seemed imminent, with both the Japanese and the Russians already congratulating, sending more diplomats (and agents) to Hyderabad.
Emperor of India had seven legitimate wives in total, countless concubines and mistresses, thirty-four legitimate children and many, many more illegitimate children over the all decades of his rule. Many of them found themselves in civil service, military or received new land and title, starting their own dynasties. In decades afterwards, his descendants controlled much of the India's vital parts of economy and major part of armed forces, to ensure security of the Hyderabad's imperial rule.
The key to victory was quick and pragmatic use of conquered territory of what was once syndicalist experiment: hunger and diseases spreading over brutally subjugated land forced it's inhabitants into service of Kaisar-i-Hind, who gladly used 'useless people' as he said himself, in human wave attacks against Delhi's hastily prepared positions, bolstered by fanatical Razakars and best-equipped Guards.
Nothing was without price, though: only the weapons and food for his troops not only forced Nizam of Hyderabad to sell whatever was necessary (like particularly giant diamond Osman used as paperweight for years) and to endanger the heart of the Empire.
Delhi was captured in the end of the May, declared an open city. Canadians frustrated by apparently utter incompetence of loyalists in the Raj, launched a massive invasion behind enemy lines, to capture the Hyderabad itself and force some kind of deal with the, now undisputed, Emperor of India. But the old monarch invested and risked too much, to make such a mistake: there will be war, until the Entente will recognize India as independent sovereign state, with Osman Ali Khan and his dynasty as only rightful rulers.
Most of the Delhi's forces surrendered to Khan's forces during Summer 1941, often because of lack of supplies. Entente's forces had no intention to prolong the lost war and evacuation of military and civilian personnel was the primary objective, after Operation Jubilee, the attempt to capture Hyderabad, failed and changed into virtual catastrophe: entire divisions of Rakazars managed to encircle Entente's invasion force - only few survived the onslaught.
The deeply conservative, an old feudal values, not only returned throughout India in full, but was promoted also in newly established client states.
November 11th, became a 'Day of Glory', the day when old monarch showed the world a Declaration of the Unified Indian State.
Europe
It became an another historical irony, that European state actually best prepared for the coming war, was the one which will be hardly noticed by anyone in the world and will be never directly involved in any coming conflict, although thoroughly prepared by it's own funds and the funds of the Orthodox Church and from Russian religious organisation 'Faith and Nation'.
The 'Metaxas Line' was designed and slowly build piece by piece since the end of the Weltkrieg, after the loss of many territories to the victorious Central Powers: as the number of bunkers, trenches and minefields increased, the part of broken Greek spirit healed, as described by later Prime Minister Metaxas, after whom the main lines of defenses were named.
It was the Russian gift of many claimed territories, though, including all the islands in Aegean Sea, Cyprus and historical Macedonia, which gave Greeks back their national dignity: but perhaps their greatest luck was the certain amount of Russian sentiment towards them: the Empire gave them huge interest-free loans and their companies were allowed to take over most of the Anatolia - which led even greater transformation of Greek state into Spartan-like military state, as the career of mercenary, officially a 'private security forces', was as typical for the common Greek man, as is mining for inhabitants of Urals or farming in Ukraine.
Africa
Askari unit in Kamerun, 1930. The German methods in Mittelafrika to make natives loyal were efficient mixtures of the old principles of 'divide et impera' and 'bread and games'. Goring and the other administrators in the colonies tried to put tribe against tribe, religion against religion: while some could be considered as enslaved peoples, others enjoyed European luxuries and privileges, being civil servants and soldiers and now with also an autonomy, provided by Chancellor Lettow-Vorbeck of Free Germany (basically free reign of well-armed warlords dominating 'hostile elements', with full German approval).
Osman! Osman! And I trust the Bear will aid the Dragon against the Sun once the Stars have been dealt with?
@Vlad_Dracul1989
Jai Hind! The Entente's imperialism is collapsing in on the weight of its own decadence!
Jai Hind! The Entente's imperialism is collapsing in on the weight of its own decadence!
This time, serious restart will happen.
Had some extremely bad stuff to solve in the real world and for now I even stop any modding fun.
At least until I'll finish this story. I really hate when story is incomplete so I won't do that.
Had some extremely bad stuff to solve in the real world and for now I even stop any modding fun.
At least until I'll finish this story. I really hate when story is incomplete so I won't do that.
Part 28: The Revengeance
Tactical skills of the Russian commander, gained and trained in the last six years of warfare and rapid rearmament, were great, but the Internationale's victories in Europe made quick victory through technological superiority or sheer numbers impossible. The Reds had also much greater production of warplanes and absolutely fearsome naval superiority, although bound to Battle of Atlantic. The attrition war seemed to be only choice.
That was the lesson the Great War taught the Russian generals: first, they must strike as a hammer and their reap enemy lives in droves like unending sickles.
Until there's nothing to reap.
To force Internationale into acceptance of this gruesome game, the STAVKA strongly advised to secure Carpathians and Baltic provinces, with Poland as chosen main battlefield, due to it's terrain, obviously favouring mobile offensives and retreat. Vistula River offered great obstacle and large cities, especially Warsaw, could be used as bastions to draw enemy into useless offensives, not mentioning propaganda value.
The Russian forces had to move with quick pace, to the intended attrition lines, especially because the Imperial Air Force couldn't hold air superiority over advancing Russian armies much longer, as more and more Red squadrons were moving to the East, to face the Russian wrath. Russian pilots had sufficient training and state of the art planes, but unlike Army units, they greatly lacked experience, as the squadron were rarely used in recent conflicts.
With full expectations of at very least two years of bloodshed, all the way from frozen fjords to Dardanelles and Belarusian marshes in the middle, specialized equipment was developed and produced in high numbers, be it winter upgrades for tanks, such as the engine with a blowtorch or 'simple' rubber boots for deep mud.
Cutting off the Baltic protectorate from Internationale's reinforcements was the first important success. Tens of thousand of French and British fought for their lives and hoping for evacuation, which will never arrive: to compensate the lack of proper naval firepower, Russian shipyards produced hundreds of submarines and small vessels, like torpedo boats and minelayers. That and, for now, lasting air superiority of the Empire, the Internationale couldn't send any help.
Exhausted, the weakened hammer of the Russians arrived to East Prussia fast enough to encircle massive German forces amassed around Konigsberg. The Prussian military skills were non-existant here, as German Union's Volksarmee was far from prepared military force. The morale was low and actual abilities under average, as only few German officers remained after the French victory, assisted many times by Austrian officers, as the purges against monarchists were somewhat more lenient.
Central Front, however, starting to seem as a draw: whilst the Russians succesfully captured Hungarian and Romanian capitals, soon the lack of reserves forced tank and infantry units to fall back, to a more defensible positions without holes, as main Internationale's forces started to push back.
The 'Reunification of Baltic governorates' (Estonia, Livonia and Courland) was a well-prepared blow against Syndicalist propaganda: indeed, Russians, led by Baltic German and Latvian generals, were invited as a liberators, with some local units shooting on the further retreating British, thrown to beaches and waiting for the ships which will never arrive.
Northernmost front had the single objective: bound as many Red forces, as possible, in the worst terrain in Europe, knowing that keeping Scandinavia in the war and Swedish iron deposits are reason enough: with also the possibility of Royalist landings in Narvik or Stavanger.
After more than four weeks of brutal warfare, the initial offensive lost it's steam for good and the finally amassed Syndicalist divisions started to pour into poorly defended gapes in Russian lines, as the imperial tank mobile formations still tried to push further.
Operation itself, though proved as astonishing success: Russian Empire conquered enough of enemy's land, deliberately destroyed Romanian rafineries, burned Hungarian fields before the harvest and ruined everything resembling industry in Poland. Paris now wanted nothing else but to march against Moscow. Again.
Second propaganda blow was capitulation of Poland. Ironically, after local 'anti-capitalist campaigns' and absolutely servile attitude of Polish Syndicalist regime towards Commune in all things, including forced atheist education, Russians were viewed as a lesser evil - the last straw was the French decision to keep Hungary and Romania in the fight and prevent Russian arrival do Belgrade. Just after Fall of Warsaw, with Russian tanks arriving to Lodz and Krakow too.
The Tsar promptly, during next speech, welcomed the Poles back with no promises of autonomy, but guaranteed safety and freedom of their soldiers - unlike other soldiers of the Internationale, commonly used as meat shields for supply lines, when air superiority became uncertainty.
Reconquest of Ploesti was an obvious strategic priority for the French: the only big and reliable source of oil in Europe, now covered by only the flames and black fumes.
In August, as was also predicted, the Russian forced started slow retreat through the Finland, chased by growing numbers of growingly bad supplied French forces.
The Battle of Poland begun in August too. From East Prussia to Danube, the semi-static frontlines were created, exactly by the objectives Russian strategic operation in Europe. It was not like the Western or Eastern Front in the Great War: while some positions remained static for months,
The coldly efficient imperial administration also wasted no time in reintegration of 'lost territories' or 'rightful claims'. Imperial soldiers were followed by agents of Okhrana and they were followed by bureaucrats and representatives of oligarchs, be it merchants or aristocrats, quickly helping with 'reunification efforts'.
And the fate of Volksarmee pocket in East Prussia? As Russians blocked their escape to Pomerania and had few divisions left, they were left to move into Courland, where the last units capitulated by the end of August, nine weeks after start of the offensive, which is deemed as it's definitive ending.
Lawrence's Coup of 1942
Also known as the 'Tragic Month', the manoeuvres in May were used as very useful pretext to amass the Army troops throughout the country without. Is sufficient to simply say, that T. E. Lawrence wasn't that smart as he thought. Or he truly felt the time was right. Another explanation could be the reports of successes of Royal Navy in the Atlantic. The Republican Navy had to protect convoys from Central and South America, the only reliable source of oil, copper and many more resources, including food shipments for the Internationale, as the Russians and the Entente took control over other areas. Syndicalist Joint Expeditionary Force was already sent to battle Afrikakorps of Free Germany, mainly to secure african resources: liberation of the natives from imperialism wasn't that important to waste precious manpower and modern equipment.
Combined with bulk of British Army and Air Force sent to the Russian borders, the British Isles were left with inadequate land, air and naval forces. Although criticised for that, the members of TUC felt it necessary to show the Commune what is the British power, wrapped in slogans about 'internationalism' and 'unity'.
Unfortunately to Lawrence and his men, the amount of cooperation with Royalist forces was far from ideal. The Canadians moved naval and air fleets to action too late, while the rebels failed in both main objectives: to quickly capture London and to capture Union's government officials. Soon, they had to fight for survival in East Anglia, surrounded by quickly assembled militia battalions and the forces loyal to the Union.
After few days, Lawrence's forces were forced to abandon East Anglia and move, while already demoralized Royalists had to cover their more or less succesful escape under constant attacks of Internationale's naval and aerial units, both British and French. It was a true miracle itself, that losses weren't even greater. Entente had to sacrifice countless escort and auxiliary ships to protect their own carriers and battleships in hostile waters.
But we already know now, that Royalist lives were not wasted completely: it caused just enough chaos in heart of Syndicalism, to help Russian Empire. In long term, Union was reluctant to send more forces to the Eastern Front and rather focused on African campaign and to bolster defenses of the Britain itself.
South America
La Plata's military regime knew too well that attrition war favours their enemies: Brazilian manpower, Venezuelan oil and Bolivian mountains would soon bled them dry. So, as expected, before it was happening, the German-trained and equipped Argentinians targeted Sao Paulo, leaving northern borders vulnerable. Syndicalists soon used it's rival's weak points, hoping to end the war quickly too.
Brazilians, on the other hand, were just as same obsessed by 'decisive battle'. So when the danger became clear, La Plata sent reinforcements, attacking from the sides. The syndicalist offensive then ended in disaster, when one entire army was surrounded and left without supplies.
This was the opportunity for Argentinians to call for white peace, instead of intended capture of Sao Paulo, but that option was no longer possible for the Red Brazil.
Brazilian victorious march through Buenos Aires and capitulation of La Plata's military junta, marked the end of one era in South America.
India
Tactical skills of the Russian commander, gained and trained in the last six years of warfare and rapid rearmament, were great, but the Internationale's victories in Europe made quick victory through technological superiority or sheer numbers impossible. The Reds had also much greater production of warplanes and absolutely fearsome naval superiority, although bound to Battle of Atlantic. The attrition war seemed to be only choice.
That was the lesson the Great War taught the Russian generals: first, they must strike as a hammer and their reap enemy lives in droves like unending sickles.
Until there's nothing to reap.
To force Internationale into acceptance of this gruesome game, the STAVKA strongly advised to secure Carpathians and Baltic provinces, with Poland as chosen main battlefield, due to it's terrain, obviously favouring mobile offensives and retreat. Vistula River offered great obstacle and large cities, especially Warsaw, could be used as bastions to draw enemy into useless offensives, not mentioning propaganda value.
The Russian forces had to move with quick pace, to the intended attrition lines, especially because the Imperial Air Force couldn't hold air superiority over advancing Russian armies much longer, as more and more Red squadrons were moving to the East, to face the Russian wrath. Russian pilots had sufficient training and state of the art planes, but unlike Army units, they greatly lacked experience, as the squadron were rarely used in recent conflicts.
With full expectations of at very least two years of bloodshed, all the way from frozen fjords to Dardanelles and Belarusian marshes in the middle, specialized equipment was developed and produced in high numbers, be it winter upgrades for tanks, such as the engine with a blowtorch or 'simple' rubber boots for deep mud.
Cutting off the Baltic protectorate from Internationale's reinforcements was the first important success. Tens of thousand of French and British fought for their lives and hoping for evacuation, which will never arrive: to compensate the lack of proper naval firepower, Russian shipyards produced hundreds of submarines and small vessels, like torpedo boats and minelayers. That and, for now, lasting air superiority of the Empire, the Internationale couldn't send any help.
Exhausted, the weakened hammer of the Russians arrived to East Prussia fast enough to encircle massive German forces amassed around Konigsberg. The Prussian military skills were non-existant here, as German Union's Volksarmee was far from prepared military force. The morale was low and actual abilities under average, as only few German officers remained after the French victory, assisted many times by Austrian officers, as the purges against monarchists were somewhat more lenient.
Central Front, however, starting to seem as a draw: whilst the Russians succesfully captured Hungarian and Romanian capitals, soon the lack of reserves forced tank and infantry units to fall back, to a more defensible positions without holes, as main Internationale's forces started to push back.
The 'Reunification of Baltic governorates' (Estonia, Livonia and Courland) was a well-prepared blow against Syndicalist propaganda: indeed, Russians, led by Baltic German and Latvian generals, were invited as a liberators, with some local units shooting on the further retreating British, thrown to beaches and waiting for the ships which will never arrive.
Northernmost front had the single objective: bound as many Red forces, as possible, in the worst terrain in Europe, knowing that keeping Scandinavia in the war and Swedish iron deposits are reason enough: with also the possibility of Royalist landings in Narvik or Stavanger.
After more than four weeks of brutal warfare, the initial offensive lost it's steam for good and the finally amassed Syndicalist divisions started to pour into poorly defended gapes in Russian lines, as the imperial tank mobile formations still tried to push further.
Operation itself, though proved as astonishing success: Russian Empire conquered enough of enemy's land, deliberately destroyed Romanian rafineries, burned Hungarian fields before the harvest and ruined everything resembling industry in Poland. Paris now wanted nothing else but to march against Moscow. Again.
Second propaganda blow was capitulation of Poland. Ironically, after local 'anti-capitalist campaigns' and absolutely servile attitude of Polish Syndicalist regime towards Commune in all things, including forced atheist education, Russians were viewed as a lesser evil - the last straw was the French decision to keep Hungary and Romania in the fight and prevent Russian arrival do Belgrade. Just after Fall of Warsaw, with Russian tanks arriving to Lodz and Krakow too.
The Tsar promptly, during next speech, welcomed the Poles back with no promises of autonomy, but guaranteed safety and freedom of their soldiers - unlike other soldiers of the Internationale, commonly used as meat shields for supply lines, when air superiority became uncertainty.
Reconquest of Ploesti was an obvious strategic priority for the French: the only big and reliable source of oil in Europe, now covered by only the flames and black fumes.
In August, as was also predicted, the Russian forced started slow retreat through the Finland, chased by growing numbers of growingly bad supplied French forces.
The Battle of Poland begun in August too. From East Prussia to Danube, the semi-static frontlines were created, exactly by the objectives Russian strategic operation in Europe. It was not like the Western or Eastern Front in the Great War: while some positions remained static for months,
The coldly efficient imperial administration also wasted no time in reintegration of 'lost territories' or 'rightful claims'. Imperial soldiers were followed by agents of Okhrana and they were followed by bureaucrats and representatives of oligarchs, be it merchants or aristocrats, quickly helping with 'reunification efforts'.
And the fate of Volksarmee pocket in East Prussia? As Russians blocked their escape to Pomerania and had few divisions left, they were left to move into Courland, where the last units capitulated by the end of August, nine weeks after start of the offensive, which is deemed as it's definitive ending.
Lawrence's Coup of 1942
Also known as the 'Tragic Month', the manoeuvres in May were used as very useful pretext to amass the Army troops throughout the country without. Is sufficient to simply say, that T. E. Lawrence wasn't that smart as he thought. Or he truly felt the time was right. Another explanation could be the reports of successes of Royal Navy in the Atlantic. The Republican Navy had to protect convoys from Central and South America, the only reliable source of oil, copper and many more resources, including food shipments for the Internationale, as the Russians and the Entente took control over other areas. Syndicalist Joint Expeditionary Force was already sent to battle Afrikakorps of Free Germany, mainly to secure african resources: liberation of the natives from imperialism wasn't that important to waste precious manpower and modern equipment.
Combined with bulk of British Army and Air Force sent to the Russian borders, the British Isles were left with inadequate land, air and naval forces. Although criticised for that, the members of TUC felt it necessary to show the Commune what is the British power, wrapped in slogans about 'internationalism' and 'unity'.
Unfortunately to Lawrence and his men, the amount of cooperation with Royalist forces was far from ideal. The Canadians moved naval and air fleets to action too late, while the rebels failed in both main objectives: to quickly capture London and to capture Union's government officials. Soon, they had to fight for survival in East Anglia, surrounded by quickly assembled militia battalions and the forces loyal to the Union.
After few days, Lawrence's forces were forced to abandon East Anglia and move, while already demoralized Royalists had to cover their more or less succesful escape under constant attacks of Internationale's naval and aerial units, both British and French. It was a true miracle itself, that losses weren't even greater. Entente had to sacrifice countless escort and auxiliary ships to protect their own carriers and battleships in hostile waters.
But we already know now, that Royalist lives were not wasted completely: it caused just enough chaos in heart of Syndicalism, to help Russian Empire. In long term, Union was reluctant to send more forces to the Eastern Front and rather focused on African campaign and to bolster defenses of the Britain itself.
South America
La Plata's military regime knew too well that attrition war favours their enemies: Brazilian manpower, Venezuelan oil and Bolivian mountains would soon bled them dry. So, as expected, before it was happening, the German-trained and equipped Argentinians targeted Sao Paulo, leaving northern borders vulnerable. Syndicalists soon used it's rival's weak points, hoping to end the war quickly too.
Brazilians, on the other hand, were just as same obsessed by 'decisive battle'. So when the danger became clear, La Plata sent reinforcements, attacking from the sides. The syndicalist offensive then ended in disaster, when one entire army was surrounded and left without supplies.
This was the opportunity for Argentinians to call for white peace, instead of intended capture of Sao Paulo, but that option was no longer possible for the Red Brazil.
Brazilian victorious march through Buenos Aires and capitulation of La Plata's military junta, marked the end of one era in South America.
India
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The failure of the Royalist rising is pretty bad. With it any hope of a second front is gone for the foreseeable future.
Nope. It goes few years and at least another year it will continue
Russia certainly needs harsh and capable administrator like him, not spoiled inbreds.
It's just matter of resources, be it oil or blood.
On the other hand, counter-measures made by Union, like purges in the army and mass arrests, will show the Britain what utopia it is
As long as syndies will be throwing lives for no reason, into indecisive battles and wasted counterattacks. Plus overstretching themselves from Africa to Arctic.
I am sure they appreciate the irony, how conveniently they removed old Central Powers out of Wrangel's way, while he was busy building factories and conquering Middle Eastern entire oil deposits
France now finds herself in the same situation that Germany found herself in during WWII. No matter how many Russians are killed, new men stand ready to replace the losses. But, there are two factors that make the situation different.
1. France has more space for a defence in depth. Whilst Russia might already be at the west bank of the Oder, she will have to cross all of Germany before France herself is even threatened. Whilst the German population might be large and her industry mighty, almost all of the industry is useless through either damage from WKII, collectivization or actions of the resistance. Not to forget that almost all Germans still see the French as enemy No.1, and see the new state as just a French puppet.
2. French demographics don't allow for a protracted war. Her population is lower than that of Germany, who couldn't fight a war of attrition with Russia.
Needless to say, this war will see millions of dead
1. France has more space for a defence in depth. Whilst Russia might already be at the west bank of the Oder, she will have to cross all of Germany before France herself is even threatened. Whilst the German population might be large and her industry mighty, almost all of the industry is useless through either damage from WKII, collectivization or actions of the resistance. Not to forget that almost all Germans still see the French as enemy No.1, and see the new state as just a French puppet.
2. French demographics don't allow for a protracted war. Her population is lower than that of Germany, who couldn't fight a war of attrition with Russia.
Needless to say, this war will see millions of dead