The Peoples Führer

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Crushing the south

The invasion of Czechoslovakia started on September 2nd. Hitler seeing how well the press worked, showed the western allies images of weak, thin sickly men. The men claimed to be beaten and poisoned. The “prisoners” were German soldiers who had mercury injected into them by KUMD. They made convincing arguments, and these arguments, as well as a raid by “Czech” terrorists, gave Hitler the pretext he needed to “liberate” the workers and farmers of Czechoslovakia. As the 1st and 2nd Panzer rolled into the Sudetenland, quickly disabling the ring of fortifications the Czech army was so proud of.

The artillery of the Red Gaurds was highly successful.​

Facing the bulk of the German army alone Czechoslovakia quickly fell to the Germany army. On September 10th with the last hold outs in the nation destroyed, Czechoslovakia was annexed. Keitel moved his forces to the borders of Austria and Hungary ready for the next conflict to begin. Hitler let the CCP run the Czech and Slovak regions, but Severing was the real man in charge. The DFV created numerous courts and tried well over 20,000 men and women for crimes against the proletariat.

A royal flush beats a Deuce

Not wanting to waste the moral, and speed of the Wehrmacht, Hitler sent every available division he had into Austria and Hungary. The southern campaign began on September 13th at eight am as the 2nd Red Guards crossed into Hungary. While German forces were far superior to its enemies, they were stretched too thin. A stalemate began by September 21st, bombings of military and civilian targets increased greatly as forces were shifted about. Keitel, made Revolutionärer Aufseher Militärischer Ausbreitung (Revolutionary Overseer of Military Expansion, or RAMA), decided to knock out Hungary first being the most isolated from Italy.
On October 5th General Erwin Rommel led 2nd Panzer deep into the Hungarian-Austrian border. The Hungarian, Austrian, and Italian armies raced to the borders, and to cut off Rommels offensive. To the east three mountain divisions marched to into Hungary sealing off the border to Romania and Yugoslavia by October 3rd. Budapest itself was under constant attack by the 2nd and 3rd Red Guard armies. And being cut off from her allies, Hungary fell by November 7th. A puppet state was set up, with President Heinrich von Wolfenstag a staunch communist that was a DVF spy. Severing was really in charge, making Hungary into a industrial base.

The war with Austria went rather quickly breaking through the defensive fortifications on October 6th. The 2nd Panzer slipped into the south causing the Austrian, and Italian army to split. Austria was quickly crushed under the boots of the Red Guards on November 21st. Unlike Hungary, Hitler wanted Austria (his birthplace) to be apart of the German state. Lanzer was allowed to “clean up” the area. On a side note Severing, Lanzer, as well as other members of the KDP, begin construction of a summer home for Hitler. Seventeen rooms, two stories, over looking a wonderful lake outside of Vienna.
Landwirtschaftliche Aufsicht Für die Ausbreitung von den Leuten von Europa (Agricultural Supervision For the Expansion of the People of Europe), was the odd name given to the KUMD rifle brigades that followed behind the Wehrmacht. Headed by Lanzer’s brother-in-law Johan Volk (originally Rosenberg), it searched the country side for counter-revolutionaries, and partisans. Volk at home was a gentleman never raising a hand to his wife or four children, but he quickly gained the nickname “ Schlachten Sie Jungen” or “Butcher Boy.” Although rumors still rage as to how many fell at the hands of Volk, he seems to have been more efficient at hiding his liquidations.

Home front
Italy was next, but the push was held off until the rear could be secured. As the army prepared for its next phase in wiping out Fascism, the home front thrived. The economic management of the state was first given to respected banker Hjalmar Schacht. Under his guidance, a new economic policy to elevate the nation was drafted, limiting imports of consumer goods and focusing on producing exports. Massive loans and credit was given to state owned industry allowing the Mark to rise in value equaling that of the dollar by 1940. These loans allowed various factories to improve the working conditions, as well as the salary of the average German worker.

The German economy was later transferred to the leadership of Ernst Thälmann when, on October 18, 1939, the German Reichstag announced the formation of a Four year plan to shift the German economy towards a revolutionary war production base.
Under the leadership of Fritz Todt a massive public works project was started, rivaling the New Deal in both size and scope; its most notable achievement was the Parks und Städtisch Beautifaction plan. The plan allowed the build up of various sporting complexs, parks, and outdoor stages for the public. Once the war started, the massive organization that Todt founded was used in building bunkers, underground facilities and entrenchments all over Europe. Another part of the new German economy was massive rearmament with the goal being to expand the 100,000-strong German Army into a force of millions.
Grzesinski put his vast force of propaganda to use. Films, songs, radio shows, the press, even the schools all had a man over looking the content said to the public. The war was seen not as aggressive but as liberation. Dicators were toppled, causalties were low, and Germans always had clean uniforms at the end of the newsreel.

 

[elbasto]

Nice moves.

Are you going to fight against the Reggia Marina or you just want to puppet Italy too?

 

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This is just me but I have never been a big fan of conquering everything. Too much micromanagment to build up small nations. Yes their armies may be behind in technology but they are more useful to secure my borders, so I can use every avalible unit. Cause taking over Hungary gave me control of 8 divisions, which let me move men from the western border down south to face against Italy.

 

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World Revolution
Seeing the failures of the Soviet army, and desperately wanting Soviet troops fighting in the west, Hitler authorized the Kriegsmarine into action. Using nine divisions taken from the Italian line a surprise attack on the south west coast of Finland was planned. The attack was to occur by November 6th. It was hoped that splitting the Finnish army in half would end the fighting to the North. Under the command of General Konrad Schultz the October Brigade went out to sea. Hitler was greatly surprised when Schultz took Turku on November 5th.
Stalin was furious, Hitler, who was seen as the junior partner in the proletariat, was getting success after success. The Russian troops now faced infantry alone, six pushes where made between November 10th- December 5th, each one ending with no territory gained. Stalin dismissed General Zuchov and kept switching Generals until a better one could be found. This made the German landing do nothing more then take troops from the western front.
The front lines stabilized during December. Germany began construction on more tanks and motorized infantry. Two marine divisions landed in Finland, twelve infantry divisions spread out along the Italian line, six mountain divisions (each consisting of one regular, one engineer, and one artillery division) Two fighter divisions were created, and stationed in Austria. Everything was prepared for one large push on every front by mid January.

On January 10th 1940 the Allies declared war upon Germany. England under the leadership of its new Prime Minister Winston Churchill had decided to go to war. Many wanted to wait, but Churchill knew Hitler would never be happy until every man, woman, and child was under communist rule. At 8:21 am a Lancaster bomber squadron rained destruction down in central Germany. Hitler reacted in his usual angry, screaming fashion, but once his head cooled he recalled all but three divisions from Finland. Securing the French border with Hungarian and DVF militia, then sending every available fighter to patrol the Northwest.

The allies
The Anti-Communist League joined up with the allies very quickly. Mussolini was flown into France to meet with Churchill and the French President , to finalize the alliance. By January 13th the French fleet attacked the XI U-boot fleet forcing them to withdraw. This action left the Baltic Sea undefended. The Royal Marines made a landing on February 3rd quickly defeating the German forces in southern Finland.

As British units bolstered the Finnish front lines the Soviet Union once again faced a stalemate in Finland. Italy created almost forty militia units to defend the frontline. Along the German-French border the German Marx line and French Maginot line seemed to be impassable. The Marx line covering 324 miles, fortified bunkers, the largest with one 120mm artillery piece, and two 60mm anti-tank pieces. The small ones containing a mixture of artillery, and anti-tank weapons. With eight main complex’s each containing three hundred men, and twenty smaller complex’s holding 25 to 100 men. The smaller complex’s were well within support range of the large ones.

Change of plans
By January 10th the world once again looked like a stalemate would occur. Off in the east Japan went to war with China. Stalin moved three armies to the east in case of Japanese aggression. Some reports, of the time, show a brief border skirmish between the Soviet Union and the Japanese army after Manchuria was created. Hitler sat back and changed his plans. Having gone so far in such a short time he refused to let the revolution end. In the Reich Chancellery he made a passionate hour long speech about his plans for the future. Along with full mobilization, the army, navy, and air force would be put on the defensive. By February 4th the Marx line was reinforced. The skies of Germany were said to be littered with fighters and dive bombers. The German navy was mostly in port, as submarine and torpedo planes were built.

Many AA sites like these were built.​

For two weeks between February 8th and 22nd nothing happened. In Germany the people were uneasy. Tense, ready for the other shoe to drop. No one believed that the allies would just stop. Hitler and his general staff was in seclusion making no less then twenty-seven separate plans for the war.

 

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The February Offensive

On February 22nd Hitler gave General Order 26 it called for operations to begin immediately to knock Italy out of the war. General Wilhelm Keitel put the Schlieffen plan on hold. Using Hungarian forces to secure the German border along with DVF forces, this freed up nine infantry divisions. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd panzer divisions Pushed down into Italy aiming to take Rome by mid march. Every available Red Guard army was sent to Torino. On February 28th Italian and German forces clashed. Keitel coordinated his attacks with the air force ensuring quick and easy victories. Within five days Germany had pushed forty miles into Italian soil.
France tried to send forces into Italy, but they did not react as quickly as the Germans did. General Rommel saw an opening into France and took it. Pushing his 2nd panzer in Toulon, reaching it in the morning of March 12th. A quick skirmish between German and French tanks occurred. But the massive 50mm gun on the Lenin tanks quickly disabled their smaller French counterparts. Rommel was awarded the Party Medal of Valor, and Field Marshall promotion. A build up occurred in Toulon and Torino, and by April 10th a massive push was made into French soil.

Once tanks made it into open terrain they moved around freely for four days, by which time a proper defense was set up by the French. But Italy was the true prize of the hour. By April 25th the Italian army was in shambles, Mussolini had fled to France, and then the United Kingdom. KUMD forces took Rome on the 26th, arresting and killing the majority of the Italian parliament. The Italian Peoples Republic was created that day.

Vatican

Hitler saw the problem with the Vatican, it was by the doctrine the enemy of the lower classes. But many were Catholic, and the destruction of such a thing would very likely send the world against Germany. Severing, Grzesinski, and Thälmann were all for a public trail and execution for Pope Pius XII and the rest of the Vatican council. But Lanzer took his normal stance of moderation. Hitler ordered that the Vatican be circled, but not attacked. He himself met with the Pope and assured him that services such as power, water, and food would not be cut off. In private Hitler said, “ We will wait out public opinion, or we will strike, what ever happens Catholism is dead.

Severing goes to war

Carl Severing was an interesting man. At 39 he was the youngest of Hitler’s inner circle, with a wife, Inga Antonovich, and three children, Carl, Sasha, and Hienrich. Inga fled Russia with her parents during the bloody civil war. Meeting Carl in 1925 following a nationalist band trying to destroy her parents clothing store. In July when the police gave many nationalist groups in Munich free reign, it was a bad time to be a communist. Inga’s parents, while leaving Russia to avoid the war, were staunch socialists, the Munich Nationalist party had targeted their store during a column march through Munich. As windows were smashed, Severing along with three Redband fighters saw what was going on. Out numbered about six to one Severing held nothing back placing himself between Inga and the Nationalists. Reports say the attackers laughed at Severing, at which point he pulled out a Luger 9mm. With the nationalists running off, Severing claims it was love at first sight with the attractive raven haired Inga.
Most considered Severing a good man. Never hitting his children, remembering every birthday, holiday, and anniversary. He gave money to those in need, saw to it that every one in his neighborhood had a job, and was on the waiting list for the Volkswagens. But on the other side was this handsome, caring man was a ruthless enforcer of the communist regime.
When the war with Italy began Severing had twelve DVF militia divisions, when Hungary and Austria fell under German control each nation had at least five of these divisions in their borders. Severing ordered the arrest of thousands, the executions of hundreds. Perhaps the most striking thing about such an act was that he made the orders at his son’s thirteenth birthday party.
The DVF was not living up to the potential Severing knew it had. Each militia was trained to Wehrmacht standards, had good weapons, but each soldier had full indoctrination before becoming a full DVF soldier. Lanzer was considered by Hitler to be a ruthless, efficient leader. Severing envied Lanzer who controlled vast German spy networks, and even had an army detachment fighting in Italy. When the allies joined in the war, Severing saw his chance for his DVF to become something more.
On February 25, 1940 he met with Hitler proposing an invasion of Denmark. Hitler explained no troops could be moved around for “side projects.” Severing putting on his best face calmly explained that he had the troops to use. He would need just the resources to prepare them. Hitler, as well as Grzesinski was curious as to how the DVF would fare in actual combat. For years the propaganda ministry showed the DVF as the proud protectors of Communism. Hitler was enamored with the fantasy of his body guards moving across the globe fighting for Hitlerism, and more importantly another military branch devoted to him was appealing.

The 3rd DVF division under went three week training in true Wehrmacht style. On March 15th the DVF Adolf Hitler was ready. Strategically, Denmark was relatively unimportant to Germany, except as a defensive area for the Baltic Sea, and of course as a border nation to Germany which would have to be controlled in some way. The country is small and relatively flat, ideal territory for German army operations, and Denmark's small army had little hope of success in armed resistance. It was the perfect place for Severing to demonstrate his DVF forces. Nevertheless, in the early morning hours of March 17th some Danish regiments engaged the DVF army, suffering a few dozen dead. What followed was a constant retreat from the German forces. By April 4th Denmark was annexed, and as a reward Hitler gave Severing full control. Severing immediately started construction of a 400,000 square foot villa. While some argued he was oppressing the proletariat, Severing simply explained only 50,000 feet would be his, the rest was to be a grand museum and library for the Danish people. The people never saw the museum though.

The DVF not having access to troop transports, had to rely on bicycles for speed through Denmark.​

 

[Amona]

Just stumbled across this one. I like it a lot. You have won a new reader.

 

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Keep up the good work- it all sounds very plausible.

 

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Keep up the good work- it all sounds very plausible.

Stalin once said, "If Germany were to ally with us we could conquer the world." I read this awhile back in The Red Army, I've had this thought buzzing around for a bit.

 

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Low Countries

As Rommel pushed westward in France, Kietel looked for the chance to open up a second front. Hitler wanted France out of the war by November, at Rommels current pace that seemed unlikely. Kietel opted to reenact the Schlieffen Plan. Shifting forces from the Baltic coast defense, as well as three Hungarian divisions a make shift army was created. Under the command of General Hausser the People’s 1st army was created. Preparations began by July 5th for the invasion of the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Rommel reinforced his front and did a build up of forces, in hopes of sending more French troops south. Operation Blitzkrieg (lightning war, the term for the new military doctrine) Hausser on July 21st began the invasion of Holland, and Belgium. His Peoples 1st army went north, as the 4th panzer army went into Belgium. German forces swept into the low countries, defeating Belgian and Holland resistance quickly. Queen Wilhelmina and her family fled to England. With no real army or the weapons to even attempt a defense against the powerful German onslaught, the country surrendered on August 9, 1940. In England, Queen Wilhelmina took charge of the Dutch government in exile, setting up a chain of command and immediately communicating a message to her people.
Like Winston Churchill, Queen Wilhelmina broadcast messages to the Dutch people over Radio Orange. As always, the Queen pulled no punches, calling Adolf Hitler "the archenemy of mankind". Her late night broadcasts were eagerly awaited by her people who had to hide in order to listen to them illegally under penalty of death.
As the German army invaded Belgium, King Leopold III, along with the majority of the Belgian army, was surrounded by the Germans and quickly surrendered. His action incurred the violent disapproval of the Belgian people and brought accusations of treason. King Leopold rejected cooperation with the KPD and refused to administer Belgium in accordance with their dictates. Despite his defiance of the Germans, the Belgian government-in-exile in London refused to recognize his right to rule. The Germans held him under house arrest at the royal castle in Brussels.

The newest enemy

As Belgium fell and Rommel reached the Atlantic coast the French army dug in. While history points to the inadequateness of the French army, records of both Rommels Red Army and Hausser peoples army failing to reach very deep into Northern France. This is due to the French and British achieving air superiority most of the time. However, the French high command, and many of France's politicians, despaired of the situation. While some suggested that the government should relocate to the French colonies in North Africa and continued to fight, it instead followed the suggestions of Marshal Philippe Pétain, an elderly veteran and hero of World War I. Not wanting any more European nations to fall under the red menace, and certainly not France, Pétain requested to urge the United States into the fight. Winston Churchill used every contact he had to get multiple messages to President Roosevelt asking for what ever help he could send to defeat the communist menace.

Roosevelt was conflicted since the war began. The advances the Soviet and German governments made for its people was something the President look at with respect. Hitler was voted in by the people, fought big bossiness, and improved the lives of every German. But since Poland fell Germany changed from the noble peoples Democracy to a dangerous military dictatorship. Since the first Red Army was made Roosevelt was preparing America for another conflict in Europe. Secretary of State Cordell Hull made numerous meetings with the Allies setting up trading agreements.
On top of all this America First was rallying the people to war. The America First Committee (AFC) was founded in September of 1939 not long after Germany's invasion of Czechoslovakia. It was originally formed around maintaining the 1939 Neutrality Act, but as Germany expanded its power, the orginal members decided war could not ber avoided. Of the orignal sixty members twenty-five quit and formed Peace In Our Time (PIOT). To preside over their committee, America First chose General Robert E. Wood, the 61 year-old chairman of Sears, Roebuck and Co.. On the day after Franklin D. Roosevelt's lend-lease bill was submitted to Congress, Wood promised AFC opposition "with all the vigor it can exert." America First staunchly opposed the convoying of ships, the Atlantic Charter, and the placing of economic pressure on Japan. In order to achieve the defeat of lend-lease and the perpetuation of America joining the Allies, the AFC advocated four basic principles:
1. The United States must build an impregnable defense for America.
2. No foreign power, nor group of powers, can successfully attack a prepared America.
3. Democracy can be preserved only by ending European communism.
4. "Aid short of war" weakens national defense at home and would be better used giving full support and military forces.

Even Dr. Seuss was for war.​

The mixture of public, and over seas pressure forced Roosevelt to ask congress for war. “In this, our time of peace and security, we as a nation must look to the world. Do we, as a free and democratic nation, stand back and allow the forces of oppression to spread over the world? I say we do not. We can not stand behind our oceans and believe this war will not affect us. Today, August 9th 1940, I ask congress to declare war on the Soviet Union and the Democratic Republic of Germany. This, a date which will live in infamy, America will rise up and defend its ideals.”

When congress declared war upon Germany, and the USSR FBI and secret service men swarmed over the country. Arresting PIOT members, every American Communist party leader, and those who spoke out against the war. FDR privately said, " A dark cloud shall cover America and I am the hand that pushed it on." As vast construction plans went under way for aircraft, and tanks went underway, the draft was put into effect. All of America prepared for the conflict in Europe.

Changing the guard

By September 28th the 9th World Congress began. While normally hundreds of peoples filled the grand Moscow hall, a mere forty five men arrived for the proceedings. Stalin made sure to include as many Soviet officials as he could, but Ernst Thälmann, who was allowed to oversee the proceedings only included communist party leaders in voting over congress decisions. Molotov under strict orders from Stalin offered numerous plans to increase the trading between allied nations, as well as a two year technology-manufacturing trade. Hitler on the other hand wanted the war to be first on everyones mind. Both armies commiting joint operations, including smaller nations with communist sympathies to join the Comintern. Stalin, as far as Hitler was concerned, cared only for expanding his empire as Germany took the blunt of western forces. Behind the scenes Molotov and Thälmann were friendly to each other. Each man avoided discussing the future of the Comintern, but neither took offense within the conference room.

On September 30th Thälmann along with Fernando Calivechi the representiative of the Peoples Republic of Italy, set forth the plans to give Germany control of the war. Molotov was shocked, and tried to delay the decisions citing numerous excuses. Stalin heard of this within eight mintues of a vote being asked for. He personally sent a message to Hitler trying to find a compromise. Hitler was said to laugh at the message throwing it away. With Russia having only Mongolia to cast a vote, Germany had Hungary, Lithunia, Italy, Romania, and the Republic of Spain voting its way. The NKVD got Chinese Communist officals to remain for “safety” reasons, but the single vote they could send Germany’s way would only add to the landslide vote.
The question on October 2nd was would Stalin let Hitler take control?

 

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This AAR is great. I'm on the edge of my seat!

 

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Trading blood for steel

By November 10th Hitler was still waiting for Stalin to give him control of the Comintern. He was said to be extremely happy. Hitler had taken control of the war, and he had done it legally. But on the 12th a two line message was delivered to Hitler:

Give Russia one year to expand and then receive its full support. Or you may spend a year without an ally.​

Hitler called every KPD official and the Wehrmacht General staff for an emergency meeting. At midnight Thälmann and Field Marshal Kietel along with everyone else Hitler called for met in the Reichswehr. Hitler disclosed the note Stalin sent, and asked if plans of taking over the Comintern should be abandoned. Severing, Thälmann, and most of the party leaders wanted to continue fighting with the Soviets. Citing Germany will be in change after the war. Kietel and Lanzer were the minority wanting the war to end with Germany in charge of most of the world.
In the end the decision was Hitler’s. Fearing what a war without Russia could do to the World Revolution, he decided to give Stalin his year. He ordered new plans to be made to knock France out of the war, and hopefully make a landing into England by late 1941.

The Fall of 1940

As mid-November had the leaves change colors, German troops stormed through France. Rommel was making push after push. Hausser was forcing his way down to link up with Rommels forces. In doing so he encircled the Maginot Line. The French forces were quickly falling apart, bolstered by allied troops they had a few strongholds.

Lanzer along with his Büro Westlicher Befreiung (Office of Western Liberation) or BWB sent up a vast almost never ending string of communist partisans, and spies. The BWB was an off shoot of the KUMD, set up in 1939 solely to prepare for the future conflict with the west. Lanzer retained control of both organizations, but for appearance sake alone he let KUMD Gruppenleiter Otto Sichel run the day to day operations of the BWB.
By December 6th an all out offensive began. Pushing in from the east and south facing well over thirty panzer divisions, and fifty infantry divisions the French army fell. By January 11, 1941 the French were forced into a tight pocket around northern-central France.

The greatest blow

While German forces swept through France, Hitler had covetous eyes upon England. It was the great symbol of imperialism, capitalism, it was the greatest threat Communism had. Hitler’s personal letters to his sister showed his plans:

Soon Churchill will be arrested, along with the royal family. Then the Pope, Leopold, Wilhelmina, and the rest will be liquidated. FDR shall be put in prison, for I believe he would have been my greatest ally if not for the capitalists who forced his hand to war.​

While Hitler and his aides watched the grand parade through Paris to celebrate the Socialist Revolution, and German victory over its hated enemy. By February 9th all that remained of France was a single province, from which the allies desperately tried to pull their forces out from. But the Germans where to defeat France, as the Soviets made peace with Finland.

Hitler flew into a rage, hating and despising Stalin more then ever before. But this was a more personal rage. Stalin had lied to him, and more importantly put himself over the world revolution. With Soviet troops fighting alongside German the war could have easily have been in London by now. Realizing Stalin would never put the revolution above Russian defense, he formed a plan. Only Lanzer and Severing knew of it, both working to topple the man of steel.

 

[Rapcw]

Great AAR, I'll be following this one.

 

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Ah- so Hitler will fall out with the "revisionist" Soviet Union. Well, it would have been too easy otherwise. Will Comrade Adolf risk an invasion of Britain with the USSR ar his back?

Nice writing, Fenwick.

 

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The Vichy Regime

As the French army crossed the channel to join the disorganized allied forces the French leaders considered retreating to French territories in North Africa, but the vice-premier Henri Philippe Pétain and the commander-in-chief General Maxime Weygand, both insisted that the government should remain in France and seek an armistice with Germany.
Prime Minister Paul Reynaud resigned over the decision and President Albert Lebrun appointed the 84-year-old Pétain to replace him on February 11th. Pétain began negotiations and on the 16th signed the surrender agreement with Germany and Italy. The key section of the agreement divided France into occupied and unoccupied zones. Germany would control northern and western France including the entire Atlantic coast. The remaining two-fifths of the country would be administered by the French government with the capital at Vichy under Blum. The French Army was reduced to 100,000 men and French prisoners of war would remain in captivity. The French had to pay the occupation costs of the German troops and prevent any French people from leaving the country.
Lanzer quickly stripped Pétain of his powers. The French Third Republic was disbanded, and the French Peoples Republic was formed under Leon Blum. Blum created the Popular Front, based on the Cominterns ideals. The Popular Front won the 1936 elections, and Leon Blum formed a Socialist-Radical government. The PCF supported this government but did not join it. The Popular Front government soon collapsed under the strain of domestic and foreign policy issues. Blum personally blamed the British and reactionary forces within France for the fall of his Presidency
The United Kingdom and the Vichy government then broke off diplomatic relations on March 3rd after the Destruction of the French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir by British naval forces.
The Third Republic was voted out of existence by a majority of the French National Assembly on March 12th 1941. The assembly met in Vichy, a city in central France, which was used as a provisional capital. The Vichy regime was established the following day, with Blum as head of state, with the whole powers (Constitutive, Legislative, Executive and Judicial) in his hand. Blum was given the power to write a new Constitution but this was never done. He instead put forth three Constitutional Acts that suspended the Constitution of the Third Republic of 1875. These Acts suspended Parliament and transferred all powers to himself. On July 12th, Blum designated Pierre Laval as Vice-President and his designated successor, and appointed Fernand de Brinon as representative to the German High Command in Paris. Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité (Freedom, Equality, Brotherhood), the French national motto, was replaced by Travail, Famille, Patrie (Work, Family and Country). Blum's vice-premiers were successively Pierre Laval and François Darlan. Paul Reynaud.
Blum took the control of Frenchmen, thanks to the "Legion Française des Combattants" (L.F.C.), including at first only former combatants, but quickly adding "Amis de la Légion" and cadets of the Légion, who had never seen battle, but were supporters of his dictatorial regime. The name was then quickly changed to "Legion Française des Combattants et des volontaires de la Révolution Nationale". Then, Joseph Darnand created a "Service d'Ordre Légionnaire" (S.O.L.), which consisted mostly of French supporters of the Communists, about which Blum fully approved.
The S.O.L. became independent and was transformed into the "Milice française" (French Militia), and Joseph Darnand was appointed head of that Vichy Milice, the wartime police. He held an KUMD rank of major and took an oath of loyalty to Hitler. Under Darnand and his sub-commanders, such as Paul Touvier and Jacques de Bernonville, the Milice was responsible for helping the German forces and police in the repression of the French Resistance and other reactionary groups. But these “reactionary” groups tended to be anyone Blum or his lackeys had a grudge against.

Fortress Europe

Rommel was given the grand task of securing western Europe. Severing and his DVF armies were moved to assist in the construction. Rommel took Severings advice for he had been creating fortifications since 1935. Both men decided on a thick ring of fortifications around western and northern France. The 1st and 2nd Red Army as well as the 4th Peoples Panzer was stationed near Vichy. Every available KUMD and DVF militia division was to guard the coast.
Hausser, who was more familiar was warfare stressing men over tanks, was to lead operations in England. Field Marshall Kietel was forced to share his plans with the Navy, as well as the Luftwaffe. Hitler wanted a landing as soon as possible, the German general staff agreed. Opting for February 20th, with naval and Luftwaffe forces beginning a week earlier, the first landing would be made on South Hampton . America had already made this area of southern England its staging area, but it was not well defended, as most forces went to defend London itself.
Down south the Italian government was faltering. What German and Italian forces stationed kept the Canadian and Bulgarian forces in check, but on February 17th the Americans made a landing with well over twenty divisions. Most expected the army to stay put, but General George S. Patton used amazing new tactics. What followed was a speedy retreat as the 3rd Red Army moved south, DVF and KUMD rifle brigades raced south as well. By March 18th the front line was stabilized, but at the lose of Rome.

Hitler, against the advice of the Wehrmacht, split his forces between England and Italy. With the German forces already controlling western England Hitler thought this was a good plan. The daily radio broadcasts of Pope Pius caused an increase in partisan activity. Lanzer quickly got on Hitler’s bad side. At one point the KUMD was in danger of being absorbed by the DVF. Severing, in a rare moment, defended Lanzer and hinted at a future offensive against the Americans.

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Cutting the head off a snake

While Stalin sat back and gave lip service to Hitlerism, Hitler lead his nation to victory. But the United States were closing in. They had the armies and the industry to cripple Germany, and without Russia assisting they would be difficult to stop. But Hitler knew he couldn’t take control of the Comintern, for if he did Stalin may very well pull the Soviet Union out of the war.
Thälmann, as well as Kietel saw the Soviet Union not as a useless ally, but a check against an all out war between Communism and Capitalism. The KUMD spy network showed documents, and the minutes from various meetings proving the Allies had not sent all they had at Germany. Churchill and FDR feared a huge Soviet army unleashed at any moment.
Knowing the World Revolution needed allies, but afraid to lose the most powerful of them all, Hitler knew not what to do. On March 20th he had a plan though. Why ask Stalin to get more allies? Nothing in the World Congress or the Comintern says, a nation can’t make their own alliances. Technically, atleast to Hitler, Germany wasn’t making any alliances, the Comintern was. Stalin could remain the figure head he so enjoyed being, and Hitler would get allies willing the fight.

 

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People join the Revolution

On March 23rd Hitler formed the Proletariat Komitee für Militärische Einigkeit (Proletariat Committee for Military Unity). The was headed by Jonah Gold Hagen a member of the Foreign affairs office. He had strong ties to the German-Jewish research groups, as well as the Popular Front offices in Moscow. Hagen was a portly fellow in his late thirties. A KPD member since 1923, and a staunch believer in the Hitlerist revolution. He never drank, never smoked, and ate a healthy diet to the point of obsession. But as Thälmann wrote in his diaries: “Johan always seems to be drinking cola. The general secretary [Hitler] commented that in one meeting he drank twelve bottles. If this is not odd enough, his KUMD file says he has eight mistresses! There is a rumor going on that he “met” each one in a single day.”
Despite his odd habits, Hagan was considered the best for gaining new allies to Germany. Using an old Wulf-Fokker biplane Hagan and his aide Karl Voch, a lawyer who had received basic Luftwaffe training, traveled across the Balkans. Hagan requested a biplane for he was very paranoid of a British plane shooting him from the sky. April 1, 1941 saw the clunky “typewriter” land in Romania. Hagan was given a heroes welcome by the Romania government. A treaty was struck up that very night.
Hitler was overjoyed, and sent stockpiles of old mausser rifles, and the new submachine guns to the Romanian army. Hagan stayed behind to finalized the treaty, Romanian insisting on a clause making their nation under German protection. A common fear during the 30’s and 40’s was Romania being over run by Soviet forces.
On April 4th Voch was able to sneak away on a transport plane, and go to Yugoslavia. The government was very eager to join up with Germany. The pressure from England to join up was growing by the day. Hagan got the credit for Yugoslavia, Voch only learned of it when he was in Spain. The relationship between the two was like that, Hagan smiling for the cameras and making the right comment every so often. Voch would be in some badly lit office mapping out the finer points of diplomacy, and making backroom deals between shady go betweens. Hitler could not have been happier with both of their work. As Republican Spain joined up on April 12th it seemed the war in Europe could be won.

Summer Offensive of 41’

The American lines in Italy faced well over thirty divisions on April 13th. By the 20th Rome was retaken. The Southern front did better then most of the German General Staff thought possible. Even the most positive of scenarios had the Mediterranean cleared out by late 1942. Bulgaria was being pushed back by joint operations by Romanian and Yugoslavian forces. The British made a landing in southern Vichy on April 11th. Field Marshall Rommel personally lead his 3rd Panzer down to confront them. On April 21st a quick battle ensued, which forced the British to evacuate back across the Mediterranean.
Hitler truly owned Western Europe at that point. By the 25th Ireland joined the Comintern and quickly took Belfast. British forces where pushed deep into northern England. Hausser set up a large defense to keep the British in place, knowing full well they could be tied up here for months if he paced his army. All across the German army was making advances.
Kietel began planning his push into Africa and the Middle East, around this time. He feared what the American and English fleets could do to the smaller German navy. Once again he was forced to consulted the Navy, and the Luftwaffe.

Communism and African Americans

As the Americans pulled back, the Germans soon discovered the first of the African American troops. The 1st Red Gaurd had surronded a small batallion of these troops. They fought back for twelve days, before being overrun. KUMD forces took personal control of these men. Normally they would be sent to a prison camp, but Lanzer wished to know why these the true proletariat would fight for the capitalist's.
The majority of the troops that were captured had come from the Southern United States, an area renowned for its treatment of blacks. The prisoners where interogated for many days, and treated very well. Lanzer wrote Solution 124-b on May 10th, and sent it to Hitler. The report explained how many of the African Americans joined up to defend the United States, but an underlying reason was they wanted better treatment. They wanted eqaulity, and oppurtunity, things the American system seemed to deny them. Hitler aboved Lanzer's plan to form the Konterrevolutionäres untersuchendes Ministerium von Deutschland afrikanischer Leutbefreiung (KUMD-AL). The group started with twelve members, eight of who were KUMD instructors. But as more prisoners arrived its numbers swelled to 140 to 160 blacks.

Most were taught partisan warfare, stressing demolitions and assaiantion tactics. While a small few, mainly those who did not have a thick southern accent, sat back and made radio broadcasts appealing to black soldiers. These Uncle Berlinradionmen, as the American GI named them, caused not the wide spread defections Lanzer had hoped, but instead more men joining up in the KUMD-AL.

The Atlantic Wall

The British royal family, and a majority of the English parliament had escaped to Canada. Queen Whimila of Holland was captured by KUMD forces in London. She was never put on trial, in fact Hitler never even announced he had captured her. She was executed on the spot in her apartment. FDR soon became the face of resistance to the Red Tide as the German advance was referred to.
British, French and American forces in Africa quickly faced attacks by the German Kriegsmarine all along the North African border. Even though the German navy was severely out numbered, the Luftwaffe had close to twelve divisions of torpedo planes, and naval bombers flowing close by. The Mediterranean campaign took at turn for the better when Greece joined the German alliance. Now the combined navies of the Italy, Romania, Yugoslavia, Greece, Germany, and to a very small existent Russia equaled that of the allied forces.
Mexico, in a very odd turn of events, had a small socialist revolution. On April 30th Mexico City was taken over by a small band of soldiers and workers and took over the government. The provinces quickly fell in with the new government. Under the control of Partido Popular Socialista the nation quickly aligned itself under communist ideals. By May 6th members of the new nation sent word to Germany that they wanted to join the Comintern. Hitler in a way to placate Stalin set the message to him. Stalin adopted Mexico has his own, quickly agreeing to the small nation joining the war effort. Hitler assumed Mexico would fall, but once again it would tie up even more American troops.
Stalin and Hitler appeared together in a series of newsreels in May celebrating the glory of the Communist Revolution. In private Stalin tried every thing he could to stop Hitler and his plans. He declared war on Finland again and very quickly defeated the nation. Stalin eyed everyone around him with suspicion. Molotov was put on and taken off of several purge lists. Hitler, on the advice of Thälmann, offered to have he and Stalin prepare the attack upon the United States.
While Stalin set about supplying Mexico with materials and weapons, Hitler ordered the construction of eight battleships, four aircraft carriers, more troop transports, destroyers, bombers, and airplanes. “The invasion,” according to Hitler “of America must be total. Its economy disabled, industry crippled, military dismantled and government destroyed.” He believed the American Communist party would come out of hiding and help with the invasion. But his plans relied upon England knocked out of the war. The Atlantic seemed almost impossible to cross with the combined might of the US and English fleets patrolling.

 

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Pushing them back
On May 10th the need to secure the English channel was considered moot. With the next step in the war being the Atlantic, Grand Admiral Erich Raeder approached Hitler with his new naval strategy.

The German destroyer Volksjager passing under the London bridge.​

Raeder was born in a middle-class family in Wandsbek, near Hamburg, Germany. His father was a headmaster. He joined the Kaiserliche Marine (German Imperial Navy) in 1894 and rapidly rose in rank, becoming Chief of Staff for Franz von Hipper in 1912. He served in this position during World War I as well as in combat posts, taking part in the Battle of Dogger Bank in 1915 and the Battle of Jutland in 1916. After the war Raeder continued to rise steadily in the navy hierarchy, becoming a Konteradmiral (Rear Admiral) in 1922 and a Vizeadmiral (Vice Admiral) in 1925. In October 1928 Raeder was promoted to Admiral and made Commander in Chief of the Oberbefehlshaber der Kriegsmarine (German Navy).
Although he generally disliked the Nazi party, he strongly supported Adolf Hitler's attempt to rebuild the German Navy, while apparently disagreeing equally strongly on most other matters. Due to his efforts to rebuild the German Navy, on 20 April 1936, just a few days before Raeder's sixtieth birthday, Hitler presented him with a rank of Generaladmiral (General Admiral).
With the bulk of the allied fleet in the Atlantic, and its greatest Admirals sailing the Mediterranean, Raeder a believer in decisive battle wars thought a quick, heavy strike in the Atlantic, followed up by securing Gibraltar and the Suez Canal would end all future allied naval operations. Hitler agreed and prioritized the new submarine flotillas. Raeder pulled every available ship in the German fleet and sailed west. On May 17th the Battle of the Atlantic occurred. American and British vessels took heavy loses, but due to the use of aircraft carriers the German High Seas Fleet was forced to pull back.
As late as May 15th Spanish forces took Gibraltar, this gave Admiral Albert Kesselring a perfect staging point for operations into North Africa. Having a makeshift fleet of submarines, and destroyers he pushed forward into Casablanca. As the 1st Marx Marine was landing, American fleets engaged Kesselring. Dubbed the Battle of the Mediterranean it showed the German navy having superior vessels when faced with equal numbers. Unlike the Battle of the Atlantic which was a battle for strategic naval domination of the Atlantic, the Battle of the Mediterranean was predominantly a campaign to secure the Mediterranean sea for tactical advantages in the land wars which were fought on the land which surrounds it.

During June the German Kriegsmarine cleared out all of Western Africa. More and more torpedo planes were created, and flying close by Admiral Kesselrings’ fleet creating an almost undefeatable fleet.

Defense of the Fatherland

On July 10th Chile threw its hat in with the Comintern. Its position did nothing to really support the war, but the influx of resources was welcome. On July 12th Ecuador joined up as well. Voch, who had spent week aboard a German U-boot, had made the deals. Promising free domain over internal politics, South America, for years had its politics at the disposal of the United States. Mexico had received the first shipment of supplies by a German convoy. On board was the newest MP41 Schmeisser, a machine pistol that gave heavy unaimed fire to blanket an area. What surprised most was that Mexico was holding its borders.
Of in Europe ten DVF militia divisions were created. The reason this is considered important to most historians is that this was the first occurrence of Germany using troops from conqueror nations. The first was the Danish division I, which was followed by Belgian, French, Polish, and Holland troops. These troops took over guarding the coastline of France. The troops freed moved south to prepare the fight in Africa.

Lanzer prepared numerous prisoner swaps in late 1941. Using Severing and his DVF to offer the swaps, and making sure a KUMD-AL was included in every single trade. One of the most decorated KUMD-AL members was Alabaster Wood. Wood in his early twenties, was part of the 7th army, and captured around southern Rome. He came from Alabama were he worked as a farm hand. Upon American declaring war, Wood quickly joined the army. In basic training he was placed in an all black unit, and spoke of how horrid his drill sergeant was to him. He took to his KUMD interrogator, Hermann Fegelein, a thin man with serpent like eyes. Fegelein spoke of Marx, and Engel’s, the class struggle, and every possible aspect of Communism. Wood took the thought of the workers producing everything and a few businessmen owning it all. In Wood mind it was the southern system that was to be overthrown.

After learning to make explosives, and the finer points of partisan activity, Wood released to the Americans. He is credited with dismantling radio towers, bombing a fuel line, and after clever use of a case of old wine along with some gasoline he destroyed eight Sherman tanks.

Greece’n the wheels

Initially the Commonwealth forces, under General Archibald Wavell, fought a successful defensive campaign in the desert west of Egypt. While the fighting was taking place in Libya, Comintern forces were trying to influence Greece. The Allied commander, General Wavell, was ordered to halt his advance against the Italian Army in Libya and send troops to Greece. He disagreed with this decision but followed his orders. It was hoped that Greece would join the allies, and give them a door to quickly force their way into the Balkans. Greece seeing the allies likely to lose the war, quickly accepted an offer to join the Comintern on August 3rd.

The Allies were unable to stop Greece joining up with the Comintern forces and before they could retake the initiative in the western desert the German Afrika Korps and Field Marshal Erwin Rommel had entered the theatre. By that time, United States ground forces had entered the war and the theatre, beginning with Allied amphibious landings in northwest Africa, on December 20, 1941 codenamed Operation Torch, under the Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Rommel who was given command of the Mediterranean theater planed an all out offensive by winter. The Using a mixture of Italian and German troops he hoped to reach the Suez Canal. General Kietel was still busy mapping out the invasion of America. Under the constant eye of Hitler, Kietel was forced to adapt, and readapt for the General Secretaries constant stream of priority changes.

 

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So, London falls. The Ai seems to be quite competent in launching amphibous offensives. Will it actuallu pose a threat to the new communist Europe.

 

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England quickly gobbled up, America is feeling very lonely and vulnerable in this fight.

 

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Ahhh after a brief stay in far off lands (hospital) I have returned to my favorite friend. The AAR!

 

[elbasto]

Welcome back, hope you've get better... from whatever thing that caused it...