The new Soviet front saw much action with some fair progress. Certainly the Soviets are fighting much harder than the Germans said they would. Il Duce finds himself wondering how dependable the German intelligence is these days. The way they talked in the meetings, the Soviets were a disorganized bunch of militia that would run scared from any organized troops. They have proven to be far more than a disorganized bunch of militia but, battle hardened troops they are not. Nonetheless, a fair bit of territory is taken from them in the early months of the war.
The Soviets hold more than twice of land mass than Germany, Italy, Bulgaria, and Romania combined. If this war was to be won, faster progress needs to be made. Italy sends is most experienced troops to the front to help at the northern front where the Russians seem to be thickest.
Meanwhile, the British once again meddle in the affairs of others and force a coup in Persia...
Both the British and Soviets gain from this new puppet government. This is to be considered for the future, should the entire world unite again the Axis, this war may have a dreadful outcome.
Slow but steady progress is made in the south against the Soviets while in the north, even with Italy's most experienced troops, the Soviets prove a most difficult enemy to uproot.
In Asia, Japan has not done that well yet, their leaders make a bold move...
They make an attempt to knock the USA out of the war before they can truly get involved. The wisdom of their decision remains to be seen...
Il Duce now has more worries than he wants to think about. With the sleeping giant, the USA, awakened, their entry into the European war seems inevitable. His fears are realized even sooner than seems possible...
Benito summons his military staff to plan something new, something unexpected. His intelligence staff gave him some reports he didn't make much of at the time but now, those reports are a possible way to victory. It seems Italy has been reactive for most of this ever growing war, it is past time she was proactive. A bold plan is devised... Hitler and his Nazis are only told a small bit of the plan, the part that requires them to clear some port facilities in Cherbourg. In the very early morning, in December of '41, something is done which has not been done since the days of the Roman empire...
The waters between Germany and England were full of ships and the skies were full of planes but, the speed at which the attack occurs amazes even the Italians. More and more troops are sent across the channel to quickly seize the homelands of the British before they can defend it. They have been sending the bulk of their troops overseas for this war, now that should prove to be their undoing!
All the troops that can be spared are sent to rapidly occupy the British mainland. In quick succession, one province after another is taken. Only Stornoway and the Ireland provinces remain by early January...
The victory is bittersweet however, for the other war fronts are suffering from little progress being made. In Africa, spare troops were pulled and a defensive line was formed south of Cairo. The British and their allies are quickly retaking the provinces south of Cairo with fairly large numbers of troops...
In Russia, the bitter winter and muddy terrain have helped the front barely move, except in the favor of the Russians to the south...
In Asia, the Japanese still struggle with China while they are slowly reaching out to other territories owned by the British and Dutch...
With England and Scotland secured, all spare troops are sent from the British invasion back to the Russian front to the north. The pressure must be relieved from the Finns and the Soviets must pay dearly to hold those lands.
Back in Rome, a conference is held with the Armaments minister. Benito shows his disgust with the slow pace at which his troops have been armed and outfitted with new equipment. To resolve the situation, many new factories are ordered to be constructed. His advisers protest this decision but he has an iron resolve. Their short sightedness allowed the industrial base to grow too slowly, now it is time to change that course. It is hoped these new industries will support new troops being trained and older troops being outfitted quicker. It is also hoped, it is not too late to have them built...
These last few months have been difficult and confounding for Benito. Many successes are witnessed but none have been a total success. Even the British managed to relocate their capitol to their Indian lands and still produce armaments. Somehow, someway, a more decisive blow must be made against one of their opponents before the war is lost.
As for my build ... well... let's wait for a soon to be posted update and you will see 
