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It would be grand to keep Romania alive throughout, but a difficult challenge. At least the Soviets don’t need all that Gulf oil as much as the West does. And we’re happy to ship them as much as they want, give them port access rights, etc. And be responsible for all the local revolt suppression, too. A good deal for Uncle Joe, I’d have thought.
I just realised...most of that OTL blitz was through horses dragging guns and not mechanised warfare. Maybe that's why Germany never does as well againsy France in your games. They keep trying to use tanks. Just tanks, with no horses or men backing them up?
I doubt we can hold romania forever if the germans break through the Russian line unless they focus on Russia and italy and Hungary are really, really crap at their jobs. So I guess it's possible but I wouldn't hold out hope. Turkey has used up all of its luck for the next 12 centuries on its expansions this far.
I just realised...most of that OTL blitz was through horses dragging guns and not mechanised warfare. Maybe that's why Germany never does as well againsy France in your games. They keep trying to use tanks. Just tanks, with no horses or men backing them up?
I doubt we can hold romania forever if the germans break through the Russian line unless they focus on Russia and italy and Hungary are really, really crap at their jobs. So I guess it's possible but I wouldn't hold out hope. Turkey has used up all of its luck for the next 12 centuries on its expansions this far.
We dare to dream, but can still tell the difference between that and ‘reality’ (well, game reality, you know what I mean). That luck is about to be tested again.
What would it take for the new turkish republics to survive long term guys? What land must be taken and held, what goverment type must be put in place, how nice can they be to the various peoples in the new empire?
I ask because I genuinely don't know how a hegemonic empire like Austria Hungary or the ottomans can exsist in such a nation state full world. So experts in the period and the cold war, what shouod Turkey's war goals and aims be so they are in the best position to surive the coming century?
What would it take for the new turkish republics to survive long term guys? What land must be taken and held, what goverment type must be put in place, how nice can they be to the various peoples in the new empire?
I ask because I genuinely don't know how a hegemonic empire like Austria Hungary or the ottomans can exsist in such a nation state full world. So experts in the period and the cold war, what shouod Turkey's war goals and aims be so they are in the best position to surive the coming century?
Good question, will be interested in any answers. I’ve cosmetically handled it in-AAR as a kind of para-Soviet federated set up with a one-party secular dictatorship based on personality cult. I’d give it a lot less time than the SU in OTL though. Fortunately, for game purposes, I don’t need to worry about it. An interesting hypothetical though.
PS To All: will definitely have to break the last week of March plus month-end reporting into two parts. Just too much happening on the Yeniceri Front: more action in one week than nine months, almost!
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Chapter 118: Into the Vortex (24 to 28 March 1941)
Chapter 118: Into the Vortex (24 to 28 March 1941)
Prologue
Monaco is currently following a policy of pro-Axis neutrality. The sympathies of Monaco’s ruler, Prince Louis II were strongly pro-French but he has tried and so for succeeded in keeping Monaco neutral during Great War 2. He supports the Vichy French government of his old army colleague, Marshal Philippe Pétain. But his tiny principality is tormented by domestic conflict, partly as a result of Louis' indecisiveness and also because the majority of the population is of Italian descent and they support the fascist regime of Italy's Benito Mussolini. Prince Louis' vacillation has caused an enormous rift with his grandson Rainier, the heir to the throne, who strongly supports the Allies against the Nazis.
Prince Louis II of Monaco (b. 12 July 1870) as Louis Honoré Charles Antoine Grimaldi in Baden-Baden, Germany. He was the only child of Prince Albert I of Monaco and succeeded him on his death in 1922. Louis II’s early reign has seen the Monaco Football Club formed in 1924, while in 1929, the first Grand Prix of Monaco automobile race was held. But the current circumstances have caused his rule to be very troubled. The independence of his little country survives on a knife’s edge.
Into this den of intrigue, glamour and money, Colonel Mükkerim ‘Mike’ Ceylan, Turkish Defence Attaché to Switzerland and espionage chief for Western Europe, has sent his underwhelming brother, Alfredo, as an emissary to work in partnership with local 'colourful gambling identity' (ie ruthless strongarm man) Marcello Verdi (a.k.a. ‘Mo Green’).
Marcello Verdi (known in the underworld as ‘Mo Green’) runs a large casino in Monte Carlo: he is a bit of a 'wise guy'. Verdi has strong Italian mafia connections, though no links (known to Turkey, anyway) with the Tattaglias. Before Sonny was killed, Verdi agreed to a partnership using Turkish money siphoned off from Immobiliare for a ‘silent’ majority ownership of his Grand Casino in Monaco.
Fredo has been sent by Mike to learn the casino business and represent Turkish interests in Verdi’s operation. Mike wants to use Monaco – and a silent partnership in the casino business there - to generate funds for their European operations and use it as a staging base for their future plans to infiltrate Italy and rebuild their French spy network. It is also a way to get him out of the way – he did not cover himself in glory during the assassination attempt on his father, Ambassador 'Vito' Ceylan. He has always been considered a bit simple and something of a disappointment.
Mike and Fredo Ceylan in Zurich: “Fredo, I am sending you to Monaco to learn the casino business under the protection of Marcello Verdi. You can rest there and get over this terrible business with Papa.” “Sure, Mikey, whatever you say. I’ll learn the business.” Mike does his best to hide his disappointment – suspicion, even – in Fredo’s actions surrounding the attempt on his father. While Fredo would not knowingly do anything to harm Vito, he is easily duped and could be used as a pawn by others. Best he’s removed from the espionage and underworld hotbed of neutral Switzerland.
“I will be in Monaco soon to check on things,” says Mike as Fredo gets into a chauffeured car and on his way to Monaco, via neutral Vichy France.
---xxx---
24 Mar 41 (afternoon)
On the afternoon of 24 March, back home, Tom Rosencrantz is putting together the ‘Victory in Arabia’ edition of the tabloid propaganda sheet and Pravda rip-off Şanli Ülkü (the ‘Glorious Truth’). Perse is readying orders for new Glorious Union Flags, posters and working on the best title for the newest Glorious National Republic.
But back at HQ 1st Army in Kraljevo, the focus is fixed firmly on the front [not on alliteration]. Contact had been made at midday in the Turkish attack on the phase 3 Op KURT SÜRÜSÜ objective of Srboban. If successful, this attack should cut of the Italian 41st Div in Novi Sad and rip a three-province-wide gap in the Axis line. Hungarian resistance was such that the Air Force had been ordered to conduct ground attacks in support: 1 Tak Bombardiman (Blenheim TACs) and 2 Avci Filo (I-16 INTs) are in-bound.
At 2pm, an aide runs in, bearing two separate quick reports “Sir, more contact reports!” he says, and he hands them to General (and President) Inönü.
“Srboban again?” he asks.
“One of them sir, but you had better look at the other one first.” A busy late-morning was about to get even more hectic.
“Timisoara!” says Inönü aloud as he peruses the first of the reports. It is that evil genius, MAJGEN Geyr von Schweppenberg and his infernal SS-Verfügungstruppe again – plus two Hungarian divisions in support, attacking on two fronts. Soviet MAJGEN Kolomiyets is in charge, as two Soviet divisions are currently in Timisoara, boosting its defence. The pride of the Turkish Army, 1 Inf Div, is well dug-in and leads the Comintern defence. This is clearly an attempt to distract focus from Op KURT SÜRÜSÜ to the immediate south-west. The brand new 1 Mot Div is also there – this is their first taste of combat. It is a serious attack, but the odds are on the defence holding.
Turkish infantry and BT-7M tanks from 1 Mot Div move up to defensive positions against attacking German SS and Hungarian infantry in Timisoara, 24 March 1941.
---xxx---
The next report is from Srboban – the air attack has gone in, but the Hungarians have scrambled three fighter wings to intercept them. The Turkish I-16 fighters have clear superiority over their opponents machine-on-machine (in part because the Hungarians are crowding themselves due to the size of their formation, making coordination more difficult) but are outnumbered 3-1! This could get ugly, quickly. Örlungat bravely continues with his ground attack. But, an hour later, another two Hungarian fighter wings join the fray! The old Blenheims begin taking more serious damage: the raid is called off, but as it is already in progress, it will take some time for them to disengage. There is a serious risk of one or both wings being wiped out.
In the CP, the aviation radio net is on speaker again:
“Kırmızı Leader this is Güclu Control. We have reports of two more wings of bandits heading your way, bearing from the north-west.”
“Güclu Control, it’s Kırmızı Leader – they’re already here!” There is a pause while the sound of machine gun fire can be heard. “They’re all over us!”
“Mavi-3 this is Mavi Leader, you have three on your tail, disengage, break right, I’ll try to … aarrggh!” the transmission is abruptly cut off, after what sounds like gunfire ripping through the cockpit.
“I got one, but there are two more on my tail. Bandits everywhere. Kırmızı-4, with me! Help, help!”
More of the same has been going on for minutes now.
“Güclu Control, this is Sunray.” Sunray is the call-sign for Chief of Staff, Air Force Chief and commander 1 Tak Bomardiman, Field Marshal Ali Örlungat. Inönü has forbidden him to fly the sortie but he is monitoring events from his own CP in Beograd. “Get them out of there - now!”
He doesn’t want to say it over the air, but Örlungat is afraid they have been sent into a deathtrap and he may have hardly any air force left by the time they can break contact and make it back to their base in Beograd.
By the time this order was given at 3pm, after just one hour of the mission, 1 Tak Bombardiman had already lost 10% of its aircraft, the fighters of 2 Avci Filo 4%. How many would make it back in one piece? He has an anxious wait back at the airfield in Beograd.
The wreckage of a Turkish Blenheim shot down over Srboban is inspected by Hungarian troops, 24 March 1941.
By 1700, all the aircraft that will return have done so. 1 Tak Bombardiman has lost 18% of its strength and its organisation is completely shot. 2 Avci Filo has fared a little better, losing 8% of its I-16s and with about 50% organisation remaining. It could have been worse. Clearly, even against second-rate Axis minor powers, Turkey needs more and better fighter aircraft if it is to contend the skies. All three wings were now undergoing rest, recovery, reinforcement and repair [again, bravely ignoring the effects of excessive alliteration].
“Mavi-3” surveys battle damage on his I-16 on the tarmac at Beograd, 24 March 1941. "Mavi Leader’s" actions in the skies over Srboban saved him. Though shot down and wounded, "Mavi Leader" managed to bail out and was rescued by advancing Turkish troops from 5 Inf Div. He will eventually return to duty. After being awarded a medal for conspicuous gallantry.
---xxx---
The rest of the evening passed with the attack on Srboban and the defence of Timisoara grinding on.
Gains and Losses.Beius in Romania, two provinces north-east of Timisoara, was seized by the Hungarians. And in the Southern Sector, a Soviet counter-attack once again secured the much-fought-over Shodorow, immediately east of Lwow.
25 Mar 41
Just after midnight, word came through from MAJGEN Naci Tinaz, commander 8 Inf Div: he had assumed tactical command of the defence of Timisoara: both Soviet divisions had pulled out, heading north-east to Lipova (where they had been heading when the battle started), as Hungarian CAS conducts a night raid.
Two hours later, 1 Cav Div arrived in Kula and immediately headed north towards Subotica, which was unoccupied. Op KURT SÜRÜSÜ’s scope was being increased and the advance deepened in the hope of collapsing the Hungarian defences to the east (in Srboban and Senta) by manouevre – and perhaps pocketing some more Axis divisions, which at this point was more important than gaining territory. Huzzah! Meanwhile, 2 Inf Div, having just arrived from reserve into Sabac, was ordered forward immediately to Semska Mitrovica, to help support the exploitation of the breakthrough.
The night raid by the Hungarian CAS in Timisoara finished at 4am and was very ineffective, killing only nine Turkish troops. In Srboban, by 8am the attack by 5, 12 and 15 Inf Divs had forced one Hungarian division to retreat, with the second (the 25th) now very disorganised. Victory is in sight! While all this drama played out on the battlefield, back home the citizens of the UGNR read the headlines on Saudi Arabia’s defeat and annexation the day before. Rosencrantz had done his job – the sycophantic report had the praise laid on thickly!
At 10am, at HQ 1st Army in Kraljevo, the 1st Corps command net burst into life:
“One, this is One-One-Charlie, contact front, infantry, divisional strength, we are attacking, out!”
The Hungarians have scrambled a defence of Subotica: 1 Cav Div has a battle on its hands. This is where the Hungarian 20th Div that left Srboban earlier was heading to! The Hungarians were of course not entrenched, but were well led, if somewhat disorganised from their fight in Srboban. It would be a tough battle.
Yes, I am taking a few liberties here: this is more the kind of thing you would hear at the tactical level. But it is in the spirit of the reports the game provides and is used to convey a little of the urgency for those in contact - and the anxious anticipation of the higher HQ when awaiting further details to emerge. At the very sharp end, you might hear nothing more than "Contact, wait, out!" at first or perhaps "Contact, tank, out!" And then hope you get a follow up report.
A day-time raid by the Hungarian CAS wing on Timisoara finished at 10am and killed 54 soldiers: at least the Axis TAC has not shown up yet. A single CAS wing, even unopposed, was not going to turn this battle for the Hungarians. And so it proved: by 11am, victory was reported, the SS seen off once again, with heavy casualties.
And three hours later, the Hungarians retreat from in Srboban: a great victory with very heavy enemy casualties – especially given they had been defending. Would the pincers of the trap close on the Italians before they could escape Novi Sad?
Even though their attack was over, the Hungarian CAS conducted another raid on Timisoara, with 24 soldiers reported killed at 4pm. The fight for Subotica raged all night, Wehib Pasha pressing ahead with single-minded determination, buoyed by the news of the enemy’s defeat in Srboban: he knew how important it was to keep them on the run and unravel their defence.
OTL Event: Vienna, German Reich. Yugoslavian Prime Minister Dragiša Cvetković signed the Tripartite Pact in Vienna. This was in response to the ultimatum delivered by Hitler on 19 March to agree to join the Axis within five days or face invasion, to which the Yugoslavian cabinet agree the next day.
26 Mar 41
That morning, 2 Inf Div arrived in Semska Mitrovica and was once again ordered forward, this time to Kula, to ensure any further breakthrough would be properly secured. The bulk of 1st Corps was still advancing towards Srboban after their victory there, while 1 Cav Div pounded away to the north in Subotica, alone. But that is what they are designed to do: they are the most powerful offensive unit in the Turkish Army.
“Cub Three secured; I say again, Cub Three secured,” came the next report at midday from MAJGEN Namut, relayed via the Chief of Staff. This meant Srboban had been taken. The trap was complete. The Italians in Novi Sad were now surrounded and attention would turn to eliminating them. 5 and 15 Inf Divs would take more than four days to reorganise for another attack [damn that still-slow doctrine], while 1 Cav Div would soon have even more company in Subotica, where they were slowly making ground. It seemed, though, that many of the Hungarian units were heading throughSubotica to the south-west: they must be worried about the gaps in the line there and a Turkish strike to the west. If so, they were misdirecting their efforts, though it did mean that flank needed guarding. Which Inönü’s foresight was already seeing to.
Turkish troops are welcomed into Subotica as liberators, 26 March 1941.
Just an hour later, Namut reported the Hungarians had attacked them in Srboban – an effort to break the surrounded Italians out, perhaps - who the signals section just reported have changed over to Hungarian command [ie made an EF] in the last hour. But the Turks now have a river defence in their favour and the Hungarian 4th Div will have a very hard time of it, even if they are fresh and the Turks not yet dug in.
Now all hell has cut loose. While 6 and 7 Inf Divs were ordered to attack the Italians in Novi Sad, they (41st Div) have simultaneously attempted a breakout towards Kula (which will hit 1 Cav Div in the rear) while the Hungarian 6th Div to the north in Senta looks like it is on the way to attack the Turkish 6 Inf Div in Ada. The good news is the Italians have left their entrenchments and should be too distracted by the attack of 6 and 7 Inf Divs to do too much damage to 1 Cav Div. The bad news is the attack must go in across a river on both flanks. This is why it was left until last. Things are about to get very complicated!
This time it is MAJGEN Gürler of 6 Inf Div (part of 3rd Corps) who reports contact with the Italians in Novi Sad. While the river crossing is a tough obstacle, the Italians are both surrounded but also (even more significantly) attacking and defending simultaneously, which together balances things out. And which also means the Italians, with their poor general (Gariboldi) are in big trouble.
“One this is One-Twelve, contact rear, out!”
This time it is Eldelhun of 12 Inf Div, which was still on its way to Srboban and had not yet left Kula. It is the Italians’ attempted breakout from Novi Sad, hitting them in the rear. Eldelhun will command the defence of Kula, while Wehib Pasha continues to lead the attack on Subotica.
Troops of the Italian 41st Div in Novi Sad, 26 March 1941: they have their hands full, both to the front and rear.
In the third simultaneous contact report at 2pm, LTGEN Cakmak, Commander 1st Corps, reports the enemy attack spotted earlier heading from Senta has struck them in Ada. This somewhat distracts 6 Inf Div, which is also attacking the Italians in Novi Sad! Which was no doubt the enemy's intention. Cakmak personally takes command of the defence of Ada, thankful he has a frontline defence equivalent in his HQ to a reinforced line brigade. They should be able to hold the attack, but it is a strong one and will take some time to defeat, by the looks of it.
“Ah, Milli Şef, now may be a somewhat busy time, but I have the reports from the rest of the Patriotic Front from the last day and a half.” It is GRU LO SkitalecS3.
“Good news or bad, Skitalec?” ask Inönü.
“Bad, I’m afraid.”
“Very well – it won’t improve with age, give me the reports.” He sighs and accepts a single page from his Soviet attaché.
Gains and Losses. In the Northern Sector, Liepaja, a port on the Baltic, has been occupied by the Germans. In the Central Sector, the Germans have taken Konczyce, where the front is now three provinces east of Brest-Litovsk. The Hungarians have occupied the forested province of Dolina in the Southern Sector and Slovakian troops have retaken Dej in Romania. Grim news indeed.
German troops on the advance in the forests of Liepaja province on the Baltic coast, 26 March 1941. They have picked up the tempo in the Northern Sector recently and are threatening to turn the Soviets' northern flank.
“I am sorry to hear of these reverses, my dear Skitalec. But we will not be swayed from our course here on the Yeniçeri Front. In fact, it makes our task all the more urgent. We will see what we can do to distract these swine, even if it draws the Germans on to us. My aim is to save Romania and to put the brakes on the Germans’ advances elsewhere. If we must retreat back to our original Yeniçeri defences eventually, so be it. The aim is to help stabilise the whole Balkan sector. Please give General Secretary Stalin my warm regards and assurances of solidarity at this testing time for all of us.”
“I certainly will, thank you, Milli Şef.” Skitalec salutes smartly and leaves. At 5pm, the HQ 1st Army prepare a map showing the five current actions in progress: three defences and two attacks. All are proceeding relatively favourably, though three of them are part of simultaneous attacks and defences! The 1st Army Chief of Staff has called it “The Vortex”. Very apt, thinks Inönü.
OTL Event: Yugoslavia. Mass demonstrations and riots occurred throughout Yugoslavia to protest the signing of the Tripartite Pact.
27 Mar 41
In Ankara, a spy from Manchukuo is captured. With everything else going on, even Kaya is not particularly angry: “This is surely not The Thorn. Just shoot him,” he directs, when told the news.
The Battle of Kula quickly becomes pivotal. At 3am, Eldelhun reports that the Hungarian 9th Div has attempted to join the battle, from Backa Palanka (to the south-west). Gariboldi’s desperate shock attack has disrupted the defenders’ attempts to delay them. If the Hungarians can reinforce, the battle could become lengthy and difficult. Meanwhile though, 1 Cav Div continues to improve its position in its attack on Subotica (now up against three Hunagrian divisions) and where one more Hungarian division is heading south-west to Sombor, to plug a large gap in the Axis line there. And the attack on the Italians is gaining ground too: this will exhaust them quickly.
By midday, the enemy has not yet reinforced, though that other division has made it to Sombor and can now be seen heading to attack Kula from yet another direction. But the Italians are failing fast as the attack on Novi Sad enters its decisive point.
At 3pm, the Hungarian 2nd Div attempts to reinforce the attack on Kula from the north-west, but they too are not yet able to get to the front line: if both could, it would even up the scales. But the Italians are at the end of their tether. And an hour later, they surrender, with over 5,500 prisoners taken and one division permanently removed from the Axis orbat. There is great rejoicing at HQs 1st Corps, 3rd Corps and 1st Army: Inönü promulgates an Order of the Day praising all the troops and airmen involved in Op KURT SÜRÜSÜ, which with the destruction of the Italians has now completed all its four phases successfully.
This frees up 1 Cav Div to press home its attack on Subotica, free from the distraction of defending its rear lines. Which they do, scattering the enemy in all directions. And Cakmak has had enough of defending in Ada and wants to move his HQ closer to the centre of the breakout, withdrawing and heading to Novi Sad, where he can also establish a depth defence, just in case things turn bad later. Wehib Pasha reports the victory in Subotica at 5pm – his casualties have been light compared to those of the enemy.
“What are my orders?” the commander 1 Cav Div asks, simply. The question is relayed by Cakmak to Inönü.
The answer is not long in coming, but it is by coded message.
“Keep going, as fast and hard as you can. Reinforcements are on the way. We are going to kick these bastards while they are down. Op KURT SÜRÜSÜ is officially extended. Take Subotica and a new scheme of manouevre will be provided soon. We must consult with our Comintern partners, because what I have in mind will require whatever assistance they can provide to work”
OTL Event: Beograd, Yugoslavia. Dušan Simović and other Serb nationalist officers in the Royal Yugoslav Air Force overthrew Yugoslavia's pro-Axis government (led by the regent, Prince Peter) in a coup d'état. They intended to back out of the Tripartite Pact. When Hitler learned of the coup he issued Directive No. 25 ordering an invasion of Yugoslavia.
28 Mar 41
“One this is One-One, contact, enemy infantry attacking from Sombor, engaging, out!”
1 Cav Div is again impeded in their advance on Subotica, the Hungarian throwing in the under-prepared 7th Div to try to spoil the advance, just after midnight. Wehib Pasha has no such problems, his men surprisingly fresh after their recent exertions. This Hungarian unit has only two brigades, so it is a somewhat desperate act to throw them into this attack alone.
NB: 1 Cav Div does not get the multiple combat penalty this time, as its attack on Subotica is complete, even though it is still trying to advance towards it.
The desperate Hungarian spoiling attack on Srboban runs out of steam by 8am that morning. Hungarian losses are horrific; the river they tried to repeatedly cross runs red with their blood. If part of the aim of the offensive was to bleed the Axis, then it has certainly succeeded so far.
“One this is One-Nine, contact, enemy infantry attempting river crossing from Tuzla, out!”
This time, the experienced MAJGEN Alankup, commanding 9 Inf Div, with the transiting 2 Inf Div in support, is under attack in Semska Mitrovica, the first province seized in the offensive. Fortunately, such a ploy was anticipated, with 9 Inf Div well dug in by now. Even worse for the enemy, they have been ordered to attack across a river. Alankup gives them little chance of making any progress. “Relax,” he counsels his Corps Commander, Cakmak, in a follow-up report. “Unless they get assistance from another flank, we will bathe in their blood.” It does however again delay 2 Inf Div’s move north to follow up 1 Cav Div in Kula.
Inönü gathers his staff mid-morning for a conference.
“All these Hungarian divisions that have been harrying us and trying to spoil the advance: they have come from somewhere – they surely weren’t holding them in reserve. They must have come from the north-east – but how many, and from how far?”
He turns to the chief of his intelligence branch. “Colonel Kaş, I want the latest map of known Axis positions in Romania and a report from the Soviets on Axis dispositions north-east of Timisoara. That’s the direction all the Hungarians have been moving from. Let’s see what opportunities that may give us.”
Later that day, the report is provided and the staff set about putting their commander’s intent into words and maps. His intent is simple:
“Create havoc. Aim to knock Hungary out of the war, like we wanted to last year, before France fell. We probably can’t do it, but if we try hard enough it will badly distract the Axis, perhaps causing the Germans to divert units south. Our first aim is to keep Romania in the war. The rest is aspiration. I want not so much a plan, but a collection of opportunities. We will keep taking them until forced to stop.”
To get all those units to oppose the Turkish offensive, the Hungarians had indeed stripped a number of units from the line north of Timisoara. As a result, during the day, the Soviets have retaken both Arad and Beius from weakened Hungarian defences, exposing a two-to-three-province-wide gap in the line, in the plains heading straight to Budapest! If only the Soviets had a tank corps to throw into the attack. They don’t, but they do have a full infantry corps in the area and a large concentration of Romanian units on their right flank. The rest of the Axis line in Romania is now thinner than it was and Axis progress there has slowed – even been rolled back.
---xxx---
Operation KURT SÜRÜSÜ PLUS
The rest of the day proceeds with heavy fighting, the Hungarians still attacking hard in Ada, plus spoiling attacks on 1 Cav Div in Kula and 9 Inf Div in Semska Mitrovica.
So the ambition is for all three countries to attack at once and see if they can completely unravel the Hungarian line. On the map below, in light green, is Turkey’s initial aim to close a second pincer through Subotica to Kanjiza from the south-west and from Timisoara to Sânnicolau Mare from the east. The objective is to trap the two Hungarian divisions in Senta, both hopefully exhausted from their futile attacks on Srboban (recently beaten back with heavy casualties) and Ada (which is still going but will be taxing the attackers’ organisation and strength). After that, if a large enough gap has been torn in their line and the Soviets follow through as well, it may be possible to make a dash for Budapest and perhaps Pécs[VP locations].
The Soviets have open ground to their front: the primary target is Budapest, but secondary objectives of Pécs to the west and the infamous Debrecen to the north have been suggested. Time will tell if they have the forces and will to do it. The Romanians have been asked to push towards Debrecen from the south-east, to keep the Axis committed and on the hop in that sector. There are two big uncertainties: will the Soviets and Romania even respond? And will the Germans start diverting forces south to reinforce their Hungarian ally if the breakout gathers pace?
“The Wolf Pack has already achieved its objectives. This second phase is exploitation of what we have created through hard fighting. There is some risk involved, but we will take what care is required and can fall back to our original positions if we need to, happy with what we have done. Anything from here on is icing on the cake. Now, get all the orders drafted and cables sent to STAVKA and Bucharest HQ. The next few days may indicate whether we get the opportunity to move past Phase 1 of this new plan and strike deep into enemy territory. My misgiving there is numbers: the further we go, the more stretched we are. And we will be doing it without air support or cover. We need our allies to join in, or this ends at Kanjiza – if we’re lucky.”
OTL Event: Beograd, Yugoslavia. 17-year old Peter II of Yugoslavia, considered by the new government to be of age to take the throne, took the oath of King of Yugoslavia in Beograd as crowds cheered.
Gains and Losses. It has been a hectic day all over the Patriotic Front. In the North, Plunge has been lost again. In the Centre Lesna, three provinces north-east of Brest-Litovsk, has been lost, but the Soviets have retaken the forested Rozyszcze, a similar distance to its south. In the Southern Sector, Poryck (north-east of Lwow) has been taken by German panzers (at least two divisions of them) and Shodorow has been retaken yet again, this time by German and Italian troops.
As mentioned before, Beius and Arad have been won back by the Soviets for Romania, and they have also liberated Dej again. The only loss in Romania in the last day or so is Bologa, taken by a German division under Hungarian command, but it is as yet thinly held and vulnerable to counter-attack. Because of their importance in the context of Op KURT SÜRÜSÜ PLUS, a map of the gains in the last day and the position in north-western Romania is shown below.
Soviet troops advancing into the ‘Arad Gap’, Romania, 28 March 1941.
---xxx---
Coming Up: Will Mike Ceylan enjoy his coming trip to Monte Carlo? Can Turkey and its Comintern partners strike a significant blow against the Hungarians? Will it draw the Germans south? That could be a dangerous proposition, but it is needed to try to halt the German momentum. Will the Soviets and Romania answer the call? Or leave Turkey out on a limb and restrict the possible gains to something more modest? What is happening in the rest of the world? Can the Turkish Air Force, after its rude awakening over Srboban, ever be competitive, even against second-rate Axis counterparts? A silver lining from their earlier fights is that Hungarian and Italian TAC has been conspicuously absent in recent days.
Author’s Note: clearly, with all this action and a monthly summary to include, it was never going to be done in one chapter. It also gave me the chance to throw a few pictures in, as well. So, things have been played through to the end of 31 March and should not take too much longer to write up, as the screenshots have all been edited. Stay tuned in: the pace does not lessen in the final three days of the month!
So, let me get this straight. The Turkish Army made so much noise with Op. KURT SÜRÜSÜ that the Hungarians thought it necessary to strip part of their Romanian front of troops to plug the gap. This is going better than in my wildest, most optimistic dreams...
Maybe Napoleon was right, when applied to this case, maybe offense was the best defence after all?
I do hope that coordination with the Soviet and Romanian Rifle Divisions in Romania will work well enough to strike a decisive blow to the Axis in this Southern sector. Time for some coordinated RAW. If we manage to push Hungary out of the war, that will be one victory the 'Pravda' won't have to exaggerate to boost morale...
Either, we will seriously hurt, or even take out Hungary, or the Germans will pull troops from their Soviet front to hold back the Ottoman hordes... It's a win-win situation.
Stalin was very pleased with the article 'Kemalism-Inonuism and the Comintern March together'. Very nice, 'Pravda' will have a field day with that.
I'm more optimistic after this one than I've been in a couple of weeks, simply outstanding news, and I even got to meet Inonu in person once more.
Apparently the Turks like to use some odd radio speak, though I guess that's up to their "operator" being Aussie... I miss the good old days of our radio comm chatter: "Thunder Main, Thunder Main; Raptor Three Six; departing friendly lines, fifteen vics, forty-five pax, S-P 0800, how copy?"
Or my personal favorite, "Break break break! All gun trucks, Raptor Three Five! IED left side, dead dog with wires to the wall!" (my own transmission).
Apparently the Turks like to use some odd radio speak, though I guess that's up to their "operator" being Aussie... I miss the good old days of our radio comm chatter: "Thunder Main, Thunder Main; Raptor Three Six; departing friendly lines, fifteen vics, forty-five pax, S-P 0800, how copy?"
Or my personal favorite, "Break break break! All gun trucks, Raptor Three Five! IED left side, dead dog with wires to the wall!" (my own transmission).
Heh! Yes, some old-fashioned (and slightly adapted) Aussie ‘ratel’ procedure there (but bear in mind I’m recalling it from the mid-eighties . My own favourite of my own was (and this is close to word for word) and I may have alluded to this some other time in this or another AAR, so apologies if it’s a repeat for anyone:
As I completed an exploit onto the next objective in a live firing exercise attack with my Leopard troop, with medium artillery in support, I cut main armament as we got close and switched to coaxial MG fire. Then noticed trees were still exploding on the objective, a few hundred metres from us and indeed off to our side. They hadn’t lifted the arty barrage yet as we sped towards it. Bloody FOO! I propped (stopped), as did my SGT and CPL in the others tanks.
“One Niner (the Sqn Comd) this is One-Two (me), when’s the arty prep going to lift, over?”
“One Niner, (I can imagine an embarrassed ‘er’ in there, but am not sure now), just lifting that now, over.”
“One-Two Roger, out.” Resumes the advance, brassing up the targets, etc. Nothing more ever said of it.
All good clean fun - back when we weren’t fighting real wars.
this might be the best AAR episode I've ever read. I literally sat on the edge of my chair and my blood is still pumping. I am not singling out any part of it, this was real class.
Yes, I am taking a few liberties here: this is more the kind of thing you would hear at the tactical level. But it is in the spirit of the reports the game provides and is used to convey a little of the urgency for those in contact - and the anxious anticipation of the higher HQ when awaiting further details to emerge. At the very sharp end, you might hear nothing more than "Contact, wait, out!" at first or perhaps "Contact, tank, out!" And then hope you get a follow up report.
“Create havoc. Aim to knock Hungary out of the war, like we wanted to last year, before France fell. We probably can’t do it, but if we try hard enough it will badly distract the Axis, perhaps causing the Germans to divert units south. Our first aim is to keep Romania in the war. The rest is aspiration. I want not so much a plan, but a collection of opportunities. We will keep taking them until forced to stop.”
So, let me get this straight. The Turkish Army made so much noise with Op. KURT SÜRÜSÜ that the Hungarians thought it necessary to strip part of their Romanian front of troops to plug the gap. This is going better than in my wildest, most optimistic dreams...
Maybe Napoleon was right, when applied to this case, maybe offense was the best defence after all?
It surprised me a bit, too, despite all the delays those incessant Hungarian counter-attacks kept imposing. All that precious tech research spent in keeping the infantry up to date and the upgrading of 1 Cav Div with Soviet equipment (still old, perhaps, eg. T-28s) seems to have paid off for now.
I do hope that coordination with the Soviet and Romanian Rifle Divisions in Romania will work well enough to strike a decisive blow to the Axis in this Southern sector. Time for some coordinated RAW. If we manage to push Hungary out of the war, that will be one victory the 'Pravda' won't have to exaggerate to boost morale...
Either, we will seriously hurt, or even take out Hungary, or the Germans will pull troops from their Soviet front to hold back the Ottoman hordes... It's a win-win situation.
Yes, the 'PLUS' plan is classic 'RAW' - but, hope though I might, I doubt the Soviets and Romanians will be quite as willing to use that doctrine themselves. In part (@Eurasia-like) it is an experiment in attempting to influence an AI ally to do something which goes against its own Theatre settings (ie they always say they cannot hold the line and are set to defensive at the moment).
Yes, Uncle Joe must be kept happy! If he doesn't think we are worth having as an ally, he would caste us off in a heartbeat (that's just my commentator's opinion - not something the Milli Sef would say out loud! )
Agree - same here. I honestly thought it more likely we would be looking to one of those fall-back defensive lines by now. It may still happen - and this may end up looking more like the Ardennes offensive of 1944 than 1940 - but I'll ride the horse till it throws me off!
Only in this section of the Patriotic Front. Elsewhere (where the Germans are running things) they continue to grind forward. Turkey is fighting on what I'm assuming is a Hungarian-led Theatre, with only a few German infantry and one SS division thrown in as EFs, plus Italian forces and a few Slovakians. And I believe they had thrown their efforts heavily into their Romanian offensive, which thinned their line in front of me and presented this opportunity.
Quite a few (though not all) of the divisions I've encountered are 2 x INF. It's hard for me to see their detailed make-up, as I so rarely have reports from TAC raids to see what the detailed brigade structures are. And, unlike the more cautious Inonu, I don't think the Hungarians have maintained any central reserves, while the Italians (as we shall see soon) have thrown quite a few units into North Africa. That leaves the Germans: and if they wish to, there is still plenty they can throw our way. It will, however, presumably slow their rate of advance against the Soviets, who are not being blitzed as yet. I doubt whether I'll get to Budapest, but it's exciting to try!
this might be the best AAR episode I've ever read. I literally sat on the edge of my chair and my blood is still pumping. I am not singling out any part of it, this was real class.
High praise, thank you. I took extra time with this episode as so much had happened. I wanted to give a good idea of what happened in a very hectic and complicated session, but without it becoming too confusing to read or 'technical'. I hope it worked and I'm very glad you liked it.
It's the natural choice for an armoured advocate! I don't have much to play with here, and all the lead-up (including holding 1 Cav back a bit at first) was designed to put them in this place at this time, to pass through and then try to punch a hole in the enemy line through shock action. The key is momentum; once the enemy can either bring sufficient forces to hand or settle and entrench, it is lost and the offensive peters out. I've found the game is quite good at simulating this aspect: if you can keep them on the back foot and keep rolling them, you can make great inroads. But once they solidify, it becomes a lot harder.
This is why, in the defence, I advocate the maintenance of a few reserves and depth lines on good terrain to halt enemy offensives - far enough back to allow time for defenders to reorganise and dig in. And why I fear serious German attention: their armour and air power are designed to counter that with speed and hitting power. In this ATL, the Soviets have the sheer numbers to dull that - but Turkey doesn't.
Thank you again - this AAR (my original) is special to me, so I like to inject a bit of flavour into the proceedings and have decided to do this with the brief combat reports and air battles. Air battles are a big thing when you only have three wings of mostly outmoded aircraft up against the main Axis theatre in Europe: very easy to lose them entirely, but pointless having them if you don't use them!
It's the natural choice for an armoured advocate! I don't have much to play with here, and all the lead-up (including holding 1 Cav back a bit at first) was designed to put them in this place at this time, to pass through and then try to punch a hole in the enemy line through shock action. The key is momentum; once the enemy can either bring sufficient forces to hand or settle and entrench, it is lost and the offensive peters out. I've found the game is quite good at simulating this aspect: if you can keep them on the back foot and keep rolling them, you can make great inroads. But once they solidify, it becomes a lot harder.
This is why, in the defence, I advocate the maintenance of a few reserves and depth lines on good terrain to halt enemy offensives - far enough back to allow time for defenders to reorganise and dig in. And why I fear serious German attention: their armour and air power are designed to counter that with speed and hitting power. In this ATL, the Soviets have the sheer numbers to dull that - but Turkey doesn't.
well if we can pull this off with only one cav div, now the decision to license that tank brigade sounds even better than before. If we can cobble together some MECs or something to pair that, we will have a second punch too.
by the way it feels so good since I was an advocate of an operation and part of the hive mind here, it feels like an vicarious accomplishment by proxy
well if we can pull this off with only one cav div, now the decision to license that tank brigade sounds even better than before. If we can cobble together some MECs or something to pair that, we will have a second punch too.
Then keep an eye out for 1 Mot Div (1 x Med Tank, 2 x MOT, 1 x AC) in the next instalment. They were recently repositioned to Timisoara and took part in its defence. And now sit at the front of the right hand pincer ... not quite the hitting power of 1 Cav Div, but their tanks are a little newer and they have speed with the ACs. Perhaps they can have a bit of fun too.
Indeed, this is another example of the readership actually contributing to in-game events through discussions and Cabinet meetings. And it is more realistic to have a variety of perspectives too, even if it is the Milli Sef who must take the final glory when it goes right, and the blame and infamy when it doesn't!
Then keep an eye out for 1 Mot Div (1 x Med Tank, 2 x MOT, 1 x AC) in the next instalment. They were recently repositioned to Timisoara and took part in its defence. And now sit at the front of the right hand pincer ... not quite the hitting power of 1 Cav Div, but their tanks are a little newer and they have speed with the ACs. Perhaps they can have a bit of fun too.
Indeed, this is another example of the readership actually contributing to in-game events through discussions and Cabinet meetings. And it is more realistic to have a variety of perspectives too, even if it is the Milli Sef who must take the final glory when it goes right, and the blame and infamy when it doesn't!
In fact İnönü had a humble personality, my mother remembers waving to him everyday as a schoolgirl when he was studying on a table in the yard of his house with zero bodyguards or anything and he would wave back to all the students
In fact İnönü had a humble personality, my mother remembers waving to him everyday as a schoolgirl when he was studying on a table in the yard of his house with zero bodyguards or anything and he would wave back to all the students
Nice story. This is good to know - that's pretty much the way I've played him in-game, I think. For someone who needs to be the expansionist chief of a Glorious Union, anyway!
Nice story. This is good to know - that's pretty much the way I've played him in-game, I think. For someone who needs to be the expansionist chief of a Glorious Union, anyway!
yes, I actually find the general level of roleplaying of historical characters quite believable and realistic here and you are not Turkish or a Turkish history major so this is really good. If Atatürk lived longer and before dying told İnönü to keep expanding (İnönü would do whatever Atatürk asked of him, and he asked to keep Turkey neutral no matter what in our timeline. Also, Atatürk disdained Hitler a lot: "I do not take orders from a corporal" is what he said when he was asked to stop Turkish embassies to stop smuggling Jews out, so he would have told İnönü to oppose Axis no matter what as well which brings us here and now ); then a glorious republic like this could've been the result
While all this drama played out on the battlefield, back home the citizens of the UGNR read the headlines on Saudi Arabia’s defeat and annexation the day before. Rosencrantz had done his job – the sycophantic report had the praise laid on thickly!
Yes, I am taking a few liberties here: this is more the kind of thing you would hear at the tactical level. But it is in the spirit of the reports the game provides and is used to convey a little of the urgency for those in contact - and the anxious anticipation of the higher HQ when awaiting further details to emerge. At the very sharp end, you might hear nothing more than "Contact, wait, out!" at first or perhaps "Contact, tank, out!" And then hope you get a follow up report.
Apart from everything else, the tanker crews having properly aligned radios to send that transmission after days of heavy travel and fighting is a bit dubious. Especially if you are using Russian radios...
In Ankara, a spy from Manchukuo is captured. With everything else going on, even Kaya is not particularly angry: “This is surely not The Thorn. Just shoot him,” he directs, when told the news.
Kelebek whisked the pistol out of the agent's hand.
"Where on earth have you been?" The S.I.T.H. man gasped in shock and in pain, rubbing the affected limb like it had been simultaneously frozen and set ablaze.
"You don't want to know," K said, "Since when's do we kill spies without interrogation?"
"Kaya's bored and Ögel is incompetent so..."
"Wonderful. As if I didn't have enough to do now I'm back." The spymaster set the weapon down on a table and glanced at the few papers attached to the would-be corpse. "S.I.T.H. is in chaos right now. I've been away making sure that Chamberlain is genuinely dying of cancer and not starting that quest for immortality again on the sly. Switzerland, Italy and now Monaco are heating up; and whilst S.I.T.H. remains a decent operation the rest of Turkish intelligence is about a small effective as South Africa's, and I know for a fact I've murdered half their agents personally. Meanwhile Romania is up in the air, Yugoslavia needs to be continually scouted and remapped, and there's an entire new republic full of well armed and angry nationalistic tribes to sort out!"
"What should we do sir?" the other man asked.
"Well, I'm going to call in sick and watch football but I imagine most of you should work overtime for the next few months trying to solve all of these impossible issues we have. Remember," Kelebek said, vanishing into the ether, "failure is always an option, provided you are fine with whatever the Nazis will do to you Turkish spies when they take over your country. Good luck!"
The desperate Hungarian spoiling attack on Srboban runs out of steam by 8am that morning. Hungarian losses are horrific; the river they tried to repeatedly cross runs red with their blood. If part of the aim of the offensive was to bleed the Axis, then it has certainly succeeded so far.
Now then...this attack paired with the Saudis Arabia success story has done several very important things. One, everyone now has a big morale boost. Two, the big push East by the Axis has once again been delayed by at least a few weeks. Three, we might very wel, break through the lines and push the front right back to where it was at the start of the war, at least in regards to Tukry and Romania. Four, it's made the Axis probably shit bricks. Turkey having done nothing but play cautious defence for months suddenly not only takes out their Middle eastern ally effortlessl, sinking any hope of further allies for the Axis, but all she push and make it through their European front and threaten Hungary and lots of Italian units. If nothing else, it seems a huge problem for reorganisation to contain this outbreak. At best, they might fears that the soviet response is going to be equally as big and that the Comintern are ready to fight back. With Italy stuck in Africa, Hungary cannot be allowed to fall for the axis.
All these Hungarian divisions that have been harrying us and trying to spoil the advance: they have come from somewhere – they surely weren’t holding them in reserve. They must have come from the north-east – but how many, and from how far?”
“Create havoc. Aim to knock Hungary out of the war, like we wanted to last year, before France fell. We probably can’t do it, but if we try hard enough it will badly distract the Axis, perhaps causing the Germans to divert units south. Our first aim is to keep Romania in the war. The rest is aspiration. I want not so much a plan, but a collection of opportunities. We will keep taking them until forced to stop.”
To get all those units to oppose the Turkish offensive, the Hungarians had indeed stripped a number of units from the line north of Timisoara. As a result, during the day, the Soviets have retaken both Arad and Beius from weakened Hungarian defences, exposing a two-to-three-province-wide gap in the line, in the plains heading straight to Budapest! If only the Soviets had a tank corps to throw into the attack. They don’t, but they do have a full infantry corps in the area and a large concentration of Romanian units on their right flank. The rest of the Axis line in Romania is now thinner than it was and Axis progress there has slowed – even been rolled back.
So, let me get this straight. The Turkish Army made so much noise with Op. KURT SÜRÜSÜ that the Hungarians thought it necessary to strip part of their Romanian front of troops to plug the gap. This is going better than in my wildest, most optimistic dreams...
Maybe Napoleon was right, when applied to this case, maybe offense was the best defence after all?
I do hope that coordination with the Soviet and Romanian Rifle Divisions in Romania will work well enough to strike a decisive blow to the Axis in this Southern sector. Time for some coordinated RAW. If we manage to push Hungary out of the war, that will be one victory the 'Pravda' won't have to exaggerate to boost morale...
Either, we will seriously hurt, or even take out Hungary, or the Germans will pull troops from their Soviet front to hold back the Ottoman hordes... It's a win-win situation.
Stalin was very pleased with the article 'Kemalism-Inonuism and the Comintern March together'. Very nice, 'Pravda' will have a field day with that.
I'm more optimistic after this one than I've been in a couple of weeks, simply outstanding news, and I even got to meet Inonu in person once more.
The Axis are in big trouble. That slow war with France is now coming back to haunt them. They cannot afford to lose anyone right now, nor waste time in the rush to get more oil and defeat Russia. But Arabia fell, and to get to the oil in Russia they are going to have to burn all they have to get there, and that might not be enough anymore. Plus with Hungary at risk, quite severe risk actually from their perspective, since again they probably don't believe the Turks did this all by themselves, and the British being basically at full strength, Italy stuck in Africa and turkey apparnely on the warpath...some Germans must be thinking the wars lost already. There is in fact, little they can do to win now, unless the Russians lose their nerve or the Japanese really really do well in sIberia. The Axis would have to take out Romania and turkey for certain, and they can only really do the latter with a big sea invasion, which is quite hard when the British have already taken your navies to the depth
S and your main armies are either fighting Russian or are on another's continent.
The war is bugging to loo up again, let's hope that little force doesn't get caught and killed to the last man by the inevitable German response,
Oh dear, well this all escalated VERY quickly. Hungary seems to still have some fight left (even if they aren't making the most sound decisions strategically speaking). I must admit I am quite surprised at the amount of success that this offence has already achieved. 1st Cav is most definitely paying back for all that was invested into it and they are earning their keep.
Now I realise a large part of this has probably already played out but this new plan seems very risky. Well riskier even than the initial encirclement. Even if Skitalec can get the Russian bear moving and hopefully drag the Romanians with it that is a lot of land. Both in terms of distance from starting off points to the objectives but also to conquer and then maintain. It's going to put one heck of a bulge in the lines and even if you have enough forces to make the breakthrough it could make for one heck of a scrambled back to the initial lines (pre-offence lines) should something happen and the germans come in to crash the party in force.
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