'The Soul of Spain' - A Spanish Civil War HoI3 AAR

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Eighty-Eight : January 1941

Peaceful Portugal

For the first half of the month all newspapers and radios had nothing but news about Greece. Maps from newspaper were cut out and taped onto bedroom walls, old men debated the pros and cons of weapons used by both sides, and young men thought of glory.

Franco was interested in other news. Fake news some would call it. Under all the broadcasts and speeches, within all the colored maps and photos, was a form of clever propaganda. Portugal was being slandered in the press. A slight here, an insult there. The war fever was being used, increased, focused, and harnessed.

On the 18th of January Franco told the people that Spain was now at war with Portugal.*

The military was nervous but also somewhat eager. The 1.2 Army under the command of Cabanella Ferrer would invade Portugal from different directions. The hope was to pin down the enemy forces while overrunning important urban centers and resources.

The Spanish Division started crossing the border, timed to go all at once, and the first contact was around noon. The Spanish Divisions came under aerial attack from the Portuguese air force (which seemed to have only one wing available). While having only one unit this air unit was almost as active as the whole Spanish Air Force

On the 20th the SAC Group were ordered to attack the enemy airfields near their capital. This was a total failure as the bombers didn’t have enough fuel and by the end of the month Franco cancelled the order holding them in “reserve”.

On the 21st the TAC Groups were called in to start attack runs on the enemy divisions. They would prove to be more effective against enemy ground troops.

On the 22nd Franco was informed that Liberia had cancelled two trade agreements. This was worrying but not unexpected. Not when one starts a war.

On the 23rd 111.2 Infantry Division ran into the Portuguese Headquarters for the Northeastern border. While a surprise for both sides it would prove a disaster for Portugal. The Battle of Moimenta da Beira had started.

By the 24th the Spanish Divisions had reached the capital of Portugal! The Mountain troops attacked the defenders with support by one of the TAC Groups.

On the morning of the 26th Franco, while breaking his fast with pastries, was given the news that the Battle of Moimenta da Beria has come to an end. The Spanish had defeated the Portuguese with only 9 soldiers killed. The enemy had lost 82 and had retreated northward. Trapping itself.

Throughout the month the Navy was still keeping track of the transports sunk. At the end of the month they reported that 49 Allied transports had been destroyed along with 1 escort. No Spanish transports had been hit.

While worrying about the war with Portugal Franco had little time to worry about the outside world.


---------------------------------------------------
* OOC : I had to push the button again. Nobody wants to go to war with me.

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Eighty-Nine : February 1941

The British are coming! The British are coming!

February was full of blood and iron. Victory after victory poured in. On the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th the Spanish invaders won a series of battles which cost them 1,736 men and cost the Portuguese 2,041.

After that there was a cool down period as many units either retreated or advanced.

​

On the 5th a new wing of fighters were attached to the 2 Interceptor Group stationed in Gibraltar.

Liberia joined the Allies on the 7th which was neither a surprise or, to be honest, that interesting to Franco and his staff. They were more focused on the battle for Lisboa which seemed to be going badly. While the Spanish troops seemed to be superior the defenders had numbers (and a river protecting their rear).

On the 9th Greece surrendered to Italy, becoming occupied territory split up among three nations.

​

Between February the 13th and 25th there was seven more battles as the tempo of the war picked up again. Once again they were all victories which included the capture of Lisboa. The Portuguese even tried to take it back once. The Spanish lost 3,903 from these battles while the defenders lost 2,926. Making the total for the war since January 18th, so far, that the Nationalist had lost 4,671 men while Portugal had lost 5,049 (plus a few thousand captured soldiers being sent to prisoner-of-war camps).

The irony was that the defenders of the Capital had escaped while the Spanish had rushed in. So they tried to encircle and cut off the southern forces of the 1.2 Army. And failed. They outnumbered the Spanish but were too broken and fatigued to do anything but try to beat off the Spanish attacks.

One of the reasons that the enemy had a hard time retaking their capital was the fact that on the 25th the SAC Group had finally gotten enough fuel and supplies to start launching bombing runs on the enemy forces west of Lisboa. The Portuguese had disappeared from the skies with the taking of their airfields and now they were helpless against the bombing runs.

But the Spanish forces in the south did not have the numbers to do what those in the north had done. To cut off units, encircle them, and crush them.

Yet with the enemy in the north either wiped out, captured, or on the run, the 1.2 Army was slowly closing in on the Portuguese ragtag units that were what was left of their military.

Even the British invasion on the 28th didn't daunt any of Franco's staff.

The Navy reported, that for month of February, 39 enemy transports had been sunk along with 1 escort. the decrease in numbers were likely due to the TAC Groups being pulled away from convoy raiding to ground attacks. The Spanish, on the other hand, had lost not one transport.

 

[sebas379]

Here come the Allies. I spotted an Irish division in the Portugese ranks and now this British mountain unit. Now you've done it, now you've got the attention of the Allies.

 

[Eurasia]

Here come the Allies. I spotted an Irish division in the Portugese ranks and now this British mountain unit. Now you've done it, now you've got the attention of the Allies.

Oh, funny, I didn't notice the tiny Irish flag. So now I have English, Irish and Portuguese prisoners of war. They can play football together in their prison camps. When not attending Spanish (as a second language) classes and cooking classes.

"No, no, this tapas are all wrong! Do it again! You English...why can't you be more like the Irish prisoners?"​

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety : March 1941

The battles for Portugal in the month of March came in two phases like those in February. From March the 2nd to March 12th there were four battles. Two were Spanish victories but also two were defeats. One of the defeats was caused when the Spanish forces involved realized they were heavily outnumbered and retreated. They still took casualties but not as many as they could have if encircled and overwhelmed.

Between the two phases were two important events.

One was that the Battle of Cadiz finally came to an end. At first it looked like the invading British troops could hold their own, even against ground attacks from the Spanish aircraft. But the Spanish finally threw in their own Mountain Divisions and the battle started to go against the UK forces. They were defeated on the 15th. The Spanish lost 1,272, while the United Kingdom lost 1,665 (plus another 7,331 enemy soldiers were taken prisoner).

The RAF tried many times to help their beachhead in Cadiz. They bombed the Spanish positions and tried to fight off the Spanish bombers. But they just didn’t have the numbers to take control of the skies.

The other important event was the Battle of Gibraltar on the 16th. The Spanish “won” the battle but lost almost half their Battle Group. After that the two groups were combined but were still sent out to convoy raid. Franco felt that the use of surface ships, subs, and aircraft were really hurting the Allied convoy system.

The second phase of the battles of March happened between March 20th and March 28th. It was more of a massive clean-up operation for the Spanish in which the aircraft would take no small part in. The last Portuguese defeat, the Battle of Aljustrel, ended with only 130 of the Spanish troops being killed while the enemy had lost 256 men and another 8,541 were captured.

The end result of the war was that the 1.2 Army had loss 8,787 soldiers. The Portuguese had loss 10,308, plus tens of thousands had been captured (including some Irish). There was also no telling how many had melted away into the countryside, dumping their helmets, weapons, and uniforms.

During all this the British invaded the Spanish territory of Bata in Africa. There was nothing Spain could do about it. And, to be honest, it was a worthless piece of land to start with which was why it had been left unprotected in the first place. Franco figured it was best that the British had wasted men and ships to invade a worthless piece of land than to have used those same resources to help their invading Mountain Division in Cadiz.

While the Portuguese government had escaped (along with their ships and likely their air force) and had not formally surrendered Franco had gotten what he had wanted. Portugal was rich in energy and metals. He would rule it with a light touch and hopefully some of those former soldiers would join the Spanish military forces.

By the end of the month the Navy and Air Force reported a total of 41 enemy transports sunk and 1 escort destroyed. Spain’s merchant fleet had lost 3 transports.

 

[sebas379]

Excellent work driving the Portugese from Iberia, as well as the Brits. The fleet is taking a bit of abattering though, that could be a problem. It would be awesome if you could finish off the Portugese colonies in Africa and maybe even knock out South Africa whilst there, but that probably no option until somebody deals a crppling blow to the Royal Navy.

 

[Eurasia]

Excellent work driving the Portugese from Iberia, as well as the Brits. The fleet is taking a bit of abattering though, that could be a problem. It would be awesome if you could finish off the Portugese colonies in Africa and maybe even knock out South Africa whilst there, but that probably no option until somebody deals a crppling blow to the Royal Navy.

Also, I think they may (or may not) have some colonies in Asia. Not sure. But all I wanted was the energy and the metals are a bonus. Yes. My Fleet is not doing so well. My Government is building some more warships but I don't think the AI understands that it can't keep up with the Allies. If the UK keeps trying to attack me (along with the Irish) they're not going to have forces for other fronts. So I don't mind that much.

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety-One : April 1941

Trains like this would keep the Portuguese resources flowing to the Spanish factories​

Franco spent April having his military redeployed. It was becoming more and more likely that the United Kingdom would try to invade again. Maybe Cadiz again, as they seemed to think it so important to invade in the first place. Divisions would be exchanged between the Armies to try to give each Army the best balance it needed for the region and terrain within its area of responsibility.

For example, the tanks and cavalry were in the mountainous north (on the border with what was once France) when they would have more freedom of movement in the south, on the plains. It seemed more likely that some of Infantry Divisions would be better off as Mountain Divisions. Upgrades and deployments needed to be carried and what better time to do so then in a time of “peace”?

Also, while against current policy in which each mainland Army unit was numbered to help keep better track of it, it was decided the 123.2 Mountain Division which had played such an active part in the fighting for Lisboa would be renamed the Lisboa Mountain Division.

​

Then Major General Beronzoli and his Mountain boys were sent off into the Portuguese woods on suppression duty as the staff felt there was a high risk of uprisings in those provinces. The General complained about his men wasted on “babysitting” as he called it. But in the end he obeyed.

Outside of that Franco allowed the military to do what was needed while he reviewed the economic and political situation of both Spain and the Axis powers.

The picture was not pretty but it wasn’t as bad as if could be. Spain was still having issues with finding crude oil, and had other shortages, but was able to make due with what it could get.

There was also spies but, to be honest, what was there worth stealing?

Much of the military technology had been neglected by the government to improve the private sector. Many of the weapons being used by the military was comparable to those used during the Great War or copied from interwar foreign designs. It was amazing, to be honest, that the Allies were having so much trouble with the Spanish Air Force and Sub Groups.

In fact throughout the month the RAF would be hounded every time it tried moving air units past the Spanish coast.

The Germans was staring into the pit of doom. As far as Franco could see the only thing keeping the Soviet Union from declaring war was the non-aggression pact between the two nations.

Italy and the United Kingdom were playing tug-of-war over North Africa. Franco was baffled that both sides were strong enough to keep the fight up but not strong enough to win it.

Japan was in trouble. The Eastern Front in China had not changed (it never did). The Western Front had been pushed back into Indochina - it seems the Chinese had more than enough troops there to take on both the Japanese and the Siamese*. Japan was also showing no signs of doing anything else against the Chinese. No invasions of the coast or any sign of reinforcements being sent to either of the two fronts.

Franco examined the information and reports on the USA and Turkey.

The USA and Turkey both felt Germany was the greatest threat. In fact the US was dangerously close to joining the Allies. Turkey, bordered by Axis powers and the Soviet Union, seemed to up in the air on which would be the least-dangerous to join.

The last few minor European powers were getting close to picking a side. Sweden was leaning towards the Allies while Finland, who didn’t seem to like Germany, liked the Soviet Union even less and was slowly being drawn into the Axis camp. Franco didn't think Romania would be given a choice in the matter - he assumed that sooner or later the Axis powers would invade it.

At the end of the month the Navy and Air Force gave Franco their compiled list. The Spanish had sunk 49 transports and 4 escorts while the Allies had sunk Spanish 7 transports and one of the newly commissioned escorts.

Even with those loses Spain was doing relatively well. And the people were getting what they needed. Outside of fuel shortages there was enough of everything else to keep the poeple happy, entertained, and well fed.

Got to keep the kids fed!
​

------------------------------
*OOC: When I say Siamese, of course, I mean the people of Siam. Not the cats. Nobody can defeat Siamese cats.

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety-Two: May 1941

Bored German Light Infantry at mealtime​

The celebrations for the Victory of the Nationalist over the Republicans during the Civil War was somewhat bitter sweet as many military families had loved ones either at sea, patrolling the skies, or stationed in Portugal.

​

On the 12th of May the Air Force announced that the air war against the Allies had produced a few Aces among the pilots of the Air Groups. In fact with the invasion of Portugal over it seemed that the fighter pilots and the naval commanders were becoming the focus of all the papers, radios, and even the news shorts shown in the theater. They had replaced film stars, at least for the moment, in the public spotlight.

On the 18th the Interceptor Groups were reorganized to make a fourth group. The 4 Interceptor Group was not given any time to rest put thrown right into the sky, to hunt down and destroy the enemy.

The Spanish public really found the air war fascinating​

Franco was worried. The Soviet Union were getting stronger every day that Germany and the Axis powers waited. Somebody had to do something. Franco also wondered if he should demand the government stop trading with the Communist nations. In the end Spain was just making them stronger also.

At the end of the month the Navy and the Air Force turned in their reports to Franco. The Spanish subs, aircraft, and surface ships had sunk 50 Allied transports and 5 escorts. Spain had lost nothing in return.

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety-Three : June 1941

Japanese troops "redeploying" in Indochina​

June was a slow month. Outside of the sinking of transport ships even the air war had almost come to a complete stop but for a few dog fights here and there.

On the 22nd Franco woke up from a dream. A dream of German tanks moving through mud and snow, approaching a burning village, under a grey sky. Yet nothing happened to help explain the dream.

On the 26th there was an air attack against the 1 Battle Group. It was so badly damaged and disorganized that it was ordered to stay in port at Gibraltar till it was 100% in perfect condition again. Which could take some time.

At the end of the month the Navy and Air Force reported 48 enemy transports destroyed along with 10 of their escorts. The Spanish had lost 2 transports and 2 convoy escorts.

-----------------------------------------------------------​

The Washington D.C. Airport would open in July​

In America things went on as before. The New York Giants used plastic batting helmets for the first time and the first US federally operated airport was close to opening in Washington D.C.

 

[Iwo Jima]

Nice AAR!
while I don't find what version do you play and what mods you use

 

[Eurasia]

Nice AAR!
while I don't find what version do you play and what mods you use

Just Hearts of Iron 3 with Semper Fi. I am thinking about getting the other extensions after I finish the AAR and maybe the Deutsche Wehrmacht Immersion mod. I was thinking of playing Russia or Germany (again) using the AI to control the military on the theater level. I did it once with Germany (while controlling Special Forces) and won. Like to try it as a AAR.

 

[Iwo Jima]

Just Hearts of Iron 3 with Semper Fi. I am thinking about getting the other extensions after I finish the AAR and maybe the Deutsche Wehrmacht Immersion mod. I was thinking of playing Russia or Germany (again) using the AI to control the military on the theater level. I did it once with Germany (while controlling Special Forces) and won. Like to try it as a AAR.

For Majors I almost always play with auto-theatres, even including special-forces. Playing Russia this style is more easy than GER, and JAP is the most hard, because of landings. Btw, TFH makes them more easy for AI.

I was surprised, that auto-theatres play good enough with fleets. German Auto-fleets survive quite well.

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety-Four : July 1941

“Blame Canada!”​

The month of July Franco spent most his time waiting for the USA to join the Allies. And nothing happened.

On the 9th the only excitement was that the ARNE Espana, a new Heavy Cruiser, joined the 1 Battle Group in port.

Even the air war was nothing but Spanish fighter pilots chasing a single UK air group shuttling from Great Britain to Africa.

At a certain point, out of boredom, he demanded for his staff to do a study on the US. Why was America so close to the edge of joining in yet not joining the Allied camp?

After a few days of study the staff came back with a answer. Canada.

It seemed that the US of A always thought of North and South America as their backyard. In their hearts they OWNED it. To them what happened in Europe stayed in Europe, on the other side of the sea, far away from them and their land.

And what happened in America, well, that was THEIR business. Rebel uprising getting in the way of their banana plantations? Crush them. People demanding freedom getting in the way of their sugar shipments? Crush them. Local cultures flourishing? Flood their nation with coke-cola and tourists, then make Hollywood musicals about their people with third rate actors with bad accents.*

Then Canada, the most non-American of the Americans, had joined the Allies and brought the war, as it were, into their backyard. Americans visiting Canada saw the war everywhere. And they saw the English propaganda.

English propaganda, while not as overbearing as the German’s, was still somewhat visible in almost every international news program they broadcasted, every international news article they printed, every movie they exported.

The Americans were DRIFTING towards the Axis because they were getting sick and tired of the English propaganda. Also the fact was that America had only just started to notice Germany as a threat and the Germans hadn’t really done anything lately meant that Americans were starting to calm down about the whole Axis powers taking over Europe thing. It was pointed out that they didn't have very long attention spans.

Of course all that could change if the Germans invaded the USSR.

They pointed out that even Romania was starting to think about joining the Axis. Bordering the Soviet Union was starting to worry them as the Reds no doubt were massing on their borders.

Franco had decided that maybe the Americans were crazier than the English.

At the end of the month the Navy and Air Force gave their report. The Spanish had sunk 36 transports and 1 enemy escort. Spain had lost no transports or escorts to the Allies.
----------------------------
*OOC: The Golden Age of Hollywood! I love those horrible movies.

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety-Five : August 1941

Engineers working on fortifications​

A nation at war must live on like all other nations. Daily life must go on. Mothers had to go shopping for bread and milk. Like they always do. Children went to the movies to laugh and enjoy the special treat of movie candy. Like they always do. Girlfriends wrote their soldier ex-boyfriends “Dear Juan” letters like they always do.

On the 18th, in the province of La Coruna, the military engineers finished expanding the coastal forts. And there was much rejoicing.

Franco did a tour of Portugal, speaking to the troops, having meetings with the local government officials, and in general getting a feel of the people themselves. They were upset, sure, but he was told they were no where near as angry as the populace of France under the German heel.

At the end of the month the Navy and Air Force turned in their reports on the convoy raiding. 42 Allied transports had been sunk. Plus 2 of their escorts. In return Spain only lost 2 transports.

Franco wondered what the enemy troops in Africa were receiving. Were they getting their tins of jam? Their crates of ammo? Did they even have proper boots? Were they salvaging supplies and fuel from abandoned Italian positions and vehicles?

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety-Six : September 1941

Cheering Japanese soldiers​

The month was a very exciting one for the public.

First the news on all the radios, in the move theater news shorts, and everybody's lips was the fact that on the 2nd Japan annexed Communist China. For the next few days it looked like the Japanese would steamroll over the broken Chinese front. But in the end they ran out of "steam" themselves.

Second Battle of The Channel Approach (16th of September)​

Also during the month there were two massive air battles in which the Spanish tactical aircraft joined the Germans in fighting over the Channel Approach.

On the 26th the 1 Sub Group got involved in a naval battle between the Germans and the UK. The United Kingdom called for air support and the German Fleet had to withdraw, though it seems the Germans did not lose any of their major surface ships (though the British did lose some aircraft).

After all that excitement the Navy and Air Force were able to report only 31 enemy transports sunk and 2 enemy escorts destroyed. Spain lost only 1 escort and no transports. The low numbers suggested either the battles had distracted the Navy and Air Force from convoy raiding OR that the Allies may be running low on cargo ships. It was assumed to be the former reason.

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety-Seven : October 1941

Tired RAF pilots

This month the only activity in the air was a British CAG Group being chased as it transferred to Africa. It made Franco wonder how many air wings the United Kingdom had. And if they were sending them all to Africa what was left in Great Britain?

On the 22nd the cavalry divisions, the Lusitania and the Santiago, returned to Valencia having been upgraded to Light Armour. The last cavalry was sent in to be upgraded, having their horses replaced with light armour.

On the 26th the 115.3 Infantry Division returned to Bilbao as a brand new Mountain Division. Much to the happiness of the local bars and "working girls".

And it seemed the Army would be getting another division of infantry.

By the end of the month the Navy and Air Force reported that 30 enemy transports had been sunk. The enemy had sunk 3 Spanish transports and 1 escort.

--------------------------------------------------
OOC : And it seems the AI government knows what artillery is! Huzza!

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety-Eight : November 1941

Operation: Sea Lion​

On the morning of the 1st of November Franco was woken early by a excited senior staff officer. As he started to examine the reports the officer brought him and listen to the wide eyed man he started to realize why, a few months ago, the Germans had started massive air and sea battles right off the coast of Great Britain. It was a test of the defenders.

Germany was invading Great Britain. And from the information that was being passed on to the Spanish government there was little resistance at the ports the Wehrmacht had selected for their first wave. It seemed Operation Sea Lion, as the Germans called it, was going on without a hitch.

Hull -

Grimsby -

They had targeted the regions of England called Hull and Grimsby. Seems paratroops had landed either slightly before or at the same time the first wave of infantry divisions were landing in the ports.

By the 2nd of November another wave of divisions would start unloading in Hull. The Luftwaffe were quick to attack the British forces and there seemed to be more of their wings in Great Britain then British wings. Every airport captured by the advancing invaders soon became overflowing with dive bombers and fighters.

Franco wondered how the United Kingdom and their Allies would react? And what would the Americans do? Even they joined the Allies now it is doubtful they could do anything to help the British.

He did not have to wonder for long.

The Japanese, no doubt wishing to absorb the English colonies before Germany claimed them, declared war against the United Kingdom on the 7th. And on the same day also declared war against the United States of America. Who reacted by joining the Allies on the 8th.

Now it was a race. Would the Germans take all of Great Britain before the USA could save their Allies? Would the USA ignore the Japanese to take on Germany?

The Spanish intelligence officers noticed some strange activity within Germany territory. They seemed to moving their paratrooper divisions. Were they planning another wave of airborne landings somewhere in Great Britain? Surely they would have had them prepared already or at least waiting at airfields?

At the end of the month the Navy and Air Force reported that 27 Allied transports had been sunk, without any loss of Spanish shipping. Franco decided this was likely due to the British focusing all their resources on saving their very homes, their very families, the very soil of their forefathers.

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter Ninety-Nine : December 1941

Europe: 1st December 1941​

Franco had his military and intelligence staff collect as much data as they could on the different battle fronts in this expanding global war.

First he looked over the reports about the conflict in China. The situation seemed simple enough. When Japan declared war against the United Kingdom it had also brought Siam into the war. The Siamese panicked and withdrew their units from the front with China. The units raced west to try to protect their border they shared with the British controlled Asian territories.

The Western Front in China, already in doubt, collapsed. Now the Chinese were flooding into Indochina.

The Japanese seemed to have gained some land on the Eastern Front of the Chinese conflict. The word here is “seemed” because, in fact, it had changed only a tad over the past year. The combined might of China, even with two of the nation-states out of the picture, was still too much for Japan to handle.

And now the Japanese planned to fight the British and the Americans?

The Italians in North Africa seemed to be retreating before what seemed to be Middle Eastern soldiers led by British officers. Franco’s intelligence officers pointed out that the Italians were losing not just ground but ports. It was putting more stress on their supply lines while giving the British more working ports, Benghazi and Tobruk to be exact, to feed their advancing soldiers.

And of course every defeat meant the Italians had to try to find warm bodies to replace the loss men. Their only hope is that the battle for the Brit's “Homeland” would force the United Kingdom to withdraw military forces to help push the Germans out. Maybe the Italians would get a resting period?

More likely they would be squeezed into a small corner and then either wiped or forced to withdraw from Africa completely.

Great Britain. Franco had thought defeating the Republic or taking Gibraltar had been a turning point for Spain. But in fact it was across the English Channel. If England fell to the Germans history was be changed forever. The resources, the manpower, the factories falling into the hands of Germany would, if given enough time, allow them to do almost anything. With the right leadership. And some good luck.

Germans fighting in England​

The Germans had cut Great Britain in half and were spreading out. Franco had watched with amazement, during the month of November, as the Wehramacht was able to handle anything thrown at it and keep going. December 1941 would be a very important month. If the Americans failed to do anything before the beginning of the new year is was very likely the UK would fall.

On the 24th Costa Rica joined the Allies. And only two days later Panama also joined the Allies.

By the end of the month the Navy and Air Force reported that only 17 enemy transports had been sunk. The North Atlantic was become one large battle around Great Britain and that meant more Axis warships, subs, and aircraft were competing for prey. At least that was their theory (or maybe excuse).

And there was no sign of the Americans in Europe OR Asia.

 

[Eurasia]

The Spanish Civil War AAR :The Soul of Spain.

Chapter One Hundred : January 1942

On the first of January Franco was given reports that there were uprisings against the British in East Africa. The staff joked about the English having an Un- Happy New Year.

It also turned out that Cuba had decided to join the Allies.*

Spanish intelligence brought the news that the Americans were likely going to go after Japan first. The Declaration of War by the Japanese seemed to upset their sensitive feelings. Funny enough the Japanese felt that the Soviet Union was the biggest threat. They may not feel that way when the US start grabbing their islands and invading their homelands.

On the 4th Colombia joined the Allies. It seemed much of the nations of the New World felt being on the Allied side was safer than being on the Axis side. No doubt having the United States so close very likely hekped in those decisions.

On the 22nd the Germans reported running into two Polish divisions (and one Norwegian division) defending the approaches of Norwich. It seemed there was some disadvantages to having so many enemy governments in exile. Most of them were in England and willing to fight for it.

There was a change in government. The Foreign Minister and the Chief of the Army was replaced. It was likely the new Foreign Minister was selected because of his Pro-Axis policy and it was said that the former Chief of the Army, Cabanella Ferrer, wished to be replaced so he could focus on keeping Portugal peaceful with the 1.2 Army.

By the end of the month the Navy and Air Force were embarrassed to report that only 6 enemy transports had been found and destroyed. While 4 Spanish transports had been sunk and 3 Spanish convoy escorts had been also sunk. Yet Franco took this as a good sign. To him this meant that the British were running out of ships, money, or both.

---------------------------------
* OOC : Cuba! How could you! *SOB* After all I did for you!

German air transport coming back empty.​

Just a interesting point folks. I noticed that the German AI was moving airborne units with air transports into England from France. But not dropping them. No airdrops were detected. But the air groups came back empty. My only theory was they were transferring them into England via the captured airports. I didn't know the AI could use airborne divisions like reinforcements. Well, not like that. Has anybody seen that before?