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The U.S. Government decided to take a more proactive role in world affairs for the next decade of the twentieth century. Resources were promised to China, France and the Commonwealth, while at the same time an embargo on strategic materials was placed upon Japan. Needless to say, the Axis reacted with bellicose threats - that were largely ignored.

Due to screwups, we had to replay the last few phases multiple times (and even then, we're still not exactly perfect). None the less, here's the situation:

US Entry Options
Resources to China
Resources to Western Allies
Embargo Strategic Materials

Production
... I failed to note this. Will edit when I get a look at the pools

Resource Lending
USA -> CW: 3, 2 oil
CW -> France: 5
CW -> China: 2

Victory Points
Axis: 0

Held Objectives

Warsaw - (2/3)

(Axis lending phase is still ongoing, but as Italy is neutral, no lending is expected)

Jan/Feb 1940 started with horrible weather world wide. Japan took a naval action and got the last of her infantry reserves in Japan out to sea. In the first Allied impulse, the Nationalist Infantry army on the southern coast near Hainan tried to make a run for it, before the massive firepower of the Japanese fleet could be brought into play. But being OOS, it became disorganized in its flight and its defensive capabilities were compromised.

After the first pair of impulses, the weather was quite kind to Japan, giving her snow in the North Temperate and Fine in the North Monsoon. Then, a lucky ground strike (30%) doomed the Kunming Militia holding out in the mountains south of Wuhan. Below is the situation just prior to the land attacks that destroyed the two units mentioned. In the north, the Chinese partisans holding Haichow were dealt with severely by a Japanese Engineer division.

Unfortunately, the turn then ended at the first opportunity! [:@]

The weather die have NOT been the Axis friends this game. I think we've had maybe two impulses of clear weather the entire thing. I need to post about the Bulgaria situation which was just bad for the Axis.

In Europe Germany decides to declare war on the Netherlands.

The high command of the Wehrmacht have high hopes for a port strike to deny the CW of valuable shipping. The results of the strike is shown below.

Only afterwards it occurs to the staff that the target selection had been sloppy.
The destruction of several convoy points is nice but it turns out to be an embarrassment that a much more valuable transport was left alone.

The German player... errhh.. I mean staff are from now on resolved to review the available intelligence much more carefully.

The botched port strike is followed by an advance that not even the bad weather conditions can do much to hinder.

Amsterdam is soon the victim of an overwhelming assault.

The defenders of Amsterdam are overwhelmed.

Meanwhile in the Balkans the Wehrmacht is facing another small obstacle on the path to world domination. Surely the Bulgarian army is no match for the Heer?

Bulgarian resistance proves to be much more stubborn than expected. That miscalculation cost a lot of German Heinrich´s and Rumanian Gheorghe´s their lives.

The German High Command were not amused [:(]

As mentioned earlier the turn ended at the first opportunity. From a German perspective the short turn had a silver lining with several Dutch ships joining the Kriegsmarine after being overrun in Rotterdam due to the conquest. Or worse with CW reinforcements showing up in the Netherlands.
German industry provide the war effort with the following materiel:

3 Pilots
1 Lnd(2)
1 Ftr(2)
1 Ftr(3)
1 Inf
1 BP saved


Italy is not doing much of interest but have ordered a Marine unit and laid down an Amphibious for future operations.

Sorry guys could someone give a high level summary of what is going on (rationale) for the German declarations of war against Hungary and Bulgaria please?

Has Admiral Horthy wee'd in Hitler's cheerios or what?

Many thanks [:)]

This is one of several gambits to do with the Russian demand on Bessarabia being accepted. Once that happens, Hungary and Bulgaria demand Rumanian territory too. If those demands are refused - which they were - then Bulgaria can be aligned to Russia, hence Germany must strike first.

This alternative normally sees Hungary and Bulgaria sacrificed to get Rumania as a much stronger ally (all her units can leave the home country). Also later on, the Axis has a much easier task to get Yugoslavia aligned to them.

Edit: And it means the Germans can be much stronger in the south when/if Barb begins.

Okay - thanks. In terms of US Entry is this action generally +/- ive for Germany when compared to an "historical" agreement to cede Bessarabia to the USSR and part of Transylvania and South Dobruja to Romania's neighbours?

If my gearing limits had allowed it, I would have taken the chance to try and rebuild the Bulgaria MIL. That outcome was hilarious when it happened.

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Okay - thanks. In terms of US Entry is this action generally +/- ive for Germany when compared to an "historical" agreement to cede Bessarabia to the USSR and part of Transylvania and South Dobruja to Romania's neighbours?

Theoretically neutral as DoW or alignment of both is the same odds. Slightly negative if done in 1939 because any chits generated are more likely to be of higher value, but then there might not be any. (About a 50-50 to generate one chit.)

ORIGINAL: paulderynck

ORIGINAL: warspite1

Okay - thanks. In terms of US Entry is this action generally +/- ive for Germany when compared to an "historical" agreement to cede Bessarabia to the USSR and part of Transylvania and South Dobruja to Romania's neighbours?

Theoretically neutral as DoW or alignment of both is the same odds. Slightly negative if done in 1939 because any chits generated are more likely to be of higher value, but then there might not be any. (About a 50-50 to generate one chit.)

warspite1

That's useful info thanks.

The deceased of JF40.

Due to various real life issues we have not posted additions to this AAR for some time. Nonetheless the game has proceeded and is now at JA40, second impulse. My compatriots may add some posts here but until we catch up, things may not quite stay in chronological order.

Quick summary: In MA40 and MJ40 the Axis was lucky in Initiative but unlucky with weather. Finally in MA40, impulse 7, Germany could no longer wait and attacked Belgium in the rain. In MJ40 the first axis impulse had fine weather and things looked rosy as the Germans launched a massive air offensive. But then -- rain and more rain. At last the skies cleared and the Germans were able to breakthrough around Sedan and press to the southwest, but then the turn ended.

Meanwhile in China, Japan continued in her offensives in the center and north and even advanced in the south during the last impulse of MJ, when a pause in the early monsoon occurred.

The Blitzkrieg arrives in Belgium...

Good to see this AAR continuing.