The Popular Front- France and the Second World War

[latinsword]

Marchez, marchez!

Nnnoooo!

* takes down the rifle from his shoulder *

@ Prufrock I understand that in this timeline, public opinion and political parties are less afraid of facing Germany, so Daladier may loose his job before the war comes... please, let it be true. Don't say it... I'm waiting.

@ Atlantic Friend I agree with you France couldn't win alone at this moment, but neither could Germany. Anyway, it's better than waiting them collect what they want at the east before attacking you.

 

[unmerged(58852)]

"Daladier looked out his window. The city was quiet and dark, except for the piercing rays of air-raid searchlights. He crossed himself silently.

Tomorrow he would learn whether he would send children to die."

I think you captured Daladier very well. An important part of this mans background was he had survived the hell that was the World War I. He hated the idea of being responsible for making France go though that again... he couldn't recognize that it was Hitler’s fault not his... it made him hesitate when he shouldn't have.

 

[Petrarca]

This won't bode well for France, mark my words. One day I'm going to do an AAR where France does stand up, and we'll see how it plays out.

Due to Atlantic Friend and Prufrock, I'm trying to sketch out the resistance of the Third Republic evacuated to the last free department of Metropolitan France: Algeria.

Meanwhile, I prepare myself for the defense of France and liberty. Aux armes, citoyens!

 

[Prufrock451]

Vann: Thank you- now there's some praise.

Latinsword: How did you know what I was going to say?

Adam: And how deep does that hesitation go? There are several factors in this game which encourage risk- the defeat of the Spanish Nationalists, de Lattre's hawkishness and the presence of a larger manpower pool, much more accurate assessment of German capabilities- but are Daladier and Chamberlain capable of seizing the opportunities I've presented them with? Well, you know. Wait and see.

October 10, 1938

Jean de Lattre looked around the table. He was met with silent hesitation. The others in this group were shadowy men, little known and less understood. Given their function, that was to the good.

"Do we have the support of the military?"

"I will furnish you with a list- a few key personnel have expressed interest, but no commitments yet."

"Intelligence? Industry? The government ministries?"

"Again, sir- we have a list of potential supporters, but you cannot expect that-"

"I expect professionalism." De Lattre's withering gaze raked through the anonymous men. "No, you have not had much time. But France does not have much time." He steadied himself. "I hate this skulking. I hate plotting. You gentlemen know this. But I can no longer sit quietly and watch our nation wither in the face of evil." De Lattre stood. "I have made my wishes known and I thought I had your agreement. If you are not behind me in this, then say as much now."

There was silence. Finally, one man stood. "General- we believe in your judgment. We accepted this... assignment. But we need time to organize this. And the absolute secrecy this requires compels us to move slowly."

De Lattre took in the faces of his men. They honestly believed this. Very well- a good general knows enough to listen to those in the trenches.

"How long?"

"Two, perhaps three months before we're ready."

De Lattre mused and nodded. "Very well." He smiled grimly. "Shall we say Christmas?"

 

[GeneralHannibal]

Due to Atlantic Friend and Prufrock, I'm trying to sketch out the resistance of the Third Republic evacuated to the last free department of Metropolitan France: Algeria.

Meanwhile, I prepare myself for the defense of France and liberty. Aux armes, citoyens!

Sounds very interesting. You could start a '39 campaign and refuse Vichy, or let Vichy form but have Free France control everything else but Vichy proper.


A coup?

 

[Petrarca]

I found that to be both thrilling and compelling, the latter because de Lattre's actions seem so realistic, whether assessing loyalty about a venture or realizing that the situation, not subordinates, presents the true problem. I look forward to a Joyeux Noel.

De Lattre mused and nodded. "Very well." He smiled grimly. "Shall we say Christmas?"

GH: I need to find more on the aborted attempts to fight on from Africa, but you've hit my options. Really, I just want to play with the battleship Richelieu.

 

[Vann the Red]

Or play the grand campaign and refuse Vichy. You'll end up in Algeria anyway. ;-)

Not another coup?

Vann

 

[Prufrock451]

Thanks, Petrarca.

A coup?

Not another coup?

Prize to the first person who figures out my response.

 

[elbasto]

A quiz!

mmm... let's see, it's going to be something close to Christmas, Christmas is just a week away from new year.

A week is enough time to implement a blitz of several key offices starting at the "go-no go" order and until the plan is either fully implemented or until all the people involved can retreat to safety (if the secrecy was kept). So that's a reason why our patriot and daring General mentioned that date.

In January 1st you are likely going to move your sliders and you haven't given us any direct information on how you've been doing this, which suggest that you are preparing us for a big surprise or maybe we (punctually I) failed to rescue the impact from your beautifully written story. So it's likely going to be a slider move.

The only way you can declare a war is (if you are a democracy) to have interventionists policies or to have a dictatorial government of some sort. Considering that you haven't given us any names of the people involved, the government won't likely change. Of course this can be also part of your story telling abilities.

So I can't infer want line you will follow but I can cut to a couple of them and add some subjective probability value and so, emulating Wilfredo Paretto, I'd say that you either:
a- Move your interventionism slider: 70% chances - This implies no change of government.
b- Move your government slider to a more authoritarian stance 25% chances - This implies a coup of some sort and thus explains why de Lattre only met with military officials.
c- Move your government slider to form a extremist government 5% chances- If this was the case maybe the meeting would have been handled by some key figures from either the right or the left.

Now I'm going to sit back and wait for a perfectly written story, full of plots and backstabbing.

Cheers!

 

[Stuyvesant]

While I don't pretend that I know what will happen around Christmas (though you are making it sound like De Lattre is planning a coup), I think I can accurately predict what your response to your readers' inquiry would have been, had you posted it:

"Wait and see."

A stunning bit of deduction, if I may say so.

 

[GeneralHannibal]

While I don't pretend that I know what will happen around Christmas (though you are making it sound like De Lattre is planning a coup), I think I can accurately predict what your response to your readers' inquiry would have been, had you posted it:

"Wait and see."

A stunning bit of deduction, if I may say so.

I second this bright man

 

[unmerged(61296)]

Thanks, Petrarca.

Prize to the first person who figures out my response.

In RL de Lattre got cosy with extreme-right groups during the riots of 1934. The government's harsh response almost cost him his commission, and he, like Gamelin, learned that it was better for your career to be on the good side of the 'suits'. But seeing that in this alternate TL de Lattre seems more politically savvy, and also more prone to slam his fist on the table and contest civilian decision...

I'd say he's considering some form of coup in France, to save it from mediocre politicians. After all, he now has experience of political assassination, and he cannot trust Daladier to let him in control of the French intelligence for much longer now.

 

[Commander-DK]

Oh, this story gets better and better all the time

Jesper

 

[Prufrock451]

Basto, AF: Excellent surmises. I sagely nod and point to Stuyvesant who guessed- "Wait and see."

Thanks, DK!

AF: De Lattre is a bit more astute politically; he's worked closely with Blum and his promotion to Chief of Staff has been an excellent education.

Updates before Monday? Maybe, maybe not.

 

[EmprorCoopinius]

I'm just gonna accept the fact that I'm not gonna figure it out, and just wait for the resolution. Really looking forward to more.

 

[Prufrock451]

Oh, what the hey.

October 12, 1938

Gerard Basteaux smiled happily as the young scowling man sat on his park bench.

"Hey, there. Haven't seen you since they kicked your Cagoulard ass out of our little enterprise." Basteaux tossed a few crumbs to a pigeon. "Have you told your cell leader about that unfortunate Arab girlfriend of yours?"

The young man's scowl grew deeper. "You're not in a position to joke with me, Cajun." He looked around carefully. "You're being reactivated."

Basteaux regarded the man with bemusement. "You know," he finally said, "I just finally realized how brilliant Blum was to have de Lattre bring all his scummy friends into Intelligence. Y'all get to act mysterious and puff out your chests, but you're all getting turned into soft doughy bureaucrats." He flicked a crumb at the man with a sneer. "How's it taste sucking the Socialist tit, Francois?"

The young man's face twisted as he hid behind a smirk. "How's it taste being poor?"

Basteaux pursed his lips quietly, but the young man could tell his barb had hit home. "Poor Gerard. I understand you had to pack up and leave Germany in quite a hurry. You must be pretty upset at your handler."

"Some snotnose German agent fouled that up."

"Oh, I'm talking about what happened when you got back and Headquarters got wind of all those investments of yours. Misusing that Swiss account. Playing the market. Risking exposure for a few bucks." The young man leaned back. "You're in a fix now, aren't you? You don't even technically have a visa."

Basteaux's look had turned quizzical during the young man's speech. "You... aren't high up enough for those details." He dumped the rest of the bag of crumbs on the ground and folded his arms. "Alright, I'm listening. What are you in on?"

The young man explained.

Basteaux was silent for a long time. "De Lattre's crazier than I thought, running a scheme like this." He looked over. "If this goes wrong, there's a lot of asses gonna get hung out to dry."

He stood. "They sent you out here to pick me up. So that means they won't let me out now."

"Not a chance, Cajun."

Basteaux stretched and cracked his neck, subtly scanning the horizon for snipers. Too many trees, windows. He sighed. "Alright. Let's go talk to your bosses."

 

[GeneralHannibal]

Hmm...


Mysterious...

 

[Prufrock451]

October 17, 1938

"General de Lattre, this is a surprise." Premier Daladier tilted his head. "Do you know, I believe this is the first time you've come to me without being summoned?"

The General nodded. "Premier, it is. I have come to apologize." He murmured thanks as Daladier gestured for him to sit. "I realize fully that you reappointed me as Chief of Staff only out of suspicion, at the cost of some dissent both from leftists and rightists."

Daladier smiled wryly. "Forgive my bluntness, but monarchists who work for Socialists tend to go through their political capital rather quickly."

De Lattre nodded solemnly. "I fully understand that." He drew himself up in his chair. "Sir- I accepted the position of Chief of Staff from Premier Blum for the sake of France and the opportunity to serve our nation. For these same reasons, I have been... intemperate in my statements during the late crisis. I apologize for any inconvenience I have caused. These days are dark. France requires our unity."

Daladier nodded graciously.

"Premier. You offered to accept my resignation. I would rather offer this- I have reflected deeply on my responsibility as Chief of Staff. I have overstepped my bounds and challenged your authority. My involvement with intelligence operations, while encouraged by Premier Blum, has left the Government open to legal challenges and foreign policy complications." De Lattre cleared his throat. "Sir, I offer my deepest apology. And I offer my unconditional loyalty to you and the office which you hold. My behavior has harmed France. I can only ask for a chance to mend my mistakes."

Daladier stood and gravely offered his hand. "General- you have it." The men shook hands and Daladier spoke again, his voice husky with emotion. "France needs men like you in these days, General."

De Lattre shook his head. "In these days, sir, France needs men like yourself." He stood to attention. "If I may, sir?"

"Dismissed, General."

De Lattre saluted and walked out of the office. It was only on the drive back to his headquarters that the subtlest hint of a smile played around his face.

 

[Vann the Red]

Consider me befuddled.

Vann

 

[latinsword]

Man, that's some backstabbing coming up... Simply beautiful, Prufrock

BTW, for those who know history better than me: was Daladier such a weak man IRL?