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Before the next chapter I will add a "bonus" section showing French Army's templates and the current recruitment orders, which include a considerable expansion of the Troupes de Marine and the creation of the first all-armoured divisions of the Republic.
Wars, wars everywhere.
Meanwhile, in Algiers...
While others are taking part in the bloodshed that the world has slowly become, Algiers is preparing herself for the only fight that matters: the fight for the motherland!
Great AAR, subbed! Can't wait to see a Napoleon-esque return to France by the rightful government.
Subbed. France shall be liberated, and after her, all of Europe shall be free of Tyranny’s vile grasp.
Thank you!! I'm sure the government will do his best in bringing freedom back to the motherland and vengeance to the traitorous Communards.
As commented above here's a bonus chapter regarding the situation within the French military.
Bonus - Army and recruitment status, January 1st 1938.
Let's see the division templates that I'm currently using first:
This is the standard regular infantry template. A simple yet useful one when a fast expansion of the military is needed. It is the template both standard infantry and Foreign Legion divisions use, and has been used to replace the colonial garrison units.
The marine division template. It is small indeed, and needs to be expanded, but with enough of these securing landing zones shouldn't be difficult.
The armored division template, which I created recently. Like the marines it needs more effectives and I'm not sure about using light tanks, but it's something to begin with.
The motorised division. I haven't used it yet, but I did convert a "motorised" division that had the infantry template. I intend to use it in the near future.
These are the current recruitment orders. After this round of marine divisions I'll start with recruitment of motorised units. However, I must watch the manpower, fot I have hardly more than 100k recruitable population.
Now, let's see the armies of the Fourth Republic:
The Algerian Army stands as it was, with the converted units being the only changes.
The Tunisian Army lost its marine division, but was extended with three Foreign Legion divisions.
The other three Foreign Legion divisions joined the Guinean Army, who is now able of control the border with a NatPop Liberia.
The Troupes de Marine, led by Alphonse Juin, which consists of 4 new marine divisions and the marine division previously attached to the Tunisian Army.
Finally, De Gaulle himself leads another marine Army, with 4 more marine divisions.
Due to the overall lack of proper training (because of either conversion or focus-generated troops), I have set all the armies on combat exercise, so that when the time comes to fight, my troops will be more than ready.
Chapter 3 will come soon. 1938 starts the way 1937 ended; plagued by wars. Will be this year when the war everyone fears and expects will come? And more importantly, will be the Fourth Republic ready should this war start this year?
Bonus - Army and recruitment status, January 1st 1938.
Let's see the division templates that I'm currently using first:
This is the standard regular infantry template. A simple yet useful one when a fast expansion of the military is needed. It is the template both standard infantry and Foreign Legion divisions use, and has been used to replace the colonial garrison units.
The marine division template. It is small indeed, and needs to be expanded, but with enough of these securing landing zones shouldn't be difficult.
The armored division template, which I created recently. Like the marines it needs more effectives and I'm not sure about using light tanks, but it's something to begin with.
The motorised division. I haven't used it yet, but I did convert a "motorised" division that had the infantry template. I intend to use it in the near future.
These are the current recruitment orders. After this round of marine divisions I'll start with recruitment of motorised units. However, I must watch the manpower, fot I have hardly more than 100k recruitable population.
Now, let's see the armies of the Fourth Republic:
The Algerian Army stands as it was, with the converted units being the only changes.
The Tunisian Army lost its marine division, but was extended with three Foreign Legion divisions.
The other three Foreign Legion divisions joined the Guinean Army, who is now able of control the border with a NatPop Liberia.
The Troupes de Marine, led by Alphonse Juin, which consists of 4 new marine divisions and the marine division previously attached to the Tunisian Army.
Finally, De Gaulle himself leads another marine Army, with 4 more marine divisions.
Due to the overall lack of proper training (because of either conversion or focus-generated troops), I have set all the armies on combat exercise, so that when the time comes to fight, my troops will be more than ready.
Chapter 3 will come soon. 1938 starts the way 1937 ended; plagued by wars. Will be this year when the war everyone fears and expects will come? And more importantly, will be the Fourth Republic ready should this war start this year?
Nice setup, and some templates that are easy to fast-deploy.
It will be interesting to see what opportunities present themselves to you (or don't present themselves... )
It will be interesting to see what opportunities present themselves to you (or don't present themselves...
)
I've been waiting for a French Republic AAR instead of a monarchy one. Will be following.
Chapter 3 is ready, but real life is delaying me more than the Communards have been delaying the Second Weltkrieg. It will take me some time to post the chapter, but that surely will be at some point this week.
Chapter III, part 1: Behold a red horse.
1938 was somehow a quiet year for the Fourth Republic, if one can call to be surrounded by chaos and war "quiet". However, the Republic managed to keep a low profile in the international events, trying not to alarm her mortal enemy, the French Commune.
On February 16th, promises of military assistance to the Kingdom of Spain were made true, as French volunteers arrived in Málaga and travelled north to fight the Carlist threat in the north. Calling the Carlists a "threat" was almost a joke, as the reactionaries were losing ground. That was why they became a priority to the French volunteers, however, as their defeat would allow Spanish troops to concentrate along the front against the Syndicalists, who were fiercely holding their ground. That defeat came on December 29th that same year.
French soldiers on a trench at the Northern Front.
The other relatable event that took place in 1938 was the Camus Affair: Albert Camus, a young pied-noir was arrested after being found collaborating with Algerian nationalists. He was found guilty of the charge of high treason and thus put into jail. The next year his journal in prison would be made public, becoming a very popular reading and making Camus well-known and admired by almost everyone.
Albert Camus, the "philosopher of absurd".
However, tensions arose during 1939. On March 25th, the Spanish Civil War finally came to an end, with royal troops parading triumphant in Barcelona. With this victory, the Fourth Republic could count with a neutral or even a potential ally should the war with the Communards come.
General Francisco Franco, leader of the loyalist army, adressing the nation after the fall of Barcelona.
On june 14th, the Bharatiya Commune, stronger after her victory against the Princely Federation, declared war on the Dominion of India. Soon all the nations of the Entente were requested assistance in the conflict. The Fourth Republic didn't send his troops, however, because, as Fernand Bouisson said to the press, "the moment of truth is nigh, and France shall lead those who are brave and just in the fight for freedom".
And that moment arrived on september 1st, 1939. The day the Second Weltkrieg started.
The conflict started when the French Commune challenged the German Empire, demanding the return of Alsace-Lorraine, lost in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and threatening with war if that demand wasn't fulfilled. The German answer was known and expected by everyone: War should be. Soon Communard and German troops clashed with each other at the border, and reinforcements from both the Third International and Mittleuropa started to arrive.
And soon an urgent meeting between President Bouisson and the Military Staff, led by General Henri Amiel, took place.
The Fourth Republic Military Staff: Henri Amiel, Chief of Staff; Gabriel Puaux, his aide and commander of the French Army; François Carré, Grand Admiral of the French Navy; and Antonin Brocard, Air Marshall of the French Air Force.
"Messieurs", started Bouisson, "the time has come. Germany and the Commune are at war, and we shall take advantage of the situation and recover the motherland. I now listen to your suggestions about how to proceed".
"Very well, Monsieur Prèsident", said Amiel. "The first thing we need to take back France is to defeat the Socialist Republic of Italy, their ally in the Western Mediterranean Sea. To do so, we will launch Operation Carthage, an amphibious assault over the island of Sicily. Securing the island is a priority in order not only to defeat the Italians - which we believe it would take a month since the beginning of the operation at much - but also to secure a base in the Mediterranean closer to the French coast. When this goal is achieved, the second phase of the battle plan, Operation Return, will take place. It consists on another landing, this time in Marseille. Once the city and its beaches are secured, troops from Algiers and Italy will arrive, further expanding the front and conquering areas in the southern part of the country."
"What time do we need to prepare and launch the operations, général?", asked Bouisson.
"Around two months, monsieur.", answered the general. "Alphonse Juin's Troupes de Marine will be asigned to Carthage, while, after the success of this operation, general De Gaulle and the Second Marine Corps will sail to take Marsaille. To further secure the success of the Operations, we will need to count with full aerial and naval support."
"The army will have the total, undivided support of the French Navy, monsieur Amiel", confirmed François Carré, Grand Admiral of the French Navy.
"You can count with the Air Force as well. Together we will smash the syndicalist naval and aerial supremacy in the Mediterranean Sea", said Antonin Brocard, Air Marshall of the French Air Force.
"Very well", said Bouisson, "then in two months we will formally declare war on the French Commune and the battle plan will start. Prepare your men and yourselves, gentleme. The time to go back to the motherland has come".
1938 was somehow a quiet year for the Fourth Republic, if one can call to be surrounded by chaos and war "quiet". However, the Republic managed to keep a low profile in the international events, trying not to alarm her mortal enemy, the French Commune.
On February 16th, promises of military assistance to the Kingdom of Spain were made true, as French volunteers arrived in Málaga and travelled north to fight the Carlist threat in the north. Calling the Carlists a "threat" was almost a joke, as the reactionaries were losing ground. That was why they became a priority to the French volunteers, however, as their defeat would allow Spanish troops to concentrate along the front against the Syndicalists, who were fiercely holding their ground. That defeat came on December 29th that same year.
French soldiers on a trench at the Northern Front.
The other relatable event that took place in 1938 was the Camus Affair: Albert Camus, a young pied-noir was arrested after being found collaborating with Algerian nationalists. He was found guilty of the charge of high treason and thus put into jail. The next year his journal in prison would be made public, becoming a very popular reading and making Camus well-known and admired by almost everyone.
Albert Camus, the "philosopher of absurd".
However, tensions arose during 1939. On March 25th, the Spanish Civil War finally came to an end, with royal troops parading triumphant in Barcelona. With this victory, the Fourth Republic could count with a neutral or even a potential ally should the war with the Communards come.
General Francisco Franco, leader of the loyalist army, adressing the nation after the fall of Barcelona.
On june 14th, the Bharatiya Commune, stronger after her victory against the Princely Federation, declared war on the Dominion of India. Soon all the nations of the Entente were requested assistance in the conflict. The Fourth Republic didn't send his troops, however, because, as Fernand Bouisson said to the press, "the moment of truth is nigh, and France shall lead those who are brave and just in the fight for freedom".
And that moment arrived on september 1st, 1939. The day the Second Weltkrieg started.
The conflict started when the French Commune challenged the German Empire, demanding the return of Alsace-Lorraine, lost in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, and threatening with war if that demand wasn't fulfilled. The German answer was known and expected by everyone: War should be. Soon Communard and German troops clashed with each other at the border, and reinforcements from both the Third International and Mittleuropa started to arrive.
And soon an urgent meeting between President Bouisson and the Military Staff, led by General Henri Amiel, took place.
The Fourth Republic Military Staff: Henri Amiel, Chief of Staff; Gabriel Puaux, his aide and commander of the French Army; François Carré, Grand Admiral of the French Navy; and Antonin Brocard, Air Marshall of the French Air Force.
"Messieurs", started Bouisson, "the time has come. Germany and the Commune are at war, and we shall take advantage of the situation and recover the motherland. I now listen to your suggestions about how to proceed".
"Very well, Monsieur Prèsident", said Amiel. "The first thing we need to take back France is to defeat the Socialist Republic of Italy, their ally in the Western Mediterranean Sea. To do so, we will launch Operation Carthage, an amphibious assault over the island of Sicily. Securing the island is a priority in order not only to defeat the Italians - which we believe it would take a month since the beginning of the operation at much - but also to secure a base in the Mediterranean closer to the French coast. When this goal is achieved, the second phase of the battle plan, Operation Return, will take place. It consists on another landing, this time in Marseille. Once the city and its beaches are secured, troops from Algiers and Italy will arrive, further expanding the front and conquering areas in the southern part of the country."
"What time do we need to prepare and launch the operations, général?", asked Bouisson.
"Around two months, monsieur.", answered the general. "Alphonse Juin's Troupes de Marine will be asigned to Carthage, while, after the success of this operation, general De Gaulle and the Second Marine Corps will sail to take Marsaille. To further secure the success of the Operations, we will need to count with full aerial and naval support."
"The army will have the total, undivided support of the French Navy, monsieur Amiel", confirmed François Carré, Grand Admiral of the French Navy.
"You can count with the Air Force as well. Together we will smash the syndicalist naval and aerial supremacy in the Mediterranean Sea", said Antonin Brocard, Air Marshall of the French Air Force.
"Very well", said Bouisson, "then in two months we will formally declare war on the French Commune and the battle plan will start. Prepare your men and yourselves, gentleme. The time to go back to the motherland has come".
Part 2 of Chapter III will be released next week. The battle for France and Europe begins. Will the Fourth Republic met his plans with success, or will the sons of France be destroyed at the beaches and cities of their own motherland? And what about Germany, the old enemy now fighting a common threat? And the rest of the Internationale, who will surely fight until the very end in the defense of Syndicalism and Revolution?
Sounds like there is no time like the present. Hopefully the Germans can bleed the Communard armies too.
Ok, I know I said "next week" but real life is so exhausting...
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Chapter III, Part 2 - Death and victory.
November 8th was another sunny and quiet day at the city of Palermo, Sicily.
That didn't mean that people weren't worried about the recently started war, of course. And Marco, one of the city's fishermen, was so worried as everyone else. Two of his three sons, Antonio and Fabrizio, were in France, fighting the German reactionaries which, despite the best efforts being made by Communards, British, Italians and Helvetians, managed to break the Internationale lines and seemed to march unstoppable to Paris. The youngest one, Carlo, stayed with the family - he was still a child and couldn't join the Army. Francesca, his daughter, could have enlisted due to the decission made by the International that allowed women to serve as anyone else, but decided to stay home and help her parents. Despite the situation and the worries every father has about his children in war, Marco still had hope in a worker's victory against the evil German Empire.
Italian troops taking a photo during a brief rest at the French front. Right behind the three first soldiers appear a smiling Fabrizio and Antonio, his brother, sitting next to him.
However, the next day Marco was concerned not about his sons, but about his entire family and the entire city. On November 9th, some warships started to be seen over the horizon, patrolling the seas while keeping a certain distance to the shore. Besides, reports began to arrive of skirmishes with Papal troops near Anzio. Many in the town were afraid of the lack of forces defending the Republic, which would surely be a problem should the Italian Federation decide to advance against Naples, while others had trust that the workers would take arms to defend and even free Italy in her moment of need.
But Marco wasn't so sure about that as others were in Palermo, and wanted to keep his family as far as possible from a war at home.
"Claudia, I beg you", said to his wife, who took care of the family's farm, "you have to go. Make your bags and take the children with you while you can."
"And where will we go?", Claudia replied.
"There are other countries like this in America. Centroamerica has just won her own struggle against capitalists from the United Provinces, and Brazil has become a bastion for the worker's cause. Maybe even the CSA is now a good option, since the USA is no more..."
"America! I'm not going that far without you, Marco!", shouted to her husband. "Besides, have you forgotten who fought with you to free our people? I can fight now again."
"Claudia, you can't!", answered Marco. "Think about our children! Carlo is still a child and Francesca can't take care of him alone! Would you rather let them die here than provide them a safer future abroad?"
"And what about you, huh? What about Antonio and Fabrizio? What if they manage to come back home?"
"We don't even know if they are still alive! Claudia, come to your senses. The exile is the only hope you and our children have. I have a duty with our people, but once this madness is gone for good or ill, I will come with you."
"But what if you won't...?"
"I will", sentenced Marco, while hugging the crying woman that was the love of his life. They will be all together after the end of the war, thought before falling asleep, sure about himself and his comrades at the Republic.
But Marco's family didn't even manage to leave Sicily behind.
Operation Carthage was a huge success, even considering the more than optimistic outlooks of the French Republican Army staff. On the same day war was declared to the French Commune, November 8th 1939, the entire French Fleet started patrolling the Western Mediterranean Sea, intercepting and sinking any enemy vessel with the valuable assistance from the Air Force. Three days later, part of Alphonse Juin's Troupes de Marine landed near Palermo, Sicily, securing landing zones for the rest of the invasion forces. French (and some Canadian) forces didn't face major opposition until they arrived at the outskirts of Syracuse and Messina, were the few infantry divisions left behind to defend Southern Italy tried but failed at bringing the Entente efforts to a halt.
Canadian troops marching over the Sicilian fields.
Seizing the opportunity created by French naval operations, which had practically cleared the Mediterranean from Internationale vessels, Operation Magna Graecia, a joint Finnish-German invasion of Southern Italy, was launched from Malta to Tarento. At this point, French troops were securing Calabria, leaving behind an occupied Sicily. By December 24th, the Socialist Republic of Italy was completely occupied by both Entente and Mitteleuropa troops and forced to capitulate. Besides, general Henri Amiel and members of the German Heer - the Imperial Army High Command - met in Naples to fix the terms of the joint occupation and to make the non-aggression pact signed between the Entente and Mitteleuropa effective.
French, Finnish and German occupation zones after the Southern Italian capitulation.
Henry, an engineer attached to the Canadian 8th "Royal Hussars" Armored Division was standing at a farm near Palermo, where a brief shooting took place a few minutes ago. In front of him rested the still armed corpses of a man and a woman, who shot a young soldier of his unit during an ambush while patrolling. The man was injured and would be sent back home. The pair of corpses obviously couldn't say the same.
"Anything inside, Pete?" Asked when another member of the patrol went out of the house.
"It appears that two children lived here as well", answered Pete, "but they surely left when the gunfire started. Oh, and I found this. You understand Italian, don't you?", asked while giving Henry a letter.
"Indeed I do. Let's see what we have here... Shit", said Henry. "This is bad."
Henry told Pete that the letter was written some weeks ago by two brothers, Antonio and Fabrizio, who the Canadians supposed were the oldest sons of the dead pair. According to what Henry have read, the brothers were going back home after the fall of Paris in German hands.
German soldiers parading through the great avenues of Paris.
They asked to his parents about Francesca, their sister, and Carlo, their little brother, and wished to be there as soon as possible. They also showed their concern about the entry of the Entente nations in the war, and wanted to know whether they were safe. Henry saved the letter, promising to himself that one day he will find the brothers and tell them where he buried their parents.
November 8th was another sunny and quiet day at the city of Palermo, Sicily.
That didn't mean that people weren't worried about the recently started war, of course. And Marco, one of the city's fishermen, was so worried as everyone else. Two of his three sons, Antonio and Fabrizio, were in France, fighting the German reactionaries which, despite the best efforts being made by Communards, British, Italians and Helvetians, managed to break the Internationale lines and seemed to march unstoppable to Paris. The youngest one, Carlo, stayed with the family - he was still a child and couldn't join the Army. Francesca, his daughter, could have enlisted due to the decission made by the International that allowed women to serve as anyone else, but decided to stay home and help her parents. Despite the situation and the worries every father has about his children in war, Marco still had hope in a worker's victory against the evil German Empire.
Italian troops taking a photo during a brief rest at the French front. Right behind the three first soldiers appear a smiling Fabrizio and Antonio, his brother, sitting next to him.
However, the next day Marco was concerned not about his sons, but about his entire family and the entire city. On November 9th, some warships started to be seen over the horizon, patrolling the seas while keeping a certain distance to the shore. Besides, reports began to arrive of skirmishes with Papal troops near Anzio. Many in the town were afraid of the lack of forces defending the Republic, which would surely be a problem should the Italian Federation decide to advance against Naples, while others had trust that the workers would take arms to defend and even free Italy in her moment of need.
But Marco wasn't so sure about that as others were in Palermo, and wanted to keep his family as far as possible from a war at home.
"Claudia, I beg you", said to his wife, who took care of the family's farm, "you have to go. Make your bags and take the children with you while you can."
"And where will we go?", Claudia replied.
"There are other countries like this in America. Centroamerica has just won her own struggle against capitalists from the United Provinces, and Brazil has become a bastion for the worker's cause. Maybe even the CSA is now a good option, since the USA is no more..."
"America! I'm not going that far without you, Marco!", shouted to her husband. "Besides, have you forgotten who fought with you to free our people? I can fight now again."
"Claudia, you can't!", answered Marco. "Think about our children! Carlo is still a child and Francesca can't take care of him alone! Would you rather let them die here than provide them a safer future abroad?"
"And what about you, huh? What about Antonio and Fabrizio? What if they manage to come back home?"
"We don't even know if they are still alive! Claudia, come to your senses. The exile is the only hope you and our children have. I have a duty with our people, but once this madness is gone for good or ill, I will come with you."
"But what if you won't...?"
"I will", sentenced Marco, while hugging the crying woman that was the love of his life. They will be all together after the end of the war, thought before falling asleep, sure about himself and his comrades at the Republic.
But Marco's family didn't even manage to leave Sicily behind.
Operation Carthage was a huge success, even considering the more than optimistic outlooks of the French Republican Army staff. On the same day war was declared to the French Commune, November 8th 1939, the entire French Fleet started patrolling the Western Mediterranean Sea, intercepting and sinking any enemy vessel with the valuable assistance from the Air Force. Three days later, part of Alphonse Juin's Troupes de Marine landed near Palermo, Sicily, securing landing zones for the rest of the invasion forces. French (and some Canadian) forces didn't face major opposition until they arrived at the outskirts of Syracuse and Messina, were the few infantry divisions left behind to defend Southern Italy tried but failed at bringing the Entente efforts to a halt.
Canadian troops marching over the Sicilian fields.
Seizing the opportunity created by French naval operations, which had practically cleared the Mediterranean from Internationale vessels, Operation Magna Graecia, a joint Finnish-German invasion of Southern Italy, was launched from Malta to Tarento. At this point, French troops were securing Calabria, leaving behind an occupied Sicily. By December 24th, the Socialist Republic of Italy was completely occupied by both Entente and Mitteleuropa troops and forced to capitulate. Besides, general Henri Amiel and members of the German Heer - the Imperial Army High Command - met in Naples to fix the terms of the joint occupation and to make the non-aggression pact signed between the Entente and Mitteleuropa effective.
French, Finnish and German occupation zones after the Southern Italian capitulation.
Henry, an engineer attached to the Canadian 8th "Royal Hussars" Armored Division was standing at a farm near Palermo, where a brief shooting took place a few minutes ago. In front of him rested the still armed corpses of a man and a woman, who shot a young soldier of his unit during an ambush while patrolling. The man was injured and would be sent back home. The pair of corpses obviously couldn't say the same.
"Anything inside, Pete?" Asked when another member of the patrol went out of the house.
"It appears that two children lived here as well", answered Pete, "but they surely left when the gunfire started. Oh, and I found this. You understand Italian, don't you?", asked while giving Henry a letter.
"Indeed I do. Let's see what we have here... Shit", said Henry. "This is bad."
Henry told Pete that the letter was written some weeks ago by two brothers, Antonio and Fabrizio, who the Canadians supposed were the oldest sons of the dead pair. According to what Henry have read, the brothers were going back home after the fall of Paris in German hands.
German soldiers parading through the great avenues of Paris.
They asked to his parents about Francesca, their sister, and Carlo, their little brother, and wished to be there as soon as possible. They also showed their concern about the entry of the Entente nations in the war, and wanted to know whether they were safe. Henry saved the letter, promising to himself that one day he will find the brothers and tell them where he buried their parents.
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Finally, Part 2 has arrived. Things finally didn't go well for Syndie Italy. In fact, they went terrible - as the situation for the Commune seems with the fall of Paris.
I intend to post Part 3 - the last part of Chapter III soon. Paris has fallen and Southern Italy has gone. Now the Commune finds herself in her darkest hour. Only the Helvetians stand at her side, as well as the Union of Britain - but can the Communards resist and strike back their enemies? Or will France finally be subjugated to Germany? What about the French exiles? Will they manage to take back their motherland before her complete fall under German arms? Or will all the efforts made to this day be in vain?
After that, it is more than probable that I won't be able to post anything more before Christmas, but hopefully during the holidays I will post more content. I'm sorry for being late posting this part, but also I would like to thank you for your patience.
I intend to post Part 3 - the last part of Chapter III soon. Paris has fallen and Southern Italy has gone. Now the Commune finds herself in her darkest hour. Only the Helvetians stand at her side, as well as the Union of Britain - but can the Communards resist and strike back their enemies? Or will France finally be subjugated to Germany? What about the French exiles? Will they manage to take back their motherland before her complete fall under German arms? Or will all the efforts made to this day be in vain?
After that, it is more than probable that I won't be able to post anything more before Christmas, but hopefully during the holidays I will post more content. I'm sorry for being late posting this part, but also I would like to thank you for your patience.
Good to see French operations ... but those Germans ...
No worries about how long it takes to post.
No worries about how long it takes to post.