Stärke in Ausdauer 1914

[RommelReborn]

Greetings men. Some of you may have read what was finished of my Ahistorical Romania AAR. I assure you, this one will see action much sooner. Much, much sooner.... In the Darkest Hour grand campaign mod!

The year is 1914. Never has the world been so close to the edge of total war before this very moment. The Eagles of Europe, the great empires that once were, are holding their breath. France is hobbling on a leg. Their army thoroughly thrashed by the Prussians in 1870. From the ashes of their defeat, rose the powerful German Empire. The youngest of the great nations, it has more natural resources than any other nation on the continent, and the most powerful army in the world.
To the south is Austria-Hungary. Once the greatest power of central Europe, they have become increasingly unstable, as revolutions happen within and abroad. Now they have complete reliance on their Northern neighbors... To their south lies the Balkans. A further unstable region broken by war with the Ottomans and Bulgaria in the past two years.
Russia, the bear to the East, remains menacing. However, Czar Nicholas II has little grasp of how to run a country, and the largest nation on Earth is about to crumble. Italy, to the south, Is the second youngest Eagle, formed only a few years before Germany. Unfortunately, it hasn't had it's northern neighbor's luck, losing a war to Ethiopia in 1898, and just barely beating the Ottomans for Libya.
The Ottomans in Anatolia and Africa, are the terminally ill men of Europe. Their empire is falling apart. They lost Egypt, the balkans, and now LIbya. All that is left is Turkey, and their middle Eastern holdings.
The great colonial empire, Great Britain seems to be in a good position. However, their army has much to be desired. Their true strength lies in their navy, and the mass conscripts from foreign lands. It would take them time to mobilize.
Join us in this world. I will lead the German empire to victory, or a crushing defeat! HAIL THE KAISERREICH!!!

A few things:
I do not intend to win World War 1. There is not alternate WW2 in the grand campaign mod if Germany is victorious. To keep the AAR going, I will go through World War 2.
This is Darkest hour 1.04, using the Grand Campaign mod for those interested.
Without further or do... Take it away Wilhelm!!

 

[Alizon]

How peculiar ! Subbed!

 

[Wraith11B]

Was there a DH for HoI3? I thought it was only for 2... either way, I look forward to reading the playthrough.

 

[RommelReborn]

Was there a DH for HoI3? I thought it was only for 2... either way, I look forward to reading the playthrough.

No, from what I understand, DH was mostly a fan made update to hoi2, with more historical flavor, and updated graphics released in 2011. It was published by paradox.

 

[TheTeaMustFlow]

So, just to be clear, you're intending to lost WWI? Interesting, you don't often see AARs where the player doesn't set out to win.

I'm not very familiar with the mod - will the rise of the Nazis be inevitable, or could we have a very different WWII?

 

[RommelReborn]

So, just to be clear, you're intending to lost WWI? Interesting, you don't often see AARs where the player doesn't set out to win.

I'm not very familiar with the mod - will the rise of the Nazis be inevitable, or could we have a very different WWII?

Yes. I intend to lose ww1, as there is no alternate world war 2 in the mod if the central powers win. So, if I won, I would be sitting with the most powerful country, with no in game events. Essentially, I would just be conquering random countries afterwards with little flavor until the end date of 1991

 

[Wraith11B]

No, from what I understand, DH was mostly a fan made update to hoi2, with more historical flavor, and updated graphics released in 2011. It was published by paradox.

Okay; then I'm kinda wondering why you'd post in the HoI3 AAR forums...? Not a huge deal, I'm guessing, but might want to move it to the appropriate forums.

 

[RommelReborn]

Okay; then I'm kinda wondering why you'd post in the HoI3 AAR forums...? Not a huge deal, I'm guessing, but might want to move it to the appropriate forums.

The Darkest Hour AAR forums are a subforum in the HOI3 forums. I'm not sure why. But all the darkest hour AAR's are here.

 

[Wraith11B]

That helps! Well, on with the show then! Chop chop!

 

[RommelReborn]

I: A July to Remember​

July 27th, 1914 is where we will start our journey through the 20th century. Here we stand as the 2nd German Reich, under Kaiser Wilhelm the Second. Under his wise leadership, we not only have fortified our current borders against our rivals, France and the United Kingdom, but have expanded our colonial empire throughout Africa and the Pacific.

However, a branch filled to the brim with Eagles attempting to expand their nests is never a stable one. One tiny nation, barely a fledgling, now seeks to foolishly undermine the great powers before it: Serbia. The Serbs have always been a thorn in the sides of their more powerful overseers. Ever since the days of the Roman Empire they rebelled, as with the Ottomans. Now, it would seem they give the Austrians trouble as well, as a Serb funded terrorist group, the black hand, conspires in Bosnia.

France too, one of the greatest eagles, seeks to reclaim what was once theirs. In the Franco-Prussian war of 1870, we swiftly took the rightful German province of Alsace-Lorraine from the French. Ever since, the French have yearned for the province back. Yet the Germans stand ready, as ever, to defend the Rhine.

Russia, however, presents a unique opportunity for the empire. Although their army outnumbers us considerably, it is weak, outdated, and filled with starving men, thanks in no part to Czar Nicholas the Second's incompetence. A push into Russian Poland could greatly expand the German homeland, and secure our borders to the east once and for all.

Italy, to the south, is an uneasy member of the Central Alliance. They signed in the late 1800's, while tensions with Austria-Hungary were still high. These tensions have not since dropped, and it is the Berlin-Rome relationship that keeps the fragile alliance together. Italy would very much love to snatch the North Italian provinces from their former rivals if given the opportunity.

On a more promising note, the Balkans have been scorched by war in the past Two years. First united against the Ottoman Empire, then against Bulgaria. Bulgaria was soundly beaten, and many of its rightful lands were taken from it in the war. However the Bulgarian army is still strong, and technologically advanced compared to their Balkan neighbors, and stands as a promising new figure on the world stage of nations. A regional power in the making...

As with all fragile peaces, this would not last. Shortly after the beginning of July, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, and his wife, Sofia, were vacationing on a state trip to Bosnia, a province of Austria Hungary. However, the treacherous Serbs, more specifically the black hand organization, took it upon themselves to destabilize the empire. That afternoon while in their car, the archduke and his wife were brutally murdered; shot by a young Serb with allegiance to the Black Hand Serbs.
Immediately the Austrians sought revenge. They came to the Kaiser seeking help. He replied, "Whatever you do, do it quick. Be merciless. We will support you no matter what you decide." The Austrians immediately backed the Serbs into a corner. After which, Italy, accusing Austria of aggressively attacking Serbia's sovereignty, withdrew from the alliance of the central powers .
Russia, not wanting to see their Slavic ally in the region become a puppet state, immediately threw their weight behind Serbia, stepping in front of Austria Hungary.

Reinforced by Russia's backing, but still cautious, Serbia accepted 9 out of the 10 Austrian demands. The Serbs refused to allow Austrian police into the country, to investigate the Black Hand organization. Believing this to be a Casus Belli for war, Austria began to mobilize on the Serbian border...

Shortly afterwards, Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia! However, despite the initial push, they were quickly stopped, and the Serbs held their ground. Russia immediately declared war on Austria, along with Montenegro, Serbia's close ally during the Balkan Wars.

Feeling threatened by war in the Balkans once again, in order to protect their sovereignty, the Ottoman Empire proposed a mutual defense pact to Germany. The Kaiser was still calling for peace, however, he knew deep down there would be no alternative to war in the end. He grimly signed the pact with the Ottomans, knowing Germany would need every ally it could get.

To cement this new alliance, the Kaiser personally bestowed a grant to the German countries working on the Baghdad railway. The railway had been under construction since the 1800's but had been held up due to political issues between the Ottomans, Germany, and most importantly, the United Kingdom.

Unfortunately, Russia continued mobilizing, not yet sending troops across the defenseless Austrian border. Germany relocated half of it's army on the Russian border, maintaining a large presence to bear against France if necessary...

On August 1st however, Wilhelm decided enough was enough. The Central powers were in tatters, the Balkans were once again engaged in warfare, and Russia was at the gates of the German heartland. On August 1st, 1914, Kaiser Wilhelm II declared war against Russia, and mobilized troops. Soon, Germans would be crossing the border into Poland, for the first time of the 20th century...

 

[Bullfilter]

Hi RR, I've followed across to see how you go with this.

Not having played HoI 2 or the HoD spinoff- I take it the mechanics are similar enough to HoI 3 such that the AAR will make sense (aside from the narrative, which can of course stand on its own)?

 

[Guaire123456789]

Subbed

 

[RommelReborn]

I take it the mechanics are similar enough to HoI 3 such that the AAR will make sense

Yes, the mechanics are very similar, which tech trees and division structure being the primary difference. There is also much more historical flavor, if you're like me, and into that sort of thing.

 

[RommelReborn]

II: Dashed Hopes ​

Within days of the German declaration, France immediately mobilized their troops along the German border, as Germany scrambled to prepare for the possibility of a two-front war. Seeing the impossibility of a mass relocation of divisions from the French border, the Germans make one last attempt at a peace, with their French Rival. On August 3rd, the Germans sent a memo to the French, demanding neutrality in the coming conflict with Russia.

The French however, eager to retake their lost provinces from 44 years ago, refused the kind German offer. They immediately declared war the next day. Again, knowing a mass relocation of divisions from the French border impossible, until the French threat eliminated, a swift plan of action was required.
The Germans had three options. The first was to declare war solely on France, and let the French come attacking into the meat grinder that was the German French border. The second, the Schlieffen Plan, was to quickly attack through neutral Belgium and Luxembourg, and quickly take Paris, encouraging another quick surrender by the French.
The third option was the expanded Schlieffen plan, which included taking the Netherlands. The fourth plan, involved invading through mountainous Switzerland. Obviously, trying to quickly invade through mountains, is not the option the Kaiser went with. Given the positioning of the divisions, and the looming threat to the East, the initial Schlieffen plan was given the go-ahead by high command.
Luxembourg, and Belgium were invaded. The United Kingdom, enraged by the violation of Belgium's neutrality, declared war on Germany.

The initial attack orders were immediately given, 27 divisions pushed into Northern Belgium, and another 20 some walked into defenseless Luxembourg. Little resistance was expected.

In Russia, the orders were given for a quick strike into Russian Poland. It was expected the Russians would be unprepared for such a maneuver. The remaining German divisions on the border would hold firm and defend their positions.

The German Tri-plane bombers in the West began bombing allied troops throughout Belgium and Luxembourg, softening up border targets.

The German Navy, built up over the past years to rival Great Britain's, was deployed to the Northern seas. One squadron immediately saw action as it caught as smaller Russian squadron off guard. Needless to say, after the Russo-Japanese war, and due to the outdatedness of the gunboat, the Russians were soundly defeated.

It wasn't long before a successful push was made into the low countries. Luxembourg was quickly occupied, and Belgium was on the retreat. Their weak, pacifist divisions no match for the well trained war-ready German army. Ever the opportunist he was, Kaiser Wilhelm II decided to incorporate Luxembourg into his, "Greater Germany".

Russia unfortunately, did not go as planned. It quickly became a meat grinder, as only one Russian province was successfully taken, and the Russians made it clear that they would not allow this to turn into a defensive war. The Germans were having trouble overcoming their sheer numbers, and the Russians launched attacks in Memel and Tilsit.

In the West however, things went much better for the German armed forces. Within a month and a half, the German army has completely overran Belgium, and has begun positioning troops for the push to Paris! It is the hope of the German high command, that a quick victory here, and a relocation of troops to the Ost-Front, may put more pressure on the Russians than they can handle.

This was desperately needed, as in Russia, things were getting worse and worse for the German position. The Russians had seized Tilsit and Memel, and were continuing to push westward towards Danzig. In the South of the front, it had turned into a bloody stalemate, with the body count mounting for both sides.

Our ally, Austria-Hungary however, seemed to be doing much better with the Russians. It would seem that the Czar had panicked, and deployed the majority of Russians troops to the German border! The Austrians are pushing into Southern Russia with Ease. They may even pocket the troops pushing into Germany right now, which seems to be the majority of the Russian army!!!

Meanwhile in the west, we have taken the first territory from France, as our cavalry divisions quickly took Dunkirk from the weak lonely French division. The rest of the German army soon followed.

It would seem Austria-Hungary's success in Russia has not come without cost. The garrison they kept in the Balkans, is now exceptionally weak, and Serbia has in fact begun to push into Austria. Montenegro is still in the war! However, it should be noted that the Austrians, have taken Belgrade, albeit they are surrounded.

By November 1st, the Eastern front had turned into a total blood bath. The Polish front has stalemated, and the Germans are being pushed back from Tilsit and Allenstein. The Austrians continue to push North, although it is unknown how long their beleaguered troops will be able to keep the offensive going.

In France, our weary divisions desperately try and push further toward Paris, but are stopped shortly before reaching the French city of lights. Hope it seems, is quickly slipping from the fingers of the German high command. All thoughts of the quick war the major powers were thinking of waging, have vanished. Both fronts have utterly stale mated, with Poland a bloodbath, and France an impenetrable fortress of French, Belgian, and now British soldiers.
The German navy has not fared as well against the British as hoped, and now remain in their ports. The German air force is limited, and has little effect on the battlefield as of yet. On December first, the men on all fronts, are just realizing that war, has truly settled in....

 

[Vlad_Dracul1989]

lmao at the frontlines

 

[RommelReborn]

lmao at the frontlines

Yes. It seems to be going the exact opposite of history. This is what I needed during the WW2 portion. I did NOT have enough troops on the Russian border.

 

[Thegreatgeneral]

Subbed.

As far as I see,I have been the only one who managed to take down Germany with Tzarist Russia

 

[RommelReborn]

III: A Merry Russian Christmas
​

December 2nd, 1914
The Lines remain static on the Western Front. The initial success of the offensive is over, and although we overpower the French in numbers, they have dug in, and no longer give way to the German Army's advances.

In Russia, despite being pushed out of Eastern Prussia, the German line is holding firm, with a powerful offensive against the Polish city of Lodz in progress. However, the fact that the German Eastern Army has been pushed back almost to the River Oder is... unsettling to the German High Command, to say the least.

Now we are desperate for any type of pressure to alleviate our worries on the Ost Front. The Austrian offensive North is beginning to slow considerably. However, we do have a potential ally. The Ottoman Empire in the Middle East, is a very sick man. There is no doubting that. However, their military forces are still enough of a concern, to force Russia into a corner being attacked by three nations. An invasion into the Caucasus would require the strategic redeployment of numerous Russian Army corps.

The Ottomans were offered gold in exchange for joining the Central Powers. Enver Pasha, believing he could persuade the Ottomans to join the war, took the gold. However, he failed to persuade them. Of course, the treacherous bastard kept the gold anyway!

Unfortunately, to make matters worse, Russia maneuvered another 14 Army Corps into Lodz, grinding the German offensive there to a halt. However the province of Wroclawek was left open. Seeing an opportunity for encirclement, 16 German Army Corps were ordered into Wroclawek.

In what remains of German East Prussia, chaos has ensued. The Konigsberg coast guard is locked up, without any hope of rescue, bravely fighting off a massive Russian onslaught. In Memel, 4 Army Corps are desperately attempting a breakout operation.

In France, we have renewed our offensive efforts, with a moderate German offensive in Sedan, in an attempt to even out the front line, and drain the French manpower pool.

In Konigsberg, it was not long before the brave division facing the massive onslaught, fell, and was captured the the Russians. The great German port of Konigsberg, an integral part of our territory since the days of the Teutonic order, has fallen to the dastardly Czar!

The Ost front has quickly delved into chaos. A staggering 35 Army Corps are now present in Lodz, and our attempt to send troops in Wroclawek, has met a small, yet stubborn Russian resistance. Our forces in Gydnia are under more and more pressure from the 21 Russian Corps in Elbing.

The death toll is already rising quickly. We have only been at war since the 1st of August, and by the end of 1914, we have already lost well over 500,000 brave men. Mostly the the Russian Bear in the East!!!

Seeing an opportunity to cut into the French lines, General Erich Von Ludendorf has ordered a full scale offensive against the Eastern half of the French line. Due to superior German numbers, it is likely German troops supported by air and artillery can, if nothing else, make the French casualties approach 1 million.

A Miracle!! Our first victory on the Ost Front has arrived! Shortly after the Western offensive was ordered, Eight German Army Corps seized the city of Krakow from the Russians, liberating the taken land and restoring it to our Austrian allies. The Eight heroic divisions now push further into Russian Poland, claiming more land for the Eagles!

Meanwhile, the Wroclawek Lodz line seems to have evened out, with large Russian armies in both cities. However, there is at least no 35 death stack in Lodz anymore. Hopefully, this tactical blunder by the Russians will allow us to push forward, and claim more land for the glorious Kaiser!

On January 5th, 1914, the first major victory on the Eastern Front for Germany was achieved. At dusk, the army marched victoriously into Lodz, successfully having pushed out the massive Russian garrison. Could this be the turn of the tide the Kaiser-reich desperately needs on this front?

Meanwhile, in the West, with the French relocating corps to defend Sedan and their German border, an all out offensive is ordered along the entire French line! The hope is to tie up French and remaining Belgian troops, and take several steps further to Paris.

In the Balkans, the Austrian Position begins to look much better. They have cleared out the remaining Serbs deep in Austrian Territory, and now push on down South. Perhaps a Southern ally could be persuaded to enter the war. A regional power who has been cheated by Serbia in the past... Perhaps they could speed up the process.

However, it seems in this war for every victory, there is a stinging defeat for us. The Russians recently seized Gydnia from us, deploying 21 Army Corps there. They are one step closer to the Oder. Meanwhile, we desperately try to overpower the 31 corps strong Russian army in Wroclawek, and cut them off from supply.

Outstandingly though, in France our offensive has had some success! We have captured Sedan from the French, and have evened out the Front line. Any step into France is a victory for the entrenched Germans, as the war in the West has largely stalemated. Though the hopes that after cutting through Belgium like a hot knife through butter would coax France into surrendering have been dashed, hope for final victory in Paris still remains.

Sadly, in the Eastern front, it remains as big a cluster as ever. The Austrians have managed to push steadily into the Russian South, but will be nowhere near St. Petersburg, and may find themselves cut off from supply chains if they continue pushing forward without care. The fighting between the Germans and the Russians has stalemated, however we are beginning to have some victories. The tide could go either way at this point.

Overall, we are struggling to fight this war. It is not the quick and decisive victory that we had hoped for, and the casualty rate has skyrocketed. So far, Germany has experienced 800,000 casualties. Russia, surprisingly, only 600,000. We may not have the luck of draining the Russian Manpower pool as we believed we would in the Trenches.... However, the tide may soon turn in the East, as we begin to push the Russians back, and the French are still clearly on the defensive.

Until Next Time....

 

[Vlad_Dracul1989]

This time, Samsonov and Rennenkampf will be decorated in Petrograd for their outstanding conquest of East Prussia

Ridiculous frontlines in south, though, reminds me latest HOI game drilling through countries with one division xD

 

[RommelReborn]

This time, Samsonov and Rennenkampf will be decorated in Petrograd for their outstanding conquest of East Prussia

Yes. We may very well have a strange world war 2, where rather than go up against the Soviets, Germany takes revenge upon imperial Russia!