Briefing: July 1, 1943
Senators,
We have struck a major blow to the Axis and their hopes for conquering Europe these past two months, and I am certain, with your support, we shall do so in July and August.
Under Executive Order, the President authorized the foundation of two new corps of infantry divisions, and sent SAG 'Texas' and 'Arkansas' to pick them up in Norfolk for use in France. General White is the commander of the new 2nd Corps, while General Ridgway has been given the 3rd Corps. Both are fine officers, with a long tradition of success, and I hope will you join me in congratulating them on their promotions.
General MacArthur has also disbanded Army Group 'Mediterranean' and transferred its forces to Army Group 'Italy.' Those of you concerned about General Taylor need not be; he is long overdue for a more restful assignment, and will be serving his next tour at the Pentagon, barring direct Presidential request.
General Marshall's First Army has been ordered to focus entirely on Hungary and Slovakia, leaving General Patton to push north into Germany and Austria.
Per the recommendations of General Geiger, our Theater Commander in the Pacific, two extraneous convoys were discontinued, in the hopes of reducing unnecessary casualties.
For the first two weeks of May, progress was slow. Allied forces were repulsed, again, at Munich, but General Patton's reports show that enemy morale is flagging. He also reported scattered Allied squads fighting in the streets of Vienna.
General Hodges of Second Army has met with some Soviet staff officers, as American forces close in on Romania from the west while the Red Army attacks from the east.
In France, General Clark is but a stone's throw from Paris, and reports that victory there is all but certain.
The two additional infantry corps -- comprising nine fresh infantry divisions -- were dispatched to Brest the same day.
May 17, 1943 marked our first foray into Budapest itself. Unfortunately, the two lead divisions were armored divisions, and the experienced and battle-hardened Hungarian troops repulsed our first assault.
On May 24, Generals White and Ridgway reported to General Clark and had their newly-arrived corps ordered east to help take Paris back from the Nazi invaders.
On May 31, President Willkie sent this message to Father Tiso of Slovakia: "Your opportunism disgusts all hard-working democratic Americans, many of whom are Czech. How could you sign up with the Nazi invaders? You will suffer the same fate as Hungary and Romania, so that we might liberate your people from your heavy-handed tyranny."
By June 3, General Clark reported the outstanding performance of the new infantry corps, citing in particular General Ridgway as exemplary, noting that American troops had nearly reached Belgium.
Progress was slower further east, but Generals Patton, Marshall, and Hodges pressed on their objectives with all possible speed.
June 8 saw American forces triumphantly march down the streets of Budapest. The Soviets were mere miles from the new provisional capital of Kosice, so Hungary would not last long.
On June 11, the Battle of Paris began, with two American infantry divisions, commanded by General McNair, engaging General Hausser's infantry and garrison divisions.
June 13, 1943 marked the formal surrender of Hungary to the Allies. At present, a military commission is running things in Hungary. The new Governor-General was authorized to sign an armistice with Germany, as the Hungarian army has been badly depleted and would serve little purpose.
The next day, American forces moved into Paris. General de Gaulle began demanding the liberation of his country only hours later; at the moment, we want to make sure that the country is secured before allowing him to return.
On June 19, an American armored division hit the Slovakian capital of Bratislava. The next day, General Stillwell (Army Group 'France') issued new orders to General Clark's Third Army: liberate the rest of France and move into the Netherlands and Belgium.
June 22nd marked Slovakia's surrender to the Allies, although they formally surrendered to Italy rather than the United States. A Slovakian diplomat was quoted as calling our President "an insatiable, bloodthirsty madman." In any case, they are out of the war, and have formally been annexed by Italy. The same day, General Marshall, the hero of Hungary, was given new orders to assist our Soviet friends in freeing Poland from Nazi tyranny.
Our navy had a rare battle on June 24, sinking a German transport squadron at the mouth of the Loire. I do not know whether or not any German soldiers were aboard at the time.
The next day, American forces marched into Munich. Two days later, General Patton was given new orders to strike at the heart of Germany, taking key industrial cities and liberating the Czech people in Prague.
Here are the most recent reports from our Generals, marked earlier this morning.
American troops have formally entered Belgium and begun progress towards Brussels.
Romania will surrender, I am assured, in the next few days; it is only a question of whether it will be to the Soviet Union or the Allies.
Generals Patton and Marshal are pushing north while the Soviets advanced from the west; surely, Germany cannot be far behind.
In China, Manchukuo is barely standing, and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek informs me that an invasion of Korea is planned in the coming weeks.
Technologies researched: Destroyer Escort Role 2, Fire Control System Training 3, Destroyer Crew Training 2, Supply Transportation 4, Schwerpunkt 4, Trade Interdiction Submarine Doctrine 2, Small Navigation Radar 1, Operational Level Organization 4, Theoretical Jet Engine, Commander Decision Making 4, Integrated Support 3, Medium Air Search Radar 3, Naval Air Targeting 3, Naval Strike Tactics 4, Submarine Torpedoes 3, Infantry Anti-Tank Weapons 6, Night Fighting Equipment, Medium Tank Gun 5,
Convoys sunk: 3/2 (Japanese)
Convoys lost: 4/0 (by Japan), 1/0 (by Germany)
Units sunk: 1 x transport (German)
Units built: 1 strategic bomber wing, 3 x transports, 3 x mechanized divisions (2 x MECH, 1 x SPART, 1 x ENG) (deployed to Norfolk, VA), expanded nuclear reactor (Atlanta, GA)
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It is time to discuss the future of this AAR: specifically, when do we declare victory? I have five proposals below; if you wish to introduce another one, by all means, do so.
Option 1: Declare victory right now. Germany is obviously going to surrender soon, and without Germany, Japan is hopeless.
Option 2: Declare victory after German surrender.
Option 3: Declare victory after Japanese surrender.
Option 4: Declare victory after Soviet surrender (obviously, we'd be declaring war on the Soviets in this scenario).
Option 5: Declare victory when we meet all fifteen victory conditions. (We'd have to conquer Bulgaria, and possibly declare on the Soviets to retake Romania.)
Please vote, indicating your preferred option. I'm going to ask we pause consideration of all other plans, bills, or other developments until this is settled. I also want everybody to vote, including commanders. We'll start the first round of voting now; unless one option has at least
10 votes, we'll go to a second round on
Friday at 10 PM (-6 GMT). As always, bold your votes.
o Shame on me.))
