GD1938 Game 18 AAR

[cpdeyoung]

We were not able to resist taking Copenhagen. Finally after centuries the naval side of the power equation is viable. Soviet warships can reach the high seas.

Stalin

[cpdeyoung]

The Great Patriotic War (Excerpts from the journal of J. Stalin)

We did not mean to actually take Kiel and Denmark. We only wanted the access to the seas provided by Copenhagen.
We have recommended to Germany that they step in and adjust the borders. This will involve a temporary state of
war between the USSR and Germany, but it is the only way as Germany made peace.

[falco148]

Germany is relieved the some sort of equilibrium has been reached in Denmark (although the capture of Copenhagen still rankles....[:@]).

Italy & Germany continue to grind out incremental advances into France. On the upside, production is starting to churn out some interesting looking weapons....lol

[cpdeyoung]

The Great Patriotic War (Excerpts from the journal of J. Stalin)

The Soviet Union is very pleased with the gains in Eastern Europe which provide a buffer to protect the cradle of social justice. The Scandinavian advances allow us to wield the power of the Soviet Union on a world stage. Our challenge is to protect the soviets and challenge the bastions of capitalism in peace.

[falco148]

The Germans tortuously snail-like advance continues to grind on to the outskirts of Paris. An interesting submarine clash erupts in the English Channel. Recon over England reveals large formations of infantry, artillery etc around London. In southern France the Italians almost take Marseilles but for a single armored unit and a single truck unit.

France looks pretty much doomed but it now appears the USSR & the British Empire have now allied. Germany cant help feeling that, despite the huge army, navy, air force etc we possess, we are mere pawns at the mercy of even greater predatory behemoths.

[cpdeyoung]

The Great Patriotic War (Excerpts from the journal of J. Stalin)

The Germans are worried that we have allied with the British. Nothing could be further from the truth. We made peace with the British, and will make peace with the French when they are willing, but the USSR seeks no allies.

[cpdeyoung]

The Great Patriotic War (Excerpts from the journal of J. Stalin)

The USSR is at peace with all nations as April 1939 ends. How long this will last we do not know. FDR and his capitalist cronies have managed to convince the deluded people that a nice war might end their depression. It is so sad to see the workers going
against their own best interests. So different from the enlightened workers voting in their soviets.

As Uncle Joe would say Grateful Red - On Wisconsin

[falco148]

Meanwhile the Germans make some more gains towards Brest and around Paris. There a large submarine battle off the coast of Denmark....both sides lose about the same casualties. The Luftwaffe pounds several units near Paris into oblivion. In southern France, Italian artillery smashes the French units in Marseilles to pieces and Italian armored & infantry units enter with little cost. Lyons is also taken.

[baloo7777]

Our brave Japanese spies have reported that Chinese troops morale is very high. It is a logical outcome of the sleeping giant, the USA, coming to their rescue. More saki has been distributed to our troops, to help them keep their courage up, as they prepare to throw the colonialists and their bandit friends back.

[cpdeyoung]

The Great Patriotic War (Excerpts from the journal of J. Stalin)

The Soviet Union enjoys the peace in time of war.

The intentions of the various nations seem unformed. It will be interesting to see how the alignments come down. It is a good time to be a fence sitter.

[falco148]

The Germans push on in Western France almost to Bordeaux. Paris is heavily bombarded by artillery and air. German forces take up positions to the north, west & east of the city. Air recon however still reveals large formations of French forces lurking in the Maginot Line. Another big submarine battle occurs in the English Channel with the U-boats gaining victory. On the down-side a formation of German cruisers & destroyers are utterly wiped out by the Royal Navy in the Atlantic. This is desperately unhappy news.

In southern France, the Italians push on through Marseilles and almost reach Bordeaux. An Italian attack south-west of Lille however got repulsed with heavy losses. On another negative note, the Italian presence in North Africa appears to be almost at an end with the British steadily advancing up through Libya. The Italians will now try to built up defences & fortifications around the Italian mainland itself to deter any future aggression from the gangster Churchill's imperialists and criminals.

[cpdeyoung]

The Great Patriotic War (Excerpts from the journal of J. Stalin)

The Soviet Union has gone from being a very active player on the world scene to a peaceful bystander. We have begun to look to our defenses as there are developments which would not suit us.

[falco148]

The German army (almost) surrounds Paris. The French Republic appears to be in its death throes, yet substantial French reserves remain locked up in the Maginot Line for some reason. The Fuhrer cannot quite believe his luck. Its not like the German attack has exactly been like a lightning blitzkrieg or anything. Also a quite spectacular assault by U-Boats on the Royal Navy occurs in the English Channel. Geobbels is delighted with the news and footage of the drama is being broadcast throughout the 3rd Reich.

Both the Italians & Germans advance south & east of Marseilles. Italian infantry and armor surge northward. On a downside, it appears any Italian presence in N.Africa is almost at an end.

[cpdeyoung]

The Great Patriotic War (Excerpts from the journal of J. Stalin)

The Soviet Union is not a paranoid state, but I am a paranoid man. The quiet is making me edgy. We do not expect trouble from the Germans and Italians in the near future. They have their war with the British and French to contend with. We are fairly comfortable with the Japanese who also have a war to wage. What bothers us is the power not engaged, the United States of America. This is a power filled with a confident sense of mission. Their experience of the Great War was for the most part positive. They have been unhappy with the USSR since the war between the Reds and Whites. They took the wrong side then and we worry they will take the wrong side again. How our new stronger position must rankle!

[falco148]

Take a sedative Mr Stalin. Everything is going to be OK....[;)]

[ironduke1955]

China continues the fight, but with aid now flooding in from the USA hopes are high that the day of liberation is at hand, and freedom from the yoke of imperialist oppression, will soon be a reality for millions of Chinese.

[falco148]

German panzer forces seize Brest and Paris is overthrown. Marseilles is seized by the Italians. However huge French forces remain entrenched in the Maginot Line. The German High Command doesn't quite know what to make of this paradox. More paranoid minds (like the Fuhrer's), are convinced there is a vast conspiracy at play here.....

[baloo7777]

The US has placed a sub squadron in Canton along with an HQ to send supplies to it's ally China. The Chinese are attacking with US made tanks. China has superior air power and the well trained peasant conscripts to out fly the poorly trained Japanese in their lousy aircraft. And the US is still at peace with us as they continue to send us oil and supplies (meager amounts, but still something). This is quite the convoluted mess. We will not be able to hold out for long. But the Emperor has decreed that we will have death with honor, and not bow to the foreign supported bandits. Double rations of rice and saki for all our brave men! [:D]

[cpdeyoung]

The Great Patriotic War (Excerpts from the journal of J. Stalin)

The USSR was invited to use its good offices to encourage the Japanese to come to the peace table. We informed the Japanese of the Sino-American offer. We do not know what terms might be involved.

Stalin

[baloo7777]

Rumors of secret talks between belligerents in the Far East abound. Meanwhile Japanese soldiers continue to die bravely in defense of their Emperor!