GD1938 Game 15

[ironduke1955]

German/Italians 1939 June

British probes from Egypt towards Libya are caught in the open desert by the Italian airforce. Casablanca continues to be shelled. A force of British Cruisers and destroyers harassing Italian forces near Casablanca are caught by the Italian Airforce.

Military activity on the continent has stopped for the time being.

[cpdeyoung]

Japan finds the British are a good bit tougher as they get pushed west and south in India. We met Valentine II at the Indian tank factory. We need to eliminate this factory.

The Americans have become much more assertive, and have cut off our access to their oil.

[jld89]

The USSR has been monitoring suspicious movement in the border with Lithuania. Unusual military buildup next to Vilnius is cause of concern.

The 4th, 5th, 6th armies and other battalions have been mobilized to counter a possible threat. The motherland is sacred.

Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Proletariat of the world, UNITE!)

[ironduke1955]

Germany must protest the Soviet spy planes crossing into German airspace, not that we have anything to hide, but international rules must be followed or we will have nothing but anarchy.

[cpdeyoung]

Japan is pressing hard in India, and hopes to reduce the defenders who are left there. There is the potential for a
great naval battle as both navies have significant forces in the East Indies. Our armies took all of Malaya. We suffered
another setback in amphibious operations when a second SNLF division was destroyed attempting to take Medan. We are
overconfident in these attacks and will have to learn.

[jld89]

The unfounded German accusations of Soviet spy planes are without grounds.

The Soviet border guards can SEE the movements, and hear the rumble of armored divisions at the other side of the border. There is no need for planes. This is a blatant invasion plan. The USSR will not stand by arms crossed and wait for the Fascists to organize an invasion. If this continues the USSR will be forced to take drastic measures.

A preemptive strike is not out of the question. Army reserves have been called to active duty, the red army is now on high alert.

There is still time for a diplomatic solution. The supreme soviet presidium hopes that the Germans can be reasonable.

Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Proletariat of the world, UNITE!)

[ironduke1955]

The German Rumanian Hungarian and Yugoslavian forces crossed the Soviet Border in a ideological war that has been a long time coming, it is a sacred duty to rid the world of the oppression of communism. A breakthrough was achieved at Kiev with the 11th Panzer Army pouring through the gap created by the guns of 1st Infantry army and panzer reserve guns from the 7th and 4th Panzer Armies

[cpdeyoung]

Japan captured the British/Indian tank factory, and the city of Madras and south India.

The Imperial Japanese Navy lost 3DD2.

The Royal Navy lost 11DD1, 19DD2, 2CSM, 2CSL, 7SS1, 2BB2, 1BB3, 2CL1, 1CA1, and 1BC1. Some cargo ships had troops aboard.

The Royal Navy's presence in Eastern waters must be strained.

[ironduke1955]

The 11th panzer army races to the Don with 7th and 4th involved in encirclements to the 1st and 2nd Soviet fronts around Minsk and the closing encirclement of the 3rd and 4th Fronts to the South Kharkov and Odessa are captured.

[cpdeyoung]

The political faction of the Japanese Army looks at these maps of Panzer columns streaking across the Russian plains and wants so badly to get in this war. The Navy faction not so much. The Emperor holds his own counsel.

The last positions in British India are crumbling. Japan has landed on New Guinea, and captured Lae. We also took Medan finally. Our aircraft are active as are bombardment task forces.

The Navy position is that the Americans are working hard to enter this war, and we will be under pressure from a powerful nation. The war in the Soviet Union will not go well with an active, aggressive USN.

[jld89]

The supreme soviet presidium has decided to ally the Soviet Union with the Capitalists. The enemy of our enemy is our friend. The fascists shall not prevail, even as the leadership is deeply saddened by the soiling of our russian motherland by the filthy panzer divisions.

Coordination has started with Great Britain and France at the highest levels of military command. A crushing counter attack is on the works. The encircled army of Odessa starts a strategic retreat.

Full military mobilization in the Eastern provinces has been decreed, fearing a possible japanese incursion.

Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Proletariat of the world, UNITE!)

[ironduke1955]

Two pockets have formed around Minsk and Sevastopol the Germans press on to the dark interiors of the Soviet Union.

The Italians take Casablanca, and press the English in the Eastern Desert.

[cpdeyoung]

Japan has taken Port Moresby and Palembang.

There is lessening conflict in the Japanese command structure as the Army faction finds the Emperor asking for
absolute guarantees if war with the USSR is contemplated. Even with the German successes the Soviets are powerful
and the peace with them has been productive.

[ironduke1955]

November 1939 Germany/Italy

The Axis fight their way into both Stalingrad and Leningrad Moscow beckons.

[cpdeyoung]

The Imperial Armed Forces reduced and occupied the important resource of Balikpapan. Far, far away, Imperial Navy destroyers attacked British warships in the middle eastern waters. This illustrates the wide expanse the Japanese Military is now managing. The United States is becoming less isolationist, and war between Japan and the Soviet Union is a real possibility. The military hardware mix required to deal with war with these nations is very different. For the a war with the USA Japan requires a big navy, for war with the Soviets, armor, and a large army. Air power is a common need during war with either country. Interestingly Japan built an aircraft factory.

So much now depends on the role of the United States. Great Britain and the USSR are both struggling, the Axis is on a roll, and the only other power is the nation no one knows. Perhaps other nations intelligence services have more knowledge but Japan does not know quite what to expect from the USA. They had best enter soon if they want to fight in this war.

[ironduke1955]

December 1939 Germans/Italians

The main obstacle to German victory in the East is Moscow bristling with fixed artillery and anti aircraft positions the German Generals rate its defenses very highly indeed. Work has begun on devising a plan to break the defenses and capture the Soviet Capitol.

The Wehrmacht are reinforcing the Spanish in the Iberian peninsular the Germans cannot afford a open sore as infected the French many years before, no doubt the British look for the Ghost of Wellington to rise again, the Germans intend to keep the lid on the coffin firmly in place.

The Italians cautiously probe towards the Eastern North African desert, at the same time keeping some pressure on Gibraltar.

[cpdeyoung]

The Japanese have declared war on the Soviets, who have been far too comfortable with our British enemies. Japan took
Vladivostok and made some progress in the West. We reduced and captured Makassar.

The attack on the Soviets was sponsored by the Japanese Army, while the Navy looks across the seas at the powerful
United States and its Navy. Delicate juggling in the High Command over priorities.

[cpdeyoung]

The Imperial Government wants to publicly congratulate the European Axis for the exciting gains they have made in
their campaign in the Soviet Union. We hope to take some of the burden off them as we step to the line of battle
against the Red Army.

In East and West we are advancing to probe the Soviet lines and see where their strength is.

[ironduke1955]

January 1940 Germans/Italians

The Germans welcome the might of Japan and their battle hardened eastern warriors into the fight, the million or so soviet Siberian army will not be making a appearance on the eastern front to turn the tide for the Soviets.

The British remain a thorn, in North Africa and as a threat to fortress Europe. The Soviets have fought valiantly but Moscow is surrounded, they still have the industrial complex to the east of the Urals, to continue the fight.

[cpdeyoung]

The United States has ended isolationism, which always has an impact on a world at war. The Imperial Government
knows of no reason they would attack Japan. If this war comes it will be a hard one, for both sides. Perhaps the
United States should cultivate better relations with their southern neighbors and not yet enter the fray. In any
case the Imperial Army and Navy are prepared to defend the Empire.

We made small gains across the board this month.

Here is the road to linkage between Axis forces :