Until 1948: The war that never ends (A solo AAR)

[Rysyonok]

Sep/Oct 1939, End of Turn:

Denmark falls, but Poland does not, barely holding on to Lodz. Now, that places Germany at crossroads:

- To go after CW troops in Denmark, or not
- To go after an early invasion of the Netherlands, or not
- To even consider Yugoslavia, or definitely not at this time

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, Weather:

Looks like it may be a cold one. Allies choose to go first; the most influential move, of course, that of CW reshuffling fleets.

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, Allied Impulse #1:

As expected, CW shuffles ships to cover for Axis submarine attacks, but why are there so few? Apparently, a number of units did not get their reorganization oil bonus despite being in major ports. Uh-oh.

In the meantime, Chinese prove how much even a single captured city can mean, as units shuffle from recently liberated Wuhan further northwest... hold your Corona memes, please.

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, Allied Impulse #3:

The first impulses go quietly; Axis grudgingly concentrates in Denmark and around Lodz, while Allies hold ground.

And then weather changes, a bit too late of course, as German Luftwaffe has already flown a Hail Mary bombardment of Lodz; Soviet air force in Finland, on the other hand, have held ground, for now...

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, Allied Impulse #3:

Soviet airforce attacks Finnish troops along Mannerheim line; British airforce targets the closest German HQ to Denmark. But this time Luftwaffe is ready; RAN loses a bomber, and Soviets go home empty-handed once again. Towards the South, French attempt their own mission; it fails as well.

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, Allied Impulse #3:

Chinese launch a piercing attack from Wuhan towards Suchow and onwards towards China sea; it's all about delay, and the means to slow Japanese forces, who are having to conscript more and more reserves such as militia. Reserves that will not be able to make it to islands as garrisons.

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, Axis Impulse #6:

After a couple of bouts of bad weather, it's all-fine clear sky worldwide once again; Germans open the season with a port strike, hoping to capture and cripple 2 CW transports currently in Denmark. The attack is futile.

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, Axis Impulse #6:

IJA prepares to take out an isolated CHI-COM infantry that was just hoping to slow down Japanese advance towards Ichang, forgetting the most important rule of combat: hold the line.

[Rysyonok]

But the teachings of Mao are strong with this one.

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, Axis Impulse #6:

Japanese troops prepare cleansing of the stray Chinese units; Germans, however, balk at attacking, facing only +4 and +8 odds in Denmark and in Poland.

IJA wins both battles without a scratch.

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, Allied Impulse #7:

Despite snowy weather, CHI-COMs reshuffle to save their infantry.

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, End of Turn:

So far, the campaign is not rolling out to Axis advantage. An attempt to regain an extra initiative value by going second this turn failed, as Axis were the ones with the last impulse.

And then we have the merciless Chinese partisans.

[Rysyonok]

.....

[Rysyonok]

Nov/Dec 1939, End of Turn:

Germany builds a submarine, a militia, an armor HQ, and a Finnish fighter / pilot combo. Gearing limits are shot due to building 2 plants, so there's a bit of a scramble.

Italy - two submarines, one in construction stage.

Japan - a militia, a territorial, and a mechanized; and a constructed submarine and a carrier air unit.

China - an infantry and a militia, both red; it's shaping up to be a Communist-driven campaign.

CW follows on its strategy of bombers and savages; 2 transports, 2 territorials are added, as well as a pilot / LND3 combo.

France builds a militia and a naval transport.

USA builds two transports and one amphibious; a territorial and two convoys. Clearly, the strategy is all about proper logistics for far-flung adventures.

[Rysyonok]

Jan/Feb 1940, Allied Impulse #7:

USSR declares war on Latvia and Estonia, hoping for a back way into Helsinki.

There aren't enough chits to go to Lithuania as well just quite yet. US entry pools are completely wiped out for both Germany and Japan.

[Centuur]

ORIGINAL: Rysyonok

Jan/Feb 1940, Allied Impulse #7:

USSR declares war on Latvia and Estonia, hoping for a back way into Helsinki.

There aren't enough chits to go to Lithuania as well just quite yet. US entry pools are completely wiped out for both Germany and Japan.

The USSR can walk into those countries, if they claimed Eastern Poland first. That's part of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. So you don't need to DoW those countries...

RAW:

19.5.2 Baltic States
The USSR can exercise its Nazi-Soviet Pact rights to occupy the
Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia) during any Allied land
movement step after it has exercised its rights to eastern Poland. You
can only exercise your rights over those states that are neutral.
You exercise those rights by moving a land unit into any hex of the
Baltic States.
Once you exercise those rights, the Baltic States are considered
immediately conquered by the Soviet Union.

[Mayhemizer_slith]

I think USSR may lose chit when they take Baltic countries. Risky business if pool is empty.

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Centuur

The USSR can walk into those countries, if they claimed Eastern Poland first. That's part of the Molotov-Ribbentrop pact. So you don't need to DoW those countries...

RAW:

19.5.2 Baltic States
The USSR can exercise its Nazi-Soviet Pact rights to occupy the
Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia) during any Allied land
movement step after it has exercised its rights to eastern Poland. You
can only exercise your rights over those states that are neutral.
You exercise those rights by moving a land unit into any hex of the
Baltic States.
Once you exercise those rights, the Baltic States are considered
immediately conquered by the Soviet Union.

Great advice, thank you so much!

[Rysyonok]

ORIGINAL: Mayhemizer_slith

I think USSR may lose chit when they take Baltic countries. Risky business if pool is empty.

Yup, just looked it up. 1, I think. Still, cheaper than going 1 for each country. Thank you.

[Rysyonok]

Jan/Feb 1940, Allied Impulse #7 Redo:

USSR pulls back the declarations of war.

American Navy sneaks in 2 more cruisers towards Manila.

CW attempts a snowy strategic bombardment run, fully expecting good weather not to come back this turn (On the other hand, all Soviet bombers are still in place, their carpet bombing runs on pause). Oops - there was an AA there, and a second fighter hiding under the disorganized one. The whole run is a wash, no one loses anything, except for time and pride.