Long Live the Permament Revolution! - a Trotskyist Soviet AAR.

[Anuerin]

This really isn't a jab against Halifax (Poor fellow, gotten quite the reputation in this AAR) but it is to reflect the polarization in Britain in this timeline. Afterall prior to the post-war Labour government Churchill wasn't a fan of such ideas. Now the Labour Party and Unions in this timeline is much, much more radical than the original timeline. The idea is basically the many communist revolutions make left wing movements naturally more radical, as we saw following the Russian revolution, and the communist entryism doctrine from the continent.

So Halifax do believe he is fighting Socialism and the International by being opposed to such things. History will judge him if he were correct or not

I'm sure the Rajani Palme Dutt Memorial Lecture will be very sympathetic to him.

 

[ThaHoward]

I'm sure the Rajani Palme Dutt Memorial Lecture will be very sympathetic to him.

IF Britain lose the war to the communists and/or undergo a revolution

 

[ThaHoward]

Communist Revolutions: Norway in Red, Red and Red.

Spoiler: Music.

Norway is on the brink of civil war, dragging the world with it.

Norway 1945. Ever since the Soviet expansion into Finland the small nation on the periphery of Europe and world politics wound up at the center of geo-politics and the tug of war between the West and the East. Norway was in a peculiar position, being the only nation being liberated from the National Socialist occupation by the Red Army who did not fall for Communism and the subversive methods of the NKVD. Despite the majority of Norwegian reservists fleeing to Sweden, only to be trained by the Swedish communists, to return to the liberation of Norway and the Finno-Soviet Army liberating Norway, the democratic principles stood tall against the advancing Red Army and NKVD. Still the many years of Soviet investments in Norwegian revolutionaries flourished in 1945. The nation become deeply divided with a social-democratic government out of touch with the radicalized population and their demands, instead looking to the west for support and protection. It was feared the masses would overthrow the constitutional monarchy before the results of the 1945 election ticked in. Meanwhile the police and military had issues getting new recruits, as the communists advocated a "military strike" by escaping conscription and refusing to abide to the dictations of the government, instead they were taken up by - NKVD led - partisan groups who saw it as their sacred duty to end the political crisis (they had caused) in Norway and rebuild the war-torn country.

Economic crisis fueled by Soviet aggression.

But how did the once peaceful and stable country find itself in the middle of an existential crisis? To answer that one can look back to the inter-war radical socialist movements (among them the ruling Labor Party) and the increasing Soviet pressure from May 1940 and onwards, but that is a topic for another day. The most pressing issue is the economic crisis in Norway following the embargo of the Internationale. Being cut off from their traditional markets the northern country had to rely upon the British economy to keep itself afloat. However there was one issue. Britain too was suffering and with their economic recession who started in January and developed into a financial crisis led to a more introverted British economy. Tariffs and a general decline in industry greatly reduced Anglo-Norwegian trade relations. Without going too much into detail the Norwegian industry broke down without its natural trade partners and unemployment rose. With the decline in employment there was a surge in forced auctions and economic crisis in the urban centers, but even the rural areas. It was then left wing Labor politicians and outright communists founded the "Folkets Krisehjelp" - the Peoples Emergency Relief. Their goal was noble to give relief to those who suffered under the crisis, however conservative and democratic circles elements was skeptical especially as it openly criticized the social-democratic government, calling the auctions and inability to secure radical labor reforms as a "kowtow to commercial and imperialist interests". Soon everyone from the government, to the bourgeoise and even Americans and British was blamed for the crisis. It was said it was the British and American embargo of the Soviet Union that led the country into crisis and the heavy British military presence in Norway soon became scapegoats along with the ruling government.

The election is well underway. "Build the country. Secure the victory. The Norwegian Labor Party".

Then on the 8th of March a powerstruggle ended internally in the Labor Party that would send shockwaves far and wide in Norway. History repeated itself. As after the October Revolution and the Great War the Labor Party suffered from internal struggles. The leftwing of the party increasingly attacked the ruling government, and after a special session it was decided by the increasingly radical parliamentary group and the executive committe of the Norwegian Labor Party (DNA) that Johan Nygaardsvold had "betrayed socialist principles" and was unseated. In his stead the former leader of the Norwegian Communist Party (NKP) Sverre Størstad was elected as prime-minister. This was for many reasons unheard of and quite unique, but the King accepted the new government after great deliberation. In the end Størstad had been ousted from the NKP for being "too moderate" and would later reunite with the DNA. However he had a dream of uniting both the DNA and the NKP into a big tent socialist left party. The following days he reassembled his new government and Olav Scheflo, a former NKP member and supporter of Trotsky during his stay in Norway, was elected as the Minister of Finances. With him many other right-leaning NKP and left-leaning DNA politicians entered the government, with them an internal purge took place in the DNA with the new party platform for the election in October reeking of radical socialism, as opposed to the moderate social-democratic platform by Nygaardsvold.

The Paris Pact mobilize to "give humanitarian aid".

Naturally this led to great concerns from the right and center of Norwegian politics. The Conservatives, Christian Democrats and the Farmer's Party issued a formal protest to the President of the Parliament claiming them to be a "threat against stability to the peace at home and abroad (...) with the unseating of the democratically elected Nygaardsvold government being nothing but a left-wing coup d'etat" and demanded a motion of non-confidence. But it was shot down. Despite the DNA being split in the end of the day they decided to stand with their own party, and the Social Liberals supported the current government citing their loyalty to the democratic process and reminded the involved parties that a new election was not faraway. The protestors didn't stop there, however, as they took the protests to the King saying that as the sovereign he had to reinstate order and unseat the current government. But the King refused repeating his famous words "I am also King of the communists". Both the far left and the far right saw this as attempted coups by both sides. Civil disorder broke out with the various circulations taking clear stances. The situation only worsened when the British Army stationed in Norway offered their help to restore order. The radical government refused, and in secrecy they turned east. In a potential civil war they sought to the Soviet Union and Sweden to restore order. In secrecy the 1st Baltic Front under Marshal Leonid Govorov prepared to strike into eastern Norway, securing the capital and industrial heartland of the nation. All they waited for was one word: "Attack".

The radicals inflame the masses.

On the 1st of May, Labor Day, the prime minister announced that the current government would enact major social reforms. They were not content with "mere concessions to the capitalist liberals" but aimed for a full scale nationalization of the industries, full employment and going as far as severing ties with NATO. This obviously created lots of concern within the DNA, but the moderates was quiet. It was then in June of 1945 that the Størstad Government announced they would sever ties with NATO and that the DNA would join the Fourth International. This would end the threat of a Soviet invasion by terminating the source of the problem - "capitalist imperialism" - and much needed aid from the COMECON would be provided. As it were Truman halted the relief efforts of the Marshall Plan to Norway, becoming concerned with the Socialist-Communist government. Certainly this was in the end too much to bear for the moderate Labour Party members. Moderates and social-democrats parted from the DNA and reformed the Norwegian Socialdemocratic Labor Party (NSA). With the secession of the NSA the Størstad government was left powerless and broken. The motion of non-confidence was passed with the NSA, Social Liberals, Farmer's Party and Conservatives forming a "Broad Coalition" until the election results ticked in.

The Soviets only want peace and stability in Europe?

This in turn did nothing but to further radicalize the DNA. the DNA and NKP merged and by the suggestion from Moscow should take the name of "Norwegian Communist Labor Party" (NKAP). The leaders of the NKP, backed up by MGB agents, quickly took control of the new NKAP and purges was well underway, however as a concession to both the former DNA and the mighty LO (main body of the many unions) Konrad Nordahl the head of the LO was elected General Secretary of the new party. The unions was now under control of the NKAP. It was appereant by the major players of the NKAP that a worker's revolution (or MGB coup by the right side) was imminent. They made contact with the Soviet Union and revealed that within the month the revolution would overthrow ruling government. The Red Army mobilized and preapred their men for an invasion of Norway in case the revolution went south and it resulted in a civil war. The 1st Baltic Front would invade in the south and take possession of the Norwegian capital to "aid the revolution". However the brunt of the fighting was expected to take place in the mountainous parts of northern Norway. It was here the vital Narvik port was with the majority of the British forces in Norway protecting it. The port of Kirkenes was also there, a port that would in case of war be the staging ground of a NATO invasion into the USSR. A total of 16 British infantry divisions and 6 armored divisions was stationed in the north. In the harsh terrain the fighting would be brutal.

From the newspaper amply named "the Class Struggle" declares "On the Brink of Revolution".

The unions mobilized. The unions declared that the fall of the Størstad Government was a borgouise coup led on by the United States and the United Kingdom. A general strike was called, all of Norway was paralyzed. The police was deployed to disperse of the strikers, but was beaten back militia units trained by the MGB and communists. The communist partisan units then moved on and took control of the major cities of Narvik and Trondheim. With northern and middle Norway haven fallen to revolutionaries the British Army in Norway again only waited for the go-ahead confirmation to strike. But the government turned it down, not wanting an escalation. Along with the Norwegian Army the British had to be confined in their barracks.

Norwegian "Police Reservists", trained in Sweden, are sent to restore order.

In Oslo, the capital, professional communists and agents from the Internationale led on the striking NKAP and LO members to seize power. It was declared the workers had to take matters into their own hands. And they did. The workers marched onward to the various departments and the parliament. Outright street brawls occured between the strikers and bystanders who afterall were opposed to communism and violent coups. The local police came to the scene and attacked the demonstrators, restoring order. However it did not last long. Soon the communist partisans came to the scene armed to the teeth. To the shock of the politicians and the bystanders shots rang through the streets of Oslo and the halls of the parliament and government departments. Soon the red flag waved on top of the parliament, and the angry mob turned down to march on the castle. The Royal Guards of the Army was deployed to the castle to escort the royal family, but the Royal Guards at large was confined to their barracks within and outside of Oslo. This infantry force could have restored order, but in the confusion and the coup they were ordered to stay put - mostly due to getting fake orders produced by the MGB and NKAP members taking control of the police stations. The few Royal Guards outside of the castle held back by the angry mob and partisans with machine gun fire. Soon the Police Reservists, in reality being soldiers trained in Sweden for the liberation of Norway, rushed to reinforce the Royal Guards. The Royal Guards was relieved, finally they could retake the city. But they were betrayed.

The Norwegians have been liberated..

The Police Reservists disarmed the Royal Guards, in fact being die-hard communists. The Police Reservists soon took control over all of Norway, and the 1st Baltic Front was invited to cross the border into southern Norway. The Norwegian Home Guard and Army was ordered to stand down and the 20th Mechanized Corps established full control over the capital, with a bystander noting "again a foreign power take control and parade through the main street. Hitler have been replaced by Trotsky" while the Rifle Divisions pacified the countryside. NATO contemplated to wether or not treat this as an invasion. But they were content with issuing protests. The British Army in Norway evacuated and the Royal Family was allowed to flee to Britain. The revolution in Norway and the following Soviet invasion almost led to a direct confrontation, but war was avoided on the 11th hour. Truman persuaded Lord Halifax that Norway was a lost cause, and not worth dying over. And so were the "Unified Worker's Council State of Norway" born ("Samlede Arbeider Rådenes Stat", shortened to simply Soviet State of Norway). Adam Egede-Nissen was elected as the first President, being the chairman of the former NKP. Henry Wilhelm Kristiansen, being the editor of the influential Klassekampen and an old time communist, was made the new Premier of Norway. The other positions of the government was filled by former NKP members and radical Labor Party members (who had to been a member of the NKP at least once) and Trotskyists. The NKAP was in power, however the real power laid in the hands of the old NKP. Yet another country fell to communism, but the western powers could take no more. The storm had been brewing for a while, now the gathering clouds was all over Europe, and in turn the world..

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So I believed it would end in a civil war, which in turn would lead to a war. Alas it didn't. But trust me, the war is coming very soon.

 

[stnylan]

All these revolutions are variations on a theme - but I can see why the Communists don't change the playbook - it is working swimmingly so far.

 

[ThaHoward]

All these revolutions are variations on a theme - but I can see why the Communists don't change the playbook - it is working swimmingly so far.

Don't fix what's not broken?

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Exactly.

And where the heck are the capitalists going to draw the line now? Piccadilly? What's left for them to fight for aside from the homelands of their own nations? It's not going to take much twisting to turn this into blatant cowardice, idiocy and incompetence (because it really is). The allies went from having near complete control of the world and effectively fencing in the communists with a nice long buffer zone only to give away the rest of Europe, all of the Middle East and probably Africa too without a fight. They've lost, plain and simple. The in,y way they can fight back now is with nukes, and that will destroy most of the land they were hoping to reclaim. Absolute best case scenario for them (well, actually it's the entire thing falling to internal division and strife but really, who can see that ever happening in the Soviet Union?) is a hollow victory with half the world dead and destroyed and never coming back.

Idiots.

 

[ThaHoward]

Exactly.

And where the heck are the capitalists going to draw the line now? Piccadilly? What's left for them to fight for aside from the homelands of their own nations? It's not going to take much twisting to turn this into blatant cowardice, idiocy and incompetence (because it really is). The allies went from having near complete control of the world and effectively fencing in the communists with a nice long buffer zone only to give away the rest of Europe, all of the Middle East and probably Africa too without a fight. They've lost, plain and simple. The in,y way they can fight back now is with nukes, and that will destroy most of the land they were hoping to reclaim. Absolute best case scenario for them (well, actually it's the entire thing falling to internal division and strife but really, who can see that ever happening in the Soviet Union?) is a hollow victory with half the world dead and destroyed and never coming back.

Idiots.

The Soviet Union is strong! It can't break down But yes they have lost much territory indeed. However, to be fair, I think the situation for the western allies was quite.. disadvantageous from the get go. What strategic purpose do Norway play after all? None really, Sweden is taken already so it is just a matter of securing Narvik. It would be just overstretching Allied forces, but again it would be advantageous by stretching out Soviet forces. But I think the greatest issue is France in the end. With the communists having a powerbase in a western, and industrialized, European nation posing a major threat to England herself I believe it is kinda wise to retreat to protect what matter the most. As for Poland it was indeed a major "tripwire" of sorts in communist Europe, but I think that is what it was, an annoyance. A prolonged fight in a Poland would be difficult for the western Allies, but again it is much easier to fight out from Poland into Moscow than from crossing the English channel and all the way through France and Germany. So in a way I see why they were so passive, especially with the last world war very much fresh in memory. Also there is game limitations, I am sad to say that the first time Norway turned commie it was a civil war.. but alas a game crash... So after the peaceful communist takeover I reloaded the savefile two more times, but both were peaceful. So I settled with it.. Now, as you can see Norway did guarantee Bulgaria, who knows if the other allied nations didn't do it aswell? You'll find out soon enough.

And if the war turns nuclear, then I worry there are no workers to liberate for the communists, and no dictatorships to end for the democracies..

And speaking of finding out soon enough, next update should come out tommorow. Can't promise anything, but that is the plan!

 

[ThaHoward]

Chapter 40: Endgame.

Spoiler: Music.

The Americans is on the offensive!

War! Early in the morning of the 3rd of July 1945 a US-British carrier battlegroup launched their air group. Hundreds of ariplanes headed toward the coast and bombarded their enemy's coastal defenses. The small navy present to challenge the Anglo-American fleet was nearly evaporated while still in being. After the initial shock with hundreds of pounds worth of ordnance, hundreds of strategic bombers came in over the horizon dropping their deadly loads over the major urban and industrial centers and railroad hubs. Meanwhile the CAGs rotated and kept up the pressure. As the sun rose a new dawn rose over the country - and the continent. A dawn of freedom and democracy; the dawn of war. US Marine and Army divisions, supported by Royal Marines and Canadian Army units, fell upon the northern beaches. Despite fierce resistance on the beach-heads, the defenders were no match for the seasoned US and British veterans. However the greatest toll came in the form of the sheer material advantage the Allied forces possessed. Hundreds of planes pummeled the defending forces, the troops engaged in direct contact and the reserve forces alike. Meanwhile with the Liberty Ships and other landingcrafts, destroyers, cruisers and massive battleships escorted these ships as they unloaded the troops upon the beaches and their unsuspecting enemy. From these ships rockets and massive cannons opened up the very earth with massive force. Still the invasion came elsewhere aswell. To the east Anglo-Dutch troops crossed in by land, spearheaded by elite SAS and Gurkha troopers. The war had truly come.

Going to war over oil, intolerable!

But why Venezuela? The American and British economies came under major stress as their oil supplies were getting cut short. Long story short, they too wanted to secure their oil supplies. Like the Soviets their casus-belli was not officially to keep the oil-pipes open. As with most of Sothern America democracy and populism was on the rise in Venezuela. However unlike most nations, such as Peru, this transition had never taken place. Instead the population turned toward Brazil and Bolivia for outright violent takeover and civil war. But José Eleazar López Contreras and his regime wasn't interested in empowering the people. Instead the general ordered his troops to fire upon his own population and eliminate the opposition at any cost. The American ambassador demaned the cessation of violence - and the current regime. Contreras, well he countered. Instead he tightened control over his own country and threatened to embargo the United States, effectively cutting them off from the oil rich nation. This was out of the question for the Americans and the British alike. Without taking it to the United Nations the two countries engaged in a special relationship invaded the country. Officially it was to protect the human rights of the population, and to put an end to the regime that supplied that nazi and fascists regimes of Europe with oil. The Soviets and French took it to the UN vehemently protesting against "the violation of rules of war" and "sovereignty of nations". However who were they to protest? Afterall they had subjucated most of the Middle East under even thinner pretexes. Suffice to say the temperature of the Cold War reached an all new low - or a new high, risking becoming hot.

The UK are getting what they deserve..

And the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were ready for things to.. getting hot. On the 4th of August the Kremlin was in a state of high alert. Top government officials was evacuated to an undisclosed location. While the top government and military officials moved out, all military servicemen got their leave's withdrawn and was ordered to meet up with their units. The military itself was ordered to finalize mobilizations and prepare to execute Operation Zapad. The Soviet command was growing anxious of the US invasion of Venezuela. However the command was divided. Some believed this was an obvious manifistation that NATO was prepared to pursue aggressive military means to achieve their goals. Today it was Venezuela and South America, tommorow it was Belgium and Europe or Iraq and Asia. But the other half saw their moment. "When the western imperialists are preoccupied on the other half of the globe, we will strike". By the en of the day it all was up to Trotsky. Some encouraged him to strike now, and strike hard while the others encouraged him to wait for the NATO forces to strike and fend them off in Europe. Whatever Trotsky and his close associates would chose, the world would pay dearly.

South America is still a mess.

A little over four months and the small nation of Bolivia came out of their bloody civil war. Despite massive funding by the United States, it was the security forces of Sorzano who prevailed. With his victory and consolidation of power society of Bolivia saw an even more despotic and autocratic turn. However in Brazil the war was raging on. The Second Republic (democrats) had the upperhand over Vargas Brazil (United States of Brazil, the totalitarian regime), however despite several offensives they'd failed in their quest to take on Rio Di Janeiro. The Republic based in Santos prepared for a prolonged war of trench warfare. Casualties was tall on both sides numbering over 200.000 military casualties on both sides, and nothing indicated the war would end soon. But the suffering of Latin America wasn't confined to Bolivia and Brazil. A month and a half into the invasion the Americans lost around 33.000 military casualties, the British 3.000 and the Venezuelans a staggering amount 172.000 casualties. Soviet observers were frightened. They noted that during Southern Thrust the Red Army, Air Force and Fleet showed off their might as they succumbed nation after nation. Now it was the Anglo-Americans turn. Their evolution in naval warfare (most disturbing their use of carrier battlegroups) was immense, and their mastery of amphibious assaults was unrivaled. Still the US invasion halted further inland in the Venezuelan jungles and mountains. Tukhachevsky was said to nearly beg Trotsky on his knees that this was the moment for the Red Army to fullfill its destiny. With the western powers engaged in Venezuela this were the time for the Red Army to lead the torch that would engulf the continent in the fires of revolution.

Tanks, carriers and nukes - we will withstand them all.

The Soviets was close to war. But in the end Trotsky and the less Marshals advised against war. Soviet and Internationale agents within the British MI5 and MI6 snapped up an American secret document called "Plan Totality". It was a nuclear plan established by General Eisenhower in August 1945 on the direction of President Harry S. Truman. The plan envisioned a nuclear attack into the heart of the Soviet Union with 20 to 30 nuclear bombs. 20 Soviet cities would be obliterated in a first strike: Moscow, Gorky, Kuybyshev, Sverdlovsk, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Saratov, Kazan, Leningrad, Baku, Tashkent, Chelyabinsk, Nizhny Tagil, Magnitogorsk, Novokuznetsk, Tbilisi, Perm, Grozny, Irkutsk, and Yaroslavl. Trotsky and the Soviet High Command having witnessed the destructive forces of nuclear weapons firsthand (with the German test in Siberia) were naturally in a state of shock. Such a strike against the Soviet Union would lead to the devastation of the entire Union. Trotsky remarked "we can't build a socialist paradise with nothing but sticks and stones". However Rokossovsky, still harboring great respect and admiration of the Soviet leader, weighed in his opinion. He argued the US couldn't possibly have that many nuclear devices, and even if they did they didn't have the airforce to carry out such deep operations into the Soviet Union. He concluded that if USA indeed had so many nukes, which he doubted, they needed to gain total control of the airspace and carry out a surprise attack. As such their safest card would be in an aggressive first strike. The longer the USSR waited, the more time the Americans got to both build up their nuclear stockpiles and launch a surprise attack. Instead he advocated the opposite: Carry out a swift conquest of the NATO airbases in the Mediterranean, and greenlight Operation Zapad to take out the Netherlands and British Isles before NATO can muster a response and the Americans launch their doomsday devices.

The British are coming straight at us!

While the Red Army, Red Fleet and Red Airforce finished their preperations for Operation Zapad and Trotsky reeled between going to war or not, the British and Americans stationed troops in the Mediterranean. Meanwhile their was open debates in the United Kingdom to reclaim Iraq, both in the name of the British Empire and the Iraqi people. Now their eyes turned to Iran. The Soviets looked at all of this with worried eyes. They already knew the British were keen, to say it at the least, to liberate Belgium. Now they were building up in the Middle East and Mediterranean. For the Soviet High Command it was all too obvious. After the many Western-Allied humiliations during Southern Thrust, they had finally regained their confidence following their victory in the Aegean Crisis and now the Anglo-American intervention in Venezuela. Then on the 18th of August the British officially terminated all of their friendship treaties (most of them negotiated by the now late Roosevelt) establishing peace and prosperity between the two realms. Meanwhile the terms of the Aegean and Genève treaties was terminated; the Black Sea Fleet was no longer allowed to pass through the Aegean Sea. This further fueled Soviet paranoia. The British Empire was clearly out to get them, supported by American atomic weapons. But the real intent of these events we may never know. If the British truly were on the path of war or if they were flexing their muscles or indeed simply reinforcing their interests incase of Soviet aggression we may never know. Fueled by ideology and paranoia the Soviets interpreted the worst of the situation, untold suffering ensued.

Bulgaria will be liberated from NATO aggression.

In the middle of this looming crisis revolution happened in Bulgaria. Or rather a coup with mixed results. The Bulgarian communists failed in their attempt to turn all of Bulgaria over to the communist cause and were put down in the capital. However supported by Internationale Brigades and MGB agents eastern-most Bulgaria fell to communists. As per usual a red terror followed in a Leninist fashion and most of eastern Bulgaria was firm believers of Giorgi Dimitrov and his BCP. Those who opposed him was dead or fled to Greece or western Bulgaria. Those who remained were diehard believers or fearful of red reprisals. The Socialist Republic of Bulgria, only having one infantry division (where the majority were foreign volunteers and MGB/NKVD veterans) turned toward the Internationale. As they promised the Soviet Union and the communist nations of the Balkans intervened on behalf of the Socialist Republic. Soon thereafter in the UN they no longer recognized the democratic Bulgaria as the legitimate government, with the rest of the UN not recognizing Socialist Bulgaria. Moreover the Bulgarian Socialist Republic was admitted into the Paris Pact, stating that the democratic republic of Bulgaria was a reactionary and fascist regime that openly attacked the true Bulgarian government. The Paris Pact intervened, and soon western Bulgaria was admitted into NATO.

And so the (third) War to end all war have started.

15:00, London, 18:00 Moscow, 22nd of August 1945. Trotsky held a speech in Leningrad. "My dear fellow citizens, workers and comrades of Leningrades. For months the imperialists have attempted to undermine the new socialist order of Europe and the peaceful coexistence of the world. Here in the city of our great Lenin, we can again look toward full emancipation and liberation of the workers of the world. Here in the city of Peter the Great we once more look toward the WEST. The struggle ahead, in this new atomic age, will be long and hard. It will be difficult. But we will hold out, we will prevail over the capitalists and imperialists as we prevailed over the fascists". The elderly man then stepped down and was hurried away. However in his speech he mentioned West, in Russian Zapad. And that was the codeword for Operation Zapad to be launched.

On the 22nd of August 1945 the Soviet Union began their offensive. The Third World War began, just short of two years after the Second World War. The world would never be the same.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

That was that! The last Cold War update. It was a tiny bit shorter than our cold war, and with a very different end result. The net updates will take on the coming war!

 

[OtakuStrategy]

Now this is getting interesting! I can't wait for your waking the tiger AAR where you lead a kaiser/democratic germany against communism

 

[stnylan]

Time for the uranium and plutonium to fly!

 

[ThaHoward]

Now this is getting interesting! I can't wait for your waking the tiger AAR where you lead a kaiser/democratic germany against communism

How did you know I planned that? I might have said it, or hinted at it Anyway, I won't be doing it at least until some hotfixes and perhaps a patch (to get rid of bugs etc).

But I'm glad you're excited for this AAR too Things are becoming interesting indeed, and it will be very interesting to see how all of this will do!

Time for the uranium and plutonium to fly!

It is the dawn of the atomic age! (And perhaps the last?)

 

[ThaHoward]

Operation: Zapad.

Spoiler: Music.

The Red Banner waves high.

Operation Zapad, meaning Operation West, had been planned for years, prepared for months, with the formations in question being mobilized and exercised for one sole purpose: invasion. In many ways it mirrored Operation Icebreaker, there was solid intelligence (and rabid paranoia) that suggested a coming war with the western powers. The invasion of the west would total around 2.7 million ground combat troops, with another 253,900 troops in reserves. Furthermore counting warships alone (in the west, excluding the Far Eastern fleets) 152,530 sailors would partcipate in Zapad, with an addition of 237,500 airmen and women (give or take). That put Operation Zapad up to a total number of 3,342,390 combat troops. Numbers speaks for itself, Operation Zapad was a huge undertaking, and that exclude the numbers of the other Pact nations. But such an operation was, obviously, a massive strain to just comprehend and especially to plan and oversee. The gigantic operation was thusly split into several sub-operations, each with their own local operations and goals. These were Neptune, Mercury, Mars and Uranus.

Now the powderkeg will be no more..

The first one was Operation: Neptune. It would combine the operations of the 2nd Ukranian Front (under the seasoned far east veteran Popov) and the Maritime Group of Forces, having the newly established naval infantry brigades, being led by General Nikolai Berzarin - a general who was saved in the nick of time during the Great Purge by Stalin. Under the 2nd Ukranian Front a total of 4 motorized rifle divisions, 2 tank brigades (one heavy and one light) was ro rush ahead from eastern Bulgaria and into Sofia. They were supported by 6 infantry divisions and 1 cavarly division. After the quick, according to plan, fall of Bulgaria this section of the Front would drive to the south, securing Macedonia and falling into Greece from the north. From there they would assist the remainder of their Front as they pushed into Greece from the province of Trotskygrad. The Maritime Group of Forces was initially planned to be the vanguard of the invasion of England, however due to their relative late mobilization they were instead sent to the Mediterranean. From Sicily three of these brigades would storm the beaches of Malta and secure the vital NATO seabase there. The 3 other brigades were supposed to make a visit to the beaches of the Aegean Isles, finally settling the dispute between Greece and the Soviet Union. If these operations were successful the Maritime Forces would land in Greece or other NATO naval bases, or be sent to where they were needed the most.

309,900 ground troops participated in Neptune.

Trotsky is in desperate need of Danish-pastry.

The small nation of Denmark got a massive force along their German border. Two Fronts was sent to invade the small Scandinavian nation and pacify it during Operation Mercury. The artillery officer and hero of the Soviet Union, Marshal Leonid Govorov led the 1st Baltic Front, from there they would pacify Jutland and take Aarhus to prevent a NATO buildup in Jutland. While the Danish and NATO knew of and prepared for the massive Pact buildup in southern Jutland, the real gamechanger was the inclusion of Norway into the Pact. 2nd Baltic Front under Marshal Vlasov was now sent from the north of Norway to the south of Sweden, from there the total of 24 divisions was meant to cross Kattegat and the Baltic seas and cut off the main Danish island of Sjælland. Such a force might seem excessive. But Denmark was indeed vital to the Soviet war effort. With brute force and overwhelming power the Soviets hoped to take out Denmark in one swift blow before NATO could respond. If Denmark remained under NATO control then the Baltic would not be under Pact dominance, in turn threatening not only the Baltic States but the industrial and ideological center of Leningrad. Moreover if US and Commonwealth troops were allowed to amass in Denmark it could pose a major threat to the entire western Front, by assaulting the Pact in the flank and cutting them off. Once Denmark was taken the divisions would be put on garrison duties, and/or sent to areas who needed reinforcements.

These two Fronts totalled some 589,000 ground troops. Over 14% of the Danish population!

Hopefully we won't encounter any of these new bicycle units...

However one of the biggest operations would be Operation Mars. A total of 3 Fronts was tasked with bringing down the last of the Low Countries, again to prevent a NATO buildup and attack in the flanks.

...however only Japan got bicylces these days.

The Caucasian Front, mostly tasked with mountaineers, was to assault from the north and then secure the northern banks of the Waal river. Meanwhile from the south, crossing in from Belgium, the 3rd Ukranian Front under Timoshenko would force his way to the Waal, secure the southern bank and from there smash his way toward Amsterdam. As the Dutch and British forces would be caught inbetween the north and south, the main mechanized force of the 1st Ukranian Front under Marshal Aleksandr Vasilevsky was to attack from the east and toward the sea. The Soviet plan was brutal and effecient. Pure force and numbers was to break the defenders at an early date, utilizing broad frontlines, for the infantrists to bind up the defending forces (and counterattacking mobile units, while the armored and mechanized units would find weakpoints, exploiting them, rushing through the flat terrain and conducting deep operations. The Netherlands was deemed to fall within a week, if it did not the Soviet High Command expected the low country to get large numbers of reinforcements and be turned into a massive meatgrinder.

Mars absorbed 834,100 ground troops, a little under 10% of the Dutch population. After the fall of the Netherlands the Caucasian Front was designed to reinforce Operation Neptune as the 2nd Ukranian Front was expected to be bogged down in the mountains of Greece. The two other Fronts was earmarked to either open up a new front in Britain, assist in Operation Uranus or launch offensives into northern Africa.

Der Führer is jealous - from the grave of course. (From Argentina, as Senor Hitler).

Operation Uranus was the jewel and the vital part of Zapad. A total of 965,500 combat ground troops was projected to land in southern England. The Soviet High Command, exposing their cynicism, projected that at least 30% would fall by the cannons and torpedos of the Royal Navy. There had initially been disagreements between the Marshals of Tukhachevsky and Rokossovsky on how to best invade England. Both agreed upon a massive strike force that would land and overwhelm England before the Royal Navy and the United States had any chance to react. However their methodology differed. Rokossovsky favored a concentrated attack, such as the Allies did in Japan, and from there punch out in a major blow with the rest of the invading army arriving into the captured harbor. Tukhachevsky, on the other hand, enviosioned a broad operation, such as in the Netherlands, with attack coming to threaten not one, but all of the main ports in southern England. The philosophy was that with such a broad attack the navies of NATO would have a much harder time to intercept the invading armies, as if they managed to take out of one the landings, four others remained. Furthermore such a broad invasion would stretch out the defending forces, giving the invading force a chance to find exploits and conduct Deep Operations. Zapad as a whole was in short Tukhachevsky ultimate dream to fulfill Deep Operations in a grand practical scale, and not just as theories.

What is interesting to note is that the Soviet High Command actually expected a full on American nuclear bombing of France, that was expected to claim millions of lives and knock the French out of the war entirley. However they took heights for this, and devised a plan that was named "Seven Days to the River Thames". When France was turned to ashes, they would rely on knocking out Britain in one blow, before the Americans could muster a counterattack and use Britain to bomb the rest of Europe. When the Thames was reached, the Soviet planners had quite optimistic plans to reach northern England in 9 days (7+2) and then all of Britain in 14 days. They also relied upon Trotsky's theories of the Permament Revolution, and a socialist revolution and mass uprising was a vital aspect of Operation Uranus and Operation Zapad.

Hopefully the airborne attacks this time around do not get to 100% casualties.

The first wave to cross the English Channel would not come from the sea, but from the air. With the surprise massive air offensive, which the Soviets based their plan on the British thinking it was just another show of force, the newly established Airborne Divisions was to drop in from the skies and hold on to key locations to facilitate for the naval invasion and prevent counterattacks. It was a daring operation, however. During Operation Icebreaker the Soviet airborne brigades performed well, managing to sow chaos and encircle several German divisions. However it was all in vain as the airborne brigades was.. wiped out. This however was only seen as a testimony to the paratroopers elite status and willingness to sacrifice themself for the motherland. Only the best of the best (at least that is what the propaganda said) was selected as part of these airborne troops, and in fact smaller units saw great success in their operations during Southern Thrust. Still it was a great responsibility and sense of peril that rested upon these brave men. They were to fly over the channel before the naval crafts even departed from their ports. Their survival depended exclusively on not falling on top of heavy British forces and for the seaborne invasion forces to actually depart, and to then again actually land and lastly to finally link up with the airborne forces. The Air-Assault was named Operation Miranda.

We will liberate the Cornish...

The 1st Belarus Front under Marshal Kuznetsov was to invade from Brittany and land into Cornwall in what was called Operation Ariel. From there they would cut off Plymouth that was reported to be the main port of British and NATO reinforcement (coming in from Venezuela, the Pacific, British Empire etc) and to post a threat to Wales and bypass the Thames from the west, and then make a west-to-east thrust north of the river toward London. The 3 Mot. Rifle Divisions would function as firebrigades, rapidly moving to the areas that needed reinforcements in order to break through or to not break apart. The 2 mechanized corps would be the main offensive formations, while the light tank brigade was to find the exploits and the heavy tank brigade to support the infantrists who was to bind up enemy troops.

...and East-Anglia?

The 3rd Belorussian Front would invade north-east of London. With the 1st BF posing a threat to London from the west, the 3rd BF would bypass the Thames as a whole and threaten the eastern ports, Norwhich, byt most importantly London. In short they were to encircle London from the north and prevent British reinforcements by establishing itself south of the Great Ouse river. The invasion was called Operation Umbria.

1066 all over again.

But it was Konstantin Rokossovsky who would command the broadest front in southern England with his 2nd Belorussian Front. In short three seperate battlegroups would land inbetween Portsmouth and Dover (10 divisions) and two other groups to the west of Portsmouth and south of Bristol From there the plan was advance to the north toward the Thames and bind up the majority of the British forces, waiting for the 1st BF and 3rd BF would advance toward London, with the 2nd BF would attack head on, trying to find gaps over the Thames to can in London. London, being a metropolis, wasn't supposed to be attacked until it was completely surrounded. The 2nd BFs offensive was dubbed Operation Titania.

The might of socialism!

In reserves there was a cavalry force under Marshal Kulik, along with the 3rd Baltic Front and the 4th Ukranian Front. The first was meant to reinfroce losses and conduct occupation duties. The two latter Fronts was under mobilization, to either conduct occupation duties or be in reserve until a full buildup. The Finnish People's Army was sent to the Kola Peninsula and Norway to battle an eventual British Intervention.

The skies are red.

A major air offensive was planned that would take control of the skies. Most essentially was a major offensive over the English Channel, that would following the - planned - success of Uranus see the majority of the airforce being transformed toward the English mainlaind and support the forces in Britain. However there was a major difference between the Soviet High Command on how to conduct the air offensive. Most of the generals wanted a total and crippling bombing campaign of Britian, however Trotsky and the dogmatic politicians believed they could not win the working class over to their side if they killed them en-masse. And so the generals was ordered to not bomb the cities itself, but instead focusing on bombing railroads and ships in being.

The Red Sea have expanded vastly recently..

The Red Fleet would be concentrated on patrolling the seas around the British Channel, in order to gain temporarily naval supremacy to launch the naval invasions. Once the divisions part of Uranus was landed, they would change their stance (along with the submarines) to primarly commerce and transport raiding. Both to cripple the British economy, and in turn war economy, but also to take out transports with reinforcements. The Soviets knew that in case of a prolonged war in either of the sub-Operations would result in a massive NATO buildup, as such it was vital to take these reinforcements out as they were at sea.

And so were the plans. Only time would reveal if they would succeed or not, but one thing was clear; this was the first war of the atomic age.

I had mushroom soup for lunch today.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So I decided to give y'all a small insight in the plans of the war. Now we'll see how it all plays out

 

[stnylan]

Look at all those gorgeous arrows! ;D

And pretty mushrooms.

 

[OtakuStrategy]

may the war begin!

 

[ThaHoward]

Look at all those gorgeous arrows! ;D

And pretty mushrooms.

Can never have enough arrows!

may the war begin!

May they begin indeed!

(Little anxious about it).

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Christ this is ambitious. If the UK thing goes south though Western Erope is doomed to nuclear war and a prolonged trench fight over the surviving bits. I expect the Greek campaign to be bloody but I doubt that will a focus of much NATO attention so you should win there eventually. The Netherlands and Denmark I also expect should be blown away, hopefully rather quickly. Then everyone can move everything over to a massive eastern invasion of the U.K. To match the southern invasion, and everyone in Greece can move through the Balkans and I guess get ready for a fight in Africa.

 

[ThaHoward]

Christ this is ambitious. If the UK thing goes south though Western Erope is doomed to nuclear war and a prolonged trench fight over the surviving bits. I expect the Greek campaign to be bloody but I doubt that will a focus of much NATO attention so you should win there eventually. The Netherlands and Denmark I also expect should be blown away, hopefully rather quickly. Then everyone can move everything over to a massive eastern invasion of the U.K. To match the southern invasion, and everyone in Greece can move through the Balkans and I guess get ready for a fight in Africa.

Ambitious indeed!

Depending on the presence of the Royal Navy it remain to be seen how many of these troops can be ferried over - if any at all. I do anticipate (or anticipated as I have played it) several divisions to be gone, the airborne ones are especially in a tricky situation. And yes the Greeks have very favorable defensive natural lines, but will the US and UK focus down there if Britain itself is under attack? However it do open up for the scary prospect for an invasion from Greece, into the straits and from then on into the Black Sea.

And a trench war with nuclear weapons is frightening. I imagine WW1 like scenes, however with major deadman's land with artillery barrages reaplaced with atomic bombs. Very ffrightening indeed.

 

[HIMDogson]

 

[ThaHoward]

That really set the mood for the war! Powerful and frightening..

 

[Nikolai]

Mushrooms

And so ends the war for the climate in utter defeat.