GD1938 Game 14 AAR

[ironduke1955]

Great we are in business.

[cpdeyoung]

Great Britain strikes across the straits of Gibraltar and captures Tangiers. The USA helped with pre-battle bombardment.

Although Great Britain is on generally decent terms with the Japanese we could not allow their presence in European waters or in Africa. We attacked them in both locations, and have some mopping up to do. Japan got into these areas by taking over Portugal.

In Poland the forces have been supplied with modern rifles and bombarded Germans in the south.

[Vic]

Chinese forces conquered Hangchow in the south! Hurrah
Reorganisations in the North and south-east Asia.
And overall quite hefty losses due to combined Japanese and USA airstrikes and shore bombardments. 150 infantry lost just last round without any land battle taking place.

On a more joyous note: To celibrate the capture of Hangchow an official map of the Chinese campaign has been published by the joint chinese command leaders.

[ironduke1955]

11th December 1939

The 4th Panzer Army has been withdrawn from the UK.

The Kreigsmarine as promised attacked the US fleet shelling Carunna, the US Atlantic fleet had the opportunity to withdraw from Iberian Coastline but they have remained. If the single US CV and other US vessels wish to remain then a similar fate awaits them.

Portugal will be Joining Spain as a Allied German nation no other outcome will be accepted by Germany.

[cpdeyoung]

The losses around Gibraltar were tough to take.

Here is a shot of the culprits who did the damage.

[ironduke1955]

January 1940 Germans and Italians

A Declaration of War was made on Japan to obtain Portugal, Japan's incongruous insertion into the European theatre will be brought to a end, its still a mystery as to why Japan squandered its political influence to enter the European theatre, when it is currently holding a tiger by the tail in the far east. Perhaps that influence could have been better spent.

Czechoslovakia entered the Wehrmacht's crosshairs this month its coal reserves and geographical location making this inevitable.

The British main fleet was located at Nicosia it will shortly be in range of the Italian Airforce.

Offensive operations got underway in Poland with Poznan and Krakow falling to the Wehrmacht.

[cpdeyoung]

Glub, glub!

[cpdeyoung]

With the Czechs attacked old alliances come back in force.

[ironduke1955]

February 1940 Germany and Italy

As a priority rescue vessels were sent to rescue the Brazilian staff officers adrift in the Atlantic having the ships that used to constitute the Brazilian navy shot from beneath them.

Czechoslovakia still holds as the Wehrmacht struggles to conduct large scale operations at the same time organizing refit's to the 4th and 7th Panzer Armies reduced by months of campaigning.

Warsaw falls surprisingly lightly garrisoned.

[cpdeyoung]

These Germans are a wonder to see, and a terror to oppose. We saw intense naval action between the USN and the KM
off the Azores. These are not ASW actions, but true fleet engagements between powerful forces.

We present a map of the current state of Central and Eastern Europe with two vignettes, one of a Panzer division, and
the other of a powerful artillery formation. Notice the morale levels of the panzers. It is not unusual to see a
panzer division with all 100% morale. Impressive and fearful. The Luftwaffe is surely as strong as we have ever seen.

[cpdeyoung]

Here is a larger view of the panzer division. Notice the mechanization with tracked carriers for the infantry
components. This is a well constructed combined arms division.

[Vic]

Meanwhile in the far east Japan seems to be slowly feeding her full strength into fighting the Chinese. Significant setbacks and casualties where suffered by China over the last turns. No further terrain progress has been made since the fall of Hang Chow quite some turns ago.

[ironduke1955]

Germany has received the French offer of a olive branch, unfortunately we were unable to locate any Frenchmen outside of occupied territory to take the olive branch from.

Czechoslovakia was finally defeated brave men in a lost cause, what can be more noble ?

[cpdeyoung]

Alas Czechoslovakia, alas Europe.

Where will the German turn next? We believe some unusual options are open, but time will tell.

[ironduke1955]

Germany captures the last allied city in the east Konigsberg captured by the poles and held in defiance for several months.

[ironduke1955]

1940 April Germany and Italy

The ceasefire on the eastern front has collapsed, and the Wehrmacht renew offensive operations aware of the challenge the Soviet Union represents.

Italy regains a foothold in North Africa as Gibraltar proves a tough nut to crack, the solution bigger guns they have been brought forward.

Some activity as a group of US Subs venture into the Eastern Atlantic, their fate hopefully will stand as a warning to other such adventurous souls, these waters are German travel them at your peril.

[cpdeyoung]

The Italian landing in North Africa is deeply troubling. We know the Germans are going to worry at Gibraltar till they take it, and that will open North Africa to increased attention from the Axis. Great Britain is trying to prepare for this difficult campaign.

Some Free Polish forces, under British command, have joined the Soviets, hoping to slow the Germans.

The German map above gives some idea of the immense resources available to the Axis. The Sea Lion success was a disaster for us.

[ironduke1955]

May 27th 1940 Germany Italy

The Panzer divisions of Groups Kuchler and Kluge took a pounding being reduced to cadre's, they did not break but held their ground, the Soviets defenses are well laid out with the new KV1 and T34 blocking the more obsolete German Panzers forcing them to take the punishment of a Formidable red Army air force with the new YAK1 and also copious artillery. So high stakes and a tough fight ahead, hats of to the Soviet player both Kiev and Minsk proving to be major obstacles.

Italy expands and reinforces the Bridgehead in North Africa

More US submarines detected and sunk the Germans assume these are recon missions as there are no merchant supply lines to raid.

Peace was finally signed with Japan, Germany hopes there are no feelings of animosity on the Japanese side, the actions taken by Germany were necessary for her security.

[cpdeyoung]

Great Britain is deciding what she can defend. Gibraltar still holds.

The Soviets, who have been good allies to us are going through hell.

The Italians are moving back into their old colonies.

[ironduke1955]

June 1940 Germans Italians

The Germans cross the Dnieper pushing towards Rostov and hopefully pocketing the Soviet forces around Odessa.

Gibraltar falls as the British predicted worried to death by the batteries of German guns besieging the promontory.