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March 31st, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The Japanese have long coveted the French possessions in Indochina. Despite contributions from allies the defense could not hold. The Hanoi mines are now supplying the Japanese.

Well, with USSR broke, it´s game over. Congratulations to the Axis player.

March 31st, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

There is so much news, the capture of Brunei, the isolation of Vladivostok, and more. However let us deal with a stunning surprise attack on a critical United States asset, the Panama Canal. This operation was executed at an incredible distance. Tokyo is 8,414 miles from Panama. The IJN was able to bring enough force to bear to defeat the American garrison. Destruction of the locks would be a vast crime against humanity. It is surely a priority of the USN to throw the usurpers out. It is only 1,602 miles from New Orleans to Panama.

This is the great naval war that the USN was built for. With our partners the Royal Navy we will prevail on all fronts.

Oh, how I wished for a naval war!

Thank you all for a wonderful game. This one will bear a lot of examination over time.

Chuck

Excellent, and at times hilarious, AAR chaps - and an excellent advert for the game.

( Can the Allies resist the might of Germany, the players have returned to test it out. Now is the time to try new weapons and methods. )

April 28th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

For a brief moment it appeared that some combination of ceasefire and peace might take hold. Instead the Axis unleashed her troops in a series of attacks that rocked the world. The cities of Leningrad and Cairo, so far apart, both were taken by German troops. The USSR and Germany have entered a fragile state of peace. In the Far East Vladivostok was taken by the Japanese who are still at war with the Soviets.

April 28th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Cairo has fallen and now is the the time to abandon Egypt and head west. There is only one factor in play for the Allies, American production. The British must prepare for a possible invasion, and she cannot afford to lose her still powerful Royal Navy. The USN and the RN will have to carry the war for quite a while. They must prepare to take the Italians and Japanese on in an extended campaign. The canal must be retaken, and Gibraltar must be held.

April 28th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Can our British allies hold India against the forces of India and Germany? It certainly will not be easy. With the Soviet Union at peace India will be the focus of German attention and experience favors the Axis here.

April 28th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The Japanese raided into the Caribbean. The IJN carriers were present, but where they are now is unknown. There is no evidence they are approaching New York. The retaking of the Panama Canal is a top priority for our United States Navy. The Japanese do not look strong there.

April 28th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In Singapore the residents are beginning to fear the oncoming forces. Threats seem everywhere.

May 26th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The Anglo-Indian forces did withdraw from their breached fortified line. It was well done, and while German power took Karachi, they did not break through. The Indian HQ is not talking to reporters, so we can only hope they are ready for these blows.

May 26th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The State Department had been assiduously courting the Turks. Germany reacted.

May 26th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

Egypt is lost, but that was almost a given due to German strength. The Royal Navy force is somewhere in the Middle Sea.

May 26th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

It is certain that Germany knew the Soviet alliance structure was still in place. The German declaration of war on Turkey prodded the USSR to declare war on Germany again. Most German generals did not like the peace with the Soviets anyway, and given the chance they piled on quickly. However even the short period of peace allowed other theaters to draw troops away from the core, and thus the attack was not decisive. Now Germany must prepare for a counter blow.

alles kaput! with no infrastructure or logistics the Soviets are defenseless but won't surrender. When I got sent to Russian school by the army they said all you have to remember is when you're winning, yell "rookie vehrk!" (hands up!!) and when you're losing yell in Russian "don't shoot, I know secrets" lol
The civie clothes intel unit i belonged to in the 70's USASSG in their final months signed messages "the good times are now" and once we were put into uniform and swallowed up by ASA who in turn was swallowed up by INSCOM we'd sign off "the good times are gone" lol
The game is effectively over so now just to watch the mighty Chuck Axis conquer the world... all the allied road building will now facilitate the German advance. salute sir [X(][&o]

May 26th, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

It is not too early to write the obituary of the Soviet Union. The Russian people gave their all, and were ill served by an oppressive government. The British and Americans tried to help, and sent a lot of equipment, but they did not launch an invasion that the Soviet government needed. To be fair the Germans made the coasts of Europe inhospitable enough that an American officer told us Germany could handle an invasion with troops to the west of Berlin without drawing a single division from the east. As important as the "missing" invasions was the softness of Allied defense when the Axis forces finally met it. The defense of the Caucasus and the Middle East just was not strong enough to draw German troops from the attack on the USSR.

This campaign will draw an immense amount of attention and analysis in the future, but from my perspective now I think they will find that Russia did not so much lose as the Axis won. From their push off in France and Czechoslovakia the Germans just kept coming. Their strategic decision to launch Fall Blau in the south was probably the correct one, although Moscow was an obvious target. The Germans were probably correct in putting off the difficult attack on Leningrad. The Soviets made good use of their resources, but they did not have enough. Their troops were skillfully handled and if they had caught a few breaks the outcome would be very different.

When the Soviets are subdued Great Britain and America will stand alone against the Axis. The Royal Navy and USN must buy time for US production to come online.The Allies must make the Axis fight a different kind of war. One where naval and amphibious forces are very important. Every ship is important! The prayers of the Allied nations are with the sailors as they man the floating walls that protect their nations.

June 23rd, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The campaign in Norway illustrates the dilemma faced by our commanders. If a battlefield can be reached by land, then the Heer fresh from battles in Russia, will have the bigger battalions. Britain, America and her Allies cannot stand against the armies which have brought the Soviet Union to her knees. If the Allies can dominate the seas and air then they can begin to raid and invade the long coastlines. However production determines who holds domination at sea and in the air, and it is far from clear the USA will be stronger than the Axis in production. As they exploit all the captured territory the Axis have powerful productive capacity.

June 23rd, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The Soviet union has offered peace to Germany, but the Germans do not seem in a peaceful mood. Moscow is not the whole of the Soviet Union, but the rest is under attack also. The grand experiment of communism in one country is ending. The Soviet state was a horror in many ways, but it had many, oh so many, hopeful, good hearted people, among the hard men at the top. The German state is no better, far from it, and the victory bring a new dark Age to Europe, to the world.

Evil abides in the world. The enemies of this Axis must rededicate themselves and fight for the light. dark times.

June 23rd, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

The Turkish excursion is drawing troops away from the attack on the west of India. The British show they have forces in India.

June 23rd, 1941

Baldwin Hanson, Military analyst, New York Tribune

In Turkey the American led Turks are having a bit of a fight, but as is so often the case it is hopeless.