A musical global war AAR...

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The capture of Chengtu effectively conquers the Chinese Communists, since there are now no more Chinese Communist cities. No US entry chit is gained. The other attack is aimed to further diminish the Nationalist army. If it succeeds, this attack puts two Nationalist armies out of supply, and being disorganised, they will be destroyed next impulse if the hex is taken, The Chinese, hoping to get a retreat or to be able to save some units, choose the Blitzkrieg table:

[Centuur]

The Japanese attack stalls on the Chinese defense. So time for some Japanese (?) music. I've found this and it comes out of the era, but what it is about and who is the singer? I don't know. If it is abusing or something like that, don't blame the one who put it in here...

学徒空の進軍

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1hC-ZBXmDk

Here is Manchuria:

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Northern China:

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Southern China:

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In Spain and Morocco, units gather around Tangier. The German ARM division withdraws into Madrid (to prevent the Spanish CAV reclaiming the city.

In the meantime, listen to Erhard Bauschke - Cocktail (1938)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nCBR_92EII

Bilbao is attacked. The Home Fleet provides the Spanish defenders with defensive shore bombardment, while “Germans oldest Soldier” personally directs the attacks on the city. The Luftwaffe flies in FTR-Bombers and a NAV, to provide ground support. In a reaction, the Royal Navy flies CVP as FTR's and bombers into Bilbao too. An air to air combat occurs:

[Centuur]

The assault on Bilbao commences:

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This outcome seals the fate of the Spanish forces...

[Centuur]

July-August 1940, Allied impulse number 6:

This turns starts in Helsinki. The Soviet Embassador in that city demands that large parts of Finland are handed over to the USSR, or else... Von Ribbentrop immediately embarks on a Junker towards Helsinki. After a couple of weeks of talks, the USSR gets what it wants. The claim is allowed, since with the Soviet fleet capable of invading any hex in Finland itself, the presence of the USSR air force and the fact that the USSR is active (thus not limited to only combined actions), means that not allowing the claim will probably result in the conquest of Finland by the Soviets...

So, it's time for a Finnish March: Here is: Jääkäri marssi (jaeger march):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnraQ-9rhMM

The USSR, CW and China take land actions. France a naval and the US a combined action.

The US moves a GAR into the port of Pago Pago.

The USSR captures the rail link from Siberia to Tsitsishar, making sure the first Manchurian resource will be send to USSR factories. Slowly, more units are poored into Manchuria. The USSR air force is rebased from the Finnish border towards the Caucasus. Here's Manchuria:

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In China, the Chinese General command decides to move the units slowly back into the mountains and put a garrison in Changsha. The situation remains desperate. The only thing which makes things a little better is the fact that supply in China is a nightmare for the Japanese. Here's northern China

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Southern China:

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Bomber Command takes off again. The target is Lille, which is attacked by two planes. The Luftwaffe intercepts with a FTR, and the Hurricanes are scrambled to the defense of the bombers. An air-to-air combat occurs:

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The AA batteries open fire. However, they act poorly, which results in only one bombing factor reduced. This time, the factories are hit, disrupting production:

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More CW units are moved into Spain:

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And finally: the weather report, while Jimmy Dorsey and his orchestra plays: Green eyes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8hMyVQaCUo

[Centuur]

July-August 1940, Axis impulse 7:

Well, it's been awhile (because of Algerian TERR being uncorrectly stated as out of supply, and they were needed, as shown further on)...

Germany aligns Finland. The US doesn't care (10 rolled).

It's time for the national Anthem of Finland: “Maamme”, which means “Our Land”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orPCZ0KTBa8

All Axis powers take land actions. The Japanese decide to ignore the Soviet attack on Manchuria for the moment and concentrate on the conquest of China. They are however, in a hurry. But, with some luck, the conquest can be done in two turns time, after which the Soviets will feel the wrath of the Imperial forces! The city of Hengyang is taken (but gives only a few lines a US papers. Again no chit gained).

Now, I don't know what this is. But it is Japanese music which comes out of the era: 李香蘭 - さらば上海

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTmu3sYtbrY

An attack is done on Changsha, with Umezu giving HQ support. If the city is take this impulse, it's good. If not, well Japan can accept losses in China at the moment. The Chinese choose the assault table:

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General Umezu is very pleased with the result. Sure, the Militia is gone, but Changsha is captured. A result better than expected...

Manchuria at the end of the impulse:

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China:

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In a meeting in Nice Mussolini and Hitler, together with the leaders of Hungary, Bulgaria and Finland, announce the establishment of a joint general Staff... One of the first decisions the Commander in Chief made, was to improve Axis positions in France, to prevent partisan activity there. Toulouse gets a unit, so if Partisans appear in France, the German air force won't be destroyed. Never take any risk you can avoid in this game (even with an 8% chance of a partisan appearing in France...).

Here is Erhardt Bauschke: Das Gewisse Etwas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvmIxZ1X47g

In Spain German forces move south. However, a lot of the units are disorganised and can't move. Also, there isn't an HQ available for Southern Spain at the moment. This means that no attacks will be declared in Spain this impulse.

In Morocco, Guderian, noticing that the British fleet has wasted it's big guns on Barcelona, decides to gamble and attacks Franco at Tangiers. Sure, the Luftwaffe isn't available, but what does that matter, if the CW fleet aid with defensive shore bombardment next turn... He gives HQ support, while a Spanish cruiser and British aircraft give support to the defenders. Franco, seeing the problem, decides to give HQ support to. Again, this is an attack which is risky, but with the Algerians in the front line to absorb losses, why not? However, he underrstands that the attack is too risky to throw in the paratroopers (to expensive). The CW chooses the Assault table, while the Algerians are thrown in as a human wave against the Spanish...

[Centuur]

Apparently, the Spanish forces did have a morale problem. The Commander of the Algerian TERR and it's unit get the highest Military Order available in the German Reich... They were expendable and did there job with an outstanding performance. The first hex for an attack on Gibraltar is taken. Guderian is a very, very lucky commander indeed...

Here is the Gibraltar region end of the impulse. Notice the light defense in Gibraltar...

[Centuur]

The turn doesn't end: