GD1938 Game 20

[ironduke1955]

Again the volume of Soviets defenders thwarts Japanese forward momentum huge casualties are inflicted, but ground is not taken and fortifications and fortresses are thrown up in the teeth of the Japanese attackers, Japan will continue as it must but the trans Siberian is proving to be a hard road.

Japan has noted that the world has realized at last that Soviet ambition suffers no political bounds or restrictions, The Soviet Union must be judged on its actions not its rhetoric compelling though that might seem. Needless to say concerns regards the ambitions of Axis nations is noted and will be addressed, but as things stand one ogre at a time seems the sensible approach.

[cpdeyoung]

Soviet ambition suffers no political bounds or restrictions

Well, actually we do know some bounds : Most of Yugoslavia, much of Romania, the Baltic coast of Finland, a smidgen of Poland, most of Persia. We seem to be missing a large chunk of Siberia, and what was once the Soviet Far East, but why quibble? Germany on the other hand is surely jealous having only France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, most of Finland, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Portugal and now Austria. Oops, I also have the "flea-bitten" ports that everyone is so excited by.

we have no intentions of sustaining your olive branch peace offer, while the other hand holds a dagger poised to kill

This is part of the message from the United States to us. The "Westerners In Mortal Peril" are confused about actually waging war. Somehow they seem to think we should disarm before offering peace. We have a good bit more than a "dagger" in our armory. The USA also warns us that they will sink any Soviet vessels they find. Wow, we may be wrong about these guys, maybe they do understand belligerency.

We will not forget this stab in the back. We are advicing the US to remember it too. It served you no good purpose and just shows you are no ally of ours.

The British made peace, but want us to know they don't like us much at all. While we are not now allies we were once. We will just have to do without all the aid the British gave us - none.

The Soviet Union has offered peace to Germany and Italy. We understand these nations, they wage war against their enemies. We do not want to be numbered among their enemies and hope they accept our offer of a ceasefire and peace.

Stalin

[ironduke1955]

quote:

Soviet ambition suffers no political bounds or restrictions



Well, actually we do know some bounds : Most of Yugoslavia, much of Romania, the Baltic coast of Finland, a smidgen of Poland, most of Persia. We seem to be missing a large chunk of Siberia, and what was once the Soviet Far East, but why quibble? Germany on the other hand is surely jealous having only France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, most of Finland, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Portugal and now Austria. Oops, I also have the "flea-bitten" ports that everyone is so excited by.

The Japanese only point out that the Soviet Union were illegally obtaining other peoples countries before the Germans, and this pattern of behavior has not altered or been adjusted. The ebb and flow of Battle in the west has changed borders but, it is a war between Germany and the Soviet Union who do not respect national boundaries. The Japanese have no choice but to fight deep into Eastern Asia now known as greater Japan. As the Soviet Union evacuated these area's, these area's we believe are geographically Asian and we claim them as such. We fight with the Germans and Italians because Japan believes the greatest threat to world freedom is the Soviet Union, we will endeavor by persuasion to curb the worst excesses of the German Chancellor. But Japan has no claims or objectives on its immediate neighbors and no objectives in the west. We are a Asian nation and are determined to remain Asian only. And I must point out that Flea Bitten or otherwise its has always been a dream of Russia/The Soviet Union to have ports on the Indian Ocean a dream now realized.

[cpdeyoung]

The Japanese only point out that the Soviet Union were illegally obtaining other peoples countries before the Germans

Would have been tough as Germany declared war on Luxembourg and Poland on Turn 1. Yep, before The Soviets even had a turn, The Soviet Union decided quickly to seek to strengthen ourselves. We decided to split Poland, and enter the Baltic states. We did not want this very early war, but as the Germans were rolling we decided to roll also. We would much prefer to gather the Baltic states by diplomatic influence as we would have gained their troops that way. As it is we were faced with tough little nuts, who fought well and caused us causalities. We violated Hungarian territory trying to encircle Lvov, but we figured the Germans would get it anyway. Later while allowing Germany to extract some troops through a corridor the Germans turned on us. We now found ourselves in a major war.

We did expand into Scandinavia and Persia, stepping on British toes, but we did not need these territories for future Soviet States, but only to make ourselves stronger for a defense against the Germans. As we all know the Red Army is no powerhouse in the early years. We took Persia, and offered the British a strip along the coast, where the two ports are. They accepted, and we were on pretty good terms, although they were annoyed about Scandinavia.

No leader of our modern nations really believes we sought a war with Germany so early. We wanted to strengthen our nation for the coming struggle, but suddenly we found ourselves at war with Germany, Italy and Japan. We have held, but our diplomacy failed. The USA/China never provided a check on the Japanese, despite our many tries to convince them. The British were either too weak, or disinclined, to help us. We were not sure that Vladivostok and Irkutsk, as resources counted against a victory, so we decided to take the ports and see if that was the key, alas no.

The truth is out : as the Americans suspected it was not Persian bandits!

We have been fighting Germany and Italy for a couple of years, too many lives lost to not try something new. If Germany and Italy accept our peace offer perhaps we can see about our plentiful enemies.

Stalin

[ironduke1955]

Well I wont quibble over who did what first, but the Soviet Union seems to be of one mind with the Germans that if it is expedient to "Roll" the Roll being a reference to rolling over minor powers. I guess and I am coming out of roll play and teasing in general to say this, Minor Powers are nation states and as such even the smallest of them has rights under international law, if law means anything at all, then if within the bounds of GD1938 international law is broken, that must mean something, the something as I interpret its meaning is that a nation that does not honor international law is a nation not to be trusted. Now if that sounds trite and pompous, it only goes to show who wears the black hats and who wears the white hats, within the context of this particular game anyway, I am sure in the real world you and RufusTFirefly would not dream of invading your neighbors territory.[:)]

[ironduke1955]

The Japanese make some Westward progress, the first for two months, smashing through a Soviet Fortress area, a rear area breakout is a possibility and the Japanese will push until that becomes a reality.

As to the Soviet offer of a ceasefire to Japan's allies Germany and Italy, Japan notes that this Generous offer does not extend to Japan, classic divide and conquer. So Germany and Italy would be foolish indeed to accept this offer with much of Eastern Europe under Soviet control, and what would happen when the Japanese threat had been dealt with, pity the western members of the Axis then. Stay true brothers and we will prevail[:)]

[cpdeyoung]

In rejecting our peace offer Germany tells us they also rejected one from the British, with the message delivered in a hail of bombs!

The nations of Great Britain, France, the United States, China, and the Soviet Union can defeat the three Axis powers, ah yes, no more talk of "ogres", "brothers" now.

Let the non-Axis powers make peace with each other and give Germany, Italy and Japan the war they want. We are powerful, and if we focus our efforts on fighting the Axis we can win. The Soviet Union will not seek their specific war aims (victory condition : Southern Advances) and will only try to participate in a defeat of the three Axis powers. Great Britain, France, America and China - you can have our still powerful nation as your partner. Act now to pull a victory from this situation.

Stalin

[ironduke1955]

Falco (Jeff) has computer meltdown problems he will be back on line when he regains control of his wayward appliance.

[ironduke1955]

Again the Soviets are stretched, do they bend and break or strike back, we shall see. Italy and Germany are Japans brothers in arms as is any Nation that takes up arms against the great Satan Stalin. When Japan says prevail it means simply that, to Prevail against our great enemy only victory will secure New Japan we know the Soviet will not accept the loss of Siberia and only its defeat will secure these lands as Japanese. No other nations need fear Japan as we have repeated many times.

[cpdeyoung]

The Soviet Union has no particular comment on Japanese speculations about the future course of our conflict.

The Japanese seem to be saying that they want to win control of Siberia, and they are correct in saying that the USSR will not cede such control. Not quite sure how the comment about "Satan" is properly parsed, coming from a Japanese perspective, but the Soviet Union is currently defending itself against a three part axis of powers at war with it. We respect Japanese arms, but we do not fear Japan, and we agree no other nation should fear them either. Other nations should consider opposing Germany, Italy and Japan, but without fear, and in the confidence drawn from the strength of our peoples.

The German conquests, and the parts of Japanese occupied Siberia, will be freed from the Axis yoke.

Joseph Stalin, a pragmatic leader of a united people

[ironduke1955]

Well perhaps Satan may be to strong but with some 50 million Russian people dead via various means Gulags Work gangs salt mines and a good old bullet in the back of the head, if not Satan himself certainly one of his minor demons. I am sure the Asian peoples of Siberia will be delighted to come under the control of Uncle Joe once again, to be controlled from a European city. No Asia for Asians Japan will respect their laws religions and autonomy.

Regards other nations opposing the Axis the trouble is picking a side, the Japanese who have respect for their neighbors and the Soviets who have invaded all of theirs. Japan regrets the long and protracted war of aggression that it waged in China morally it was indefensible. Those responsible the hawks have been removed and now the doves dictate Japanese policy, even though they are doves they will still oppose aggression when it threatens world stability.

[cpdeyoung]

The exhilaration of pushing into the Soviet lines had not worn off. Everything had gone so well. Italy had done something no other nation had done before. Three divisions were fully mobile, lightly armored, and potent. The much scorned tankettes equipped the squadrons and allowed for a swift jab into the light forces defending south of Belgrade. Three whole divisions of tankettes, each between 200 and 300 strength points brushed the Soviets away. Now while rest, chow, and fuel were on the menu, some squadrons were destroying a single battalion of militia that was caught snooping. Soon the orders would come to advance deeper into Bulgaria and Romania.

...

The militia who had survived the probe into Italian lines had fixed the location of the two divisions. Knowing just what they faced the three divisions of KV-1 switched AP for HE and headed down the road from Belgrade. Stavka had decided that infantry could be of great value in this attack, so infantry units in the hilly terrain started to march into position. They would attack from four directions. The lead KV-1 acted as a guide, and went hull down behind the military crest, the Italians were massed near the road, in this rough terrain. The first shells fell on surprised troops. Flames began to dance among the little tanks.

...

In the first attack 66 squadrons of tankettes were destroyed. Red Air Force planes joined the attack adding their bombs and strafing the light vehicles. The Italians were pushed back upon the third division of tankettes, but another attack from Belgrade, and the south, destroyed another 31 squadrons. 97 squadrons of flaming wrecks marked the path of Italian advance and retreat. The Red Army heavy tanks returned to depots.

[falco148]

Say goodnight to the folks, Gracie.

[ironduke1955]

I guess it seemed like a good idea at the time, I hope you will be writing letters of condolence to every mother who's son found themselves in a Tankette as the Soviet KV1's hove into view, with the Red Air force above. I can hear the shouts of "oh mio dio!"

[cpdeyoung]

From the Soviet East Front :

We counterattacked against the Japanese, and the pocket looks pretty nice, until you look at the remarkable Japanese strength. They will not have any trouble slicing through.

Giving credit where due : I have never imagined the Japanese so strong. A bold idea by the Japanese to attack the USSR, and extremely well executed! Three years of this struggle wears one down, but very impressive to see.

Joseph Stalin

[ironduke1955]

The Japanese managed to break out of the Soviet encirclement, the Soviets are now pushed against the OB River and in turn are now out of supply. Some may escape across the Ob some may not.

The Soviets have put up a magnificent defense, as I said earlier the Trans Siberian has proved to be a hard road indeed

[cpdeyoung]

As we thought might happen the Japanese broke the pocket. We are trying to extricate the units left from the encirclement.

In the west we counterattack the Germans where we can. We give and take losses here.

[ironduke1955]

January 1941 Japanese (Somewhere in Siberia don't ask me where not seen a sign post for years)

The Japanese cross the river Ob or more correctly go around it, Japanese armor now make there way along the west bank of the river. attempting to clear the only bridges over the river the railway bridge south of Novosibirsk. The depth of the Soviet forces facing the Japanese is starkly shown. Soviet forces remain isolated on the east bank of the Ob struggling to get accross with their heavy equipment.

[cpdeyoung]

Happy New Year Comrades!

The Soviet Union counterattacked the Germans in two places, with some success, but oh how we hate losing some of our
veteran KV-1s. Still, we build them to fight them. We are building more offensive weapons now, and want to be able to
do counterattacks. We are not looking at anything like an offensive posture, but want to cause the enemy some pain.
The Soviet people have plenty of manpower to supply the Red Army, and units are able to train up to decent experience
levels before combat.

We are well aware of the combat going on against the Axis by our neighbors. Relations with France, Great Britain,
the United States, and China are better. The Soviet Union is no longer viewed through the lens of Axis propaganda.

Here is a shot of one area of frequent battles in the West.

Joseph Stalin

[Twotribes]

Sorry guys haven't been feeling well will post the turn soon.