I love history AARs, and stories like this; known events yet visibly different, told in a believable fashion...loving it.
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Interlude - The Blue Corps
Though the French show a remarkable fighting spirit, the German tactics are unmatched. Relying on their Panzers to force a breakthrough, they quickly overwhelm certain sectors of the front, rendering trenches and fortresses useless.
-- General Patton in a report to general MacArthur
When the war in Europe seemed imminent, some people in the Silver Legion argued for an American intervention. But with his regime just established and the economy still recovering from the Great Depression, president Pelley was hesitant to get his country involved in a war. Still, he asked MacArthur to study the possibilities to supporting Germany and Italy in their struggle against the capitalistic democracies.
On August 28 the United Kingdom declared war on Germany together with France. Immediately an emergency meeting of high-ranking cabinet members and army leaders was convened in the White House. All agreed that it was not the time for an American entry to the war. Therefore, MacArthur proposed to send a group of "observers", who would get an extensive mandate which would not necessarily limit the troops to only watching.
During September and October a large corps was formed from fanatic Silver Legion members and army personnel, under command of general George S. Patton. The official mission of this corps would be to observe the fighting in Western Europe, provide humanitarian aid where necessary and to make sure none of the involved parties would use war crimes. However, only the German government was offically asked permission to allow the troops on its territory, and the soldiers were well-armed with new weapons and artillery.
The USS Santa Rosa, loaded with troops heading for Europe, is towed away from the quay in Boston
As the expedionary forces were a new formation, a new flag was designed for it: a rectangular flag divided in half, with on one half a fasces surrounded by stars on a dark blue background, and on the other half horizontal red stripes, like the flag of the United States. Because of the blue color, the corps was quickly nick-named "the Blue Corps", a name which stuck. Choosing a fasces, a symbol of the Italian fascist movement, over German imagery showed that the new America was closer to Italy than to Germany, because of the distrust created with the German-Soviet Pact.
In secret, Patton was ordered to aid the German advance where necessary. The Silver Legion cabinet feared that if the Germans and Italians would lose or get boggled down in horrifying trench warfire like during the Great War, the eyes of Britain and France could very well shift towards the United States. With its long northern and southern borders and still outdated army, this would be a great threat to the Silver Legion regime.
But events would develop faster than they had anticipated, and while the Blue Corps was still at sea the German war machine would turn towards the West.
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Author's note: Hey everyone, I'm back! Just a short update to get things rolling. I hope to put out updates at more regular intervals again. Looking forward to your reactions!
So an expeditionary force. I bet it soon enough will force you into total war. I wonder if there will be any further purging of the armed forces. It has to be dissenting voices in there, no?
I wonder if there will be any further purging of the armed forces. It has to be dissenting voices in there, no?
Surely the allies will accept these most neutral observers even if they were not asked for permission.
Maybe, keep in mind the current government was democratically chosen. War with the Allies is not imminent though.So an expeditionary force. I bet it soon enough will force you into total war.
Yes. Surely.
Looking forward to more of this.
I'm sure the Free American Empire will also be helping the Japanese out with Russia.
I'm sure the Free American Empire will also be helping the Japanese out with Russia.
Chapter 4 - Blitzkrieg
September - October 1939
September - October 1939
"Hitler has reached a new pinnacle in his meteoric career and Germany avenged the 1918 defeat. This is the start of a new order for Europe, maybe even for the world."
-- The New York Times on 1 November 1939
German troops quickly advanced through Poland, despite the stubborn Polish resistance. The Poles even managed to make some progress with an invasion of German East Prussia, but in the end their effort was futile. In just a week, on 3 September, the Germans reached the outskirts of Warsaw, which fell two days later. Ironically Danzig, the cause of the war, was still in Polish hands as they had amassed substantial troops in the so-called Polish Corridor, between Germany and East Prussia.
The front in Poland on 3 September, just a week after the invasion. The lines in the center and south have been broken.
The Allies meanwhile, failed to live up to their promise of helping Poland in the case of a German attack. The French were not completely indecisive as they made a small attack across the Rhine into the German province of Württemberg. Although this was a prestige loss for Hitler and his government, the French did nothing to press their advantage and started digging trenches. This is why this theater was later called the 'Sitzkrieg', or Phony War.
A small French attack over the Rhine into Germany
In the east however a whole different war was taking place, one the Germans called 'Blitzkrieg'. With their armoured and motorized troops, supported by a great advantage in the air, they quickly pushed through the Polish lines. Though the Poles managed to gather their troops into a somewhat cohesive line, it was obvious that Poland would eventually fall. Then, on 17 September, the last blow to the Polish army was dealt. The Soviet Union invaded Poland from the east. The Polish defence quickly fell apart. Danzig, until now holding out, finally fell, and on 27 September Poland officially surrendered.
The Red Army enters the provincial capital of Wilno
Germany now turned it's attention westward. They asked the Low Countries for permission to use their territory to stage an attack on France to circumvent the strong French Maginot line along the German-French border. They received a firm 'No'. On 20 September, Germany formally declared war on Luxemburg. On 29 September, war was declared on Belgium. And finally on 4 October German troops crossed the Dutch border, thus declaring war on the last of the low countries.
With autumn approaching, many Allied commanders expected the Germans to wait until spring to launch their campaign. French troops quickly rushed northward to defend their new allies - the low countries had a strict neutral policy which didn't allow any foreign troops, in the false hope that this would prevent war with Germany. The French eventually established a defensive line at the Afsluitdijk in the north of the Netherlands, through the center of the Netherlands behind rivers and finally at the Albert Canal in Belgium. With no signs of a general German offensive and the invasion of Poland only recently concluded, the Allies were in no particular haste, as they didn't expect to fight until the spring of 1940. An assumption that would prove fatal.
Case Yellow
The German high command devised a plan similar to the one used in the Great War, with an attack through central Belgium towards the Somme river. Except this time, they would use armored spearheads to break through the Allied lines as quickly as possible, then encircling the troops in western and eastern Belgium. Heavy air bombardments were to accompany the German advance.
Start of the German offensive
On 12 October 1939 the general German offensive commenced, with simultaneous attacks against the Netherlands, Belgium, and the French bridgehead in Württemberg. Within 6 days, resistance in the Netherlands collapsed and their government capitulated, leaving French troops trapped behind the lines. Meanwhile, the Germans had already broken the lines in central Belgium and advanced towards the Somme. Four days later Belgium capitulated, leaving the troops in eastern Belgium and Luxemburg trapped. The flanks of the British Expeditionary Forces in western Belgium were now dangerously exposed. The Allies had no answer against the Blitzkrieg.
But the biggest blow for the French was the loss of the Maginot Line. The German attack easily defeated the small French incursions into Germany and while pursuing the retreating forces they captured several fortifications along the border. Supported by armor, heavy artillery bombardments and air superiority they were no match for the weak French army. The best parts of the Allied army supported the defense of the lowlands, and the spirit of these reserve soldiers was easily broken. By surrounding the other parts of the Maginot, the German army had another way into France.
With the Belgian capitulation on 23 October and the capture of most of the Maginot Line, it became clear that the fall of France was imminent.
Situation on 23 October. German occupied territory in red, French in green. In blue Allied pockets in the Netherlands and Belgium. Note the breaches of the Maginot line.
On 24 October, for the first time American troops became involved in the fighting. Patton's Blue Corps had followed the German advancement and had recently left Antwerp, effectively functioning as a rear guard for the German army. But when the First Division was hit by British artillery in western Belgium, close to the French border, Patton ordered a retaliation. American artillery supported the main German attack against the village of Nieuwpoort. Not wanting to provoke the United States, and with the visit of Hitler to New York in mind, the British embassy in Washington only issued a formal protest.
With the collapse of the frontline in central Belgium, the Germans advanced almost unopposed towards Paris. Their Panzers rushed forward and the French government was in disarray. Despite urges from German high command and Hitler himself to slow down the advance lest they became encircled, Panzer generals Guderian and Rommel pushed forward.
In Paris, panick broke out in the streets after they realized how close the Germans were to the capital. French government officials burned documents in the yard of the Foreign Ministry, while Prime Minister Daladier and his cabinet hastily left the city. The army declared Paris an open city and abandoned it. On 27 October, the 2. Panzer Division entered Paris.
The front on 27 October, just after the fall of Paris. The central frontline has collapsed and the French forces in the west are close to being surrounded.
The French government saw no other option than to surrender. The troops in eastern France were close to being surrounded, and it was clear that nothing could stop the German army. On 31 October, France capitulated. In just over two weeks, the German Reich had defeated one of the biggest armies of the world and had now firmly established their reign over western Europe. In the United States, many agreed this was the start of a new World Order.
Hitler in Paris
A New World Order, yes. But will it last, or will the Old World Order boomerang back into place?
With France gone, an invasion of Great Britain should be a piece of cake, right?
Welcome! A little late, but hope you like this new chapter!
Helping? America only sends its observers, they are a peaceful nation. Until now...
Great AAR! I'm loving the style and the pictures, they give a very good ambientation (despite the comic wink of Hitler adopting the same pose in all his photos in front of foreign landmarks ).
Anyway, I'm thrilled to see hoe does the home front evolves, and how does Japan interact with this Silver America.
).Anyway, I'm thrilled to see hoe does the home front evolves, and how does Japan interact with this Silver America.