GD1938 Game 23

[ironduke1955]

Better to be a dog in peacetime than a man in wartime.
(Chinese Proverb)

[cpdeyoung]

purgamenta hujus mundi sunt tria, pestis, bellum, et frateria

This world is purified by three means : by plague, by war, and by monastic seclusion.

[ironduke1955]

Czechoslovakia welcomes the German Army with tears of joy. Despite US attempts to meddle in Balkan politics, are the American people aware of the involvement of their government in these warlike interventions and the risk that the US government takes playing with fire.

[baloo7777]

The Italian Government is continuing talks with The Spanish on the best way to protect ourselves from the aggressive Franco-English Alliances Carrier Task Force in the waters off Marseille, where it has been on patrol or intimidation for months now. We are also being contacted by the Albanians about joining the Italo-Yugo Commerce Pact. We will welcome our Albanian friends with open arms! Italy applauds the Czechoslovakian People as they join with their Great Protector Germany!

[ironduke1955]

More US interference in European affairs, FDR seems to have forgotten what is meant by the will of the people. Who are firmly neutral.

[MrLongleg]

The combined French and British command had no choice but to declare war to Germany and Italy. Germany send a big fleet of submarines and destroyers through the English channel without any ahead notice. We can only assume that this fleet had the order to disturb the free trade on the world oceans. The British naval command was able to either incapacitate or destroy the German fleet. The French army had some unfortunate losses when it tried to march into Italy being ambushed by strong camouflaged forces.

P.S. The 2nd loading happened because I was interrupted while playing my turn yesterday night. When I came back this morning my machine has been rebooted by some stupid update.

[MrLongleg]

Something weird happened, I am absolutely sure I saved the turn, but I cannot find the US turn on my disk. I might have to play the turn once more. Sorry for the confusion...

[cpdeyoung]

I have the USA turn, all is well!

Chuck

[MrLongleg]

phhh, glad to hear it. Did you remove it from the folder?

[cpdeyoung]

I always do, but it can be a bit confusing. It keeps the Dropbox folder less full.

Chuck

[cpdeyoung]

Political consideration of the new war.

Prepared for the President by the State Department

The isolationists in the United States are in a frenzy only exceeded by the German-American Bund and the Italian-Americans. Any sympathy for the British and French has been expended. There is no chance the nation will stand for entry into Chamberlin's war.

The American people will support a defense of the western hemisphere, but not much more. It is recommended the submarines in European waters leave the war zone.

There is a considerable feeling that Italy has been shamefully attacked, but less feeling that Germany has been wronged. Germany is expected to defend itself vigorously, but Italy is seen as a weaker nation bullied by powers who were her allies in the Great War. In general most Americans want a rapid return to peace. An offer of Presidential intervention in brokerage of a ceasefire and peace would be welcomed.

[ironduke1955]

December 1938 the new German IXB U-Boat's were on their way to the Atlantic to commence sea trials with a small escort of destroyers, the British have attacked the German vessels in international waters destroying several submarines and all of the escorting destroyers, With great loss of life. No warning was received. A state of war now exists between Germany and the United Kingdom the Italians and French have followed their respective allies into this war.

Germany did not start this war but we will pursue our enemy to the bitter end.

[baloo7777]

After the sneak attack against Italian soldiers by the French, the Italian Air Force made sorties and began to degrade the enemies troop concentrations. That and concentrated artillery fire has the Rumanian troops in French uniforms stopped cold outside of Belgrade. Elsewhere, the Port of Djibouti was taken and Malta bombed in retaliation for the unprovoked British submarine attacks that sank a Heavy Cruiser in the Eastern Med. Those submariners responsible for that attack have been hunted down and dispatched to the bottom by the Regia Marina. The Spanish are very concerned by the aggressive French Fleet in the Eastern Med.

[cpdeyoung]

The US Navy has withdrawn from European waters as our submarines were in grave danger of accidental attack.

Gentlemen, can we stop this war before it becomes too terrible. Losses are minimal at this point and reparations could be arranged.

FDR

[ironduke1955]

January 1939

Germany took revenge for the unprovoked attack on the Kriegsmarine in December of 1938 with the loss of life of so many German mariners and submariners.

Austria joined the Reich willingly, Holland not so willingly. Denmark was invaded to allow a route to Germany's enemies in the North. The western front is quite for now, this is not expected to continue.

[ironduke1955]

February 1939

The 4th and 7th Panzer Armies are engaged in Sweden and Norway a British stronghold on the continent.

The Dutch East Indies was given to the Japanese as the Germans are unable to protect these precious assets.

The Germans are assisting the Italians in Romania with air and ground forces.

[baloo7777]

The Italian Army makes a victorious attack against the French supplied Rumanians as they drive them from the mountainous region that they had occupied to threaten Belgrade. We thank our German Allies who have joined the battle for Rumania.

[cpdeyoung]

The United States Congress has made it clear that the administration must not continue to interfere in Finnish politics.

As soon as the USA gains influence in Finland we will disband the whole of the Finnish armed forces. Realizing that this will create a power vacuum there we announce that Finland throws itself on the first protector to enter the country. Finland has parties in sympathy with Great Britain, Germany and the Soviet Union. No matter which of these nations enters Finland the administration has been ordered to accept any peace offer forthcoming. If any party enters Finland before the disbanding the United States will still accept a peace offer, but the Finnish troops will defend themselves till they are disbanded.

We realize that the Soviet Union may have no concern with Germany on the border of Leningrad. Germany may have no issue with the British and Soviets sharing a border in the North. If no one enters Finland then the Finns will happily watch the war from the sidelines.

The administration would not mind guiding the Finns to victory over all comers, but the Congress dictates otherwise.

The diplomatic control of Finland is perhaps 1-3 months away.

FDR

[ironduke1955]

March 1939

The British have committed considerable force to Norway and Sweden looks like they mean to stay.

[LJBurstyn]

ORIGINAL: ironduke1955

March 1939

The British have committed considerable force to Norway and Sweden looks like they mean to stay.

The Soviet Union would like a control of Finland to protect our borders.