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Chapter 47.
Chapter 47: Through Adversity.
Strategic bombing.
September the 12th. After heavy fighting the Soviets were driven out off Manchester. The Soviets had ceased their offensives for days now as despite their might they were unable to break through the British defenses. The distant rumbles of artillery was no more, however the people along the Line got no rest. Ever since the 3rd of September the Soviets had engaged in a ruthless campaign of strategic bombing. Oblivious to the failure of the Americans, British and even Germans on this field the Soviets hoped to "bomb Britain into submission". After the Soviet cessation in offensives the strategic bombing only stepped up. STAVKA hoped to demoralize the British population, Army along with tearing down the defenses. Despite the daily and nightly bombing into industrial and military areas the population and army did not surrender. On the contrary it managed to unify and the talks of revolution disapperead under the noise from the bombing by the Soviet Air Force. The battle had just begun.
Long live Wales.
A week earlier the Red Army resumed their offensive into Wales and northward after their successful drive north of the Thames and the conquest of Birmingham. The attack started on the midnight between the 5th and 6th and was a daunting sight to bear witness. All along the line the Soviets opened up with impressive artillery fire and flares blinding the enemy along with disheartening the young British men protecting their homeland. Amidst the darkness and chaos Soviet tanks rolled forward shooting on the exposed British positions. The poor British soldier was taken ablast, with one detailing his experience "we couldn't see anything besides flashes to the rythms of Soviet machineguns and cannons. We couldn't hear anything beside said rythms and the screams of dying men and attacking Soviets. We were fighting blindly and the Soviets mowed over us. It was all over in a matter of hours, we never knew where they came from and where they went". After days of rest the Soviets launched their attack to cut off the British stationed in Wales and cross the river of Trent. Following that they would strike north into the feared Liverpool-Hull Line, now only reffered to as "the Line". The Soviet assault was advancing all along the front, however they were stopped in the forests south of Liverpool. The Red Army had a difficult time manuevering in the dense forests and their tactics to take the heart out off the bravest of men failed as the Soviets stumbled in the blind in said forests aswell. Said forests would stall the Soviet advances for weeks and would result in a carnage. More on that later.
We took them by surprise there!
As the night and shock faded the British managed to move their troops into position. Their maingoal was to push back the Soviet advance and establish a perimeter south of the Line. In the forest south of Liverpool they managed to halt the Soviet assault. However the Soviets launched an air assault as they baited the British out from their defensive zones. Two airborne divisions landed in Manchester wrestling of control of the city from the garrison, while two other divisions landed south of Leeds and the Wharfe taking control of the urban area there. The British responded with a ruthless counterattack from Leeds. The goal of the paratroopers was to establish control over the bridges and crossroads leading into Manchester and Leeds awaiting the advance of the mechanized thrusts. From there on the Soviet forces would penetrate the Line and encircle it. Once the Soviet armies reached Manchester (it was planned to be the focal point for the breakthrough) further airborne forces would land in behind the Line again awaiting the main mechanized force. However around 10:00 the Soviet airborne divisions in Manchester came under heavy fire. The paratroopers had to clear out several key buildings with no radio communications with the main Soviet force, which meant little to no air or artillery support. The paratroopers were quickly isolated and were in dire need of relief. From the south Rokossovsky and his Front arrived. However Rokossovsky soon became entangled in a predicament. As the Soviet paras in Manchester were isolated he couldn't launch a major artillery and katyusha barrages as it would risk blue on blue fire. Instead the infantrists coming from the south had to engage in the urban combat similar to the paratroopers. Worse off was it south of Leeds. The paratroopers there were tasked with securing bridgeheads into Leeds for the Soviet advance, but an awkward situation situation arose as the British were too tasked with keeping said bridgeheads open. To facilitate for retreating NATO forces and also to establish a foothold in the urban center. The British counterattack from Leeds was without mercy. The British infantrists moved over the bridges and by boat under heavy Soviet fire. However the British enjoyed having much heavier hardware in the form of artillery etc and pounded the Soviets. The paratroopers on the other hand was only outfitted with light weaponary designed for close quarter combat and not to contain large scale assaults. The tip of the balance was quickly getting toward the British and the Soviet paras held out valiantly against the British onslaught. The VDV was again put to a massive test.
Industrial complex occupied by Soviet paras in Manchester.
The Soviet paratroopers in Manchester soon got the upperhand. They employed brilliant Maskirovka tactics where several fluent speaking Soviets and even English defectors were dropped into the battle in English uniforms and gear. They spread out in the city and gave vital intelligence back and spread chaos among British ranks giving them false information and even directing friendly fire. The paratroopers became well entrenched and the infantrists under Rokossovky was breaking into the outskirts of the city. However the fighting was still tense. One of the greatest brawls was in a vital industrial complex, vital as it dominated the area and as it was of major importance to the British war industry. A Soviet platoon leader of the airborne forces told his story as they cleared the complex. "We were pinned down and without any means of artillery strike. First platoon crossed no-man's land as the rest of the battalion provided covering fire, the poor fellows got torn apart as they crossed the area. Our mission was clear, take the complex, set observation posts and firezones and provide for a relay squad to set up a mast in order to open up communications. Most of first platoon crossed, but around 1/3 got cut down where the majority of the wounded men laid in front of us screaming in pure agony. We were then ordered to prepare for our assault. In the nick of the time a machine gun company arrived and gave us heavy covering fire. Through a hail of bullets we crossed the field with few casualties. We stacked up along with the greatly reduced first platoon and awaited for the third platoon to begin our assault. Once they arrived they entered the building and heavy fire sounded through the corridors. After the fire ceased we rushed in and had to step over several maimed bodies. (...) After several hours we cleared the ground floor and our men were exhausted, but there was no time for rest. Reports came in the British used this position to observe and correct for artillery fire upon our comrades. I ordered my men to get ready to take the stairs, as the first men got exposed in the stairwell they came under fire and several fell, but we had to push on. I pushed my men forward as we threw grenades up. I ordered my second squad to storm upwards, but in the blindzone hanging above us was a booby trap hanging above the men, one blast was all it took and the entire squad was torn apart. 8 men died in one instant, but we had to continue. Despite this major loss we were still the platoon that suffered the least losses in the push to control the complex. The lights was put out and as we pushed forward into an office-scape of some sorts there was this flashlight hanging in the far end. On instinct the men pushed forward to the flashlight and fired on it. But it was a trap. On the other side the British were in position and opened up fire on us. We battled onwards and I sent squad after squad to its certain death. The British had only six men, despite this we lost around 53 of our men as my company and our sister company switched on who was to storm and who was to cover.
(...) The hours went by and several other companies had joined the fight, and several more men had fallen during the intensive fighting. We were in a narrow corridor leading into a vault with several offices on each side down the hall. We kicked in the door and threw in several grenades, the hall was filled with smoke and dust and screams from the English pigs. I ordered an lmg to take the corner and hold the corridor. Just for good measure I ordered several bursts down the hallway. Then I sent out another squad, I was now in charge of my company as all the platoon and company commanders were no more, armed with smg's down. As they went down two British popped up down the hall and fired upon them, several got shot but they kept on rolling and fired on the English. The British fell, but as the rest followed in behind a team of British soldiers popped out from one of the side doors and clipped them down with furious fire. While my men in the front dropped dead I ordered the lmg to unleash its full potential. The walls splintered and there was dust everywhere, we had difficulties breathing. Several teams cleared out the rooms, and all I could hear was loud screams and gunshots. Soon we took the rooms. (...) After a full day the complex was taken, but at a great cost. My company was no longer battleworthy with the majority being wounded or dead, we only had to hold the complex and await for the mechanized troops to come in rolling and rescue us".
Let's finish off Wales before we finish off England.
It was nearing midnight of the 6th of September, a full day of battle since the renewed Soviet offensive. It was going well for the Soviets. Wales was about to be cut off and fall, with the British retreating all over the front, meanwhile after vicious battle the Soviet paratroopers managed to hold Manchester. The second paratrooper corps south of Leeds however was still under heavy fire and barely held their ground against the British assault. The offensive into the forests south of Liverpool and Manchester was renewed during the middle of the night hoping to take the British by surprise. It was vital to take these forests as they blocked the route into Liverpool and Manchester for that sake. Moreover it opened up a small connection between Waled and the Line. The Soviets hoped to encircle the British entirley in Wales and as such taking the linkup point was of major importance, moreover it also functioned as a possible point of reinforcements into Wales, and a flanking attack, by NATO. The forests had to fall. Still with Manchester taken the Soviets were at a significant advantage. It translated into mobile forces being able to use Manchester as a base of operation to attack the Line in the rear. Tukhachevsky pressured the VDV to launch their operations behind the Line, but Chibisov hesitated. Despite Tukhachevsky being incenses Chibisov and the VDV said that the risks was too high, and that the paratroopers was still exposed in Manchester and south of Leeds. The forces under Rokossovsky or Gorbatov had to reach southern Leeds or Manchester before he could launch such a daring operation. For the paratroopers not in action the waiting was nerve wrecking.
The British hold their ground and counterattack us with success.
Despite Manchester being taken the Soviets failed to advance their forces into Manchester. Gorbatov miscalculated and sent several of his armored forces into the forests, costing him dearly. Meanwhile he prioritized sending in his armored forces to the south of Leeds to prevent it from falling to the British and the 7th and 8th Airborne Divisions from being wiped out. He reckoned that Manchester was already secured, now he needed to secure the southern bank of Leeds or the British and prevent them from entrenching in the urban enviorment. He sent forth a Mechanized Corps, however most of the tanks were held back. Instead he sent in APCs and lighter armored vehicles. The APCs main goal was to break into the bridgehead and city center and retrieve wounded paratroopers. The infantrists who disembarked would dig in and provide heavy fire upon the British attackers. Then the tanks would come in, while all of the exhausted paratroopers pulled out.This tactic worked in pulling out wounded paratroopers, however the British was pressing on and there was legitimate concerns the British would push the Soviets out. Such a prospect was terrifying for the Soviet commanders who hadn't experienced defeat in England yet. If they were to lose one place, could other defeats follow?
The hellish conditions of the battles of Manchester and Leeds.
But the September rain of England led to mud. And the mud led to the Soviet relief forces being delayed. Only a few mechanized units managed to aid the 7th and 8th Airborne Divisions. The paratroopers were on their own. Chibisov was wise to hold off further air assaults. If the more aggressive minded marshals had it their way several Soviet airborne divisions would be cut off. Manchester came under several counterattack, they all failed - at the cost of severly weakened Soviet forces. In Leeds the Soviet casualties piled up. A Soviet soldier wrote in his war diary "I've been here on this rooftop for several days now. Under fire and rain. It is the rain that is the worst, it makes me cold and miserable. When there's firefights I feel alive and I forget that I am cold, wet and numb. All around lay used RPG-1s. We use them to fire into the building beneath us where the British have taken up a position. It doesn't really take the Brits out, but it creates a alot of dust, chaos and make life down there miserable. As the RPGs are one shot only there is countless of tubes around me. After we fire our rockets on our enemies we fire on with 14.5 caliber PTRS anti-tank rifles or 12.7 machine guns on them. The walls then come cracking down. I have no idea how many days we're supposed to holed up here and how long we can last, our ammonution are getting low".
The airborne boys were rescued after massive casualties, the noose around the Welsh dragon tighten.
The third day of the assault on the Line. Wales was falling apart however the forests was still holding off the Soviet attack inflicting massive casualties on the invaders. All along the Line the Soviets were having a hard time breaking through. A Rifle Division reinforced Manchester and attacked into Liverpool from the east, however they didn't manage to make it through the sub-urbs being bogged down in heavy fighting. Along the rest of Line Soviet forces failed to cross the rivers and failed to take Hull. Only south of Leeds the Soviets made progress, this time in the form of a Mechanized corps finally relieving the 7th Airborne Division. The 8th Airborne Division was still holding, albeit barely. The assault by the British from Leeds however was losing momentum as the Soviet Mechanized Corps took up position. It became clear that neither side managed to make any gains. The Soviets were afraid it would lead to a complte standstill, while the British hoped this would lead the new NATO reinforcements pouring in to Scotland could launch a counterattack and drive out the invading forces. For the Soviets a failed invasion was now a real prospect, while for the United Kingdom the fate of their nation hanged in the balance - and hope was on the horizon.
Soviet troops battle their way through the forests.
But there wasn't only in the urban enviorments the Soviets faced hardship, they did so in the forest aswell. STAVKA put much resources and care to secure this zone and the troops were pushed to the limit. Such as witnessed by the accounts of a Soviet conscript in an armored reconnaissance company: "It was my baptism of fire and I was excited and anxious. After 6 weeks of recruit school I was ready for war. I was set up as the footcrew in a BTR while we were also supported by T-70s. Our objective was to secure the axis of advance into a height where the tanks and mechanized infantry was to set up positions and advance ahead. The first day went well, we advanced without any opposition. Over the night we set up several OPs and patrols, our only enemy was the rain and cold. After sitting still on a windy top for hours, soaking wet, we were ordered to march to a hilltop as high command feared the enemy would have a camp there. We felt expendable as we were supposed to perish in the attack. After 12 hours of marching in whipping rain we found no one on the top. So we slept for a few hours riding in the back of our loyal BTR. The next day the sun was shining and the weather lovely, we secured several crossroads and no enemy was in sight. Then as the evening approached all hell broke loose. Our sister platoon had been under severe fire from small arms and artillery. I will never forget the scene. So many dead comrades, so much blood and so many screaming and crying. We pushed ahead in pure fury and killed our enemy at minimal casualties of our own. We embarked on our BTR again and hopped off as we had to secure the flank. After advancing by foot the sun was getting down and it shined in our eyes. It was then I my team advanced into open terrain we got under supressive machine gun fire. All of my team mates simply.. died in a matter of seconds. And I was crawling back under machine gun fire. The rest of the platoon returned fire, but we were unable to take down the British. Just to be sure our platoon leader called in an air strike. It was an impressive sight. But it continued to fire, so we pulled out. It was marked for further strikes and for the heavier mechanized infantry to clear out.
We battled all night, but we won most firefights. I remember when we had to stop as we ran into a minefield. We disembarked and set up a defensive perimeter as we waited for the engineers. Then as we set up perimeter we came under machine gun fire and flares lit up the skies. We got into position and returned fire. There wasn't much to fire on other than where the tracers of our machine guns hit and the muzzle flashes of our enemies. It was on another hill, we were on one too, above the trees. Soon the entire company returned fire along with the BTRs, M1940s and the T-70s. Then we blinded the enemy with our flares, and our platoon commander called in mortar. After a few minutes of calling in the strikes and making corrections it all fell silent. By chance, or skill, we had lost none. We rolled ahead again, but then the platoon in front of us came under anti-tank fire. There was another hill and it was riddled by hostile infantrists and AT emplacements. We stormed the hill under heavy fire. I still remember a Sergeant from our sister squad being taken out. Under heavy fire I was ordered to run out into the open and toward him, the fool had ran ahead from us and was isolated. I sprinted as the bullets raced past me and threw up dirt in my face, by chance I weren't killed. He was dead with his whole skull was just one open wound. I raced back and reported it. By now one in our team was shot in the breast and his respiration fast while the chest moved assymetrical as he breathed. It was a horrible sight. I was ordered to drag him alone back to the tanks and APCs as the rest assaulted the hill. I did so, I used a lot of time to do so as he was heavy and I was tired, cold, wet and most of all scared. Then our BTRs was nowhere to be seen. I was alone. By a chance another BTR that was lost came around, and picked us up. The guy I was dragging was dead. He then drove us to the linkup point where the fighting had just ended.
I slept for a few hours in the back of our BTR. Then explosions was heard. We were ordered to get out, I was lucky to be the first to disembark. Soon most of my squad was shot up under machine gun fire. I couldn't see where it came from, but men all around me died. Then all of the tanks and APCs came under anti tank fire and they exploded. One by one. British soldiers attacked in our ranks and I fired several rounds just above the head of a team mate of mine, and I killed the British. It was strange. The majority of my comrades were dead or wounded, but we had to push on. We took the hilltop and attacked a few foxholes with English in them. We fixed our bayonets, threw grenades on them and then stabbed them. The hill was secure and our mission was done. There was only me and two others left of our platoon. We got sent back to the rear. The next day we heard the armor and infantry that relieved us came under heavy fire and had to retreat. It was all for nothing".
This is the beginning of the end.
Despite the forest, who was believed to be cursed by the more supernatural Soviet soldiers, still holding out the Soviets managed to enclose Wales into a pocket. However several British brigades managed to slip through the forest and take up positions along the Line. By midnight of the 10th, five days into the renewed offensive, Wales had practically speaken fallen and the south of Leeds was finally secured. However the Soviets didn't manage to make further gains. The forest still held, and the British had nearly pushed the Soviets out of Liverpool with the attack into Leeds failing to gain momentum. The whole offensive into the Line became a bloody ordeal and the British got renewed confidence as it was proven that the Soviet war machine could be stopped.
A British mortar crew firing their load under the daring counterattack.
With this surge in morale the British prepared for what would be mere days ago unthinkable; to counterattack. The British went on the offensive and their first target was Manchester. Their maingoal was to keep the Liverpool-Hull Line intact without any holes in it. By early morning after meticulous planning Montgomery launched the attack into the already ruined city. "We assaulted into the city just behind heavy barrages. It was weird to come hom to Manchester, it was so different. We fought our way through taking on weak Soviet forces. They were exhausted after the battles in Liverpool and Manchester. We were to finish the work and kick them out off our city and in turn all of England. We took line after line and it was if the Russians didn't expect us to actually being able to fight. For christ, we took Berlin! Even the cathedral was the victim of a last stand by Ivan, but we took it. A strange feeling surged to my breast as I saw the Union Jack wave over the Cathedral. A sensation of pride, relief and even optimism. Manchester was ours again, we had beat them".
The land and airborne forces prepare for the last push - and so do Britain.
By 14:20 the Soviets were driven out off Manchester after four days of presence and harsh battle. All over the Line the Soviets failed to push ahead, with Rokossovsky wishin to push his tanks in the gap between Leeds and Hull, but the British stood their grounds. In the forests the Soviets had driven into a gigantic cementary. Tukhachevsky ordered the offensives to be ceased. All three Fronts was now to come to the Line and prepare for a renewed offensive and to get some rest. The British did so aswell.
The British counterttack pushed us out of Manchester, but we'll hold the line.
After four days of combat pause the British ended the peace. They attacked into the southern bank of Leeds aswell to the south of Manchester and Hull hoping to reach the Trent. But as the Soviets they failed to make any real progress. The worst Soviet fears during Seven Days to the River Thames was to be engaged in a static war south of the Thames and bloody urban battles in London. It didn't go like that as we all know. Now it seemed as it would happen along the Line. The Soviets needed something new to break the deadlock.
New beasts are needed to break the Liverpool-Hull Line.
And the Soviets got something new indeed. The T-44A was upgraded to the T-44-100 while the LT-3 tanks was rolling out. Despite the T-44A being innovative for its day it still "only" had the 85mm gun, the same as the now mainstream T-34-85. STAVKA required a heavier gun, and it was first experimented with a 122mm gun, however it was too heavy for the current chassis. Instead it was settled with a 100mm gun, which was massive for the time and quite the leap forward. The tank carries 36 rounds for the 100 mm tank gun. Moreover it had the 12.7 mm DShK anti-aircraft heavy machine gun fitted to the loader's hatch. It was meant to be given new side skirts and thickened armor to 120mm, with various new changes. But STAVKA wanted the T-44-100 to be rushed into service, in the future the T-44-100 would get even more changes to its profile, fuel capacity, engine and armor. The LT-3 would replace the LT-2s and KV series. This tank had an improved armour layout and a new turret While this low, hemispherical turret improved protection, it also significantly diminished the headroom, especially for the loader. The low turret also limited the maximum depression of the main gun, since the gun breech had little room inside the turret to elevate, and this limited the extent to which the LT-3 could take advantage of hull-down positions. The LT-3 had the 122mm gun. As the T-44 became closer in resemblance to the LT tanks and lighter T-60s and T-70s the Soviets was moving toward the concept of the British Universal Tank (still on the concept table) and what would later be called the main battle tank. Technicalities aside what mattered was that the Soviets got new weapons that was vastly superior than any other. The medium T-44 tank could take out the heaviest of NATO tanks and protect against it, the Red Army had just redefined heavy and medium tank classes.
British soldiers holding the line.
The British were waiting for the Soviets, but the Soviets unlashed their new machines of war on the 17th of September. The British were taken completely by surprise with reports coming from soldiers "going mental" on the mere sight of the new tanks. The Soviets haven rested for several days and beaten back the British attackers, launched a full scale assault. Fighters and bombers came in from the skies and targeted the British positions, while katyushas leveled entire neighbourhoods and struck fear into the hearts of the British soldiers with its devastating effects and terrifying sound. And the T-44-100s and LT-3 was a gamechanger and plowed through the British ranks.
Both sides are incapable of breaking through the enemy's defenses.
The Line came under vicious attack from all sides. By early morning of the 19th it was clear that the forest was about to fall - which in turn opened up the road to Liverpool - however the battles inside of Leeds and Manchester turned to hell. The already ruined cities was ripe with snipers and booby traps and the house to house fighting was a real strain on Soviet resources. However with progress being made in the forest and the plains west of Hull it was clear that the Line could be broken afterall.
A small gap in the Line is created, it need to be taken.
During the night to the 20th the British evacuated the forested area that had become a living hell for both sides. However the British managed to hold all the urban areas of Manchester, Leeds and Hull. Rokossovsky instead focused his forces to crush through the plains between Hull and Leeds. It was the only area really suited for armored warfare. If these plains were taken the entire Line would fall and the Soviets could finally break out.
The Soviet Army masters war of attrition.
Night of the 21st. "It's a miracle" a Soviet commander reported to his Front. Around Manchester and Liverpool the British were falling back, with one Brigade from Liverpool making a desperate, yet doomed, counterassault to give their comrades time to evacuate. The Soviets were beaten back in Leeds unable to take the city, but they were soon taking control of Manchester and Liverpool and Rokossovsky's tanks was pouring into the plains. It now became a race between the various Marshals of who was the first to hold the Line.
One of the last British strongholds.
The British was in shock, and so was the Soviets. All that was needed was a minor breakthrough and the British forces folded. Only scattered, yet fierce, resistance remained. The Soviets cleared out the Line for around five days. The heavily fortified area was soon taken and once the last pockets was dealt with the Red Army was ready to set their eyes northward. Yet there was a few strongholds left. The Soviets used days, and hundreds of men, to clear them out. Each of these points had to be dealth with, if not the British could use them for bases of operations and fire support. Hull and Liverpool was especially hard fought over. The Soviets struggled to gain control over these cities, however the fate of these remaining bastions was sealed as Airborne Divisions landed in behind them preventing any reinforcement - and escape. While the Soviet armored forces and airborne divisions locked in Liverpool and Hull and engaged the last British lines in the open terrain of Yorkshire, and quickly advanced toward the English-Scottis borderland, the garrisons of Liverpool and Hull did not surrender. Instead seeing as their was no way out for them they become desperate and fought bitterly. Even as Leeds and Manchester was taken and Liverpool and Hull was encircled the British held out to the very last man.
After horrific weeks the Liverpool-Hull line broke down.
On the 27th of September the Line was taken and broken. What was meant to take 9 days to take instead took a month and nearly a week. The Battle of Liverpool-Hull became the bloodiest thus far in the war, overshadowing every other battle - beside the nuclear bombings of Ukraine. On the 5th of September the Soviets attacked from the Trent with high hopes of conquest, instead they faced severe defeats and savage fighting in the hills of Wales, the forests of northern England and especially the urban battles of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull. Each of these cities are still scarred from the heavy fighting, and so are the men who survived it. It was said that the living envied the dead in those hellish fights. The Soviets had doubled their losses in the fighting over the Line alone, while the UK had lost nearly 600.000 men in one month alone, over half of what they lost during WW2 that lasted for five years. However the British forces remained stoic and fell back to the Newcastle Line ready to stall the Soviets as the first American troops in Scotland arrived to the front. The Newcastle Line formed around Newcastle, behind the Tyne river and the hilly areas on the northernmost area of England. The British dug in again and awaited for NATO reinforcements, in the terrain of the last line in England the massive numbers of the Red Army was no longer to an advantage...
The casualties mount up on both sides.
Strategic bombing.
September the 12th. After heavy fighting the Soviets were driven out off Manchester. The Soviets had ceased their offensives for days now as despite their might they were unable to break through the British defenses. The distant rumbles of artillery was no more, however the people along the Line got no rest. Ever since the 3rd of September the Soviets had engaged in a ruthless campaign of strategic bombing. Oblivious to the failure of the Americans, British and even Germans on this field the Soviets hoped to "bomb Britain into submission". After the Soviet cessation in offensives the strategic bombing only stepped up. STAVKA hoped to demoralize the British population, Army along with tearing down the defenses. Despite the daily and nightly bombing into industrial and military areas the population and army did not surrender. On the contrary it managed to unify and the talks of revolution disapperead under the noise from the bombing by the Soviet Air Force. The battle had just begun.
Long live Wales.
A week earlier the Red Army resumed their offensive into Wales and northward after their successful drive north of the Thames and the conquest of Birmingham. The attack started on the midnight between the 5th and 6th and was a daunting sight to bear witness. All along the line the Soviets opened up with impressive artillery fire and flares blinding the enemy along with disheartening the young British men protecting their homeland. Amidst the darkness and chaos Soviet tanks rolled forward shooting on the exposed British positions. The poor British soldier was taken ablast, with one detailing his experience "we couldn't see anything besides flashes to the rythms of Soviet machineguns and cannons. We couldn't hear anything beside said rythms and the screams of dying men and attacking Soviets. We were fighting blindly and the Soviets mowed over us. It was all over in a matter of hours, we never knew where they came from and where they went". After days of rest the Soviets launched their attack to cut off the British stationed in Wales and cross the river of Trent. Following that they would strike north into the feared Liverpool-Hull Line, now only reffered to as "the Line". The Soviet assault was advancing all along the front, however they were stopped in the forests south of Liverpool. The Red Army had a difficult time manuevering in the dense forests and their tactics to take the heart out off the bravest of men failed as the Soviets stumbled in the blind in said forests aswell. Said forests would stall the Soviet advances for weeks and would result in a carnage. More on that later.
We took them by surprise there!
As the night and shock faded the British managed to move their troops into position. Their maingoal was to push back the Soviet advance and establish a perimeter south of the Line. In the forest south of Liverpool they managed to halt the Soviet assault. However the Soviets launched an air assault as they baited the British out from their defensive zones. Two airborne divisions landed in Manchester wrestling of control of the city from the garrison, while two other divisions landed south of Leeds and the Wharfe taking control of the urban area there. The British responded with a ruthless counterattack from Leeds. The goal of the paratroopers was to establish control over the bridges and crossroads leading into Manchester and Leeds awaiting the advance of the mechanized thrusts. From there on the Soviet forces would penetrate the Line and encircle it. Once the Soviet armies reached Manchester (it was planned to be the focal point for the breakthrough) further airborne forces would land in behind the Line again awaiting the main mechanized force. However around 10:00 the Soviet airborne divisions in Manchester came under heavy fire. The paratroopers had to clear out several key buildings with no radio communications with the main Soviet force, which meant little to no air or artillery support. The paratroopers were quickly isolated and were in dire need of relief. From the south Rokossovsky and his Front arrived. However Rokossovsky soon became entangled in a predicament. As the Soviet paras in Manchester were isolated he couldn't launch a major artillery and katyusha barrages as it would risk blue on blue fire. Instead the infantrists coming from the south had to engage in the urban combat similar to the paratroopers. Worse off was it south of Leeds. The paratroopers there were tasked with securing bridgeheads into Leeds for the Soviet advance, but an awkward situation situation arose as the British were too tasked with keeping said bridgeheads open. To facilitate for retreating NATO forces and also to establish a foothold in the urban center. The British counterattack from Leeds was without mercy. The British infantrists moved over the bridges and by boat under heavy Soviet fire. However the British enjoyed having much heavier hardware in the form of artillery etc and pounded the Soviets. The paratroopers on the other hand was only outfitted with light weaponary designed for close quarter combat and not to contain large scale assaults. The tip of the balance was quickly getting toward the British and the Soviet paras held out valiantly against the British onslaught. The VDV was again put to a massive test.
Industrial complex occupied by Soviet paras in Manchester.
The Soviet paratroopers in Manchester soon got the upperhand. They employed brilliant Maskirovka tactics where several fluent speaking Soviets and even English defectors were dropped into the battle in English uniforms and gear. They spread out in the city and gave vital intelligence back and spread chaos among British ranks giving them false information and even directing friendly fire. The paratroopers became well entrenched and the infantrists under Rokossovky was breaking into the outskirts of the city. However the fighting was still tense. One of the greatest brawls was in a vital industrial complex, vital as it dominated the area and as it was of major importance to the British war industry. A Soviet platoon leader of the airborne forces told his story as they cleared the complex. "We were pinned down and without any means of artillery strike. First platoon crossed no-man's land as the rest of the battalion provided covering fire, the poor fellows got torn apart as they crossed the area. Our mission was clear, take the complex, set observation posts and firezones and provide for a relay squad to set up a mast in order to open up communications. Most of first platoon crossed, but around 1/3 got cut down where the majority of the wounded men laid in front of us screaming in pure agony. We were then ordered to prepare for our assault. In the nick of the time a machine gun company arrived and gave us heavy covering fire. Through a hail of bullets we crossed the field with few casualties. We stacked up along with the greatly reduced first platoon and awaited for the third platoon to begin our assault. Once they arrived they entered the building and heavy fire sounded through the corridors. After the fire ceased we rushed in and had to step over several maimed bodies. (...) After several hours we cleared the ground floor and our men were exhausted, but there was no time for rest. Reports came in the British used this position to observe and correct for artillery fire upon our comrades. I ordered my men to get ready to take the stairs, as the first men got exposed in the stairwell they came under fire and several fell, but we had to push on. I pushed my men forward as we threw grenades up. I ordered my second squad to storm upwards, but in the blindzone hanging above us was a booby trap hanging above the men, one blast was all it took and the entire squad was torn apart. 8 men died in one instant, but we had to continue. Despite this major loss we were still the platoon that suffered the least losses in the push to control the complex. The lights was put out and as we pushed forward into an office-scape of some sorts there was this flashlight hanging in the far end. On instinct the men pushed forward to the flashlight and fired on it. But it was a trap. On the other side the British were in position and opened up fire on us. We battled onwards and I sent squad after squad to its certain death. The British had only six men, despite this we lost around 53 of our men as my company and our sister company switched on who was to storm and who was to cover.
(...) The hours went by and several other companies had joined the fight, and several more men had fallen during the intensive fighting. We were in a narrow corridor leading into a vault with several offices on each side down the hall. We kicked in the door and threw in several grenades, the hall was filled with smoke and dust and screams from the English pigs. I ordered an lmg to take the corner and hold the corridor. Just for good measure I ordered several bursts down the hallway. Then I sent out another squad, I was now in charge of my company as all the platoon and company commanders were no more, armed with smg's down. As they went down two British popped up down the hall and fired upon them, several got shot but they kept on rolling and fired on the English. The British fell, but as the rest followed in behind a team of British soldiers popped out from one of the side doors and clipped them down with furious fire. While my men in the front dropped dead I ordered the lmg to unleash its full potential. The walls splintered and there was dust everywhere, we had difficulties breathing. Several teams cleared out the rooms, and all I could hear was loud screams and gunshots. Soon we took the rooms. (...) After a full day the complex was taken, but at a great cost. My company was no longer battleworthy with the majority being wounded or dead, we only had to hold the complex and await for the mechanized troops to come in rolling and rescue us".
Let's finish off Wales before we finish off England.
It was nearing midnight of the 6th of September, a full day of battle since the renewed Soviet offensive. It was going well for the Soviets. Wales was about to be cut off and fall, with the British retreating all over the front, meanwhile after vicious battle the Soviet paratroopers managed to hold Manchester. The second paratrooper corps south of Leeds however was still under heavy fire and barely held their ground against the British assault. The offensive into the forests south of Liverpool and Manchester was renewed during the middle of the night hoping to take the British by surprise. It was vital to take these forests as they blocked the route into Liverpool and Manchester for that sake. Moreover it opened up a small connection between Waled and the Line. The Soviets hoped to encircle the British entirley in Wales and as such taking the linkup point was of major importance, moreover it also functioned as a possible point of reinforcements into Wales, and a flanking attack, by NATO. The forests had to fall. Still with Manchester taken the Soviets were at a significant advantage. It translated into mobile forces being able to use Manchester as a base of operation to attack the Line in the rear. Tukhachevsky pressured the VDV to launch their operations behind the Line, but Chibisov hesitated. Despite Tukhachevsky being incenses Chibisov and the VDV said that the risks was too high, and that the paratroopers was still exposed in Manchester and south of Leeds. The forces under Rokossovsky or Gorbatov had to reach southern Leeds or Manchester before he could launch such a daring operation. For the paratroopers not in action the waiting was nerve wrecking.
The British hold their ground and counterattack us with success.
Despite Manchester being taken the Soviets failed to advance their forces into Manchester. Gorbatov miscalculated and sent several of his armored forces into the forests, costing him dearly. Meanwhile he prioritized sending in his armored forces to the south of Leeds to prevent it from falling to the British and the 7th and 8th Airborne Divisions from being wiped out. He reckoned that Manchester was already secured, now he needed to secure the southern bank of Leeds or the British and prevent them from entrenching in the urban enviorment. He sent forth a Mechanized Corps, however most of the tanks were held back. Instead he sent in APCs and lighter armored vehicles. The APCs main goal was to break into the bridgehead and city center and retrieve wounded paratroopers. The infantrists who disembarked would dig in and provide heavy fire upon the British attackers. Then the tanks would come in, while all of the exhausted paratroopers pulled out.This tactic worked in pulling out wounded paratroopers, however the British was pressing on and there was legitimate concerns the British would push the Soviets out. Such a prospect was terrifying for the Soviet commanders who hadn't experienced defeat in England yet. If they were to lose one place, could other defeats follow?
The hellish conditions of the battles of Manchester and Leeds.
But the September rain of England led to mud. And the mud led to the Soviet relief forces being delayed. Only a few mechanized units managed to aid the 7th and 8th Airborne Divisions. The paratroopers were on their own. Chibisov was wise to hold off further air assaults. If the more aggressive minded marshals had it their way several Soviet airborne divisions would be cut off. Manchester came under several counterattack, they all failed - at the cost of severly weakened Soviet forces. In Leeds the Soviet casualties piled up. A Soviet soldier wrote in his war diary "I've been here on this rooftop for several days now. Under fire and rain. It is the rain that is the worst, it makes me cold and miserable. When there's firefights I feel alive and I forget that I am cold, wet and numb. All around lay used RPG-1s. We use them to fire into the building beneath us where the British have taken up a position. It doesn't really take the Brits out, but it creates a alot of dust, chaos and make life down there miserable. As the RPGs are one shot only there is countless of tubes around me. After we fire our rockets on our enemies we fire on with 14.5 caliber PTRS anti-tank rifles or 12.7 machine guns on them. The walls then come cracking down. I have no idea how many days we're supposed to holed up here and how long we can last, our ammonution are getting low".
The airborne boys were rescued after massive casualties, the noose around the Welsh dragon tighten.
The third day of the assault on the Line. Wales was falling apart however the forests was still holding off the Soviet attack inflicting massive casualties on the invaders. All along the Line the Soviets were having a hard time breaking through. A Rifle Division reinforced Manchester and attacked into Liverpool from the east, however they didn't manage to make it through the sub-urbs being bogged down in heavy fighting. Along the rest of Line Soviet forces failed to cross the rivers and failed to take Hull. Only south of Leeds the Soviets made progress, this time in the form of a Mechanized corps finally relieving the 7th Airborne Division. The 8th Airborne Division was still holding, albeit barely. The assault by the British from Leeds however was losing momentum as the Soviet Mechanized Corps took up position. It became clear that neither side managed to make any gains. The Soviets were afraid it would lead to a complte standstill, while the British hoped this would lead the new NATO reinforcements pouring in to Scotland could launch a counterattack and drive out the invading forces. For the Soviets a failed invasion was now a real prospect, while for the United Kingdom the fate of their nation hanged in the balance - and hope was on the horizon.
Soviet troops battle their way through the forests.
But there wasn't only in the urban enviorments the Soviets faced hardship, they did so in the forest aswell. STAVKA put much resources and care to secure this zone and the troops were pushed to the limit. Such as witnessed by the accounts of a Soviet conscript in an armored reconnaissance company: "It was my baptism of fire and I was excited and anxious. After 6 weeks of recruit school I was ready for war. I was set up as the footcrew in a BTR while we were also supported by T-70s. Our objective was to secure the axis of advance into a height where the tanks and mechanized infantry was to set up positions and advance ahead. The first day went well, we advanced without any opposition. Over the night we set up several OPs and patrols, our only enemy was the rain and cold. After sitting still on a windy top for hours, soaking wet, we were ordered to march to a hilltop as high command feared the enemy would have a camp there. We felt expendable as we were supposed to perish in the attack. After 12 hours of marching in whipping rain we found no one on the top. So we slept for a few hours riding in the back of our loyal BTR. The next day the sun was shining and the weather lovely, we secured several crossroads and no enemy was in sight. Then as the evening approached all hell broke loose. Our sister platoon had been under severe fire from small arms and artillery. I will never forget the scene. So many dead comrades, so much blood and so many screaming and crying. We pushed ahead in pure fury and killed our enemy at minimal casualties of our own. We embarked on our BTR again and hopped off as we had to secure the flank. After advancing by foot the sun was getting down and it shined in our eyes. It was then I my team advanced into open terrain we got under supressive machine gun fire. All of my team mates simply.. died in a matter of seconds. And I was crawling back under machine gun fire. The rest of the platoon returned fire, but we were unable to take down the British. Just to be sure our platoon leader called in an air strike. It was an impressive sight. But it continued to fire, so we pulled out. It was marked for further strikes and for the heavier mechanized infantry to clear out.
We battled all night, but we won most firefights. I remember when we had to stop as we ran into a minefield. We disembarked and set up a defensive perimeter as we waited for the engineers. Then as we set up perimeter we came under machine gun fire and flares lit up the skies. We got into position and returned fire. There wasn't much to fire on other than where the tracers of our machine guns hit and the muzzle flashes of our enemies. It was on another hill, we were on one too, above the trees. Soon the entire company returned fire along with the BTRs, M1940s and the T-70s. Then we blinded the enemy with our flares, and our platoon commander called in mortar. After a few minutes of calling in the strikes and making corrections it all fell silent. By chance, or skill, we had lost none. We rolled ahead again, but then the platoon in front of us came under anti-tank fire. There was another hill and it was riddled by hostile infantrists and AT emplacements. We stormed the hill under heavy fire. I still remember a Sergeant from our sister squad being taken out. Under heavy fire I was ordered to run out into the open and toward him, the fool had ran ahead from us and was isolated. I sprinted as the bullets raced past me and threw up dirt in my face, by chance I weren't killed. He was dead with his whole skull was just one open wound. I raced back and reported it. By now one in our team was shot in the breast and his respiration fast while the chest moved assymetrical as he breathed. It was a horrible sight. I was ordered to drag him alone back to the tanks and APCs as the rest assaulted the hill. I did so, I used a lot of time to do so as he was heavy and I was tired, cold, wet and most of all scared. Then our BTRs was nowhere to be seen. I was alone. By a chance another BTR that was lost came around, and picked us up. The guy I was dragging was dead. He then drove us to the linkup point where the fighting had just ended.
I slept for a few hours in the back of our BTR. Then explosions was heard. We were ordered to get out, I was lucky to be the first to disembark. Soon most of my squad was shot up under machine gun fire. I couldn't see where it came from, but men all around me died. Then all of the tanks and APCs came under anti tank fire and they exploded. One by one. British soldiers attacked in our ranks and I fired several rounds just above the head of a team mate of mine, and I killed the British. It was strange. The majority of my comrades were dead or wounded, but we had to push on. We took the hilltop and attacked a few foxholes with English in them. We fixed our bayonets, threw grenades on them and then stabbed them. The hill was secure and our mission was done. There was only me and two others left of our platoon. We got sent back to the rear. The next day we heard the armor and infantry that relieved us came under heavy fire and had to retreat. It was all for nothing".
This is the beginning of the end.
Despite the forest, who was believed to be cursed by the more supernatural Soviet soldiers, still holding out the Soviets managed to enclose Wales into a pocket. However several British brigades managed to slip through the forest and take up positions along the Line. By midnight of the 10th, five days into the renewed offensive, Wales had practically speaken fallen and the south of Leeds was finally secured. However the Soviets didn't manage to make further gains. The forest still held, and the British had nearly pushed the Soviets out of Liverpool with the attack into Leeds failing to gain momentum. The whole offensive into the Line became a bloody ordeal and the British got renewed confidence as it was proven that the Soviet war machine could be stopped.
A British mortar crew firing their load under the daring counterattack.
With this surge in morale the British prepared for what would be mere days ago unthinkable; to counterattack. The British went on the offensive and their first target was Manchester. Their maingoal was to keep the Liverpool-Hull Line intact without any holes in it. By early morning after meticulous planning Montgomery launched the attack into the already ruined city. "We assaulted into the city just behind heavy barrages. It was weird to come hom to Manchester, it was so different. We fought our way through taking on weak Soviet forces. They were exhausted after the battles in Liverpool and Manchester. We were to finish the work and kick them out off our city and in turn all of England. We took line after line and it was if the Russians didn't expect us to actually being able to fight. For christ, we took Berlin! Even the cathedral was the victim of a last stand by Ivan, but we took it. A strange feeling surged to my breast as I saw the Union Jack wave over the Cathedral. A sensation of pride, relief and even optimism. Manchester was ours again, we had beat them".
The land and airborne forces prepare for the last push - and so do Britain.
By 14:20 the Soviets were driven out off Manchester after four days of presence and harsh battle. All over the Line the Soviets failed to push ahead, with Rokossovsky wishin to push his tanks in the gap between Leeds and Hull, but the British stood their grounds. In the forests the Soviets had driven into a gigantic cementary. Tukhachevsky ordered the offensives to be ceased. All three Fronts was now to come to the Line and prepare for a renewed offensive and to get some rest. The British did so aswell.
The British counterttack pushed us out of Manchester, but we'll hold the line.
After four days of combat pause the British ended the peace. They attacked into the southern bank of Leeds aswell to the south of Manchester and Hull hoping to reach the Trent. But as the Soviets they failed to make any real progress. The worst Soviet fears during Seven Days to the River Thames was to be engaged in a static war south of the Thames and bloody urban battles in London. It didn't go like that as we all know. Now it seemed as it would happen along the Line. The Soviets needed something new to break the deadlock.
New beasts are needed to break the Liverpool-Hull Line.
And the Soviets got something new indeed. The T-44A was upgraded to the T-44-100 while the LT-3 tanks was rolling out. Despite the T-44A being innovative for its day it still "only" had the 85mm gun, the same as the now mainstream T-34-85. STAVKA required a heavier gun, and it was first experimented with a 122mm gun, however it was too heavy for the current chassis. Instead it was settled with a 100mm gun, which was massive for the time and quite the leap forward. The tank carries 36 rounds for the 100 mm tank gun. Moreover it had the 12.7 mm DShK anti-aircraft heavy machine gun fitted to the loader's hatch. It was meant to be given new side skirts and thickened armor to 120mm, with various new changes. But STAVKA wanted the T-44-100 to be rushed into service, in the future the T-44-100 would get even more changes to its profile, fuel capacity, engine and armor. The LT-3 would replace the LT-2s and KV series. This tank had an improved armour layout and a new turret While this low, hemispherical turret improved protection, it also significantly diminished the headroom, especially for the loader. The low turret also limited the maximum depression of the main gun, since the gun breech had little room inside the turret to elevate, and this limited the extent to which the LT-3 could take advantage of hull-down positions. The LT-3 had the 122mm gun. As the T-44 became closer in resemblance to the LT tanks and lighter T-60s and T-70s the Soviets was moving toward the concept of the British Universal Tank (still on the concept table) and what would later be called the main battle tank. Technicalities aside what mattered was that the Soviets got new weapons that was vastly superior than any other. The medium T-44 tank could take out the heaviest of NATO tanks and protect against it, the Red Army had just redefined heavy and medium tank classes.
British soldiers holding the line.
The British were waiting for the Soviets, but the Soviets unlashed their new machines of war on the 17th of September. The British were taken completely by surprise with reports coming from soldiers "going mental" on the mere sight of the new tanks. The Soviets haven rested for several days and beaten back the British attackers, launched a full scale assault. Fighters and bombers came in from the skies and targeted the British positions, while katyushas leveled entire neighbourhoods and struck fear into the hearts of the British soldiers with its devastating effects and terrifying sound. And the T-44-100s and LT-3 was a gamechanger and plowed through the British ranks.
Both sides are incapable of breaking through the enemy's defenses.
The Line came under vicious attack from all sides. By early morning of the 19th it was clear that the forest was about to fall - which in turn opened up the road to Liverpool - however the battles inside of Leeds and Manchester turned to hell. The already ruined cities was ripe with snipers and booby traps and the house to house fighting was a real strain on Soviet resources. However with progress being made in the forest and the plains west of Hull it was clear that the Line could be broken afterall.
A small gap in the Line is created, it need to be taken.
During the night to the 20th the British evacuated the forested area that had become a living hell for both sides. However the British managed to hold all the urban areas of Manchester, Leeds and Hull. Rokossovsky instead focused his forces to crush through the plains between Hull and Leeds. It was the only area really suited for armored warfare. If these plains were taken the entire Line would fall and the Soviets could finally break out.
The Soviet Army masters war of attrition.
Night of the 21st. "It's a miracle" a Soviet commander reported to his Front. Around Manchester and Liverpool the British were falling back, with one Brigade from Liverpool making a desperate, yet doomed, counterassault to give their comrades time to evacuate. The Soviets were beaten back in Leeds unable to take the city, but they were soon taking control of Manchester and Liverpool and Rokossovsky's tanks was pouring into the plains. It now became a race between the various Marshals of who was the first to hold the Line.
One of the last British strongholds.
The British was in shock, and so was the Soviets. All that was needed was a minor breakthrough and the British forces folded. Only scattered, yet fierce, resistance remained. The Soviets cleared out the Line for around five days. The heavily fortified area was soon taken and once the last pockets was dealt with the Red Army was ready to set their eyes northward. Yet there was a few strongholds left. The Soviets used days, and hundreds of men, to clear them out. Each of these points had to be dealth with, if not the British could use them for bases of operations and fire support. Hull and Liverpool was especially hard fought over. The Soviets struggled to gain control over these cities, however the fate of these remaining bastions was sealed as Airborne Divisions landed in behind them preventing any reinforcement - and escape. While the Soviet armored forces and airborne divisions locked in Liverpool and Hull and engaged the last British lines in the open terrain of Yorkshire, and quickly advanced toward the English-Scottis borderland, the garrisons of Liverpool and Hull did not surrender. Instead seeing as their was no way out for them they become desperate and fought bitterly. Even as Leeds and Manchester was taken and Liverpool and Hull was encircled the British held out to the very last man.
After horrific weeks the Liverpool-Hull line broke down.
On the 27th of September the Line was taken and broken. What was meant to take 9 days to take instead took a month and nearly a week. The Battle of Liverpool-Hull became the bloodiest thus far in the war, overshadowing every other battle - beside the nuclear bombings of Ukraine. On the 5th of September the Soviets attacked from the Trent with high hopes of conquest, instead they faced severe defeats and savage fighting in the hills of Wales, the forests of northern England and especially the urban battles of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Hull. Each of these cities are still scarred from the heavy fighting, and so are the men who survived it. It was said that the living envied the dead in those hellish fights. The Soviets had doubled their losses in the fighting over the Line alone, while the UK had lost nearly 600.000 men in one month alone, over half of what they lost during WW2 that lasted for five years. However the British forces remained stoic and fell back to the Newcastle Line ready to stall the Soviets as the first American troops in Scotland arrived to the front. The Newcastle Line formed around Newcastle, behind the Tyne river and the hilly areas on the northernmost area of England. The British dug in again and awaited for NATO reinforcements, in the terrain of the last line in England the massive numbers of the Red Army was no longer to an advantage...
The casualties mount up on both sides.
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But Russia still has men to spare. I can't imagine the UK does, no matter how fiercely they now fight.
Indeed and NATO are far more pressed landwise. The USSR have millions more to sacrifice, and there's a long way from London to Moscow..
Chapter 48.
Chapter 48: Proletarian Shield.
The plans of "Proletarian Shield".
Following the fall of the Netherlands the Fronts that took part of Operation Mars was redelegated to the other theatres of war. While the Caucasian Front was transferred to Greece, mostly due to their large concentration of Mountaineer Divisions, the 1st and 3rd Ukranian Fronts would also participate in what would later be known as the Mediterranean Strategic Offensive Operation, however their part would be to strike from Iraq and control the Middle East. Already five days before the ultimate Dutch surrender STAVKA put up plans for the Soviet invasion of Syria, Lebanon, the British Protectorate of Kuwait and the British Mandate for Palestine and Transjordan. When Operation Mars came to a conclusion the 1st and 3rd Ukranian Fronts would go on the long journey over land to Iraq. Despite the recent victory in the Battle of the Eastern Mediterranean it was unsafe for Pact troops to journey over said sea and staff and logistics officers had to embark on the nightmare of transferring hundreds of thousands of men and great amount of supplies all the way from the Low Countries, through the war ridden Balkans and over to Iraq. During the trek eastwards Stavka also put emphasis on collecting several veterans from Southern Thrust to the 1st and 3rd Ukranian Fronts. This was in order to capitalize on the experiences they made during their invasions of Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq and utilize it during the coming battles against NATO. The date for the invasion was also to be set in the end of September to not give the Soviet and other PACT troopers heat shock and give them better conditions to acclimatize as they came from Europe and to the Middle-East. The 3rd Ukranian Front would attack with 19 divisions into Syria moving toward Aleppo and 5 divisions to strike into Kuwait. Kuwait was instrumental as STAVKA feared NATO would use it as a base of operations for an invasion of Iraq, fearing US troops coming in from the Pacific and the Anglo-Indian Army coming in over the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile the 1st Ukranian Front would commit 12 divisions to secure southern Syria, take Damascus and secure the borders of Lebanon while the other 12 divisions raced into Jordan to reach Palestine and from there on cut off Syria and Lebanon from Egypt.
The British Empire went straight into the trap, advance!
But there was one problem.. Iraq despite being part of the Internationale was intentionally left out of the Paris Pact (and other communist organizations) and was officially neutral. This was in accordance to the greater strategy of the Trotskyist regime; to keep the oil reserves of Iraq and Iran out of harm's way and to have a buffer zone to the soft belly of the USSR. However one of the leading causes of the outbreak of the Third World War was in fact that the British was caught preparing for an outright invasion of Iraq - in order to secure the oil reserves there. The Soviets, meanwhile, had already peaked at their oil and fuel supply - mostly due to the vast expansion of the Red Fleet - and could not afford to lose any of their oil supplies.** However as Iraq was a neutral nation they could not attack from the country. Knowing that NATO was willing to risk the peace for a war over Iraqi oil the Soviets leaked their intentions to invade the Middle East from Iraq. NATO seeing that Iraq was vulnerable as of now and fearful of a Soviet invasion from Iraq declared war on the small Arab nation on the 6th of September while the 1st and 3rd Fronts was still north in Europe fighting vicious battles over Amsterdam. The war had come to the Middle East.
The Rock stands..
It is important to remember that the Battle of Greece and the Battle of the Middle East was all part of the greater Mediterranean Strategic Offensive Operation, or more simply called the Mediterranean Offensive. The Battle of the Middle East would again be split into the Battle of the Levant and the Battle of Egypt. The whole PACT strategy revolved around taking control of Greece in order to control the Dardanelle and Bosphorous Straits (now called the Straits) and the islands of Crete, Malta and Cyprus to control the Mediterranean Sea and to advance through land to take control over Gibraltar and the Suez. As part of these many Operations the Spanish had since the outbreak of the war launched offensives into Gibraltar. However the "Rock" as it was called was heavily fortified with fresh troops arriving from all over not only the Empire but NATO coming it to reinforce the garrison. By the 27th of September the Spanish had launched offensives for well over a month, but facing a strange mix of Commonwealth, Liberian, Irish and top notch American troops their many attacks resulted in disasters. In addition to the Spanish troops French troops was also thrown into to the battle, and the Rock was standing despite ferocious bombings and assaults. The Rock also benefitted from "White Spanish" troops who had fled or deserted Spain after the victory of the Far Left over the Liberals, Democrats and Conservatives, but also as the Republicans won over the Nationalists. The British had not passed up that opportunity and several of the troops in Gibraltar and the Middle East was in fact anti-communist Spanish soldiers. Following the end of WW2 several French troops joined with the British Army, most notable the Foreign Legion. This was especially true as the United Kingdom and Free France joined in under a Union with the remaining French colonies housing the exiled French government. These "White" Spanish and French troops would see extensive combat against their "Red" brothers in the battles of Gibraltar, Greece, Northern Africa and the Middle East. Yet for now the Soviets did not send their aid to Spain instead they focused on striking in a swift and brutal offensive from Iraq and into Egypt. The American insistence on granting Libya sovereignty free of western or eastern influence played to the Soviet advantage. Unlike Syria and Lebanon, Libya and its king chose to not join NATO, but opted to remain neutral. This had the effect of blocking NATO's front between Egypt and the Anglo-French North Africa. Speed was essential for both sides. The Soviet Union had to rapidly cross into Jordan, Palestine and the Sinai Peninsula to cross the Suez and reach Libya before NATO managed to reinforce Egypt and the Suez through awkward transport lines. As such it was vital for NATO to hold both the Suez and Gibraltar. If they fell they could not send in further reinforcements into Egypt by sea, and if the Black Sea Fleet managed to gain supremacy of the Mediterranean Sea it was for obvious reasons a disaster for NATO planners.
Kiwis advance into Iraq.
NATO knowing their current advantage, and their future disadvantages, launched a full scale invasion of Iraq early in the morning of the 6th. 16th Independent Parachute Brigade Group, the French and Spanish Foreign Legions and the 7th Armoured Division, known as the Desert Rats, spearheaded the invasion. Fighting along side these veteran troops were several veteran American Brigades, Canadian Brigades, Irish troops, exiled Dutch Brigades but also for the first time of the war ANZAC troops. The morale was high with the NATO forces who expected a short and victorious campaign. However matters were soon complicated. Along the Iraqi-NATO borders French, Belgian, Spanish, Polish and Hungarian troops was deeply entrenched. Most decisive was the several French armored divisions who at great ranges pummeled the advancing NATO and Arab forces. However NATO underestimated the capabilities of the new Iraqi People's Army and the PACT in the area. Great War style they had entrenched themself in advanced trench systems and the battle was quickly turned into another Gallipoli. But most decisive was the American decision to spend their few, but precious, forces in Greece instead of Iraq. This was only topped with the Soviet submarine menace which prevented arms, supplies and troops to arrive to the battle. The battle soon turned against NATO with several of the combat brigades retreating toward Egypt or entrenching around Aleppo and Damascus preparing for the battles to come.
After much preperations we canconquer all of the Middle East.
Then 2:15 of the 28th of September the Soviets launched their attacks all over the fronts aided by several French armored brigades - the very same that had played an important role in foiling the NATO invasion. The following operation was dubbed Proletarian Shield by STAVKA who went away from naming their operations after planets to more bombastic names. Most of the front was void of NATO troops who had been resoundly beaten back and pulled back to areas that was more easy to defend rather than the deserts of the border regions who was nothing but flat and open terrains ripe with logistical problems. However perhaps the most surprising was the complete British absence of troops in Kuwait. Soviet and French troops advanced carefully into the small Sheikdom believing it was a trap. But apparently the Anglo-Indian-ANZAC offensive from Kuwait had depleted the regiments there of any combat capabilities. Instead of shedding needless blood they fell back to the other British colonies on the Arabian Peninsula and India. The Syrian, Irish and British troops stationed alongside the banks of the Euphrates fought bravely against their adversary, however the Russo-French invasion was too much and too coordinated for them to make any real opposition. Within hours the NATO forces was beaten back and the communist armies swarmed in.
The Soviet Army move rapidly through the Syrian deserts.
Over the next few days the Soviet and French armies only met with scattered resistance. Their greatest adversary were in fact not the standing armies of NATO, but rather the nomads and locals of the area. The Syrian Army soon disbanded and took it to the countryside, rather wanting to live than give their life to a new state they owed no loyalty to. The complete collapse of the front was only saved by the intervention of NATO troops most notably around Aleppo. While the defenses around Damascus was smashed Aleppo stood mostly due to two Canadian Brigades, two Dutch one and one American Armored Brigade and two British Armoured Brigades came to Aleppo to entrench around the now battered city. However the American Brigade and one of the British Armored Brigades were pushed back, mostly due to the massive concentration of T-34 and KV tanks. The Soviets employed massed assault tactics against their adversaries who soon had to retreat toward Greece. Despite the Trotsky and T-44 tanks being earmarked for England and Greece, the obsolete T-34s and KVs did their part and beat back the NATO troops. The first PACT troops soon entered Damascus expecting heavy local resistance...
Stupid NATO fighting for a Syria that have no will to fight.
But Damascus fell within days. There was no prolonged urban battles as in northern England, Amsterdam or Copenhagen. The population instead capitulated along with the Syrian government. Syrian and Arab radicals soon took control over the ancient capital with emissaries from Iraq coming in to lay the foundations of a United Arab Republic, based upon secular pan-Arabism and Socialism. Or as the American press put it "a puppet of the Soviet regime". However the Battle of the Levant was not over. Despite Syria officially changing sides, Lebanon remained and NATO established a pro-western government in Aleppo who was again reinforced by British, Canadian and Dutch troops. With the rapid Russo-French advances into the Middle East a massive number of Hungarian, Czech and Polish troops swarmed to Iraq and Syria, or the United Arab Republic as they styled themself now, to occupy the area while the Soviets and French troopers and tankers continued on their offensives. One heavy tank brigade and two mechanized corps of the 3rd Front now moved in to seize the heights south of Aleppo while the rest of the Front prepared for the final assault into Aleppo. Meanwhile the 1st Front moved to catch up with their advanced units to prepare to cross into the Holy Land, ready to fight both Canadian and the feared American troops.
Pinned down American soldiers.
The American-Canadian troops decided to go on the offensive and cross the Jordan river, believing they could take the Soviet and French advanced forces off guard and cut them off in Jordan dealing them a crippling blow. However the American and Canadian troops was soon bogged down in the hills east of the Jordan river and fell victim to heavy Soviet artillery strikes and fast moving tanks. The Soviets managed to cut off the American-Canadian supply lines and deprived them of their needed flow of fuel and water. It became a major powerstruggle and in the end the Canadians and American succumbed. Both of the brigades surrendered to the advancing Pact forces. Their plan to deal a blow to the invading forces backfired.
The second phase of the invasion. 3rd Ukrainian Front will finish up the northern front, while the 1st cut off Palestine.
With the fronts stabilized the two Fronts got a chance to plan their next move and take a breather. In the north Timoshenko ordered one Tank Brigade to lead four Rifle Divisions to take out Lebanon, eliminate the Canadians there and prevent NATO from using Lebanon as a base of operations, the rest of his Front would surround Aleppo with several PACT formations to begin a siege of the city and to attack the provisional capital when the defenders started to succumb to disease and low morale. To the south Vasilevsky planned to strike into Palestine and reach the Suez Canal. While STAVKA ordered a halt to the operation to let the resources and supplies come to the men as the commanders prepared for the coming operations. Vasilevsky had other plans. Seeing as the area was lightly defended he ordered his 6th Light Tank Brigade to cross into Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, to deliver a blow to the British morale, but more importantly to encircle the lone armoured brigade holding the corridor to Lebanon open and again to close yet another port for NATO reinforcements. Taking out the ports was vital for the PACT. As mentioned earlier Libya blocked the road for reinforcements. So NATO had to either send in troops from South Africa, across vast disease ridden lands with little infrastructure, or land them in ports. It was then decided the Light Brigade would spearhead into the cities before NATO could react, while a select few Rifle Divisions moved into a blocking position for the British armor and while two Mechanized Corps moved in to assault the British armor.
Pest control..
It worked like a clockwork. Despite the STAVKA being furious over the insubordination of Vasilevsky his gamble payed off. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv was soon taken, denying any NATO reinforcements into Lebanon and Syria. However as the British saw that Soviet armor was advancing in the north and got reports of Jerusalem falling they moved to the south hoping to use their heavier tanks to take out the light Soviet armor. However Soviet infantry soon bound up the British cruiser tanks and prevented them from reclaiming Tel Aviv. Soon enough the Mechanized Corps reached their armored foe and attacked them from all sides. Falling under Soviet blitz tactics, T-34 and even some newly arrived T-44s with 85mm guns (who had been replaced by T-44-100s in England) the British armor was soon taken out, piece by piece. The Soviets continued to mockingly call the British tanks for "Tommy Cookers". However the most important factor was that the advances of the 6th Light Tank Brigade led to their British adversary from being cut off. Being bingo on fuel and munitions the British tanks had to surrender.
The British fail in their counterattack.
Vasilevsky gave his 6th Light-Tank Brigade free reigns to push out as far as possible. Armed mostly by light trucks and the lightly armored T-50s, T-60s and T-70s the Brigade moved rapidly cross country and well ahead of the main French and Soviet forces. However this came at the cost of light armor and small caliber guns. Alan Brooke, the commander of the British Forces in the Near-East, launched a counterattack. The British, however, had also mostly light Matilda tanks. Out in the deserts of Sinai the British envisioned a tank duel in the open. However the Soviets haven decrypted the British codes lured the British into a trap. The trap was sprung and the British ran into a well layered defensive lines where the Soviets employed anti-tank guns, katyushas, howitzers and tank destroyers in killzones to inflict maximun casualties, moreover the infantry had taken up positions along natural defensive lines where they employed heavy AA guns to take out the British tanks from long distances. Meanwhile the Soviet armor were in reserve and employed hit and run tactics upon the British enemy. If one flank was falling under the Soviet AT fire, then the light tanks would rush in and take out as many British tanks as possible. Both sides inflicted high casualties on eachother, but as the Soviets were well prepared they soon got the upperhand. However the British got one thing coming in that had the chance to change the course of the battle..
HMS Indefatigable provide air support for NATO.
HMS Indefatigable was relative new being launched in 1941. She was one of two carriers to survive the disastrous Battle of the English Channel, she sailed through the Gibraltar Strait escorted by several cruisers, among them several heavy cruisers and one battlecruisers. Their goal, however, was not to engage the Black Sea Fleet in open battle. Instead they opted to engage the PACT forces in the Sinai. Carrying 81 planes she posed a major threat to the PACT forces in the area, mostly due to the fact that the airfields in the region had been bombed to piecemeal and that the Soviet Air Force was focusing on winning the battles over the British Isles, Greece and to patrol the homelands to prevent another nuclear bombing. The British was quick to launch their aircrafts who bombed the Soviets positions in the Sinai Peninsula. The Battle of Sinai was turning against the Soviets as they were now for the first time not in a position of air superiority which went over to NATO. The light Soviet tanks stood little chance against British dive bombers and rockets.
Forward!
The British was about to push forward, however a French armored brigade came to their aid. Despite falling under British airpower the sheer force of the Franco-Soviet forces managed to beat back the British attack. Instead the British broke off their attack waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Vasilevsky ordered his French and Russian subordinate to launch a counter offensive. After hours of barrages the French and Soviet tanks crossed no man's land. However the British responded with their airpower who slowed down the advancing communist forces, even halting them several times. Moreover as the tanks and infantrists finally arrived they saw that the British had aswell established defensive lines, and where the tanks dueled over long distances (often with the Soviet and French ones being bombed from the air aswell) the infantrists had to fight in nervewrecking close combat in the trenches.
The 6th Light Brigade were forces to retreat, hopefully the French won't surrender.
The British armored brigade was pushed out of the area over the night and was ready to push into the Port Said which would mean the Soviets would control the northern port of the Suez, however it mattered little as several infantry brigades from Britain, Canada and even the Philippines joined in and launched an attack upon the overstretched French and Soviet forces. Brooke counted on trapping the two advanced armored brigades away from their main force and away from their supply lines. As such he hoped to pull off a pincer movemnt, while he also attacked the main force in the far east of the front. Then minutes after ten o'clock of the 15th of October the 6th Light-Tank Brigade pulled out as it was hammered by NATO AT fire and dive bombers. It was hoped that the French tankers would suffer the same fate before one of the Mechanized Corps came to the area.
The siege of Aleppo is a bloody affair.
While the frontlines in the Sinai changedfor every minute, near Aleppo and Lebanon Timoshenko had played his cards safely. For over two weeks his men was ordered to hold the lines and only make the occasional skirmish into the NATO lines. Aleppo itself was attacked from the west by two Rifle Divisions and from the east by one. The city had to endure daily and nightly bombings from the air aswell as MLRS strikes and howitzer bombardments into the city. The rifle divisions faced harsh resistance, however they quickly took control over the outer suburbs and got ready to advance into the city itself. Meanwhile to the south the two Canadian brigades holding the southern flank of Aleppo came under attack from all directions. Despite their formidable defenses, they could hold out against the Soviet overpower. After two full days of battle they gave up their positions and retreated to the north to link up with their countrymen holding up the city. Now in contrast to the south the Soviet advance fell short. While the suburbs and outskirts of Aleppo was secured, the Soviets failed to enter the city itself. The Canadians there fought bitterly and the massive bombing of Aleppo didn't weaken the defenders, instead it gave them areas and possibilities to better defend themself.
Canada finally realized they had nothing to do in the Middle East.
But it was not to last. Soon the Soviets poured in from all sides. It mattered little how valiant the Canadians fought or how well trained they were. In the end the Soviets had the numbers and time on their side, the Canadians did not. The nail in their coffin was the inclusion of a Mechanied Corps and a Heavy-Tank Brigade. After a siege that lasted over 20 days Aleppo fell. The Dominion of Canada had done their part in the Middle East, and thousands of her sons had shed blood in the deserts of the promised land. Lebanon too fell that day as Soviet, Spanish and French troops pushed into the tiny nation. The northern front in the Battle of the Levant was settled. The 3rd Ukranian Front was now put on occupation duties in the newly conquered territories, or liberated as the Internationale put it. All eyes were on Sinai.
With the Middle East conquered the focus now change over to Egypt..
Despite the full force of the 1st Ukranian Front weighing on the Sinai Peninsula, Vasilevsky and his men could not break the defenders. For nearly two weeks they had prepared for the assault who was opened up the usual massed artillery barrage, however the NATO airplanes managed to cripple the Soviet attempts for assault. Right before midnight of the 1st of November the Soviets mounted an attack, hoping to take the British by surprise in the dark and the cold. But it did not help. NATO forces poured in from Egypt and Port Said and the Desert Rats, Americans and ANZAC troops that had previously been beaten back during their invasion of Iraq had now reformed what they called the "Sinai Line". This line was in advance of the Suez Canal creating a needed buffer to keep the canal open. Moreover they held on to a port that gave them fresh supplies, where the Pact forces had to rely on supplies coming in from the ports of Turkey or eastern Iraq - as the ports of Syria, Lebanon and Palestine was crippled by PACT and NATO bombing. After a few hours Vasilevsky and his French colleague decided to call off the attack and instead wait a few more days and for the daylight. If the next probing attacks were of little success the PACT forces would retreat back to the Palestinian borders to give them better conditions for creating defenses and to get in supplies. The Battle of the Levant was coming to and end, the Battle of Egypt had just begun..***
US soldiers using a captured Pact tank in Egypt.
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*Referred to as simply Palestine from now on due to the British calling it so. It is not a political statement of any variety.
**Currently we need 44 units of oil, but those costs are mostly tied up to the future warships being produced, the lack of oil are currently not hindering production.
***So for Egypt and North Africa I will roleplay a little. That is if my forces are far ahead from any supply source and well into the desert I will retreat my forces to the next more hospitable lands before I launch another offensive. This is to better simulate the actual battles fought in the region.
Edit: Changed name of "the Battle of the Middle East" to "the Battle of the Levant". The Battle of the Middle East will be the catch term for both the Battle of the Levant and the Battle of Egypt.
The plans of "Proletarian Shield".
Following the fall of the Netherlands the Fronts that took part of Operation Mars was redelegated to the other theatres of war. While the Caucasian Front was transferred to Greece, mostly due to their large concentration of Mountaineer Divisions, the 1st and 3rd Ukranian Fronts would also participate in what would later be known as the Mediterranean Strategic Offensive Operation, however their part would be to strike from Iraq and control the Middle East. Already five days before the ultimate Dutch surrender STAVKA put up plans for the Soviet invasion of Syria, Lebanon, the British Protectorate of Kuwait and the British Mandate for Palestine and Transjordan. When Operation Mars came to a conclusion the 1st and 3rd Ukranian Fronts would go on the long journey over land to Iraq. Despite the recent victory in the Battle of the Eastern Mediterranean it was unsafe for Pact troops to journey over said sea and staff and logistics officers had to embark on the nightmare of transferring hundreds of thousands of men and great amount of supplies all the way from the Low Countries, through the war ridden Balkans and over to Iraq. During the trek eastwards Stavka also put emphasis on collecting several veterans from Southern Thrust to the 1st and 3rd Ukranian Fronts. This was in order to capitalize on the experiences they made during their invasions of Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq and utilize it during the coming battles against NATO. The date for the invasion was also to be set in the end of September to not give the Soviet and other PACT troopers heat shock and give them better conditions to acclimatize as they came from Europe and to the Middle-East. The 3rd Ukranian Front would attack with 19 divisions into Syria moving toward Aleppo and 5 divisions to strike into Kuwait. Kuwait was instrumental as STAVKA feared NATO would use it as a base of operations for an invasion of Iraq, fearing US troops coming in from the Pacific and the Anglo-Indian Army coming in over the Indian Ocean. Meanwhile the 1st Ukranian Front would commit 12 divisions to secure southern Syria, take Damascus and secure the borders of Lebanon while the other 12 divisions raced into Jordan to reach Palestine and from there on cut off Syria and Lebanon from Egypt.
The British Empire went straight into the trap, advance!
But there was one problem.. Iraq despite being part of the Internationale was intentionally left out of the Paris Pact (and other communist organizations) and was officially neutral. This was in accordance to the greater strategy of the Trotskyist regime; to keep the oil reserves of Iraq and Iran out of harm's way and to have a buffer zone to the soft belly of the USSR. However one of the leading causes of the outbreak of the Third World War was in fact that the British was caught preparing for an outright invasion of Iraq - in order to secure the oil reserves there. The Soviets, meanwhile, had already peaked at their oil and fuel supply - mostly due to the vast expansion of the Red Fleet - and could not afford to lose any of their oil supplies.** However as Iraq was a neutral nation they could not attack from the country. Knowing that NATO was willing to risk the peace for a war over Iraqi oil the Soviets leaked their intentions to invade the Middle East from Iraq. NATO seeing that Iraq was vulnerable as of now and fearful of a Soviet invasion from Iraq declared war on the small Arab nation on the 6th of September while the 1st and 3rd Fronts was still north in Europe fighting vicious battles over Amsterdam. The war had come to the Middle East.
The Rock stands..
It is important to remember that the Battle of Greece and the Battle of the Middle East was all part of the greater Mediterranean Strategic Offensive Operation, or more simply called the Mediterranean Offensive. The Battle of the Middle East would again be split into the Battle of the Levant and the Battle of Egypt. The whole PACT strategy revolved around taking control of Greece in order to control the Dardanelle and Bosphorous Straits (now called the Straits) and the islands of Crete, Malta and Cyprus to control the Mediterranean Sea and to advance through land to take control over Gibraltar and the Suez. As part of these many Operations the Spanish had since the outbreak of the war launched offensives into Gibraltar. However the "Rock" as it was called was heavily fortified with fresh troops arriving from all over not only the Empire but NATO coming it to reinforce the garrison. By the 27th of September the Spanish had launched offensives for well over a month, but facing a strange mix of Commonwealth, Liberian, Irish and top notch American troops their many attacks resulted in disasters. In addition to the Spanish troops French troops was also thrown into to the battle, and the Rock was standing despite ferocious bombings and assaults. The Rock also benefitted from "White Spanish" troops who had fled or deserted Spain after the victory of the Far Left over the Liberals, Democrats and Conservatives, but also as the Republicans won over the Nationalists. The British had not passed up that opportunity and several of the troops in Gibraltar and the Middle East was in fact anti-communist Spanish soldiers. Following the end of WW2 several French troops joined with the British Army, most notable the Foreign Legion. This was especially true as the United Kingdom and Free France joined in under a Union with the remaining French colonies housing the exiled French government. These "White" Spanish and French troops would see extensive combat against their "Red" brothers in the battles of Gibraltar, Greece, Northern Africa and the Middle East. Yet for now the Soviets did not send their aid to Spain instead they focused on striking in a swift and brutal offensive from Iraq and into Egypt. The American insistence on granting Libya sovereignty free of western or eastern influence played to the Soviet advantage. Unlike Syria and Lebanon, Libya and its king chose to not join NATO, but opted to remain neutral. This had the effect of blocking NATO's front between Egypt and the Anglo-French North Africa. Speed was essential for both sides. The Soviet Union had to rapidly cross into Jordan, Palestine and the Sinai Peninsula to cross the Suez and reach Libya before NATO managed to reinforce Egypt and the Suez through awkward transport lines. As such it was vital for NATO to hold both the Suez and Gibraltar. If they fell they could not send in further reinforcements into Egypt by sea, and if the Black Sea Fleet managed to gain supremacy of the Mediterranean Sea it was for obvious reasons a disaster for NATO planners.
Kiwis advance into Iraq.
NATO knowing their current advantage, and their future disadvantages, launched a full scale invasion of Iraq early in the morning of the 6th. 16th Independent Parachute Brigade Group, the French and Spanish Foreign Legions and the 7th Armoured Division, known as the Desert Rats, spearheaded the invasion. Fighting along side these veteran troops were several veteran American Brigades, Canadian Brigades, Irish troops, exiled Dutch Brigades but also for the first time of the war ANZAC troops. The morale was high with the NATO forces who expected a short and victorious campaign. However matters were soon complicated. Along the Iraqi-NATO borders French, Belgian, Spanish, Polish and Hungarian troops was deeply entrenched. Most decisive was the several French armored divisions who at great ranges pummeled the advancing NATO and Arab forces. However NATO underestimated the capabilities of the new Iraqi People's Army and the PACT in the area. Great War style they had entrenched themself in advanced trench systems and the battle was quickly turned into another Gallipoli. But most decisive was the American decision to spend their few, but precious, forces in Greece instead of Iraq. This was only topped with the Soviet submarine menace which prevented arms, supplies and troops to arrive to the battle. The battle soon turned against NATO with several of the combat brigades retreating toward Egypt or entrenching around Aleppo and Damascus preparing for the battles to come.
After much preperations we can
Then 2:15 of the 28th of September the Soviets launched their attacks all over the fronts aided by several French armored brigades - the very same that had played an important role in foiling the NATO invasion. The following operation was dubbed Proletarian Shield by STAVKA who went away from naming their operations after planets to more bombastic names. Most of the front was void of NATO troops who had been resoundly beaten back and pulled back to areas that was more easy to defend rather than the deserts of the border regions who was nothing but flat and open terrains ripe with logistical problems. However perhaps the most surprising was the complete British absence of troops in Kuwait. Soviet and French troops advanced carefully into the small Sheikdom believing it was a trap. But apparently the Anglo-Indian-ANZAC offensive from Kuwait had depleted the regiments there of any combat capabilities. Instead of shedding needless blood they fell back to the other British colonies on the Arabian Peninsula and India. The Syrian, Irish and British troops stationed alongside the banks of the Euphrates fought bravely against their adversary, however the Russo-French invasion was too much and too coordinated for them to make any real opposition. Within hours the NATO forces was beaten back and the communist armies swarmed in.
The Soviet Army move rapidly through the Syrian deserts.
Over the next few days the Soviet and French armies only met with scattered resistance. Their greatest adversary were in fact not the standing armies of NATO, but rather the nomads and locals of the area. The Syrian Army soon disbanded and took it to the countryside, rather wanting to live than give their life to a new state they owed no loyalty to. The complete collapse of the front was only saved by the intervention of NATO troops most notably around Aleppo. While the defenses around Damascus was smashed Aleppo stood mostly due to two Canadian Brigades, two Dutch one and one American Armored Brigade and two British Armoured Brigades came to Aleppo to entrench around the now battered city. However the American Brigade and one of the British Armored Brigades were pushed back, mostly due to the massive concentration of T-34 and KV tanks. The Soviets employed massed assault tactics against their adversaries who soon had to retreat toward Greece. Despite the Trotsky and T-44 tanks being earmarked for England and Greece, the obsolete T-34s and KVs did their part and beat back the NATO troops. The first PACT troops soon entered Damascus expecting heavy local resistance...
Stupid NATO fighting for a Syria that have no will to fight.
But Damascus fell within days. There was no prolonged urban battles as in northern England, Amsterdam or Copenhagen. The population instead capitulated along with the Syrian government. Syrian and Arab radicals soon took control over the ancient capital with emissaries from Iraq coming in to lay the foundations of a United Arab Republic, based upon secular pan-Arabism and Socialism. Or as the American press put it "a puppet of the Soviet regime". However the Battle of the Levant was not over. Despite Syria officially changing sides, Lebanon remained and NATO established a pro-western government in Aleppo who was again reinforced by British, Canadian and Dutch troops. With the rapid Russo-French advances into the Middle East a massive number of Hungarian, Czech and Polish troops swarmed to Iraq and Syria, or the United Arab Republic as they styled themself now, to occupy the area while the Soviets and French troopers and tankers continued on their offensives. One heavy tank brigade and two mechanized corps of the 3rd Front now moved in to seize the heights south of Aleppo while the rest of the Front prepared for the final assault into Aleppo. Meanwhile the 1st Front moved to catch up with their advanced units to prepare to cross into the Holy Land, ready to fight both Canadian and the feared American troops.
Pinned down American soldiers.
The American-Canadian troops decided to go on the offensive and cross the Jordan river, believing they could take the Soviet and French advanced forces off guard and cut them off in Jordan dealing them a crippling blow. However the American and Canadian troops was soon bogged down in the hills east of the Jordan river and fell victim to heavy Soviet artillery strikes and fast moving tanks. The Soviets managed to cut off the American-Canadian supply lines and deprived them of their needed flow of fuel and water. It became a major powerstruggle and in the end the Canadians and American succumbed. Both of the brigades surrendered to the advancing Pact forces. Their plan to deal a blow to the invading forces backfired.
The second phase of the invasion. 3rd Ukrainian Front will finish up the northern front, while the 1st cut off Palestine.
With the fronts stabilized the two Fronts got a chance to plan their next move and take a breather. In the north Timoshenko ordered one Tank Brigade to lead four Rifle Divisions to take out Lebanon, eliminate the Canadians there and prevent NATO from using Lebanon as a base of operations, the rest of his Front would surround Aleppo with several PACT formations to begin a siege of the city and to attack the provisional capital when the defenders started to succumb to disease and low morale. To the south Vasilevsky planned to strike into Palestine and reach the Suez Canal. While STAVKA ordered a halt to the operation to let the resources and supplies come to the men as the commanders prepared for the coming operations. Vasilevsky had other plans. Seeing as the area was lightly defended he ordered his 6th Light Tank Brigade to cross into Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv, to deliver a blow to the British morale, but more importantly to encircle the lone armoured brigade holding the corridor to Lebanon open and again to close yet another port for NATO reinforcements. Taking out the ports was vital for the PACT. As mentioned earlier Libya blocked the road for reinforcements. So NATO had to either send in troops from South Africa, across vast disease ridden lands with little infrastructure, or land them in ports. It was then decided the Light Brigade would spearhead into the cities before NATO could react, while a select few Rifle Divisions moved into a blocking position for the British armor and while two Mechanized Corps moved in to assault the British armor.
Pest control..
It worked like a clockwork. Despite the STAVKA being furious over the insubordination of Vasilevsky his gamble payed off. Jerusalem and Tel Aviv was soon taken, denying any NATO reinforcements into Lebanon and Syria. However as the British saw that Soviet armor was advancing in the north and got reports of Jerusalem falling they moved to the south hoping to use their heavier tanks to take out the light Soviet armor. However Soviet infantry soon bound up the British cruiser tanks and prevented them from reclaiming Tel Aviv. Soon enough the Mechanized Corps reached their armored foe and attacked them from all sides. Falling under Soviet blitz tactics, T-34 and even some newly arrived T-44s with 85mm guns (who had been replaced by T-44-100s in England) the British armor was soon taken out, piece by piece. The Soviets continued to mockingly call the British tanks for "Tommy Cookers". However the most important factor was that the advances of the 6th Light Tank Brigade led to their British adversary from being cut off. Being bingo on fuel and munitions the British tanks had to surrender.
The British fail in their counterattack.
Vasilevsky gave his 6th Light-Tank Brigade free reigns to push out as far as possible. Armed mostly by light trucks and the lightly armored T-50s, T-60s and T-70s the Brigade moved rapidly cross country and well ahead of the main French and Soviet forces. However this came at the cost of light armor and small caliber guns. Alan Brooke, the commander of the British Forces in the Near-East, launched a counterattack. The British, however, had also mostly light Matilda tanks. Out in the deserts of Sinai the British envisioned a tank duel in the open. However the Soviets haven decrypted the British codes lured the British into a trap. The trap was sprung and the British ran into a well layered defensive lines where the Soviets employed anti-tank guns, katyushas, howitzers and tank destroyers in killzones to inflict maximun casualties, moreover the infantry had taken up positions along natural defensive lines where they employed heavy AA guns to take out the British tanks from long distances. Meanwhile the Soviet armor were in reserve and employed hit and run tactics upon the British enemy. If one flank was falling under the Soviet AT fire, then the light tanks would rush in and take out as many British tanks as possible. Both sides inflicted high casualties on eachother, but as the Soviets were well prepared they soon got the upperhand. However the British got one thing coming in that had the chance to change the course of the battle..
HMS Indefatigable provide air support for NATO.
HMS Indefatigable was relative new being launched in 1941. She was one of two carriers to survive the disastrous Battle of the English Channel, she sailed through the Gibraltar Strait escorted by several cruisers, among them several heavy cruisers and one battlecruisers. Their goal, however, was not to engage the Black Sea Fleet in open battle. Instead they opted to engage the PACT forces in the Sinai. Carrying 81 planes she posed a major threat to the PACT forces in the area, mostly due to the fact that the airfields in the region had been bombed to piecemeal and that the Soviet Air Force was focusing on winning the battles over the British Isles, Greece and to patrol the homelands to prevent another nuclear bombing. The British was quick to launch their aircrafts who bombed the Soviets positions in the Sinai Peninsula. The Battle of Sinai was turning against the Soviets as they were now for the first time not in a position of air superiority which went over to NATO. The light Soviet tanks stood little chance against British dive bombers and rockets.
Forward!
The British was about to push forward, however a French armored brigade came to their aid. Despite falling under British airpower the sheer force of the Franco-Soviet forces managed to beat back the British attack. Instead the British broke off their attack waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Vasilevsky ordered his French and Russian subordinate to launch a counter offensive. After hours of barrages the French and Soviet tanks crossed no man's land. However the British responded with their airpower who slowed down the advancing communist forces, even halting them several times. Moreover as the tanks and infantrists finally arrived they saw that the British had aswell established defensive lines, and where the tanks dueled over long distances (often with the Soviet and French ones being bombed from the air aswell) the infantrists had to fight in nervewrecking close combat in the trenches.
The 6th Light Brigade were forces to retreat, hopefully the French won't surrender.
The British armored brigade was pushed out of the area over the night and was ready to push into the Port Said which would mean the Soviets would control the northern port of the Suez, however it mattered little as several infantry brigades from Britain, Canada and even the Philippines joined in and launched an attack upon the overstretched French and Soviet forces. Brooke counted on trapping the two advanced armored brigades away from their main force and away from their supply lines. As such he hoped to pull off a pincer movemnt, while he also attacked the main force in the far east of the front. Then minutes after ten o'clock of the 15th of October the 6th Light-Tank Brigade pulled out as it was hammered by NATO AT fire and dive bombers. It was hoped that the French tankers would suffer the same fate before one of the Mechanized Corps came to the area.
The siege of Aleppo is a bloody affair.
While the frontlines in the Sinai changedfor every minute, near Aleppo and Lebanon Timoshenko had played his cards safely. For over two weeks his men was ordered to hold the lines and only make the occasional skirmish into the NATO lines. Aleppo itself was attacked from the west by two Rifle Divisions and from the east by one. The city had to endure daily and nightly bombings from the air aswell as MLRS strikes and howitzer bombardments into the city. The rifle divisions faced harsh resistance, however they quickly took control over the outer suburbs and got ready to advance into the city itself. Meanwhile to the south the two Canadian brigades holding the southern flank of Aleppo came under attack from all directions. Despite their formidable defenses, they could hold out against the Soviet overpower. After two full days of battle they gave up their positions and retreated to the north to link up with their countrymen holding up the city. Now in contrast to the south the Soviet advance fell short. While the suburbs and outskirts of Aleppo was secured, the Soviets failed to enter the city itself. The Canadians there fought bitterly and the massive bombing of Aleppo didn't weaken the defenders, instead it gave them areas and possibilities to better defend themself.
Canada finally realized they had nothing to do in the Middle East.
But it was not to last. Soon the Soviets poured in from all sides. It mattered little how valiant the Canadians fought or how well trained they were. In the end the Soviets had the numbers and time on their side, the Canadians did not. The nail in their coffin was the inclusion of a Mechanied Corps and a Heavy-Tank Brigade. After a siege that lasted over 20 days Aleppo fell. The Dominion of Canada had done their part in the Middle East, and thousands of her sons had shed blood in the deserts of the promised land. Lebanon too fell that day as Soviet, Spanish and French troops pushed into the tiny nation. The northern front in the Battle of the Levant was settled. The 3rd Ukranian Front was now put on occupation duties in the newly conquered territories, or liberated as the Internationale put it. All eyes were on Sinai.
With the Middle East conquered the focus now change over to Egypt..
Despite the full force of the 1st Ukranian Front weighing on the Sinai Peninsula, Vasilevsky and his men could not break the defenders. For nearly two weeks they had prepared for the assault who was opened up the usual massed artillery barrage, however the NATO airplanes managed to cripple the Soviet attempts for assault. Right before midnight of the 1st of November the Soviets mounted an attack, hoping to take the British by surprise in the dark and the cold. But it did not help. NATO forces poured in from Egypt and Port Said and the Desert Rats, Americans and ANZAC troops that had previously been beaten back during their invasion of Iraq had now reformed what they called the "Sinai Line". This line was in advance of the Suez Canal creating a needed buffer to keep the canal open. Moreover they held on to a port that gave them fresh supplies, where the Pact forces had to rely on supplies coming in from the ports of Turkey or eastern Iraq - as the ports of Syria, Lebanon and Palestine was crippled by PACT and NATO bombing. After a few hours Vasilevsky and his French colleague decided to call off the attack and instead wait a few more days and for the daylight. If the next probing attacks were of little success the PACT forces would retreat back to the Palestinian borders to give them better conditions for creating defenses and to get in supplies. The Battle of the Levant was coming to and end, the Battle of Egypt had just begun..***
US soldiers using a captured Pact tank in Egypt.
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*Referred to as simply Palestine from now on due to the British calling it so. It is not a political statement of any variety.
**Currently we need 44 units of oil, but those costs are mostly tied up to the future warships being produced, the lack of oil are currently not hindering production.
***So for Egypt and North Africa I will roleplay a little. That is if my forces are far ahead from any supply source and well into the desert I will retreat my forces to the next more hospitable lands before I launch another offensive. This is to better simulate the actual battles fought in the region.
Edit: Changed name of "the Battle of the Middle East" to "the Battle of the Levant". The Battle of the Middle East will be the catch term for both the Battle of the Levant and the Battle of Egypt.
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At least the Levant.. Hopefully we'll break into Egypt. Think it's interesting that Canada remain a Dominon (they've had the chance to go free for years now) and that they were the most involved in the battles in Syria.
I don’t think that you needed to defend yourself here. The people on this forum are usually not the kind if people who would bring this up. I for one didn’t even notice.
Thanks! Hopefully the next chapter will come out tommorow, if not then it won't come out until next week
The next chapter will also be about the Greek campaign, interesting stuffs happening there
Chapter 49.
Chapter 49: Grave of Democracy.
NATO troops stationed in Athens.
The NATO commander in Greece allegedly said at the onset of WW3 that "if the Russians take Greece the Cradle of Democracy, it will be the Grave of Democracy". True or not it signalled the importance of Greece for both NATO and the PACT in their struggle for world domination. The ancient country became the victim of a conflict between superpowers, and following the defeat of the "Democratic Army of Greece" the Greeks chose NATO. NATO was quick to dispatch forces to Greece from the United States and the British Empire prior to the war and as the war progressed. Both sides knew that Greece was the key in the coming Battle of the Mediterranean. If the USSR got hold of the Aegean islands and Greece they could fairly easiley dominate the sea, on the other hand if NATO dominated the Aegean islands they could harass Soviet shipping and the feared Black Sea Fleet, and if Greece was in NATO hands they were in a prime position to invade Romania, threaten the oilfields there, but worse off invade the former Turkish lands of Trotskygrad and in turn into Crimea and Ukraine - into the Motherland herself. Suffice to say Greece was again to be the home of titans and epic tales.
The planned fall of Greece, plans always work out right?
Operation Neptune was the official name of the invasions of Greece and Bulgaria, which again was part of the greater Mediterranean Strategic Offensive Operation. Neptune itself was broken into four distinct operations: Triton, Nereid, Neso and Sao. Triton was the successful invasion of Bulgaria, Nereid the landings of the Aegean Islands, Neso the invasion of Greece and Sao the invasion of Crete and Cyprus following the fall of Greece - if it happened at all. On the 29th of August 1945 the Soviets smashed through Bulgaria effectively broadening the front over northern Greece. However despite the major success of Markian Popov and the 2nd Ukranian Front during Operation Triton they didn't manage to break the Greek lines in Thrace. Moreover the landings of Operation Nereid was in short a disaster. While invading the islands the 6th Naval Landing Regiment was thoroughly defeated as it faced huge numbers of American defenders resulting in the surviving members of the regiment surrendering. The other two regiments failed to establish beach-heads as they faced stiff opposition from ANZAC, Canadian and British troops. The Naval Landing Regiments lost thousands of men during these failed landings, however thousands more were to come. But this did not dissuade STAVKA. Popov who struggled to advance into Thrace had one advantage as he managed to bind up significant amounts of NATO troops to the east of Greece and well ahead of the old Metaxas Line. From now he would pour his troops into northern Greece, thrust to the city Thessaloniki and cut off the NATO troops stationed in eastern Greece and along the Metaxas line. From there on the plan was to pour into the rest of Greece and make the nation surrender in a matter of days, before embarking on Operation Sao. Meanwhile Trotsky and the Soviet Union pressured the Balkan Union to strike into the remnants of Yugoslavia and Albania and from there on create a new front into Greece. But as it proved to difficult to persuade Mátyás Rákosi to enter the war, the 2nd Ukranian Front struggled to punch its way into Greece. The Battle of Greece had just begun and it was to become a bitter struggle.
The NATO invasion fleet of Trotskygrad looking to jump right into the wasteland of Ukraine.
The atomic bombings of the Ukraine and Crimea was followed up by a massive NATO invasion of the former Turkish provinces that were now called Trotskygrad. Several means of unconventional ordinance were plunged into the beaches and PACT fortifications and plans revealed that US planned to dropped atomic bombs along the landings on the beaches aswell. However the bombings of Ukraine had revealed the NATO intentions and the US bombers were cut off from reaching their target, immense suffering was averted, but the people and soldiers of Trotskygrad would still suffer. A mix of American, Indian, Free Spanish and Free French, British, Canadian and ANZAC troops landed south of Trotskygrad (the former Istanbul) itself and quickly beat back the defending PACT forces. The majority of Soviet troops was on the offensive and Soviet home territory was mostly defended by other nations. The alarms sounded and Trotsky went into hiding as STAVKA feared an imminent invasion of Crimea and in turn well into the breadbasket of the Soviet Union - or the nuclear wasteland it had become. That would spell certain doom for the Soviet Union who despite making major gains abroad was quite fragile following their decision to go on an aggressive war and the nuclear bombing that followed. The Soviet Union had become a house of cards. But in their moment of need the PACT troops in Trotskygrad, a strange mix of Spanish, Balkan, Czech, Polish and Swedish men beat back the invaders after tall losses on both sides. After days of Battle the NATO invasion force was cast out of the USSR and retreated to the Aegean Islands. This in turn made these islands into massive fortifications which contributed to the failure of Operation Nereid. As thousands of NATO troops perished in the beahces of Anatolia, thousands of young Soviet men perished in the Aegean Isles.
The mountain troops are called from the flat Netherlands to more familiar terrain.
Prior to the fall of the Netherlands the Caucasian Front lead by Purkayev was shuffled over to Operation Neptune. Generals and commissars started to question the decision to leave several divisions worth of elite mountaineers and mountain-calvary in the flatt terrain of the Netherlands and not the rugged and mountainous lands of Greece. Moreover following the NATO invasion of Trotskygrad who were close to claiming the Straits for NATO and cutting the Soviet invasion force off, STAVKA realized the importance of having reserve forces to deal with future invasions of the USSR and to reclaim the lost lands. Anyway, the Caucasian Front reached the frontlines and relieved most of the Rifle Divisions and armored and mechanized brigades and they quickly took over the trenches and the battle line. Early in the morning of the 23rd of September, 20 days following the atomic bombings and nearly a month after the fall of Bulgaria, the Soviet troops managed to make gains through Greece. For a monts the two sides were in a deadlock in the east and the same deadlock developed by the end of August as Popov sought to smash into Thessaloniki. The mountaineers made short work as their training, expertise but most important fresh and well rested troops tipped the scales to the favor of the Soviet Union.
Soviet soldiers taking cover on a T-34 in a Greek town.
The 2nd Ukranian Front was in need of relief. The tanks and APCs required massive amounts of fuel and munitions, while the terrain of northern Greece did not favor armored warfare. STAVKA had underestimated the will of the Greek people to stand up to their adversary and the effects of the terrain on a largely mechanized force. The 2nd Ukranian Front suffered high casualties as they didn't manage to break through the Greek lines, worse off this lead to NATO reinforcements coming in from all over the world making the operational situation in Greece even worse off for Popov. The tanks and the men struggled to get past the chokepoints and to get supplies in northern Greece, and their relief by the Caucasian Front was a welcome one - despite it being humiliating for Popov who sought to redeem himself after the loss of the Far Eastern Front. A battalion commander of the 5th Mechanized Corps reported the difficulties as he was to enter an underground complex. "The complex stretched several kilometers into the mountains and into the next town. We knew the enemy used this complex as a base of operations and as a supply route. I got the task of taking it out and was given only a mere four hours to prepare my assault. Fumbling into the blind I decided to send out reconnaissance elements to find the enemy and map out the terrain. My biggest concern was that the only road in for the armor and APCs was through a chokepoint that the enemy dominated. I pondered if I should send in a massive strike force in one aggressive move risking severe losses or if I should wait and gain control over the area. I decided that we were to dominate the heights. Armored recon elements took control over the surrounding town and the roads leading to the complex, while patrol elements were given a few hours to march into the overlooking hills to dominate the area. OPs and marksmen took up their positions and reported no enemy activity. I then dared to send in the first mechanized company after T-44s and howitzers leveled the area with heavy fire. As the first APC cleared into the area it came under fire and was taken out, meanwhile the last APC was taken out at the chokepoint, preventing the APCs from retreating and armored reinforcements to enter. Under heavy MG and AT fire the infantrists had to disembark, they took cover behind some railways and after much persuasion (I had to show up personally) they got up and moved by the railways while the marksmen covered them and machinegun and mortar crews in the heights pounded the complex with fire. The company entered the underground and a long hallway emerged. I wanted to be cautious, but the company commander was aggressive and pulled his men forward. Then MG fire came razing down as the men was halfway into the hall. It was chaotic and they were pinned down. Meanwhile the chokepoint was cleared and I ordered in a platoon of T-44s and yet another company of mechanized infnantry. They rushed into the hallway, broad enough to hold two tanks in the width, and they rolled forward without mercy. As the hallway was cleared the underground complex was clearedby two mechanized infantry companies. After we entered the complex and it was secure it took the men over 14 hours to clear it in the dark and as the radiomen bravely followed the forward elements just 20 meters behind giving them radio communications even under a hail of bullets. It was exhausting".
Damn Americans..
As the fresh Caucasian troops arrived the battered Greek troops pulled back to Thessaloniki and the second set of the Metaxas Line. While Communard forces, mostly armor, rushed to the battlescene the mountaineers had a hard time entering into the forests and the urban enviorment. Moreover several US Army Brigades entered in for "the fun" and the Soviet offensive stopped and was starting to beat back out of their trenches on the 26th of September. Meanwhile Trotsky made his best efforts to convince Rákosi to enter into Macedonia and Albania to encircle the significant American contigent in Thessaloniki. Trotksy even went as far as to allow the Balkan Socialist Union (Hungary) to annex all of Yugoslavia and Albania once the war ended. But the Magyar was still putting his thumb down claiming that the Balkan Red Army was not prepared for an offensive war.* But the war went on without Rákosi. The Caucasian troops who were used to fierce fighting in the mountains experienced the difficulties of urban warfare firsthand, and they struggled against well trained and equipped American troops. The frontline was soon transformed into a well developed line of trenches, foxholes, breastworks and other fortifications with barbed wire and minefields stretching over several kilometers in depth and width. The only exception was in the urban areas of Thessaloniki, but it proved to be not taken easiley so Purkayev pulled his men out of the area and ordered to dig trenches outside of the city, shelling it with artillery. "As per usual the Ruskies gave us their goodnight kiss as they shelled us with artillery and rockets. All night long they fired flares over our lines and fired occasional mortars and machine gun burts just to keep us awake. In the morning they fires at us with Trotsky orgels as a goodmorning kiss. They made sure to keep conditions in the trenches for us hellish and flyers telling us to go home and saying that our girls won't wait for a dead man was common sight" and American soldier wrote in a letter.
With armor and blood we will retake Trotskygrad.
During the siege of Thessaloniki the 2nd Ukranian Front was ordered to use their armored forces (consiting of one Heavy-Tank Brigade, one Light-Tank Brigade, one Meachanized Corps and four Motorized Rifle Divisions) to plunge into Bursa, link up the Soviet lands in Anatolia and pacify the countryside. It was unknown how many Turkish partisans and NATO troops were stationed in the area and the armored and mobile units was ordered to the area to bring in the weight and prevent NATO from sending in another invasion force following their retreat. The remaining 17 divisions of the 2nd Ukranian Front was sent to Turkey to mop up American and British divisions who had retreated into the officially neutral country of Turkey following their defeats in Trotskygrad and the Levant. Popov was also tasked with expedite Operation: Sao; the invasion of Cyprus and Crete.
We gain some and we lose some..
Early morning of the 28th as the sun rose up over Greece and Turkey the Soviets managed to secure a victory in Thessaloniki. However as the Greco-American defenses was beaten back and the Soviets rolled on, in the Aegean Sea the Soviets struggled to gain a foothold on one of the many isles the Martime Group of Forces was tasked with taking down. As with the previous naval invasion it became clear the Soviets wouldn't manage to take the isles. "The Russians have never been a seafaring people and they won't become it now either" an British officer remarked. Berzarin gave the 5th Naval Regiment the green light to invade its target, believing it to be empty. Instead they found a well entrenched Anglo-Indian** Infantry Brigade. The Soviet marines went straight into killboxes and all of their massive fire support could not weaken the Anglo-Indian defenders. After several hours the battle was concluded, and yet another failure was written into the annals of the Maritime Group of Forces. Still to the west, as mentioned earlier, the Caucasian Front broke through. By nightfall the Soviets gave their "goodnight kiss" as the Americans called their regular artillery attack by night. However this time around it was followed by specialized troops who crawled in over deadman's land or through runner trenches to the American trenches. They broke out in several key areas, with the majority being mowed down by American machine guns and impaled by bayonets. The ones who broke through quickly established zones for the other Soviets to enter through and soon the American trenches swarmed with Soviet troops. Taking advantage of it the armored Soviet forces sent in obsolete light tanks on suicide missions over the minefields, followed by KVs, LTs, T-34s and T-44s. Thessaloniki was soon reached. After fierce battles in the city itself it fell on dawn being reduced to rubble. NATO was on the retreat.
That's better, run away!
For the next two days Soviet and French armored forces pressed on the retreating American brigades. On the 29th they managed to encircle the Americans who surrendered. The battle was now up to the native Greeks, who were prepared to fall back to the Aliakmon Line, however they took up their positions in the mountains and created several chokepoints even counterattacking the forward armored forces hoping to reclaim Thessaloniki. However the Greeks were little match to the sheer numbers of the Soviet-Franco-Polish force who pressed into the country. Still to the north the 2nd BVO Mechanized Corps failed to make ground into the mountains. As the war entered its third month the Caucasian Front made gains in Greece, but these feats paled in comparison to the Red Army and the PACT astonishing gains in Britain and Western Europe. NATO on the other hand hoped that the resilience of Greece and NATO in the area would inspire the other NATO troops to action, but also use Greece as a base of operations to deliver a crippling blow to the USSR. STAVKA knew this, and the Red Army in the Balkans were pushed to its limit facing mounting casualties. However the Soviet casualties waned in comparison the Greek and NATO losses.
The French Army give us some breathing room.
The 2nd BVO was soon replaced by elite mountaineers and Czech troops drilled in the Sudeten mountains. As fall descended upon Europe the climate worsened in the contested mountains. It rained daily, the terrain was slippery and muddy and the winds was chilly to the bones. In these conditions the battle hardened mountaineers from the Caucasus and Siberia excelled. Fighting in these conditions was in stark contrast to the big armored battles that defined the other theaters of war. The war in these mountains was as much a war against the climate and oneself as against the enemy, and the battles were scattered and involved small units. The Soviets made new plans to focus on depriving the Greeks of their supplies and instead isolate them in their caves. While the Caucasian Front was conservative in their scaling of the mountains, the French was eager to smash into the Aliakmon Line. They sent an armored division right into the southern most part of the Aliakmon Line hoping to drive toward the west and box in the Greeks while the Soviets rolled southward of the line. However the Greeks was well entrenched and as with the Soviets the French paid their lessons dearly. A lesson of armored warfare against a well entreched enemy in mountain enviorment. The French managed to put their armor to little use in the narrow passes and the supply situation was difficult at best.
T-44s rush to southern Greece as they want the summer heat and not autumn cold.
Over the next week the PACT got their breakthrough. NATO troops composed of both soldiers all over the Empire and America assembled to relieve the Greeks. However PACT armory was superior and their aggressive spirit found no match. Soon a small land connection to Athens was made and the Greeks was encircled with only the ports of Corfu and Ionna keeping them afloat. From Athens NATO launched a counteroffensive, however it was beaten resoundly back and several of the NATO brigades evacuated to Crete or Egypt. Time was rapidly running out for Greece.
One push to the north and one push to Athens and the Cradle of Democracy will know "true democracy" again..
By the 10th of October the PACT breakthrough led to Greece being split in half. In the northern section the remaining Greeks forces were forced to protect the ports of Corfu and Ioanninna. To the south British and other troops all from the falling Empire came to fortify Athens, the southernmost peninsula and to reclaim Greece. However wave after wave fell short of the Soviet overmight. Still the Red Army slowed down so that its supply lines could catch and the men get some well deserved rest. NATO was punched out after days of savage fighting, while the Greeks wouldn't yield in their newest line, as the French again experienced in a doomed assault. The armored and mobile formations under Popov was ordered to rush to southern Greece to then spearhead into Athens, while the Caucasian Front prepared to attack the last mountains and caves the Greeks were holed up in. Following the Soviet capture of Athens, Popov would order his mobile units to turn southward into the last bastion in Greece (being held by NATO troops) while elements of the Caucasian Front landed on the northern coast trapping the NATO troops in. It was hoped that after the fall of Athens and the northern troops Greece would surrender and the NATO troops would evacuate. Time would tell.
Gyros give the Greeks special powers.
21:00 on the 13th the Caucasian Front was given the order to attack. The Greeks was taken by surprise and was beaten back. But the gains were not to be substained by the Soviets. Instead three in the morning of the 25th the tide was turning to the Greeks. A Soviet soldier explained "our morale was on top. However the Greeks were protecting their motherland. They fell back and inflicted losses on our boys. For every gain we made, for every hilltop we climbed another line was met, and another hill had to be scaled. It was slowly tearing us down being on the offensive in these mountains and the Greeks ambushed us everywhere and knew every inch of the landscape. The locals were against us too, poisoning the wells or hiding the enemy". However to the south of the Greek pocket a Tank-Brigade broke through and was threatening to take control over the major airfields in the region. The commander hoped to rush behind the main Greek lines and take the ports.
"Barbarians" fight over Athens. The Ancient Greeks turn in their graves.
A few days later the 2nd BVO Mechanized Corps rushed to the woodland north-west of Athens to secure the area for the incoming PACT troops. They would again hold these woodlands to prevent NATO counterattacks and wait for the mobile and armored units of the 2nd Ukranian Front to reach their staging area. The plan went as planned as over the coming days several attacks from the Anglo-Indian and British forces in the area was twarthed. Moreover the Communard French went on the offensive managing to gain significant ground to the west of Athens preventing Athens from being reinforced or evacuated. The final phase was about to begin.
Inch by inch we scale the mountains of Greece, the Italians seek to box them in.
By 0315 on the 18th the Greeks were pushed back to the border region to Albania. The day before the Soviets commenced on a three and an hour half artillery, mortar and multiple rocket launcher bombardments, giving sporadic pauses as to fake Soviet attacks to lure the Greeks into position again only to resume the harassment. On 0615 of the 17th they opened up, with effects being reported as "earth geyser shots in the air, craters suddenly appearing" and "men, sandbags, concrete and vehicles flew through the air". The Greeks launcher counter artillery attacks on their own, but it was in vain. In a matter of hours the Soviets rushed into the positions and the Greeks were in retreat all over the line, with even higher commanding officers being taken prisoner with their staffs as they didn't believe the Soviets could advance as rapidly. However just outside of Ioannina the Tank-Brigade was stopped and the Soviet general offensive was stopped as well. The Greeks were too well entrenched. Instead the Italians made a surprise attack into Ioannina with making an amphibious landing on the port early in the monring of the 20th. Italy Balbo commanded the force and managed to secure a beachhead with the attack going to his favor. Despite this he suffered heavy losses and it was reported that the "beaches are overflowed with blood". As the hours passed by the Greeks counterattacked the Italians who managed to gain a foothold, the battle was slowly turning against the naval landing. It was then Balbo sent a message to the Caucasian Front hoping the Tank-Brigade and several mountaineers to enter the fray.
Soviet soldiers clear out Athens.
The first Soviet attackers entered the outskirts of Athens on the 22nd. The Greeks had vacated the area hoping the Soviets to save the many culturar treasures in the city. However the British and Anglo-British troops took up positions and refused to evacuate. Not that they had much of a choice as their only means of retreat by land was cut off and the city was currently under a naval brigade. The Black Sea Fleet opened up on the city providing Popov with fire support. His Front soon moved to the outskirts of Athens and he battled with ferocious troops from the British Empire. As the woodland and flat terrain outside of Athens was cleared under heavy fire the Soviets feared going into Athens itself looking toward the vicious battles of Liverpool, Manchester, Aleppo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and many others with weary eyes. Would Athens be yet another long drawn out urban battle?
Yet another nation fall to the red threat.
Evening of the 26th the last Greek pocket was being cleared in the north after intense and costly battles for both sides. The mountains and hills of Greece would forever brand itself physically and mentally on the hundreds of thousands of troops on nations all over the world that battled in close quarter, caves, trenches and vicious grenade battle in these otherwise beautiful mountains. Now it was completely void of life and color. Meanwhile to the south the Franco-Russian assault on Athens was paying off, despite high casualties by the armored forces (losing 106 tanks in one assault alone) the infantrists managed to secure the houses and streets of the ancient capital that was reduced to ruins and despair. To the south two German divisions landed on the remaining NATO bastion. Anglo-Indian, Irish and Canadian troops responded by evacuating through the remaining port why they still had the chance. It was clear that NATO was abandoning their Hellenist ally. Then on the 29th Athens was captured after brutal fighting with the British and Anglo-Indian forces retreating to island of Evia with no hope of being relieved, supplies or evacuation. It was in effect a death sentence. Meanwhile as the mobile and armored forces under Popov spearheaded into the Mani Pelopenesse the NATO forces had evacuated and their only task was to pacify the country with the German divisions and disarm the Greeks who surrendered. Also in the remaning pocket there was one Greek brigade close to Albania who held out to the bitter end who the Soviets could not beat but only laid down their arms when they were ordered to.
Casualties pile up.
The Battle of Greece was over. NATO mourned it as the grave of democracy, while Trotsky announced this would usher "Greece into a new era of democracy and enlightenment".The casualties was high on both sides, however the majority of the Soviet losses were only temporarily ones. Greece suffered high casualties over 216.000 for the small nation, while in total of the war which had lasted for just over two months now the UK lost over 700.000 men and the US had just gotten over 200.000 losses. If the war was to continue along this pattern the casualties would go to the extremes. Operation Neptune was largely a success, with Triton and Neso being decisive victories despite the latter giving the Soviets unexpected resistance. Only the taking of the Aegean Islands had failed and were still occupied by NATO troops. The eyes of the 2nd Ukranian Front and Popov were now set on Cyprus and Crete to gain complete control over the Mediterranean...
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*So I made Hungary/Balkan Socialist Union justify war against Yugoslavia, not to invade Greece but as I think it is fitting that Yugoslavia enter the war on NATOs side and that the Balkan Socialist Union try to unite all of the Balkans. Now of course this takes a lot of time, the plan is for Hungary to justify war on Albania next.
**Here Anglo-Indian is units of the British Raj. As said earlier despite going indepedent they are still the British Raj with their British leader and flag..
NATO troops stationed in Athens.
The NATO commander in Greece allegedly said at the onset of WW3 that "if the Russians take Greece the Cradle of Democracy, it will be the Grave of Democracy". True or not it signalled the importance of Greece for both NATO and the PACT in their struggle for world domination. The ancient country became the victim of a conflict between superpowers, and following the defeat of the "Democratic Army of Greece" the Greeks chose NATO. NATO was quick to dispatch forces to Greece from the United States and the British Empire prior to the war and as the war progressed. Both sides knew that Greece was the key in the coming Battle of the Mediterranean. If the USSR got hold of the Aegean islands and Greece they could fairly easiley dominate the sea, on the other hand if NATO dominated the Aegean islands they could harass Soviet shipping and the feared Black Sea Fleet, and if Greece was in NATO hands they were in a prime position to invade Romania, threaten the oilfields there, but worse off invade the former Turkish lands of Trotskygrad and in turn into Crimea and Ukraine - into the Motherland herself. Suffice to say Greece was again to be the home of titans and epic tales.
The planned fall of Greece, plans always work out right?
Operation Neptune was the official name of the invasions of Greece and Bulgaria, which again was part of the greater Mediterranean Strategic Offensive Operation. Neptune itself was broken into four distinct operations: Triton, Nereid, Neso and Sao. Triton was the successful invasion of Bulgaria, Nereid the landings of the Aegean Islands, Neso the invasion of Greece and Sao the invasion of Crete and Cyprus following the fall of Greece - if it happened at all. On the 29th of August 1945 the Soviets smashed through Bulgaria effectively broadening the front over northern Greece. However despite the major success of Markian Popov and the 2nd Ukranian Front during Operation Triton they didn't manage to break the Greek lines in Thrace. Moreover the landings of Operation Nereid was in short a disaster. While invading the islands the 6th Naval Landing Regiment was thoroughly defeated as it faced huge numbers of American defenders resulting in the surviving members of the regiment surrendering. The other two regiments failed to establish beach-heads as they faced stiff opposition from ANZAC, Canadian and British troops. The Naval Landing Regiments lost thousands of men during these failed landings, however thousands more were to come. But this did not dissuade STAVKA. Popov who struggled to advance into Thrace had one advantage as he managed to bind up significant amounts of NATO troops to the east of Greece and well ahead of the old Metaxas Line. From now he would pour his troops into northern Greece, thrust to the city Thessaloniki and cut off the NATO troops stationed in eastern Greece and along the Metaxas line. From there on the plan was to pour into the rest of Greece and make the nation surrender in a matter of days, before embarking on Operation Sao. Meanwhile Trotsky and the Soviet Union pressured the Balkan Union to strike into the remnants of Yugoslavia and Albania and from there on create a new front into Greece. But as it proved to difficult to persuade Mátyás Rákosi to enter the war, the 2nd Ukranian Front struggled to punch its way into Greece. The Battle of Greece had just begun and it was to become a bitter struggle.
The NATO invasion fleet of Trotskygrad looking to jump right into the wasteland of Ukraine.
The atomic bombings of the Ukraine and Crimea was followed up by a massive NATO invasion of the former Turkish provinces that were now called Trotskygrad. Several means of unconventional ordinance were plunged into the beaches and PACT fortifications and plans revealed that US planned to dropped atomic bombs along the landings on the beaches aswell. However the bombings of Ukraine had revealed the NATO intentions and the US bombers were cut off from reaching their target, immense suffering was averted, but the people and soldiers of Trotskygrad would still suffer. A mix of American, Indian, Free Spanish and Free French, British, Canadian and ANZAC troops landed south of Trotskygrad (the former Istanbul) itself and quickly beat back the defending PACT forces. The majority of Soviet troops was on the offensive and Soviet home territory was mostly defended by other nations. The alarms sounded and Trotsky went into hiding as STAVKA feared an imminent invasion of Crimea and in turn well into the breadbasket of the Soviet Union - or the nuclear wasteland it had become. That would spell certain doom for the Soviet Union who despite making major gains abroad was quite fragile following their decision to go on an aggressive war and the nuclear bombing that followed. The Soviet Union had become a house of cards. But in their moment of need the PACT troops in Trotskygrad, a strange mix of Spanish, Balkan, Czech, Polish and Swedish men beat back the invaders after tall losses on both sides. After days of Battle the NATO invasion force was cast out of the USSR and retreated to the Aegean Islands. This in turn made these islands into massive fortifications which contributed to the failure of Operation Nereid. As thousands of NATO troops perished in the beahces of Anatolia, thousands of young Soviet men perished in the Aegean Isles.
The mountain troops are called from the flat Netherlands to more familiar terrain.
Prior to the fall of the Netherlands the Caucasian Front lead by Purkayev was shuffled over to Operation Neptune. Generals and commissars started to question the decision to leave several divisions worth of elite mountaineers and mountain-calvary in the flatt terrain of the Netherlands and not the rugged and mountainous lands of Greece. Moreover following the NATO invasion of Trotskygrad who were close to claiming the Straits for NATO and cutting the Soviet invasion force off, STAVKA realized the importance of having reserve forces to deal with future invasions of the USSR and to reclaim the lost lands. Anyway, the Caucasian Front reached the frontlines and relieved most of the Rifle Divisions and armored and mechanized brigades and they quickly took over the trenches and the battle line. Early in the morning of the 23rd of September, 20 days following the atomic bombings and nearly a month after the fall of Bulgaria, the Soviet troops managed to make gains through Greece. For a monts the two sides were in a deadlock in the east and the same deadlock developed by the end of August as Popov sought to smash into Thessaloniki. The mountaineers made short work as their training, expertise but most important fresh and well rested troops tipped the scales to the favor of the Soviet Union.
Soviet soldiers taking cover on a T-34 in a Greek town.
The 2nd Ukranian Front was in need of relief. The tanks and APCs required massive amounts of fuel and munitions, while the terrain of northern Greece did not favor armored warfare. STAVKA had underestimated the will of the Greek people to stand up to their adversary and the effects of the terrain on a largely mechanized force. The 2nd Ukranian Front suffered high casualties as they didn't manage to break through the Greek lines, worse off this lead to NATO reinforcements coming in from all over the world making the operational situation in Greece even worse off for Popov. The tanks and the men struggled to get past the chokepoints and to get supplies in northern Greece, and their relief by the Caucasian Front was a welcome one - despite it being humiliating for Popov who sought to redeem himself after the loss of the Far Eastern Front. A battalion commander of the 5th Mechanized Corps reported the difficulties as he was to enter an underground complex. "The complex stretched several kilometers into the mountains and into the next town. We knew the enemy used this complex as a base of operations and as a supply route. I got the task of taking it out and was given only a mere four hours to prepare my assault. Fumbling into the blind I decided to send out reconnaissance elements to find the enemy and map out the terrain. My biggest concern was that the only road in for the armor and APCs was through a chokepoint that the enemy dominated. I pondered if I should send in a massive strike force in one aggressive move risking severe losses or if I should wait and gain control over the area. I decided that we were to dominate the heights. Armored recon elements took control over the surrounding town and the roads leading to the complex, while patrol elements were given a few hours to march into the overlooking hills to dominate the area. OPs and marksmen took up their positions and reported no enemy activity. I then dared to send in the first mechanized company after T-44s and howitzers leveled the area with heavy fire. As the first APC cleared into the area it came under fire and was taken out, meanwhile the last APC was taken out at the chokepoint, preventing the APCs from retreating and armored reinforcements to enter. Under heavy MG and AT fire the infantrists had to disembark, they took cover behind some railways and after much persuasion (I had to show up personally) they got up and moved by the railways while the marksmen covered them and machinegun and mortar crews in the heights pounded the complex with fire. The company entered the underground and a long hallway emerged. I wanted to be cautious, but the company commander was aggressive and pulled his men forward. Then MG fire came razing down as the men was halfway into the hall. It was chaotic and they were pinned down. Meanwhile the chokepoint was cleared and I ordered in a platoon of T-44s and yet another company of mechanized infnantry. They rushed into the hallway, broad enough to hold two tanks in the width, and they rolled forward without mercy. As the hallway was cleared the underground complex was clearedby two mechanized infantry companies. After we entered the complex and it was secure it took the men over 14 hours to clear it in the dark and as the radiomen bravely followed the forward elements just 20 meters behind giving them radio communications even under a hail of bullets. It was exhausting".
Damn Americans..
As the fresh Caucasian troops arrived the battered Greek troops pulled back to Thessaloniki and the second set of the Metaxas Line. While Communard forces, mostly armor, rushed to the battlescene the mountaineers had a hard time entering into the forests and the urban enviorment. Moreover several US Army Brigades entered in for "the fun" and the Soviet offensive stopped and was starting to beat back out of their trenches on the 26th of September. Meanwhile Trotsky made his best efforts to convince Rákosi to enter into Macedonia and Albania to encircle the significant American contigent in Thessaloniki. Trotksy even went as far as to allow the Balkan Socialist Union (Hungary) to annex all of Yugoslavia and Albania once the war ended. But the Magyar was still putting his thumb down claiming that the Balkan Red Army was not prepared for an offensive war.* But the war went on without Rákosi. The Caucasian troops who were used to fierce fighting in the mountains experienced the difficulties of urban warfare firsthand, and they struggled against well trained and equipped American troops. The frontline was soon transformed into a well developed line of trenches, foxholes, breastworks and other fortifications with barbed wire and minefields stretching over several kilometers in depth and width. The only exception was in the urban areas of Thessaloniki, but it proved to be not taken easiley so Purkayev pulled his men out of the area and ordered to dig trenches outside of the city, shelling it with artillery. "As per usual the Ruskies gave us their goodnight kiss as they shelled us with artillery and rockets. All night long they fired flares over our lines and fired occasional mortars and machine gun burts just to keep us awake. In the morning they fires at us with Trotsky orgels as a goodmorning kiss. They made sure to keep conditions in the trenches for us hellish and flyers telling us to go home and saying that our girls won't wait for a dead man was common sight" and American soldier wrote in a letter.
With armor and blood we will retake Trotskygrad.
During the siege of Thessaloniki the 2nd Ukranian Front was ordered to use their armored forces (consiting of one Heavy-Tank Brigade, one Light-Tank Brigade, one Meachanized Corps and four Motorized Rifle Divisions) to plunge into Bursa, link up the Soviet lands in Anatolia and pacify the countryside. It was unknown how many Turkish partisans and NATO troops were stationed in the area and the armored and mobile units was ordered to the area to bring in the weight and prevent NATO from sending in another invasion force following their retreat. The remaining 17 divisions of the 2nd Ukranian Front was sent to Turkey to mop up American and British divisions who had retreated into the officially neutral country of Turkey following their defeats in Trotskygrad and the Levant. Popov was also tasked with expedite Operation: Sao; the invasion of Cyprus and Crete.
We gain some and we lose some..
Early morning of the 28th as the sun rose up over Greece and Turkey the Soviets managed to secure a victory in Thessaloniki. However as the Greco-American defenses was beaten back and the Soviets rolled on, in the Aegean Sea the Soviets struggled to gain a foothold on one of the many isles the Martime Group of Forces was tasked with taking down. As with the previous naval invasion it became clear the Soviets wouldn't manage to take the isles. "The Russians have never been a seafaring people and they won't become it now either" an British officer remarked. Berzarin gave the 5th Naval Regiment the green light to invade its target, believing it to be empty. Instead they found a well entrenched Anglo-Indian** Infantry Brigade. The Soviet marines went straight into killboxes and all of their massive fire support could not weaken the Anglo-Indian defenders. After several hours the battle was concluded, and yet another failure was written into the annals of the Maritime Group of Forces. Still to the west, as mentioned earlier, the Caucasian Front broke through. By nightfall the Soviets gave their "goodnight kiss" as the Americans called their regular artillery attack by night. However this time around it was followed by specialized troops who crawled in over deadman's land or through runner trenches to the American trenches. They broke out in several key areas, with the majority being mowed down by American machine guns and impaled by bayonets. The ones who broke through quickly established zones for the other Soviets to enter through and soon the American trenches swarmed with Soviet troops. Taking advantage of it the armored Soviet forces sent in obsolete light tanks on suicide missions over the minefields, followed by KVs, LTs, T-34s and T-44s. Thessaloniki was soon reached. After fierce battles in the city itself it fell on dawn being reduced to rubble. NATO was on the retreat.
That's better, run away!
For the next two days Soviet and French armored forces pressed on the retreating American brigades. On the 29th they managed to encircle the Americans who surrendered. The battle was now up to the native Greeks, who were prepared to fall back to the Aliakmon Line, however they took up their positions in the mountains and created several chokepoints even counterattacking the forward armored forces hoping to reclaim Thessaloniki. However the Greeks were little match to the sheer numbers of the Soviet-Franco-Polish force who pressed into the country. Still to the north the 2nd BVO Mechanized Corps failed to make ground into the mountains. As the war entered its third month the Caucasian Front made gains in Greece, but these feats paled in comparison to the Red Army and the PACT astonishing gains in Britain and Western Europe. NATO on the other hand hoped that the resilience of Greece and NATO in the area would inspire the other NATO troops to action, but also use Greece as a base of operations to deliver a crippling blow to the USSR. STAVKA knew this, and the Red Army in the Balkans were pushed to its limit facing mounting casualties. However the Soviet casualties waned in comparison the Greek and NATO losses.
The French Army give us some breathing room.
The 2nd BVO was soon replaced by elite mountaineers and Czech troops drilled in the Sudeten mountains. As fall descended upon Europe the climate worsened in the contested mountains. It rained daily, the terrain was slippery and muddy and the winds was chilly to the bones. In these conditions the battle hardened mountaineers from the Caucasus and Siberia excelled. Fighting in these conditions was in stark contrast to the big armored battles that defined the other theaters of war. The war in these mountains was as much a war against the climate and oneself as against the enemy, and the battles were scattered and involved small units. The Soviets made new plans to focus on depriving the Greeks of their supplies and instead isolate them in their caves. While the Caucasian Front was conservative in their scaling of the mountains, the French was eager to smash into the Aliakmon Line. They sent an armored division right into the southern most part of the Aliakmon Line hoping to drive toward the west and box in the Greeks while the Soviets rolled southward of the line. However the Greeks was well entrenched and as with the Soviets the French paid their lessons dearly. A lesson of armored warfare against a well entreched enemy in mountain enviorment. The French managed to put their armor to little use in the narrow passes and the supply situation was difficult at best.
T-44s rush to southern Greece as they want the summer heat and not autumn cold.
Over the next week the PACT got their breakthrough. NATO troops composed of both soldiers all over the Empire and America assembled to relieve the Greeks. However PACT armory was superior and their aggressive spirit found no match. Soon a small land connection to Athens was made and the Greeks was encircled with only the ports of Corfu and Ionna keeping them afloat. From Athens NATO launched a counteroffensive, however it was beaten resoundly back and several of the NATO brigades evacuated to Crete or Egypt. Time was rapidly running out for Greece.
One push to the north and one push to Athens and the Cradle of Democracy will know "true democracy" again..
By the 10th of October the PACT breakthrough led to Greece being split in half. In the northern section the remaining Greeks forces were forced to protect the ports of Corfu and Ioanninna. To the south British and other troops all from the falling Empire came to fortify Athens, the southernmost peninsula and to reclaim Greece. However wave after wave fell short of the Soviet overmight. Still the Red Army slowed down so that its supply lines could catch and the men get some well deserved rest. NATO was punched out after days of savage fighting, while the Greeks wouldn't yield in their newest line, as the French again experienced in a doomed assault. The armored and mobile formations under Popov was ordered to rush to southern Greece to then spearhead into Athens, while the Caucasian Front prepared to attack the last mountains and caves the Greeks were holed up in. Following the Soviet capture of Athens, Popov would order his mobile units to turn southward into the last bastion in Greece (being held by NATO troops) while elements of the Caucasian Front landed on the northern coast trapping the NATO troops in. It was hoped that after the fall of Athens and the northern troops Greece would surrender and the NATO troops would evacuate. Time would tell.
Gyros give the Greeks special powers.
21:00 on the 13th the Caucasian Front was given the order to attack. The Greeks was taken by surprise and was beaten back. But the gains were not to be substained by the Soviets. Instead three in the morning of the 25th the tide was turning to the Greeks. A Soviet soldier explained "our morale was on top. However the Greeks were protecting their motherland. They fell back and inflicted losses on our boys. For every gain we made, for every hilltop we climbed another line was met, and another hill had to be scaled. It was slowly tearing us down being on the offensive in these mountains and the Greeks ambushed us everywhere and knew every inch of the landscape. The locals were against us too, poisoning the wells or hiding the enemy". However to the south of the Greek pocket a Tank-Brigade broke through and was threatening to take control over the major airfields in the region. The commander hoped to rush behind the main Greek lines and take the ports.
"Barbarians" fight over Athens. The Ancient Greeks turn in their graves.
A few days later the 2nd BVO Mechanized Corps rushed to the woodland north-west of Athens to secure the area for the incoming PACT troops. They would again hold these woodlands to prevent NATO counterattacks and wait for the mobile and armored units of the 2nd Ukranian Front to reach their staging area. The plan went as planned as over the coming days several attacks from the Anglo-Indian and British forces in the area was twarthed. Moreover the Communard French went on the offensive managing to gain significant ground to the west of Athens preventing Athens from being reinforced or evacuated. The final phase was about to begin.
Inch by inch we scale the mountains of Greece, the Italians seek to box them in.
By 0315 on the 18th the Greeks were pushed back to the border region to Albania. The day before the Soviets commenced on a three and an hour half artillery, mortar and multiple rocket launcher bombardments, giving sporadic pauses as to fake Soviet attacks to lure the Greeks into position again only to resume the harassment. On 0615 of the 17th they opened up, with effects being reported as "earth geyser shots in the air, craters suddenly appearing" and "men, sandbags, concrete and vehicles flew through the air". The Greeks launcher counter artillery attacks on their own, but it was in vain. In a matter of hours the Soviets rushed into the positions and the Greeks were in retreat all over the line, with even higher commanding officers being taken prisoner with their staffs as they didn't believe the Soviets could advance as rapidly. However just outside of Ioannina the Tank-Brigade was stopped and the Soviet general offensive was stopped as well. The Greeks were too well entrenched. Instead the Italians made a surprise attack into Ioannina with making an amphibious landing on the port early in the monring of the 20th. Italy Balbo commanded the force and managed to secure a beachhead with the attack going to his favor. Despite this he suffered heavy losses and it was reported that the "beaches are overflowed with blood". As the hours passed by the Greeks counterattacked the Italians who managed to gain a foothold, the battle was slowly turning against the naval landing. It was then Balbo sent a message to the Caucasian Front hoping the Tank-Brigade and several mountaineers to enter the fray.
Soviet soldiers clear out Athens.
The first Soviet attackers entered the outskirts of Athens on the 22nd. The Greeks had vacated the area hoping the Soviets to save the many culturar treasures in the city. However the British and Anglo-British troops took up positions and refused to evacuate. Not that they had much of a choice as their only means of retreat by land was cut off and the city was currently under a naval brigade. The Black Sea Fleet opened up on the city providing Popov with fire support. His Front soon moved to the outskirts of Athens and he battled with ferocious troops from the British Empire. As the woodland and flat terrain outside of Athens was cleared under heavy fire the Soviets feared going into Athens itself looking toward the vicious battles of Liverpool, Manchester, Aleppo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and many others with weary eyes. Would Athens be yet another long drawn out urban battle?
Yet another nation fall to the red threat.
Evening of the 26th the last Greek pocket was being cleared in the north after intense and costly battles for both sides. The mountains and hills of Greece would forever brand itself physically and mentally on the hundreds of thousands of troops on nations all over the world that battled in close quarter, caves, trenches and vicious grenade battle in these otherwise beautiful mountains. Now it was completely void of life and color. Meanwhile to the south the Franco-Russian assault on Athens was paying off, despite high casualties by the armored forces (losing 106 tanks in one assault alone) the infantrists managed to secure the houses and streets of the ancient capital that was reduced to ruins and despair. To the south two German divisions landed on the remaining NATO bastion. Anglo-Indian, Irish and Canadian troops responded by evacuating through the remaining port why they still had the chance. It was clear that NATO was abandoning their Hellenist ally. Then on the 29th Athens was captured after brutal fighting with the British and Anglo-Indian forces retreating to island of Evia with no hope of being relieved, supplies or evacuation. It was in effect a death sentence. Meanwhile as the mobile and armored forces under Popov spearheaded into the Mani Pelopenesse the NATO forces had evacuated and their only task was to pacify the country with the German divisions and disarm the Greeks who surrendered. Also in the remaning pocket there was one Greek brigade close to Albania who held out to the bitter end who the Soviets could not beat but only laid down their arms when they were ordered to.
Casualties pile up.
The Battle of Greece was over. NATO mourned it as the grave of democracy, while Trotsky announced this would usher "Greece into a new era of democracy and enlightenment".The casualties was high on both sides, however the majority of the Soviet losses were only temporarily ones. Greece suffered high casualties over 216.000 for the small nation, while in total of the war which had lasted for just over two months now the UK lost over 700.000 men and the US had just gotten over 200.000 losses. If the war was to continue along this pattern the casualties would go to the extremes. Operation Neptune was largely a success, with Triton and Neso being decisive victories despite the latter giving the Soviets unexpected resistance. Only the taking of the Aegean Islands had failed and were still occupied by NATO troops. The eyes of the 2nd Ukranian Front and Popov were now set on Cyprus and Crete to gain complete control over the Mediterranean...
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*So I made Hungary/Balkan Socialist Union justify war against Yugoslavia, not to invade Greece but as I think it is fitting that Yugoslavia enter the war on NATOs side and that the Balkan Socialist Union try to unite all of the Balkans. Now of course this takes a lot of time, the plan is for Hungary to justify war on Albania next.
**Here Anglo-Indian is units of the British Raj. As said earlier despite going indepedent they are still the British Raj with their British leader and flag..
It do look like that, but British Raj is also a major power, so if I want a total victory, UK, India and US have to be taken down!
Once you win in india, are you going to make it a satellite state or set it free with a communist government?
I like your optimism! First invading India may be difficult, massive number of troops and the entrypoints can only be from Indochina and through the jungles of Burma, or through the few passes from Afghanistan and Iran into mountain areas. And then my biggest fear is that if we lose I risk losing the oil in Iran and Kazakhstan. So an invasion of India (or China etc for that sake) will take lots of resources and manpower, and other than making the Allies faction surrender there is little strategic gains to be made as of now since India is surrendered. And such resources and manpower might be better used to bringing down the Commonwealth, protecting Europe from invasions or even taking down the big ole USA!
Now if we win India are likely to be partioned in some way. It will be turned commie, but the need of puppets are reduced due to if the Paris Pact win the war there is no enemy. However puppet status might be a way to simulate military and political occupation or transform third world cuntries to socialist states. If you got any ideas feel free to say them.