Desperate times call for desperate measures. (@stnylan )
Once the the three army corps were in place and reorganized for an offensive France declared war on the Fascist Portugal caused by "unexpected" unveiling of a secret pact with Nazi Germany and Spain to attack France behind the back. The real motive might have been the very recent German-Portuguese contract to export high quantities of Tungsten absolutely necessary for the antitank weapons' and armours' producing German industry. 13 March was the date the offensive started, and when Portugal joined Axis. Things were going well for our forces. In two weeks and a few days Portugal was under French control, but the country refused to capitulate. That took everyone in France by surprise.
The General Headquarters debated what the best course of action would be. It was assessed that the German frontline was stable and no suspicious movements behind the enemy lines around the Maginot Line happened. Germany didn't declare war on Norway either, which proves once again how unreliable secret services usually are! What really unnerved the French generals was those pesky Portuguese invading unabating French territories in West Africa! They had to be punished exemplary. The second infantry corps (five divisions) was hurriedly assembled and sent by ship to West Africa, later, it would be Transported to South-East Asia to overtake the Portuguese colony before somebody else like the Japanese, or even worse, the Brits do it.
The thinking behind this decision was more complex. Portugal had 3 or four divisions (not all visible on the map) advancing on French possessions, while England only supported South Africa to annex Portuguese overseas territories (3rd Map). Should Italy join the party, France had no armed forces on the continent (they have been withdrawn early 1936 for reorganization), and a joined Italian Portuguese operation with only British opposition would have been dangerous for French Africa.
NOTE: I did see in past games that Italy sometimes wins the war in North Africa (and beyond) and the Middle East.
The second Infantry Corps was designated as the French elite army for overseas operations, be it in Africa, Middle East or South-East Asia.
Map 1 Portuguese conquests in West Africa
Map 2 Five divisions to protect the French colonies in Africa and beyond
Map 3 South Africa advancing in Portuguese colonies
Shortly before this action happened, the first infantry corps that did the heavy lifting in the Iberian wars, was gathered in the former Portuguese capital and transported by sea to Caen to man the Belgian borders, which have been left dangerously exposed for three months. The idea was for these forces to join the Maginot Line if Germany tried something serious. The only French (half) Armoured Corps was sent by train instead, in order not to delay the overseas operations.
Then, the unthinkable happened. On the 19 April 1940 Nazi Germany DOWed Luxembourg, and on the 20 April 1940 they declared war on Belgium as well.
Once the the three army corps were in place and reorganized for an offensive France declared war on the Fascist Portugal caused by "unexpected" unveiling of a secret pact with Nazi Germany and Spain to attack France behind the back. The real motive might have been the very recent German-Portuguese contract to export high quantities of Tungsten absolutely necessary for the antitank weapons' and armours' producing German industry. 13 March was the date the offensive started, and when Portugal joined Axis. Things were going well for our forces. In two weeks and a few days Portugal was under French control, but the country refused to capitulate. That took everyone in France by surprise.
The General Headquarters debated what the best course of action would be. It was assessed that the German frontline was stable and no suspicious movements behind the enemy lines around the Maginot Line happened. Germany didn't declare war on Norway either, which proves once again how unreliable secret services usually are! What really unnerved the French generals was those pesky Portuguese invading unabating French territories in West Africa! They had to be punished exemplary. The second infantry corps (five divisions) was hurriedly assembled and sent by ship to West Africa, later, it would be Transported to South-East Asia to overtake the Portuguese colony before somebody else like the Japanese, or even worse, the Brits do it.
The thinking behind this decision was more complex. Portugal had 3 or four divisions (not all visible on the map) advancing on French possessions, while England only supported South Africa to annex Portuguese overseas territories (3rd Map). Should Italy join the party, France had no armed forces on the continent (they have been withdrawn early 1936 for reorganization), and a joined Italian Portuguese operation with only British opposition would have been dangerous for French Africa.
NOTE: I did see in past games that Italy sometimes wins the war in North Africa (and beyond) and the Middle East.
The second Infantry Corps was designated as the French elite army for overseas operations, be it in Africa, Middle East or South-East Asia.
Map 1 Portuguese conquests in West Africa
Map 2 Five divisions to protect the French colonies in Africa and beyond
Map 3 South Africa advancing in Portuguese colonies
Shortly before this action happened, the first infantry corps that did the heavy lifting in the Iberian wars, was gathered in the former Portuguese capital and transported by sea to Caen to man the Belgian borders, which have been left dangerously exposed for three months. The idea was for these forces to join the Maginot Line if Germany tried something serious. The only French (half) Armoured Corps was sent by train instead, in order not to delay the overseas operations.
Then, the unthinkable happened. On the 19 April 1940 Nazi Germany DOWed Luxembourg, and on the 20 April 1940 they declared war on Belgium as well.
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