I decided to start this AAR after I had started the game so I will try to catch everyone up as best as possible. Also some of this is guess work as I dont remember the exact time frames of battles and original model of units. This is my first HOI3 game and is set on Easy. I also decided to try out letting the AI taking control so I told the Western Theater to defend against the French and the Eastern Theater to Blitzkrieg Warsaw. After Poland I created the 9th and 10th Armored Corps not attached to the Western Theater as well as the 2nd Motorized Infantry Division, and much later the 1st and 2nd Heavy Armored Divisions. Ironically there is a 2nd and 3rd Motorized Infantry Division but no 1st. I am assuming when I was messing with my production que I accidently deleted it b/c I meant to have 3. I found Guderian, Rommel and von Manstein in command of infantry divisions at the start of the invasion of France and changed them when available. Ironically Rommel was the only member of those 3 I attached to the AI controlled Western Theater. The other thing I found hysterical was I had meant to have a few Infantry divisions with AA brigades. However, the next day I wanted to build a LOT of divisions at once so I spammed them. So now I have around 10-15 infantry divisions with 3 infantry brigades and 1 AA brigade. Portugal and later Hungary would be the first to join the Axis besides Italy. Later during the war I would get Yugoslavia and Persia. The Kriegsmarine suffers during my game.
The Spanish civil war came as no surprise to those monitoring the situation in that troubled country. Thousands of volunteers poured into the Spanish countryside to support their cause, especially the Republican side. The Soviet Union and the 3rd Reich poured resources, men and machines into the conflict. Despite the infusion of technology and troops from the 3rd Reich, the world was shocked when the Republican faction won the civil war in Spain. The Condor Legion came home bloodied and brought back valuable information and experience. Adolf Hitler vowed to make Communist supported Republican Spain pay.
By 1939, Hitler thought Germany was ready. The Navy had been reorganized into the Baltic Fleet, with its venerable World War I ships, the Atlantic and North Sea Fleets, which were identical in makeup. Two Escort Carriers were the flagships of the fleet supported by two Heavy Cruisers, three Light Cruisers, one Destroyer flotilla and one flotilla of level 4 submarines. Poland was invaded with some 75 Infantry Divisions and 8 panzer divisions, several of which were light tanks, 6 or 9 interceptor squadrons, 3 Strategic and 10 Tactical Bomber Squadrons escorted by a squadron of multi-role fighters.
The infantry divisions on the western theater held off the divisions of the French and Belgians. The Dutch never joined the Allies and since the way was open through Belgium Hitler decided to ignore the Dutch. The experienced forces from the war in Poland were sheppered to the west. Rommel was transferred from command of the 63rd Infantry Division to command of the 9th Panzer Division during the middle of the invasion of France. The 9th was composed of 3 obsolete 1918 tanks and a modern motorized infantry brigade and put right in the thick of the fighting to plug a gap and singularly defended against 3 French divisions and counterattacked. Also the 9th and 10th Army (Armor) Corps swung down from northern coast of France to attack the rear of the French forces holding the bulk of German forces at bay and actually succeeding near the Maginot Line. The Battle of Paris lasted several days with the 9th and 10th Army Corps and the 2nd Motorized spearheading the attack and France fell within two months.
Near the close of the invasion of France Guderian was put in command of the 1st Heavy Tank Division. Germany called upon Italy to assist in the war against the Allies a few days after the Battle Of Paris but by that time France surrendered. Slovakian divisions proved themselves time and time again during the invasion of all three nations even assisting in the defeat of invading British divisions. It was after this that Britain began using strategic bombers to hit northern France and Germany's interceptors rushed to intercept them time and time again.
Wanting a land bridge to Axis Portugal, Republican Spain was invaded. During the invasion of Spain the Kriegsmarine suffered its worse defeat. The Atlantic fleet escaped with only its CVLs. Rommel's 9th was upgraded to Panzer IVs. Spain fell within roughly two months, becoming a puppet of the 3rd Reich 0400 November 14th, 1940. The 9th and 10th Army Corps and 2nd Motorized headed south to assist in the assault on Gibraltar but a single Infantry Division easily destroyed the single militia division protecting it.
In a meeting of the General Staff, Hitler looked down at the giant map of France and Spain layed on the table before him. The might of the 3rd Reich was displayed before him and the positions were updated by younger men as word came in. His fists planted on the table he looked the general's and Admiral Raeder in the eye. Raeder had taken it upon himself to command the Atlantic Fleet, but being as there was practically no Atlantic Fleet he had returned to Berlin while the Heavy Cruiser Blucher finished maneuvers.
"The English are harrassing us at every turn. They are frustrating the efforts of the Kreigsmarine." He waved a hand at Raeder. "The only thing holding them at bay is the escort carriers you suggested! Their Bombers have the 3rd Wolfpack pinned and are bombing France! Goering," He said shaking a finger at the man, "you told me you could take care of that!" Hitler shook his head and looked down at the map, his dark eyes staring intently at the island that was Britain. "The only recourse is to put an end to the British! Begin making preperations for the invasion. Make sure our best Generals are on those first ships! I want our forces landed before the end of the year!!!!" He stabbed a finger at Plymouth with great vehemence. "We will strike there and secure the port. I want Guderian, von Manstein, Rommel and the 1st ArmeeKorps spearheading that assault!!" He pointed at the two territories to the west of Plymouth. "Reinforcements will go there and our troops will sweep west to London!" He paused as almost in afterthought and looked at them again. "Rommel will be in over all command of the invasion."
Immediately following the introduction of Spain into the Axis the 1st ArmeeKorps was sent north to be loaded onto the transports there, as well as the 2nd Motorized Infantry Division, Rommel's 9th Division, Guderian and von Manstein's Tiger Divisions and the 9th and 10th Army Corps. They are remade into the Seelowe Korps. The 4th Interceptor, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Tactical Bomber Wings were moved to the west of France in preparation to support to the invasion. The Atlantic and North Sea Fleets swung around the north of England to the Channel to clear the way for the transports and on the 23rd of December at 1500 hours the invasion was launched. I total of 15 divisions was planned to land in England.
The Spanish civil war came as no surprise to those monitoring the situation in that troubled country. Thousands of volunteers poured into the Spanish countryside to support their cause, especially the Republican side. The Soviet Union and the 3rd Reich poured resources, men and machines into the conflict. Despite the infusion of technology and troops from the 3rd Reich, the world was shocked when the Republican faction won the civil war in Spain. The Condor Legion came home bloodied and brought back valuable information and experience. Adolf Hitler vowed to make Communist supported Republican Spain pay.
By 1939, Hitler thought Germany was ready. The Navy had been reorganized into the Baltic Fleet, with its venerable World War I ships, the Atlantic and North Sea Fleets, which were identical in makeup. Two Escort Carriers were the flagships of the fleet supported by two Heavy Cruisers, three Light Cruisers, one Destroyer flotilla and one flotilla of level 4 submarines. Poland was invaded with some 75 Infantry Divisions and 8 panzer divisions, several of which were light tanks, 6 or 9 interceptor squadrons, 3 Strategic and 10 Tactical Bomber Squadrons escorted by a squadron of multi-role fighters.
The infantry divisions on the western theater held off the divisions of the French and Belgians. The Dutch never joined the Allies and since the way was open through Belgium Hitler decided to ignore the Dutch. The experienced forces from the war in Poland were sheppered to the west. Rommel was transferred from command of the 63rd Infantry Division to command of the 9th Panzer Division during the middle of the invasion of France. The 9th was composed of 3 obsolete 1918 tanks and a modern motorized infantry brigade and put right in the thick of the fighting to plug a gap and singularly defended against 3 French divisions and counterattacked. Also the 9th and 10th Army (Armor) Corps swung down from northern coast of France to attack the rear of the French forces holding the bulk of German forces at bay and actually succeeding near the Maginot Line. The Battle of Paris lasted several days with the 9th and 10th Army Corps and the 2nd Motorized spearheading the attack and France fell within two months.
Near the close of the invasion of France Guderian was put in command of the 1st Heavy Tank Division. Germany called upon Italy to assist in the war against the Allies a few days after the Battle Of Paris but by that time France surrendered. Slovakian divisions proved themselves time and time again during the invasion of all three nations even assisting in the defeat of invading British divisions. It was after this that Britain began using strategic bombers to hit northern France and Germany's interceptors rushed to intercept them time and time again.
Wanting a land bridge to Axis Portugal, Republican Spain was invaded. During the invasion of Spain the Kriegsmarine suffered its worse defeat. The Atlantic fleet escaped with only its CVLs. Rommel's 9th was upgraded to Panzer IVs. Spain fell within roughly two months, becoming a puppet of the 3rd Reich 0400 November 14th, 1940. The 9th and 10th Army Corps and 2nd Motorized headed south to assist in the assault on Gibraltar but a single Infantry Division easily destroyed the single militia division protecting it.
In a meeting of the General Staff, Hitler looked down at the giant map of France and Spain layed on the table before him. The might of the 3rd Reich was displayed before him and the positions were updated by younger men as word came in. His fists planted on the table he looked the general's and Admiral Raeder in the eye. Raeder had taken it upon himself to command the Atlantic Fleet, but being as there was practically no Atlantic Fleet he had returned to Berlin while the Heavy Cruiser Blucher finished maneuvers.
"The English are harrassing us at every turn. They are frustrating the efforts of the Kreigsmarine." He waved a hand at Raeder. "The only thing holding them at bay is the escort carriers you suggested! Their Bombers have the 3rd Wolfpack pinned and are bombing France! Goering," He said shaking a finger at the man, "you told me you could take care of that!" Hitler shook his head and looked down at the map, his dark eyes staring intently at the island that was Britain. "The only recourse is to put an end to the British! Begin making preperations for the invasion. Make sure our best Generals are on those first ships! I want our forces landed before the end of the year!!!!" He stabbed a finger at Plymouth with great vehemence. "We will strike there and secure the port. I want Guderian, von Manstein, Rommel and the 1st ArmeeKorps spearheading that assault!!" He pointed at the two territories to the west of Plymouth. "Reinforcements will go there and our troops will sweep west to London!" He paused as almost in afterthought and looked at them again. "Rommel will be in over all command of the invasion."
Immediately following the introduction of Spain into the Axis the 1st ArmeeKorps was sent north to be loaded onto the transports there, as well as the 2nd Motorized Infantry Division, Rommel's 9th Division, Guderian and von Manstein's Tiger Divisions and the 9th and 10th Army Corps. They are remade into the Seelowe Korps. The 4th Interceptor, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Tactical Bomber Wings were moved to the west of France in preparation to support to the invasion. The Atlantic and North Sea Fleets swung around the north of England to the Channel to clear the way for the transports and on the 23rd of December at 1500 hours the invasion was launched. I total of 15 divisions was planned to land in England.
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