Duchies Rule The World, A Netherlands AAR

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

I have been posting an AAR for more than a month (9 updates) in TOP forums (if you don't know it, go here ) and I thought of sharing it here.

so, here is the 1st update.

Game: Hearts of IRON II: Doomsday, no mods.
difficulty: Normal
Cheats: used some to change Netherlands policy, from hippie into more aggressive.

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A general view of Europe in 1936

Netherlands Colony in Asia


I start my research in Basic Machines Tools (5% IC:industrial Capacity) and Early Infantry Division

since Netherlands start with a small IC base, I decided to expand it, and start a 3 runs of
4 IC that will finish by mid-1939

I have used some cheat to alter the policies of Netherlands, more toward intervention, and
Central planning....and, since I like control....I moved away a bit from democracy

in mid-1936, tech for Basic Machines tools was finished and Shell was ordered to continue
the research on an improved machine tools (extra 5% IC).

in June-1936, our Armies start getting new equipment, new rifles, AT-weapons, etc.

moving more in time, The Spanish start their civil war....

In early August, talks with France and the UK started to create an alliance, these talks
ended successfully on the 5th of September and our entry into the alliance was announced on
the 9.9.1936

Netherlands as part of the allies.

 

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

Opporation: The Low Countries Unification
Since long ago, the dutch felt that part of them was taken from them, and that was Belguim.
preparations were taken in Nov and Dec, to liberate our southern lands from the rebels. Our allies gave us the green light, and on the new year eve, war was declared.

Our armies smash through the Belgium borders north of Antwerp.


The first province to fall was Ghent, were the French armed units easily took control over it without any real resistance.

French Armoured Division in Ghent.


In the 15th of Jan-1937, our troops have total control of Antwerp.

our armies in Antwerb in prepare to launch the attack on Lieg.


in the 25th of Jan, and after many attacks, the defenses of Lieg fell in our hands with
some help of the French who attacked from the south.

situation at the time of Lieg fall.


soon after, in the 29th Bastogne was under control of the Dutch armies.

What remains of Belgium after the fall of Bastogne.


In Feb, the 11th. We started our attack on the last pocket of resistance, Arlon.

Dutch and French troops attack Arlon from every flank.


After the fall of the Belguim in Europe, their exiled government refused to surrender and kept fighting in its African colonies. Talks begun between the Netherlands and the French to hand over the taken terrotries, but the talks took long time and the French start talking about keeping this land instead of giving it up.
I didn't like these talks and went over to the British government, to only be met with support to the French.
This betrayal of the Dutch case was more clearer in the 16th of August, 1937.

The british and French peace out the Belgium's and install a puppet government in Brussels.


Immiadatily after the announcement of the peace, the Netherlands left the Allies.

end of today update======================================

I'll be updating this daily until it catch up with TOP forums.

 

[Inner Circle]

That looks very interesting!

It´s quite an other way for the Netherlands as i have ever seen...

But what will you do with Germany and Japan?

btw: If you want to make screenies in the center of the page, you have to use CENTER /CENTER (don´t forget the [ ])

 

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

After leaving the allies, I will have no choice but to side with the devil himself

 

[Van der Gent]

Go Netherlands!

 

[Miihkali]

Yep, Good luck!

 

[unmerged(61606)]

this looks interesting, good luck.

 

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

1938
The year start with the news of Germany annexation of Austria.

Hilter addresses Vienna....

Later that year, mass production of our new tanks started.

Pantser III, nick named: leeuw(Lion)

28th June, marked a very big shift in Netherlands forgien policy. Netherlands offically become an ally of Germany, and a founding member of the Axis.

Netherlands odds of entering an alliance with Germany.

Later in August a NAP was also signed between Germany and Netherlands. ( don't ask why )

In more news about Germany. Czechoslovakia agreed to the Munich agreement and give up most of its border land to Germany.

In 21st Dec, 1938. The first Pantser division was completed, the 1e Pantser Division.

The next year, 15th of March. Germany annex Czechoslovakia and create a puppet state in Solvakia.

After this take over. Talks begun between Germany and Netherlands for a possible war with the west. Poland, which is part of the allies, refused to give back the German lands which was taken after WW1. After agreeing on the strategy for the war. Netherlands start to moblize and build up its army. The Netherlands will stay on the defense in 1939 while Germany finish off Poland. for that, fortification construction along the borders with France started.

30 Augest, 1939. Germany Declare war on Poland. In response, the western allies bandwagon against Germany and also declare war on Netherlands. Our predictions of France attacking on the first days of the war were wrong, and instead, our troops observed movements to the east.

A general view of the situation in the beginning of the war.

 

[unmerged(62774)]

Looks good. You really should have some mobile armies in order to grab as much land as possible from the French. Otherwise the Germans will outrun you!

 

[unmerged(85424)]

Well, good luck, but I expect you can pretty much write off the East Indies.

 

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

Carvajal: If you look closely at the map, thats been taken care of.
sonsoftaurus: The next update will show you what happened to them.

 

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

August 1939-September 1940
The Motherland under siege.
The French were able to fool us, and on the 2nd of August, our troops in Antwerp we attacked by heavy French Artillery. In few hours, our army defending the area was routed and orders for retreat we sent.

Our 2 Pantser divisions arrived in Antwerp later that day to act as a rear guard for the retreating army.

after holding the cross roads and the bridges, our engineers blow up the bridges connecting Antwerp and Ghent to slow the French advance.

For the next 4 days, our troops kept using "hit and run" tactics, to inflict as much damage on the French troops, waiting for German support to arrive.

Situation in the East
In the east, the Germans continue their blitz through Poland.

Back to the west, Army HQ decided on a counter attack to retake Antwerp. The attack will include 17 divisions (2 Pantser). The attack began in the afternoon of 7th.

French advanced troops were caught of guard and were defeated easily.

our celebrations for the victory didn't last long, a surprise attack on Liege....

bad news kept coming....

our armies routed again in Antwerp.

 

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

Indonesian under attack by Australia. <_<

After a relative silence on the front for few days, the French started their anticipated attack on Eindhoven.

The Battle ended in a victory for us.

Back again in the east, the Germans win the battle of Warsaw, Poland is defeated and its only a matter of days before it surrender.

On the 27th, Poland was completely annexed by Germany and USSR who attacked and took the eastern parts.

By the end of Sept, our troops were able to hold another attack by the French on Eindhoven. Which bought us more time for the German armies to redeploy from the east.

The Netherlands Army used their Bofors 75-mm Model 1934 howitzers in the 2 battles of Eindhoven, where they were carried into action in pack loads carried by mules.

========================================

end of update.

Hope you enjoy it so far

 

[unmerged(85424)]

With the increased frontage and an unprepared Germany the French can do pretty well. Hope the Germans redeploy fast, otherwise you might get crushed by the Allies.

Assuming all goes well and you make it through the tough time, I wonder if the German event for invading the low countries will go off? Could be a nasty surprise, may want to look into trying to edit it. Not sure of the triggers & if it would fire or not in these circumstances.

 

[Roman_legion]

This is indeed interisitng, or however you spell it.

 

[SouthCarolinian]

i agree, its quite interesting. hopefully you can hold the line, and make some nice conquests when the time comes.

 

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

Update

October, 1939
The month starts with a series of French attacks on Bastogne.

The attacks failed and the French retreated after suffering heavy loses.

Meanwhile, more German armies were redeployed towards the western front.

von Manstein Panzer Armee arrive....

...just in the right time.

and victory follow...

After the victory in the last battle, combined German and Dutch forces started a full scale attack on Antwerp.

French forces were totally routed and started to fight a retreating battle the next day.

back to pre-war borders.

Back to the desk of economic affairs, bad news were coming.
more and more of our colonies are being taken, and our income of rare materials is getting low.

 

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

British troops landing in Indonesia

The British strategic bombing start to have its effect on our economy, which dropped from 60 IC to nearly 40.

Building orders for 4 interceptors to fight off the British bombing attacks.


French attacks to retake Antwerp kept coming until mid-Nov.

After their heavy losses in October and November battles around Antwerp. Germans launched their attacks on the French while the Dutch covered their flanks north of the Maginot line.

German advance behined the Maginot line.

 

[ROMMEL_HSQ]

The French defeats in December and the new Year had a devastated effect on French troops morale. Germans Panzer kept moving to the south undefeated. and in 10th of January, 1940. The French capital, Paris, fell in the Axis hands.

After the fall of the French capital, the south of France was open, German Panzers and Dutch Pantsers start racing to the south.

Dutch first Interceptors sqadorn.

The Curtiss interceptor

General situation by the end of the update.

===========================================
end of update.

 

[SouthCarolinian]

its a good thing von manstein showed up when he did, and now you're going to get a great big portion of france! hooorah!