LOTR - Land Of The Rebels (1936 CSA using TFH 4.02 Deo Vindice Mod)

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Introduction:

Spoiler

I aim to provide a description of a Version 1.4 Hearts of Iron 3 game, using the Deo Vindice: The CSA in WWII Mod for TFH (Version 3.5), authored by CSABadss.

I am playing as the Confederacy from 1936 onward, and do not intend to follow the lead of the English lords in world affairs like the good little lapdog our country has been for them in the past.
The Southern nation will hew its own path in world affairs, and woe unto those who wish to hinder that chosen destiny.

This is a players’ narrative After Action Report using screenshots, period photos and cobbled graphics to clarify the text and add commentary flavor.
I use the AI only as a convenience to manage the production goals I set.

Please let me know of your questions and comments on this.
I am particularly interested in learning of any factual, plot logic, grammatical or spelling errors.
I will enjoy any tactical or strategic insights you may care to provide, though I do not promise to heed them.

Credits:
I want give thanks to the AAR’s created by Uriah . In addition to being a joy to read, they provided both the inspiration and model for this AAR.

Modifications:
I increased the starting Leadership and Industrial Capacity values for the Confederacy to about two thirds of the initial attributes of the abridged Northern states.
This gives the CSA a beginning Leadership of 19.84, while the Industrial Capacity is effectively 73 from a base of 118.
A 40% IC boost over the base industry value.

My justification is that when creating the mod, CSABadass changed the political ownership of the provinces contained within the newly Confederate lands, and left the other attributes untouched.
So what had been an economically rationalized third of the continental U.S. area transformed into an independent nation in the blink of an eye.

Now the intellectual and economic course of history for a free South since 1863 might turn out as CSABadass set up in his scenario.
However, my belief is that as an independent nation faced with an economic and military gorilla on its northern border, the South would have beefed up its nascent industrial and educational base as a counterweight to future Yankee ambitions.
This intellectual and economic buff would provide the base to grow a significant military capability in the event of shifts in international alliances.

Contents
002 Timeline
003 New Leaders
004 Initial Conditions and Plans
005 Initial Settings

1936
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

1937
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

1938
January
February

 

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Spoiler

Timeline History (1862-1918)
In the Deo Vindice (DV) universe, the timeline alters from our own early in the Civil War:
September 17, 1862: The Confederate States of America wins the Battle of Sharpsburg (or Antietam, as Northerners call it).
A shattered Union Army of the Potomac under George B. McClellan's ineffective leadership allows Robert E. Lee's victorious Army of Northern Virginia free reign in Maryland, causing the Union government to flee Washington.
Mass panic ensues throughout the North.


Federals Fleeing the Fight


October 8, 1862: Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg's Army of Mississippi defeats Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell's Union Army of the Ohio at the Battle of Perryville, Kentucky.
Word of the disastrous Union loss at Sharpsburg three weeks earlier severely dispirited Federal soldiers, turning what might have been merely a tactical Confederate victory into a panicked disaster for Buell's army.
Buell's disorganized retreat leaves a goodly portion of Kentucky in Confederate hands.

These twin defeats have a profound shock effect on the November elections, swelling the rolls of both the House and Senate with moderate Democrats, who are more favorably disposed towards ending the slaughter of soldiers for minimal gains on the battlefield.

December 1862: Emissaries of the British and French Empires inform the Northern government that they have recognized the Confederate States as an independent nation.
The European powers offer to mediate a peaceful end to the War for Southern Independence, and inform the U.S. that continuance of the naval blockade of Confederate ports shall be regarded as an act of war against their Empires.

Northern cartoon lampooning Lincoln drafting his ceasefire agreement.


March 1, 1863: U.S. President Abraham Lincoln and C.S. President Jefferson Davis sign the Hampton Roads Treaty, ending the War for Southern Independence.

1890: With the collapse of the cotton economy from foreign embargos, the dollar value of human chattel plummets.
Without an economic justification for it, the CSA finally bows to international pressure and ends slavery.
To alleviate the economic stress for chattel owners, the government purchased all slaves and emancipated them over a five-year period.
Responding to the social crisis of having former slaves wandering around free, local , state and national governments enact severe civil restrictions on the former slaves, now known as “resident bonded aliens”.

1891: The ‘Exodus Armada’ begins. This nationwide program encouraged, and in most cases, forced emigration of ‘bonded aliens’ from the South to the British and French colonies in Africa.
With a goal of ‘repatriating to their native lands’ all the ‘bonded ’ within thirty years, the Armada was the most ambitious social engineering program undertaken by the Confederacy till the Great War years.

February 1898: The warship CSS Arkansas, dispatched to protect Confederate interests during the Cuban War for Independence, explodes and sinks in Havana Harbor.
The Confederacy blames Cuba’s colonial master, Spain, for the sinking.

April 1898: The CSA declares war on Spain, beginning the Hispano-Confederate War. The conflict is an unmitigated disaster for Spain.

August 1898: The Treaty of Paris officially ends the Hispano-Confederate War. The victorious C.S. annexes Puerto Rico and installs a puppet government in Cuba.

1899: The American-German-Spanish Treaty grants the U.S. possession of Guam and the Philippines in exchange for US$20 million.
Germany purchases the remainder of Spain's Pacific island possessions.

1913: The ‘Exodus Armada’ ends.
With less than ninety thousand registered ‘bonded aliens’ still residing in the South, the costs of the program exceeded the perceived benefits.
With the support of chartered transport ships no longer needed, the national tax used to pay for the program expires, providing a short term boost in consumer spending.

1914: The Confederacy declares war on the Central Powers, joining the Allied side in the Great War at England's behest.
Tensions with Mexico and uncertainty over potential U.S. entry into the conflict on the side of the Central Powers keeps the bulk of Confederate forces in North America until much later in the war.

January 1917: Germany transmits the Zimmermann Telegram to the Mexican government.
British intelligence intercepts the message and translates it the next day.
England quickly provides the government in Richmond with documentation on Germany's offer of an alliance with Mexico in exchange for the return of Texas and Confederate Arizona.
This telegram significantly heightens an already tense situation between Mexico and the Confederation.

April 1917: Angered by the policy of unrestricted submarine warfare, U.S. President Hughes asks for and receives a declaration of war on Germany.
The U.S. entry into the war allies it with rival nations like Great Britain, the Confederacy, and Japan.

1918: The presence of German advisors in neutral Mexico and their participation in an act of aggression against the Confederacy prompts C.S. President Wilson's ordering the "Punitive Expedition" to occupy the Mexican province of Sonora in retaliation.
This consequently gives the Confederacy access to the Pacific Ocean and the burgeoning trade with Asia.
Nearly twenty years later, this measure, putatively to secure the Confederacy's southern border during the Great War, continues.

 

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New Settings


Mass Transit for the Richmond Public

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

Richmond, Virginia
Kevin wakened abruptly.
The squeal of tires followed by the sound of metal colliding and glass shattering in the near distance focused his attention ahead of the trolley he rode.
He could feel the trolley braking hard, and braced himself in turn.

There was no second collision though, and in a moment, the streetcar halted.
Yelling and cursing coming from the front, and craning to see through the other passengers Kevin could just make out where one car had T-boned another in the intersection ahead.
While the car’s occupants apparently emerged from the incident without serious injury (judging from the volume and animation of the arguments), the same could not be said for the vehicles.
Both had at least one wheel bent at a very wrong angle, along with various leaking fluids and little steam clouds.

Trolley passengers began pestering the driver on when they could resume moving.
Kevin looked at the two heaps of metal resting on the tracks and knew that it would not be for a while.
Shrugging, he picked up his briefcase, turned up his coat collar against the December wind and began walking, following the tracks towards downtown.
Moving past the intersection, the gathering onlookers, and the now fighting drivers.

This delay might make him late for his meeting, but not as late as those who just waited for the wrecks to be cleared away.
With luck, he would see a taxi somewhere on the way.

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

Spoiler

Postcard of the Executive Office Building, circa 1930.

The office was at the end of a long, brightly lit corridor. Or rather, the suite of offices that led to the office was at the end of a long, bright corridor.
Kevin counted three sets of open doors. Most of the desks in the rooms he passed were vacant, but there were still a variety of secretaries and aides to satisfy before he stood facing a final door.
It bore a plaque that said simply: CHIEF OF STAFF. Kevin’s escort nodded to a man sitting outside the door. The sitter glanced at Kevin, said “Weasley?”
“Yes.”
“Hi. I am Avery Lupton. One moment please.”
Lupton got up from behind his desk and tapped once on the door.
“Come!” a voice called and Avery opened the door. Olin Sallese's office was not overbearing, not by a big company’s standards anyway, but it was stark enough to intimidate.
Paneled walls almost barren of decoration, a few chairs and a desk big enough to hide behind come Armageddon. Sallese was standing behind the desk now, an unlit pipe in his mouth.
Sallese spoke. “Mr. Weasley, please do come in. Thank you Avery, that will be all. I will call when Mr. Weasley and I finish our discussion.”
As the door closed behind the two of them, Kevin could see the Gray House in the near distance through the office windows, with the Stars and Bars above it fluttering slightly in the breeze.


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

In a room of desks, Kevin sat at one, wondering where to begin work, or even if he should try.
He saw motion as Lupton appeared in the doorway with a stack of folders under his arm. The man glanced over Kevin’s way, and then proceeded towards him.
As he drew closer, Weasley saw a slight smile on Lupton’s face, and wondered if that bode good or ill.

Lupton stuck out his hand towards Kevin, saying, “I didn’t get a chance to greet you properly earlier, but speaking in my role as lead assistant, I am glad to meet you.”
Kevin took the hand and shook, replying “My pleasure, though I am not sure for how long Mr. Sallese will keep me on.”
Lupton’s smile got a bit wider as he said, “I wouldn’t put that much stock in your departing anytime soon.
Mr. Sallese can be a bit intense, but if he thought you weren’t cutting the mustard, you would be already out the door.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Speaking of work, exactly what does being an ‘Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the President of the Confederate States’ entail?
From what I can determine, it is the role of a glorified ‘fetch it’ boy, but are there any specific duties?”
“Actually, your work is more as a ‘hound dog’ than a ‘gopher’. Mr. Sallese takes to heart his role of ‘Advising the President on various issues’.
One of your responsibilities is to prepare the workup on subjects that touch on the military.
Mr. Sallese will task you with an issue to investigate and you in turn will dig up the information, massage it into a suitable form, and present it to him for his use in keeping his own boss informed.”

“Okay, that sounds doable.”
“Good, cuz here is your first assignment.” With that, Lupton laid the pile of folders he held on the desk. “Mr. Sallese is preparing to discuss some changes in personnel with the President.
Our Chief of Staff wants to have a job suitability summary on both the current position holders and the top contenders for their slots.
Your job is to have that document ready for him by 9 o’clock Thursday morning.”

Kevin raised an eyebrow. “Um, Thursday is tomorrow.”
“Wow, you are good. In that case, you better get cracking.” Lupton tapped the folders with a finger. “Your focus is on what the individuals can do for military preparedness.
Most, if not all of what you will need is here. Let me know of any other items you want. ”

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



Office of the Chief of Staff

Sallese motioned to the chairs in front of the desk, “Please be seated Mr. Weasley.” Kevin picked the one with the best view out the windows.
Olin said, “I talked with the President two days ago about his Cabinet and their individual futures in his administration. We had a good chat, and I left him with a copy of your report for reference.”
Olin gave a slight smile, “By the way, that was good work on your part. Anyway, Floyd gave me his decisions last night.
They will become public shortly, and I wanted to brief you on the reasons for the choices now, so that you and I would be working off the same sheet.”



Harry F. Byrd, President of the Confederate States of America



Confederate National Government, December 1935.




O = Previous Officer
X = New Leader

The Chief paused at this point, opened a folder on his desk and slid it over to Kevin. “Let’s start with the Secretary of State position.
First off, the President does not want any ‘redline characteristics’ in his cabinet and top offices from now on. That removes two people.
Of the three remaining candidates, two show blatant biases towards either the Far Left or those limey blighters sitting in London. That leaves only one real choice; Asa Carter.
True, he isn’t part of a majority party, but he will get the job done with a minimum of compromise.



O = Previous Officer
X = New Leader

Olin pointed to the second group of individuals. “Next is the Attorney General.
There is only one realistic alternative to Mr. McReynolds, and while James has done a good job of minimizing the effect of identified threats to Confederation security, President Byrd wants more emphasis on preventing spies in the first place.
Again, while Ross is a minority party member, he IS very good at this kind of work.”




O = Previous Officer
X = New Leader

Sallese looked up at Kevin and asked, “Questions?”
Kevin replied, “None at this point. I think I understand the reasoning for the choices.”
“Good. Now for the Treasury Secretary’s position.
This was a more interesting situation, inasmuch as Glass is doing a good job, and has a tendency to provide incentives that keep industries advancing our military technology in the financial black.
Having said that, the President is looking to the future of expanding the quantity of forces.
He believes that Mr. Roper will encourage fiscal policies that contribute significantly towards keeping our factories supplied with the resources they need to do that.”

At this point, the desk intercom buzzed. Lupton’s voice came over the speaker, “You have five minutes before the driver arrives, Mr. Sallese.”
Pressing a button on the box Olin replied, “Thank you. I will be done here before then. I won’t keep the Senator waiting.”



O = Previous Officer
X = New Leader

Turning back to face Kevin, Sallese continued, “Moving on to the next slot, who gets the opportunity to lead the fabled ‘Gray Ghosts’ of the Confederacy, our own domesticated band of spooks and spies?
I disagreed with Floyd on this one, but my points failed to carry. Frankly, Frank (no pun intended) is doing a bang up job, no cause for dissatisfaction there.
The issue as the President sees it though, is that there should be a more focused effort on determining where and in what quantity foreign military forces deploy. In that field, Mrs. Caraway really shines.”



O = Previous Officer
X = New Leader

Sallese glanced at his desk clock, and then continued, “Finally, there is the issue of the head of the Air Force.
Like most of the military, Generals Andrews and Emmons are both competent and dedicated to the nation. Neither the President nor I question their desires and goals for the future of our country.
The issue though is the means to accomplish that future. Andrews keeps pushing for the strategic blow, taking out the enemy’s means of production to wage war.
It is a great concept. However, the cost of developing and implementation such a vision is just too high. We have a limited budget, and a great many demands for those resources.
General Emmons is more suited to the President’s views on accomplishing the goal with the least expenditure.”

At that point, the door opened and Lupton stuck his head in. “Sorry to interrupt sir, but the driver is pulling up to the building now.”
“Quite right. Thank you Mr. Lupton.” said Sallese. “Well, time for me to go. Mr. Weasley, thank you also for your attention. Please do not hesitate to call with any questions about our talk.”

 

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The Grand Picture

Richmond, VA

Kevin eased himself into the room past other staffers and seated himself in one of the chairs arrayed in front of Mr. Sallese’s desk.
Sallese, who had been talking with Lupton, heard the office door closing, looked over the room’s occupants briefly, and then glanced at his desk clock.
He spoke a word or two more to Lupton, and then turned to the now seated group.

“Thank you for your promptness. I know that Christmas is next week, and that you all have a lot to do in preparation for the holidays.
I will try to not keep you long. I’ve asked you here so that every team member knows about the upcoming changes at the same time.

As a bit of background, in the past few weeks I have worked with President Byrd and select political leaders in a review of the Confederation and its place in the world scheme.
This is an ongoing process, but we came to a consensus that it is time for a shift in our political path.

Basically, in light of the continuing instability in the international scene, the President is embarking on a new course for this nation.
In essence, the Confederacy is moving into uncharted political waters, and easing our way there is the task each of you will help with.

For many years, the path of this nation was a quiet one. We were content to tend our own garden as long as others left us alone to do so. This is no longer so.
Too many outsiders are meddling in our affairs, and counting on our complacency to follow where they lead us.
President Byrd believes, and I concur with him, that this country will no longer be harnessed like a beast to serve the goals of other governments.
In the future, we will do the leading, and woe unto those desiring to divert us.”

Sallese looked around the group. “Well, that’s my motivational speech. What it means to each of you is a lot more work, at least for the near term.
Mr. Lupton has your individual assignments, let him know your questions and issues. Thank you.”
At that point, Lupton got up from his seat and began passing out folders to each staff member. Sitting at the back of the room, Kevin waited while other individuals received their folders and left.
Once Kevin got his manila file, he moved out into the hallway and up towards his office, glancing at the contents of the document as he navigated the path to his desk.

The label on the folder had a single word, ‘MILITARY’. Inside on a single sheet of paper were a few paragraphs written in Sallese’s crabbed hand. At the bottom of the sheet was a note.
“Identify both the current standings, and the projected situation for same at the end of this administration’s term.”



Kevin’s area in the Davis building

Excerpts from Kevin’s report:

Spoiler

.......

Potential Threats
Seven powers have credible means to carry out a sustained military attack on the Confederation.
In increasing order of capabilities, they are Mexico, France, Italy, Japan, Germany, England, and the U.S.A.
Of these, only Mexico and the United States have any current reason to engage in hostilities with us.
Mexico has an army of approximately six divisions, while the U.S.A. has about 25 divisions, roughly equal to the number of brigades in the Confederacy.
The remaining nationalities each have militaries equal to, or larger than that of our northern neighbor.

Putting it plainly, with the exception of Mexico, our nation is ripe for the picking by any one of the major world powers.
Currently we rely on diplomatic maneuvers to ensure our security from these threats.
That has served us adequately in the past, though since the Great War there have been significant changes in international relations.

The Entente Cordiale
Confederate America can no longer count in a crisis on the traditional support of Great Britain, or to a lesser extent that of France.
Those countries suffer from the lingering effects of a global business depression, along with growing social unrest in both their homelands and overseas colonies.

In addition, they are both struggling with outdated business practices and poorly maintained economic infrastructures.
This adds to their budgetary malaise while their domestic policies slowly drain both their collective will and ability to support international obligations.

Hidebound in their worldviews, these two nations attempt to divert their citizen’s thoughts from their own problems by criticizing Southern policies and actions, whether they are economic, domestic or foreign.


A European editorial on the cooling relations between former allies.

.........

The Northern Front
The United States continues in the midst of economic depression, drifting towards greater repressive state solutions for their social and economic woes.
There are periodic riots from dissatisfied voters along with frequent demonstrations for the federal government to solve their citizen’s lives for them.
In such an environment, nation states may look for foreign adventures to divert the attention of their populace from domestic troubles.
The prospect of returning the western counties of Virginia, the lands of Oklahoma, or even unifying Arizona within the Northern Union would have a potent positive effect on raising the popularity of the Yankee regime.


U.S. Editorial of the ‘New Deal’.

........

The Southern Border
There is little positive to note about the festering sore that is our southern neighbor.
Resistance to the occupation continues, diplomatic negotiations are at a standstill, with no end in sight to the partisan fighting thanks to covert support by the federal government in Mexico City.
A major Mexican propaganda effort is to demonize the Confederacy and convince many nations that Mexicans are victims of Southern oppression.
This program strives to eventually result in economic and other sanctions against the C.S.A. by Western countries.
In the occupied states, agitators continue efforts to get a Levantamiento General (general uprising) going.
To this end, they are encouraging (with praise, promises, and whatever) young men to carry out more rock throwing attacks on Southern troops.
This sort of thing sometimes escalates to firebombs and even gunfire.
At that point, Confederate forces fire back. In the last month, there have been several deaths and over a hundred injuries among the attackers, but so far, the local Agitprop has not been able to get a large-scale uprising going.
Until the PRI in Mexico itself is convinced that a true peace is the only solution, the unrest will more than likely continue.


Aftermath of a partisan attack in the Occupied States.

........

Present Condition of the Confederate Military
While adequately trained, the current size of the Army is lilliputian for its role in territorial defense, let alone engaging foes in overseas operations.
Every other world power has ground forces from two to three times the size of our present army.
Our navy, while generally smaller than the other majors, is of high quality and adequate for most missions, with the exception of dealing with the U.K. and U.S.A. fleets.
The air forces of our military share the same limitations in size that plague the other combat branches.


Confederate Force Summary, Jan 1936

Spoiler

Army Organization, Jan 1936

Spoiler

Confederation Fleet and Air Organization, Jan 1936.

---------

Remedies -

Spoiler

The recommendations of General Staff are that by the end of the current administration complete a seven-step program:
A. Increase the number of army corps from the current four to nine. In addition, increase the quality of the graduates from training schools.
With the disparity in numbers we face on the battlefield, the Confederation can ill afford lest than the best-qualified soldiers we can muster.
B. Revitalize the Border and Port Defense forces with an expansion from the one existing brigade to four reserve divisions.
C. Enlarge the fighter force from the existing single wing of 100 craft to 900.
D. Beef up the bomber component to nine hundred planes, one third of which customized for naval strikes, the remainder configured for tactical ground support missions.
E. For the strategic growth of our power, enlarge the navy, starting by adding an additional battleship and aircraft carrier strike group to the fleet before 1942.
F. Continue a program of research and development to maintain our war fighting equipment and skills at the forefront of technology.
Finally, begin a campaign of education and motivation for the public on the dangers facing the nation and the efforts needed to remedy those deficiencies.
Renew diplomatic efforts to counter negative views of our nation, while working to gain the trust and support of newly vigorous world powers in implementing our national will and goals.


One of the early revamps of our national personification. Public Information Poster, 1934



Projected major Army deployments for 1939.



Expected Garrison locations for 1939



Anticipated Fleet Compositions for early 1939

 

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Setting Up The Land Of The Rebels



Leadership

Spoiler

Based on our current population, education and draft levels, we can provide the following guidance for the upper crust of our society:

Leadership Allocations Guidance
A. Maximize Research - The predominant use of leadership will be in research. Research levels are reduced to support other areas for only limited periods.
B. Keep Military leader levels at 100%.
C. Maintain Spy levels for priority nations. After reaching the base values in each, maintain as needed.


Espionage


Starting Domestic Focus

Initial -
Buff domestic spy levels up to ten cells with two missions:
Counterspy
Pinch of effort to Raise National Unity (I like Green values)

Target Nations -
Max out the cells in each country, then create a six spy buffer (free spies).

Targets - Starting Spies
USA - 3
Mexico - 3
UK - 0

Missions -
USA - Counter espionage till they are down to three, then Tech espionage as needed.
Mexico - Counter down to two, then raise threat.
UK - Counter down to three, then Tech espionage.


Diplomacy

1. Align towards the Axis, keeps our options open.
2. Encourage trade with the nations thwarting England/France/USA.

Research

Spoiler

“Search no path before its time.” - Save reasearch points for mature technologies, as in not going after 1939 techs before that year becomes current.

Tech Field Priorities
1. Industry
2. Infantry
3. Armor/Arty/AAA
4. Air
5. Naval

Production

Spoiler

Notes:
1. The six existing Corps and Army HQ each receive an AAA brigade.
2. The three reserve garrison brigades, and one reserve artillery brigade form the first border division.
3. The three Zouave brigades, along with an Artillery brigade, form the initial Zouave division.
4. Orange means begin production as capacity becomes available.

 

[Pvtbob]

Always a fan of alt history CSA, keep it up

 

[Belgiumruler]

subbed!

 

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The Crowd Beyond the Footlights

Always a fan of alt history CSA, keep it up

Thank you for the attention.
Other than the Turtledove series, what writing has entertained you the most with a post 1865 CSA?

subbed!

Thanks! It usually helps me carry on when there is an audience.
Hostile or otherwise. :happy:


“If you really want to help the American theater, don't be an actress, dahling. Be an audience.”
Tallulah Bankhead

 

[Pvtbob]

mostly just Turtledove, but I've seen a few interesting AARs here

 

[Gormytorysh]

Subbed!

Really an interesting start and excellent entries afterwards. Great read and have to try that mod myself when I have TFH installed again .

 

[unmerged(236784)]

mostly just Turtledove, but I've seen a few interesting AARs here

I guess Turtledove is sort of the Tolken for alternate CSA history. One recent book I enjoyed for the immersion value is “Crossing the Line” by Peter Pauzé.

Subbed!

Really an interesting start and excellent entries afterwards. Great read and have to try that mod myself when I have TFH installed again .

Glad to hear that! I hope you have as much fun with it as I do.

 

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January 1936

Spoiler

This section is for any general information, stories, or mood setting comments.

A heads up for y’all that until stuff starts coming off the production lines and out of the research labs, entries will be sparse on game activities.
So I will use a bit of filler during the interim.
The following is a paraphrase from one section of a book by Glenn Cook, an author I really enjoy reading.
....


Second floor north conference room at the War Department.

Captain Bishop waited at the east entrance of the War Department for Kevin to finish signing in.
As they walked towards the meeting, Bishop engaged Kevin in small talk, mostly about the local sports team.

They entered a room where to Kevin’s surprise, nearly twenty individuals sat quietly around a table while Secretary of the Navy Bloch pointed out areas of interest on the documents arrayed on the table before him.
Kevin was impressed.
He was more impressed by the gathering. Several major local personalities, including a reporter from the Times-Dispatch, were there.
He saw Colonel Aimes, of course, and some senior representatives of the Army and a German attaché sitting in the audience.
Representatives of the British Empire were present as well, including several on the staff of Lord Bechem.

Bishop led him to a seat on the left side of the room.
Bloch talked about training and readiness as if he had spent his life as an instructor. He was a compelling speaker. He brought the subject to life.
He made it sound like a national disaster in the making, if things were not changed.
“In addition, it has become obvious that the Military has to train to be victorious without the traditional long period of mobilization that characterized the entry of the Confederate States into its previous wars.

The mobilization model has become invalid because it assumes that sufficient time will be available to raise, equip, and train a combat force while the Confederate States remained protected by its ocean barriers and neutral neighbors.
Under that model, a small standing army forms a nucleus for the construction of units from a pool of conscripts.
Training begins at the individual level and progresses through the company level; those units are then combined to form regiments, brigades, divisions, and corps, which conduct their own cycle of training.
When that process completes, units are tested for combat readiness and deployed to combat theaters.
The training program dictates the subjects to be taught and the number of hours a soldier will have for training.
It does not prescribe the meeting of any specific standards or levels of performance.
In short, training is adapted to mass mobilization whereby vast numbers of soldiers receive minimum levels of training.

The new strategic reality-that the Confederate States can not rely on superior weight of men and materiel, combined with the increased tempo and lethality of modern battle has convinced many of us in the military that the Confederate States is in a disadvantageous position.

There is a consensus within the Army, the executive branch, and Congress that potential aggressor nations possess technology equal, and in many cases superior, to that of the Confederate States, as well as forces outnumbering those of the Confederacy.
All these factors come together to convince many of us in the military that the perceived deficit might be substantially offset in a future conflict by better training.
The military needs a training system that is capable of maintaining acceptable levels of readiness at all times.

In conceiving this new training system, the program is heavily influenced by the evolution that has already taken place in our Air Corps training.
Profoundly dissatisfied with its air combat performance in the Great War and citing studies that show a high correlation between experience and survivability, our leaders concluded that the number of hours spent in training is not an adequate measure of performance.
Thus from training built around flying hours, the command has moved to a process that sets standards for what each squadron is supposed to be able to do and under what conditions.”

An hour later, after hearing more than he ever wanted to know about preparing forces for combat, the room broke for refreshments.
He started out eating alone. He did not want to attract attention by pushing into one of the circles of his social betters.
Captain Bishop approached and asked if he cared to join him and a few others at their table.
“All right.” Kevin gathered his food and drink.
“Need a hand? Looks like you took some of everything, then went back for more.”
“I got while the getting was good. You’d understand if you ate where I usually do.”

Spoiler

● 06 January - Began ‘Raise Threat’ mission in Mexico.


● Throughout the month experimented with keeping a dribble of Diplomatic points (0.42/day) flowing towards trade deals, it brought in a nice chunk of change.
● 05 January - Thanks to trade deals with a couple of newly aggressive countries, the Confederation gained the cash to finance ‘reform’ laws that enable Specialist training for military forces.
This is the basis for the little tale in “My Fellow Confederates”.

Spoiler

● 16 January - The Germans get busy.

Film clip of the Rhineland occupation


● Death of King George V
[video=youtube;4ASSc8fTLbs]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ASSc8fTLbs[/video]


● 31 January - The war in Africa goes on:

Italian Advances from 1-31 January 36.

Video from the African conflict.

Spoiler

Sit back and relax while viewing how Southern citizens spent their time in January, 1936.



● Added a port in Charleston, S.C. to the Build list.
Having a naval base within quick steaming range of the Yankee border, but outside the strike range of Union land based air forces is probably a good idea.


Dredging operations and pier construction

● The sooner our public realizes the international threat posed by British Imperial constraints to our own expression of ‘Manifest Destiny’, the better.



Beware the Limey Empire!


Hostages leading train in British Palestine.




● A clip of one of the top tunes of 1936:
[video=youtube;-TKb7JrhJpk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=-TKb7JrhJpk[/video]

 

[CSABadass]

Well done, sir!

 

[Acesandeights]

Been meaning to do a Deo Vindice AAR, as the last one someone attempted never made it to completion. Glad to see one is in the offing. Definitely subbing.

Good luck!

 

[unmerged(236784)]

Well done, sir!

You are welcome. You are the one who made it possible.

Been meaning to do a Deo Vindice AAR, as the last one someone attempted never made it to completion. Glad to see one is in the offing. Definitely subbing.

Good luck!

Thanks!
Please don’t let my efforts delay your own story.
As we can see from the number of excellent AAR’s all playing the same country, there is more than one way to write up a universe. :happy:

 

[unmerged(236784)]

February, 1936


A very quiet month, the bulk of the report is in the Confederate Life section. A goodly portion of trivia and slices of Southern life to entertain and edjimicate you.

The following is a paraphrase of a section from a delightful book, Autumn Bends the Rebel Tree by Carolyn Guy.

--------

“You still plan on being out for ten days?” asked Lupton.
Kevin answered, “Yep. First an official visit to First Army in Knoxville for a training review, then the return train has a stop fairly close to my hometown in North Carolina.
I’ll visit with the family, and spend some quality time away from Richmond back in the real Confederacy, not among all these ‘gubment city slickers’ lounging around at taxpayer expense.”
He smiled as he said the last.

...

Clarinda stole a quick glance and her heart did a dipsy-doodle. Without a doubt, he was a striking fellow. His brown hair tumbled across his forehead.
What beautiful eyes, she thought. She’d seen violets that deeper color of blue. They grew around mossy water-splashed stones. He caught her eye and gave her a most fetching grin.
Blushing, she turned her face away and watched him on the sly. He caught her staring and winked. Pshaw... what a flirt! She hurried up the path.
Five minutes later, Alexander fell in step with her stride. They walked in silence for several minutes. “Well, ain’t ye gonna tell me who that feller was?”
“That was Kevin Weasley. His uncle bought the old Calvin Gunther farm. Weasley’s visitin a spell and came by to help his uncle settle in. Anyway, Kevin is comin to our house Friday night.
We’re goin huntin.”

Clarinda stumbled.
Alexander gave her a stern look. “I saw him a-rollin his eyes at ye. He better not git any notions ‘bout comin to see you. Mother will put him around the bend.”
But who could scold a fellow who brought wildflower bouquets and quart jars of sourwood honey?

Next Sunday afternoon he showed up with a banjo. Bowing, he brought forth a bouquet of posies. Clarinda plucked one from the arrangement and tucked it in his lapel.
“Hey, the flowers are for you.”
Clarinda giggled as she accepted the bouquet and seated herself on the porch steps. She eyed the instrument he carried. “Are ye gonna play me a purty song?”
“I sure hope to.” He seated himself on the steps beside her. “How ‘bout this?”
With that, he launched into a spirited, if slightly off key rendition of “Yellow Rose.”
She sat quietly as he played, though for the life of her, Clarinda couldn’t keep her feet still. She watched his fingers dance up and down the neck of that banjo.
“I ain’t heerd that song in a long spell.” she said, tapping her feet to the rhythm.
“Well, did you like it?”
She nodded that she did.
He laid the instrument in her lap. “Now, let’s hear you play.”
“No... no... I cain’t play a lick a-nothin.” She tried to push it away, but he snuggled close.
“There nothing to it. I’ll show you how.” He took her left hand and moved it to the neck of the instrument.
After placing each of her fingers on a different string he said, “Pluck the top string with your right thumb and brush your fingers down across the strings.”

Spoiler

26 Feb Coup Attempt in Japan.

● 03 Feb - Rhineland Occupation by Germany

● 28 February - The war in Africa goes on:

Italian Progress.

Spoiler

● The Phantom comic strip launches:


● Advertisement
[video=youtube;5bcdt34ZNgM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=5bcdt34ZNgM#t=1s[/video]
Premiered this month, one of the top movies of the year.

● The Green Hornet, a radio adventure began in Feburary:
[video=youtube;Eb23hUZ9EDo]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Eb23hUZ9EDo#t=1s[/video]

Some links to other views of 1936 in the South:
● Party Time in Louisiana

● Vacationing Public arrives in West Palm Beach

● Removing ‘undesirables’ from Oklahoma

A popular ditty from 1936:
[video=youtube;V5pEqOLZeac]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=V5pEqOLZeac#t=1s[/video]

 

[unmerged(236784)]

March, 1936



● This month a spy hits pay dirt, Kevin goes to a party (sort of) and unrest picks up down south of the border.

● An adaption from a scene in an enjoyable book by Diana Rowland, Even White Trash Zombies Get the Blues.

----------

Exiting the highway into a residential area, Avery made a turn into a side street and had to stop the car at a guard gate to show his ID.
A short ways past the gate I looked through the passenger window at the type of houses in here. Nothing less than two stories, and all big enough for my dinky apartment to fit into them four times over.
Pristine yards, expensive cars, and the occasional passerby wearing outfits that cost more than my auto. I knew that Pietro Ivanov was, as Avery put it, “filthy stinking rich,” but I was only now beginning to realize what that meant.
After a few turns we pulled up to a — well, “mansion” was really the only word that worked. Pale grey brick, three stories, columns in the front, exquisite landscaping including trees near the front door that were shaped into spirals.
The circular driveway was packed with sedans, and the street had at least a dozen more lined up along it. I gave Avery a look. “I thought I was just meeting your uncle and a couple of others?”
He winced. “Sorry Kevin, I guess my uncle invited some more people over.”
We entered the back door of the house and passed into a kitchen so large that I wondered if whoever cooked ever got tired simply walking from one end of the room to the other.
I managed not to gawk too much. Everything was oak and marble. Everything. I couldn’t even figure out where the icebox was. Avery turned to me.
“Would you mind waiting here for a minute while I hunt down my uncle?”
I barely had time to breathe before a tall blond woman in a black dress and burgundy jacket entered the kitchen.
“Did a redhead in a black sweater come through here?” she asked me, her forehead puckering into a worried frown.
“Sorry, I just got here.” I said. “I haven’t seen anyone else around.” She heaved a sigh and leaned against the counter.
“Maybe she is already drunk enough that she’ll forget to chew me out tomorrow.” I must have looked baffled because she straightened and shrugged.
“Sorry. That’s my boss, Dr. Charish. She’s been on my ass wanting me to explain my requisitions in painful detail, which slows down my actual work, which means she then gets on my ass about not getting my report in on time.” I recognized her now. Lupton had been talking at the lab to this chick.
“Oh, okay.” I said, “Is that report the one on chemical attacks in Ethiopia?”
It was the woman’s turn to look uncertain. “I’m sorry, what gave you that idea, and do I know you?”
I smiled and stuck out my hand. “Sorta. I’m Kevin Weasley. I was with Avery Lupton last week when he talked with you at the lab.
You were discussing it with him during a meeting break.”
She took a closer look at me, then smiled and took my hand. “Ah, I remember now. The quiet one in the background. I’m Sofia. Pleased to meet you. Again.”
I released her hand and asked, “So how bad were the Italians?”
She got a thoughtful look for a moment before speaking. “In total, they deployed between 300 and 500 tons of mustard gas during the war, despite having signed the 1925 Geneva Protocol.
The deployment of gas was not restricted to the battlefield, however, as the Italians also targeted civilians, as part of their attempt to terrorize the local population. Furthermore, the Italians carried out gas attacks on Red Cross camps and ambulances.”
“It was bad,” She continued, “150,000 chemical casualties reported, mostly from mustard gas. Keep in mind that this was on unprotected individuals, with no means of retaliating in kind on the Italians.”
Avery came back then. “I see you’ve met Sofia,” he said, then gave her a kiss on the cheek.
“You’re looking as sharp as ever,” he told her, then continued with, “Well, I hate to interrupt, but I need to steal Kevin away from you for a meeting with Uncle Pietro.”
Sofia’s eyes crinkled in what looked like amusement, and then she gave me a polite smile and turned away. Marcus headed toward the stairs. He glanced over at me as we climbed. “You all right?”

------


Lab building at the University of Virginia Research Institute.

Spoiler

New Technologies and Doctrines Implemented:

● 26 March


So nice of the Empire to add a bit of their distinctiveness to our service.



● The newly completed Boulder Dam steals 88% of the river flow from the Colorado River for use by the Yankees, leaving the Confederacy with a paltry 12 percent of the original water volume for our people.


● A link to Italian annexation of Ethiopia on 28 March.


● 29 March - Navojoa Incident

Arrested protestors awaiting transportation from site.

A Confederate Department of State representative rejected a one sided announcement published by the spokesman for French Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Georgieva regarding the events in the occupied states.
On Saturday, the two French officials deplored ''the confiscation of humanitarian assistance carried out by Southern security forces in Navojoa'' and said they contacted the Confederate authorities to demand an explanation and expressed their concern at the incident.
The French statement was issued after an altercation that took place between activists, French diplomats and Confederation police on Friday.
The incident occurred following an illegal attempt by Mexican and foreign activists, including French diplomats, to erect tents.
Confederate police responded to the site with the intent to implement a standing Supreme Court decision stating that all Mexican construction at the site of the incident was illegal.
‘’The French announcement ignores the European diplomats' blunt violation of the law, their disregard to a ruling of the Confederacy court and their unnecessary provocation under the alleged pretext of humanitarian aid, ‘’ the Confederate representative said.

Spoiler

● Langley VA gets new wind tunnel.
This tunnel was a landmark in wind tunnel design when it completed this month.
It was the first continuous-flow high-speed tunnel.
This meant it could operate almost indefinitely to produce a high-speed airstream approaching the speed of sound.
And it was large enough to accommodate large scale models, and even actual aircraft sections.
Eight-Foot High-Speed Tunnel Facts and Figures:
Initial Cost: C$36,266,000
Circuit and Pressure: Single return, atmospheric
Test Section: 8' diameter, closed throat
Drive System: Fan; 8000-HP electric motor
Maximum Speed: 575 MPH (Mach 0.75)


● Discussing speed, Langley isn’t the only place in the Confederation where fast is the operative word:


● For your listening pleasure:
[video=youtube;t7cWw4jHC1I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=t7cWw4jHC1I[/video]


● First run in theaters this month.
[video=youtube;Ekwbgtp1_Vg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=Ekwbgtp1_Vg[/video]



● The initial print run started this month. A bestseller and nice read when relaxing. Who knows, it might make a good flick someday if neither Wilmington nor Hollywood ruin it.


● Video of Harpers Ferry Flood Damage
A question inspired by the film clip. Would tickertape be the 1930’s version of Twitter?

 

[unmerged(236784)]

April, 1936



● Good News! Next month a bunch of stuff starts showing up from the factories!

-----



Upon arriving in Dallas, Kevin Weasley took a cab from the station to the Adolphus. At the hotel, Kevin asked for a room with an attached bath.
Then he stepped over to the concierge’s desk to see if there were any messages.
There was one waiting. Unexpected. He opened it and read.

To: Kevin Weasley
From: Olin Sallese
Subject:
Tornado struck Gainsville, GA.
State military forces providing assistance.
Evaluate their response before returning to Richmond.

“Fudge.” Kevin muttered. He looked up at the clock.
“My apologies, but I will not be staying tonight, and want to take the next rail out of here to Atlanta. When is that?”
The concierge thought for a moment then said, “There is one that leaves at nine tonight.”
“Can you get me a sleeper on it?”
“I believe so. First-class or second?”
“First.”
“Very good, sir. I will get you a ticket to Atlanta and reserve a sleeper for you. Where should I contact you?”
“I will be over at the desk making some calls, then in the dining room.”
“Thank you sir, enjoy your meal.” With that, the concierge picked up a phone and began calling.
Kevin headed over to the front desk to cancel his room request, and get a call into Richmond.





New Units Mustered:
None this month.

New Technologies and Doctrines Implemented:

● And the Yankees join the ‘Donate your Knowledge to the South’ club.





● 15 April - Arab revolt begins in Palestine

The uprising began with an attack on 15 April 1936 on a convoy of trucks during which the assailants shot two Jewish drivers.
The next day Jewish gunmen shot and killed two Arab workers sleeping in a hut in a revenge attack, and the funeral in Tel Aviv on 17 April became a turbulent nationalist event.
Between 19 and 22 April disturbances in Jaffa and Tel Aviv left 16 Jews and 5 Arabs dead. An Arab general strike and revolt ensued that lasted until October 1936.

● ‘Iron Bootstrap’ speech - In the first public display of improving relations with the German nation, the Confederate ambassador in Berlin spoke at a trade conference.
“What Adolf Hitler accomplished with Germany in less than three years is applauded wildly and ecstatically by most Germans.
He lifted the nation from post-War defeatism. Under the swastika Germany was unified. His is no ordinary dictatorship, but rather one of great energy and magnificent planning.
The "socialist" part of National Socialism might be scoffed at by hard-&-fast Marxists, but the Nazi movement nevertheless has a mass basis.
The 1,500 miles of magnificent highways built, cheap cars and simple workers' benefits, plans for rebuilding German cities make Germans burst with pride.
Germans might eat many substitute foods or wear ersatz clothes but they do eat.”
EDIT: Hard as it is to believe from hindsight, the above was a paraphrase from a British politician of the period.

Spoiler

● Tragedy in the South:
6 April - Gainsville, Georgia Tornado.



● Video link demonstrating that work in the Confederacy continues to boom:


● A popular melody of 1936:
[video=youtube;8hTLZz2hUOA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=8hTLZz2hUOA[/video]

 

[unmerged(236784)]

May, 1936



● Finally. The first forces arrive.
Took long enough. Looking up cultural topics is ok, but I enjoy getting new war toys better.

● Since I am purchasing my supply needs from overseas, I can use the freed up IC for other construction desires.

● The research queue is borked due to my committing leadership to bringing the officer corps back up to 100%. Once that is done, I can return the brain trust to learning new stuff that enhances the military.




● England’s Baldwin administration sharpened its criticism of the Confederate military and occupation government’s arrests of supporters of ousted Sonoro Governor Elías Calles,
saying the continuing detentions are inconsistent with pledges of inclusivity made by authorities and may affect future British trade agreements with the Southern nation.



● Sada Abe asphyxiated her lover on May 18, 1936, then cut off his penis and testicles and carried them around in her handbag.
Thus, she predated Lorena Bobbitt in notoriety by over half a century.



● In his momentous paper "On Computable Numbers” Alan Turing reformulated Kurt Gödel's 1931 results on the limits of proof and computation, replacing Gödel's universal
arithmetic-based formal language with the formal and simple hypothetical devices that became known as Turing machines.
He proved that some such machine would be capable of performing any conceivable mathematical computation if it were representable as an algorithm.

Spoiler

New Technologies and Doctrines Implemented:



New Units Mustering In:
13 AAA brigades - One to each corps, army, and supreme level HQ.
9 AT brigades - One to each corps HQ.
1 Artillery Brigade - To the garrison division in the Occupied States.

National Stats and Production Queue:


Active Research:

Sit back and relax while viewing how Southern citizens spent their time in May, 1936.

● A video link to a certain derby in Kentucky:

● A popular tune to tickle your ears:
[video=youtube;GaQX9YuFaj0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GaQX9YuFaj0[/video]

 

[Surt]

So the Reb are poised to take over the world.