Dyers Eve

[unmerged(18893)]

February

Lines at the beginning of February:

The Germans finnaly called off the hold out in February, sending in 3 divisions into Vichy. This attack was doomed to fail. Poor recon had failed to indicate the proper amount of divisions in the city of Vichy. The Germans were out numbered three to one. They pulled out as soon as they saw what was facing them. The casualty list noted 14 KIA.

The Italians had made their progress already and had ciesed their part of France. Marseilles went to Germany so they could have their much needed Mediteranean port. The Italians were now helping out Germany even though they didn't boarder France anymore. They sent an expeditionary force of 4 divisions that would be widely used.

Saint Etienne

After the first failed attack, the mountain troops did their job this time. The Gustav cannon was fierce. It only fired 8 rounds at the French but that was enough to make the battle. One shot was fired at a French bunker high up in the mountains. The 800mm shell was enough to take out the entire bunker, as well as a large portion of the mountain. Many French soldiers retreated wrather than fighting.

Africa

Germany had abandoned all of it's Colonies in Africa. They did not have the navy to hold on to them. They would be retaken at another time. Italy made a lot of progress in Africa but a few landings were hampering them. Only if Germany was able to send in men to their colonies... Things would be easier.

The situation in Africa

Vichy

After the first failed attack Vichy was finnaly taken. Germans and Italians captured the city on the 17th of February

 

[unmerged(18043)]

Great update. Glad to see you kicking the French's tails all over. I'm impressed.

 

[unmerged(11439)]

well according to my math 800mm is about 54 inches. Thats 4'6''. anyway nice job and keepp up the good work

 

[C.V. Mannerheim]

well according to my math 800mm is about 54 inches. Thats 4'6''. anyway nice job and keepp up the good work

Thats a big ass gun :rofl:

 

[unmerged(18893)]

For sure, hell of a big gun.

 

[Rommel22]

The Gustav was used against Sevastapol. It fired agaisnt the land bunker battery known as Maxim Gorky I. The Maxim Gorky battery was 400mm and was a turret from a battleship that was being constructed in Sevastapol harbor. But the construction was halted due to the German advance.

Anyway, the Gustav requiered a crew of over a regiment in strenght to operate, which in turn was counter-productive. Instead, all that time, equipment, steel and other support crew that was used to operate the gun, could of been used to set up a whole artillery division.

There were other support personall to protect the gun. A battalion of Anti-Aircraft batteries, and sqaudron of fighters and another regiments for defense incase of partisans or enemy forces broke through.

So all this manpower and time wasted on the gun could of been better used alse where on the front instead.

 

[unmerged(18893)]

Yea but it set a hell of a record and people still remember it.

 

[Rommel22]

Yea but it set a hell of a record and people still remember it.

True, it is a record, but still a waste of resources, manpower and time. And Gustav was not the only one. There was the DORA which was almost as big, its was 760mm I believe, or 700mm, not sure. But it was almost as big as the gustav, and it was used as well on the eastern front. Again, all those resources that could be used alse where.

Plus there were th 360mm guns, 480mm, 580mm so imagine all those crew and resurces used to service these guns is enourmous.

Anyway offtopic, and I am loving your AAR. Keep it up!

 

[unmerged(18893)]

True it could of been used on other things, like more fighters would of been good. Maybe even start bombers which would of helped germany a lot. anyways, update tonight or tommorow.

 

[Exterous]

Thats a big ass gun :rofl:

I believe thats an understatement

 

[unmerged(18893)]

For sure.

 

[Torstor]

reading here too great AAR

 

[unmerged(18043)]

Is it too early to ask for another update?

 

[unmerged(18893)]

Yeah Im starting to write it now, it wont be a long one since im doing this month by month.

 

[unmerged(18893)]

Engage, Encircle, Eliminate
March

Germany never assaulted France from the German boarders. France had heavy fortifacations there and assaulting it would be suicide. So, they attacked through Belgium, Switzerland and Spain. This resulted in three fronts, something of which France could not handle. They had no army strong enough, or large enough to split up to engage all the threats from each direction. France didn't have the industry that Germany had either to produce enough weapons for all the army. A lot of French equipment was very outdated, exept their tanks.

The goal from the start had always been to cut off the French fortifacations. On the 26th this finnaly came true. The Germans attacked from Chaumont and Auxerre. This was an assault that used men of all three countries of the Grand Alliance. Two Austrian divisions and 7 Italian divisions aided in the fight. The attack was a determined one and on the 29th Troys fell into German hands. The encirclement was finnaly complete. Since the French had been noted of the encirclement the Germans took 100 or so French soldiers who surrendered in Nancy without a fight. These French would be sent back to their homes after the war in France was to end.

A Political Map on the 29th of March:

Following the encirclement, Zimmermann saved, and reloaded.

 

[unmerged(18893)]

Elimination

Following the Troys Cut all French fortifacations were cut off from the rest of the world. Special anti-fortifacation guns were being loaded up for the first assault. The first assault would be on the Metz fortifacations. The attack would begin on the 20th of April.

As German forces moved in things were not good for the French. There were a few dead bodies around, those who had starved. The Germans did not even engage the French. They called out in French a call for surrender, they did it. All French surrendered by the 25th in Metz. One German was blown up by a land mine.

The phase was complete by May 2nd. All French fortifacations were in German hands, the forts were taken down for concrete and metals that would be used in later operations. Finally, the troops that assaulted the fortifacations could be used not just to stand by, but to help take the rest of France.

 

[unmerged(18893)]

Paris

It was time for mainland France to fall. The German infantry left their posts on the 7th of May, destination...the city of lights...the city of Paris. It was estimated 18 or so divisions were in Paris on the defensive. Paris would be assaulted from 5 diffrent fronts. There would be four divisions from Amiens, nine Italian divisions from Reims, seven divisions from Troys, and 6 divisions from Auxerre. At this time six divisions from Le Mans were assaulting Caen, this would be a sucessfull attack, the city falling on the 9th, cutting Paris off from all directions.
There would actually be 21 divisions in France. All scrambling around trying to find their posts. The lack of organization was appauling. The Germans took the city in two days. The city fell to Germany on the 10th. The public welcomed the Germans as Germans would provide more goods for the public than the French government did. This was a war of which Germany owned. Everybody wanted to be part of Germany. Luxembough joined Germany on the 14th after asking to join the Empire. Germany gracefully accepted.

The Paris Offensive:

 

[LewsTherin]

Great AAR. I really like the pics and short style story writing.

BTW, since 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 800 mm is 31.5 inches.

 

[unmerged(18893)]

Finnaly, the truth is out

 

[unmerged(18893)]

Oh...Wow...I forgot about this. Yeeaah...Im kind of on a diffrent computer now, so that game save is GOOOOONE
Sorry boys I loved this one but...oh well