Solid update! "Fraternity, Liberty & Repression-ty!" The World is now a larger certified mess.
Great to have another update! You have returned to another traditionally worsening situation, but at least the Soviets finally joined in. The rest? Ah well, but it makes a good storyHearts of Iron 3 (Their Finest Hour AAR): ‘The March of the Machines’
Chapter Forty-Nine : January to March,1943
Who Invaded Who?
A few things happen that will change the whole course of the war. But many of them may have made things HARDER for France not better. First, a little overview of the political events that happened during the three months and some changes that happened to the French military.
On the 30th of January a new Infantry Division finally was deplored to the Middle East, to Beirut, under the direct command of the African HQ. The 3eme Division d'Infanterie Nord-Africaine is made up of three Infantry Brigades. 9,000 soldiers.
On the 1st of February I changed the Civil Laws to Repression. It felt wrong to do so, as doing such a thing was what many Americans feared during our Cold War years. That we would slowly become our enemy. And now France, in a game, is slowly losing what makes it a Democracy. But I either win the war or die. I don't have much of a choice.
The Saigon HQ, along with much of the Armed Forces in Indochina, were wiped out around the 5th of February and the AI made a new Theatre HQ called Pondicherry - which had little to do as much of the French in Asia were all dead but for the 2nd Army HQ.
On the 11th of February the Soviet Union declared war on Germany. In doing so, by being the attacker, it basically declared war on the Axis.
Japanese declared war on Communist China on the 20th of February and Sinkiang started to mobilize the day after, no doubt in reaction to this.
In March, on the 7th, Yugoslavia joined the Axis and, then on the 15th of March, joined the war against Germany's enemies.
On the 10th of March a Infantry Division in Africa was wiped out (many of their men captured) by an Italian offensive. This means the Ground Forces have only TWO Infantry Divisions on the planet by the end of March. One of which is the Gnorf's Desert Grunts made up of 10,000 veterans. Our best unit.
Underground Resistance Cells
During this period we gained a total of seven new cells. With the Soviet Declaration of War on the Germans I ordered the surviving Cells, thirty-one in total, to do nothing and build up strength. The plan is to have them rise all at the same time when they are all ready. In other words, when all bases are 100% they will be ordered to start spawning resistance fighters.
Tech. Advances
During this period was gained two advances. Heavy Cruiser Anti-Aircraft Armament (3) and Battlecruiser Anti-Aircraft Armament (4). Which would have been much more useful earlier.
Naval War/Sub Warfare
On the 27th January, fearing that the Saigon HQ was trapped and about to be wiped out, all remaining submarines in the Far East was assigned to the Naval Operations HQ in Africa.
There were no surface battles and the Japanese launched two Naval Strikes against our subs. As the subs left the region the Japanese aircraft (and warships) would have nobody to attack during the months of February and March. At least nobody French. There were not even any Ground Attacks. I assume their Air Force had bigger fish to bomb.
We sunk one enemy transport and the Japanese sunk five of ours. Once again the low numbers have to do with us losing our Far East provinces and our Navy withdrawing to Africa.
Air War
What Air War?
Ground War
There were twenty-nine Battles with the Italians and Japanese. We won ONE. We lost 920 French soldiers killed in action (likely more as many battles ended without a proper announcement) and we also lost another 13,732 plus men as they were captured and taken to prisoner of war camps. The Japanese and Italians lost a total of 749 troops killed in action. Once again they may have lost more as after battle reports sometimes failed to appear. Battles just ended as if one side or the other just gave up. Most likely my side.
The Total Loses for the war for the Germans/Italians/Japanese is around 92,582 men.
While the Total Loses for the French/Allies are 220,997 soldiers. I did not count those captured.
Spanish Front
The Spanish are holding out still but they only have one major mainland city left and once that goes they will have to give up unless they go into exile. I assume they are getting a lot of help from their Allies and therefore the survival of the UK is important. If the UK falls the Germans will likely be able to cut off the Spanish pocket from the outside world and starve it to death.
African Front/Alger Foothold
Africa goes back and forth and Alger seems to be in trapped in a bottle between German and Italian forces. Once again, if the UK falls this will change everything. The French units in Africa may be trapped in enemy territory and wiped out.
Indochina Front
Totally one-sided. We lost it in the end. Well, at least our Capital in Beirut is safe. Nice beaches. Lots of sand to play with.
Soviet Front/Finland Front
While the Soviets are quickly gaining against the Fins they are losing ground to the Germans. Why did they declare war if they did not have the advantage? I thought the AI only declared war if it saw the numbers were to its advantage? I don't care if they mess up when I am playing Nationalist Spain but I need them to be effective now! Do something Stalin!
Soviet Far East/Communist Chinese Front
The Japanese are gaining ground on the Soviet Union AND Mongolia BUT the Communist Chinese are gaining ground on THEM! To me this was a sign that the Japanese might be having problems. Until I saw that the Japanese had taken the port of Vladivostok. Also the Pacific Theatre suggests otherwise.
Pacific Theatre
While the Japanese and Americans play hot potato with the islands the Japanese forces have almost taken all of Borneo and are threatening to take all of New Guinea. They have captured a lot of important provinces from both Australia and New Zealand and unless stopped I foresee them taking both nations out.
U.K. Front
Not good as you can see. London fell around the 26th of February AFTER the USSR declared war on Germany. It was taken by the Italians (many of which are Germans in Italian uniforms) who now are marching towards Scotland. Some Americans units are appearing on the battlefields but too little and too late I fear.
In the end it all depends on two things. Can the UK survive? And can the Soviets win? And neither look good at this point. Will the French uprising help when it happens? Or will it just delay the Axis Victory? We will see next time.
Thanks for reading!
Solid update! "Fraternity, Liberty & Repression-ty!" The World is now a larger certified mess.
It takes an impressive amount of masochistic will power to watch things fall apart and not try to intervene to fix things, for that alone I am impressed by your efforts.
Great to have another update! You have returned to another traditionally worsening situation, but at least the Soviets finally joined in. The rest? Ah well, but it makes a good story
Italians invading the UK omgz!!!
Well, some are Germans in Italian uniforms. But yes, looks like the Italian AI is taking the whole 'Bring Back The Roman Empire' thing very seriously. Go figure.
Those infantry are sadly lacking any support units, doesn't that hurt them alot when fighting?
Yes to the 2nd question and I doubt it to the 3rd. Edited...goodnessWill my Capital end up in South America? Will the food be too spicy for me? Will the women not be spicy enough?
Keep fighting that good fight. Although doomed, the rebellion must still have been a bit of fun, having that much home soil under control for a while!
If the same scale of uprising could be staged during a proper invasion of France, it could be of major importance.
Well Italy pulled another "of their textbook landings" in the center of Crete.
Looks like the World "may" be turning into the largest stalemate-salad I've yet seen.
Oh...and the NZ tank? Looks like they had not received the message about "sloping-sides".
Then that's a twist for me. They always land in the middle of an island and are soon w/o supplies - to then be erased.<L>1. Well, the Italians won in the end