Revanchism in Europe (PBEM gwgardner vs Chocolino)

[Chocolino]

1-31-41

The UK and Canada continue to build up strength in Morocco. Italy put a small defensive line in place anchored on Oran.

[Chocolino]

2-14-41

Belgrade is occupied and Yugoslavia surrendered. We may have time for a Bulgarian campaign before summer weather requires our units to be elsewhere.

[Chocolino]

3-14-41

Despite the bad weather Germany declares war on Bulgaria. We do not get to attack Sofia this turn but it guarantees we can do it next turn no matter what the weather will be. Axis planners also don't want any weather related delays in Bulgaria to interfere with the start of the summer campaign elsewhere.

[Chocolino]

3-28-41

The British make their move in Algeria. They test our defenses at Oran with much strength and occupy a railroad that supplies the most inland Italian corps. An Italian counterattack can only weaken the British lead unit to a "3" but not drive it back.

[Chocolino]

3-28-41

During abysmal weather in the Balkans Sofia falls and Bulgaria surrenders to the Germans.

[battlevonwar]

A little curious again not sure if I read why didn't you betray Vichy instead?

[Chocolino]

4-11-41

As the British are busy in Algeria, Italy occupies Beirut prophylactically. Because of the French surrender Syria is currently owned by Germany - so a simple sea transport is sufficient. If the Axis ever plans to threaten the Nile delta they can do it much easier from a Syrian base than Tobruk because of the rail line south.

[Chocolino]

ORIGINAL: battlevonwar

A little curious again not sure if I read why didn't you betray Vichy instead?

In this game Vichy was never offered by France (not sure why). So the Axis had no choice but to conquer France. As a result of the complete French surrender both, French N.A. and Syria became German.

[gwgardner]

And British Intelligence (sic, ie me) knew nothing about it until last turn!

[Chocolino]

When the British made no effort to take it, German HQ was worried to point it out to them with a small landing. But British Intelligence could have caught up any moment. It would have been obviously better for the Axis to go in with a force that can actually threaten Cairo. But the Axis is notoriously understaffed at the moment. Too much production did go into AA and similar "support" efforts or fell victim to British strategic bombing.

We can only hope that the British don't have to denude England of its home defense in order to play in so many theaters at once. Irish/German coastal watchers already spotted an unprotected British 9-port - albeit on the wrong coast.

[Chocolino]

4-25-41

The British withdrew from Oran - we assume it is only temporary and that they will return in strength. The Italians retake the crucial railway junction just south of Oran and then fell back into their old positions. What will the next British move be?

[Chocolino]

5-23-41

The British become suddenly aware of the threat in Syria and commit a fairly large force to oust the Italians. It is only a question of time when we will succumb to this level of pressure.

Hence Italy decides to risk up to two corps and invade Haifa in order to cut the supply line to British troops in Syria. However the coast was guarded by two unknown British fleets - one of them at least a carrier TF (just outside of the visible area). So there is a fair chance that at least one of the two Italian corps will be interdicted. But Italy is at 100% manpower and logistics and can afford the risk.

The plan was to get at least one of the two Italian corps through - but alas both were interdicted by the British fleet and sunk. That hurts.

[Chocolino]

5-23-41

At this point Germany takes a hard look at England's defenses. Not plentiful - but all accessible ports are protected. This is probably doable but with some risk - the British can reinforce the home islands with troops from Morocco fairly quickly.

Since I did a SeaLion already in our last game I decided against it. Also since the payoff - even when successful - is not that large in my opinion. It can be taken back by the US in the not too distant future.

[battlevonwar]

Shocked you're leaving him, even the threat would pull him off his Moroccan Jewel?

[Chocolino]

ORIGINAL: battlevonwar

Shocked you're leaving him, even the threat would pull him off his Moroccan Jewel?

In this game the Wehrmacht is under-strength because of a very successful Allied strategic bombing campaign. It also took more casualties than usual in France since I did not get an early Vichy but had to take all of the European portion of France. As a result I cannot do a Barbarossa and a SeaLion at the same time as I did in my last game against Gary.

Actually I think I have to be lucky to even pull off a respectable invasion of the USSR (not even thinking about winning - just don't want to go down in flames during '42.)

[Chocolino]

6-6-41

The weather is finally favorable and we start the fight for much needed Lebensraum in the East. The USSR has plenty to spare - so we are glad they chose to share it by withdrawing from the border without a fight. We can freely occupy Eastern Poland, some of Belorussia, and the Baltics. The Finns go into position as well.

The only fighting happened in Riga where German spearheads had to convince a Russian corps to leave.

[Chocolino]

6-6-41

In the south of the USSR the same story - complete Soviet withdrawal. German troops could not advance far enough to see a Russian to shoot at.

[Chocolino]

6-6-41

The Brits are also active again in Algeria. They advanced far into the Atlas mountains and threatened the Axis resource deep in the south. More Italians had to be diverted to shore up the rail line.

[Chocolino]

6-6-41

The final active theater of this week is Syria where the Italians get a very bad feeling about how this is going to end for them. The RM sortied and is on its way to perhaps negate the supply interdiction of Beirut - but this is just another low-odds gamble.

[gwgardner]

I'm trying a couple of things differently this time with the Soviets. I waited till I got armies to start buying infantry, and I made sure every unit I had was upgraded fully before you invaded. And of course, I'm trying the retreat tactic.

Right now it's looking like I should have bought more infantry earlier! But I don't care if you get to the Urals, this time it's fight to the bitter end.