Maj. von Mauser said:
I blame the young king and his fascination with all things Romanic...
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I blame the young king and his fascination with all things Romanic...
Hrmm.
I doubt this would follow with a "wave of patriotism".
"wave of dissent" might work though.
I doubt this would follow with a "wave of patriotism".
"wave of dissent" might work though.
Carving Up Turkey and Other Assorted Minors
February 11 1935 to September 26 1935
As expected, the forces of Hungary were really no match for troops that had been nicely bloodied in Bulgaria.
The Austrian forces fared about as well, and the whole thing was over by April 29th, when Austria agreed to join the Greater Romanian Republic (which now included Hungary, of course).
The problem now was one of timing. Yugoslavia, Greece and Turkey were all in play (though with each one a non-aggression pact had to be canceled first), and it would be silly to not grab as much real estate as possible. May 17th, a declaration of war was issued on Yugoslavia, aware that it was a wee bit distracted with enemies to the left and to right (or at least to the sea in the form of an Allied landing). General Petrovic put up probably the most decent struggle in Ljubljana, but it wasn’t nearly enough.
With the British invasion cutting off any escape, General Nedic did his best to keep his troops from being cut to pieces, but they were trapped and slaughtered. Horrible nature of war and all that.
With Yugoslavia successfully partitioned, it was a race to get to Turkey and Greece, the former already experiencing a French invasion from Syria as well as an Italian presence from the Greek Islands. On July 30th, Turkey was DOWed and by September 7th it was annexed, partitioned lovely into three bit sized morsels.
That left only Greece, and on September 15th it was DOWed and it fell just a mere 11 days later., with the UK picking up pieces from the south.
All in all, a damn fine start given everything. Germany was still in one piece, as was Italy, and the Allies were more content to grab their own pieces of Minors pie than to deal with a greedy(ish) Romania. All that was left now was the long buildup of forces to prepare for the coming conflict. Given the lack of unlimited manpower, ala Germany or Russia, a strategy of NAVs to protect the coast – as many as possible, would allow a minimal defensive presence, allowing more troops for front line action or a static defense along the Russian border.
The option to join the Axis at some point is very viable, as relations with Germany are quite good and could be easily maxed out, but given Romania’s belligerence, that would mean an early war. Which, of course, Germany's 13 divisions would be rather ill-equipped to handle. So, that means no alliances until after Germany is already in a shooting match with someone. The lack of IC from Austria and Hungary should not be a huge impediment for Germany, but how much damage that does long term remains to be seen.
Some aggressive land grabbing from allies, Germany will have tough time even to take France this time.
In fairness, they have wanted those lands for some time. Well done adding to Greater Romania!
Vann
Vann
My first and best ever game was with Romania. It was a very fun game, and this so far looks to be a great Romanian AAR! Not quit the adventures I had against the Soviet Union, trying to hold them at a river near Beltsy, until finally the Germans saved me!
The Italian Job
September 27 1935 to May 5 1939
Spending four years building up one's forces gives one time to think. What would be in the best interests of the Greater Romanian Republic, one whose goal is to be the predominant Mediterranean power and has a King with romantic notions of being a new Justinian, re-conquering the lands that once belonged to the Holy Roman Empire?
The options, as 1938 ticked to a close, were boundless. There were the Allies, (though the British possessions in Yugoslavia and Greece mar the map rather badly) who would most likely welcome a benevolent monarch with aspirations of empire (after all, Michael was a great-great-grandson of Queen Victoria of Britain). The Soviets were in the picture, though to join them would be a touch too gamey and the only reason to hook up with them would be because I have absolutely no faith in the Germans to have 200+ divisions by the time they decide to take care of the Russian question. That leaves an alliance with Germany, the natural path to take given that Romania and Germany were fascist in arms and all that.
But, and this is a big but, there is another fascist Mediterranean power with aspirations of empire hanging around - Italy. And, as Michael mentioned in his 1939 New Year's Day radio speech to the Empire, "two Mediterranean fascist powers with aspirations of empire are one too many".
On the assumption that Italy has about a third to half their troops still in Africa, and that most of their troops are raw and crappy (you know, because its Italy), decided to take care of the Italians now, rather than wait for the inevitable collapse later on.
January 29 - cancelled the non-aggression pact with them and readied the 51 divisions of experienced troops that would pour over the border into Venice. The southern flank of Greece was being protected by the NAVs and FGT/INT squads, and hopefully they can catch an Italian fleet or two and crush them.
February 12 - war on Italy. 48 divisions attack Northern Italy, with 3 divisions used to secure the Turkish and Greek possessions that Italy stole a few years back.
Germany, as one can imagine, is not too happy with all this, but suitable evidence is found of Italian vacillation about their commitment to the cause (see the story section for justification on all this and how Germany was placated). I dont anticipate a German or Allied response because Italy is a major power, and thus should be able to take care of itself.
Also, both are probably secretly hoping that Italy gets spanked.
The sacking of Milan
As expected, the forces of the Mare Român Republic do a damn good job, so much so that on March 10, Italy offers a peace treaty that is decent, but not good enough. The goal is to neuter Italy, not just to give it a spanking. Six days later, Rome falls.
Reasonable, but not quite the humiliation I was going for
Inexplicably, on March 26, Italy declares war on Albania which is just so cute, given that their fleets have no way of getting to Albania without being trashed, and there is the small problem of having 50 or so enemy divisions in central Italy.
By the time Rome fell on the 16th, the fate of Italy was pretty much sealed. Six divisions of Italian troops were massacred in Rijeka, and another eleven in Genoa.
The Massacre of Genoa
I would estimate anywhere from 10 to 15 troops are still in Africa awaiting transport, which should leave something around 40 or so Italian divisions left in Italy. Which is just not going to do the trick, since those left to defend have the disadvantage of being not well trained, not well led, and of course, they are Italian which is never a good thing when it comes to a battle.
Poised to strike
The last big massacre takes place at Tarranto, where 41 divisions are surrounded and, thanks to the brilliant leadership of Italian Field Marshall Italo Balbo, they were slaughtered to the last man.
On May 4, a not so smug Benito Mussolini sat his fat carcass down at a lovely oak table and signed the most humiliating peace treaty since Totila's troops sacked Rome and partied like it was 546.
Italy had been neutered.
It remains to be seen how this would play out later on though, but I would think that it would be beneficial overall to the Axis cause (to carry on the logical conclusion that once relations with Germany are patched up that there would be a formal alliance between Germany and Romania). While the 75 or so divisions that Italy offers up to the cause in 1941 or so (based upon past game experience) are a solid contribution, they really are only effective in providing the British troops with experience, between the fall of France and the American invasion of Italy, and are usually wiped out to a man in Tripoli or thereabouts.
The weakening of Italy will have long-term consequences on the ability of safeguard the underside of Europe, and I will have to solve that problem much sooner than I anticipated. On the plus of it all, given that I am now in control of Turin and Genoa, I should be able to help take out France if Germany decides to go that route and a formal alliance exists between us. Or at least give the French enough of a distraction to divert troops from the north down to protect the south, which should allow the Germans to exploit any gaps.
But, for now, the Greater Romanian Republic is looking damn fine.
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dag231 said:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
„Republica României Mari” = The Republic of Greater Romania
But since you have a King: „Imperiul României Mari” = The Empire of Greater Romania
Or: „Senatul şi Poporul Român” = The Romanian Senate and People (equivalent to SPQR) - use „Senatul şi Poporul Roman” if you want a better throwback to the Roman empire
And don't put „the” in front of these phrases.
BTW nice empire!
Splendid work, dag. What was the rationale behind leaving a rump Italy? Didn't want to go to Africa or holding down belligerence?
Vann
Vann
Enewald said:
Only because of the British red...
Edzako said:
I dont think France will be a problem, its what happens afterwards that is the worry. Will Germany aggressively gear up for war with Russia to make sure it has 200-250 divisions ready at the front? Or will it build coastal defenses the length and breadth of France, and garrison them with Tigers?
Kurt_Steiner said:Indeed, the Allies look more like the III Reich, so eager to take some lands.
In all fairness, both are colonialists...
Crush3r said:
Ah, yes - the German option... bit gamey though, wouldnt you say? Fairly confident that I could take at least half of Germany/Poland before Belgium annexed them (though I would make a run for Berlin to get the scientists), but that would be a bit over the top and all that. Not something I am actively looking at this moment.
stnylan said:
Thanks.
Thinsulate said:My first and best ever game was with Romania. It was a very fun game, and this so far looks to be a great Romanian AAR! Not quit the adventures I had against the Soviet Union, trying to hold them at a river near Beltsy, until finally the Germans saved me!
In my other Romanian AAR, I had something of a similiar situation. Am hoping this time around not to have to take on the Russians at all, just hold 30 or 40 divisions at bay and allow the Germans to do all the work...
Maj. von Mauser said:
Thanks.
WhisperingDeath said:
And yet almost minuscule manpower growth...
Crush3r said:
Would be nice to get more manpower out of all of that.
stnylan said:Italy always gets so picked on
Deservedly so...
Crush3r said:
Imperiul României Mari - that I like... thanks...
Vann the Red said:
No way to get to Africa. No navy at all, and dont have a military access deal with France and Britain. As such, that peace treaty was about as good as I could have hoped for, and leaves me the option of crushing the rest of Italy later on, though there is almost no chance of an African campaign, given the lack of manpower overall.
ColossusCrusher said:
Well.. depends on IF Italy loses those colonies, doesnt it?
If they join Germany in the Axis, and I am already in there, then there is nothing I can do about taking out Italy.
If I attack Italy while in the Axis, then they will automatically join up with the Allies.
My best bet would be to take Italy out of the picture and then just sit on their lands until I build up a very substantial suicide squad to take Italy out of the game. Would need to take the Suez first, and then a reasonable size navy to be able to transport 15-21 divisions from the Arabian peninsula (would have to DOW Saudi Arabia first, of course) to Massaua and then the trek to Addis Ababa. At the same time, would need another navy to make landings at the three Italian provinces in Libya, and keep them (so, lets say, 6 divisions on each).
At the earliest, if I DOW Italy in 1940 after joining the Axis, I would be able to take out Italy in 1942. Maybe. You are talking roughly 40 divisions, along with 2 substantial fleets, on top of all the infantry that will be needed along the Russian borders (in Europe and in the Caucuses, assuming I take the Turkish provinces that France currently possesses).
Most likely, Italy stays in possession of their Italian lands until Russia is defeated by the Germans... which, to be honest, I am very skeptical about...