GD1938 v.3 BBLC

[BvB]

Larry commented on being scooped - I would think all post their views would be nice and not worry about being scooped. this turn Russia tried to extricate Czech survivors & Russians from pocket. In the process decimating the German 8th & 66th Infantry while scratching the paint on the 6th & 7th Pz Divs. noticed in replay that Italy likely put the bulk of it's air under German control to get them some combat experience. salute. Battle continues at a brisk pace and the Russians are dreading the full German might once more troops from the French and Czech fights appear...

[cpdeyoung]

August 22nd, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Information has reached the Tribune from the USSR about recent battles in the East. Going on this source graphic artists on Tribune staff have come up with a map of the area in question.

Identified Czech units - circled in black.
The German infantry described as "decimated". - boxed in red.
The German panzers described as scratched. - boxed in white.
There are also annotations of some unusual Soviet formations. - in text. Note the designation "45th NKVD" implies 44 more, but this may be maskirovka, soviet deception.

[LarryBurstyn]

Walter Cronknut, Lead Reporter, CBS Radio News. from London.
Transcript of live report.

The French have recoiled from the loss of Paris but desperately fight on...major retreat in attempt to save what can be saved. Leaving behind some troops to hold onto the Maginot Line for as long as possible--delaying redeployment of German troops.

The British Prime Minister has resigned and a former Naval Minister Winston Churchill has taken over the British government forming a new cabinet of war leaders (those who were calling for rearmament since Hitler broke the treaty ending WWI by building up the German Army). Churchill announced that his Army is woefully unprepared for war but that they will fight on the beaches, cities, farms and forests to defend Britain. But first the Army had to be saved so that it could be better trained for the coming conflict. India, Canada, South Africa, and other British possessions have announced they will join with Britain. Canada has already sent tanks and troops to Egypt to deter possible Italian attacks. South Africa has built new destroyers to hunt down German U-Boats. The Americans have traded land for 50 destroyers which will help defeat the U-Boats. India has committed to deploying an Army to help out the Mother country.

[cpdeyoung]

September 19th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The Soviet report has proven accurate and the Germans in the southern part of the Ostfront find a great number of Red Army troops about them. The 6th and 7th Panzer are indeed isolated. The Soviets did receive some bad news however as Hungary has joined the Anti-Comintern Pact.

[cpdeyoung]

September 19th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Our European sources report continuing combat in the east. The Soviets were able to avoid the pocket forming in the south. German losses are heavy on both east and west fronts and they are replacing them. If the war continues at this intensity it had best be short. Our sources in the Soviet Union are not as good as those in Germany, but we expect Red Army losses are significant also.

[cpdeyoung]

September 19th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The French seem intent on denying Germany the hegemony it seeks in Europe. Losses for the French and Germans are very high and many young lives are being destroyed. There seems to be an almost callous attitude towards the French soldiers, and no word from he government of peace being sought. The Left in France was far stronger than was realized before this conflict, and now France bleeds for the USSR.

[cpdeyoung]

September 19th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In China the Japanese still have not captured a city or resource. They are attacking along the front with multiple areas of activity. Losses are heavy.

[LarryBurstyn]

Sept. 19, 1938

Walter Cronknut, Chief News Reporter, CBS Radio News from London
Edited transcript of on air live report.

The French continue retreating into the mountains in Southern France, apparently hoping that the mountains will slow the German Advance giving them time to recover from the loss of Paris. The Maginot Line is expected to fall soon since they cannot be resupplied. There are reports that the French are using their night bombers to bomb cities in Germany but that should be considered rumor for now. The French have announced the Britain has taken over administration of colonial holdings as the Free French (as they call themselves) are unable to govern them and fight Germany at the same time.

Churchill, British new Prime Minister, has announced that better training has been started for British troops everywhere. Churchill said that French territories now under their administration will be returned to France as soon as possible. He also announced that Indian troops will start deployment outside of India in a few weeks. Canadian troops have already been deployed to Egypt/Sudan area to deter any Italian thoughts of war--the Prime Minister has said if Italy declares war on France Italian troops everywhere outside Italy will pay the price of Italian aggression. German U-Boats have continued being a minor problem for the British but Destroyers are hunting them down in the Indian Ocean, the Prime Minister says that he thinks they are being resupplied by the Japanese in violation of their suppose neutrality in the European War. He said that British naval units will be stationed outside Japanese ports in the area to prevent German subs from using those ports as hiding and resupply places but no actions will be initiated against Japanese flagged vessels.

There are reports, which are clearly visible, that the USA is losing it's isolationist views and may be considering entering the war on the British and French side. This view is reinforced by the agreement to cede 50 some destroyers to Britain in return for naval bases in the Caribbean. The USA has indicated that it will sell equipment to whomever wants to buy it and pick it up in the USA--this is seen as favoring Britain as Germany cannot buy stuff in the USA and pick it up due to the British control of the seas.

EDIT>>
I may get some pictures into my reports but not sure that is the right thing to do considering that these are suppose to be radio reports.

[cpdeyoung]

October 17th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

News just in from the USSR of Soviet Naval forces suffering losses in the chilly Baltic from Luftwaffe aircraft defending the coast.

[cpdeyoung]

October 17th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

German sources tell of traffic east as mopping up operations against the French continue. The Germans pushed across the line, but the Soviets held back any breakthrough.Some larger German panzers have been seen at the front.

[cpdeyoung]

October 17th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Reports from China are showing some changes coming from mechanized units. In the war during 1938 Japanese losses have been very high. Japan has built an armored force to get the greatest strength out of her manpower. Once these units get out of the mountains and rough terrain they can run a bit. Japan still has not taken a city or resource this year.

[cpdeyoung]

October 17th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

We previously wrote of our theories on the Axis motivation to turn to arms. The rise of the large states, the USA and USSR, threatened Germans and Japanese with relegation to second class powers. Both felt the need to bulk up for a coming world of larger powers. German needed to take control of Europe, challenging the French and British and incorporating the smaller European nations. Japan needed to make real progress in China.

Let us examine what the Axis has achieved on meeting these goals. The capitulation of the Low Countries served both Germany and Japan, as Germany gave Japan control of the Dutch East Indies. This step allowed Japan to mechanize their Army and actively use the Navy. The Germans were immediately challenged by the Soviet Union which grabbed Poland. The threat this Soviet coup brought to eastern Germany caused a declaration of war on the Soviets. There was a brief peace, but the Soviets made an alliance with the Franco-British block. This meant a stop to German growth unless they were willing to fight all three powers in a two front war. This option was anathema but Germany felt it had no choice and now has a war against all three. All of western and northern France are controlled by the Germans. Paris has fallen. However France has not surrendered and her Army is entrenched in the South. The French Navy is active. Germany has a difficult task in reducing the position of France on the Continent. Britain is massed in Egypt to rob Italy of her possessions in Africa.

First let's look at Germany. Czechoslovakia, much of Poland, Holland, Belgium, Hungary, and Austria have all become the Greater Germany. Italy is a friendly ally, a non-belligerent with volunteers in combat, much as in the Spanish Civil War. Some blustering in Italy leads us to believe they might join active belligerency soon. This position is an improvement on the German State in 1937, but Germany is at war with mighty enemies. Great Britain is dominant at sea despite some pesky raiders in the South. Britain and the Commonwealth are surely supplying France through Marseilles. Germany cannot presently interdict this supply although Italy probably could. Far across the Atlantic another English speaking nation seems increasingly concerned with the war news. An entry of the USA in the lists would be a real blow to Germany. In the East the powerful troops of the Soviet Union are fighting daily in western Poland. Bringing the USSR to the peace table will be extremely difficult. Stalin has been assertive, even aggressive from the beginning and the nation is ramping up recruitment and production. As Napoleon found out this country is a horror to invade. Germany has limited resources and time is not on her side. Has the script for this war already been written as a German defeat?

What must Germany do to win, to survive this gamble? First she must practice tactical and operational excellence. She seems to be doing well on the task. Her troops seem to defeat larger enemy forces when confronted. This is necessary, but not sufficient. It is early in the war and as all troops become more experienced the German edge will become less. German equipment is good, but not great. The French B1-bis tank was a monster to fight against. The Soviet BT-7 series show promise. There are many fine weapon designers in the world, and enemy nations have massive production facilities coming on line. Germany cannot afford any weapon choice errors. She must make the best allocation of resources to air, armor, artillery, and naval needs. Missing from this list are the manpower intensive forces. Germany does not have the manpower of her larger enemies. Her men must have the best weapons with will probably mean mechanization and armoring, rather than leg infantry. Horses must be replaced with motor transport. This will expose another German shortage, that of POL. Capture of fuel resources will be necessary. Germany must start to take Soviet cities and resources. This will reduce the strength of the USSR and increase German potential. The German economy must be optimized for an economic war. They need panzers, and armor factories, both. The Soviets must be reduced in power. The East Front must be well in hand before America enters the war.

What must Japan do to win? Japan is at war with China. She must not engage any new enemies till they attack her. As Germany must reduce the USSR, so must Japan reduce China. Japan has not yet succeeded in reducing Chinese production. This must happen soon as China is stronger than she looks. The Japanese manpower issues have encouraged them to build high value / low manpower units. Currently this results in divisions of Chi-Ha tanks debarking from transport in China each month. The Chinese terrain is hardly "tank country" but the Chi-Ha seem durable. Rifle units are not. Japan's economy is growing very slowly. She needs the production for war fighting strength in China, but the IJN is desperate to research more potent aircraft. The carrier air strikes reveal a real weakness here. If Japan is ever in a contest with the American fleets she will need real investment in her navy, but just now the Army controls production.

The Axis is challenged now, but the future brings huge new challenges. A whole new world is heading into the fray. Two small nations will probably be faced in combat with three "super" powers.

[cpdeyoung]

November 14th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In the west the Germans are still dealing with the French in the rough terrain. Where they can go, they GO!

To the east one of the new Italian Rifle+ divisions is on show.

[cpdeyoung]

November 14th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

On the East Front the Soviet Union defends her acquisitions in Poland, but is unable to prevent the Heer from entering Lvov. Bialystok on the center of the front is threatened on her flanks. Behind Bialystok the Pripet Marsh stretches toward Gomel. It is expected that any German advances will bypass the marsh to the North and South. Will Germany have two equal forces, or will North or South receive a disproportionate share of the effort.

[cpdeyoung]

November 14th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

An overview of the big war in China.

[cpdeyoung]

December 12th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

There are rumors that the USSR offered a ceasefire, and peace, on the East Front. With France winding down Germany seems be running on momentum and does not want to pause. The Soviets are holding their cards close to their vest, and Germany wants to keep probing. Any peace would be a nervous time. Remember we speculate that the German war goal is to prevent the rise of the USA and USSR to "super" power status. Giving the Soviets time to build up would not further this goal.

[cpdeyoung]

December 12th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Without a major intervention by the British the French seem doomed to be pushed off the continent. Casualties and surrenders are high. The close relations between France and the Soviets have inspired holding out in the west, but increasing numbers of German forces are heading east anyway.

[cpdeyoung]

December 12th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In China things are very violent. The Chinese are being pushed back, but the Japanese are taking losses for every inch of ground. The Chinese are not afraid to counter-attack and press along the whole front. There is no quiet sector.

[LarryBurstyn]

Walter Cronknut, Chief Reporter CBS Radio News on live broadcast.
Transcript Edited.

French continue to retreat in Southern France...Some French units have been withdrawn from France and taken to the colonies. The French General says they will return to France and kick the Germans out of their country...hail the Free French.

Italy is still not in the war but their entry is expected at any time.

The German and Allied Navy met in combat ENE of Colombo...the German Navy used their experience to bloody the nose of the British and French Naval units. However they did lose one of their famous pocket battleships. The British still have not gotten the full benefit of the better training but they are a little better at fighting. Other British units are headed for the site of the battle to help destroy the German Naval units in the area.

[cpdeyoung]

December 12th, 1938

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

We have heard from sources in the Kriegsmarine that the German fleet off the Indian coast was waiting for a late supply run when the fighting tops of British warships were sighted on the horizon. Very surprised Germans kicking themselves for being caught napping. They stayed in the same spot too long.