Memoires of two Staff Officers (PBEM)

[cpdeyoung]

November 9, 1939 : No bright spot.

[Chocolino]

Axis, November 16th, 1939

Good news from France is balanced by poor performance in Denmark and an ever increasing pressure by the RAF. We have now lost 3 German air squadrons in exchange for - nothing. The Polish campaign is ready to be finished and then the question of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact will arise.

[cpdeyoung]

November 16, 1939 : The speed of the German advance makes Stalin less and less happy at the thought of waiting upon the Germans.

[Chocolino]

Axis, November 24th, 1939

In a brilliant move, the USSR declares war on Bulgaria without apparent intent to act upon it. Bulgaria joins the Axis and as a result, Germany finds itself at war also with the USSR - at a very inconvenient moment. This will solve the "initial shock" problem of the USSR before Germany can take advantage of it. Germany's prospects are fading and we may have to find a different solution than to invade the USSR.

[cpdeyoung]

November 24, 1939 : There is nothing good about the entry of the Soviet Union into the lists. It is desparation which drives Stalin.

[Chocolino]

Axis, December 1st, 1939

Now that the Polish campaign is coming to an end, what should we do with the forces in the East? Moving right into the USSR seems to be one of the possible options. But we cannot yet release the tanks in the West and it will still be some weeks until our infantry in Poland has repaired and marched into position. By then the initial USSR shock effect has worn off that they so smartly triggered by DoW Bulgaria. So we decide to ignore the war with the USSR and look for other targets. The USSR can field a formidable defensive force but poses no attack threat yet. Preparations for new campaigns are under way.

[cpdeyoung]

December 1, 1939 : How can this war be only three months old?

[Chocolino]

Axis, December 9th, 1939

Even though Paris is still well defended, by this time we believe we can handle a France and a Balkan campaign. The Axis has only the first two years to gain momentum that has to carry her through a long war. What cannot be achieved in '39 and '40 will not get easier in later years.

The Persian HQ announces the destruction of an out-of-supply Soviet tank division. This will not change the outcome of the war but boosts local morale.

[cpdeyoung]

December 9, 1939 : We must pull our forces out of their strong defensive positions in the Maginot Line. These troops would have been a great aid to us if we had the time to build up the left flank, but as it is they are more valuable as field forces.

[Chocolino]

Axis, December 16th, 1939

Encouraged by German progress in France, Italy joins the Axis. The Italian fleet takes refuge in port and no additional land units will be shipped to North Africa until the supply situation is clarified. Italian bombers harass Allied warships in the Central Med that hunt Italian supply convoys. Some German bombers will be transferred to Italy as well for this purpose. The British and French fleet will have to pay for the Italian freighters they sink.

[cpdeyoung]

December 16, 1939 : France is in big trouble and Great Britain is very worried. The Soviets are not just worried, but bloodied.

[Chocolino]

Axis, December 24th, 1939

We can bypass Paris to the east and move south deeply towards the center of France. But there are still many strong defenders around and we are careful not to run with a single mobile unit into a trap. The BEF has withdrawn to LeHavre and we will just screen them for now. For an assault we'd need tanks that are more urgently needed near Paris. A siege is also not possible since LeHavre has some open hinterland that we cannot occupy.

For the time being, the Persians can defy the mighty USSR but the writing is at the wall as the USSR brings in more troops.

[cpdeyoung]

December 24, 1939 : Four months of warfare finds us in deep trouble.

[Chocolino]

Axis, January 1st, 1940

French resistance is slowly crumbling. There is still some serious work left, though and France is large, many cities must be taken before the Vichy question is even considered. It also seems that the BEF is only putting in a token effort. But then they may have different plans and want to use their forces elsewhere.

[cpdeyoung]

January 1, 1940 : Due to a flaw in the game system we are playing with I did not receive any land units of the BEF, or any of the Commonwealth divisions I would normally expect. This means I just don't have the land forces the Allies normally have. No troops from Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, etc. The only land units I possess are the original ones, and any I can afford to build. Please keep this in mind when evaluating Allied and Soviet play.

That said, this turn saw a continuation of the troubles for France and the USSR.

[Chocolino]

Axis, January 9th, 1940

The Persians suddenly find themselves defending against quite a formidable Soviet force. The scales are tipping here slowly. Luckily, the Persian economy is not tiny and they can produce a new defensive unit every turn. But it is just a question of time.

All other campaigns progress quite normal. Much hard work is left to do in France. It is almost impossible to hold France if attacked by Germany in the first year of the war. (Player note: But it has been done before by Chuck in an RtV PBEM - hence the "almost"). Nobody will misjudge the excellent French commander.

[cpdeyoung]

January 9, 1940 : We were caught on the wrong foot, and have been backpedaling since. Looking back we may have underestimated the threat on the left, and perhaps should have taken units from the Maginot sooner, but one never knows, and that may not have worked either.

[Chocolino]

Axis, January 16th, 1940

The British pilots must be far superior to the Germans since they win air battles every single time while using equipment of equivalent technology (Level 2).

[cpdeyoung]

January 16, 1940 : Thing are bleak in France, but looking up in Persia.

[Chocolino]

Axis, January 24th, 1940

We are loosing the "Battle of Britain". After persistent and annoying attacks by the RAF in past turns, we were this week subject of a major RAF raid with massive loss of German planes. This is a response to our quite successful sea zone attacks by German bombers near Lille and joined bombing forces in Italy. So far we could damage an estimated 30HP of shipping in the NE Atlantic and Central Med.

Paris, Tours and Nantes are the remaining cities to take in France (to force the Vichy questions ( there are other combination of cities with the same effect).

In Yugoslavia, the German troops are still marching into position for attacks on Sarajevo, Split and finally Belgrade.

The northern Persian cities are cut off by the Soviets and once they act as supply points for the USSR, the Persian days are numbered.