Europe 1933 pre alpha

[ernieschwitz]

1937 June.
The french keep at it, and attack from the Maginot Line towards Bonn for a 2nd time. This time the attack is less costly, due to lesser entrenchment values. The German troops had just moved into the location that was attacked. The force moving towards Bonn this time is more infantry heavy than the last one, however, German High command plans on dealing with it in almost the same fashion as the attack that came before: a Heavy dose of bombers, and then followed up by infantry attacks.

[ernieschwitz]

1937 June.

The french forces along the Rhine have been thrown back to French territory, and the Fatherland is once again wholely under German control. The battles where not fierce, thanks to air support from the Luftwaffe... one can only wonder where the French Air Force is hiding.

In Denmark, the campaign goes well for Germany. Aalborg is taken, casualties are light. Copenhagen is shelled, then bombarded by the High Seas Fleet and Baltic Fleet, and then stormed by Special Forces as well as regular infantry units. Denmark is "liberated" and a puppet government under German influence is installed.

But recon flights by the 1st Torpedo Bombers, based in Kiel, show what was expected.. The Royal Navys Home Fleet has moved from Scapa Flow, and is nearing Danish territorial waters.

[ernieschwitz]

1937 July.

At the Maginot Line, the french try another suicide offensive, but this time are thrown back. This is good news. Another piece of good news came because of a last minute move made before the turn ended. The Kriegsmarine decided to put the submarines they have into the Kattegat, and thus block the way for the British Home Fleet... This plan worked perfectly. The Home Fleet attacked the German Uboats, but ended up losing a tanker instead of causing any losses on the Submarine IVs, can´t wait to see what Submarine Vs can do, as those where researched some time ago.

Also a large fleet of submarines following the Home Fleet was discovered. In view of this the High Seas fleet and Baltic Fleets will return to port, instead of engaging the Home Fleet, which seems superior.

[ernieschwitz]

1937 July

With the fleets back in port, now comes the time for some action on the western front: The Maginot Line. I had my eyes on the "Hex" just north of Strasbourg, and i kept noticing how the AI didn´t defend the fortifications very well... (this is a common problem with the AI). I decided to take my Luftwaffe Bombers and strike at this particular fortification, that was manned by a french Division, and see what results that would bring. The ensuing bombing was not conclusive, but i decided to try and see if i couldn´t conquor the fortification anyway. In a three way attack, the fortification soon fell into the hands of the attacking 4th, 5th and 6th Rifle Division, and the 6th Rifle Division, became the fortifications new occupants.

The first french soil is now in German hands.



In other news, a raid against the Home Fleet by the 1st Torpedo Bombers, was a disaster. 2 out of 3 planes did not return home, and the British losses where only 1 old DD II. It seems that the ships where well protected with the AA from at least 1 cruiser.

[ernieschwitz]

1937 Early August,

The french desperately try to adjust to the new situation at the Maginot Line. They attack halfheartedly the fortification just taken north of Strasbourg, knowing that it is key to holding Strasbourg, ... unfortunately, their attacks are repulsed rather easily, and Strasbourg is left, not undefended, but very lightly defended, if you ask me... I expect to take the city this turn. Here is a view of the situation as i began the turn.

[ernieschwitz]

1937 August.

The french where even more of a pushover than i expected. The German 1st Army gained alot of territory. Just goes to show, that if you don´t entrench, you get rolled over. Here is the end results of the combat that got the Wehrmacht, not only Strasbourg, but all of the Maginot Line facing Germany. I expect a human opponent would have made better usage of the Maginot Line than the AI has.

[ernieschwitz]

1937 September.

It was time to pay the piper, once again, and the Soviet Union is given yet another 100 pp. But this time, things are different. France is clearly stunned by the fall of the Maginot Line, and doesn´t even mount an attack this turn.

Germany seems content to stay at the Maginot Line (ok, i don´t really want to advance for 2 reasons, 1 is that i don´t have the forces needed atm to have a wider front, so i am holding back, the other is that it was unrealistic for me to take the Maginot Line that easily, so, for historical reasons, I am holding back... Lets just say that the Führer wants to make the western allies consider peace, and as a gesture of good will does not advance. Which actually was one of the reasons for the sitzkrieg. )

The 1st Panzer Army is nearly formed, and ready, while the 2nd and 3rd German Army are moving into position to attack Holland and Belgium.

On the diplomatic front, German diplomats have been busy, and have nearly convinced Bulgaria, Finland and Hungary to join them. Rumania is a bit more hesitant. I am also considering if Germany should try and convince the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) to join them.

[ernieschwitz]

1937 November

Its still quiet on the Western Front. German forces hit the french units not in the Maginot Line, but do not advance. Luzembourg is bombed by the Luftwaffe, and reduced to 0. 2nd and 3rd Army, and 1st Panzer Army, are now in position, and ready for an assault on Belgium and Holland...

And on the French-Italian Border, things are still quiet. The good news is that the Italians are now ready for their assault on France, the bad news is, that they are unwilling, until they see for sure that France is falling (In game terms, they won´t declare war, until a German Unit is next to Paris.) The Italian declaration of war is important in this game, since there is no Vichy-card, and there is no model for Vichy. (I could of course just pay the 100 pp peace with the AI costs... but i´d rather conquor France than do that. I´ve considered making an event card called force humiliating peace, which is only dealt when the capitol of a major is taken, but, i haven´t gotten around to it.)

Here is the disposition of the French and Italians at the border...

[Bombur]

ORIGINAL: ernieschwitz

Thank you for those words Bombur.

I don´t plan to model a US intervention. At least not yet. I think it could be done tho.

You hit another soft spot with the comments about AI regimes technology. Since the minor AIs (Belgium, Holland etc etc) are sleeping, they are not upgrading their technology as the war progresses, and they will thus be easier and easier to beat. This is somewhat worrying. However, when taking over them diplomatically the problem is somewhat solved, in a somewhat round about way... the HQs of the countries have a very large nr. of supplies. Making it possible to upgrade their equipment somewhat.

-You could do the upgrades and add new units with events, I think....

[ernieschwitz]

1937 December

As mentioned in my previous post, the forces of Germany (the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Army and 1st Panzer Army) are now ready to begin attacking neutral Belgium, neutral Holland, and the rest of France. Here is how they are positioned before the assault begins.

[ernieschwitz]

1937 December

The invasions of the low countries is going much as planned. A fierce dogfight happened over Amsterdam, in which relatively new pilots from the 7th and 8th Fighters, tested their skills against the Dutch Airforce. Despite being old, it shot down 2 of the 6 fighters participating, however, the city was bombed mercilessly by Luftwaffe Bomber VIIs. The ensuing combat for the city was over quickly, and Amsterdam, the Dutch Capitol, fell.

In Belgium the 3rd Army moved into position to take Brussels, while the 1st Panzer Army moved quickly towards the southern part of belgium, taking advantage of its speed to cover alot of ground. Two Divisions from 3rd Army where diverted to the border with France, to cover the 1st Panzer Armys flank.

In the southern part of the front, near the Maginot Line, the 1st Army began moving, slowly, into the french countryside, brushing aside french forces as it advanced.

[ernieschwitz]

ORIGINAL: Bombur

ORIGINAL: ernieschwitz

Thank you for those words Bombur.

I don´t plan to model a US intervention. At least not yet. I think it could be done tho.

You hit another soft spot with the comments about AI regimes technology. Since the minor AIs (Belgium, Holland etc etc) are sleeping, they are not upgrading their technology as the war progresses, and they will thus be easier and easier to beat. This is somewhat worrying. However, when taking over them diplomatically the problem is somewhat solved, in a somewhat round about way... the HQs of the countries have a very large nr. of supplies. Making it possible to upgrade their equipment somewhat.

-You could do the upgrades and add new units with events, I think....

I think you are right.. Event coding could do it. I am just not sure i want to do it just yet. It seems to me, at the moment, that the problem is small. And i would like to have done some more playtesting before I come to a conclusion.

For instance, the Dutch Airforce (3 Fighter IIs) and Anti Aircraft guns (1 Flak I) and Machine guns (2 or 4 MG IIIs) shot down 2 Fighter IVs. I´d hate to see what happens if the minor countries get more powerful than that.

[ernieschwitz]

1938 January
The remaining Dutch forces where brushed aside by the 2nd German Army as it advanced into Belgium. Here it encountered the Belgian High Command, that was annihilated as well. The 3rd German Army shelled and then took Brussels, it was not a tough fight. 1st Panzer Army then raced towards the coast, and took Antwerp, catching the Belgian Airforce on the ground, and the Belgian Navy in port. A feirce action was faught by the 1st and 3rd Grenadier Divisions, and they ended up being quite costly. The French forces facing them was more prepared than expected. Luzembourg was once again bombed by the Luftwaffe bombers, and then shelled on by the artillery from 1st Army. Elements of the 3rd Army attacked the Maginot Line located to the west of Luzembourg, and took the fortification. Luzembourg is almost surrounded.

Here is a before and after picture of the front (Notice how i had to move the map focus on the after one)...

[ernieschwitz]

1938 January,

One thing of interest that is going on right now is that Germany has researched Air Units 1940-49. That is, they have now access to the technology developed in the 1940s (Air units, only), and they have also by getting that research gotten the Fighter V. Everywhere in Germany supplies are now being produced, to have enough to upgrade the Fighter IVs that have been the backbone of the Luftwaffes fighter squadrons so far. One of the significant changes of the Fighter V over the Fighter IV, is the interception range. It is 3, instead of 2. The low interception ranges of the Fighters in this game make the "Fighter stack" tactic less interesting...

[ernieschwitz]

1938 Late January

The french wasting no time, see that i have over-extended the flanks of the 1st Panzer Army. They smash into it, and begin what will hopefully be a short lived counter offensive.

I admit that I used the Panzers wrongly, they should have been used to exploit holes created by the Infantry divisions of 2nd and 3rd Armies. I guess I was hoping that the game would turn out like the last test-game i had (where France only had 80% production, instead of 175%), and boy was i wrong.

I am going to pull the 1st Panzer Army to safety, for a short while, so i can rebuild it, and then hopefully it will be ready when the 2nd and 3rd Armies have softened up the French some...

[ernieschwitz]

1938 Late January

The front is stabilized. The 2nd and 3rd German Army reaches the frontline, and retake some of the territory that was lost. 1st Panzer Army is withdrawn to the area around Brussels, where it awaits reinforcements, and lost equipment (12 medium trucks among other things!). Luzembourg is again shelled and the Luftwaffe helped out the 2nd Army retake some of the lost territory, by bombing the advanced units of the french. 1st Army withdraws a bit to straighten the line.

Here is how this looks on the map.

[ernieschwitz]

1938 Feb.

The French Airforce may be missing in action, but the Royal Airforce sure isn´t. Several airstrikes are flown against German positions in Belgium. Among other targets hits where the 1st mobile artillery (a part of 1st Panzer Army) and the HQ of 3rd Army. But most heavily hit was the 2nd Assault Division, which lost everything, apart from 2 Riflemen. Here is a screenshot of that attack. Notice how many bombers that are in that formation that attacked...

[ernieschwitz]

1938 Febuary

Germany strikes back. The first Army attacks Luzembourg, and after the initial bombardment (which once again zeros the city), takes it. The follow up attacks allow the German 1st Army to seize more of the Maginot Line, and the 2nd Army also seizes part of the Line with a very concentrated attack. The 3rd Army tries to stabilize its line, having almost lost 2 divisions in the span of 2 turns.

However, now the situation for the French looks grim. I wouldn´t be surprised to see the AI blow the bridges around Paris this next turn. Also, I have laid a trap for the Royal Airforce. 4 Fighter groups have been sent to Brussels, and here they cover the airspace above the 3rd Army as well as the 1st Panzer Army. It will be interesting to see if they dare to attack from the air with this fighter cover in place... (Brussels is damaged, but only 2%, so the readiness for the fighters there is "only" 98%)

[ernieschwitz]

1938 March.

Nothing like a plan that works! A great air battle was fought over Antwerp. And although the British bombers from the Royal Airforce succeeded in flattening the city, the costs where high! (At least thats how propaganda in Germany tells it). 15 Fighters and more than 15 bombers where shot down, for the loss of 0 german aircraft.

Also, the French Army is in retreat, towards Paris, where the bridges have been blown.

[ernieschwitz]

1938 March

German units press onwards, sensing the collapse of the french may be happening very soon. Units from the 3rd Army, namely the units in 23rd Rifle Division, reach the outskirts of Paris, and several units from the 2nd Army reach the Seine. An Airbase is quickly established near Lille (which isn´t on the map, i know), and fighters are flown there from Brussels to provide aircover.

And guess what else showed up? The french airforce has been spotted in Le Havre!