Fall Weiss II Western Theater - Axis AAR

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Germany commenced mass invasion; Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark and Norway have all surrendered. As well Spain 8% swing towards the Axis, now 76%. The UK had invested some diplomatic chits in recent turns, they obviously are not focused enough on Spain. I think there is little doubt Spain will eventually be joining the Axis now.

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The German Army crosses into French territory taking minimal losses save for the Luftwaffe which I never got to fully upgrade, as I've been hungrily replacing Spanish diplomacy chits. Spain reduced it's Axis leaning back to 68% do to the UK's threat of blockades, but they are still entirely within reach of diplomatic swaying to our side. Finland also sued for peace at some point ceding territory to the USSR, I must have missed it when it happened. Germany has maxed out research at this point and we are turning to production with our access MPP, we purchase only our second unit; Fighters for the Luftwaffe.

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Germany continues their rapid advance towards Paris, we take some rather heavy casualties in the battle for Verdun. The Luftwaffe has taken a steady beating in the skies, definitely a combination of Allied AI experience handicap, and the lack of upgrades/reinforcement as there has been no downtime for multiple turns. Elsewhere the Italian Army is setting the stage to join the conflict, massing the Italian Army on the French and Egyptian borders. Iceland also joins the Allies this turn.

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Germany has reached the gates of Paris and the Maginot line is cut off from reinforcing the capital. Sealion is officially proposed but we opt against it and rather begin preparation for a much larger conflict in the East. German this turn also sent a strong message to Switzerland, which hurt our relations slightly. Italy opportunistically waited until the very last moment to prepare for war, they should join next turn. As well last turn the USSR annexes the Baltic States.

Still no ground unit purchases (just a German Fighter and Maritime Bomber to date). Research is starting slowly level up now, German achieved Spying I and Finland achieved Command & Control I.

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The Paris and the Maginot Line are pocketed, French morale seemed still rather strong this turn so I opted not yet to deliver Germany's decisive blow against Paris to avoid the French capital moving to Bordeaux. Germany invests in Long Range Aircraft this turn, no purchases. Spain is still at 68%... France had spent some on diplomacy this summer and coupled with UK who I suspect have spread out their chits have probably neutralized Germany's diplomacy chits for the short term.

We are also presented with 4 decisions all related to Italian war entry; Italy moved forward with preparations for the immediate invasion of Egypt, opted against building an aircraft carrier, burdened Germany with supplementing their MPP as well German approved limited support in the Italian East Africa region to help boost Italian morale (couldn't fit the decision in the screenshot).

The British mobile in Egypt and some more research hits.. I'm sure they will be numerous now will likely just touch on the major ones and do a screenshot periodically on research tables.

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The German Army marches into Paris and French forces along the Maginot line surrender. Vichy is established ending the war with the French. Meanwhile in Egypt, the Italian Army stumbles in it's initial advance against Mersa Matruh, with the British Corps under attack basically unharmed. In the East, the Soviets demand and receive Gold from Sweden after annexing the Baltic States, boosting their income significantly for one turn.

With the French defeated, this is now the point where to decide what next? I've already decided against Sealion, Spain is expected to join the Axis so realistically I can only turn my sights East and prepare for the invasion of USSR or reinforce Italy in a war in Egypt or the Balkans. I still have not purchased a single ground unit and it will be August next turn so preparing for Barbarossa is my main goal. In this Mod, USSR is very difficult to defeat so I'm only going to offer Italy limited assistance mostly in the form of the DAK. In the game where the Allied AI actually beat me, when I realized the USSR had broken my offense at Moscow and Stalingrad and I looked around the map to see the Germans I needed to keep the tattered offensive alive on the Eastern Front instead fighting in Egypt it was eye opening.

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With the surrender of France comes the spoils of war, the MPP didn't feel like it went very far and I'll aggressively have to prepare for Barbarossa. Germany just this past turn achieved Advanced Tanks II, so I re-invest and also purchase a chit in Armoured Warfare and a 3rd diplomacy chit in Spain. For units I purchase 2 HQ and 6 Infantry Divisions. The reason I decided to max out the Divisions is that there are some additional scripted divisions which will let me go over my limit, this way these purchased divisions can be left to garrison France and I can basically set and forget for quite a while and focus almost purely on reinforcing the Armies in USSR during 1941-42.

After Vichy was established, the UK launched operation catapult driving a number of the Vichy States closer to the Axis, the US has taken a more diplomatic approach and has formally recognized the Vichy government. Italian morale begins to improve after French surrender and has also achieved Infantry Weapons I, we may be able to expect some better results in the North African campaign soon, as the current full on attack on Mersa Matruh is not providing the best results. The cost of operating air units in the mod are very high, so German Bombers are not going to show up anytime soon, they are however moving down the Italian coast towards Malta. German Maritime Bombers are already in Southern Italy, which marginally damaged a British Carrier and assisted in spotting a larger British task force in the Iberian Sea, providing targets for Italian submarines which managed to strike British Battleships for 2-2 and 3-3 results before returning to port.

With Spain 79% Axis leaning I am considering what would be the best use of my diplomacy chits of Italy and the remainder of Germany. I abandoned thoughts of Greece early on,it's late to target Yugoslavia and with Portugal joining the Allies I do not have to worry about protecting trade over the Iberian Peninsula. The only options that really remain are Sweden, Turkey, Switzerland and Vichy. Turkey and Switzerland are more conservative targets, to protect trade (Switzerland) and prevent Turkey from eventually joining the Allies. Sweden and Vichy could potentially join the Axis if I am committed enough. I think at this time I will sit on my chits and be a bit reactive to where the Allies try to intervene, but will re-visit in the near future if the political leanings change.

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August 4, 1940

German income summary and some more naval related decisions that are agreed to. There are a few U-boats in production que that were waiting for access to the Atlantic ports.

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Germany purchases another HQ and reaches the current maximum, mostly shuffling of units this turn, but we do make a diplomatic attempt to cause some disruption in Ireland. Most of the action is North Africa right now, Italy nearly destroyed the defending Infantry Corps in Mersa Matruh but fell just short, the British do not look in great shape for a counter attack luckily. Italy also commits resources to both Spain and the Atlantic campaign this turn, hitting Industrial Tech I quickly has eased up the MPP burden slightly.

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Full Repairing the Luftwaffe this turn cost nearly all of the available MPP for Germany, and again provide some additional directives. Fighting continues in North Africa, Italy is gearing up for a decisive push into Mersa Matruh. The UK Navy continues to gain strength.

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In North Africa the Italian Army retreats from Mersa Matruh, Allied Armour could soon show up and we have not been able to capture the town, as well the invasion of Greece will soon commence which will be a huge MPP cost, relative to what Italy is receiving.

Germany for her is setting sights on Malta to aid the Italians, and purchases a new Tank Corps. Germany also achieved Industrial Tech I. We were presented with a decision whether to accept resource payments from Spain, but I declined as it will lower Spain's Axis leaning and they will join very soon. They are 83% Axis.

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Under rare full coverage of the Luftwaffe, Italian Submarines with support of German bombers sink a British Heavy Cruiser and Battleship in the Iberian Sea. The success brings the Italian Fleet out of hiding and is not stationed along the coast of Albania. In North Africa our retreating forces do major damage to the advancing British but fail to completely destroy any units. Italy also prepares for war with Greece.

Germany for her part continues to prepare for Barbarossa, purchasing 2 Tank Corps. In the Atlantic the U-boat campaign intensifies.

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October 3, 1940

Germany signs a trade agreement with Switzerland. The 7th Armour arrives in Egypt, hopefully Italy can fend off well enough until the DAK eventually arrives.

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The British Fleet in the Mediterranean is severely battered after 3 British Carriers and Destroyer Group were sunk in the Iberian Sea. British Carriers had attacked some Italian units near Albania, namely Light Cruisers and Submarines and the opportune presence of the Luftwaffe and the entirety of the Regia Marina in the vicinity proved a decisive blow in counter attack. This is two consecutive turns the Luftwaffe have turned to the Iberian Sea rather than Malta, the downside is that Malta and it's reinforced 12 strength Anti-Air has not taken a single bomb and we are nearly about to turn a calendar year and a sustained bombing effort on Malta may delay the Luftwaffe's presence for Barbarossa.

Nonetheless the sinking of 3 Carriers as well as a Battleship, Heavy Cruiser and Destroyer in the Mediterranean is well worth it. Though I did tally up the Luftwaffe and Regia Marina losses for the turn and it was 850 MPP (ouch!) which does not even count the damage the Royal Navy delivered on it's previous turn. With Axis naval reinforcement costs high, the Italian navy will take quite a while before it can launch another operation of this scale.

On the war front, Italy holds pat at Sidi Barrani in North Africa and also declares war on Greece with absolutely no plan to advance on the Greeks. In the mod it is a steep penalty to not declare war on Greece, so here I am making the best of the situation.

Germany purchases another Tank Corps to max out our build limits. And we officially welcome Spain into the Axis fold, and beef up their military.

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Spain joins the Axis and is quickly tasked with invading Portugal. Spain is ill equipped at the moment and will have to pause to reinforce after some initial quick gains. Romania also joined the Axis this turn, joining Hungary which did a turn earlier.

The rest of the action is in Mediterranean still, the invasion of Malta is again postponed due to weather, and I achieved Ground Attack Weapons at turn end which I should upgrade, but will be another delay. With the Wehrmacht preparing for operation Barbarossa the Luftwaffe is still in Italy. Malta could have fallen by now had I not been distracted with the Royal Navy which is still larger than the all of the Axis navies (Germany, Italy & Spain) combined.

In North Africa the Italian Army is forced to retreat back to Libya as British Armour has really turned the tide. We still have not had any of our units destroyed but MPP is scarce and we are unable to repair all that is damaged. Italy transported another Infantry Corps to Tobruk to help form defensive positions. Really need the DAK now! As well on turn end, Italian supply got hammered by both Malta & Crete supply effects. I'm hoping the 2 Italian HQ's can muster up enough supply to withstand the Armoured attacks of Britain.

The Axis spend almost all of their MPP on reinforcements, except Germany did manage to purchase their first Mechanized Corps.

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Portugal is easily and quickly overrun by the Spanish Army who are barely in fighting shape themselves. Spanish upgrades will have to wait, we upgrade the Luftwaffe Bombers to level II this turn in preparation of invading Malta, and spend the remainder of MPP on units, purchasing a Mechanized Corps and Calvary Division. Germany also sent military equipment to USSR to avoid increasing USSR mobilization.

Italy continues to retreat towards Tobruk, an Italian Infantry Corps was destroyed this past turn by the advancing British.

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The DAK arrives in North Africa, just as the British are on the brink of reaching Tobruk. An Italian Infantry Army was destroyed last turn, and without the DAK's arrival a successful Siege of Torbuk seemed imminent. Germany also sent an additional Infantry Corps via transport to aid Rommel.

Germany began it's bombing campaign of Malta, with poor results. The Luftwaffe took ~300 MPP of damage to reduce the Anti-Aircraft from strength 13 to 9, but should have better success against a weakened and un-entrenched unit next turn. The Luftwaffe has been a bit of a MPP sink, and I've been forced to trail off a bit on research as I continue to muster up forces for the Eastern Front. I want to soak up as much territory as quickly as possible against USSR; this turn I purchase 2 Calvary Divisions and a Mechanized Division, both of which have added mobility.

Elsewhere Spain is fairing well against Portugal and limited British reinforcements, but Greece is fairing better than Italy in their campaign. The Italian Army just can't maintain multiple fronts right now. German intervention will occur soon.

At the end of the turn i'm presented with an unhistorical event; an Alliance with Vichy France. This can occur sometimes when Spain has entered the war while USA is still neutral, it was rather easy to accept, however in combination with the DAK cost & Spanish exports it's a whooping 390 MPP per turn in expenses i'm incurring right now. My after tax MPP is only 250, further delaying research and some other pressing items...

The USA also mobilizes a bit due to Axis forces near Gibraltar, and begins Lend Lease to the UK.

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Vichy France officially joined the Axis, as well as Bulgaria. Germany made some final purchases of two Mechanized Divisions, the last for some time now as we focus on reinforcements and upgrades of the Wehrmacht. Spain's economy all dropped to 5 supply due to economic shortages further pinching the already pinched MPP i'm experiencing at this crucial time of build up.

Not surprisingly the Italians finally got pushed back my Greece, I've totally neglected this campaign thus far. In North Africa we are about to fare much better I believe, we destroyed the British reconnaissance unit this turn. In the West Portugal continues to hold on along the coast, but without any useful port there will be no reinforcements to worry about for Spain. Malta was bombed to 1 strength, we battered the island's supply too, next turn we should finally take the island and the Luftwaffe can move on finally, not sure if this was worth it, as I still have to deal with Crete which effects supply East of Tobruk.

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Reinforced by the DAK, the axis counter attack near Tobruk and destroy a British Infantry Corps and HQ, and could win a decisive battle this spring. Matla is captured by German Paratroops, Gibraltar is occupied by Spain and the capital of Portugal is completely besieged. The Axis trying to wrap up as many lose ends as possible at this time, but Greece will be a continued distraction for a bit longer. In Finland, we have achieved Infantry Weapons I and have re-invested in Infantry Weapons II.

Britain for her part, successfully staged a Pro-Allied Coup in Yugoslavia and began sending military equipment to Turkey, in addition to occupying more Irish ports.