A musical global war AAR...

[Centuur]

A wise decision... Stilwell congratulates himself on being able to have the Chinese in play for the next turn. The MIL is take as loss...

What this next piece of music is about? I haven't got a clue... Still, it's Japanese or Chinese and recorded in 1941: 夜霧の馬車　李香蘭

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzEEAgBpX7U

Now, if the weather turns worse, who knows? China won't be easy to get rid of, since it still has got quite an army on the map...

[Centuur]

In Southern Spain, the Germans decide to attack the hex adjacent to Gibraltar. The Blitzkrieg table is called for:

[Centuur]

Since converting the shattered result into a retreat eliminates the 7-4 MOT, I will do so. Sure, that also means that the gun retreats into Gibraltar, but it will get disorganised. And who knows? Perhaps there will be another impulse and if so, The German general staff will see what they can do about The Rock next (if there is a next Axis impulse...)

[Centuur]

Turn ends:

[Centuur]

No partisans appear (this gives a good cheer at the Japanese High Command...).

So here's another piece of Japanese music: 海行かば　暁に祈る　英霊に感謝！

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkOccvy7nIY

Again, I don't understand a thing what's he singing about, only I like the video...

Germany puts two offensive markers and the USSR one defensive marker for the German-USSR pact in the pools:

[Centuur]

And here is the destroyed pool for this turn:

[Centuur]

First. I think I made a mistake by converting the attack result in Spain against the CW into a retreat... I tend to forget that if no retreat path is available, a unit is destroyed even if it's shattered... Something to do with a misunderstanding of the rules in the past on our side. Now I've got that nasty gun in Gibraltar too...

There are currently 6 chits in the German-Italy entry pool, 4 in the Japan entry pool and 1 in both tension pools. Now, the US needs to generate more tension to gear up production. That's clear to all parties. So the US chooses to draw it's chit into the Jap pool.

The US than chooses to relocate the fleet to Pearl Harbor. This option generates tension. This means entry level is at least 26 against Japan at the moment. Next, the option to send resources to the Western Allies is chosen by the US. This does not generate tension.

After this: there are 6 chits in the German-Italy entry pool, 4 in the Japan entry pool, 1 in the Ge-It tension pool and 2 in the Japan tension pool...

So let's listen to Jack Leonard: I never mention your name

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXlQ1DVHSI4

During the oil use phase, all nations except France reorganise all available units. France doesn't reorganised two cruisers and the Béarn.

Now, since things are going very, very smoothly, Germany decides it's become time to start thinking about a war in the East...

Germany produces 21 build points, of which 2 are sent to the USSR and 5 to Italy. It therefore has 14 build points available. They repair the factory in Brussels, build an ARM, a TERR and a FTR.

Italy produces 4 build points and receives 5 from Germany. It therefore has 9 available. It builds the Marines and two FTR's.

So here's Vittorio de Sica singing: Amore e Tifo.

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

Japan produces 16 build points. It saved 2 last turn, so it has 18 available. It starts building an AMPH, finishes the Chiyoda and the Yamato, builds a pilot, two CVP and the three Chinese Warlords.

China and France don't have any production.

The CW produces 19 build points. It builds a MOT, 2 FTR, 2 Pilots, 2 CVP and 4 CP.

Ths US produces 10 build points. It finishes the Washington and an AMPH and builds a pilot and 2 CVP.

The USSR produces 14 build points and receives 2 from Germany. It therefore has 16 point available. It builds 2 MOT, 2 MIL and two pilots.

After this, the band start playing the German national anthem, indicating that Spain and Er Rif has been conquered by Germany.. On the question if the Chinese will surrender to Japan, the answer is no. China will never surrender. On the other hand, people in Washington are getting nervous. The implications of US soldiers being send over as advisors for the Chinese government is something they didn't made public, let alone the fact that they have to fight.... What if those soldiers are taken as prisoners of war or killed in China... That's not good for internal politics, is it. Certain orders are send to Stillwell...

So it's time for: Mieczysław Fogg: Ostatnia niedziela. This song is also known as the “Suicide Tango”. It's a song with a very, very sad history...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-hg58QQmdc

The blue factories in Madrid, Bilbao, Shanghai and Changsha are destroyed.

Here are the reinforcements of the coming turn:

[Centuur]

Apart from this, Germany put pilots in a FTR2 and a Heinkel Flying boat. The Finnish bomber is moved into the reserve pool. Japan puts a pilot in the long range FTR. German reïnforcements arrive at Königsberg...

The CW puts pilots in a Beaufighter, a Spitfire, the Albacore and a Wellington.

On trade, the US lends 2 oil to France and 1 to the CW.

The Axis win the initiative. The Allies don't ask for a reroll. After contemplating how things are on the map, the Axis decide to move first.

[Centuur]

And here's the weather for the first impulses of S/O 1939...

[Orm]

And here's the weather for the first impulses of S/O 1939...

I see that you started a new game. [;)]

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Orm

And here's the weather for the first impulses of S/O 1939...

I see that you started a new game. [;)]

Oops... Typo

[Centuur]

September/October 1940, Axis impulse number 1:

During the last week of August, a lot of political and military figures are seen around the German Alpine village of Berchtesgaden, where Adolf Hitler is spending the summer. Mussolini arrives by train at the village and both leaders are seen walking through the mountains. A day after that, the generals Student and Guderian are recalled to Berchtesgaden together with the Italian admirals Cavagnari and Ricarrdi. Together with a lot of lower officers there is frantic activity around “The Berghof”, which is shut off from all forms of communication this week. A lot of trains leave Germany with military goods into major ports in Italy and into Spain...

On the second of september, when Mussolini returned to Rome, he immediately pays a visit to His Majesty the King and than entered a meeting with his major political advisors.

So here is: Faccetta Nera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHEL9XLSYJg

Late that same evening, British spies intercepted a message send by the Italian High Command to various Italian and German headquarters and the Italian Embassy in London, which only contains the word “Si”. Not half an hour later the British Foreign Office receives a call from the Italian Ambassador in London, asking for a very important early morning meeting with the Viscount Halifax, the current minister for foreign affairs. He receives as an answer that the Viscount is due to have breakfast with the Prime minister at 10 Downing street on 08.00 the next morning and will not have much time after that, but if the meeting won't be long, it could be arranged that Mr. Bastianini can be received by the Viscount shortly before breakfast starts at Downing Street 10? Mr. Bastianini politely accepts the invitation.

After this, the British intelligence report that very unusual movements are made within the Italian embassy. It's a quite warm night, and it appears the Italians want to heat the embassy, since smoke comes out of the chimney of the embassy. Also, another telegram is send back to Rome which is apparently in code, after which more telegrams are send to several Italian headquarters in Africa and Europe...

The following morning Mr. Bastinini arrives at 10 Downing Street, carrying a large envelop:

[Centuur]

Churchill, picking up the conversation between Halifax and Bastinini, immediately invites the Italian diplomat to join breakfast, which is of course politely refused...

And here is: Canti del Ventennio - All'armi siam fascisti!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgQLwpUEd8k

The major Italian newspapers in the United States all hail the actions of the Italian government, stating that the continuous harrassment of Italian shipping during the French-Italian war has made such a decision reasonable. The public opinion seems to accept this for granted. No US entry chit gained:

[Centuur]

Germany takes a land action and Guderian starts using the stockpiles of materiel he received (Offensive chit spend). Italy takes a naval action.

Italy flies the Gabbiano into the four Box of the Cape St Vincent. An Italian cruiser based in Bayonne sails into the Cape St. Vincent. An interception attempt by the surprised British cruiser in the Bay of Biscay fails to find the cruiser. Another Italian cruiser loads the German INF in the Baleares and sailes into the four Box of the Western Med. A third cruisers sails into the four box of the Eastern Med, the convoy picked is replaces in the Italian coast,, the Italian battlefleet leaves La Spezia and enters the Western Med to be placed in the four box. Finally, the Italian SUB's all enter the Eastern Med:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03hXz-_QQws

Now, that was a nice piece of Fascist Propaganda, wasn't it...

It will not come as a surprise that the Italian navy is going to be very aggressive this turn. The first sea area selected is the Cape St Vincent. Somewhere around 08.30 hours. Just after Mr. Bastianini left Downing Street 10, CW merchant ships, escorted by the light cruiser Dunedin, sees an Italian squadron of flying boats approaching. Not knowing about the break out of war (search rolls Italy 6, CW 10!). Slowly the Italian planes fly into attack position:

[Centuur]

The Dunedin is sunk, together with 2 CP. The other convoy points are aborted, emptying the sea area on the Allied side...

At the same time in the Eastern Med, the Italian cruiser Banda Nere (Italy rolls 5) sails towards a CW convoy, escorted by the Australian cruiser Adelaid. The Banda Nere salutes the Australian flag, than raises it's battle flags and immediately opens fire (CW roll: 10 ! Again!).

[Centuur]

Both sides don't abort the sea area (the CW, if they elect to do so, lose supply to Gibraltar...). Now, the Italians seem to have lost the contact with the enemy, as they roll an 8. The allies roll a 1. Since there is a French ship in the area, they have surprise points and can avoid the battle. They do so.

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

Last is the Western Med, where the cruisers Miguel de Cervantes and Delhi are escorting convoys which did left the port of Gibraltar (CW rolled 6) during the early morning hours. Just after 9.00 A.M., in Gibraltar the sound of big guns is heard (Italy rolled 3)...

[Centuur]

The Western Med is cleared by the Italian battle fleet of Allied shipping, putting Gibraltar out of supply...

Not much later, Italian squadrons of bombers appear above The Rock, ground striking CW positions, troops, airfields and Gun emplacements. They manage to disorganise all CW units, except for HQ Alexander.

Germany rails von Rundstedt, an ART and an INF into Poland. Japan decides to rail the Manchurian MIL into Manchuria.

Guderian moves towards Gibraltar. Other units move towards positions around Casablanca. Casablanca is attacked, using three units doubled with the offensive chit. The CW chooses the assault table:

[Centuur]

The German general staffs receives all kind of meesages back. Apparently there was heavy resistance, and the general in command decided to retreat before causalties were going to high... The German High Command decides to replace the commander of the DAK...

Just after the Italian bombers end their bombing runs, a huge Italian fleet is seen from the top of The Rock. They open fire, while landing boats are send of, carrying the 3rd German infantry division. At the same time, Ju-52 appear and Students Fallschirmjaeger are paradropped all over the area.

So it's time for the Fallschirmjäger Marsch:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcC0ebfk7UU

Large artillery barrages and waves of boats coming from Morocco spell doom for Alexander, who throws in Emergency HQ support, while Guderian doubles all units available in the attack and provides HQ support too. Italian and German aircraft provide air support and the CW flies the Battle to give air support to. It is however, intercepted by an Italian FTR:

[Centuur]

Alexander chooses the Assault table:

[Centuur]

The Rock falls. This news results in major headlines in the US papers. Together with the fall of the Chinese, causes a major debate in US Congress. One US entry chit gained. The CW Fleet rebases to Freetown and the Spanish ships rebases in Halifax.

Germany rebases three Stuka's from southern France into Italy...

Here is the Western Med: