The History of the Second World War (UK AAR 1936 1.2)

[enigmamcmxc]

(Title stolen from the governments official history series of the war)

The road to war and the "Phoney War"

Watching Europe slowly descend towards another European War a policy of rearmament was agreed upon. The Indian Army would be expanded by one division and the British Army would be brought up to a strength of, initially, 12 armoured divisions and 38 infantry divisions. We plan on increasing the Indian Army by one more division as well as reinforcing India Command with at least four British divisions. Middle East Command is earmarked for our first two armoured divisions and two mobile divisions, following which they will be reinforced how and when we can. The Air Force would be increase to six groups, of four wings, of fighters for home defence and a further group for service in the Middle East while our strategic bomber force would be increased to four wings and our tactical bombers at least 12 wings. The Royal Navy was to be increased by at least four new battleships and five Illustrious class carriers so that we can field three major fleets of at least six battleships and two fleet carriers each: the Home Fleet, Mediterranean Fleet and Force H (based in Gibraltar) to ensure complete naval dominance. It was planned to lay down four King George V class battleships however only one was as advancements in construction and naval technology saw the kneels being laid down for a super-heavy battleship, the HMS Dreadnought, and two Vanguard class battleships: The Prince of Wales and the Duke of York.

Tensions started to rise in Europe during the late 30s; a civil war ignited in Spain and after several months of fighting the Republicans beat the Nationalist rebels. Several states within the Balkans sought alliances with neighbours while Poland formed its own alliance with France and Hungary. Due to these events and Nazi controlled Germany swallow up its neighbours we passed laws to allow one year’s national service for all men of military age, this was increased and as we progressed into 1939 it was again increased to three years national service. So when war broke out and the order to mobilise was given, most of our forces were already near 100%.

On 30 August 1939 the long awaited and foreseen war began; German forces crossed the Polish border sending the continent into another major war. Only three days previously had our nation signed and alliance with the Poles bringing them formally into an alliance with the French and ourselves. We and the French declared war in response to the Germans however the Hungarians betrayed their alliance. As German forces launched their initial assaults, to the northeast the Red Army, of the Soviet Union, launched attacks upon the Finns. Within a 24 hour period seven nations, including the German puppet Slovakia, were at war; such events had world wide consequences as the United States started preparations for war. While we had taken steps to rearm the nation, we had not reached the desired troop and air force levels that we wished for.

By the end of the second day of the war 18,000 British soldiers, mostly officers and administration staff of the Army and Corps headquarters had arrived in France while the Home Fleet had been ordered to sortie towards the German North Sea ports; no ships were sighted and our force returned home. On 1 September German U-boats were sighted in the North Sea and engaged by our destroyers resulting in our first victory of the war; one submarine destroyed. Retaliation was soon to follow; German bombers, eluding our air force, launched a bombing raid across the country.

On the 5th German capital ships and destroyers were sighted in the North Sea; our destroyers were ordered to home ports so to stay out the way of the big gun ships and the Home Fleet was ordered to sortie to seek and destroy. A destroyer duel did take place before our ships vacated the North Sea resulting in the loss of two of our own ships for one German. The German capital ships eluded our force however further ones were spotted in the Channel; bombers were ordered to engage them however they failed to even locate them.

On the 6th reacting to the state of war on her borders, Denmark started the mobilisation of her armed forces. Two days later the capital ships that were breaking out towards the Atlantic, returned eastwards down the Channel. They engaged our Reserve Fleet that was escorting empty transporters, back to the United Kingdom from France; one destroyer and a transporter was lost but in turn we sunk a heavy cruiser and a destroyer, leaving a single heavy cruiser running for home. On the 14th, having thought we had chased the German fleet home, we discover German ships prowling around the western end of the English Channel; they engaged a destroyer squadron and inflicted heavy losses.
By the 19th, regardless of the naval skirmishes in the North Sea and Channel, we had transported the British Expeditionary Force to France; 265,152 men comprising 24 infantry divisions and one tank brigade, this force split between eight Corps headquarters and the First and Second Armies. Additional armoured, artillery, anti-tank and tank forces are being recruited and will be shipped to France when they are ready to bolster the BEF, we will attempt to build the force up to around 300,000 men by the time the Germans launch their inevitable attack westwards. The skeleton force of Third and Fourth Armies are already in place each containing several Corps headquarters albeit without any combat forces attached to them.

By the time our force had finished spreading itself out along the Belgium border, allowing the French to shift men to the Maginot Line, the Polish southern flank had collapsed. It appeared if the Germans contuined the thrust they were launching, they would pocket practically the whole Polish Army attempting to defend Warsaw. While Poland is slowly being overran and in hardly any diplomatically strong position, they announce that they have impressed an embargo on the Italians at the end of the month.

During the previous month we had lost nine destroyers had been lost but we had sunk 13 German ships. Intel reports indicate that there are at least nine more ships available to the Germans, including two battleships and two battlecruisers. In contrast we have seven battleships, including the newly launched HMS Dreadnought, three battlecruisers and one Fleet carrier in this theatre.

On 2 October 1939 we lose our first convoy ship to German submarines. At the same time we accept an offer to allow the Poles to run up a war debt with us. On the 5th of the month, just over a month after the war began, the Finns and Soviets announce a truce. A week later, on the 11th, the Polish Army collapses after six weeks of war. The Hungarians leave their alliance and the Polish government refuses to surrender. The Soviet Union occupies eastern Poland and the Baltic States. The obvious conclusion to accept from the campaign against Poland, the “Winter War” (although no one is quite sure why it has been called this, since it is still Autumn) and the fighting prior to the war in Spain highlight the rapid campaigns; perhaps the war will be over by Christmas ... at least Christmas 1940?

A fortnight passes and the Germans strike again, they declare war on Norway. The Home Fleet is moved into a blocking position off the German North Sea naval bases while the Reserve Fleet is ordered to patrol south of Oslo. Within two days we halt German ships moving towards Norway inflicting heavy damage on several cruisers but do not sink anything. In the Balkans the Rumanians and Greeks ally with one another. Between the 18th and 20th of the month the Low Countries start mobilisation soon followed by the Swiss. On the 21st Germany declares war on Sweden; our naval resources are at their limit so several submarines from Malta are ordered to Sweden and a Spitfire wing is dispatched. The next day Finland starts to re-mobilise. However before the month is out Germany also declares war on the Netherlands and launches multiple strikes along the country’s borders. By the 26th November the Dutch Army has been pushed back into a pocket just north of Amsterdam, their country has been overrun. We were unable to interfere, our force would have to pull back to the Channel ports and land at Dutch ports practically in the combat zone risking huge losses and setback, not to mention weakening our position if Belgium is attacked; we therefore awaiting the strike further west and we didn’t have to wait long it came on this very day....

 

[enigmamcmxc]

The Battle of the Low Countries

The BEF, only marginally reinforced with additional artillery units since the war began, is ordered to move forward into Belgium to bolster the Belgium Army and hold the border (see appendix A, the BEF’s ultimate objective was the Green Line). Two days later the lead divisions, the motorised 15th (Scottish) and 51st (Highland) Infantry Divisions, arrive at the Dutch border and launch an immediate assault to secure the river line to ensure a solid northern anchor. As additional infantry forces arrive they are thrown into the battle to ensure overwhelming firepower is brought to bare on the Germans. Elsewhere in Belgium our motorised forces have also engaged German forces, aiding the Belgium’s in keeping their border intact; by 1st December we have scored our first land success and have repulsed the German attacks. The next day, our forces pushed back the German 9th Infantry Division and advanced into the Netherlands.

Over the coming days our forces halted several additional German attacks in the south of the country but were unable to effectively counterattack and regain ground lost along the eastern border. In the Netherlands we have been forced to halt our attack so to allow our forces to regroup however by the 10 December we have occupied the river line we aimed for and linked up with the final Dutch division in Europe. At the Eupen Forest, in southern Belgium near the Luxembourg border, around 100,000 men were engaged in battle; one British and one Belgium infantry Corps against numerous German divisions. The Allied line was holding however the Belgium forces had lost over half their men. British First Army had started to feed more and more men into this battle but so had the Germans, their numbers exceeded 115,000 men fighting for control of this forest by the 19th. Four days later 200,000 men, of 9 British, 2 Belgium and 10 German divisions, were engaged in heavy combat. British I Corps HQ was hit hard and started to retreat from the battle while the divisions it controlled stayed in the line; the entirety of III Corps was now ordered to reinforce the defence and four divisions, of Second Army, were ordered to launch an attack at the north end of our line to see if we can draw off troops from Eupen.

On New Year’s Day Italy declared war on the Greeks, invading from Albania; unfortunately for the Greeks their Rumanian allies did not enter the fray.
On the 5 January 1940, three British Corps were launched onto the offensive in central Belgium in a further attempt to draw off forces from the escalating battle in southern Belgium. Three days later our attacks in the Netherlands cracked open the German frontline and overran a Slovakian division, taking 10,000 men prisoner. However we had no additional forces to exploit the situation created and by the 12th the Germans had moved men into the way to block any further advances. The chance to liberate Amsterdam passed us by. The next day a German counterattack was launched but after a short confusing battle it was defeated.

On the 16th, after 30+ days of fighting, the battle of the Eupen Forest came to an end; over 17,000 British lives had been lost but we had inflicted over 22,000 casualties on the German forces. The attacks to the north of Eupen had definitely diverted attention away from the battle. In an attempt to take advantage of the defeat the Army had just inflicted on the Germans, the attack in central Belgium was called off and First Army went onto the offensive against the Germans facing Eupen. Meanwhile the Second Army had been engaged in its own major battle, fighting a two week battle for control of Rotterdam; which was captured on the 28th however further advances were not possible.

Our forces have already identified how the German armed forces operated, we capture ground and they will launch immediate tactical counterattacks. Our success at Rotterdam brought upon us, a now typical, counterattack; as the fighting was now focused near Rotterdam, Allied and Axis activity along the Belgium border ceased. Back and forth fighting takes place along Second Armies front while First Army, having lost quite a few men, reorganises itself; the frontline is thinly held and a number of divisions are pulled back for rest and to create a reserve. By 10 February we had halted yet another German assault; at this point in the campaign we realised that we have the ability to advance, after bludgeoning are way through the German force frontlines but only at a slow pace that leaves us no ability to create a breakthrough and exploit it whereas the Germans have not been able to break through our lines or force us back. If the French moved forces off their border, at this point there was eight spare divisions on the Belgium border or garrisoning the interior, we might be able to deliver the decisive blow we need.

Our submarine force is withdrawn from Sweden on the 11th, one was to head back to Malta while the remaining two were to head for Scapa Flow after heavy damage was inflicted on them.

Up until the 25th the front was quite and First Army reorganised itself, taking over the entire frontline in Belgium. This move freed up the resources of Second Army, whom were then able to concentrate its forces in the Rotterdam area; its mobile forces have been placed together and have been reinforced with two army tank brigades. Over the preceding days every bomber available had been put into the air to attack the frontline positions facing Rotterdam to weaken the way to Amsterdam, while every fighter was put into the fray to gain air superiority. The attack was due to be launched on the last day of the month however the Germans launched their own attack before Second Army could launch its own offensive. 3 March, our main force is still engaged in a defensive battle for Rotterdam however our bombers have really softened up the German regiments guarding the way to Amsterdam so an infantry Corps, that was guarding the main force’s flank, was ordered into the attack on its own. Three days pass until our forces had finally beaten off the German assault however they were too disorganised to aid in the attack towards Amsterdam that was now faltering; additional troops, holding the far north of our line, were now ordered to attack but on the 10th it was called off following the grounding our air assets after they had taken heavy losses. In response the Germans launch yet another attack towards Rotterdam.

11 March 1940, the Allied alliance grows in strength as the Australians join us and our campaign against the Germans.

15 March, the fighting at Rotterdam is proceeding rather badly for Second Army; most of the infantry divisions have lost their composure and have been ordered to pull back while a few fresh divisions are ordered into the battle. Meanwhile First Army is preparing to launch a counterattack in two days time; they have spread out across the frontline and massed forces for a strike towards Eindhoven. However, rather typically just prior to our own attack being launched, the Germans launch an assault on First Army; they attack Eupen, now only defended by two British and one Belgium divisions. Regardless, on the 18th we launch our assault just after dawn.

On the 21st the fighting at Rotterdam finally died down, Second Army inflicted a heavy tactical defeat on the Germans; over 7,000 men were killed. However, strategically, the Germans had worn down the entire army thus incapacitated its ability to operate effectively at the present. Another such attack could buckle our line; it was at this point the thought of retreating towards France. Two days later, the disorganised and depleted Second Army forces are pulled off the front leaving a light screening force masking Rotterdam. The Germans renewed their assault! The newly arrived 6th Armoured Division, earmarked for the First Army offensive, was ordered into Holland to reinforce Rotterdam. On the 26th the Germans launched further attacks on our line, the possibility of it breaking was nigh; First Army’s attack appeared to be making the desired process we wanted so we gambled on striking forward. However after two months of fighting the Germans retook Rotterdam.

The next day First Army’s attack broke though the German frontline and our tank brigades launched an attack to capture Eindhoven. While Second Army was not ready for battle it was nether-the-less thrown against the Germans to retake Rotterdam and advance to meet up with First Army and pocket several German forces on the Belgium border. As First Army started to exploit our success, the divisions holding our southern flank broke under the pressure and retreated; they had gave as good as they had received but could not hold their positions against overwhelming numbers. By the end of the month the southern flank had been completely breeched and German forces had advanced to Bastogne; further advances were checked by weak Anglo-Belgium forces and a few divisions were mustered to launch an attack on Eupen to retake lost ground.

First Army’s advance had captured Eindhoven however Second Army’s forces had stopped to regroup after taking Rotterdam instead of carrying on to link up; it was only on the 3 April when they finally started moving again. In the south attempts to repulse the German penetration had failed and we had moved some forces in to mask their advance. By the 8th the pocket had been closed on the Belgium border and our renewed attacks at Eupen had tracked further German forces around Bastogne. The trapped Germans fought ferociously and determined counterattacks were launched to open up the pockets. German forces were able to open up a gap to the trapped men on the Belgium border, our attempts to reclose the pocket failed as more Germans were rushed in. German attacks started to intensify along our frontline, on the 14th the First Army was ordered to withdraw. However at Eupen the remains of the Belgium army reinforced our position while our own attacks into the Bastogne pocket succeeded and took 3,000 prisoners.
On 23 April the Sino-Japanese war ended, with a Japanese victory; soon after a “nationalist” Chinese puppet state was created.

 

[Myth]

Sounds like good progress is being made in Europe! When do you anticipate the victory, and how worried are you about Japan?

 

[enigmamcmxc]

Extremley worried about Japan, if they launch an attack i dont believe i will be able to hold them back. But am more concerned about the Italians and the forces they have on the French border and in Africa. As for Victory in Europe, hmmm thats a toughie; i have new divisions being created so there might be a chance to in the next year or so :rofl:

 

[enigmamcmxc]

The bloodbath of the Low Countries

On 30 April we launch our first carrier based air strike against enemy ships in port; it is a small scale affair with planes launching an attack on the naval base Amsterdam, the strike is unsuccessful but the planes confirm that there is one battleship and one battlecruiser based there.

On the same day Stanley Baldwin, Prime Minster and stand in head of state for King George V, is replaced in a war cabinet reshuffle due to the poor campaign in Belgium; Winston Churchill takes over the new government and King George VI takes the throne.

In the North Sea the German fleet in Amsterdam sorties and engages the Reverse Fleet; four Royal Navy light cruisers are sunk. No German ships are destroyed however our force confirms that there are now two battleships in this fleet: the Bismack and Brandenburg. The Home Fleet is sent to launch carrier based strikes at the German fleet in retaliation; the Bismarck is nearly sunk and the Brandenburg is severely damaged.

Throughout May back and forth fighting takes place along Second Army’s frontline but no assistance is made possible from First Army as yet again heavy fighting as took place at Eupen; the First Army’s front has been spread thin while the majority of its force is committed to the battle or is in reserve to be rotated into the battle when needed. In an attempt to get the campaign moving again an attack is launched, by Second Army, on the extreme northern end of the line however the Germans launch their own assault on the centre of Second Army’s front and throw our forces back; due to which, we are forced to halt out offensive actions. As one attack ends, the German Army hits another section of Second Army’s front. As we fend off the latest attack we launch out own counterattack to retake lost ground however our southern flank starts to give way under the German assaults.

3 June 1941, Rumania’s borders are redrawn. The Soviet Union takes control of the Bessarabia and Hungary takes control of Transylvania.

The same day our southern line in the Netherlands gives way, the Germans follow this success up with an attack on Rotterdam. What spare troops there are, are thrown onto the line to hold it long enough to allow our retreating forces to get to safety. Our counterattack, to retake ground lost in the preceding days, succeeds and defeats a German counter strike. The retreating man make it back to Allied lines and pass into reserve however the Germans further assaults, they are wearing down the entire of Second Army. As the month wares on back and forth fighting carries on resulting in the German re-occupation of Rotterdam; this gain forces our hand and the troops to the north are ordered to withdraw to straighten the line. The gains that have been taken since we arrived in Holland are almost nearly all back in German hands. Through the heavy fighting in the Netherlands, the Germans kept First Army pinned down and unable to support the defence.

In the opening days of July, over 300 carrier based planes launch an attack on Amsterdam; they are soon joined by British tactical bombers, and for the first time in the campaign support from France in the guise of naval bombers. Several small ships and transports are sunk in port along with the capital ship Bismarck!

Through July, German attacks are launched up and down the entire length of our frontline resulting in the wearing down of British and Belgium forces and then the capture of Antwerp – breeching the frontline. The armoured divisions and tank brigades, now acting as a mobile reserve or “firebrigade”, are ordered to plug the hole. They accomplish this mission but only after several days of fighting and heavy losses. Throughout these attritional battles the RAF has provided air cover wherever the Luftwaffe has struck however heavy losses and Luftwaffe strategic bombers striking points across the United Kingdom the entire fighter force is pulled back to home and organised into various groups to provide in-depth coverage, although at least half the force is under strength.

As August arrived a manpower shortage had set in, due to strategic strikes and heavy losses the country does not have the industrial Capacity to sustain the losses however our manpower pool is fine, quite a number of our divisions are now around 3,000 men short of establishment. The frontline is currently being thinly held due to divisions being combat ineffective and also to allow divisions relief time to be reinforced. The current back and forth fighting is taking a toll that we cannot continue with, over 160,000 British soldiers have so far died in the fighting in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The Germans kept up the level of their assaults across our frontline, the order is given to pull back. The entire force will pull back to the Franco-Belgium border but stay within Belgium. This move will shorten our frontline and allow us to create a larger reserve of troops. As the withdrawal starts, our forces leapfrogging backwards, the Germans launch an attack and collapse the centre of our line. First Army’s HQ brigade is able to defend Brussels long enough to allow regular forces to enter the city and push back a German assault. On the extreme north and southern flanks as our forces withdraw the Belgium and Dutch troops keep fighting acting as our rearguard. By the 26th the move is mostly complete; one last division is moving laterally across our frontline into its assigned position. The first German assault on our new position soon follows and it is repulsed with heavy losses inflicted.

The first few days of September are quite however on the 4th the Bulgarians, following the examples of the Hungarians and Soviet Union, take their own bite out of Rumania.

Throughout the month the Germans mount attacks practically all along our line; the frontline is held by two divisions in each province, with the Corps third division behind the frontline. In addition an entire infantry Corps is in reserve along with our armoured forces and two motorised divisions. Belgium troops screened our new front until they were forced back and linked up with the British forces. This war so far as been a war of attrition, we believe that over 200,000 Germans have been killed fighting our forces; however in most engagements, in the last few months, our force have been losing more men than the Germans. In our new position the war of attrition has turned in our favour, in the engagements fought on our new frontline we have inflicted roughly two times more losses than we have received. There have been a few shaky moments but with more reserves available now we have been able to replace worn out units with fresh divisions and we are now planning a counter strike and encirclement battle.

 

[ComTrav]

I found logistical strike basically paralyzes Japanese land forces, if you have the tactical bombers (especially if Siam isn't in the fight.)

12 armor divisions seems pretty ambitious. Are you planning on expanding the air force/navy at all?

Glad to see you modded Winston and George VI in. It just doesn't feel right playing Hoi as the UK without Churchill.

Looking forward to this!

 

[loki100]

great update - sounds really tense

 

[Myth]

Losing four light cruisers just for confirmation of enemy forces is a bit expensive! Though at least port strikes seem to be working out.

 

[enigmamcmxc]

Quite luckly they were older ones of the Reserve Fleet but still quite a loss! Well i wasnt really looking to confirm what they had, i was masking the port so they couldnt get out - the irony

I found logistical strike basically paralyzes Japanese land forces, if you have the tactical bombers (especially if Siam isn't in the fight.)

12 armor divisions seems pretty ambitious. Are you planning on expanding the air force/navy at all?

Glad to see you modded Winston and George VI in. It just doesn't feel right playing Hoi as the UK without Churchill.

Looking forward to this!

I need to build up my tactical air force, currently i only have four-five tactical bomber wings (two at home, one in the Middle East, and a tactical wing iirc in both Singapore and India). I might regroup them all in France since their is no threat currently in those other theaters.

Well 12 Armoured Divisions and a Tank Brigade (heavy armour) for each Corps; just trying to play realistic to how the British Army was set up and planned to organise itself. Where realsitically its tank brigade ratio was smaller than mine and a bunch of the armoured divisions were never sent abroad i plan to to take it that little further. I currently have four armoured divisions in the field and another two soon to be completed this year; so am basically half way there.

Fighter and CAS production has been increased, off memory i have 12 interceptors in the UK (a few more abroad) and 3-4 fighters. I should have a group of 4 CAS by the end of the year along with a few additional fighters.

Next year the Navy will get 2 new battleships (Vangaurd class) and 4 (if memory serves) new Fleet Carriers. 2 Light cruisers have been ordered but am waiting on my research to get up to date before i order even more. I have been pouring out destroyers, i have replaced all earlier losses so far and i am just gonner keep building them. The next load are going to replace the Med Fleets destroyers so i can organise the older ones into a squadron of their own.

 

[enigmamcmxc]

Back and forth...

In Mid-September the Germans renew their attacks and by the 18th they force back out frontline; for the first time we are now defending French soil however we launch an immediate counterattack with what reserves we have to spare. We retake our lost ground but in the back and forth fighting we are forced back; the 45th (Wessex) Infantry Division is reduced to 5,000 men! The men of the Wessex division and another unit, similarly reduced in strength, are ordered back into strategic reserve – several provinces away from the frontline. Our counterattack force, based in Brussels, is ordered north to help retake the lost ground; there move is aborted after a day when new forces depart from England; however the 6th Guards Tank Brigade carry on the move.

On 27th September X Corps is activated in France, it is comprised of the Guards Armoured and Infantry Divisions, the 61st Infantry Division along with the 6th Guards and 34th Tank Brigades. The Corps is placed under the command of the recently promoted Lieutenant-General Alexander. The Corps along with the forces that have been fighting back and forth in the north, and the newly arrived 1st Airborne Division launch an immediate assault to retake lost ground and gain a jumping off point for X Corps to attack from; late in the day 85,000 men attack!

As our attack goes in, the Germans reprise with an attack to the south pushing our force back and capturing ground. There are no immediate reserves available so First Army’s reserves are ordered north to launch a counterattack. As we do the Germans hit another section of our line, this time to the south of Brussels; First Army’s reserves are ordered there instead. The fighting in the north has yet to make head way but the armoured force in Brussels is given the go ahead early on 1 October to attack; 44,000 men assault the German positions. Later in the day X Corps secure their jumping off point and strike out towards Gent sending the Germans packing. However the attack towards Antwerp is stalling and the Germans launch their own assault on Brussels. The bombers are called in to make a maximum effort launching interdiction missions to halt these attacks.

6 October 1940 the Canadians and New Zealanders join the alliance and the war on Nazi Germany.

The next day the attack towards Antwerp is called off so that we can give 100% in defending Brussels and not letting it fall to the Germans. The infantry Corps to the north of the city are ordered to advance forward and capture the terrain to the north of the city to bring about the encirclement of German forces; the move will trap fewer forces than we planned but it will have to do. On the 10th the Germans push our force out of Bruges after a several day long battle; this leaves X Corps isolated! The Germans launch a minor attack but they are beaten back. A counterattack is launched to retake Bruges, to not only link back up with the Guardsmen but also to close the northern end of the pocket. The panic of our men being surrounded is over the following day when the thrust just north of Brussels succeeds; we have linked up with the trapped men and closed off a southern escape route. Later in the day Bruges is retaken and the pocket closed. Two infantry divisions and a brigade are trapped, 25,000 men. The reserves that were mustered behind the frontline last month for the counterattack to retake our lost frontlines positions are now ordered to eliminate the pocket. On the 16th, after a five day fight, 23,000 German soldiers walk into captivity. As we win this victory the Germans launch another strike on our lines, this time to the south of Brussels however there is positive news, the French have finally started to reinforce our lines!

 

[enigmamcmxc]

A snapshot of the Army

The British Army currently stands at a strength of 636,000 men; several support brigades and an Armoured Division are due to be ready by the end of the year that will add 13,000 men to our ranks. In 1941 the final four infantry divisions, of our original rearmament programme, will be trained and deployed along with, with a bit of luck, the final six armoured divisions of this programme; by the end of 1941 the Army should be at over 700,000 men strong.

Our main force is the BEF, at a strength of over 341,000 men. While our armies are flexible structures with ever changing orders of battle and with both mixing units together to achieve success; they have both been set boundaries, First Army is to hold Brussels and the line south of the city while Second Army holds the terrain to the north.

(French Air Force can be seen active over German lines and French troops moving towards Belgium)

While we were fighting in the Netherlands Second Army was the larger formation this has now changed as forces have been rearranged. Currently the First Army is 172,000 men strong while Second Army is 160,000 strong; a further 9,000 men, of the 1st Airborne Division, are under the direct command of Home Command and are the strategic reserve. First Army is most likely going to be further increased with the latest arrivals of X Corps to launch an encirclement battle to the south of Brussels.

Elsewhere within the Empire the armed forces look like thus:

• Middle East Command has a staff of 3,000 men and the 46,000 strong Eighth Army
• East African Command has a total of 81,000 men under command however only 24,000 men are from British formations, the rest are Indian of African formations.
• Indian Command has a staff of 3,000 men and 93,000 man strong Fourteenth Army; of which 18,000 are British troops.
• Singapore Command has 40,000 men under command but only 9,000 British soldiers.
• 16,000 soldiers on garrison duty around the Empire
• 12,000 administration staff based within the UK

 

[enigmamcmxc]

Belgium falls...

In late October the Germans continue to batter themselves against our lines, after several days of fighting and taking huge losses the Germans capture Gent once more on the 29th. In the preceding days the Army Group had been reorganising itself in preparation of a new encirclement battle, because of which an entire infantry Corps was available in reserve; they were ordered to plug the hole the Germans had created immediately.

On 31 October, it is brought to the nation’s attention that the Greeks have defeated the Italians!

2 November, the Germans hit our lines once again; just to the south of Gent. The following day Second Army launches a counterattack to retake Gent and this diverts attention from the Germans latest assault weakening it; there assault is beaten off by the 6th.

At the same time in the Western Approaches German U-Boats sink several convoys but a destroyer squadron tracks them down and sinks three whole flotillas with no loss. However the squadron takes heavy damage with the light cruiser, leading the force, nearly being lost. The damaged ships are ordered to Scapa Flow for repairs while a light cruiser from the Home Fleet and several spare destroyers are ordered to Plymouth to reinforce the remnants of the squadron.

On 7 November the serious reinforcement problem, that had affected all three services throughout the year due to heavy losses, was considered to be over; losses had been brought down to a manageable level. Our forces are now able to start to build themselves back up to their full strength. Due to this we order fighters back to France, they have an immeditate impact on the fighting. Our infantry had been fighting for months under constant air attack, these few fighters quickly cut into the German air ranks inflicting heavy losses. However within a few days they were again withdrawn due to the masses of German fighters available and the heavy losses they inflicted upon our squadrons.

12 November the new counterattack is launched; 80,000 men launch their attack on a single German infantry division. Two days later 50,000 men, of the northern wing, launch their attack but face stiffer resistance in the shape of two armoured divisions and an infantry division. The Germans respond by launching attacks on our line at Brussels and Bruges. Progress is made in the south when on the 17th Bastogne is captured however the Germans recapture Gent after suffering losses. The next day the southern wing carries on the offensive and strikes at Eupen however in the 24 hour break the Germans have rushed reinforcements – 4 divisions - into the area and the attack starts to bog down; extra infantry is fed in to support the attack and Bruges is successfully defended.

Over the course of the next few days as many fighters as we can muster are put into the air over the Channel and Den Haag as the Home Fleet takes position off the Dutch coast. They launch multiple strikes on a docked transport and submarine fleet; after several strikes they lay wrecked and destroyed at the bottom of the port. Following which the attacks concentrate on the Admiral Scheer; on the 24th planes from the Ark Royal claim the destruction of the heavy cruiser.

To successfully defend Brussels the counterattack was cancelled and after several days of fighting the Germans closed down their offensive after losing over 2,500 men. They waste no time in launching a new strike; this time to the north of the city. On the 22nd the entire counterattack, to encircle German forces, is called off when the strike on Eupen is cancelled after heavy losses and after the Germans reinforce the area with over 100,000 men. On the 28th the Germans retake the last of the ground we had captured in our previous encirclement battle.

Towards the end of the month fighters scramble to intercept German bombers and some spot German capital ships off the Belgium coast; the Home Fleet, half way back to Scapa Flow, is ordered around to intercept. On the 30th the Home Fleet engages the battleship Tirpitz and the battlecruiser Schlesien in the mouth of the Thames. In a brief engagement the Dreadnought and the Repulse are hit hard however our carrier bombers inflict devastating damage upon the German ships. The fleet gives chase but they lose the German ships, aerial recon indicates that the ships have fled to Amsterdam.

As these events take place the Germans hit the weakest point of our line and breakthrough to the French border!

2 December, every fighter is put into the air over the Channel and Amsterdam while the strategic bombers strike the airfields at Amsterdam. Our tactical bombers in conjunction with our carrier based planes launched a massive strike on Amsterdam. The damaged Tirpitz is nowhere in sight however the battleship Mark Brandeburg and the cruiser Prinz Eugen are docked. They are engaged, along with lighter ships, but after two days the offensive is called off after massive aerial losses to all units engaged. No ships are sunk. The Home Fleet is diverted to the north German ports to locate the missing ships, there they are found and a carrier strike is launched. German fighters, flak guns and numerous ships in harbour cause the strike to be unsuccessful and the Home Fleet returns to Scapa Flow. However as the strike was taking place a new battleship was located moored in port; Intel identify this new battleship as the Großdeutschland. With at least three battleships, two heavily damaged, the Kriegsmarine is effecting a policy of a Fleet in Being; the decision is made to recall the carriers from the Mediterranean so that a overwhelming strike can be launched and remove the threat. However as the decision is about to be undertaken it is brought to the government’s attention that Crete and southern Greece is being overran by the Italians.

Several Daring Class destroyers have been devlivered throughout the year and following the above mentioned battles three more were; four County Class destroyers have now been ordered and four Crown Class Colony light cruisers.

7 December, the Germans carry on their attacks upon our lines; reinforcements are moved to bolster the defences but the decision is made to pull back the armoured corps into strategic reserve to be in place to halt any breakthrough. Seven days later, after numerous divisions had been thrown into the battle, the Germans push our men back inflicting heavy losses. The next day further troops are pulled back to provide depth to our defences and to be in position to flank any further penetration. The armoured reserve is ordered to Lille to plug the gap in the line and counterattack, while they are en route the Germans hit Bruges with overwhelming numbers – there are no reserves available; the Germans have finally taxed our ability to hold the line. On the 16th the troops who were retreating from the previous battle had successfully made it back to our lines so the order to retreat was given to the men in Bruges. X Corp’s armoured divisions are pulled back along with the Corps and Second Army headquarters, the Corps infantry divisions are ordered forward to secure the route to and from Brussels.

On the 18th the Germans launch a new assault to the north of Brussels albeit not in the same force as their other strikes. The next day they launch a further strike to the south of the city. The northern attack is defeated by the 21st but on Christmas day they strike again. French and Belgium forces have linked up with our own so the British divisions are withdrawn from the battle over the next few days. Our cohesive divisions, in the north, are ordered to create a skirmish line from the Channel to Brussels. On New Year’s Day all Corps headquarters are ordered to pull back and establish a new line near Paris. Our troops pull out from the fighting south of Brussels leaving the Franco-Belgium force to hold the line. On the 4th the Germans break through south of Brussels, our forces in southern Belgium are ordered to fall back to the new line as they are now endangered of being enveloped.

On 10 January 1941 Germany invades Denmark and the next day they launch an assault on Yugoslavia.

While there had been hope for a final confrontation at Brussels to inflict heavy losses in urban combat, the Germans did not oblige us. With German troops on the French border and nearly all troops manning the new line the force in Brussels, and the men holding a corridor open to the city, are ordered to fall back to the new line. The Battle of Belgium is over, the Battle of France is about to begin. Our Army Group has suffered 223,000 casualties* and maybe 10,000 more due to ground attack air strikes, in return we have inflicted over 250,000 casualties on the German-Slovak Army and took over 33,000 prisoners. There is no information available for the losses inflicted or received by the Belgium’s, Dutch or French in these battles but German losses must have amounted to over 300,000 men thus far.

*I am taking the “killed” figure provided by infoboxes to actually be both killed and wounded.

 

[Myth]

That's some bloody fighting going on! Also, wtf is up with the war in Greece?

 

[enigmamcmxc]

Internal affairs and attempts to achieve complete naval dominance

18 January 1941, Brussels has now been fully evacuated of British troops; Belgians and the French now hold the city. The same day the British Expeditionary Force Army Group Headquarters is established in Paris; the First and Second Armies are attached to this headquarters taking them from the direct control of Home Command. On the 26 January the new line is full established with all formations in position; First Army’s mobile formations and armour are position to hold the open southern flank.

30 January, Hungary enters a military alliance with Italy.

2 February 1941, carrier air strikes are launched on the German main naval base. In preparation for this strike the Strategic Bombers had struck the airfields nearby for several days knocking them out. The carrier strikes revealed the Tirpitz to be nearly fully repaired however the Schlesien isn’t, the strikes also reveal a new Battlecruiser in port and the Großdeutschland missing. Four days later the strike aircraft flying off the light carrier Hermes, sink the Schlesien retarding the German efforts to create potential High Seas Fleet. The offensive is then called off as the squadrons are disorganised and in need of rest and refitting.

12 February, the government is informed about the Greek’s progress with Italy; the Greeks have been encircled in Albania and in a fort near the Greco-Albanian border.

15 February, the Germans have penetrated through the French ranks inflicting heavy losses and have came face to face with the new British line. The Germans do not attack but continue their offensive southwards inflicting further losses on the French. All the while the French and German Army Groups manning the Maginot Line and the West Wall continue to watch over one another doing nothing.

26 February, the Denmark surrenders however the government decides to fight on exile; however Germany takes control of Iceland leaving Denmark’s only procession as Greenland. It has taken the Germans nearly two months to achieve this objective highlighting how overstretched they are. With their success here they then launch an assault on Sweden but make no progress.
The following day the Home Fleet pays Wilhelmshaven another visit; a transporter and destroyer are destroyed. The Großdeutschland is still missing so the following day Bomber Command hits the airfields at Amsterdam followed up by the tactical bombers; the missing ship is not their either and little damage is inflicted on the ones that are. On the 2 March, the missing ship along with the Admiral Hipper arrive in port and are hit by the bombers they are damaged but neither them nor any other ship are sunk and the offensive is called off.

6 March; an armoured brigade, destined to reinforce the 6th Armoured Division to a two armoured brigade division, along with a tank brigade are loaded upon transported and escorted by the Home Fleet to Iceland. On the 11th the 6,000 men, of these two brigades, launch an invasion of the island. Destroyers positioned around the island had already established there was no German garrison and the landing was a success and unopposed. Ten days later the tanks had rolled across Iceland and fully liberated the island. On the 17th, the following day, the United States offer to take control of Iceland and Greenland to ensure they do not fall into German hands; we accept however no American troops arrive.

18 March; Yugoslavia, half overran by German soldiers, sign an alliance with the Rumanians however the latter do nothing to help. Four days later Yugoslavia surrendered to the Germans, the entire nation was annexed and the puppet state of Croatia was established in place.

On the 24th the Großdeutschland was spotted entering the port of Dan Haag, spotted by aircraft bombing the port to destroyer the transporters based there. The Home Fleet is ordered to engage and the bombers are called in to attack. The attacks made little impact on the battleship and only manage to sink the transporters docked there, the attack is soon called off so the strike forces can regroup.

26 March; having allied itself with countries already involved in wars and having huge sections of the country stripped away from her, Rumania now starts to mobilise her military. 7 April; after a gallant stand against the Italians the Greeks surrender. Ten days later the South African’s join our alliance and the war. Two days later Bulgaria and Hungary formed an alliance.

 

[Myth]

Hmm, still fighting in France and your raids, while nice, are really nothing more than pinpricks...

 

[enigmamcmxc]

Quite true, am hard at work research all the techs i need so i can turn these pinpricks into a winning blow, anything to destroy those capital ships. Its like a wang compeition! :rofl:

 

[enigmamcmxc]

Operation Michael...

During the final week and half of March the few merger reinforcements available are sent to France; a total of around 6,000 men in the form of several anti-tank brigades, a tank destroyer brigade and the armoured brigade from Iceland. These forces are all attached to their intended formations before the end of the month. The four tank brigades, in France, are all repositioned behind the four northern Corps of Second Army. In the opening days of May these tank brigades along with the respective Corps HQs move forward to the frontline.

On 4 May 1941 Operation Michael is launched. Since the German advance, up to our new frontline, several months back they had not attacked ourselves but expended their efforts in destroying the French Army and pushing them towards the Maginot Line. Our Army Group had stood by and watched as our force was built back up, this offensive is intended to get us back into the fight and actively help the French by pushing the Germans back across the French border and into Belgium. As the sun raises 200,000 British soldiers along a front of six Corps, men from both First and Second Army, launch their assault!

13 May. Two Vanguard class battleships are launched, the Home Fleet now comprises of six modern battleships: the two Vanguard Class, one King George V class, one Dreadnought super heavy class and two Nelson class. Additionally there are several Revenge and Queen Elizabeth class battleships with the Reserve Fleet; battleship and naval superiority has been firmly established over the Kriegsmarine.

As the offensive gathered momentum the Luftwaffe launched strikes all over our lines. Heavy losses were inflicted upon our attacking men however we refused to sacrifice our fighter force in an aerial mêlée for domination of the skies – we need them to halt the German strategic bomber strikes – Bomber Command is called in and within a few days all airfields in northern France, Belgium, the Netherlands and even some in Germany had been put out of action. The heavy bombers had secured the skies for the offensive; Luftwaffe strikes drop off and subsequently launched in smaller numbers.

The attack has grown to encompass all frontline infantry divisions and has turned into a general offensive. Second Army’s armoured divisions are being moved to be in position to exploit any gain made so that an encirclement battle can be launched near Calais or Dunkirk. On 16 May Antwerp was liberated and it is estimated that 20,000 German casualties have so far been inflicted. The number of prisoners taken is unknown however we believe that the offensive has smashed several divisions already. The following day an attack is launched to capture Brussels; due to a mishandling of the reserves – them being moved for the above mentioned battle close to the French border – they are not in a position to exploit the gap in the German line. The attack on Brussels is soon called off as intel suggests over 40,000 soldiers are garrisoning the city. The operation has now grown beyond a simple offensive to push the Germans back a step but into a rapidly moving offensive, the Army will not be bogged down fighting a positional battle for an objective that we could outflank and encircle; the tank brigades and leading infantry divisions are pushed further forward until relieved by the armoured divisions.

Two days later the lead armoured division crossed over into the Netherland and on the 19th they reach the Channel completing the encirclement of huge numbers of German forces in northern Belgium. A retreating Panzer division was able to evade capture as it fled further northeast as our tanks rolled in. Due to a further mismanagement of forces, the east end of the cordon was nearly broken however additional men were rushed into the area to halt the Germans attempting to breakthrough. Further attacks hit all along our perimeter however due to the elastic defence employed the German attacks were halted.

With the German force firmly isolated the attack to clear the pocket was ordered. As this attack went in the lead armoured divisions carried on the advance pushing towards Amsterdam – the city that eluded our past advance – in an attempt to secure it before a garrison can be put in place.
On 1 June the Belgium pocket was cleared; 46,700 prisoners were taken and the offensive has so far inflicted a further 39,000 casualties on the Wehrmacht for the loss of 29,000 of our own men. Due to our rapid advances, to the south of Verdun, an additional pocket as been created containing an estimated 18,000 trapped soldiers. The only British formations in the area are holding the east end of the pocket and fighting off German attempted to break in and out. Only French forces are near the pocket and they seem reluctant to engage; British troops, holding a section of the frontline, are ordered to pull back to Verdun – a risky move that may allow the Germans space to launch a counteroffensive and upset the balance of forces – to eliminate the pocket.

 

[unmerged(62857)]

Fantastic progress. It will be interesting to see if these gains are sustainable. also, should the Germans actually attempt to provoke the SU, things may eventually become difficult for you if the German's can't take any real bite out of the bear...

 

[Myth]

The German High Command must be pretty displeased with the progress you're making.

 

[enigmamcmxc]

The Hundred Day Offensive?

On 3 June a reorganisation of the Expeditionary Force is completed; Gort takes control of the Army Group, while Brooke and Alexander respectively take control of the First and Second Armies. At the same time all those divisional and Corps commanders that are defensive in minded, or too commited to old ways of war are given the boot and replaced with commanders with offensive outlooks. The same day two Minateur class light cruisers were laid down and two Southampton class are launched.

8 June after a brief fight the advancing troops captured Amsterdam while taking fewer losses than expected. At the same time the Germans launched a counterattack to regain territory in southern Belgium, striking at the most weakened section of the frontline; the army group is now becoming dangerously stretched out. The next day our troops clear the pocket near Verdun and take 31,400 men captive. On the 11th the German counterattack succeeds in driving our men back and they advance to the French border albeit only on a narrow front; the remaining British troops in France are ordered into new positions to halt any further advance and to launch a counterattack in a few days to cut off the German new frontline position.

14 June the HMS Victorious is launched, a new Eagle class fleet carrier, and attached to the Home Fleet further establishing naval superiority.

With Amsterdam captured, the armoured divisions were regrouped under the control of X Corps. With little German resistance in the Amsterdam region a new plan of attack was quickly improvised – like the entire offensive; the armoured divisions are ordered to drive southeast, rampaging, into the German rear before advancing south to link up with other British forces north of Brussels. This move would encircle most of the German frontline forces in central Holland and northern Belgium. 1,200 tanks and 50,000 British troops start to make quick progress but are intercepted by 30,000 Germans and a violent battle erupts.

A few days later the Belgian Army launches its own attack and drives the Germans out of Brussels; a move that the British Army Group had opted to not to take due to the heavy losses that were expected to be endured in however it seems the predicament the Germans are now finding themselves in they had started to withdrew men. This move freed up several Corps worth of infantry, which are then moved to reinforce our other positions - especially the Amsterdam area.

On the 17th the British troops northeast of Brussels strike out east, this attack forming the southern wing of this new encirclement battle. By this point the tactical bombers and the close support aircraft have been launched into the battle to aid the brawl X Corps is undertaking. The following day 70,000 men, the men who had closed the Verdun pocket and had moved to counter the German advance to the French border, launch an assault north-eastwards; once Bastogne is taken these men will then advance on Eupen, if successful this move will link up with the attackforce that launched their attack yesterday, and the incoming armoured forces, to create a second pocket – this one containing the Liege fortress.

On the 20th, the armoured forces finally break through the German blocking positions and strike to the southwest while the force north of Brussels fights their way northeast. As this move is being undertaken it dawns on the General Staff that most of the German forces have escaped the pocket that is being formed; 30-40,000 Germans have eluded capture via fighting in the blocking position and then retreating out of the way of the armoured thrust and the slowly closing pocket. Intel suggests that only four divisions will be netted.

The next day the men attacking Bastogne stand victorious; they have unintentionally formed a pocket to their southwest and launch their attack on the Eupen forest. Two days later the armoured forces link up with the infantry north of Brussels and close the pocket, nine days after the operation started; we are fairly sure that only four divisions have now been trapped in the Eindhoven pocket. In the Arlon pocket, near Bastonge, an estimated 24,000 men have been encircled.

After a 48 hour delay operations are launched to destroy the Eindhoven pocket while the Germans launch their own attacks to break through the cordon to create an escape route for the encircled men. The men in Bastogne, launch their own assault on Eupen while the Germans hit them from both directions trying to help the men trapped in the Arlon pocket break out. Several uncommitted British divisions and some additional reinforcements are launched in an operation to clear the Arlon pocket. After several days of fighting, on the 29th, the pocket is cleared and 23,000 men are taken prisoner.

On 2 July the several province wide Eindhoven pocket has been reduced to encompass only the city itself and the German attacks beaten off; estimates suggest that 29,000 men have been trapped within the city area. The same day the assault on Eupen is called off after heavy losses, calling this attack off means the Liege fortress now cannot be encircled.

On 5 July after a 48 hour battle, Eindhoven is liberated and 23,000 prisoners are taken; an additional 5,800 casualties were inflicted on the German forces during the operations to clear the pocket while our own losses amount to 3,300 men.

On the 8th the Belgians launch an 30,000 man attack on the fortress of Liege, few Germans are now defending the location but we throw 30,000 of our men into the attack as support. A single German division defends the fortress but after a brief defense retreats. With the fort taken we now launch a new attack on Eupen in a desperate attempt to push the Germans back. 152,000 British troops attack; the battle is an attritional one with both sides inflicting heavy losses upon each other as the hour tick by. Around 35,000 Germans are halting our progress but are making the best use of the terrain and their trenches to halt the assault. Five days later the attack is called off and the entire Army Group starts to reorganise.

Several days later the Germans launch their counterattacks and on the 20th drive back the weakest section of our line in eastern Holland. Two days later, on the 22nd, they strike again at another section of our line. However the Army Group has already started to reorganise so additional forces are able to be rushed to the scene and put the Germans onto the back foot.

Off the southeast coast of the United Kingdom the Grossdeutschland and the Prinz Eugen, supported by several destroyers, sortie and ambush one of the Royal Navy’s destroyer squadrons – six destroyers and a light cruiser. The Grossdeutschland escapes from the battle with several destroyers and disappears into the North Sea however the Prinz Eugen and a destroyer are sunk; two of our own destroyers are lost and several others were damaged in the battle. The Home Fleet was then ordered into the North Sea but could not locate the missing capital ship; a strike was then launched on Wilhelmshaven to locate the ship however it was not in base. The Grossdeutschland is unaccounted for!

By the 4th August the offensive has came to an end – the 96 day offensive – has recaptured most of Belgium and the Netherlands. In the process our losses have amounted to just under 60,000 men while the German losses have reached 159,000 men including 77,400 prisoners of war. Intel has indentified only 38 German divisions in their order of battle and our frontline forces estimate only 20 divisions are facing the Army Group.

German counterattacks continue to be launched along our central positions between Amsterdam and Eindhoven while our armoured forces have already been relocated to the north of the country. A massive reorganisation of most of the Army Group has been completed; the reorganisation has yet to effect the armoured formations nor the motorised forces in or moving to the north of the country. These forces need to be grouped in Corps before any new attack is launched.

Minor German attacks have been launched in the north but nothing major and once our force is ready they should be able to bludgeon their way through the weak forces present. To support the new attack – codenamed Operation Goodwood - the tactical bombers, the close support planes along with numerous fighter groups have been rebased in Amsterdam.