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J/F 1940, Axis impulse 5

For the second time this winter, blizzards are striking Western Europe. In the Netherlands, a heroic elfstedentocht is organised on januari 30th. Of the 3.404 participants, only 154 reached the finishline after 200 kilometers of speedskating. The first shortages for consumers appear in Europe. Coffee and choclat are difficult to get in the shops and prices go up. The first common foodstuffs are rationed across Europe (Petrol was rationed in most European countries from the start of the war...).

Here are Louis Prima & Lilyann Carol; Bell bottom trousers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96CZQuPtOsU

The war starts by Germany aligning the Bulgarians to the Axis side. In the US, people are more concerned about the bad weather which caused major power failures in cities around the country, so no US entry chit is added. All Axis powers take land actions.

The Japanese are slowly moving towards the communists positions, capturing the city of Nanyang on the way. The presence of a US reporter in the city means headlines in the New York Times about Japanese war crimes committed in the city. Especially the reports of mass raping of Chinese women by Japanese soldiers shocks the US. One entry chit is put into the Japanese entry pool. There are now 2 entry chits in both entry pools and one tension chit in the Ge/It pool.
The Japanese have to use some units to keep the Nationalist in check, since there is a possibility of a Chinese INF trying to break through at the front...

The Italian army starts moving into France. Italian tanks from Graziani are slowly moving towards the city of Algiers.

In France, more and more tanks are spotted on the outskirts of Paris and Lille reports a lot of enemy units around the city. However, the weather prevents Germany from making a lot of attacks. Only a Frence GAR at the Maginot line is attacked at a +10 this impulse. The French decide to use the Blitzkrieg table, hoping to get a loss of a MOT for the Germans, thus making this attack an expensive one. Also, chances of survival for the GAR are greater that way (and since it is a nice one, when it is shattered, it will arrive at a better place too...

Well, no losses on either side and the GAR retreats. The Axis generals have mixed feelings about this draw.

J/F 1940, Allied impulse 8

USSR and US take combined , France, China and the CW take land actions.

The CW moves the GAR in Morocco towards Rabat. A possible conquest of the country by the Axis needs to be stopped, since Morocco is on the doorstep of the Rock. The Sidney MIL arrives in Suez.

The situation in France is very, very bad. The French army is cut off from Paris. If the Axis get another impulse to move, they get four hexes on Paris and there isn't a lot the French can do about it. After another meeting between Gamelin and President Lebrun, the latter becomes convinced that it is time to move the important government offices to Bordeaux. Weygand says:

“Paris sera toujours Paris” sung by Maurice Chevalier:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNf-eRYXjb8

In China, the nationalist Chinese need to put some units between the city of Nanyang and the mountains, since a gap has arrived here. However, they decide that it is unwise to withdraw units which might cause the Japanese problems if they stay mobile behind enemy lines. The decision is made for a small correction on the frontline:

The turn doesn't end (roll was an 8). The weather reports are unchanged (an 8 is rolled, makes it an 11 again).

J/F 1940, Axis impulse 11

There is now a 50% chance of the turn ending. All Axis major powers take land actions.

Time for another German Marching song. Here is “Lore, Lore, Lore”...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRGvSzJt ... 1392414503

Germany rails an INF out of Poland into La Spezia. Two more hexes on Paris are taken, however an attack in this weather is suicide for the soldiers (I could get a +3 on the city and that's simply to low, especially if you take into account that losses would be taken by important and expensive units on the German side). The same is the case for an attack on Lille. There, a +4 can be reached. This is also to low to conside). Reluctantly the OKH decides to wait for better weather. They decide to attack the hex containing Georges and the ART instead, since both units are disorganised, making this an attack which, even in the heart of winter, can succeed. The French decline to use HQ support from Bilotte, since it is important to try to move the army towards the Vichy area if they will get an impulse this turn. Von Leeb expects not to get another Axis impulse, so he throws in his weight to the attack and he decides to use the Blitzkrieg table. Apart from this, a French GAR which is disorganised will be pulverised, since the continuing bad weather has put it out of supply:

Now in most cases it isn't advisable to convert a shattered result into a retreat, however at this moment I decide to do so. I don't want to see Georges reappearing in a place called Bordeaux or Toulouse. Here is the situation in France at the end of the impulse:

Italian tanks are spotted in the mountains near Lyons, while German Panzer and Infantry appear before the city of Algiers...

The Japanese meanwhile, are making things more difficult for the Chinese. Gaps in the frontline are slowly being exploited. The turn does not end (roll was a 6).

J/F 1940, Allied impulse 14

The allies can end the turn, if they all pass. However movement is needed in China and France to improve on their positions.

Therefore, China and France take land, CW, USSR and US take combined actions.

But first. Music: Here is “On ira pendre notre linge sur le ligne Siegfried” (The washing on the Siegfried line) by Ray Ventura et ses collégiens, sung in French and English!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-FOBu8gsdM

The French decide to rail move a factory from Vichy to Bordeaux. The USSR decides to railmove a Siberian from the Manchurian border towards the west.


The situation in France at the end of the impulse:

The BEF arrives in Morocco, to bolster it's defenses and to annoy the Germans. It's probably the best defensive move they can do at this moment...

In China, moves are made to annoy the Japanese and to try to close the gap in the center. However, it doesn't appear that the gap is closed.

Turn ends? No!

And now, the weather roll. It can't get any worser, can't it?

Actually while the turn not ending is a bad break for the Allies, they were lucky to a point that the weather wasn't snow or something like that or France would have been toast now. As it is, they get to survive for a turn.

Good idea to get the CW into Morocco before the fall of France. Certainly Gibraltar could be next on the agenda for the Axis and they are going to have a lot of time to play with before they can do something with Russia. Given that German units are already in North Africa, the CW does have to be concerned.

One thing I have been looking at these days is if the Italians don't bother to garrison Sardinia very well, then the CW should just take it from them. With it, the CW can get enough aircraft basing space to help protect the Western Med along with presenting a threat to the Italian coast area along with depriving the Italians of a much needed resource.

ORIGINAL: Klydon

Actually while the turn not ending is a bad break for the Allies, they were lucky to a point that the weather wasn't snow or something like that or France would have been toast now. As it is, they get to survive for a turn.

Good idea to get the CW into Morocco before the fall of France. Certainly Gibraltar could be next on the agenda for the Axis and they are going to have a lot of time to play with before they can do something with Russia. Given that German units are already in North Africa, the CW does have to be concerned.

One thing I have been looking at these days is if the Italians don't bother to garrison Sardinia very well, then the CW should just take it from them. With it, the CW can get enough aircraft basing space to help protect the Western Med along with presenting a threat to the Italian coast area along with depriving the Italians of a much needed resource.

The problem the CW are having is that to take Sardinia, they have to DoW the Italians first. And with the number of US entry chits in the Ge/It pool (2), it isn't good to do so at this moment. It might costs those 2 US entry chits...
Also, sending the CW in to Morocco means that the Germans have a decision to make. If they grab Algeria next turn and declare Vichy, the CW units are moved out of Morocco and than they could collapse Vichy and grab Morocco doing this... However, that means double US entry to be rolled for...

J/F 1940, Axis impulse 17:

Another Axis impulse! Now that's a surprise for the generals. But weather is very, very bad and it is also to be expected that this won't improve in the next turn either with a +3 modifier.

All Axis powers again take land actions.

In Europe, Germany decides to rail the Köningsberg MIL to La Spezia. The OKH decides it can get a reasonable attack on Paris, even in blizzard. It's to be a +8 with all benefits included (ENG, winterized MTN and HQ thrown in for support). This might get expensive, but imagine what happens if Paris falls and the Axis get a double move. The French throw in winterized bonus of the defending MTN too and Gamelin decides to choose the Assault table. Will it be his last command of the war?

Here is “Legion of the Lost”, by Peter Dawson...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wGiRzLl7yg

Gamelin is taken as at prisoner of war in Paris. The French FTR's rebase to Lyon. Meanwhile, in Bordeaux, Raynaud is ordered to step down as Prime Minister. Marschal Pétain takes over the French government. France at the end of the impulse:

In China, the Japanese decide to increase the pressure upon the Chinese by threathening the city of Tchang. They take the city of Yenan but behave themselves (no US entry chit. Roll was a 7). Further moves are made to try to move around the Chinese positions. However, a lot of Japanese units are now disorganised due to making moves while out of supply...