0 - The very beginning
18th December 1939
18th December 1939
So, it happened.
Many were afraid it might happen, and only few were sure of it. Hitler wasn't only playing; he wasn't trying to "secure" people of german or austrian origin and strengthen the borders with tanks and soldiers. He was creating clearly offensive army for good four years now, and most of biggest powers on Earth were just ignoring it, in hope of not provoking another big war. As it's been shown, it didn't really worked out.
The previous gains made by Germany – Austria, Czechoslovakia and port city of Klajpeda – weren't enough. Hitler wanted more. He wanted to achieve dominacy over Europe, and was slowly eliminating weakier countries. Now, there's been only Poland to the East and France to the West. France being in a strong and lasting alliance with Great Britain, was way too risky target; English were able to move an entire army across the Channel within one week, and weak Kriegsmarine couldn't be able to stop them from doing it.
So, there we are. It's December. One week before Christmas. Over one million of german soldiers, all of them hoping to go home in few days, were ordered to prepare their equipment, make sure everything is working and wont stop them, if there is need of fast advance. Their positioning was explaining everything about next move. Poland would fall. Even diplomatic actions and agreements of Great Britain and France wouldn't save them; german U-boots could easily block the entrance to Baltic Sea and stop the allies from delivering any sort of equipment or supplies to surrounded Poland.
First shots were fired at Westerplatte, at 5am – "Hessen" and "Schlesien", old german Battleships opened fire from their heaviest guns, intending to destroy any resistance nest on the small island. Further away, on intercontinental waters, battleship "Schleswig-Holstein" and heavy cruisers "Deutschland" and "Graf Spee" opened fire in the same direction, somewhat providing covering fire for two battleships, sitting ducks in frozen waters of Danzig harbor. They were also adviced to take firing missions from advancing soldiers, who were expected to arrive within next eight to twelve hours, after taking control over city of Danzig (or Gdańsk, depending on who you ask). Almost in the same time, first bombers began to drop their payloads on biggest train and roads hubs, preventing poles from diverging troops from reserve groups to fighting armies. German armies advanced from west, south and north, leaving only one way of escape.
But it all was happening far away from USA – and people didn't really care.
When first news about fighting in Poland came to USA, there was next to no reaction among american society. Struck by third Wall Street crash within ten years, many people were more cautious about their job and family, than fights that were happening thousands of miles away, in Europe, where many good boys were lost in previous big war. It was quite common in US society – and Congress – to avoid any intervention in european theatre or politics, leaving it to themselves. US was having its own problems.
First Wall Street crash was disastrous. Second one, that happened in 1938 – in reaction to annexation of Austria – wasn't half as bad, since not many companies were affected by it. But the third one was the worst. After Hitlers' famous speech on November 8th, in which he spoke about the future of Germany in the World, and New World Order, as he called it. In it there was no place for weak nations, that couldn't stand or defend themselves. If they were that weak, there was no place for them on Earth – and he personally will take care of them, to make sure that there are only strong people, who will take care of the future of humanity. This speech, those five minutes, marked the third – and by far the worst – drop on Wall Street. Within half an hour, estimated price of all companies on market dropped by 30%, and halted at drop of 55% at the end of the day. Americans were enraged; suddenly, they've lost, in many cases, all of their saved money, when company that they invested on was declared bankrupt. Congress called for emergency meeting, where everyone tried to find anything, that could help them avoid next recession. Everything was going pretty well since then – employment level went back to pre-1928 levels, and the country was on very good way of improvements and stabilisation. Roosevelt, who was trying to maintain good connections with allies, suddenly went silent, when most of american people – even those, who voted him their president – were loudly protesting and defying any sort of contact with Europe and their problems. In such situation, there was no much choice what to do next – there was no way USA was able to change political landscape of Europe. Congress passed the "Non-interference Bill", which stated that from this time on USA was to not engage in any form of fighting in europe – be it political, or military. On the same day, proposed increase in national armed forces, change proposed by Roosevelt himself was denied. Official explanation was – there is no danger of direct invasion by any neighbouring – or not – country, and national guard and armies were enough to defend US from any threat out there, which was currently posed in world.
It was only half true, but for many it was blessing. Many people remembered, what happened in WW1, when hundreds of thousands of people were send to Europe, only to die in mud, poisoned by yellow gases, hovering low over the ground. While Navy was still very popular, Ground Forces and Air Forces not so much. Many tried to avoid it – with quite good effect. Still, in previous years many vessels were finished and attached to many fleets or armadas, but only four new divisions were approved, to increase – still not big enough, in Roosevelt's mind – the number of soldiers defending beaches and borders of USA. People were still feeling pretty safe, knowing, that there are many vessels, defending them at night from all dangers, that might lurk somewhere beneath waves.
Not many were thinking about the danger that Japanese Empire was posing to US interests in Pacific. Their campaign in Asia – while being very costly in human lives and equipment – after two years was finished. After taking over whole coast of China, they were able to push inland, quickly taking over biggest resistance nests in mountainous land, and murdering everyone, who'd oppose to them. Now, with their presence being strong in Far East, Japanese began on diplomatic offensive in whole area, affecting politics of Thailand and Philippines. While Phillipines were only recently released from US rule, they began to slightly move their diplomatic actions to conform japan requestes, while slowly cutting themselves from USA. Two brigades of Marines couldn't secure american interests on the archipelago, and as such, americans weren't pushing for anything more in regards of Far East. Only few people knew, that the only thing holding Philipines on US side was Asian fleet, which was stationed in Manila. For a year now they haven't left the harbour, should it ever be required to quickly evacuate US troops.
On the beginning of WWII, US Forces were composed of three branches – Army, Air Forces and Navy.
Army was composed of only one army, which was spread over all of US, and dependent islands and countries.
1st Army HQ was stationed not far away from Washington, D.C.. Currently, all of american ground troops and vehicles are under command of General Richardson. On the US mainland there are 29 divisions, all of them fully manned, but only 18 of them are actually combat ready. 9 divisions are currently being held as reserves, close to city of Phoenix. Next two divisions are located near Albuquerque. Noone knows, what their purpose is, but somehow it was important enough to draw two fully manned motorised divisions to defend it. Anyway, that's only 18 divisions, that can be used in combat in any situation. And tanks? Well, there are some. Four armoured brigades, all kind of attached to motorised divisions... sitting idle on desert next to Phoenix, so in reserve. Why? Nobody knows, why Richardson ordered them to be in this spot. Next, there are divisions scattered all around the globe. There are two garrison divisions, one in Puerto Rico, other one at Panama. Both defending quite important strategically spots for american forces. One infantry division at Hawaii, one Marines division at Guam and one Marines brigade on Midway. Add to that one infantry division located in Manilla, Philippines, kind of keeping their government in check. That's it. It makes total of 36 divisions; 19 infantry, 12 motorised, one Marines division (and one Brigade), two garrisons, and one HQ. All in all – 613 thousands soldiers, 6000 guns, 1100 armored cars and light tanks. It might look like much, but comparing it with size of USA and where their interests are, it's not really that much.
Next, was the Airforce. It was much worse. Not even enough to repell one concentrated attack of Luftwaffe, should it ever happen. 400 fighters, 200 light bombers, one naval bombers and reconeissance wing, and two transport squads. Alltogether 900 planes, and it was estimated, that only 600 of them were ready to start at any given moment. Whole US Airforce could be taken out with one, concentrated air attack. It would be even easier for attacker, as it was all concentrated in Los Angeles area. And, almost all of the aircraft were outdated. When compared to newest versions of german Me 109 and british Spitfire, old P-26 that were a core fighter of US Airforce, wouldn't stand a chance in combat.
But then comes the Navy. It's the most powerful army branch in US, and by far the most powerful Navy in the world. Currently composing of six air carriers (three of newest Yorktown-class), one light carrier (Langley), twenty-one battleships (five of them being quite new North Carolina-class vessels), twenty-eight heavy cruisers, twenty-six light cruisers, over 170 destroyers, 120 submarines, and huge trading fleet, it was able to defend itself quite easily against any threat that would come close to beaches of USA. Still, there are more ships being under construction. Battleship Alabama is supposed to be finished within six months. Shortly afterwards, new line of Sims-class destroyers is supposed to be finished. It should compose of staggering ammount of 150 destroyers, equipped with modern anti-submarine-weapons or best anti-air defences. And then, the Behemoths, as they are called by drydocks workers. Four new battleships of Montana-class – Iowa, New Jersey, Missouri and Wisconsin. All of them huge, with huge armaments, most modern equipment and being unopposed by anything that anyone could send against them. Their construction is very costly though – while construction began in early 1937, they are to be finished first in May 1942. Who knows, what will happen by then.
USA comes into new era of it's history. People are yet to find out, what awaits them – and let us hope, that it won't be the worst that could be assumed.
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My first try at AARs. Why Darkest Hour? Well, I suspect it's my favourite PH game, and I have quite a lot of hours invested in it. I'll try to run this AAR a bit different than your normal US-playthrough, but will show the development later.
Also, english isn't my native language. It's actually the third one, so if you see some big errors or flaws from my side... sorry, but I can't really see them. I'll give my best anyway, regardless of what I intend to type.
