For new readers:
- The German war was a disaster from the start
- With France still in the picture the Allies would eventually go to war with the Soviet Union
- Most of the Axis powers surrendered. Mussolini and Hitler both died
- The war with the Soviets rages on
- Japan having never joined the Axis declared war on an isolationist USA, and the Allies respectively.
25 June - 2 July '41 - The fall of Hong Kong
"British Governor of Hong Kong Sir Mark Young and Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong General Maltby ordered the surrender of the colony at 14:05 hours, which was signed shortly after at the Japanese field headquarters at the Peninsula Hong Kong hotel by Young."
- Telegram from Royal Navy Command Singapore. July 1, 1941 -
(London)
Blasted these Japanese fellows! Yesterday they captured Hong Kong! Not to mention the Soviets are marching on Warsaw as we speak! The enemies are out our gates again, Old boy. Churchill has been asking the Americans what they plan to do, and the French wants us to fall in, or get out of Scandinavia.
THE BATTLE OF HONG KONG:
As the Japanese navy attacked Pearl Harbor last week, their army, in a synchronised move invaded Hong Kong and our lone garrison there. With the Chinese out of the equation, and our Pacific Fleet locked down at Singapore they could rain down heavy artillery from both inland, and from the seas. Japanese troops breached the
Gin Drinker's Line -That's our poor man's
Maginot Line- and forced our troops to withdraw onto Hong Kong island.
On 2 occasions the Japanese demanded surrender, only to be met by a staunt no. prompting the Japanese army to call in bombing raids on the city. What followed was 11 long days of Battle.
In the end, on 1 July, 1941, Sir Mark Young and General Maltby had no other option, but to order the surrender of the colony. 11 long days had resulted in defeat. The surrender was accepted, and the Japanese army marched through Victoria, Hong Kong, for all to see.
JAPANESE SUBMARINE WARFARE:
And if the army success wasn't deplorable enough, the Japanese navy must have been watching the German and Soviet success in Submarine warfare. This week 20 merchant ships and 1 escort were sunk between Hong Kong, and all the way to Bombay. Thankfully we have been upgrading the merchant fleet ever since the early days of the
Red Wolves, and therefore we have a large force of escorts and ships to cover the losses. But not for too long though. This is a problem that has to be resolved as soon as possible.
REDEPLOYING NAVY TO THE PACIFIC:
I don't have the list in front of me. But it's fair to say that the brunt of the Royal navy is heading for the Pacific as we speak. With the Australian fleet almost repaired and heading for Darwin. Everything we have that's not currently securing the Atlantic from the
Red Wolves is heading for the Pacific. Admiral Dudley and the Home Fleet is the exception, and will stay behind to oversea the Norwegian coastline for the time being.
HMS COURAGEOUS AND CAPTAIN W. T. MAKEIG-JONES:
Thankfully we have the legendary Captain W. T. Makeig-Jones and the HMS Courageous, nicknamed
The Shadow by the Italians for Makeig-Jones' uncanny ability to always stay out of range of the enemy, whiles still bringing down terrible attacks upon them. The Great War aircraft carrier has surpassed all expectations. Fighting in both the North sea, and the Mediterranean theater. She has sunk Soviet battleships, Italian aircraft carriers, and German heavy cruisers. And still she putters on. Perhaps soon
The Shadow will have a Japanese Imperial ship on her list as well.
SOVIET-JAPANESE NEUTRALITY PACT:
This is rather crucial news, and a larger strategy loss for the Allies than the more publicized fall of Hong Kong.
On June 29, Japanese Foreign Minister Matsuoka traveled to Moscow and signed a non-aggression -and what we believe is also a trade pact- with the Soviet government. This to secure their borders and to alleviate the oil blockade forced on them by the Americans. The Yanks are of course furious to the whole ordeal. Claiming the Russians will undermine their blockade, and their war effort. Stalin was silent on the whole matter, but for now it seem to have worked in his favour. More so for the Japanese who can now shift more of their focus on China and the push inland.
USA RAMPING UP THEIR OWN NUCLEAR PROGRAM:
Most secret of course, but in respond to all of this it appears that the Americans are funding their own nuclear program. None of it is official, and it's all what Control and SIS have been able to gather with the little information they have at their disposal. A few important American scientists we were in talks with regarding
SYMPHONY have all of the sudden gone quiet. A bit suspicious, don't you think?
FIELD MARSHAL MARCEL GARCHERY:
Back home, the French army has grown into a powerful elite force during the last year. And it has all been under Weygand, and this gentleman: Field Marshal Marcel Garchery. He was instrumental in the defence of The Gort Line, and ever since has been regarded as a war hero of the French Republic. Now he is the leader of the French army in Europe, second only to Weygand himself, who is currently busy stabilising the Scandinavian front. We will need Mr. Garchery, for the wolves are yet again at our door.
SOVIET FORCES AT THE GATES OF WARSAW:
It happened so fast, the Soviet war machine has sprung into action the last 5 days, and they have covered vast areas of land, reaching as far as Warsaw. Our main armies are nowhere near where they need to be, and the Soviets are introducing large amounts of tanks onto the battlefield. We simply have nothing to attack with. Our generals have issued our forces to delay where they can and fall back. Poland will be lost, but we can regroup.
To Poland.
To Liberty.
