If only we'd built tanks instead. Then, it would never be finished, but we could imagine the wondrousness of having tanks to save us instead of pondering the abject failure of this reality.
-
We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
To be fair, the militia might have saved the city by holding out for a few days when it was first attacked. Now was that worth putting all of Slovakia's resources into? Only history can decide.
It probably was worth it, in relative terms, as anything better wouldn’t have appeared until well after T&T had been found guilty of war crimes and executed! Futile but present is better (I think
) than never even showing up to the fight. Which, come to think of it, may have been more in keeping with this regime’s track record. 
Let's put it this way: What ELSE could Slovakia have put its resources to and brought to completion in the allotted time?
The flaw in the scheme is assuming Slovakia had the technology for street signs. Or signs. Or streets.
Remember Slovakia lacks the tech necessary to build Infrastructure, so they cannot in fact build roads.
The pinnacle of Slovak anti-tank technology is the Molotov Cocktail. Therefore I believe the RAF did not see it as a threat but, like Tiso, were disgusted at the waste of hipflasks, so made it the priority target.
Given what the various governments in exile managed to get up to, I am not ruling out an actual Polish strike. And where Paradox is concerned, incompetence is always the preferred option versus deliberate cunning scheme.
Some of these questions may be answered before the end.
I almost checked to see if the Paraguayan government was full of zombie Buddhist admirals and long dead welsh foreign minsters. But at this stage I think we can all guess the answer.
Sadly I neglected to take many big front screenshots for early March '45. I do have some for mid March, but by then a lot of things have changed. But broadly speaking;
The Allies are still making slow progress in France, it has not been their priority front. On the plus side the Netherlands are entirely liberated and British divisions are threatening Wilhelmshaven so there is some progress.
The Balkans have been entirely cleared out and the Soviets are in Eastern Hungary while the British are just taking Western Hungary.
The former Italian front remains the star. Austria has been taken and British 8th Army is charging into Bavaria/South Germany.
Don't think so. All 3 were the same rank, Lendvay was 1941, Turanec and Jurech were 1930, but Lendvay ended up in command. There is some other mysterious system at work here.
He has that sort of look about him. It is just one of the many reasons I found that picture so amazing.
I am delighted this work both entertained and inspired. I shall have to catch up on your Italian misadventure .So i have to thank you..after reading the whole AAR and all the comments over 2 days i decided to sit my ass down and write my own.So thank you both for the good time and the insipiration.
And for that i had to buy the dlc again cause i cant find my gog acount..well i guess its worth it in the end
It would have been stranger if a single militia division had somehow changed the entire direction of the war.
Tanks were part of the plan all along! The finest scientists in Slovakia are researching the Light Tank Brigade technology and should be done by... June 1945.
In many ways this is better than finishing the research in time. This way people can imagine what the tanks could have been, rather than having to confront the reality of a Slovak derivative of a 1918 light tank. You just know it would make the Bob Semple tank look like a Centurion.
This analysis is correct. Without the emergency Militia Bratislava would have fallen and Slovakia been annexed back in January.
The counter-argument is that losing in January to the British means a trial where they would be allowed to speak and put up a defence before being found guilty. The longer things are dragged out, the greater the risk of being annexed by the Soviets and experiencing Communist Justice...It probably was worth it, in relative terms, as anything better wouldn’t have appeared until well after T&T had been found guilty of war crimes and executed! Futile but present is better (I think
Slovakia could have built AT and AA brigades, admittedly Lev I, zero doctrine brigades. But they could be built.
2nd (Heroes of Paris) Brackets (Division) already had an MP brigade attached, I think because the actual 2nd Slovak division did rear area 'Security Operations' on the Eastern Front. But 1st (Bloody Cold) Division did not, so could have had a brigade added.
It wouldn't have helped, and as mentioned the Militia did a vital emergency job, so I am reluctantly forced to conclude the Slovak General Staff probably made the correct choice.
It looks interesting, but I'm afraid that most readAARs, including myself, will have a hard time understanding what is being said without subtitles. I do appreciate the intention to share what is, in all probability, a hilarious bit of Polish historical comedic television (or cinema).
Tiso’s office looks far grander here than either the command shack or snake and pencil pit of this story!
- 1
Thank you @Graf Radetzky for the subtitles, that was quite funny indeed, had me laughing out loud when I put the text to their faces and movements...
Still... no hipflasks? Are you sure that footage is historically accurate?
Still... no hipflasks? Are you sure that footage is historically accurate?
I had not seen that before, thank you for sharing it and the translation as they are most inspirational (and entertaining).
I like to imagine that is the only room in the Presidential Bungalow, with Tiso and Tuka's bunkbed just out of shot in the corner.Tiso’s office looks far grander here than either the command shack or snake and pencil pit of this story!
I agree there are some grave oversights and not just the lack of hipflasks. Stefan is not locked in a room, there is no skeleton of Anrej Hlinka sitting in the corner, Slovakia apparently has a working Radio. Many issues.
And then after about a year i suddenly get a forum message that this aar is updated, which was a nice surprise. A shame it didnt report anything since about page 100.
Anyways, rest assured im back and catching up on this glorious journey. Caught up to page 109 and its still as great as ever.
Anyways, rest assured im back and catching up on this glorious journey. Caught up to page 109 and its still as great as ever.
Whenever I think the forum software cannot get any worse, it somehow manages to. That said I am delighted it finally did notify you and hope you have all caught up, because we are returning to Bratislava!
6th March 1945
6th March 1945
As General Lendvay and the Slovak Militia continue their tactical redeployment and General Turanec leads the remainder of the Slovak Army in the defence of Bratislava, government continues. It doesn't need to, arguably Slovakia would do better if it didn't, but yet somehow it does.
"I see we have some very bad news, some terrifyingly awful news and some amazingly good news." Tiso raised his eyebrow as he read the agenda for the cabinet meeting.
"That seems incredibly unlikely." Tuka agreed.
"Lets start with the bad news, then the awful and then we will be in the correct mood for whatever horror the good news turns out to be." Firtz suggested.
Tiso nodded while checking his hipflask.
"The very bad news is that the British have captured some of our scared homeland." General Kubela looked suitably serious.
Levice has fallen! Previously famous for resisting a siege in the Hapsburg-Ottoman War of 1663-64, it's Golden Onyx and some terrible wine, it will now... still be famous for those things as no-one is going to willingly remember anything about the First Slovak Republic.
"Is it an attempt to encircle the capital?" Tiso asked.
"No, they are too far West." Malar said.
"They are after the mighty forest fortress of Banska Bystrica!" Tuka shouted.
"No, we think they are trying to just grab as much of the country as they can, as fast as they can." Kubela said.
Seeing that no-one was going to risk saying 'why', Kubela carried on.
"This is because of the awful news, the Soviets have reached Eastern Slovakia." His voice falling to hushed whisper.
Spišská Nová Ves has been given a chance to embrace the delights of the dictatorship of the proletariat. Aside from being rich in accents this town is chiefly known for having been pawned in the 15th Century by a Hungarian King as security for a loan. Since that point nothing of any interest occurred, including the Soviet invasion which was entirely without incident.
A depressed gloom fell over the meeting.
"So even if we do beat back the British, we will soon face the Soviets from the East?" Tiso asked.
Kubela and Malar nodded sadly.
"Might as well hear the good news. It can't really be worse than that." Tiso instructed.
Fritz read the news, before summoning a minion and hurriedly whispering instructions. As the minion ran off Tiso asked what was going on.
"Some news must be announced properly." Fritz didn't really explain.
Tiso felt something strange in his chest, after worrying it was a heart attack he wondered if it might be... hope? His psycho-physical wonderings were interrupted by some badly played trumpets and a parcel being delivered.
"It is my honoured duty and privilege to present you, most Supreme Vodca of Slovakia, with these sacred trousers." Fritz said reverentially.
"You don't mean?" Tuka asked, as Tiso admired the wine red coloured and elaborately frogged trousers.
"We have finally answered the Hungarian question." Fritz nodded happily.
Hungary has been annexed. Slovakia is the last power standing and so inherits the Hapsburg Empire Trousers. Arguably this makes Slovakia the last standing heir to the Roman Empire and Tiso the new Holy Roman Emperor. This is of course wrong, but it is something you could (incorrectly) argue.
The cabinet admired the former Hapsburg Empire trousers, which are far too magnificent to describe in mere words and so aren't. As they recovered from their expose to such incredible trousers they reached for their drinks and toasted the news of Hungary's annexation like it was the last bit of good news they would ever receive.
--
Notes:
We're back and the sacred soil of mother Slovakia is being trampled beneath the boots of invaders/liberators/the utterly indifferent.
With Hungary down that does leave Slovakia as the only un-annexed Austro-Hungarian successor state. As Austro-Hungary claimed lineage from the Holy Roman Empire, who claimed it from the Rome, Tiso's claim for Bratislava now being the Third Rome is not utterly stupid and not that much worse than all the others who claimed their country as the Third Rome via either HRE or Byzanrium/Easten Roman Empire.
I tried to include a bit of maps so people can see where those provinces are, but I couldn't think of anything funny to say about big maps that wasn't a repeat so I left them for later. There will be a later, just not much of it as the inevitable defeat looms ever larger on two fronts.
As General Lendvay and the Slovak Militia continue their tactical redeployment and General Turanec leads the remainder of the Slovak Army in the defence of Bratislava, government continues. It doesn't need to, arguably Slovakia would do better if it didn't, but yet somehow it does.
"I see we have some very bad news, some terrifyingly awful news and some amazingly good news." Tiso raised his eyebrow as he read the agenda for the cabinet meeting.
"That seems incredibly unlikely." Tuka agreed.
"Lets start with the bad news, then the awful and then we will be in the correct mood for whatever horror the good news turns out to be." Firtz suggested.
Tiso nodded while checking his hipflask.
"The very bad news is that the British have captured some of our scared homeland." General Kubela looked suitably serious.
Levice has fallen! Previously famous for resisting a siege in the Hapsburg-Ottoman War of 1663-64, it's Golden Onyx and some terrible wine, it will now... still be famous for those things as no-one is going to willingly remember anything about the First Slovak Republic.
"Is it an attempt to encircle the capital?" Tiso asked.
"No, they are too far West." Malar said.
"They are after the mighty forest fortress of Banska Bystrica!" Tuka shouted.
"No, we think they are trying to just grab as much of the country as they can, as fast as they can." Kubela said.
Seeing that no-one was going to risk saying 'why', Kubela carried on.
"This is because of the awful news, the Soviets have reached Eastern Slovakia." His voice falling to hushed whisper.
Spišská Nová Ves has been given a chance to embrace the delights of the dictatorship of the proletariat. Aside from being rich in accents this town is chiefly known for having been pawned in the 15th Century by a Hungarian King as security for a loan. Since that point nothing of any interest occurred, including the Soviet invasion which was entirely without incident.
A depressed gloom fell over the meeting.
"So even if we do beat back the British, we will soon face the Soviets from the East?" Tiso asked.
Kubela and Malar nodded sadly.
"Might as well hear the good news. It can't really be worse than that." Tiso instructed.
Fritz read the news, before summoning a minion and hurriedly whispering instructions. As the minion ran off Tiso asked what was going on.
"Some news must be announced properly." Fritz didn't really explain.
Tiso felt something strange in his chest, after worrying it was a heart attack he wondered if it might be... hope? His psycho-physical wonderings were interrupted by some badly played trumpets and a parcel being delivered.
"It is my honoured duty and privilege to present you, most Supreme Vodca of Slovakia, with these sacred trousers." Fritz said reverentially.
"You don't mean?" Tuka asked, as Tiso admired the wine red coloured and elaborately frogged trousers.
"We have finally answered the Hungarian question." Fritz nodded happily.
Hungary has been annexed. Slovakia is the last power standing and so inherits the Hapsburg Empire Trousers. Arguably this makes Slovakia the last standing heir to the Roman Empire and Tiso the new Holy Roman Emperor. This is of course wrong, but it is something you could (incorrectly) argue.
The cabinet admired the former Hapsburg Empire trousers, which are far too magnificent to describe in mere words and so aren't. As they recovered from their expose to such incredible trousers they reached for their drinks and toasted the news of Hungary's annexation like it was the last bit of good news they would ever receive.
--
Notes:
We're back and the sacred soil of mother Slovakia is being trampled beneath the boots of invaders/liberators/the utterly indifferent.
With Hungary down that does leave Slovakia as the only un-annexed Austro-Hungarian successor state. As Austro-Hungary claimed lineage from the Holy Roman Empire, who claimed it from the Rome, Tiso's claim for Bratislava now being the Third Rome is not utterly stupid and not that much worse than all the others who claimed their country as the Third Rome via either HRE or Byzanrium/Easten Roman Empire.
I tried to include a bit of maps so people can see where those provinces are, but I couldn't think of anything funny to say about big maps that wasn't a repeat so I left them for later. There will be a later, just not much of it as the inevitable defeat looms ever larger on two fronts.
- 1
In one sense. In another, there will be plenty of future - albeit uncertain, but certainly without the 'leadership' <cough> of T&T. As they face their Inevitable War Crimes Trial (or 'Trial' if the Soviets get them, which still seems unlikely).
This was way more powerful than any description of such an exquisite garment could ever be. Long live the new Holy Roman Emperor Tiso!
The question now is. Will Slovakia enact a strategy to make sure most of the country is captured by their preferred occupying nation? Now that I think of it, probably not, and if it did enact such a policy, it would just work backwards somehow...
Last edited:
Some sort of legal reckoning may be coming, but who is to say T&T will be there for it? When Pius XII starts his hugely popular "Fascists to South America" post-war export scheme they will surely be in line for some new papers and a ticket to Argentina.
Just the reaction I was hoping for.
You capture the Slovak dilemma well. All their plans fail, but what happens if they deliberately plan to fail? Thus far what happens is the General Staff get confused by the mutli-layered negatives (if you plan to fail, but the plan fails, have you failed? Or is failing at failing a success?). It is unlikely they will figure it all out before getting annexed, but you never know.
What's more worrying, the amount of armour on the Soviet side and the lack of AT on the Slovak side or the amount of undefended provinces and the lack of Slovak units to defend it, including the fortress.