GD1938 v.3 (Beta) AnA rules Bombur vs CPdY

[cpdeyoung]

21 August 1939 : USSR, France, Great Britain, USA

The USSR, France and Great Britain prepare for a possible German attack.

The USA does what it can on limited budgets.

Commander of the 7th Army dies in auto accident.

[cpdeyoung]

21 August 1939 : China

We attack, suffering about equal losses. The enemy is becoming too strong to attack.

[cpdeyoung]

18 September 1939 : Allied nations

The USSR, France and Great Britain all prepare for a possible conflict. They have assumed a war with the Axis is coming and are in decent shape.

The USA still has real problems convincing her citizens much should be done.

China has pulled back to its original lines after Japan counterattacked.

[ironbmike]

ORIGINAL: cpdeyoung

18 September 1939 : Allied nations

The USSR, France and Great Britain all prepare for a possible conflict. They have assumed a war with the Axis is coming and are in decent shape.

The USA still has real problems convincing her citizens much should be done.

China has pulled back to its original lines after Japan counterattacked.

Your AARs are fantastic. You put a ton of time into them, clearly. Hopefully there are other lurkers out there (like me) who read them and enjoy them!

Great stuff! [&o]

[saudivan]

Count me as a lurker too. I check this thread everyday to follow developments.

[cpdeyoung]

16 October 1939 : Allies

USSR : The Red Army has invested heavily in anti tank rifles. Armor is still pretty thin, and we hope they can give our infantry some punch.
France : France moves more heavily into the Low countries. France, Britain, the Netherlands, and Belgium are coordinating in defense there. Engineers have been building fortification along the German border.
Britain : The merchant marine is growing and shipping troops has become easier.
USA : The shipyards have built carrier hulls and can begin finishing out carriers again.
China : We pop a couple of inexperienced divisions out of the contested hex north of Taiyuan.

[cpdeyoung]

13 November 1939 : Allies

USSR : The Germans traded PP for fuel twice. They are stocking up? We like France as Polands MFN better than Germany, so we always fool around a bit with propaganda when Germany is ahead there.
France : More Chars for the Low Countries. We implore the Poles to accept our guidance.
Britain : We also want the French to have great relationships with the Poles. Of course, we would never interfere.
USA: We have decided to recruit some forces. The world is becoming an armed camp.
China : With the generous help of advisors we have reached 100% CE. The Japanese have retaken the contested hex.

[cpdeyoung]

11 December 1939 : Allies

USSR : The biggest event this month for the USSR is the alignment of the three Baltic states with Great Britain. We had long know they were leaning toward Britain. We now will have to carefully monitor the defenses there and prepare for a possible war between Germany and Britain which would expose this area to conquest. This in turn would expose a long border with Germany.
France : Nothing special for France. We continue to prepare defenses.
Great Britain : Yes, we are now leading the defense of the Baltic countries.
United States : We now have formed a dozen infantry divisions.
China : The Japanese hurt us this month.

[cpdeyoung]

January 8th, 1940 : Allies

USSR : The very Useful KV-1 tank is available.
France : We were framed in Poland and now the confused Poles have the Germans in MFN status.
Britain : We are trying to get the Baltic Front defensible.
USA : Trying to get some economy for the Military, cannot do it.
China : Quiet turn.

[cpdeyoung]

February 5th, 1940 Allies

USSR : Our borders to the north are currently covered by the Baltic states and Poland. In the south the Italian led Romanians are directly facing our troops. We do not expect the Axis to attack us right away.
France : The Axis is coming, and fairly soon. We have prepared for conflict, but no plan survives contact with the enemy.
Britain : The Germans have massive amounts of U-boats and we fear we will soon be fighting for our lives on the seas.
United States : Europe looks ready to erupt in flames, but we are very weak. It will be awhile till we can intervene, and we do not expect to be attacked.
China : The Japanese hurt us again. We do not know if they plan to expand their war.

[cpdeyoung]

March 4th, 1940 : Allies

USSR : The Soviet Union is working hard on defenses. So hard to know how our forces will do.
France : We hope to not need them, but we are building forts much deeper in France, near Paris.
Britain : The significant number of U-boats the KM has built caused the RN to prepare ASW defenses.
USA : We do what little we can.
China We are stiffening our lines.

[cpdeyoung]

Some thoughts on where we are and how we got here

Those of you who have been watching the conflict in China might have been wondering if nothing else is going on. You have heard the Europeans, including the Soviets, discuss the defenses they are building up. You have heard the American military complaining about the onerous spending restrictions that prevent them from approaching the forces of the other powers. What you have not heard is a declaration of war by Germany, or Italy.

Here is an analysis of how we got here. It is not informed by German input.

The Germans do not want a two front war. They also are far from sure they can win a quick victory in Central Europe and the west. If they bog down they fear the USA and USSR will step in and bring about a German defeat. German planners are seeking a shot at the Soviet Union while remaining at peace with the West. The problem is they have no way to get to the USSR without going through countries that the West is pledged to protect. The main obstacle is Poland where conflict will bring in Britain and France upon a DoW. The defeat of Poland will open a border with the Soviets, but a full scale war with the west will not be avoided. Somehow Germany must solve the Polish problem without war.

The answer was a diplomatic campaign which has been waged for years. Germany and France competed for Polish "most favored nation" status. First one had it, then the other. Discord and influence were the tools and both sides are now in the 700 range, but Germany knows she does not have enough time. She must attack soon or her window of opportunity closes. The diplomatic front is closing down, the dogs of war are growling at the gates.

[cpdeyoung]

April Fools Day, 1940 : USSR

The world is at war. Germany has gone to war with Poland, and Poland has chosen to surrender to the large force Germany had on her borders. Britain and France are now at war with Germany. Italy is uninvolved.

The USSR now has a long, shared border with Germany. The Baltic states are open to attack, defended by Great Britain. If Germany takes these countries the shared border will be even longer.

Here is a view if the Soviet defenses in the west.

[cpdeyoung]

April Fools Day : France - Great Britain

Here is some idea of the action in western France and the Low Countries.

[cpdeyoung]

April Fools Day, 1940 : The Baltic front.

This is going to be rough. Those panzer divisions are huge. This front is in trouble unless the Soviets become involved.

[cpdeyoung]

April Fools Day, 1940 : China

Welcome to the war, guys.

[cpdeyoung]

April 29th, 1940 : Soviets, French, British

The USSR watches the conflict to the west in the Baltic States.

Here is a map after the British phase.

[cpdeyoung]

April 29th, 1940 : French, British

In the West both sides spar, testing the strength of their opponents.

[cpdeyoung]

April 29th, 1940 : United States, China

The USA slowly moves into this world at war.

The Japanese pushed us out of a road hex, but our more secure road is ready.

[cpdeyoung]

May 27th, 1940 : USSR

The USSR continues to prepare for a German, Axis?, attack. We are building defensive fortifications far from the border. We hope to not need these, but if we do they will be prepared.