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

[ThaHoward]

Chapter 55: Forced Decolonization.

A British tank under heavy fire.
​

In the midst of the Battle of Spain the 1st Belorussian Front and Marshal Kuznetsov bypassed the bloody affair in Gibraltar and headed toward Morocco. Through December and January they fought their way into the Mediterranean and North Atlantic coasts meeting opposition from American, Commonwealth, native and "white" Spanish and French forces. NATO was determined to advance into Spanish Morocco and take the tiny strip of land in case Gibraltar was overrun. As explored in an earlier chapter Gibraltar was indeed overrun and the NATO offensive nearly succeeded - had it not been for the 1st Belorussian Front. The NATO was still, however, determined to cling onto their territory and keep the Mediterranean Sea open - reports ticked in that something major was happening in Egypt, NATO needed to be able to both reinforce the Egyptian Theater (Soviet forces was just kilometers away from the Suez) and pull their forces out of the region if needed. The Soviet Union and the Paris Pact on the other hand needed to close the Mediterranean for obvious reasons; both to deprive NATO of reinforcements and evecauation, to shield most of Europe from and most of all to prevent USA to use their airbases in Northern Africa for further atrocities. Once Gibraltar fell, mere two days before New Years Eve, the 2nd Belorussian Front streamed into Spanish Morocco heading to the east, conquer Algeria and reach Libya. Trotsky made a speech that was broadcasted through the communist world and sent to the natives of Africa and Asia through communist agents and sympathisers. There he declared the age of imperial oppression had come to an end. Soviet and Paris forces in northern Africa and the Middle-East was on a campaign to "enforce decolonization" and liberate the workers of the world. The two specific campaigns west of Libya would be named the "West Saharan Greater Strategic Offensive", in later years it was simple dubbed "Operation Hammer" for simplicity. Kuznetsov would reach south, liberate Morocco and close off West Sahara, meanwhile Rokossovsky would head east and liberate Algeria. This chapter will detail the offensive into Morocco and West Sahara.

The T-44 are no longer a prototype, the T-34 is outphased.
​

While aging T-34s and T-44 prototypes battled in the sands of Algeria and Morocco the newest standard of the T-44 finished the concept table. The T-44-100 was a 100mm upgrade of the 85mm T-44A, however it was a prototype and was hastly pushed into battle, mainly to overwhelm the British Isles. Rushing the T-44-100 into battle proved that it needed better protection, especially against its tracks and it was prone to breakdowns and in need of an upgrade to its engine to handle the thicker armor and the enlargened maingun. The result was the T-44B, the frontal armor was increased from 120mm to 180mm, 6mm armored sideskirts was added along with added fuel capacity, a stronger engine and 12.7mm machine guns fitted to the loader's turret as well as two 7.62mm machine guns on the tank itself. The new standard of the T-44 was deadly and the first true universal tank, combining aspects of both the heavy tank and light tank into a medium tank. The main production lines of the infamous T-34s was largely replaced by the T-44B, the T-44-100 prototype was still in production, but there was plans to replace it with future modernized T-44s. The Soviet tank arsenal terrorized the NATO forces, who had virtually nothing to counter these new beasts.

Divide and conquer..
​

Where the Red Army met resistance during December and the first weeks of January, this opposition had all but faltered by the end of January. NATO troops was under severe pressure from the Soviet Air Force, and the devastating Soviet artillery arm and their ruthless armored forces. Moreover NATO troops got news of the trouble at home, the Soviet advances into Europe and their intent to liberate Africa from imperial powers. Some soldiers started to doubt their purpose, while it did not push them to desertion or disloyalty it have later been pointed out these events led to a decrease in morale. By the 25th of January the Soviet forces had taken the mountains they had dreaded to take. They expected NATO forces to dig into these mountains and deny the Soviet forces to advance and utilize their advantage in artillery and armor. Instead they engaged in a decisive blitz campaign bypasing NATO strongholds and isolating them, instead of engaging them in decisive battle Kuznetsov instead drove the NATO troops into concentrated areas, bypassing them and hoping to lay siege to them. NATO troops was further hindered by local Berber and Arab tribes, natives and troops who harassed their supply lines and took hold in the mountains. Emboldened by the Soviet declaration to liberate all of the colonies communist and nationalist Moroccans took up arms against their Franco-British occupiers. By the 25th NATO troops was isolated into Casablanca, the Atlas Mountains around Imintanoute and Sidi Ifni north of the river of Oued Drâa.The remaining NATO troops was either evacuating out of Casablanca or having a disorderly retreat into Western Sahara hoping to either make a stand in the ports of Cape Bojador and Al-Dakhla - or to evacuate to the New World.

The beginning of a prolonged siege.
​

Several brigades worth of American, Irish and British troops started their evacuation from Casablanca. Their trial had barely begun as they were caught off guard German, Spanish and French battleships and raiders ready to deny any NATO troops from evacuating northern Africa. The Hammer was strucking down on NATO in Morocco. In Casablanca there remained a fairly large garrison of American troops overlooking the hills around the city and the streets itself. Kuznetsov was determined to attack into the city as the NATO troops was on their retreat, thus being disorganized, and to prevent further American troops from evacuating. The Soviet axis of advance came mainly from the east, with the northern positions preventing a breakout and the positions south of the river. The Soviets had the advantage in manpower and resources, but it soon became clear the Americans had prepared their positions and would fight to the end to make sure their evacuating comrades could live to fight another day.

NATO dig in, USSR bypass.
​

Soviet troops made progress closing into the city of Casablanca and taking Rabat, however the American defenders proved to have well dug in positions fending of several Soviet attacks. The fighting turned cruel as Soviet airplanes hammered the American positions, who was reinforced by Commonwealth stragglers and troops separated from their home unit, and warships on both sides hammered the various positions. Both sides had to employ gasmasks in the claustrophobic trenches and mountains, making their vision poor and exhausting the individual soldier. The Soviets, however, soon ran out of supply and the American trench and defensive system was too extensive to be breached. A Soldier sergeant recalled "Their entire line had come under several probe attacks, artillery barrages and harassment from out airforce, day and night to deprive them of any rest and drive them crazy. Several probe attacks was launched to the east and west of our positions, heavy fighting ensued and we believed they took the bait. We could see no enemy activity on top of the hill that we was to take, if we took the hill and their positions we could make the entire trench system fall and head into the road that lead us into Casablanca.

Two wounded American soldiers.
​

"The enemy was nowhere to be seen, perhaps he was off guard or killed by our artillery barrages. We crawled up were hidden from our enemy - or so we thought. Soon a machine nest opened fire, we could not see where it was from as its fire was accurate and deadly and soon followed up by other rifle and sub-machine gun fire all over the line. We could only see their muzzleflashes, but not pinpoint their position. We were exposed and the enemy was well entrenched. Our company commander made the call for us to assault up hill, it was a horrible sight. Tracers and fire came in from our right as we ran uphill, the Americans had employed another machine gun across the road hitting as rigth into our flank. I could see the bullets hit one man and then it continued to hit several others, like a razor it cut its way through our comrades like they were butter. We advanced ahead having no other option, and then another machine gun, this time from the left, hit us in the flank. We had three machine guns directed toward us, one in our front and two in crossfire in our flanks to devastating effect. I ordered my RPG gunner to ready his weapon, but he was inexperienced and scared and took it out in the open, exposed. He was literally shredded by the machine gun to our front. Limbs, organs and corpses rolled down the hillside along with grenades the Americans threw at us. Mortar strikes was ordered in all along their positions and they stilled. Or rather we could hear horrible gutteral screams atop of the hill, horrible as it were we felt no compassion for them, we felt no mercy. We rushed forward and their guns were silent, but soon those three horrible machine guns tore us down again. There was so much blood, death and confusion. I shouted after my platoon commander, he was nowhere to be heard. I gathered several men and we crawled up under intense fire and got right below one of their foxholes. We could see Americans rush to their foxholes all along the line, reinforcing their weak positions. One of our teams crawled up to a foxhole to the right of us, lobbed a grenade into it and we could see a geysir of blood surge from the foxhole. But they hesitated to take it, the result was the spotter of the machine gun nest right next to them lobbing a grenade to them again, taking them all out. The foxholes we were then underneath got reinforced by an American squad, and with them another machine gun. Fortunately for us we were in their blindspot as its fire razed down on our troops trying to get into the foxhole they had just taken. I lobbed a grenade into their position, and so did the rest of the men. After the explosions we rushed forward and fired wildly, we had taken the foxhole and their reinforced machine gun. The foxhole next to us was also taken. It was then their closest machine was directed toward us, and the Americans had amassed in a second line in front of us, they then counterattacked and we had to retreat, and barely so. It took hours for us to retreat under their heavy fire, they had nearly wiped us out. And this was only the outskirts of Casablanca". The Soviet offensive into Casablanca failed, and they had to call off their attack.

Time to spearhead into Western Sahara.
​

But where the Soviet forces failed to achieve victory in Casablanca, the other forces used their heavy and medium tanks as battering rams forcing their way into Western Sahara, wiping out thousands of NATO troops under heavy katyusha fire. All of Morocco was under communist control - except for Casablanca and the Red Army was ready to finish their work and force the remaining British troops into surrender. The British and American troops fought valiantly in the mountains and cities, but in the end the Soviet overmight was too much to bear. They could not evacuate and thousands of troops surrendered to the advancing red menace.

Soviet Rocketry is reaching its pinnacle..
​

Meanwhile the Soviet rocketry made progress.. The R-2 rocket was developed, which was basically an improvement of the theoretical German V-2 rocket and the Soviet R-1 rocket. In its place they looked into ballistic missiles that was rumored to be able to reach the east and west coasts of America..

The Battle of Casablanca may be resumed.
​

On the 5th of February the Soviet troops was reinforced by several other divisions along with fresh troops and supplies. For days and nights Casablanca and the surrounding defenses was under air, naval and artillery strikes, it was now time to avenge their major losses. The Americans could only employ light armor, light armor that proved to be no match for the SU tank destroyers and assault guns that was put into action. These guns and destroyers proceeded to batter the American positions and their few tanks in the open, after days of intense battle in the open the Soviets prepared to move into Casablanca itself...

America, your crimes in Ukraine and Spain will be avenged.
​

Concurrently back home in the Soviet Union, scientists and engineers was making a major breakthrough. This breakthrough was that their prototype for a jetpowered fighter aircraft was finalized, and in mid February it was estimated that the first MiG-9s could enter production in less than six months! The MiG-9 was a first generation jet fighter and it was developed by Mikoyan-Gurevich in collaboration with German scientists, its engine was indeed based upon the BMW 003 jet engines. The aircraft would have a maximum speed of 910 km/h, a ferry range of 800 km and had an armament of on 57mm cannon. However the armament would prove to cause engine issues from the gas from the cannon. Nevertheless this new jet fighter was a major leap forward in Soviet air capabilities and it would bring about on edge on the battlefield.

Another project was started by the Soviet Air Force around this time, and that was the creation and design of the Tupolev Tu-4. The strategic bomber was the result of reverse engineered downed Superfortresses. The B-29s was the bombers that brough so much death and misery to the people of the Soviet Union and Spain, and the Soviets was determined copies of the B-29 could bring about a swift revenge.
​

The Battle of Morocco is concluded.​

On the 9th of Febrary Casablanca fell. Remaining American troops fought valiantly, but the Soviet power and thirst for revenge was too great. In the end there was only a few US Army Rangers overlooking the economic center of Morocco. Vicious urban fights took place, in the end the city was turned to ruins. The Soviets was promised great parades to their honor by the natives as they welcomed their liberators. Instead they were faced with extreme destruction, and locals ahd lost their livehood under the struggle between capitalism and communism, their liberation was bitter-sweet. By the 14th of February all of West Sahara was secured by Soviet troops as they pushed the British troops to the seas along with the remaining American troops. The evacuated NATO troops believed they were to come to America for safe haven, instead they were massacred at the seas by German, French and Spanish warships. The conquest and liberation of Morocco and West Sahara had been extremely hard fought by both sides, despite its relative short span it demanded many lives and equipment. While the western front was secure, the cannons and guns still drummed on to the east as Konstantin Rokossovsky raced toward Algers..

 

[stnylan]

These days the failure of the first assault on Casablance feels like a rare setback.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Yeah...i think at this point the old world is screwed. All thats left is 'clean up' although it will be a bloody mess of a job killing millions more people i think. Then missles all along both sides of the atlantic and a sea war in the pacific.

 

[Nikolai]

Yeah...i think at this point the old world is screwed. All thats left is 'clean up' although it will be a bloody mess of a job killing millions more people i think. Then missles all along both sides of the atlantic and a sea war in the pacific.

I guess it's too late to stop the Trotskyist Imperialism...

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

I guess it's too late to stop the Trotskyist Imperialism...

Something very dramatic would have to happen in the SU and Comintern generally to stop them now. Or the US masses a collosal force in India and China and digs in hard...though that just means asia becomes full of nuke crsters by the 60s.

 

[ThaHoward]

These days the failure of the first assault on Casablance feels like a rare setback.

But a minor speedbump

Yeah...i think at this point the old world is screwed. All thats left is 'clean up' although it will be a bloody mess of a job killing millions more people i think. Then missles all along both sides of the atlantic and a sea war in the pacific.

It will be a bloody mess. If a war come to India and/or China it will just be a total mess. I liked your other comment, it puts a vivid picture on just how destructive such a conflict could be. At least the missiles won't be able to have nukes fitted to them.

I guess it's too late to stop the Trotskyist Imperialism...

Trotskyist liberation!

 

[ThaHoward]

Chapter 56: Defeat of Atlas.
​

The invasion of Algeria.

By the end of January 2nd Belorussian Front under the now living legend of Rokossovsky came in full force to Algeria, ready to assault the French territories. Rokossovksy having the month before conquered Gibraltar prevented NATO forces from escaping westwards. Algeria proved to a tough nut to crack, the Atlas Mountains made it difficult for the Soviet armored and artillery forces to traverse the area and be fully utilized. Light infantry and mountaineers was the king of these battles. However as it was winter the weather was harsh in the Atlas mountains, the conditions was indeed more favorable to the winter warriors of the Soviet Union as opposed to the soldiers of USA and the British Empire. Through January Soviet forces struggled to advance along the coast, and take the city and port of Oran, mostly due to the heavy NATO fortifications, instead several Soviet divisions swinged south and engaged in furios battles in the mountain ranges throug all of January. By the 26th almost no gains had been made along the coast, but to the south the Soviets had widened the front and threatened to swing further east to reach into Algiers or up north to isolate Oran.

Algeria would be a peculiar battle scene, in many ways it was considered the last stand for the NATO forces in the Mediterranean which in turn was the last stand in Europe. If the Soviet attacks could be repulsed in northern Africa west and east of Libya then the NATO forces might disrupt PACT supply lines form the seas and bomb their industrial centers, and either launch an amphibious from Algeria into Spain or France or attack the Soviet oil supplies in the Levant from Egypt. That was the Soviet fears, however as the current situation was it might have been more suitable for the NATO troops to evacuate from Algeria and toward Egypt, whatever the case was Rokossovsky deemed he needed a quick war of manuever to encircle the NATO troops and capture the various ports to force major surrenders among the NATO ranks. The Battle of Algeria and Tunisia, the other major part of Operation Hammer, had begun. There Soviet troops would fight alongside French Communard troops and insurgent-natives against American, British, Canadian, loyalist natives and even exiled French troops. Both sides pitted against eachother for the major clash in Algeria.

T-34 hammering some village.

While Soviet troops was holed up trying to penetrate the lines into Oran, various Soviet armored brigades took advantage of the lack of NATO defenses in the southern theater. NATO commanders believed these mountains to be impassible by armor espeically considering the harsh winter conditions. They were wrong. Soviet armor manuevered aggressively through the mountains and defied blizzards, muddy roads and enemy fire alike. Entire settlements and enemy positions was bypassed entirely. "We probed their lines with our armor, once we found a weakpoint the entire armored and mechanized force, forced its way through the weakpoint and kept on moving. Only a few tanks and soldiers was left behind to keep the line open, waiting for reinforcements to spread out and envelope our foe" a Soviet commander said in an interview. Over the days the Soviet forces engaged their enemies in the mountains and the cold winter, however NATO had concentrated their forces around Oran, failing to grasp their vulnerable southern flank. The Soviet tanks, APCs and trucks raced almost unopposed toward Algiers, the few troops they met were forced to retreat under intense fire and other NATO troops was prevented from making any considerable movement due to Soviet air supremacy.

Light tanks move into Algiers, US Army withdraws.

Then on the night of the 10th of February the first elements of the 2nd Light-Tank Brigade took up positions south of Algiers. Light tanks scouted the area and took up positions in the hills overlooking the city, soon light self propelled artillery and other guns bombarded the city's defenses. Through the night the forward elements of the 2nd Light-Tank Brigade probed the first line of defense of Algiers taking the outskirts by the morning. As the entire brigade moved into position the brigade commander elected to not send in the tanks into the city, the armor of the T-60s, T-70s and T-80s was lightly armored and would simply be sitting ducks and exposed. Instead they were important in taking control of the outskirts while the infantrists mopped up the city. The battle raged on for the entire day of 11th and it was not until midnight that the city was secured. The battle was harsh, but the American defenders was not well prepared for the surprise attack. As the radio communications was restored Rokossovsky was said to be quite surprised at the news of the fall of Algiers. With Algiers in Soviet hands the defenders of Oran was caught in a pocket unable to retreat further east either to be evacuated from Algiers or to join their allies in the next line of defense between Algeria and Tunisia.

One of the many bloody assaults on Oran.

Algiers fell to the USSR, but Oran remained in NATO hands. The city that was bountiful of cultural and historical riches had been reduced to rubbles, with blood running through the streets and neither sides making any gains to speak of. Awesome artillery duels was commonplace, with the city itself being flattened out by either bombers or from the merciless katyusha batteries. There was no mercy in the streets of Oran, but Soviet assault after Soviet assault smashed into the defenses like forceful waves plunging into steadfast cliffs only to disperse. In the many attacks the Soviets suffered losses in the hundreds and even to the thousands, with the NATO forces often losing only a third of their number, and in some cases even one tenth. But with the capture of Algiers, the relentless Soviet assaults and the deterioration of the NATO supply situation there was light in the end of the tunnel..

The losses of the campaign at the time of the Fall of Morocco.

By mid February Morocco had fallen and Kuznetsov was securing Western Sahara. Where in the west Operation Hammer saw rapid advances and major success, the east, the invasion into Algeria, was a totally different story. The campaign in northern Africa had cost over 100.000 casualties for the Soviets, however with Algiers taken Oran, the bastion of NATO defenses in Algeria, was enveloped and the Soviets advanced ever eastward racing toward Tunisia to seal off the NATO forces in the theater. Marshal Kuznetsov would not take part in further offensives, instead he would garrison Gibraltar and the parts of Morocco that faced westward to prevent a NATO relief force.

The battle of Oran rage on.

Oran was under siege and had been so for well over a month. The city was under daily artillery and rocket attacks, fell victim to both close air support and strategic bombing. Soviet assault after assault was repulsed and the NATO forces dug in with tooths and nail. However the Soviets managed to break the lines in rest of Algeria and was isolating Oran. The NATO strategy backfired, instead of Oran being the fortification that would stall the Soviet invasion and enable a NATO evacuation it instead become a trap for hundreds of thousands of NATO troops - American, Indian, Canadian and British troops. Slowly NATO brigades were being pushed out of Oran to the east, but instead of finding a safe path to Algiers, they were met by a hail of bullets and shells from the advancing Soviet troops. Oran was on its own.

Oran falls after bitter fights.

Early on the morning of 18th Oran fell after one and half a month of siege and battle. The city was turned to ruins and soldier and civilian alike was victim of the modern war. With both Oran and Algiers taken, Algeria had virtually fallen. The area was returned to Communard control and it soon arose a conflict of interest, should Algeria be decolonized, or was it an integral part of the French Commune? Moreover the "white" forces and population in Algeria was soon victim to yet another round of red terror.

American troops under heavy fire in the Atlas Mountains.

Political entanglements were many and advanced, but for the troops the war razed on and for them it was simply; kill or be killed. NATO troops withdrew eastwards, but were hindered by the Soviet air force and the rapid manuevers of Soviet tanks, motorized and mechanized infantry. The battles of the Atlas Mountains was many and savage, but the Soviets had the upperhand overrunning the many NATO troops who were demoralized and out of supply deserted, hid in the mountains or surrendered.

Soviet forces advance into eastern Algeria and Tunisia.

The Soviets took advantage of the collapse of NATO forces and their tanks moved rapidly through the deserts in southern Algeria while the troops from Oran tickled in to the new frontline, ready to make the final push and invade Tunisia. The Soviet Air Force shifted its focus and began their aerial bombing campaign over eastern Algeria and over Tunisia. NATO was preparing to evacuate - or to make their final stand.

Soviet forces rams into the last line of defense in Algeria.

NATO forces sent their relief force to eastern Algeria making for a desperte defense. American armored units and Anzac forces was sent to slow down the Soviets, however the Soviet war machine could not be deterred. Their armor took advantage of spring lifting the harsh weather conditions and the Sahara desert moving south of the lake of Chott el Jerid ready to eclipse the NATO defenses in half.

Surrendered American troops.

The few NATO troops that was sent to the west to delay the Soviets was soon outnumbered and outgunned. Through March these troops fought valiantly in the Atlas Mountains and would indeed delay the Soviet attack into Tunisia, making it possible for several brigades to evacuate toward Egypt. But in the end these troops had to surrender in the droves to the ever advancing red menace - or colonial liberation depending on who you would ask.

The heavy fighting around Bizerte and Tunis.

With the Atlas mountains taken along with southern Tunisia, the ports and cities of Bizerte and Tunis was under siege. The remaining forces of NATO in northern Africa was holed up in these two cities, numbering an impressive amount of 16 infantry brigades and five armored brigades. These were now undermanned and understrength due to the disastrous Algerian campaign, however if they were allowed to rest or evacuate they could pose a major threat in the future. Rokossovsky accepted no excuses, these troops was to be brought down no matter the cost. The final push for Tunisia had begun.

British troops during the desperate battle of Tunis.

While Soviet troops engaged NATO troops in Bizerte and pacified the countryside a mechanized corps plunged into Tunis. The city was overwhelmed with the Soviet forces and the remaining NATO armor was ravashed under the unrelentless Soviet assault. The city was taken at a tall cost, and Bizerte was isolated..

Tunisia is finally overrun, only an understrength division remain cut off in the Cap Bon Peninsula.

With Tunis taken the Soviets moved into Bizerte brushing any resistance to the side. Entire grids was leveled with Soviet batteries before the tanks and infantry moved in. NATO was taken ablaze by the pure savagery in the Soviet assault and soon the many brigades were overrun. Only the 3rd Infantry Division remained taking shelter in the Cap Bon Peninsula, but without any chance to dig in or any chance of supply the Rock of the Marne was soon scaled.

The aftermath of Operation Hammer. Not the NATO losses in Oran alone.

By the 19th of March the guns fel silent. America could no longer pose a threat in the western Mediterranean, the invasion of Spain was repulses (albeit at very heavy casualties) and they couldn't send their massive amount of brigades toward Egypt or home. Europe was, for now, safe from the mushroom clouds. But it came at a heavy cost. The Red Army suffered 150.000 casualties in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. And the Battle of Egypt was reaching its climax. But NATO suffered horrible losses. In Oran alone over 320.000 NATO troops surrendered as the Soviets took the city and Rokossovsky paraded under the triumph bow.

 

[stnylan]

The Russian steamrollers continues to smother all before it.

 

[Captured Joe]

That campaign has to be worth another row of medals on Rokossovsky's chest!

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Algeria proved to a tough nut to crack, the Atlas Mountains made it difficult for the Soviet armored and artillery forces to traverse the area and be fully utilized.

They thought rocks could stop Soviet Russia? Okay, big rock, but still rock. Puny rock under workers might!

By the 19th of March the guns fel silent. America could no longer pose a threat in the western Mediterranean, the invasion of Spain was repulses (albeit at very heavy casualties) and they couldn't send their massive amount of brigades toward Egypt or home. Europe was, for now, safe from the mushroom clouds. But it came at a heavy cost. The Red Army suffered 150.000 casualties in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. And the Battle of Egypt was reaching its climax. But NATO suffered horrible losses. In Oran alone over 320.000 NATO troops surrendered as the Soviets took the city and Rokossovsky paraded under the triumph bow.

And...well, barring something dramatic in the east and bearing in mind the original goals of communism and socialism at least in a 19th century context...mission accomplished.
Now then, for the rest of the old world. The new world is I fear going to have to be purged by fire to get peace. So...leave that until they are close to giving up anyway.

 

[ThaHoward]

The Russian steamrollers continues to smother all before it.

Hopefully it won't run out of steam just yet.

That campaign has to be worth another row of medals on Rokossovsky's chest!

I'm concerned it won't be any space left soon

They thought rocks could stop Soviet Russia? Okay, big rock, but still rock. Puny rock under workers might!



And...well, barring something dramatic in the east and bearing in mind the original goals of communism and socialism at least in a 19th century context...mission accomplished.
Now then, for the rest of the old world. The new world is I fear going to have to be purged by fire to get peace. So...leave that until they are close to giving up anyway.

Old world it's accomplished indeed. I wonder if it will turn into a cease-fire of some sorts, or if the Soviets will drive for world damnation domination. The big question is if they can cross into US, or rather establish a viable bridgehead. It might as well be purged by fire as you said, and I believe the communist world want Revenge...

 

[Draguss]

Great updates!

 

[ThaHoward]

Chapter 57: Freegypt.
​

With a stalemate in the east Soviet troops pour in from the north.

Ever since the stalemate of the 31st of October Soviet troops failed to enter into Egypt and finish the Battle of the Mediterranean - and in turn the Battle of Europe. British, Canadian, ANZAC, Indian and American troops held the line along the Sinai peninsula and denied the Soviets and other Pact troops access into the Suez and the interior of Egypt. Several incursion were made by both sides, but neither managed to make any meaningful changes. To solve this stalemate Soviet planners had ordered Makian Popov and the 2nd Ukranian Front to launch several amphibious along the northern coast of Egypt and west of the Suez. Meanwhile the 1st Ukranian Front under Vasilevsky would launch a landside assault. With an offensive into Morocco and Algeria the Soviet planners hoped to once and for all end the war in Europe. While the Suez Canal had lost its strategic value to the British after the fall of Britain proper and alternate routes around South Africa, the fall of Egypt would nevertheless be a major defeat for the spirit of the already broken British nation, and it would enable the Soviet Union to completely control the Mediterranean.

British tanks observing the battles ahead.

The first attacks came from the east by the 1st Ukranian Front. The Soviet tanks had to traverse through rugged terrain along with predefined NATO killzones. Intense firefights, futile infantry assaults, artillery duels and bomber runs ensued. The second invasion of Egypt, as it was called after the failed invasion in October, came to a bloody start with thousands falling on both sides. To cut into the mountains in Sinai and take control over them as the other troops marched on to Suez. A Soviet Lieutenant noted the following: The height had ever since the start of January been the subject of several attacks from our Mechanized Corps. It had happened with some degree of success, but they could never the dominating mountain ridge who was still under American control. The new plan of attack was surprising. We would attack the American positions without artillery early in the morning of the 6th! If this attack failed we knew for certain it would be the last of our lives. During the morning the fog was thick and the capitalists were caught off guard by our attack. But the further we advanced up the height, the harder the American opposition became. In front of us our own artillery struck down with great force, behind the enemy barrage stood up like a thick wall and inbetween there it thundered of gunshots from our tanks and the American defensive positions with machine guns and anti-tank weapons. After intense fights our battalion took control of the height, but at major losts. The 3rd and 4th companies now counted together twelve men.."

NATO troops risks beign cut off.

But the attack from the east was virtually speaking a feint, a diversion. The real invasion, the ace up the sleeve of the Soviet planners came from across the sea. The majority of the forces under Popov landed to the west of the Suez Canal and to the north-east of Cairo. Their mission was to land a sizeable force to cut the Sinai Peninsula off and create a major pocket and threaten Cairo - the capital of the Kingdom of Egypt. The Soviet planners realized they could not break through the well prepared NATO defenses as they had hit the walls again and again, however NATO did not have a backup plan. NATO troops soon realized their strategic hopeless situation as the reports ticked in during the 7th of January of the Soviet landing. The presence of the Soviet force was a threat grave enough in itself. A general retreat was ordered out of the Sinai Peninsula. Several divisions was indeed beaten back by force, but several tried to orderly retreat, however the majority was already engaged in savage battles. It became a race against the clock, would the Soviets close off the Sinai Peninsula and the Suez Canal or would the NATO divisions retreat back into Egypt to create a new line of defense?

With the eastern NATO troops cut off yet another assault come from the west.

But while NATO troops was getting cut off in the east (indeed two major pockets was formed along the Sinai Peninsula) the second invasion force under Popov arrived dead into el Alamein the former fortress city under the British forces during the Second World War. This force was mainly composed of lightly and rapid armored forces and was meant to spearhead to the east to cut off the NATO forces holed up in Alexandria and the coast west of the Nile. Meanwhile the initial invasion force would head to Cairo and take control over the capital.

A winternized T-70 often used for recon.

The Soviet forces landing to the west of the Nile would not in the first hours see much action, the 1st Ukranian Front however would see major engagements during their push into the Sinai, but the various armored recon elements would be in their prime during the first days of the invasion of el Alamein. "We loaded off our halftracks and light tanks upon an open field near a local Egyptian settlement who were now empty and the stores being pillaged. The vehicles were tanked and loaded with ammo. In the general area there was no other Soviet forces. Therefore several recon patrols was sent out, often platoon sized and with the support of assault gunts and tank destroyers to scout ahead the terrain". The Soviets in the west would soon push further ahead and into battle..

Cairo have fallen!

In short order the NATO defenses in Egypt collapsed. Port Said was taken and the NATO troops suffered grueling casualties, while the remaining areas of the Sinai Peninsula was cleared up. Meanwhile in the west Heavy Trotsky tanks and T-44 tanks was rushing in, pounding the city of Alexandria. But most importantly Cairo fell to a massive eight Soviet infantry divisions. STAVKA planned for yet another costly urban battle, but the NATO troops was instead pulled out. Perhaps in desperation or to be used in a more strategic battle another day. NATO troops fell victim to heavy fire and the Nile was about to be fully taken.

NATO armored vehicles under heavy fire.

In the lines west of Cairo the British troops came under heavy assaults and their troops had to rotate between infantry service and being in trenches. The British soldiers there was laying there in a torn up landscape. A British corporal noted "Our armored infantrists was laying for several further days in the desolate scree. Two days later we were relieved and could leave the scree: a real deathtrap where it was laying on the open field with connections behind only during nighttime. We were lucky and could move along before the Bolsheviks were finished with gearing up for their major assault, which we knew would come. Our relievers had to instead take the coming storm a few days later. Judging by what I heard from men who were in nearby positions, then it's likely no one made it back.."

The Soviets managed to make beachead in northern Egypt..

In the coming days the NATO lines north of Cairo, save for Alexandria was completely overrun. STAVKA was concerned as they believed they were to run into another stalemate as they did in October, however in Alexandria the multinational garrison was being pushed back to the city center. And if Alexandria fell then Egypt was virtually under control of the Paris Pact, or rather NATO could not posess any threat to Soviet held middle east and the Mediterranean.

After several failed attacks Malta fell.

Malta despite of its strategic location had been given up by the Soviets to take. Several ill-fated attacks by naval landing regiments and airborne divisions resulted in severe Soviet casualties. However the Italian Red Army was not deterred. Along with several failed attacks by German and French divisions they assaulted Malta and were pushed back, however the tiny island was soon reduced to nothing and on the 17th of January Italian troops could finally claim Malta - albeit at a horrible cost.

The Egyptian defenses have virtually collapsed.

While Malta fell the Soviets continued their offensive into Egypt, mostly notably they cleared out the Sinai Peninsula and claimed Alexandria. The battle of Alexandria was hardfought for the defenders. "The fire-storm increased through the afternoon to a savage rage, apparently with the company to our left as the most important target. In the middle of this furios bombardment orders arrived that our mortars was to be put into action. We held our breath as we plunged into hell - the area around us had been completely altered! The impact craters was as close to eachother as Swiss cheese. What followed was the most heated moment during the entire war for my part. Every other minute we had to dive into a foxhole or crater in order to not be torn apart by a roaring grenade, and in the meantime we had to keep the fire up after the instructions from the fire controllers in the front. We held it going like that, hour after hour. Our grenade shells brough devastating damage to the advancing Russian infantrist waves. Exactly on the yard were the recommended targets". However it was not enough, Alexandria and Sinai fell to the Red Army.

Pact troops advance further into Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.. and the interior of Africa.

Over the next month Egypt was made a part of the Secular Pan-Arab State under leadership of the Iraqi People's Republic - in effect it was under joind Soviet and Iraqi occupation. In February the southernmost areas of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan was reached and the Battle of Egypt was in effect over. And with the Battle of Egypt the wider Battle of the Mediterranean and Europe reached a conclusion. The question now remained would the Soviet Union and Trotsky embark upon an anti-imperalist crusade in Africa and Asia, invade America or strive toward a peace?

 

[stnylan]

So aiming to roll down the East coast of Africa?

 

[Captured Joe]

Finally, Italy takes Malta!

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

And with the Battle of Egypt the wider Battle of the Mediterranean and Europe reached a conclusion. The question now remained would the Soviet Union and Trotsky embark upon an anti-imperalist crusade in Africa and Asia, invade America or strive toward a peace?

Well peace is basically impossible until either the soviets take over all of Afro Eurasia or the Americans nuke it all to glass. And nobody outside of the US (UK maybe at naval height) could launch a successful mass naval invasion of the Americas right now...so it's going to have to be an old world focus war right now. Which is fine because that only makes sense anyway.

Africa should (maybe) rebel pretty easily against imperial overlords who are now toothless and desperate, but that doesn't mean they'll accept the European communists with open arms. A Libya type situation of loads of new 'kingdoms' ran at least locally by native peoples would probably work, because then the Russians and everyone else in the Comintern can focus on seducing/crushingly them one by one without major conflict. Hopefully that can work and be put in play in most places because frankly all the troops are needed elsewhere to secure the massive fronts in Asia. Securing India alone is going to take years of fighting and enforcement. And in that environment the US and empire alliance can do whatever it likes to win, because the people at him even by and large won't care what happens to the natives and there's much more scope to use carpet bombing, chemicals and nukes.

Basically we are hoping there's a phoney/Cold War of intrigue and politics in Africa following uprisings because Asia is going to be absolute hell to fight in, for all sides.

 

[Andre Massena]

Subbed

 

[ThaHoward]

Great updates!

Thanks! Hope you liked the newest one too!

So aiming to roll down the East coast of Africa?

In one way it would be fun, but I'm mostly like.. is it worth the effort honestly? At least we could go on a Imperial-Trotskyist an anti-imperialist campaign, that can be fun aswell. But perhaps better to just attack the heart of capitalism

Finally, Italy takes Malta!

After many attempts, I made several attempts and in the end I was like "f**k this" and then Italy managed to take Malta. Well one less island to care about

Well peace is basically impossible until either the soviets take over all of Afro Eurasia or the Americans nuke it all to glass. And nobody outside of the US (UK maybe at naval height) could launch a successful mass naval invasion of the Americas right now...so it's going to have to be an old world focus war right now. Which is fine because that only makes sense anyway.

Africa should (maybe) rebel pretty easily against imperial overlords who are now toothless and desperate, but that doesn't mean they'll accept the European communists with open arms. A Libya type situation of loads of new 'kingdoms' ran at least locally by native peoples would probably work, because then the Russians and everyone else in the Comintern can focus on seducing/crushingly them one by one without major conflict. Hopefully that can work and be put in play in most places because frankly all the troops are needed elsewhere to secure the massive fronts in Asia. Securing India alone is going to take years of fighting and enforcement. And in that environment the US and empire alliance can do whatever it likes to win, because the people at him even by and large won't care what happens to the natives and there's much more scope to use carpet bombing, chemicals and nukes.

Basically we are hoping there's a phoney/Cold War of intrigue and politics in Africa following uprisings because Asia is going to be absolute hell to fight in, for all sides.

Yes invading USA would be very difficult - at least from a narrative point of view. I can imagine that India and China become the new battleground, afterall India house tons of NATO troops and are threatening Soviet oil reserves in Central-Asia and the Middle East. It could also be a "nice" way to grind down NATO troops in India and China, however I expect it to be very very brutal. An African campaign could be swell, but then really just to secure the uranium etc. in Congo. Is Africa even worth fighting over from a strategic point?

Subbed

Thanks! Hope you like it

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Yes invading USA would be very difficult - at least from a narrative point of view. I can imagine that India and China become the new battleground, afterall India house tons of NATO troops and are threatening Soviet oil reserves in Central-Asia and the Middle East. It could also be a "nice" way to grind down NATO troops in India and China, however I expect it to be very very brutal. An African campaign could be swell, but then really just to secure the uranium etc. in Congo. Is Africa even worth fighting over from a strategic point?

One of the worst things about the nuke tech of the period is that literally everyone has to pick sides, or get nukes of their own. Because both sides need airbases as close to the other side as possible. Which means any free land at all is a threat to your side and a potential gold mine of strategic power at the same time.

So...with NATO pushed back from Europe and gearing up to hold Asia...you cannot possibly not head into sub Saharan Africa. At least, not if you want France to be safe from nukes. No idea if the game renders this at all accurately but from a narrative point of view, it's basically irrelevant philosophically what communism and socialism demand at this point, the soviets have to fight over Africa with the Americans and win, or they'll get nuked again and again and again.

Of course we know this is sort of a moot victory because missiles eventually become a thing but by then you hopefully have nukes of your own. Even if the game doesn't do what the Americans would certainly do in real life (bribe anyone in Africa willing to house their airforce with enough guns to stay in power for life), the soviets still need Africa secured because quite frankly the Pacific war is going to be a mess without the allies owning all the sea-routes to it bar the Suez Canal.

Plus...they actually do really need that uranium because they need a lot of nukes.

 

[ThaHoward]

One of the worst things about the nuke tech of the period is that literally everyone has to pick sides, or get nukes of their own. Because both sides need airbases as close to the other side as possible. Which means any free land at all is a threat to your side and a potential gold mine of strategic power at the same time.

So...with NATO pushed back from Europe and gearing up to hold Asia...you cannot possibly not head into sub Saharan Africa. At least, not if you want France to be safe from nukes. No idea if the game renders this at all accurately but from a narrative point of view, it's basically irrelevant philosophically what communism and socialism demand at this point, the soviets have to fight over Africa with the Americans and win, or they'll get nuked again and again and again.

Of course we know this is sort of a moot victory because missiles eventually become a thing but by then you hopefully have nukes of your own. Even if the game doesn't do what the Americans would certainly do in real life (bribe anyone in Africa willing to house their airforce with enough guns to stay in power for life), the soviets still need Africa secured because quite frankly the Pacific war is going to be a mess without the allies owning all the sea-routes to it bar the Suez Canal.

Plus...they actually do really need that uranium because they need a lot of nukes.

Those are actually quite interesting points. I guess unless Communist Europe wants to get bombed from Sub-Sahara and USSR from India once the US get jet-strat. bombers we have to fight to get control over these areas. Really interesting look at it, perhaps there should be a major offensive into Africa Not to speak of that the African coasts can be used for the US Navy (which is still the largest and most powerful) to harass Soviet supply lines, oil supplies and invasion routes, let it be fast moving cruisers, submarines or even Aircraft Carriers.

I'm also going to now give some small updates on the general developments of the world (basically one for the former British Empire, one for USSR, one for Communist Europe) before we focus on the next theater of war. Let that be Asia, Africa or America.