PR Plan
This image illustrates the conceptual plan for operations during the remainder of 1940. To some extent the arrows indicate attacks on specific parts of the target countries based on the location of VP provinces. This is especially relevant for countries like Finland where conquest can be relatively localised. The various arrows across the Mediterranean represent the opportunity and likely occurrence of amphibious or airborne operations to support the relevant campaigns.
This plan remains very provisional since it has taken little account so far of the real issue for these operations, which is logistics. The real question is how long will it take to move troops to each theatre, complete the relevant campaign and then move on. Without evaluating these issues it is not a plan at all, just a vague intention. This sort of weak plan is all very well but could easily go badly adrift as we find the various parts don’t synchronise together. The dependencies and coordination of the Italy and Turkey attacks are important and since they are last they are strongly affected by the timing that goes before. I will have to do a lot more work to establish a proper plan before continuing the game.
I know most people would not bother with proper planning of these operations but this is exactly the sort of situation where it matters. I could easily have half my force waste half their time during this period by careless scheduling. Once this phase is over the scheduling will, fortunately, become less important.
That takes care of the combat planning but I also have issues around other aspects of managing Germany. Prior to the Russian campaign I changed from high manpower ministers to high IC (maximum exploiting of occupied territory) and faster movement (+10% move army minister). I have more IC than I know what to do with. I don’t like dropping my TC but I am willing to risk this to get more manpower. My industrial plan has no difficulty using up all of the manpower available from my little pool even though it only includes air and naval units.
I am therefore proposing to bring back both manpower ministers and, since I have used my “free” change for last year and this for setting up Barbarossa, I will have to eliminate the dissent the normal way unless I leave one until the new year.
As an aside, rocket base development is continuing but will not be complete for some time. This is set for a level 6 rocket base and on completion a crash program of very rapid rocket research will follow. All rocket related techs will be deferred until that time.
On the general technology front the only unusual action I am proposing is some strategic bomber research as I am planning to build a few because of their exceptional range. These will, at least initially, be devoted to naval operations with the principal objective being reconnaissance rather then ship sinking.
On the DOW front I have considered an early DOW on the USA to begin sinking their navy but have decided this is too risky with major naval activities being set up for the Mediterranean area. They will have to wait.
