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5th of September 1940, Assasination of Leon Trotsky, remembrance by 'Shest'
The 5th of September 1940, Moskva train station, 2,8°C, 4pm Moscow time,

After having spent a few days enjoying the Black sea breeze and the view of our new Destroyers in and around Sevastopol, I returned to Vologda, by train, and all trains lead inevitably to or through Moscow.

I had only just set foot on the platform, still dressed as a ranking NKVD official, when a uniformed NKVD officer motioned me to the station's NKVD office, it seems someone high up in the GRU wanted to talk to me, and he was there in person...

'Shest' ' was sitting at the table, he had no trouble moving around as he was known under many different aliases as someone vaguely important within the GRU, or the KGB, or was it the NKVD... The point was that he knew about everything of importance in the intelligence community before anyone else did, so much for compartmentalised information, and anyway, the Committee has a need to know...

"I have just received news that an NKVD asset in Mexico City has clumsily, but successfully, assassinated Leon Trotsky. It seems he was hit in the head with an ice axe, but only died from his wounds a day later. I'm sure Comrade Stalin will be happy to hear the news. Even though Trotsky was instrumental in the success of the Revolution, he later strayed from the Party line. I have assembled some writings and images, many of them illegal in the Soviet Union to remind us all of who the man was,

Comrade Stalin himself wrote this in his book "The October Revolution" in 1934, this has of course been redacted since :

"All practical work in connection with the organisation of the uprising was done under the immediate direction of Comrade Trotsky, the President of the Petrograd Soviet. It can be stated with certainty that the Party is indebted primarily and principally to Comrade Trotsky for the rapid going over of the garrison to the side of the Soviet and the efficient manner in which the work of the Military Revolutionary Committee was organised."

trotsky_Adressing_the_red_Army_1917.jpg

Leon Trotsky addressing the Red Army in 1917.
In 1930 Trotsky wrote this about attacks on his leadership of the Red Army in 1919:

"It is no wonder that my military work created so many enemies for me. I did not look to the side, I elbowed away those who interfered with military success, or in the haste of the work trod on the toes of the unheeding and was too busy even to apologise. Some people remember such things. The dissatisfied and those whose feelings had been hurt found their way to Stalin or Zinoviev, for these two also nourished hurts."
From this quote from comrade Lenin, we learn some of the reason for his extraordinary military success:

"When Comrade Trotsky informed me recently that the number of officers of the old army employed by our War Department runs into several tens of thousands, I perceived concretely where the secret of using our enemy lay, how to compel those who had opposed communism to build it, how to build communism with the bricks which the capitalists had chosen to hurl against us! We have no other bricks! And so, we must compel the bourgeois experts, under the leadership of the proletariat, to build up our edifice with these bricks. This is what is difficult; but this is the pledge of victory."
Trotsky did try to find reconciliation with the Party, but do I also detect some sarcasm in this speech from the 1924 13th Party Congress:

"None of us desires or is able to dispute the will of the Party. Clearly, the Party is always right... We can only be right with and by the Party, for history has provided no other way of being in the right. The English have a saying, "My country, right or wrong", whether it is in the right or in the wrong, it is my country. We have much better historical justification in saying whether it is right or wrong in certain individual concrete cases, it is my party... And if the Party adopts a decision which one or other of us thinks unjust, he will say, just or unjust, it is my party, and I shall support the consequences of the decision to the end."

Trotsky_Speech_Copenhagen_1932.jpg

Leon Trotsky during a speech in Copenhagen in 1932 called "In Defence of October". He was possibly still redeemable to the Communist cause at this point.
Comrade Lenin wanted to keep him around despite some dissenting views, in July 1922, when hearing about the Central Committee's intentions to throw out Trotsky, he said:

"Throwing Trotsky overboard – surely you are hinting at that, it is impossible to interpret it otherwise – is the height of stupidity. If you do not consider me already hopelessly foolish, how can you think of that????"
As you can see, he was bound to get thrown out, being a free thinker, and not agreeing with Stalin's way of doing things. We considered trying to get him to join the Secret Committee, but he was too far gone to even want to help from the Shadows, a regime that he now..."
'Shest' ' was then interrupted by the ringing of the top secret telephone on his desk, surprised by this unexpected call he picked up the telephone, looked a bit distraught, then handed me the telephone. It was of course 'Tri':

"This won't be long... I have good news and bad news... The bad news is that Bulgaria has joined the Axis, it seems their pulling a Munich agreement on Romania pulled them even closer to the Germans... The good news is that we have now border with Bulgaria, and that their navy is probably laughable. And wait, there is more good news, as they just took territory the Romanians consider rightfully theirs, the Romanians are now drifting away from any diplomatic ties to the Axis because of this. Unless we do something stupid now, Romania is more hostile to the Axis than to us, and that's really good news... The only real downside is that Turkey is now very slightly more interested in Joining the Axis, due to it's proximity to Bulgaria. For now this isn't problematic yet though. That's all, tell 'Shest' ' hi, all the best, and that his phone line is not as secret as he would like it to be and he can come to me for suggestions..."
'Shest' ' finished his thought from before the call:

"Despised... A regime that he now despised is what I wanted to say."
"How does he do that? Always know where you are and how to reach you, even I don't know where you are all the time..."


"Don't look at me, I don't know how he does it either." I replied
'Shest' ' showed me a last photograph:

Exile1938.jpg

Leon Trotsky at his desk in 1938, surely ready to slander Stalin's Communist party some more... He was gone at this point and Stalin ordered increased efforts to assassinate him...

And that about wrapped things up, I just managed to get on the 5:30pm to Vologda, now dressed like a lumberjack who was going home after visiting his family in Moskva.

I should get to the Base in time to send out the next Report on schedule,

Greetings,

'Odin'

 
6th of September 1940, 'Odin', 10-day report #134
The 6th of September 1940, Vologda, 2,0°C, 10am Moscow Time,

Report on the state of the Soviet Union for the ten day period between the 27th of August and the 6th of September 1940,

by 'Odin'

Army:
A new Garx2 Division has finished training. 9. Strelkovaya Diviziya will be guarding the province of Kerch.
Army numbers (Brigades/Personnel) Reserves included (these numbers don't include regiments being upgraded):
Front line troops: 584 / 1.752.000
Support troops: 192 / 192.000
Total fighting troops: 776 / 1.944.000
Headquarters: 56 / 56.000
Total Army Personnel: 832 / 2.000.000
Officers: 72.624 + / 83.050 needed / 87,446 %
Active Leaders: 234 / 113 more available
Another Garx2 Division has started training, this one will be guarding Novossijsk, also on the Black Sea Coast.
Army Leadership:
Maj. General Malinovsk SK1, DD was happy to be pulled out of retirement to take command of 9. GarD in Kerch.

Air Force:
No changes in the VVS, nor in the Navy Air Fleet for the last 10 days.
Navy:
No changes in the Navy for the last 10 days
Politics / International:
Leon Trotsky was Assassinated
Bulgaria claimed "Dobrogea" from Romania
Bulgaria joined the Axis

The Norwegian Front
Norway (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 85,2
Germany (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 86,1
GNW06:09:40.jpeg

The Front in Norway has not moved an inch for 10 days...
The French Front
France (Surrender Progress / NU): 69,70 / 48,2 Loss of Caen, Colmar, and Mulhouse.
Germany (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 86,1
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
FranceFront06:09:40.jpeg

The Maginot line is no more, it has been entirely overrun by the Wehrmacht.

Along the coast, the Germans took Caen, they have been moving south from there and have reached the outskirts of Blois.
To the South of Paris, Etampes has been lost to the Hun, and Germans are now standing at the gates of Orléans. The french capital is connected to the rest of the country by the province of Versailles alone.
The Italians haven't moved beyond Nice, but the French managed to take Aosta from the Italians with it's beautiful Alpine valley, so maybe their soldiers can enjoy the scenery before their inevitable surrender...
British North Africa Front
United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 77,8
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5 Loss of Tobruch.
BNAF06:09:40.jpeg

The British have captured Tobruch, they haven't managed to advance beyond the Port city, not yet anyway.
French North Africa Front
France (Surrender Progress / NU): 69,70 / 48,2
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
index.php

Still no movement here.
East Africa & Ethiopia Front
Ethiopia (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 75,8
France (Surrender Progress / NU): 69,70 / 48,2
United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 77,8
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
EEAF06:09:40.jpeg

Two more meaningless Ethiopian provinces, Dangila, and Debra Markos have been taken by the Allies. The Italians have now taken French Djibouti, if they manage to take Obock, they will probably cut off supply for the French troops in Ethiopia, not that any of this matters one bit.
Industry:
Working Industrial Capacity / available capacity: 236 / 318
IC Usage: ( Allocated IC / Need )
Upgrades: 42,39 / 55,91
Reinforcement: 1,10 / 1,20
Supplies: 8,67 / 36,25
Production: 237,23 / 237,23
Consumer Goods: 28,62 / 28,62
Stockpiles:
Energy: Maximum tonnes =
Metal: 85.677 tonnes +
Rares: 30.049 tonnes +
Crude: 99.505 barrels +
Supplies: 28.099 tonnes -
Fuel: 99.534 barrels -
Money: 1.965 +
Intelligence:
Spy numbers, spies in (active / added / lost / caught by us)
France (Covert Operations / Counterespionage): 6 / 0 / 1 / 0
{ Germany (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 }
{ Japan (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }
{ UK (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }​
Other: 0 / 0 / 0 / 2
Total: 7 / 0 / 1 / 3
Reserves: 9
Spy training leadership expenditure: 0,19
Canadian Spy hunters caught another one of our spies in France.
We have so far recruited 10 like-minded Covert Operatives in our French sleeper cell.
Research:
Our Military Theorists have finished their new handbook on the use and execution Mass Assault (Level 4) tactics, this should improve morale in our Rifle Divisions.
Now, they are looking into improving Integrated Support (Level 4) for our special forces.

No changes to LS Distribution
Statistics:
National Unity: 82,963 (+0,01)
Neutrality: 0,00 =
Dissent: 0,00 =
Manpower:
Available: 1.999.000 Men
To reinforce(need): 2.230 Men
To mobilise(need): See above
Monthly gain: 48.200 Men (1 fully mobilised Infx3, AT Division every 7 days)​
Party Popularity:
- Communist Party: 52 (-6)
- Trotskyite: 5 (+4)
- Bukharinite: 6 (-1)

- Octobrist: 0 (-4)
- Social-Revolutionary: 8 =
- Trudoviks: 5 (+3)
- Kadets: 10 =

- Tsarists: 0 (-1)
- NTS: 0 =
- POA: 13 (+2)
The Communist Party has lost a good chunk of popularity, but that is partially redeemed by the popular revival of the Trotskyites within the government, did people become sentimental at the news of Trotsky's demise? In the centre, support for the Octobrists has evaporated into support for the Trudoviks. And finally on the right, the Germans spies seem to really know what they are doing, the only party that is left here, with 13% popularity and claiming 2 cabinet positions, is the National-Socialist party, all this without any organisation to speak of... (see below)
Party Organisation:
- Communist Party: 70,12 (+0,5)
- Trotskyite: 11,20 (-0,1)
- Bukharinite: 6,30 (-0,1)

- Octobrist: 6,80 (-0,1)
- Trudoviks: 3,60 (-0,1)
- Social-Revolutionary: 0,00 =
- Kadets: 0,00 =

- Tsarists: 0,70 (-0,1)
- NTS: 1,10 (-0,1)
- POA: 0,00 =
This Information is accurate on the morning of the 6th of September 1940, I hope it serves you well in fine-tuning your possible suggestions.

'Odin'
 
10th of September 1940, Nikolaj to Afnasy #2, tank spotting on the German border
The 10th of September 1940, Lwow, 4,6°C, 8pm Moscow Time

Dear Afanasy Fyodorovich, dear brother,

I write to you again so quickly as I have made a frightening discovery,

Let me start from the beginning,

Yesterday
Lt. General Popov M.M.'s XXIX GvSK finished setting up in Lwow. So today we made a small field trip to the border, more precisely to Sanok, 74km away. This location was chosen because it allowed to observe German troops in both Debica, and Gorlice.

The trip was a real General's party, we started off from
Lwow in three cars, the Commanders on board were Lt. Generals Popov M.M. and Fomenko P.I. (XI SK). as well as all Maj. Generals of XXIX GvSK: Zhadov (1 GvSD), Rotmistrov (72 GvSD), Barinov (76 GvSD), Badanov (77 GvSD) and myself.

In
Sanok, we were received by Maj. General Krutikov in his 42 SD HQ for an early lunch. After lunch things really became interesting, when our little General's club went Tank-spotting in forward positions along the Eastern bank of the San river. First, we looked into Debica, where some medium tanks had been spotted earlier. Here there were no surprises, and the open plains allowed for a clear view of several Pzkpfw III's, we know these tanks from the units Military Intelligence photographed in Poland. Although it seems the current model has a little bit of extra armour on the turret.

PzIIIF.jpg

German Pzkpfw III's practicing manoeuvres in the plains of
Debica, photographed by one of our scouts.
That was all pretty much as expected, but after several hours of staring into dense forests of Gorlice, we saw something entirely different and frightening.

tiger-ii-ww-tanks.jpg

This huge beast was spotted in the forests of
Gorlice across the river, this is the latest and best picture we have.
Estimates of this unknown German tank's dimensions were 7.4m long by 3.8m wide, or about 60cm wider and 50cm longer than our KV-1's. The armour must be a lot thicker than that on our KV-1's, especially on the turret, it is also sloped, which proves that the Germans have also understood the advantages of sloped armour. The only advantage our KV-1's have is their calibre, with 122mm vs the estimated 88mm of the gun in the picture we have an advantage there, but the long barrel does indicate that they must have a longer effective firing range. Let's hope they don't have too many of these, because this is beyond even our most advanced Heavy Tank prototype. But another thought came from Lt. General Popov M.M., he reckoned that these beasts must be very expensive to build, and must have soaked up enormous amounts of investment in Research. He suggested that producing one of these would cost at least twice as much as producing a Pzkpfw III does, and he preferred to face less but bigger tanks, as long as they had a way of knocking them out. Not having any information about German production numbers or even the amount of Regiments equipped with these. All we know is that none of these have been seen in France.

A secret report by the GRU made available for consultation only to
Lt. Generals and above as well as Maj. Generals of Armoured and Guards units on the Western Front counts 7 Divisions equipped with various heavier versions of the Pzkpfw III, as well as 2 Divisions with lighter, faster versions. 7 Motorised Divisions were also counted in France. This ads up to quite a lot less tanks than we have. A total of 8 Medium Tank Divisions, 1 Heavy Tank Division, 2 Light Tank Divisions and 8 Motorised Divisions (of which 1 with SS insignia) have been spotted on both fronts, while we have 10 Medium Tank Divisions, 1 Heavy Tank Division, 10 Light Tank Divisions and 11 Motorised Divisions. But the Germans may of course have reserves behind the front.

We are not supposed to communicate this discovery with anyone who wasn't cleared for the GRU report from France. Officially, our tanks are superior in every single way as to keep our men motivated and ready to defend the Motherland with everything they've got...

Well, now you know, don't be surprised if you see one of those mammoths roll your way once the fighting starts...

I'm still waiting to hear from you, where are you posted exactly? Last I know of was that you were posted on the Turkish border a couple of months ago. I heard my messenger found you in Semipalatinsk, near Mongolia, but he didn't know where you were headed, having only managed to find a notice of 'Training exercises' to avoid alarming the population by the presence of 52.000 Mountaineers.

I eagerly await news from you,

Nikolaj Fjodorovich Vatutin

Maj. General, commander of 3. Tyazhelaya Tankovaya Gvardeskaya Diviziya and your dear brother.
This is surely interesting to the Secret Committee, and I'm sure some of you will have something to say about this huge beast's discovery.

I tagged to Germany for 5 seconds while zoomed in on the 2 relevant provinces and only looked at the picture of the tank in the Armour Brigade for each Division, I have not seen, nor wanted to see anything else. It seems incoherent that there is now way to have an idea of what kind of tanks are posted just across the border from our units. Not details, the general type of tank... I mean, they can see that there are tanks there, so they can see the general shape of the vehicles... (even turning on the sprites didn't show the actual type of tank, German Medium tanks look like Panthers and Heavy Tanks look like Tiger I's) This is just a bit annoying for storytelling, as you want to show pictures of your opponent's tanks spotted in the field... Otherwise it's a minor inconvenience of little actual consequence.
 
:eek: Odin, beware any offers from the General Secretary for a long train trip to Siberia!

Well, what can be gained by sending 'Odin' to the Gulags? He's not even officially alive, he doesn't exist on paper, he cannot publicly oppose Stalin, he can only advise, the whole committee only lives by the Secretary General's mercy from the onset, that's part of it's point.

Agreed! Its not pedrantry, just accuracy ;)

Took the words right out of my mouth...
 
Well, what can be gained by sending 'Odin' to the Gulags? He's not even officially alive, he doesn't exist on paper, he cannot publicly oppose Stalin, he can only advise, the whole committee only lives by the Secretary General's mercy from the onset, that's part of it's point.
Fair point - Odin may as well act as if Uncle Joe trusts him. The alternative is being actually dead instead of notionally dead o_O
 
It seems incoherent that there is now way to have an idea of what kind of tanks are posted just across the border from our units. Not details, the general type of tank... I mean, they can see that there are tanks there, so they can see the general shape of the vehicles...
I agree with you. You did find a good solution though.

A thought only...imvho, Since you are fated to tell the tale of Stavka's actions? I don't see tagging and getting any facts/info you want (like in this case) as cheating in any way.

The clock is ticking Comrade.:)
 
Fair point - Odin may as well act as if Uncle Joe trusts him. The alternative is being actually dead instead of notionally dead o_O

exactly, there is a good reason "uncle Joe" and me set up the Committee this way....

I agree with you. You did find a good solution though.

A thought only...imvho, Since you are fated to tell the tale of Stavka's actions? I don't see tagging and getting any facts/info you want (like in this case) as cheating in any way.

Glad you approve of my course of action. And running the Army through the AI does ad a layer of protection against possible 'insider invading'... And seeing Royal Tigers (Pzkpfw VI Tiger II aka. "Königstiger") this early was quite the surprise.

The clock is ticking Comrade.:)

Indeed it is...
 
Tiger IIs already? Oh boy - who knows when the Super Heavies will start to show up. Still, I am more worried about the Luftwaffe.

I guess we all understand that Norway is just not going to change until the Fall of France but it does seem somewhat silly that neither faction can DO anything with it right now.

The Germans has almost totally encircled Paris. The Fall of Paris may not end up the last nail in the coffin of France. BUT it looks like Germany is bypassing it on both sides - grabbing as much as it can before Italy jumps in. I wonder if they will go for the Vichy option?

I wonder if Germany will try to aid Italy in Africa or focus on Northern Europe or go after the UK after this?
 
I agree with you. You did find a good solution though.

A thought only...imvho, Since you are fated to tell the tale of Stavka's actions? I don't see tagging and getting any facts/info you want (like in this case) as cheating in any way.
Agree also - have done something similar with my AAR - as long as it is logical and not being used to game the system, it helps the storytelling. Which in the end is what an AAR is about. And you're the only one you need to convince - but I know exactly what you are feeling about it: defeat by the AI before dishonour! ;)
 
15th of September 1940, 'Tri', call about the fall of France, Kaunas fortifications
The 15th of September 1940, Kaunas, 4,2°C, 10am Moscow Time

I had been in Kaunas for a few days now, doing the rounds of our newest Machine Gun Bunkers wile they mount the Machine-Guns, as well as admiring the quite recently expanded Air Base.

KaunasBunker.jpg

A picture of one of the new bunkers, in the forests near Kaunas (Picture of an actual ww2 Soviet Bunker in Palanga, Lithuania)
When, coming back from my morning walk past the new bunkers, I walked past 3ya Armiya HQ, I was called inside by a clerk. It seems 'Tri' had called the HQ exactly 10 seconds before I walked past, so that the clerk just had the time to run outside and call me in for the call, he never ceases to amaze me...

"I think this was long expected, but the time has finally come, Paris has fallen, and France with it. Well it was more drawn out than expected... the Capital had been encircled for three days before the defence collapsed, this might not seem like much, but the garrison consisted of three binary Garrison units with Military Police Detachments.... Now that the French have become a Government in Exile, their Armies on the continent have been disbanded, and it has become apparent just how little support they actually received from the United Kingdom. The only Allied unit left in France is a single Royal Marines Division, which is, for obscure reasons, the only unit within a full Belgian chain of command. This is, to say the least, bizarre, as the Belgian Army has been disbanded a while ago, and it seems the Belgians set up this entire string of HQ's, just for this expeditionary Division. There are also some Dutch HQ's left as well. It seems the Germans are annexing France outright, while giving just Nice to the Italians. The entire Diplomatic service is now on the edge of their seats, awaiting where Germany will concentrate it's attention now, bets have been placed and questions have been raised. North Africa? Wrapping up Norway? Taking a stab at the UK? The Balkans? Or maybe straight for Moscow? The truth is, only the Germans know for sure, all we can do is bet and speculate... I've sent some maps to 3ya Armiya HQ, you should be getting them within the hour. The Armistice was signed at midnight, so I sent them ahead... Always nice to hear your voice... until next time"

ParisEncircled1940_13:09:40.jpeg

France on the morning of the 13th of September,
Paris has already been encircled for about a day at this point.

FranceMomentsBeforeSurrender14:09:40.jpeg

French front lines at the time the Armistice and unconditional surrender was signed. By that time the Germans had taken
Besancon again, as well as Orléans for the first time.

FranceConquered15:09:40.jpeg

France after German annexation. The 2 province Belgian pocket around
Blois contains the Royal Marines Division, while the others only contain HQ's. So, to sum up British losses... 1 Royal Marines Division in the Netherlands, and 1 Royal Marines Division in France.

EuropeanAxis15:09:40.jpeg

The European Axis
Germany has about tripled in size since the start of the war...
Note the uprising in Albania, still not dealt with by the Italians.
We also see Romania's uncomfortable position between Hungary and Bulgaria. If Yugoslavia is incorporated into the axis in some way, they may really be in trouble if they ever have a war with the Axis...
Well, it's the moment we've all been dreading, and waiting for, the fall of France.

I have a flight to catch back to
Moskva. I'm playing steward again...this time to some high ranking commissar.

I should be back in time to send out my usual report tomorrow,

Greetings,

'Odin'
 
Tiger IIs already? Oh boy - who knows when the Super Heavies will start to show up. Still, I am more worried about the Luftwaffe.

Well, you know there are only to answers to the question: How to deal with Super Heavies?
Waves of Il-2 Shturmovik's,
and just going around them with faster tanks (so any other type of tank will do for this...)

I guess we all understand that Norway is just not going to change until the Fall of France but it does seem somewhat silly that neither faction can DO anything with it right now.

The Germans has almost totally encircled Paris. The Fall of Paris may not end up the last nail in the coffin of France. BUT it looks like Germany is bypassing it on both sides - grabbing as much as it can before Italy jumps in. I wonder if they will go for the Vichy option?

Paris was he final nail in France's coffin... with such a low NU and 30 VP's in Paris, it was always pretty unlikely to end any other way...
It doesn't look like the Vichy option to me, but maybe they'll change their mind in a few days...

I wonder if Germany will try to aid Italy in Africa or focus on Northern Europe or go after the UK after this?

So do we all... It's the hot topic in the corridors of Non-Axis Europe, be it in London, Madrid, Lisboa, Stockholm, Dublin, Beograd, Athina, Ankara, or Oslo (this one in particular..).

Agree also - have done something similar with my AAR - as long as it is logical and not being used to game the system, it helps the storytelling. Which in the end is what an AAR is about. And you're the only one you need to convince - but I know exactly what you are feeling about it: defeat by the AI before dishonour! ;)

"Defeat by the AI before dishonour", I should put that in my signature...
 
16th of September 1940, 'Odin', 10-day report #135
The 16th of September 1940, Vologda, 2,0°C, 10am Moscow Time,

Report on the state of the Soviet Union for the ten day period between the 7th and the 16th of September 1940,

by 'Odin'

Army:
2 new Eng Regiments have been deployed to 76 GvSD and 77 GvSD, all the Divisions of LT. General Popov M.M.'s XXIX GvSK, 3rd Army Group, Brjansk HQ now have a Regiment of Engineers.
A newly trained Motx3, SP Art, Eng Division has been delivered. 109. MSD hoins Lt. General Krasnopevtsev's XXX MSK, Armoured Army Group, STAVKA.
A Regiment's worth of Su-152 Self-Propelled Artillery has been delivered. 37. GvSAP will add even more punch to Maj. General Shtern's 1. GvTD, I GvTK, 2ya Tankovaya Diviziya, Armoured Army Group, STAVKA.

Army numbers (Brigades/Personnel) Reserves included (these numbers don't include regiments being upgraded):
Front line troops: 587 / 1.761.000
Support troops: 197 / 197.000
Total fighting troops: 784 / 1.958.000
Headquarters: 56 / 56.000
Total Army Personnel: 840 / 2.014.000
Officers: 73.123 + / 83.950 needed / 87,103 %
Active Leaders: 235 / 112 more available
Another Motx3, SP Art, Eng Division has started training, this one will also join XXX MSK
2 more Eng Regiments have started training
Production of Su-152's continues for another SP Art Regiment.
Army Leadership:
New Maj. General Filippovsky SK2 has been placed in command of the of 109. MSD, XXX MSK, Armoured Army Group, STAVKA.
Air Force:
100 LaGG-3 Interceptors, forming 56. IAD have been deployed, they have joined Air Lt. General Rychagov's IV IAK, bringing it up to the standard 4xInt.
100 Il-2's have also finished production, 72. ShAD has joined Air Lt. General Novikov's II ShAK, bringing it up to the standard 2xCAS, Ftr.

Aeroplane Numbers (Wings/Planes):
Interceptors: 20 / 2000
Multi-Role Fighters: 2 / 200
Close Air Support: 4 / 400
Carrier Air Groups: 5 / 500
Single Engined: 31 / 3.100
Tactical Bomber: 4 / 400
Total Bombers: 8 / 800
Transport Planes: 1 / 100
Total VVS: 31 / 3.100
Total Navy: 5 / 500
Total Airplanes: 36 / 3.600
Active Leaders: 12 / 18 Reserve
Production continues, on another 100 LaGG-3's,
and on another 100 Il-2's.
Navy:
No changes in the Navy for the last 10 days
Politics / International:
Bulgaria has mobilised
Germany has conquered and Annexed France.
France has become a Government in exile, Hanoi is now it's capital. They talk about the Shame of Defeat.
The United Kingdom has called this moment in time Their Finest Hour, as they stand alone in the face of Axis Aggression.
The Norwegian Front
Norway (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 85,2
Germany (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 86,0
index.php

The Front in Norway has not moved an inch for 20 days...
British North Africa Front
United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 77,7
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
BNAF16:09:40.jpeg

The British have moved past Tobruch, they have reached al Jabal al Akhda, 100km to the West, and are on their way towards Bengasi. If the Germans want to save Libya, they better hurry up, because the British aren't waiting around for the Wehrmacht to arrive.
French North Africa Front
France is a Government in exile.
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
index.php

Still no movement here either
East Africa & Ethiopia Front
Ethiopia (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 75,8
France is a Government in exile.
United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 77,7
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
EEAF16:09:40.jpeg

The Ethiopians have taken back Diredawa, probably with Italian help, this moves the French away from Addis Ababa. Meanwhile the French took back Djibouti from the Italians.
Industry:
Working Industrial Capacity / available capacity: 236 / 318
IC Usage: ( Allocated IC / Need )
Upgrades: 37,76 / 38,81
Reinforcement: 3,10 / 3,12
Supplies: 11,12 / 37,79
Production: 237,40 / 237,40
Consumer Goods: 28,62 / 28,62
Stockpiles:
Energy: Maximum tonnes =
Metal: 86.054 tonnes +
Rares: 30.053 tonnes +
Crude: Maximum barrels +
Supplies: 26.953 tonnes -
Fuel: 99.259 barrels -
Money: 1.975 +
Intelligence:
Spy numbers, spies in (active / added / lost / caught by us)
France (Covert Operations / Counterespionage): 5 / 0 / 1 / 0
{ Germany (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }
{ Japan (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }
{ UK (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }​
Other: 0 / 0 / 0 / 1
Total: 5 / 0 / 1 / 1
Reserves: 9
Spy training leadership expenditure: 0,19
Australian Spy hunters caught another one of our spies in France.
We have so far recruited 11 like-minded Covert Operatives in our French sleeper cell.
Research:
No completed projects, no new Research projects.
No changes to LS Distribution
Statistics:
National Unity: 82,973 (+0,01)
Neutrality: 0,00 =
Dissent: 0,00 =
Manpower:
Available: 1.997.000 Men
To reinforce(need): 4.240 Men
To mobilise(need): See above
Monthly gain: 48.200 Men (1 fully mobilised Infx3, AT Division every 7 days)​
No changes in Party Popularity
Party Organisation:
- Communist Party: 70,22 (+0,1)
- Trotskyite: 11,20 =
- Bukharinite: 6,30 =

- Octobrist: 6,80 =
- Trudoviks: 3,60 =
- Social-Revolutionary: 0,00 =
- Kadets: 0,00 =

- Tsarists: 0,70 =
- NTS: 1,10 =
- POA: 0,00 =
This Information is accurate on the morning of the 16th of September 1940, I hope it serves you well in fine-tuning your possible suggestions.

'Odin'
 
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OOC: If you ever need a "spy" to peek at your save and give you some facts about another nation without giving too much away I am more then willing to volunteer. I would just have to try to find where to put the saves to load them. :confused:
 
OOC: If you ever need a "spy" to peek at your save and give you some facts about another nation without giving too much away I am more then willing to volunteer. I would just have to try to find where to put the saves to load them. :confused:

FYI Save files location:

PC, purchased on Steam or Paradoxplaza:
Documents -> Paradox Interactive -> Hearts of Iron III -> save games

Mac OS El Capitan and newer, purchased on Mac Appstore:
Library-> Containers -> com.vpltd.hoi3collection-MAS -> GameDocuments -> Paradox Interactive -> Hearts of Iron III -> save games

(this one is tough to find, as 'Library' is a hidden folder, I made a desktop shortcut so I don't have to find it again every time I back up my game...I don't even remember how you get to see the hidden 'Library' folder...)​

So no matter the discount, don't buy a Paradox game from the App store... they'll bury your files really deep...

Hmm, so no Vichy?

Doesn't look like it... Maybe the Germans concluded that as the Soviet Union just took over Finland, they might as well do the same with France...
 
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23rd of September 1940, Afnasy to Nikolaj #1, Excercises near lake Baikal, life in the Mountain Rifles
The 23rd of September 1940, Mogocha, near the Stanovoi mountains, -2.7°C, 1am Moscow Time

Dear Nikolaj Fjodorovich, dear Brother,


About half a year ago I was transferred to 2nd Platoon, 1st Mountain Rifle Company, 864. Mountain Rifle Battalion, 9. Gornostrolkovyy Polk, 60. Gornostrelkovaya Diviziya, then based in the Caucasus, facing Turkey. Seeing my name (your name), and the fact that I held the rifle the right way, they decided to immediately make me Squad leader (Otdelenniy komandir), which means I am a commander of 10 men. It's not your 11.000 men, but it's a start...

I only write to you now as it wasn't really possible to send out letters through people I trust while we were on our seemingly endless train voyage. What an idea to move an entire corps of Mountaineers from the Caucasus all the way past Mongolia and East of Lake Baikal, for a training exercise. Were the Caucasus mountains not good enough? Maybe we could have gone to the Ural's or the Himalayas? There must be some other reasoning to our move, but the brass keep their mouths shut.

My squad thus has 10 men, on paper we should have a variety of weapons, but in practice, the only variety we have is that we have a single 7.62mm Pulemjot 1939 Light Machine-Gun with a dedicated Gunner, otherwise we all have the obsolescent AVS 1936 Rifle. Our company's Starshina did say that newer weapons are on their way to us, but considering how long we took to get here, we'll have to see when we get our hands on them.

It's quite cold out here, and it's only September, but we do have winter clothes. No one tells me anything, but seeing the map of the planned exercises on the Captain's table, we must be here in case the Japanese attack. The map had all sorts of lines drawn in the mountains around Lake Baikal, in what looks like a defensive setup designed to hold back many times our numbers in these narrow mountain passes. What I particularly like about this new posting, is that in the Mountain Rifle units, squads get a lot of independence. In the exercise,
60. Gornostrelkovaya Diviziya has to stop 69. Gornostrelkovaya Diviziya from moving through the Stanovoi Mountains. Each mountain trail is to be guarded by a single squad, and each road, by two squads. As there are 4 squads in each platoon, 4 platoons in each company, 4 companies in each Battalion, 4 Battalions in every Regiment, and 3 Regiments in the Division, that means that there are a total of 768 Squads in the Division, or let's just say that we can cover some ground... But you already knew that, I'm sure your Guards Regiments have a somewhat similar organisational structure.

The men all have experience with mountain climbing and Skiing, but their military training is minimal, let's say that it's the least amount of training you could get away with to still have a functioning army. Of course Mountaineer also got specialist training in the Caucasus, but that's mostly about climbing, skiing and surviving. If we do well, one of the squad leaders could be promoted to Junior Platoon Commander, and I will try my best to whip these men into a well oiled fighting machine...

< Second in command to the Lieutenant >

As for your last letter, the one I received after writing the above... I have to say that I'm happy the Japanese don't seem to have any tanks, that's what we're told anyway... Those German monsters seem truly terrifying...

Thanks for writing to me, I would love to see this correspondence continue, as when the fighting starts, it might be the only way for us to know how things really stand at the other side of the Soviet Union... Considering the current lack of NCO's, and mid level Commissioned Officers, rising through the ranks shouldn't be too hard, and it should allow me to get more reliable information. But we have to move out now, so I will end this here and send it along now.

All the best to you and your wife,

Afanasy Fyodorovich Vatutin
Squad Commander, 2nd Platoon, 1st Mountain Rifle Company, 864. Mountain Rifle Battalion, 9. Gornostrolkovyy Polk,
60. Gornostrelkovaya Diviziya
and your dear junior brother
This short letter was intercepted and photographed, it isn't of as much strategic interest as the others, but it might give some insight into the reality of the soldiers who do the actual fighting... A picture was stapled to the letter with 'the Stanovoi Mountains this Summer' written on the back:

stanovoi_mountain.jpg

Notes from your WritAAR:
Strashina = Company Sergeant Major in the US Army (approximately the same role)
For this one I have had to do some serious digging on low level command structures and ranks, especially to find out how things were in the Soviet Union at this moment in time. I still had to improvise some numbers though, but this isn't entirely crazy as many of these varied throughout the Red Army... What is accurate is everything from Platoon level down, as I found a very clear analysis on this on this website:

http://www.avalanchepress.com/BehindCounters3.php
It's an article about the make-up of WW2 Soviet Infantry (RIfle) Platoons.
If any of you know more about exact command structures below the Regiment level in the Red Army, or see an inherent problem with how it is presented here, (Maybe you were in an Army at some point), please point this out, it can only add to the realism. This is the first time I try to portray a low level command structure, and my knowledge on this is limited, but I think it's worth it to have an account from down in the trenches...

 
26th of September 1940, 'Odin', 10-day report #136
The 26th of September 1940, Vologda, 2,0°C, 10am Moscow Time,

Report on the state of the Soviet Union for the ten day period between the 17th and the 26th of September 1940,

by 'Odin'

Army:
No changes to Army numbers for the last 10 days
Officers: 73.623 + / 83.850 needed / 87,803 %
Active Leaders: 235 / 112 more available
Air Force:
No changes to the VVS, nor the Navy Air Arm for the last 10 days
Navy:
No changes in the Navy for the last 10 days
Politics / International:
The Norwegian Front
Norway (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 85,2
Germany (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 85,8
GNW26:09:40.jpeg

Now that France has fallen, the Germans seem to have finally concentrated their troops in Norway on Oslo. The took Rollag, Drammen and Tonsberg in short order. The Norwegian Army was elsewhere, trying to recover lost ground when the Germans reached their Capital. It was finally saved by the timely delivery by the Royal Navy, of a Division of British paratroopers, straight into Oslo. It seems British strategy of sending a single Special Forces Division to help it's Allies is finally showing some dividends... The Airborne Division has been placed into the Norwegian chain of command. (I forgot to take a screenshot, but when the front was moving up, a couple of subs were sent out to look at the units in and Around Oslo.)
British North Africa Front
United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 77,7
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
BNAF26:09:40.jpeg

The British continue their advance into Libya, they have reached El Mechili, 116 km from Bengasi, their advance having only slowed down slightly because of the rougher terrain.
French North Africa Front
France is a Government in exile.
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
FNAF26:09:40.jpeg

After the Fall of France itself, the French have decided to push back in North Africa. It is not clear how this happened, maybe the French Army extracted a few units from Europe at the last moment, or maybe units that were ready to be shipped off towards the defence of the Fatherland have been held in North-Africa. The fact remains that an exiled France has started fighting it's way back to Tunis with the capture of Mateur. Things are not looking good for the Italians in North Africa...
East Africa & Ethiopia Front
Ethiopia (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 75,8
France is a Government in exile.
United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 77,7
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
EEAF26:09:40.jpeg

No movement here for the last ten days...
Industry:
New Industrial complexes have been delivered in Uray and Berezniki, they have just started gearing up.
Industrial Complexes are now being built in Makhnevo and Uray.
The first Machine Gun Bunkers (Level 1) in Kyiv have been completed
The same type of fortifications (Level 1) will now be built in Odessa.

The Air Bases of Demjansk, Berezan and Homel can now support the long term deployment of 700 Aircraft each, with their large maintenance facilities and three hardened runways each. (Level 7). Further expansion has been halted for now.
The Air base in Lwow now has a second hardened Runway (Level 4), which means it can efficiently support an entire IAK with it's 400 Interceptors.
An additional Air strip (Level 3) has been delivered in Rezekne Air base.
The new strip will now be hardened, and a pilot's mess will be built (Level 4) in Rezekne to allow for an entire IAK to be stationed here as well.
The Air Base in Novomoskovosk will get a third runway and an Officer's mess (Level 6)
New Air Bases, for now just Air Strips (Level 1), will be built in Vinnytsya in the Ukraine, and in Aksenovo Zilovskoye in the Far East, to the North-East of Mongolia, not too far from our border with Manchukuo.
The Air strip in Tumnin, on the coast of the Tartar straight, will be made into a real base with a hardened runway, a maintenance hangar, and a control tower. (Level 2)
Working Industrial Capacity / available capacity: 236 / 318
IC Usage: ( Allocated IC / Need )
Upgrades: 27,50 / 27,60
Reinforcement: 2,40 / 2,44
Supplies: 22,49 / 37,07
Production: 237,00 / 237,00
Consumer Goods: 28,62 / 28,62
Stockpiles:
Energy: Maximum tonnes =
Metal: 86.558 tonnes +
Rares: 30.062 tonnes +
Crude: 99.950 barrels -
Supplies: 25.757 tonnes -
Fuel: 99.009 barrels -
Money: 1.977 +
Intelligence:
Spy numbers, spies in (active / added / lost / caught by us)
France (Covert Operations / Counterespionage): 5 / 0 / 0 / 0
{ Germany (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 1 }
{ Japan (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }
{ UK (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }​
Other: 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Total: 5 / 0 / 0 / 1
Reserves: 9
Spy training leadership expenditure: 0,19
We have so far recruited 11 like-minded Covert Operatives in our French sleeper cell.
Research:
The VVS has implemented improvements to our Fighter's armament placement and our pilot's tactics, in order to Focus (Level 4) on Targeting enemy Fighters even more.
Better manuals and procedures for Ground Attack Tactics (Level 2) will now be developed.
The Red Army theorists have finally completed their improvements to Schwerpunkt Doctrine (Level 3), which consists on massing tanks on one small part of the front and overwhelming the enemy through speed and firepower. This manual and the training that goes with it should boost the morale of our Tank crews quite a bit.
Now they are looking into ways to speed up the exploitation of such a breakthrough with 'Blitzkrieg' (Level 2)' tactics, with an explicit aim to improve the organisation of our Armoured formations.

No changes to LS Distribution
Statistics:
National Unity: 82,983 (+0,01)
Neutrality: 0,00 =
Dissent: 0,00 =
Manpower:
Available: 2.010.000 Men
To reinforce(need): 2.380 Men
To mobilise(need): See above
Monthly gain: 48.200 Men (1 fully mobilised Infx3, AT Division every 7 days)​
No changes in Party Popularity
Party Organisation:
- Communist Party: 70,72 (+0,5)
- Trotskyite: 11,10 (-0,1)
- Bukharinite: 6,20 (-0,1)

- Octobrist: 6,70 (-0,1)
- Trudoviks: 3,50 (-0,1)
- Social-Revolutionary: 0,00 =
- Kadets: 0,00 =

- Tsarists: 0,60 (-0,1)
- NTS: 1,00 (-0,1)
- POA: 0,00 =
This Information is accurate on the morning of the 26th of September 1940, I hope it serves you well in fine-tuning your possible suggestions.

'Odin'
 
Doesn't look like it Vichy... Maybe the Germans concluded that as the Soviet Union just took over Finland, they might as well do the same with France...
Well that's an interesting twist.

This time if Italy can win around Tunis, they keep the gains. However, the bad news for Italy is fighting a two-front war in Africa that I seriously doubt it can win. I cannot help but think one of your "shadows" played a role in no-Vichy?:D
 
6th of October 1940, 'Odin', 10-day report #137
The 6th of October 1940, Vologda, 2,0°C, 10am Moscow Time,

Report on the state of the Soviet Union for the ten day period between the 27th of September and the 6th of October 1940,

by 'Odin'

Army:
Our first Division of Paratroopers has been delivered, for now 1. Vozdushno-Desnataya Diviziya reports directly to STAVKA, but in time a special HQ will be set up for our Paratrooper Divisions.
A Regiment's worth of Su-152 Self-Propelled Artillery has been delivered. 41. GvSAP will reinforce Maj. General Golikov's 2. GvTD, I GvTK, 2ya Tankovaya Diviziya, Armoured Army Group, STAVKA.

Army numbers (Brigades/Personnel) Reserves included (these numbers don't include regiments being upgraded):
Front line troops: 590 / 1.770.000
Support troops: 198 / 198.000
Total fighting troops: 788 / 1.968.000
Headquarters: 56 / 56.000
Total Army Personnel: 844 / 2.024.000
Officers: 74.125 + / 84.400 needed / 87,826 %
Active Leaders: 236 / 111 more available
Another Parx3 Division has started training.
Production of Su-152's continues for another SP Art Regiment.
Army Leadership:
New Maj. General Galanin I.V. SK2 has been placed in command of the new 1. VDD, STAVKA.
Air Force:
100 LaGG-3 Interceptors, forming 73. IAD have been deployed, they will be the first planes of the brand new VI. IAK.
Aeroplane Numbers (Wings/Planes):
Interceptors: 21 / 2.100
Multi-Role Fighters: 2 / 200
Close Air Support: 4 / 400
Carrier Air Groups: 5 / 500
Single Engined: 32 / 3.200
Tactical Bomber: 4 / 400
Total Bombers: 8 / 800
Transport Planes: 1 / 100
Total VVS: 31 / 3.100
Total Navy: 5 / 500
Total Airplanes: 36 / 3.600
Active Leaders: 13 / 17 Reserve
Production continues, on another 100 LaGG-3's
VVS Leadership:
New Air Maj. General Rog SK3, has taken command of the new 73. IAD.
Navy:
No changes in the Navy for the last 10 days
Politics / International:
No legislative changes
France has finally officially come to terms with the Fall of Paris, this changes nothing on the ground.
The Norwegian Front
Norway (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 85,2
Germany (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 85,8
GNW06:10:40.jpeg

The British Paratroopers having given the Norwegians an extra edge and some time to reorganise, they have pushed back the Germans to the Numendalslågen river. In the process they took back Drammen, Tonsberg and Kongsberg in short order. Oslo is no longer on the front line... again. Will the counter-offensive continue? Did the British Paratroopers give the Norwegians a permanent advantage? Or will this remain an endless stalemate..
British North Africa Front
United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 77,7
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
BNAF06:10:40.jpeg

Seemingly slowed down more by the Mountains around the ancient town of Barce than by any opposition, the British Army has seemingly halted in Awiyat Masus, 77km from Bengasi. Once they get through, or around, those mountains, they will, in all likelihood, take the city in a matter of days.
French North Africa Front
France is a Government in exile.
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
FNAF06:10:40.jpeg

The news is less good for the French in Tunisia, their short-lived offensive seems to have run into some opposition, as they haven't managed to move past Mateur. On their side, the Italians have taken the Mountainous province of Souk Ahras, threatening to encircle the French in Mateur by taking Annaba.
East Africa & Ethiopia Front
Ethiopia (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,00 / 75,8
France is a Government in exile.
United Kingdom (Surrender Progress / NU): 0,0 / 77,7
Italy (Surrender Progress / NU): 5,90 / 79,5
EEAF06:10:40.jpeg

The British have taken back the meaningless province of Malakal, to the East of Ethiopia. That's it, no other movements in this area.
Industry:
The Radar station in Leningrad has been upgraded with more and better electronic equipment.(Level 2->Level 5) Once everything is properly oriented and plugged in, the detection range of the station should increase dramatically.
More Radar detection equipment will be produced (4 'Radar Stations') in our factories, this equipment will be used to set up small scale Radar stations at our main Air Bases.
The Industrial complexes in Berezniki and Uray are halfway through the process of gearing up, we should see full production within days.

Working Industrial Capacity / available capacity: 237 / 319
IC Usage: ( Allocated IC / Need )
Upgrades: 21,10 / 21,15
Reinforcement: 0,70 / 0,78
Supplies: 29,73 / 37,64
Production: 238,76 / 238,76
Consumer Goods: 28,71 / 28,71 (+0,09)
Stockpiles:
Energy: Maximum tonnes =
Metal: 87.057 tonnes +
Rares: 30.063 tonnes +
Crude: Maximum barrels -
Supplies: 25.049 tonnes -
Fuel: 99.214 barrels +
Money: 1.980 +
Intelligence:
Spy numbers, spies in (active / added / lost / caught by us)
France (Covert Operations / Counterespionage): 5 / 0 / 0 / 0
{ Germany (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }
{ Japan (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }
{ UK (/): 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 }​
Other: 0 / 0 / 0 / 0
Total: 5 / 0 / 0 / 0
Reserves: 9
Spy training leadership expenditure: 0,29 (+0,1) See Leadership Distribution
We have so far recruited 12 like-minded Covert Operatives in our French sleeper cell.
Research:
Our best and brightest have finished their task of educating more and better teachers throughout the Soviet Union. This improved level of Education (Level 3) is starting to pay off, and the amount of intellectuals available to all branches of government has significantly increased.
Now our best and brightest have started working on a pet project of theirs, the idea is to cross a tank with an Armoured truck to create a vehicle that can transport soldiers into battle over rough terrain, shielded from even heavy Machine-gun fire. Mechanised Infantry could revolutionise our elite Cavalry formations, making them both faster, and tougher. (but also more expensive)

LS Distrubution:
Research: 19,00 (+0,25)
Espionage: 0,29 (+0,10)
Diplomacy: 0,28 (+0,18)
Officers: 10,50 (+0,50) (52,5 officers / day)
Total: 30,07 (+1,04)
Statistics:
National Unity: 82,993 (+0,01)
Neutrality: 0,00 =
Dissent: 0,00 =
Manpower:
Available: 2.010.000 Men
To reinforce(need): 1.480 Men
To mobilise(need): See above
Monthly gain: 48.200 Men (1 fully mobilised Infx3, AT Division every 7 days)​
Party Popularity:
- Communist Party: 53 (+1)
- Trotskyite: 9 (+4)
- Bukharinite: 2 (-4)

- Octobrist: 6 (+6)
- Social-Revolutionary: 4 (-4)
- Trudoviks: 7 (+2)
- Kadets: 7 (-3)

- Tsarists: 1 (+1)
- NTS: 0 =
- POA: 11 (-2)
There has been much realignment within the popular opinion. With the National-Socialists finally losing some popularity. In the Capitalist regions, people's opinions are spread more evenly among the 4 contending factions, and on the left, people are wholeheartedly turning towards the Trotskyites (who, despite Trotsky's betrayal, are still represented in the Government). Even the Communist Party's popularity has crept up, albeit by a meagre 1%. The government is still fractured, but it is less so than last month, things are moving in the right direction...
Party Organisation:
- Communist Party: 70,82 (+0,1)
- Trotskyite: 11,00 (-0,1)
- Bukharinite: 6,10 (-0,1)

- Octobrist: 6,60 (-0,1)
- Trudoviks: 3,40 (-0,1)
- Social-Revolutionary: 0,00 =
- Kadets: 0,00 =

- Tsarists: 0,50 (-0,1)
- NTS: 0,90 (-0,1)
- POA: 0,00 =
This Information is accurate on the morning of the 6th of October 1940, I hope it serves you well in fine-tuning your possible suggestions.

'Odin'
 
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This time if Italy can win around Tunis, they keep the gains. However, the bad news for Italy is fighting a two-front war in Africa that I seriously doubt it can win.

Well, it seems that the Italians shift their troops one way and then the other, never fighting effectively on both fronts... Now they have stalled the French, but the British are advancing, and maybe in ten days they will have shifted the bulk of their troops towards the defence Bengasi.

I cannot help but think one of your "shadows" played a role in no-Vichy?:D

Considering our spy presence in France, I wouldn't be surprised if a Soviet Asset dissuaded Pétain from going for an early surrender and Vichy France, probably through blackmail, or threats on his life... This may have made it impossible for the Germans to form a semi-respectable puppet government...We still haven't received the full reports from our French spies, as they had to relocate to Northern Africa and French Indochina in a hurry after the fall of France. An initiative by a Committee asset amongst them would not surprise me either...
 
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