Anschluss or Bust; A GD1938 AAR and Test Game

[ernieschwitz]

December, 1938, Chinese Turn,

Two major offensives are tried in China, one south of Wuhan that meets with enormous success and routs the Japanese Division located there... attacks were made by conscripts using mortars and machineguns. Nothing special in other words...

The other offensive was in the North, near Yenan. Here what is considered the elite units of China, tried to engage two whirlwind divisions, and alot of armor. It was hoped that after the initial artillery bombardment, that eliminated alot of the infantry there, that major pain could be inflicted on these metal boxes. However, Chinese courage was not enough. And the attacking divisions lost pretty badly.

Here is a view of the action that happened.

[Krafty]

Man im happy I didnt join the axis as Japan yet. I think Hirohito may leave Hitler and Mussolini out to dry.

[Krafty]

Wow what a doozey. Ok, going to dispense with the fan fiction for a bit and see if we cant turn this around.


Heres my losses.

Really not that bad. I make 9 fighter IVs at my factory, that covers my losses there. Considering there were fighter IIs and Is in there, that helps. 86 infantry isnt bad. Niether is 2 arty.

Losing 8 tanks hurts, but I expected some losses like that.

I make 9 sub IIIs a turn at Kiel, so thats not a big hit either. Losing the Prince Eugen and (oh I forget) hurts. But the Kriegsmarine was going to be on hold until mainland europe belongs to germany anyways.

10 destroyers hurts a tad, but there arent any german over seas holdings, so the brits have no need for subs. After I kill off what they started with, we wont be seeing many more german destroyers.

I destroyed 3600 supply. That actually about evens up the losses and kills in production terms. I pray that had an effect.


I also sunk 19 ships. Thats a bonus. But the allies have an inexhaustable supply of destroyers.

[Krafty]

Danzig falls to germany, and the Channel fleet is destroyed for only light air losses.

The HMS Wales, and HMS Hood lay at the bottom of the bay of Utrecht.

[Krafty]

Heres the situation in europe at the end of my turn.

Losses are well within the acceptable range. 79 rifle IIs lost for 155 killed. Lost a hand full of submarines but destroyed 13 destroyer IIs, 3 cruisers, 7 subs, 2 battleships. Captured some cities in poland but theyre small, and itll be a while before they repair anyways.

Luftwaffe adds 21 fighter IVs to its roster. Building 200 riflemen this turn to make up for what ive lost so far. Mortars are added to siege units, and an artillery brigade is formed.

Things look bleak for germany, but we'll do our best to hang around for a while

[british exil]

Downloaded the scenario, wow that is some piece of work.

The amount of units that can be built, the political side of the game is really something.

Makes me really respect the amount of work being put into this game and AAR.

Thx for all the hard work and keep it comeing, I am really enjoying the story.

Mat

[ernieschwitz]

ORIGINAL: british exil

Downloaded the scenario, wow that is some piece of work.

The amount of units that can be built, the political side of the game is really something.

Makes me really respect the amount of work being put into this game and AAR.

Thx for all the hard work and keep it comeing, I am really enjoying the story.

Mat

Thanks for downloading, Mat We are working on a new version with less bugs in it (we already found a few, but none are gamebreaking), and it should be available sooner or later. As for the story, it had alittle slowdown for a few reasons. Firstly some of us players had to take a small break from the game (1 day) but we are back. Secondly the amount of action is very high at this point of the game, so reporting it takes alot of time too... (But since i have the turn now, i will do my best as to make a good AAR covering what has happened). So here goes...

[ernieschwitz]

January 1939, before the allied turn.

In france the following has taken place. French troops, in an effort to stop the possible breakthrough by italian forces south of Lyon, withdraw, mostly from the line they held in the southern alps. This is possibly a mistake, as Italian troops without hesitation occupy these areas, and the new french line is less defensible than the old one. A single infantry division (reinforced by heavy tanks) was left behind to guard the mountain pass between Marseille and Genoa. It was hit by Italian air, and artillery, and then retreated after a massive assault by the Italian troops. The Heavy tanks were lost. These are the first heavy tanks lost in the war. Possibly they were too heavy to move across the river, now that the Italian massbombardment destroyed the bridge.

In the north, in Belgium, artillery hits Brussels. Belgian artillery retaliates, but to no effect. The small guns are probably the reason for this, as they are below 100mm, while the German artillery is 105mm and above.

Here is a look at the French map, as the turn began.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, January, French turn.

A naval battle off the coast of Crete between the French surface fleets, and the Italian surface fleets results in an inconclusive battle. Though french officials are painting it as a major victory. The Italian losses were as follows:

1 x Battleship I
2 x Heavy Cruisers I
1 x Light Cruisers I
13 x Destroyer IIs
2 x Submarines I

The French losses were:

1 x Heavy Cruisers I
2 x Light Cruisers II
13 x Destroyer IIs

The french are already labeling it the Battle of the Agean Sea.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, January, French turn continues.

A raid with night bombers on Frankfurt goes well, this despite the fact that the Germans had put up some 20mm flak guns to protect the city. Germany seems not to have produced any sort of Night Fighter, and is unable to really hurt these night bombers. While they in turn are able to hit the German production. This is a good sign.

Geneva is shelled by artillery and then a daylight raid and fighter battle above Geneva leads to heavier french losses than the Swiss airforce takes. However, most of the Swiss air is driven from the skies, and shot down. A raid in Turkey, by airmen flying out of Beirut, fails miserably, as recon had not noticed the Heavy Flak that had taken up positions there. I had hoped to take out a few turkish planes, but, unfortunately not.

Forces in stuttgart are also shelled, causing mostly structural damage, and little personel is lost.

Two divions are formed out of the battle worn divisons. 1 Division, the division "Bordeaux" is given the responsiblity to guard and protect Bordeaux to the last man, while the other division "Marseille" is given the same task for Marseille.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, January, before the British turn,

Well alot is going on here, and i will try to list all the important events. Starting in the Southern European/Middle east. Near turkey an Indian Infantry Division is routed by turkish forces, who are content at staying in their positions, and thus do not follow up. In Greece, the noose is tightening, and Bulgarian and Rumanian troops, supported by Italians, are making their way to Athens. The news papers are writing, the barbarians are coming!

In western Europe, the Germans surround Amsterdam and shell it, while in Denmark the troops there try to assault Copenhagen from two sides, but are repulsed, by the valiant efforts of the Danish Army, the so called "Flak fort" of Copenhagen, and British troops stationed there... however losses were high, and it is uncertain if Copenhagen can be held... Jews are seen making their escape to neutral Sweden in small fishing boats, as the rumours of Nazi cruelty have travelled ahead. In real life Denmark hardly resisted the Germans, but the efforts of the danish civilians in helping the jews escape to Sweden later in the war is well documented.

In Poland, the German army is ruthless, and swift and surely grinds its way to warsaw, cutting it off from its would be Soviet saviours. A hard decision has to be made about what to do this turn, in Poland. The end is surely near. The battles of Poland are very hard to describe, but I have tried to do them justice with the map below.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, January, British turn,

Lets start with the good news. Spanish troops are so scared of the British in Gibraltar, that they have fled the area. Cadiz surrenders to British diplomats, asking politely if they would want to surrender, or be bombed by british planes! In Libya, british forces now stand before Benghazi. And in East Africa Mogadishu falls without a shot being fired.

The British atlantic fleet bombards the troops that have surrounded Amsterdam, and the effect is very noticable. After a follow up bombing raid, most of the forces are scattered and bewildered looking. Tanks have been flipped upside down, and the flimsy Armored cars and halftracks have been shredded by the naval bombardments.

Speaking of naval actions, the Battle of the Agean sea continues, with more losses to the Italian surface fleet... Also the Rumanian fleet is routed and beaten badly by a single cruiser group. British planes raid the airfields in Messina, and shoot down a few Italian planes. Those CR32s (Fighter Is) are really no match for Hurricanes (Fighter III)

[ernieschwitz]

1939, January, American Turn,

The Americans try once more to break their isolationism, but apart from the chances growing better the next time the Americans try it, nothing is achieved. Chances of American intervention at 3%.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, January, before Chinas turn.

Things look very bleak for the Chinese. Not only was last month marred by the disasterous attack near Yenan, on Japanese troops, but the Japanese in the area have begun a ferrousious counter attack: Taking all the plains hexes around the city.

Also, Chinese bombardment, and air attacks against Wuhan knock the location out, and it will be some time before it can produce supplies and fuel again. This turns out to be good news, as the city falls to japanese troops attacking from four sides. At least it will be a while before they get something out of it.

Here is a look at the action.

[ernieschwitz]

1939, January, Chinese turn,

Not much to report actuallly, chinese forces try and straighten the line, dig in, and defend as best they can. Yenan is prepared for a final defence. With it´s defenders getting strict orders to not budge one step, when the japanese come. A single air raid is made on the advancing Japanese, and some casualties are inflicted...

[Krafty]

Breaking News!


After a climatic battle, British battleships, Revenge, Royal Oak, Warspite and Nelson now lay at the bottom of the channel.

Unless there are more in Hull under construction, Britian is without battleships in the Atlantic.

Sadly the luftwaffe took some heavy losses, but the victory gained by destroying the Home fleet AND the Channel fleet is huge.

Its now impossible for britian to make any sort of landings anywhere, without those fleets. Its going to take a massive investment of production and time to replace these losses.

Now to tighten the noose!

So far british naval losses are 44 destroyers, 31 submarines, 6 battleships, 5 heavy cruisers, and 4 light cruisers, and a gunboat squadron.

Losses are 19 destroyers (many of WW1 class) 2 pocket battleships, 2 light cruisers, and 17 submarines.

[Krafty]

The HMS Valiant, another battleship, tried to flee to Ramsgate.

It didnt make it.

7 British battleships, and the last of their prestigious fleet, sit at the bottom of the ocean.


On a side note, germany cant build battleships, so I cant tell exactly how much one these behemoths costs. My battlecruiser IIs cost 24,000 production points.

7 of those is ALL of germanies national production, several times over. So this is a big blow. Replacing this losses is either going to take a long long time, or is going to take up a large chunk of their production in the near future, which helps the situation in Europe considerably.

Or maybe they never replace these losses and germany and its uboats are free to roam the atlantic.

If it wasnt for the soviet union, Germany would be right on track historically, but the time line would be 6 months advanced.

The soviet troops arent very good, all at thier max of 10 xp, while german troops in the AO in the upper 30s.

At first I saw alot of Rifle IIs, but these appear to just be the assault forces, recon and examination of their reserves shows that the soviet army still contains many Rifle Is. This is also good news.

[Krafty]

Copenhagen and Amsterdam fall to Panzergrenadiers. Warsaw falls in the east.


Heres the losses so far. The Urban battles have taken a toll this turn.

[Krafty]

The rest of the losses, and not pictured are germanys 3 lost pocket battleships, and 18 tankettes.

As well as the allies 87 cavalry Is and their 2 spitfire losses. Also 5 tankettes.



Production this turn for germany was 205 Rifle IIs (this will continue next turn as well to fully replace my infantry losses, cavalry is being phased out) 6 Artillery IIs (can always use more) 3 heavy truck squadrons to transport then, 14 20mm flak bdes and 7 40mm flak bdes, to place at my oilfields and airbases, 12 heavy mgs bdes to start replacing the 30 losses to those forces, 14 squadrons of fighter IVs, 9 submarine IIIs (still ahead of my losses, thats so evil) and 10 staff to replace a few losses to air attacks and to prepare for the formation of another armored division in a few months to deal with the soviet unions incursion.

Along with cav, infantry guns will be phased out, as will horses and light trucks. Trucks will be replaced with halftracks, infantry guns replaced with mortars. Tankettes also will be phased out, and losses to anything below level III in the air i wont even count, as it was useless to begin with. If any of it took something with it, job well done.

So far so good, besides the pocket battleships, and the things being phased out, replacements have kept up with losses, and 3 important cities (and heavy production centers, though theyre damaged) are in german hands.

The loss of Koneigsberg weighs heavy on my mind, but what can you do about a suprise attack by the soviet union, that those are their only gains so far is a god send. I expected the soviets to use up all their forces as fast as possible to try and knock out the axis in Europe, but it seems their caution is well placed with 10 xp troops.

Production of PPs is back above 30, which is the minimum i want to be producing. I need to expand this to keep the german army up to date, as well continue to build factories and upgrade production.

[Krafty]

Situation in Europe at the close of germanys turn:

Hungary was taken over to provide some more forces on the front with russia and plug a small hole they caused. Also I dont know if the allies can still coup Hungary but that would be a pain in the ass to deal with unexpectedly. It was 40 pps I didnt want to spend, its surely not worth it, but the security and opportunity cost were good, so I went for it.