Poles Apart – an HOI4 Ahistory

[Bullfilter]

Is it unhinged if its predictable?

Yes, I reckon so. Insane is still insane, no matter its frequency. A question of quality rather than quantity? And I’m not experienced enough in hoi4 to be able to predict it.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Yes, I reckon so. Insane is still insane, no matter its frequency. A question of quality rather than quantity? And I’m not experienced enough in hoi4 to be able to predict it.

Well, it's happened in all my games without much pressing from me, or none at all. So Tomorrow world has at least a reason for the apparent pathological hatred between the british and amercian AI.

You are fortunate however. If this were one of my games, this would have all been a ploy of either the british or Soviet AI to take over the world whilst Everyone is distracted.

Mind you, that still may end up happening.

 

[Bullfilter]

Well, it's happened in all my games without much pressing from me, or none at all. So Tomorrow world has at least a reason for the apparent pathological hatred between the british and amercian AI.

You are fortunate however. If this were one of my games, this would have all been a ploy of either the british or Soviet AI to take over the world whilst Everyone is distracted.

Mind you, that still may end up happening.

Yeah, in this one it is more a resumption of the random self-destruction of the earlier game, and I welcome it! As @Idhrendur says, it makes it more interesting!

 

[Bibliophile]

My deepest sympathies to all this timeline’s future historians for all the migraines trying to sort out the insanity of this World War will cause. I can imagine some professor of history tearing his hair out at the completely inexplicable decision, by those in power in the US at this time, to basically go to war with half the world to overthrow the communists in France instead of helping to dislodge the Chinese communists. They didn’t have any need to go to war, and yet they not only did; but they chose perhaps the worst target they could have picked.

All that, combined with some of the crazy things that happened earlier in this AAR, is probably enough to ensure that World War 2 scholars of this timeline’s future will spend years trying to unravel the mystery of why it kept escalating.

 

[Midnite Duke]

In CK terms, Wilkie has the trait Lunatic. Is his goal to annex Canada by declaring war on France? If the Americans win and forces a regime change, who get replaced Churchill (faction leader) or French. Thanks

 

[jak7139]

Mexico wisely decides to stay neutral, for now. At least if the Allies can hold there and in Canada, they'll have two spots to invade the US from. Having them control all of North America will be much harder to naval invade.

 

[Bullfilter]

More comment feedback, the next chapter follows shortly:

My deepest sympathies to all this timeline’s future historians for all the migraines trying to sort out the insanity of this World War will cause. I can imagine some professor of history tearing his hair out at the completely inexplicable decision, by those in power in the US at this time, to basically go to war with half the world to overthrow the communists in France instead of helping to dislodge the Chinese communists. They didn’t have any need to go to war, and yet they not only did; but they chose perhaps the worst target they could have picked.

I know, it really is a world gone mad again. We now need Trotsky to attack the eastern Communists, perhaps for being "bureaucratic centralists" or influenced by nationalist imperialism against the true dictatorship of the proletariat? (What Stalin might have called right-deviationsists, but Trotsky would I'm sure not want to use that term).

All that, combined with some of the crazy things that happened earlier in this AAR, is probably enough to ensure that World War 2 scholars of this timeline’s future will spend years trying to unravel the mystery of why it kept escalating.

Though it would no doubt provide fertile ground for warring schools of thought - bliss for the argumentative scholars: "Is this the right room for an argument? Yes? Oh good."

In CK terms, Wilkie has the trait Lunatic. Is his goal to annex Canada by declaring war on France? If the Americans win and forces a regime change, who get replaced Churchill (faction leader) or French. Thanks

Yep! You will get a slight additional insight into his objectives in the next chapter - and it will not alter your view! . I think the Germans would probably be next in line (last time I looked they were at about 81% factional leadership power).

Mexico wisely decides to stay neutral, for now. At least if the Allies can hold there and in Canada, they'll have two spots to invade the US from. Having them control all of North America will be much harder to naval invade.

Very wise indeed. You will soon see whether the Mexicans hop in during the next month or not.

 

[Bullfilter]

Chapter Forty-One: Żeligowski’s War
(July 1944)

Lucjan Żeligowski (b. 17 October 1865) was a Polish-Lithuanian general, politician, military commander and veteran of World War I, the Polish-Soviet War and World War II. He was head of a short-lived Republic of Central Lithuania after WW1. He’d had a busy and arduous war for such an old man – and this would continue!​

Spoiler: Żeligowski in OTL’s WW2

During the Invasion of Poland, Żeligowski volunteered for the Polish Armed Forces, but was not accepted due to his old age (he was 74 at that time) and poor health. [But not, it seems, for the Paradox researchers to include him anyway ] Nevertheless, he served as an advisor to the command of the Polish southern front.

After the Polish defeat, he evaded being captured by the Germans and the Soviets and managed to reach France, where he joined the Polish Government in Exile headed by General Władysław Sikorski. An active member of the Polish National Council, an advisory body, he escaped to London after the French defeat in 1940. After the end of Second World War Żeligowski declared he would return to Poland, but he suddenly died on 9 July 1947 in London.

=======​

1-15 July: The Allies Strike Back

The month began with General Żeligowski using his two specialist mountain divisions in Western China to strike north-east Golog in an attempt to cut off a PLA salient to the east and open another flank on Lanzhou, the next main Allied objective in the Central Sector.

​

With three Polish divisions poised to attack from north Golog, there were hopes this may finally be achieved after weeks of aspiring to it. It would take just over three days to win a crushing victory on the enemy. The province was occupied a day later.

Next, in the Southern Sector a flagging Allied attack on south Gannan was reinforced on the afternoon of 5 July, to immediate beneficial effect. That battle was a tougher fight, but it too was won by the morning of the 8th.

​

In the north, east Jiuquan was finally occupied by the Allies on 6 July but the tired British troops immediately came under a strong counter-attack. One of the three weary Polish divisions that had been advancing after the victory in late June kept going to reinforce them. They would take over that defence by early on 8 July after the British were routed. But the other two badly disorganised and were halted to rest and regroup.

The battles for east and west Tonkin continued in Indochina all week. The one Polish division in the west was weakening, so the one reserve formation was sent up on the morning of the 6th to rotate in. The other three Polish divisions remained dug in under continuous attack in the west.

In North America, the struggle continued with sporadic battles on land, sea and (presumably) air for the first week of the month. No dramatic change in the line was perceived by Polish observers embedded with the Allied HQ in Ottawa, which remained close to the front lines.

​

The by now ‘traditional’ monthly border skirmish between Manchuria and the PRC occurred from 11-13 July, before the Japanese once again brokered a truce. At least it forced the MAB to keep the border guarded.

​

The Atlantic convoy ‘super highway’ remained in full swing and by the evening of 11 July the first European units were beginning to land in and spread out from Newfoundland and eastern Canada.

​

The Allies briefly re-took south east Laos at 0300hr on 13 July after days of heavy fighting, only to lose it five hours later to a quick PLA counter-attack, which the Allies then counter-attacked strongly in turn. The defence of west Tonkin had been strengthened as the new Polish division arrived as the other headed back to recover. The long battle for east Tonkin continued unabated.

By 13 July, Żeligowski was ready to send his three fresh divisions to assault Lanzhou, reinforcing and quickly boosting an existing South African attack.

​

The mountain divisions in north-east Golog were preoccupied with a spoiling attack from the south but would not be needed. Victory was won in Lanzhou by the morning of 15 July.

In North America, the war at sea was hotting up as the US Navy tried to intercept more Allied troop convoys across the Eastern Seaboard. And in one case, a large force of Yugoslavian subs made an interception of their own of a large US convoy.

​

A detailed report on the latter engagement showed they had stumbled on what appeared to be a large American amphibious task force that had just left harbour, probably from Boston. They had managed to sink a few transports but had encountered to major escorting US task forces supported by shore-based and carrier aviation.

​

The Americans did not turn back and Allied HQ was soon worrying about where they may be heading, as the US tried to cut of the St. Lawrence Waterway to the north-east of Ottawa.

​

By that time, the first French and German divisions, still reorganising after their deployment across the Atlantic, were spreading out along the line.

=======​

16-31 July: All Out War

Back in China, on 17 July Żeligowski was ready for his next big move after securing north and south Gannan in the first half of July. This time he aimed to break open the Southern Sector to allow a later advance towards Tianshui and Chengdu. A new attack was launched in east Gannan, while another two divisions were sent in to aid a thrust on Ganzi.

​

That latter attack prevailed on 20 July after heavy fighting and it was occupied that afternoon, but then had to withstand a PRC counter-attack. The battle for east Gannan took longer and also saw savage fighting ending in victory on the 23rd, with a subsequent quick attack having to be launched on the 25th.

In the north, the Poles had been forced out of Jiuquan, but they had in turn been reinforced by British and South African troops who continued the defence strongly against a weakening PRC attack by the afternoon of 19 July.

Lanzhou had been occupied early on 19 July and then a quick counter-attack would be repelled by the morning of the 20th.

​

The tempo of fighting in North America remained quite low, with the one land battle in Canada itself by 22 July being fought in the central plains, where the US had made the longest and broadest thrust to date. And the surprising target of the US naval invasion had been revealed.

​

As Allied troops funnelled into Canada from the Atlantic, the US had struck at …

​

… the small French island outpost of St Pierre and Miquelon!

Nearby, a German U-Boat wolfpack took its turn at harrying the invaders, sinking another two troop transports while the US escort seemed to be hovering close by but had not engaged.

​

Cryptic news came from the British on 26 July with reports that India was once again going through a period of unrest: perhaps another revolt was being hatched, as had happened earlier in the war? Żeligowski hoped it wouldn’t cause problems for the war in China.

​

Though things had firmed up in west Tonkin (despite both Polish divisions having since been forced out due to combat disorganisation) with French and Italian troops holding the line, two of the three Polish divisions defending east Tonkin had been forced to withdraw by the evening of 26 July.

​

The Polish division had been forced out of east Tonkin as 27 July ended and the situation there was now getting desperate. But to its east, the French attack on the coast of Tonkin had picked up tempo and looked poised to succeed and thus secure one flank of the beset defenders of east Tonkin.

​

On 28 July, another standard infantry division (96 DP) finished training in Poland, joining the reserve 5th Army (now holding four divisions: 2 x INF, 1 x CAV, 1 x HVY INF).

By early on 30 July, the two Allied divisions left defending East Tonkin were still holding on – but only just. In better news, West Tonkin was defending strongly with another big victory (followed by yet another attack, of course) coming that afternoon.

​

South-East Laos had been retaken to the west (though was again under strong counter-attack), while the French had occupied Coastal Tonkin and were holding well against the inevitable PLA counter-attack. The now well-rested 16 DP was ordered up from reserve to again contest east Tonkin as 26 DP still headed south to recover and the other three divisions were already reorganising in south Tonkin.

As the month was ending, generous Allied lend-lease consignments had almost remedied the support equipment shortfalls need to equip the scores of new field hospitals introduced to Poland’s standard infantry divisions in June (only 23 deficit by 30 July). Field hospitals would probably be introduced to other front-line formation templates soon.

In Western China, the salient in East Gannan was having trouble holding on [18%, red] by midday on the 30th, with one of the three defending Polish divisions already forced to retreat, enduring poor supply and a corps-sized PLA attack from the south and east. The Allied push in the southern sector was running out of steam as the PLA consolidated and Allied supply lines became stretched once again.

In the Central Sector the news was mixed. An attack from Lanzhou on north Gansu had succeeded and the still well-organised Polish division were advancing to occupy it. But to the south, an attempt to spoil a PLA attack on Allied colleague from south Gansu would have to be called off a day later, despite meeting with initial success.

=======​

Monthly Summary – North America

The US was making slow but steady inroads west of the Great Lakes but had yet to cut off the St Lawrence Waterway.

​

Separate casualty estimates were now available for the American-French War. Canada was in a degree of trouble but holding on. The UK, Canada and China (presumably from EFs previously deployed to Canada) had suffered the heaviest casualties for the Allies out of 215,000 lost, while for the US this figure was around 120,000 after a little more than a month and a half of fighting.

​

The US amphibious attack on St Pierre and Miquelon looked to be in trouble: they had lost around 50% of their strength to combat and (presumably) attacks on their transports). But the single defending French brigade looked to be on the verge of exhaustion: the outcome remained uncertain.

​

The Americans had failed to take either Ottawa or Montréal, though both remained exposed. Their offensive to cut the St Lawrence still looked dangerous but fallen short so far and had made little recent progress. [I like the clash between Patton and LeClerc!]

​

From the Great Lakes to the Pacific, the Anglo-Canadian line remained stretched but had not collapsed as more European Allied divisions filtered west.

=======​

Monthly Summary – Asia

In Asia, the MAB had once more taken heavy casualties in battle the Poles had been involved in, especially in Indochina, where the fighting in Tonkin remained particularly gruelling and unrelenting. By now, both sides had lost millions of men during the war, the burden falling more heavily on the Allies in comparative terms.

​

Supply was again becoming an issue in Western China: some Polish construction effort may have to be diverted from civilian factory construction soon to extend the railheads after the limited advances in July.

​

The heavy fighting in east and west Tonkin had perhaps soaked up enough MAB attention to allow gains to be made either side of the salient during July, as we have seen. The Franco-Italian defence of recently retaken south-east Laos had firmed just a little but remained in the balance. But the gain of Tonkin coast looked to now be firmly established.

​

In Sulawesi, promising signs earlier in the month had been overturned, with the Allies rolled back further east along the peninsula, though a counter-attack on recently lost ground was in progress.

​

Western China had seen a general increase in Allied op tempo during the month with some good territorial gains made. But for now, Allied momentum had been largely stopped and the focus was on resisting renewed PLA counter-attacks in the centre and south.

​

Despite earlier doubts and the defeat of the Poles there, east Jiuquan had been held so far, though the fenders had been left weakened (noting detailed battle reports for Allied-only fights are not available).

​

In the Centre, Lanzhou and central, north-east and south-east Golog had all been taken and held during July in a major advance and the Poles also hoped to take north Gansu in early August.

​

The main advances in the south had come after heavy fighting and sometimes a series of attacks before provinces could be occupied. The three gains in Ganzi and east and south Gannan were all currently under PLA counter-attack, with east Gannan (as mentioned previously) the most problematic.

=======​

Other Reports

As discussed previously, the support equipment deficit caused by the introduction of field hospitals to most Polish divisions had almost been overcome, mainly through lend-lease shipments. Some countries had ceased their deliveries but others had stepped up with pledges for August.

​

The concerted Polish political campaign in Germany continued to make gradual progress, this time with the DNVP chipping away a little more at KPD support, with more than two years left until the next election.

​

And so far, there was no indication that the Soviets intended the same kind of dramatic intervention that the possibly deranged Willkie had with the US in June. But Poland intended to retain all newly raised forces in the Fatherland for the foreseeable future as the European Allies – especially Germany – diverted more troops to the fight against America. Poland would now be the principal Allied bulwark should Trotsky decide to take advantage of this diversion.

 

[jak7139]

I had no idea Zeligowski was that old! Hopefully he lives to see peace.

China seems to have more divisions in Indochina than actual China. Perhaps a push to Yan'an or Chongqing in the future?

 

[Bullfilter]

I had no idea Zeligowski was that old! Hopefully he lives to see peace.

In OTL he died in 1947, though I don’t think hoi4 generals die in-game?

China seems to have more divisions in Indochina than actual China. Perhaps a push to Yan'an or Chongqing in the future?

This is the aim and the other Allies seem to have something similar in mind. And at some point, if they are weakened enough, maybe they’ll have to start stripping the Manchurian border enough to make one of those forays last more than two days!

 

[Midnite Duke]

Gen. Cherepanov again shows that the Russians are actively participating in the PRC faction. Patton/Leclerc is a horrible nod to OTL. I think that this is the first time that I am rooting for a German wolfpack. Adm. Halsley needs to call for air power. Thanks

 

[SSmith]

Somewhere along the way I realised I must have missed an update and fallen some way behind on this one. So here's a concerted effort to start catching up, beginning with the final chapters of 1943!

In northern Vietnam, the Communist offensive was picking up momentum. Allied forces that had pushed out to the west were now in danger of being cut off.

This was looking a bit ominous, but I wasn't at all sure the Communists had enough strength to achieve anything. Wrongly, I figured this front would become another stalemate.

While in Palau, Nationalist Chinese troops under British command had managed to land on the south of the island and were attacking the port of North Palau, with naval gunfire support.

What I didn't originally appreciate was that the Allied units were landing in the south whereas the supply hub they needed was in the north, so this was a far riskier move than it first appeared!

And 17 British divisions were now garrisoned in the Caroline Islands!

I don't know what the AI is doing... perhaps the British general's wife's name is Caroline?

Given the deadlock in western China, when the latest rail network upgrades were completed in mid-August, it was decided that a new air base would be built in Urumqi. Maybe some air support would help break through against either the Communists or the Ma Fascists and make their attacks even costlier.

Yes, this seems well worth trying. The supply situation in Urumqi is much improved and the front lines need all they help they can get!

And by 22 August, the last of the 8 trapped divisions in the Vientiane Pocket had surrendered in what was an unmitigated disaster for the Allied cause in Indochina.

Indeed so.

If the breakthrough could be secured, the intention was for the Poles to push south-east in an attempt to outflank the XMS fascists in the hope of launching a second from Kunlun Shan to take their capital of Golmud.

The chances of taking Golmud didn't look promising (for one thing it was strongly defended, unlike Urumqi) but the Fascist faction surrender has since changed all that!

4. DB (TAC) arrived on the evening of 9 September. They had the range to operate deeply into enemy territory in Western China and Qinghai, though would not be able to rely on fighter escort.

Good news that bombers based at Urumqi have the range to do the job. That answer's one of the big questions, but will their contribution make a difference?

But by this stage all transmissions out of the Chamdo Pocket had ceased: all Allied forces there had been destroyed.

To be fair, they did hold out for a long time despite their hopeless situation.

Intelligence reports on the US showed they had been busily drawing up war plans for intervention in Asia and were currently working on War Plan Yellow, involving contingency plans for attacks on China.

Interesting. If the AI acquires a CB, I gather it's very likely to use it, irrespective of the circumstances...?

Of much interest was an explanation of the seemingly incongruous British Army build up in the small islands of the Western Pacific. The main bases were now Marcus Island and Saipan, which between them housed over 40 Allied divisions. They had plans for invasions of Kwantung-held Iwo Jima and Okinawa and a bold plan for an invasion of southern Japan!

So it is possible to see what the AI is planning? That's useful to know.

In Europe, where Czechoslovakia and Austria were not in the Allies, Germany had contingency plans to hit either or both with massive offensives.

Probably war plans drawn up originally by Hitler and now dusted-off and re-purposed by Churchill...

While, unlikely as it seemed, the British, Mexicans and Canadians had a few plans to to attack, but this seemed both unlikely diplomatically and dubious given the number of divisions the US was fielding, especially in the south.

I recall the UK does have a CB against the US... so perhaps we should be worried?

In early November, most Polish divisions had disengaged in Sinkiang for rest and repair and the front in Sinkiang had remained comparatively quiet. The Communists had advanced a little further in southern Indochina, though the Allies seemed to have funnelled in some more reinforcements and were strongly counter-attacking the latest breakthrough in the centre.

It did indeed appear that the Allies had landed enough forces to hold southern Vietnam. With the futher advantage that it was the Communists who now had the over-extended supply lines, I figured their position was secure.

Other than the continuing AT shortage, Polish equipment stockpiles remained in good shape, despite additional heavy tank and artillery units being added to standard and ‘heavy’ infantry divisions in early September and the continuing production of new militia, infantry and armoured divisions and a rolling basis. The Polish army now fielded 80 divisions in its army, still just 14 of those in China.

Poland should now be in a very strong position if Trotsky decides to try anything.

The Polish War Ministry also finally got around to inviting a foreign motor company to assist with the mechanisation of the Polish army. With the US unwilling to permit Ford to assist, The British Vauxhall company was given the nod, the Poles choosing the increase in mobility over the armour benefits the French SOMUA would have brought.

That's a handy little bonus to have!

Back in western China, the latest TAC wing had finally arrived from Poland. 2 DB was tasked to support Allied ground operations in the Western China sector, where the fighting seemed to be heavier and mission efficiency remained low. This would also allow support of two battles simultaneously.

I'm inclined to think you might be better served concentrating your air power over Qinghai where the mission efficiency is high?

Early on 28 December, Poland was notified that the Fascists of the Asian League (which had included its European adherents as well) had surrendered, a peace Conference had been convened in Estonia and all the possible claims had been resolved before Poland was given any opportunity to claim anything at all. A very long list of settlements had appeared on the right, but all these negotiations had been resolved without any visibility by Poland’s representatives as it was happening.

Excellent news that the Fascists have finally surrendered! I'm sure it was merely an unfortunate oversight on the part of some junior official that Poland wasn't invited to participate in the peace conference...

Not only that but the surrender had been made formally to France – which had turned Communist at some point recently (!) and now termed itself the French Commune, led by Maurice Thorez. But remained in the Allies.

No idea if a country can switch faction in HOI4? France joining the MAB would certainly shake things up a bit!

For some reason, France had done rather poorly in Europe.

Seems fair enough to me. As I recall, France did do rather poorly in Europe!

To the relief of many, it was Germany instead that got to administer the newly freed Republican Italy as a supervised state.

Yes, the French would probably have let Mussolini back in again.

The settlement in Asia was the big surprise. Despite being at war with each other the Communist MAB and the Allies proceeded to divide the spoils between them. In a way that often disobeyed common sense and what Mao would have considered fair. Despite having conquered all of Kwantung except for a few Pacific islands, all areas except it seems those physically occupied by PRC troops were ceded to a new British-controlled Manchurian Federated Provinces! Yunnan became a ‘Soviet State’, but as a French Communist (and hence Allied) puppet. Most of the rest of the original Chinese states were annexed by the PRC, the rest going to Nationalist China or Manchuria. [This seems bizarre and illogical, especially the ceding of Chinese-controlled former Fascist land to hostile powers: there should be some exemption prohibiting that. China has been ripped off here, it seems.]

Hilarious stuff! A change of province ownership would probably have worked provided the actual military control hadn't changed. It is a good outcome for the Allies though, since Mao now has a lot of territory to re-occupy!

While in the Western Pacific, two new small, independent and non-aligned state were created from the islands taken from Imperial Kwantung. Which may cause some problems for the Allied forces still based on some of those islands.

Yes, I imagine it will. Churchill could solve this problem very easily if he is (a) drunk enough to do it and (b) sober enough to find these islands on a map!

In Western China, the Allies had unleased a new broad-front offensive that seemed to have got off to a promising start. Ironically, less than two weeks after the new supply hub had finally been completed, the hub and airfield at Golmud, ceded to China from Xibei San Ma at Pärnu, was available for Allied use. Though it would have to be secured from nearby MAB forces first.

I am cautiously optimistic that the Allied cause is benefiting from all that hard work Poland has done building up the infrastructure.

In Indochina, it was hoped the peace settlement outcome might distract the MAB somewhat, as their latest offensive continued and they had just advanced a salient to the outskirts of Saigon itself. Once more, an large collection of Allied divisions faced the danger of being cut off to its east.

Considering the Allies appear to have more forces and superior forces, it is somewhat surprising to see the Communists reaching the outskirts of Saigon. Just what is going wrong here?

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

So it is possible to see what the AI is planning? That's useful to know.

If you're allied, you can see their battle plans, which give a hint as to where they're going and why. Obviously, tagging to another country would do it too.

 

[SSmith]

Feedback on January 1944:

The new PZL.49 Miś design was researched on 1 January and the production line was retooled (27% efficiency retained) to start producing the new aircraft. But it would take quite some while for it to become the new mainstay of the Polish tactical bomber arm.

Indeed so, but it bodes well for the future.

In Indochina, the MAB seemed to have withdrawn enough forces to cope with their rear-area problems to cause weakness in the centre of the line. Which the reinforced Allies, taking advantage of shorter supply lines, were able to exploit. By the afternoon of 7 January they were storming ahead, having pocketed two PRC divisions in the centre and pressing to isolate more along the coasts German panzers broke through to their north.

And all because of that ridiculous peace conference...

The big news in Indochina came on 16 January, when German panzers reached the coast and sought to defeat an MAB counter-attack. This trapped four MAB divisions in a new coastal pocket: another measure of revenge for what the Allies had suffered in the north just a few months before. Allied naval support was aiding three of the coastal battles.

Considering this was all executed by the AI, I am positively impressed!

And although both countries were already part of the Allied faction, the French Commune broached the idea of a closer and more strategic partnership with Poland on 20 January. Poland readily agreed to this rather ‘traditional’ diplomatic alignment.

I have to say I am a little suspicious of this event. The French haven't by any chance formed their own faction, have they? I hope you read the small print!

With a smattering of Allied divisions now in place, Britain decided to recall Manchuria to the war against the MAB. The Polish leadership doubted the wisdom of this: Manchuria itself was weakly defended and its two enclaves not at all. They were of more value at this point as a neutral diversion to the Communists than a soon-vanquished adversary.

I agree with the Polish leadership on all counts.

By the evening of 21 January the MAB was already advancing into Manchuria and the Allied defenders had clearly been unprepared. By early the following morning, either the British or their Manchurian puppets must have realised their mistake: the truce was re-established. The latest fighting ended up being nothing more than short border clash.

Oh dear... I hope this doesn't turn into an endlessly-repeating cycle, because that could really mess up the game.

The Allied push in Western China had made good ground, taking up the territory ceded at Pärnu and then moving beyond it. The supply improvement in the south had allowed rapid exploitation and unit recovery plus new tactical air support flying from Golmud.

Good to see such positive results coming from all that hard work - and the air support of course.

The Allied build-up in Manchuria continued: the MAB had probably been unwise to accept the latest truce, but that was now history.

Since the Allies have such an overwhelming superiority in numbers of divisions and just need somewhere to deploy them, yes, this is a big problem for the MAB.

The southern Manchurian enclave was still diverting many PRC and Japanese divisions: a great benefit for the Allied cause that Poland hoped would last for a while yet.

And that's a lot of MAB units tied up securing that undefended enclave. All things considered, the peace conference was a big win for the Allies!

 

[SSmith]

February 1944:

The Allies had continued to send troops into Manchuria, but the MAB had reinforced the border even more heavily by the 16th.

The MAB seems to have found enough troops for the border - perhaps they just pulled them out of central China?

The series of Manchurian border clashes was extended over just over a day of formally declared war from late on 21 February to the morning of the 23rd. By the 22nd, the Allies had been under heavy MAB attack along the front.

Curious the AI is so keen to keep signing truces with this particular adversary. There must be a reason for this somewhere?

It became clear that a large Japanese carrier task force, supported by capital ships , cruisers and a huge number of destroyers, had engaged and largely sunk a British destroyer squadron led by a light cruiser and supported by a German U-Boat flotilla.

The new Polish expeditionary corps heading for Indochina was approaching the northern tip of Sumatra – one of many Allied convoys travelling the route.

Now we know the IJN is still around in force and means business. I hope you get those troops ashore safely!

In Europe, there was some Polish (and indeed British) concern over the infiltration of Communism into France (where it seemed the Communists had now outrageously suspended elections) and in Germany, where Konrad Adenaur’s democratic Zentrum party was now well behind in the polls to the KPD, though with elections not due until September 1946.

So that's what Trotsky's been doing... Looks like spelling trouble sooner or later.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

So that's what Trotsky's been doing... Looks like spelling trouble sooner or later.

Clever idea...slowly turn a great power communist, keep the forever war going. Rinse. Repeat.

Eventually, Russia will be the only place with pops left.

 

[Bullfilter]

Gen. Cherepanov again shows that the Russians are actively participating in the PRC faction. Patton/Leclerc is a horrible nod to OTL. I think that this is the first time that I am rooting for a German wolfpack. Adm. Halsley needs to call for air power. Thanks

Yes, the game has made for some strange matchups and the Germans as goodies for almost the whole time after they ditched Adolf.

Somewhere along the way I realised I must have missed an update and fallen some way behind on this one. So here's a concerted effort to start catching up, beginning with the final chapters of 1943!



This was looking a bit ominous, but I wasn't at all sure the Communists had enough strength to achieve anything. Wrongly, I figured this front would become another stalemate.



What I didn't originally appreciate was that the Allied units were landing in the south whereas the supply hub they needed was in the north, so this was a far riskier move than it first appeared!



I don't know what the AI is doing... perhaps the British general's wife's name is Caroline?



Yes, this seems well worth trying. The supply situation in Urumqi is much improved and the front lines need all they help they can get!



Indeed so.



The chances of taking Golmud didn't look promising (for one thing it was strongly defended, unlike Urumqi) but the Fascist faction surrender has since changed all that!



Good news that bombers based at Urumqi have the range to do the job. That answer's one of the big questions, but will their contribution make a difference?



To be fair, they did hold out for a long time despite their hopeless situation.



Interesting. If the AI acquires a CB, I gather it's very likely to use it, irrespective of the circumstances...?



So it is possible to see what the AI is planning? That's useful to know.



Probably war plans drawn up originally by Hitler and now dusted-off and re-purposed by Churchill...



I recall the UK does have a CB against the US... so perhaps we should be worried?



It did indeed appear that the Allies had landed enough forces to hold southern Vietnam. With the futher advantage that it was the Communists who now had the over-extended supply lines, I figured their position was secure.



Poland should now be in a very strong position if Trotsky decides to try anything.



That's a handy little bonus to have!



I'm inclined to think you might be better served concentrating your air power over Qinghai where the mission efficiency is high?



Excellent news that the Fascists have finally surrendered! I'm sure it was merely an unfortunate oversight on the part of some junior official that Poland wasn't invited to participate in the peace conference...



No idea if a country can switch faction in HOI4? France joining the MAB would certainly shake things up a bit!



Seems fair enough to me. As I recall, France did do rather poorly in Europe!



Yes, the French would probably have let Mussolini back in again.



Hilarious stuff! A change of province ownership would probably have worked provided the actual military control hadn't changed. It is a good outcome for the Allies though, since Mao now has a lot of territory to re-occupy!



Yes, I imagine it will. Churchill could solve this problem very easily if he is (a) drunk enough to do it and (b) sober enough to find these islands on a map!



I am cautiously optimistic that the Allied cause is benefiting from all that hard work Poland has done building up the infrastructure.



Considering the Allies appear to have more forces and superior forces, it is somewhat surprising to see the Communists reaching the outskirts of Saigon. Just what is going wrong here?

Thanks for the comprehensive catch-up comments: really appreciated!

The fighting in Indochina has actually been pretty interesting from an operational perspective: I think a bit of a mix in feel for North Africa and the supply issues (ie swinging from one end to the other until stopped and supply runs out, then all the way back again) and Korea, with wild swings up and down a peninsula, often resolving into a deadlock in the middle, then swinging again. More of that follows in coming months!

That peace conference was even crazier than some HOI3 outcomes! It is still having repercussions in August 1944!

US v UK ... hmmm, hold that thought and wait to be surprised (or not) by what happens later

The air mission efficiency seems to build over time, being able to support both sectors was attractive - and I was learning the mechanic as I went

I'm pretty sure that it is like HOI3 in that switching factions can't be done while at war, unless conquered etc. Unless there are events that can do it (I know very little of those yet).

If you're allied, you can see their battle plans, which give a hint as to where they're going and why. Obviously, tagging to another country would do it too.

At least the battle planning gives a hint of their hopes, if not one's expectations of what they will do!

Feedback on January 1944:



Indeed so, but it bodes well for the future.



And all because of that ridiculous peace conference...



Considering this was all executed by the AI, I am positively impressed!



I have to say I am a little suspicious of this event. The French haven't by any chance formed their own faction, have they? I hope you read the small print!



I agree with the Polish leadership on all counts.



Oh dear... I hope this doesn't turn into an endlessly-repeating cycle, because that could really mess up the game.



Good to see such positive results coming from all that hard work - and the air support of course.



Since the Allies have such an overwhelming superiority in numbers of divisions and just need somewhere to deploy them, yes, this is a big problem for the MAB.



And that's a lot of MAB units tied up securing that undefended enclave. All things considered, the peace conference was a big win for the Allies!

The peace conference really cracked things open for the Allies in Asia - but even so, it's been tough making progress. The Allies may have total numbers on their side, but a good proportion of them are elsewhere and there's not the logistics to maintain that many of them on the actual Asian fronts at any one time. China has strong Japanese support, home territory and interior lines to compensate for the silly peace treaty outcomes. If they'd kept all of Manchuria and the two enclaves, I think they might have rolled over the top of us!

I think the AI has done pretty well in a few of those ops and there is more evidence of some nice hook and pocket moves later, too.

And yes, re Manchuria, we're still having Groundhog Day months later!

February 1944:



The MAB seems to have found enough troops for the border - perhaps they just pulled them out of central China?



Curious the AI is so keen to keep signing truces with this particular adversary. There must be a reason for this somewhere?



Now we know the IJN is still around in force and means business. I hope you get those troops ashore safely!



So that's what Trotsky's been doing... Looks like spelling trouble sooner or later.

Not sure where the MAB drag their troops from, but they have plenty of them between Japan and China combined. And yes, clearly there's a duelling thing happening between the UK calling Manchuria in and the Japanese not wanting to fight them. Someone that knows the game better than I may be able to theorise! It does keep happening pretty much on a monthly basis, which is passing strange and a bit jarring as an immersion thing.

Re Trotsky: I think he's only doing in theory (ie a logical in-universe assumption) as I could find evidence of direct influence in the diplo screen. You will see later that Poland is not happy to just let that drift unchecked.

Clever idea...slowly turn a great power communist, keep the forever war going. Rinse. Repeat.

Eventually, Russia will be the only place with pops left.

Lev seems to be unusually content to be placid in this altiverse, other than sending some EFs to China (and the doomed Mexian reds earlier in the war). Still, if he attacked now, he could cause problems in some places but may get steamrolled in Europe if Germany and others send substantial assistance to Poland.

 

[Bullfilter]

Chapter Forty-Two: We Want to Break Free
(August 1944)

Allied troops on the advance in Indochina, August 1944.

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1-14 August: Snakes and Ladders

The short-range inter-war fighters and CAS that had been sent east and and the redeployed back to Urumqi in July were sent all the way back to Poland at the start of the month: they were performing no useful function and would only draw supplies best used elsewhere if made active in China.

And the supply shortages at the front after recent advances were still causing problems, with the new rail works program elevated in priority, to really kick in once both the new civilian factories were finished by mid-month. The new military factory was sent ‘below the line’.

​

In Indochina, 1 August saw another MAB general offensive being conducted along the front. East Tonkin in particular was still getting a hard time of it, so the best recovered of the five resting Polish divisions was sent back up to support the Allied defence, which was being led by a Nationalist Chinese division under UK command.

​

In Western China, east Gannan had been under heavy attack, with the one South African and three Polish divisions defending it being forced to retreat one-by-one, until they were defeated later on the morning of the 1st: they had killed three times as many attackers as they had lost (952 v 3,010), but the first Allied gain of the previous month was gone. It would not be the last in this sector.

By the end of the day, the MAB attacks in Indochina were starting to run out of steam and the French had begun an attack of their own in north coastal Tonkin, which they won and advanced into by the evening of 3 August.

Two days after that east and west Tonkin had both been successfully defended by the Allies, where the Poles now had a division in each to join an existing Allied attack on north-east Tonkin. The other three Polish reserve divisions also began pushing back up to the front in case some exploitation became possible.

​

The next defensive battle to be lost in Western China was in the Ganzi salient in the south, where 17 and 28 DPs had been resisting alone for some days, but were told to withdraw on 7 August as they weakened under worsening odds. To their east, the Allied defence of southern Gannan was also failing and east Gannan had been reoccupied by the MAB. The gains here from July were all being rolled back under the MAB counter-offensive.

Allied lend lease wound up on 8 August when the support equipment stockpile returned to a surplus of 77. In more good news, north-east Tonkin was occupied by French troops that afternoon: they were soon being counter-attacked, but more Allied formations were on the way to assist them. The battle was won by the morning of the 9th, after the arrival of 16 and then 29 DP.

​

In Western China, on the morning of 9 August Polish troops finally secured northern Gansu, just east of the city of Lanzhou, where they came under immediate Communist counter-attack but seemed to be holding strongly.

In North America, by 10 August the small French island outpost of St Pierre and Miquelon had been taken by the US. The Americans were still advancing in a wide arc north of the 48th parallel but were not making any discernible progress towards the St Lawrence in the North-West Sector.

​

There, the Allies were using the recent European reinforcements to help hold a narrow strip along the key waterway’s southern bank and a line stretching south-west through Montréal to Ottawa.

​

Once north-east Tonkin had been fully secured, on 11 August the Poles reinforced another Allied attack with 1 and 16 DPs, this time into south-eastern Laos, where victory came a day later. Another Polish division was sent to reinforce the push along the coast, where the French broke through later that evening.

​

Both the new civilian factories were completed by 12 August, allowing the rail works in Western China to fully resume. The next day, air doctrine advanced with new techniques for logistical bombing perfected. But in Western China, the Allies had lost south Gannan and a weak counter-attack was heading towards defeat.

It was a different story in Indochina. On 14 August four Polish and one French division were attacking a large mass of MAB troops in central-east Laos, all of which were looking very disorganised. It took two days of assaults, but the Allied breakthrough in Indochina gained more momentum with another handy victory.

=======​

15-31 August: Masters of the Jungle

The by now familiar ritual of the Manchurian border clash played out again between 15-17 August, with the usual outcome. The Poles had long since given up trying to understand what that was all about.

​

The Allies were now advancing almost at will in Indochina, with MAB resistance increasingly weak and desperate. The Poles tended to be following up and reinforcing Allied attacks as was deemed most productive, with the next victory coming in central east Laos on 16 August.

​

In Sulawesi, there seemed to be simultaneous attacks going in either direction, as the Allies had the numbers but couldn’t seem to regain any ground.

​

Fighting had intensified in Canada with a new American offensive apparently in progress as they pushed north of the Great Lakes and still tried to advance (less successfully) in the North-East.

​

In Western China, the PRC regained central Jiuquan on the 18th. One Polish division had remained on guard in South Jiuquan, while two more Polish divisions had headed west in search of supply to regain their strength.

As the fighting raged on all the major fronts of the war over the next few days, a curious report from Bulgaria made the headlines. There was wild speculation about possible local Bulgarian, German, British or Russian involvement in Tsar Boris III’s purportedly natural death. Whether this would mean anything significant for the former Fascist and now Allied puppet nation remained unclear.

​

A new light armour division was deployed on the 20th and allocated to the reserve 5th Army, concentrated at Breść Litweski, another began training in its place. Late that morning, in Indochina the Allies' hard-fought attack in central Laos was won and the province occupied. As the Allies now raced along the coast, three Polish divisions attacked the main MAB position on the front in central western Laos, where four Japanese and three Chinese Communist divisions were trying to hold the line.

​

To the north, while that went on, on 22 August the other two Polish divisions combined with the Allies to attack north central Laos, while even further north an Italian division had broken into open country and appeared to be heading to seal of the MAB salient against the Mekong River. The main MAB strength in Indochina was in danger of being trapped by a big right hook.

​

Over the next two days, this danger intensified, while the MAB – now a group of 12 demoalised divisions – broke in central western Laos on the morning of the 24th and tried to escape north as Allied troops, including Poles, raced to cut them off.

​

The Allies won the race that evening, with French troops closing the trap: 5 Japanese and 7 PRC divisions surrendered, breaking the back of their resistance in Indochina – for now, until more divisions were no doubt sent to stem the haemorrhage.

​

In the Caribbean, a large US war fleet was engaged off Port-au-Prince on 25 August: it looked like another invasion fleet, the escort led by the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid with two battleships, eight heavy cruisers and a myriad of smaller ships. Two wolfpack consisting of 22 German U-Boats was trying to strike them.

​

At that time, fighting had lulled again in Canada, with only two battles currently in progress in the west. The new rail construction had been completed in China and two new Polish factories – one civilian and one military – began construction. The next day, in Poland two new militia divisions were deployed into 3rd Army, guarding the southern front with Czechoslovakia.

The destination of the US invasion fleets was discovered a few days later when they landed in Suriname, spreading the war into South America after the US had island-hopped south to fully occupy French and British islands in the West Indies. An outnumbered French brigade was now trying to hold them off to its east.

​

After the new Warsaw Main Railway was completed on 30 August, boosting infrastructure there, the national focus was switched to supporting the chemical industry as Poland’s industrial sinews continued to be strengthened.

​

Western China remained problem for the Allies as August was coming to an end. North Gansu, the one gain made there this month, had finally succumbed after absorbing a series of enemy attacks after taking it at the start of the month. The defeated Allied defenders, including two Polish divisions, were making their way back to neutral Manchurian territory.

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Monthly Summary – Asian Theatre

Similar levels of casualties were suffered on both sides compared to July, though the thousands of MAB prisoners taken in Indochina were not included in the total. Battles involving Polish troops had seen around 10,200 Allied casualties, but of these only just under half were Polish.

​

Supply throughput had improved somewhat in Western China, though was still poor right at the front, while the Allies seemed to be well supplied as they advanced again in Indochina.

​

The Northern Sector in China had only recently seen Polish troops engaged, as they had pulled back earlier in the month after losing all supply and organisation. The rear-guard Polish division left in South Jiuquan had been attacked twice, defeating the first and still fighting the second as the month ended. As mentioned earlier, central Jiuquan had been retaken by the MAB during the month.

​

The only Polish attacks during the whole month had come in north Gansu up to 8 August. Following that, like the other Allies around them, almost all the fighting had been defensive. North-east Golog and then later central Gannan had held out well against repeated probes, as had north Gannan, the last battle being a heavy NAB defeat. But the areas gained the month before, stretching from east Gannan south-west to Ganzi had all been retaken by the MAB.

​

In Sulawesi, despite an Allied gain earlier in the month, the front line ended up the same as it had at the start of the month.

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And as the month ended, a surprise Japanese landing had been reported by the British at Khota Bahru, in northern Malaya, where Chinese and German units were seeking to repel a Japanese assault from the sea.

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And, as we have seen above, August had eventually proven to be a great month for the Allies. An increasingly aggressive offensive had managed to bag most of the MAB divisions on the front and rapid gains were being made as August finished. The enemy were trying to establish a new line at the narrowest point of the front, while the five Polish divisions were active supporting the latest attack and position for further advances to maintain the momentum.

=======​

Monthly Summary – The Americas and Other Matters

The tempo of fighting had lulled a little on the Canadian Front. In all but the North-West Sector, the Americans had made steady gains as they fanned out into the vast northern plains and beyond the Great Lakes.

​

The Allies still clung on to the Canadian capital and the St Lawrence, as European Allied troops bolstered the lines most strongly there.

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In South America, the French were resisting more strongly than had been expected.

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There had been no change this month in Germany’s political fortunes as Polish lobbying continued.

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Recent new deployments and new units entering training had seen artillery holdings depleted and now falling into deficit. Some extra Polish industry had begun to try repairing that shortfall and there was hope some of the Allies might chime in with some excess equipment until newer locally made (and likely superior) artillery pieces could be supplied.

​

And finally, three research advances had been made during August. Production efficiency had been improved as far as it could, the latest heavy fighter design was finished but again with production deferred until the most modern version could be made, perhaps with a modification or two to improve range and performance. And infantry equipment got another upgrade.

​

In order to see if some of the supply problems being suffered in the Far East might be alleviated in due course, work began on developing logistic companies, which it was hoped may one day become widely employed throughout the Polish Army.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Well, the amercians have split Canada in two and taken most of the rail and industrial pop centres. That being said, they are now literally fighting and walking in increasingly empty wildernesses, whilst having to watch their increasingly long coastlines and having to garrison a ton of islands.

Seems the US dominates when they're just fighting one front. Two on the other hand is too much.

 

[jak7139]

An amazing turn of events in Indochina! Now PRC will have to pull divisions off western China to stem the flow. Perfect opportunity to retake lost gains there.

Have you thought about sending a tank to help? West China's probably too mountainous, but Indochina might be good.