Operation Global War.

[rkr1958]

3 Perspectives:
(1) Wargaming - the action of playing a war game as a leisure activity or exercise in personal development.
(2) Historical – has happened in or is connected to the past.
(3) Counterfactual – what did not happen but could have happened.

Wargaming. I’ll be taking a different approach than previously in this AAR both in narrative and in logging. My narrative will be partition within three perspectives and at a level consistent with major campaign, or operations, summary. Specifically, I will be comparing and contrasting the counterfactual with the historical at the magazine, feature article level. My AAR objectives are clarity, brevity and most importantly fun.
I’ll be playing the global war scenario (solo), (starting) with MWIF version 5.0.0.1 (beta), with coded optional rules and uncoded house rules. Version, optional and house rules are all subject and likely to change throughout this play. For example, as I start this AAR my game is at the final production step of turn 8, Nov/Dec 1940 and I’ve added and changed several of my house rules.

[rkr1958]

...

[rkr1958]

The Eastern Front. September 1, 1939 – December 31, 1940.

Fall Weiss (Case White).

Historical. In the early hours of September 1st, 1939 German troops crossed the border into Poland. Luftwaffe planes strafed and bomb targets inside of Poland. The old German battleship Schleswig-Holstein open fired on a Polish military garrison in Danzig. Though, Japan had been fighting in China since July of 1937, most historians agree that Germany’s invasion of Poland marked the start of World War 2. Germany attacked Poland with 66 Wehrmacht divisions, 9000 guns, 2750 tanks and 2315 planes vs the Poles 39 divisions, 4300 guns, 210 tanks, 670 tankettes and 800 aircraft. It took Germany 35 days to conquer Poland.

Any doubt about Germany’s intentions in regards to Poland was removed when the rest of the world was shocked to learn of the Molotov-Ribbentrop (or Nazi-Soviet Non-Aggression) Pact signed in Moscow on August 23, 1939. And any doubt about the fate of Poland, which was on the verge of collapse anyway, was sealed on September 17, 1939 when 7 Soviet field armies split between the Belarusian and Ukrainian fronts marched into Eastern Poland. The opposing Polish forces vs the Soviets consisted of only 20 battalions of the Polish Border Protection Corps. Under the Polish Plan West, the Poles had assumed the USSR would remain neutral and, as a result, the bulk of the Polish army was in western Poland fighting the Germans.

The Global War, the Second World War, in my opinion didn’t begin on September 1st, 1939 when Germany invaded Poland but on September 3, 1939 when Great Britain and France declared war on Germany. Add to this that Japan had been fighting in Asia since their invasion of Manchuria on September 18, 1931 and the start of the second Sino-Japanese War on July 7, 1937.

Counterfactual (CF).
The Fuhrer’s vision is expansion east, always east into the vast lands held by the savage communists. But between Germany and the USSR stands Poland. His generals act as a bunch of old women worrying that this time Great Britain and France will do more than just bluster or cry about German aggression. That this time they may actually go to war with Germany over Poland. This would be in contrast to March 7, 1936 when Germany remilitarized the Rhineland. Or March 12, 1939 when Germany annexed Austria. Or October 10, 1939 when Germany annexed the Sudetenland in accordance to the Munich Agreement signed in Munich, Germany on September 29, 1938 with Great Britain’s Prime Minster Nevele Chamberland who proudly proclaimed on his return to Great Britain the following day, “Peace for our Time”. And finally on March 15, 1939 when Germany occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia and Great Britain and France still did nothing. So why would they do anything now? Especially since the majority of the British and French are as anti-communist as all true Germans are. Well, not that Poland is communist but surely the reasonable people of Great Britain and France will understand that the Soviet Union, not Poland is Germany’s actual goal. Unfortunately for Poland, they just happened to be between Germany and the Soviet Union.

To placate his general’s fears and to deter France and Great Britain from doing anything stupid, Hitler has authorized the formation of Army Group West composed of 3 garrison, 1 infantry corps and 3 divisions. And a number of reserve infantry, mot, mech and MIL corps. The defense plan for the West calls for 2 active and 3 reserve Wehrmacht armies (2 corps each) on Germany’s common border with France and 3 divisions on their border with Denmark.

The remaining Wehrmacht units and the bulk of the Luftwaffe are deployed east versus Poland and are divided into 2 army groups and 1 army led by von Bock (Army Group Prussia), von Rundstedt (Army Group A) and von Leeb (Army Czech).

[rkr1958]

Wargaming (WG).

Germany’s Early Game Objectives:
1. Poland – Blitz with all 3 HQs, all land & air units not needed in the West and conquer by end of turn 1 (SO39).
2. Denmark – no risk invasion & lockout of the Western Allies on surprise impulse when possible.
3. Netherlands – no risk invasion & lockout of Rotterdam on surprise impulse when possible.
4. Belgium – no risk invasion & lockout of Antwerp on surprise impulse when possible.
5. Yugoslavia – invade & conquer by turn 10 (MA 41).
6. Greece – invade & conquer by turn 10 (MA 41).
7. USSR – invade on turn 11 (MJ 41).
8. Norway – invade & conquer prior to turn 8 (ND40).

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939.
Axis #1.
Weather: Arctic & North Temperate – fine (scripted).
DOW: Germany -> Poland (align to CW). 1 chit(3) added to Ge/It entry.
Action: Germany – land.
Surprise Ground Strike: (1) 2 Air vs Lodz (p0=0.8704) -> Pomorze & Poznan armies flipped. (2) 2 Air (0.8775) vs Warsaw -> Krakow army & Rydz HQ-I flipped.
Surprise Land Combat: (1) +21 A vs Krakow -> auto -> POL Modin army destroyed. (2) +21 A vs Danzig -> auto -> POL Karpatz army destroyed and POL CA & DD overrun. Pol CA DD flotilla destroyed & CP escapes to Scapa flow. (3) +21 B vs POL 49,44 -> auto -> Pol Tarnow cav corps destroyed & breakthrough. (4) +21 B vs POL 49,46 -> auto -> Pol 1st inf div destroyed & breakthrough (along the road/rail).

Allied #2.
DOW: France & Great Britain -> Germany. 1 chit(3) removed from Ge/It entry.
Actions: France & CW – naval.
Polish Ground Strike. (1) Unescorted bomber -> Pol 49,45. Luftwaffe intercepts. Air-to-air(A2A) RD1 (+4 AX/-4 AL) -> Pol bomber clears (10), Luftwaffe fighter shot down/PIL survives (19). Von Bock HQ-I flipped, inf corps & mot div missed. POL bomber returns to Brest-Litovsk which is only hex in Eastern Poland that bomber can reach still controlled by the CW! (CF) Goering is humiliated!
Land Movement. USSR moves & claims Eastern Poland. 1 chit(1) removed Ge/It entry. Polish fighter (setup in USSR), bomber (rebased to USSR) and their pilots interned.

Axis #3.
Weather: Arctic – rain, North Temperate – fine.
Action: Germany – land.
Land Combat: (1) +20.778 A vs Lodz w/+2 HQ support (von Rundstedt) & 1st eng support (0.2% chance of being lost). Almost, but not quite auto. FOR=379 (yes), 2D10=15, LCR=20+1+15=36. Pomorze & Poznan armies destroyed.

Axis #7.
Weather: Arctic – rain, North Temperate – rain.
Action: Germany – land.
Land Combat. (1) +17 A vs Warsaw w/+1 HQ support von Leeb and 1st eng support(7% lost). FOR=none, 2D10=9, LCR=17+9=26. Krakow army & Rydz HQ-I destroyed. Warsaw and all Polish factory hexes captured. Polish army, airforce completely destroyed and Poland completely conquered (officially at the end of turn 1, SO39).

[rkr1958]

(WG). No fancy logging or electronic collection of stats. I'm producing this AAR the "old fashion way". Through handwritten notes the first and last pages through to the end of ND40 (turn 40) which I've scanned and are shown as examples below. Obviously, these notes are only readable and usable by me.

Also, I want to encourage folks that want to contribute to this AAR to do so but to do so within the three perspectives: (1) Wargaming, (2) Historical and/or (3) Counterfactual.

Let's have some fun and learn more WW2 history. I know that I certainly want to do!

[Courtenay]

I take it that you are abandoning your two previous games, including the Advanced Third Reich one?

[rkr1958]

I take it that you are abandoning your two previous games, including the Advanced Third Reich one?

I am. I got caught up too much in both games in the business of logging and documenting vs trying to play well.

[rkr1958]

The Eastern Front. September 1, 1939 – December 31, 1940.

USSR Historical.
Time and space. Time and space that’s what Stalin wanted. That’s what his Red Army needed in order to face his eventual opponent, Germany. Time directly was out of his control and much more under that of Hitler. But space, space to push out the frontier of the Soviet Union towards Germany to better defend Mother Russia was something within Stalin’s control. Control that he pursued savagely with the Red Army. Eastern Poland, Finnish borderlands, Bessarabia and the Baltic States were seized through force and coercion in 1939 and 1940 by Stalin as buffers between the USSR and Germany. We now know that these buffers were paper tigers easily broken through in stunning fashion by Germany in 1941. However; prior to that time (i.e., Barbarossa) these buffers must have seemed more than sufficient to give Stalin and his Red Army the time they needed to build the strength to taken on the Wehrmacht and prevent them from ever getting into USSR proper.

Counterfactual.
Soviet Early War (Game) Eastern Front Objectives, not necessarily in order, are:
1. Claim Eastern Poland (Nazi-Soviet Pact).
2. Demand Finnish Borderland (Scripted Winter War).
3. Claim Bessarabia.
4. Claim Baltic Statics.
5. Nazi-Soviet Pact garrison sufficient to force German/Italian invasion and conquest of Yugoslavia & Greece in 1941 (see HR 11).
Soviet Early War (Game) Non-Eastern Front Objectives (again not necessarily in order) are:
6. Uneasy Soviet & Japanese Peace in Asia (see HR 3).
7. Invade & conquer Persia (Operation Countenance).

[rkr1958]

Russo-Finnish War (Winter War).

Historical. November 30, 1939 – March 12, 1940. Finland in the 1920’s was worried by the threat posed by the Soviet Union and therefore sought a defense alliance with Estonia, Latvia and Poland. However; the Finnish parliament failed to ratify such an alliance. In 1932, the Finns signed a nonaggression pact with the USSR in an attempt to alleviate their fears of an expansionist Soviet Union. After the defeat and partition of Poland, Stalin’s eyes turned toward Finland. Specifically, the Karelian Isthmus westward to better provide for the defense of Leningrad and several Finnish islands in the Gulf of Finland. The Soviets made Finland a one-sided proposal to trade useless Soviet land for all this. Finland refused and on November 30, 1939 over a million Soviet troops attacked Finland all across their common border.

Even though the USSR badly outnumbered the Finns in men (1,000,000 to 350,000), tanks (several 1000 to 32) and planes (3880 to 114), the Finns were able to hold out for 3 ½ months against the Soviet onslaught in part due to Stalin’s purges of the Red Army in the late 1930s. These purges removed (removed=executed in most cases) 3 of 5 Soviet Marshalls (equivalent to 4-star generals), 13 of 15 army commanders (3-star generals), 8 of 9 admirals, 50 of 57 army corps commanders, 154 of 186 division commanders, 16 of 16 army commissars and 25 of 28 army corps commissars. After 3 ½ months of bitter fighting the brave but exhausted Finns had to give into the original Soviet demands and make peace with then with the signing of the Treaty of Moscow on March 12, 1940.

Wargaming. My experience in MWIF with, “19.6 Soviet Border Rectification” in competitive play is either no claim by the USSR on the Finnish borderlands is made or a claim is made and allowed by Finland/Germany. I’ve never been part of or even seen a competitive game where the claim was made, denied and the USSR had to DOW Finland. However; this is what happened historically. But if this happens in MWIF, then in my opinion, either the Soviet or Germany player has miscalculated and will face an irritating setback in their game.

I decided to script the Winter War in MWIF specifically to achieve: (1) expansion of the Soviet frontier to include the Finnish Borderlands, (2) reduction by 1 RP of USSR to Germany trade, (3) loss of 1 or 2 US Ge/IT entry chits, (4) the Soviet logistics (land & rail moves) and troops required to fight a scripted winter war (logistics & troops that would NOT be available elsewhere for other early game adventures), (5) the future ability for Germany to align Finland for use against Norway and (6) avoid my game going off the rails because of an actual war between Finland and the USSR. I’ve written the following house rule in expectation of achieving all of this.

HR 17. Scripted Winter War.
The USSR in ND39 turn 2, will claim the Finnish borderlands and Germany will deny the claim. If Germany hasn’t and will not invade Norway add 3 to the US entry d10 roll. At the time of the claim the USSR must have 2 armies and 1 division in both Murmansk and Leningrad. Germany will not setup or move any units into the Finnish borderlands. Neither side will conduct any land, air or naval combat against the other. The USSR will capture Viipuri on the impulse that they make the denied claim and keep a ground unit in that city until the end of the turn. The USSR may not move or rail units in Murmansk and Leningrad, with the exception of capturing and occupying Viipuri, until next turn. Germany will enforce a peace between Finland and the USSR during the peace step of the ND39 turn.

[rkr1958]

Claims on Romania (USSR Demands Bessarabia).

Historical. A full scale Soviet invasion of Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina in June of 1940 was avoided by the Romanian government which agreed to withdraw their troops from Bessarabia in response to a Soviet ultimatum delivered on June 26, 1940. The Red Army then moved into Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina two day later on June 28. By June 30, the Red Army had reached the border along the Prut River and on July 3, the border was completely closed from the Soviet side.

Wargaming. The USSR will claim Bessarabia at such time that there is a 0% chance that Germany will deny the claim in accordance with the following house rule:

HR 12. Accept / Deny USSR Claim on Bessarabia.
Germany will deny a USSR claim on Bessarabia, and the USSR will have to DOW Romania, if (1) less than 2 chits in the German/Italy entry pool, (2) some axis strategic advantage if denied, or (3) D10+(a+b+c+d+e+f) > 10. Otherwise, Germany will accept the claim.
• a = +5 if SBF=0, +4 if SBF=1, +3 if SBF=2-3, +2 if SBF=4-6, +1 if SBF=7-9, 0 if SBF=10-13, and -1 if SBF > 13. SBF=total factors, modified by weather & range, from up to 4 planes that could strat bomb Ploesti.
• b = +1 if no organized and in supply (OAIS) Soviet HQ units adjacent to Bessarabia.
• c = +1 if no OAIS Soviet mech corps/armies adjacent to Bessarabia.
• d = +3 if Ninf=0, +2 if Ninf=1, +1 if Ninf=2, 0 if Ninf> 2, Ninf = number of OAIS Soviet inf/mot/mtn corps/armies (not garrisons) adjacent to Bessarabia.
• e = +2 if Nguns=0, +1 if Nguns=1, 0 if Nguns> 1, Nguns = number of OAIS Soviet gun divisions adjacent to Bessarabia.
• f = +2 (storms or blizzard in arctic or north temperate), +1 (rain in arctic or north temperate), 0 (snow or fine in arctic & north temperate).

[rkr1958]

Occupation of the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuanian).

Historical. The USSR was granted influence over the Baltic States by Germany as part of a secret protocol in their 10-year non-aggression pact signed with Germany on August 23, 1939 in Moscow. Following the Soviet invasion of Eastern Poland in September 1939, the USSR forced the Baltic States into a mutual assistance pact which gave the Soviet Union the rights to establish military bases there.

In June of 1940 the Red Army had 435,000 men, 8000 guns, over 3000 tanks and over 500 armor cars on their border with the Baltic States and were ready to invade. On 12 June 1940, the Soviet Baltic Fleet was ordered to blockade Estonia and on 13 June Soviet troops began moving to their invasion positions. On June 14 with Soviet troops in position the USSR issued an ultimatum to Lithuania and began their naval blockade of Estonia. The Red Air force shot down a Finnish passage airplane that was carrying a US foreign service employee Henry W. Antheil Jr, who was carrying three diplomatic pouches and was killed in the shoot down.

On 15 June the Red Army invaded and attacked Latvian border guards at Majeska. Latvia and Estonia were invaded a day later on 16 June. Sporadic fighting in Estonian lasted unit June 21 at which time all organized military resistance ended. The Soviets forced the governments of all three Baltic States to resign and then installed their own puppet governments. Estonia was the only Baltic State of the three to establish a government in exile.

[rkr1958]

The Eastern Front (1939-1940). Wargaming.

HR 11. Breaking the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact.
The optional rule that makes it easier to break the Nazi-Soviet Nonaggression Pact in the latter half of 1941 (i.e., JA41-ND41) is NOT used. However; Germany may also break their neutrality pact with the USSR if the axis control both Belgrade and Athens.

Turn 1. Sep/Oct 1939.

Allied #2. Soviet mot div. Minsk -> Eastern Poland (USSR claims Eastern Poland). US entry (GER/ITA). 1 chit (1 value) removed. Polish bomber & fighter based in Eastern Poland interned by USSR.

End of Turn. Nazi-Soviet Pact. Germany. 2 chits (3 & 1) -> offensive. USSR. 1 chit (1) -> defensive. Post Reorg (pact unbreakable). Germany – No(3), USSR – No (35.5). Trade. USSR -> Germany -> 7 RPs (2 oil). Germany -> USSR -> 2BPs.

Turn 2. Nov/Dec 1939.

Allied #1. USSR claims Finnish borderlands, claim denied, USSR DOWs Finland. Only 1 US Ge/It entry chit lost (80% chance of losing 2 & 20% chance of losing 1) and value=1. Best draws possible for the allies wrt/US entry. Finland aligned to Germany.
Soviet 8th inf army. Leningrad ->Viipuri, Finland. Soviet 3rd Mech Army, 76 mm AT div Baltic Fleet & Sub Group (left) in Leningrad. Soviet 40th & 17th garrison armies & inf div in Murmansk.

End of Turn. Nazi-Soviet Pact. USSR. 1 chit (3) -> defensive. Germany. 2 chits (3 & 1) -> offensive. Post Reorg (pact unbreakable). Germany – No(8), USSR-No(23.5). Trade. USSR -> Germany -> 6 RPs (2 Oil). Germany -> USSR -> 2 BPs.
Peace. Germany enforces a peace between the USSR and Finland. USSR acquires Bessarabia, reduces resource given to Germany by 1 to 5 and Finland becomes neutral.

[rkr1958]

Turn 3. Jan/Feb 1940.
Nazi-Soviet Pact. Made past year (1939) and now is no longer unbreakable.

End of Turn. Nazi-Soviet Pact. Germany. 2 chits (1 & 2) -> offensive. USSR. 1 chit(1) -> defensive. Post Reorg (pact breakable)? Germany – No(22), USSR – No(20.5). Trade. USSR -> Germany -> 6 RPs (2 Oil). Germany -> USSR -> 2 BPs.

Turn 4. Nov/Dec 1940.

End of Turn. Nazi-Soviet Pact. USSR. 1 chit(1) -> defensive. Germany. 2 Chits (2 & 1) -> offensive. Post Reorg (pact breakable)? Germany – No(28), USSR – No(19.5). Trade. USSR -> Germany -> 6 RPs (2 Oil). Germany -> USSR -> 2 BPs.

Turn 5. May/June 1940.

Allied #2. Claim. USSR -> Bessarabia. (HR12) Germany will reject if (1) less in 2 chits in Ge/It, (2) some axis strategic advantage or (3) D10+a+b+c+d+e+f > 10. Evaluation. (1) 3 chits in Ge/It entry, (2) no strategic advantage to deny and (3) (a) SBF=13 ->0, (b) Soviet HQ adj to Bessarabia -> 0, (c) Soviet 3rd mech army adj -> 0, (d) 3 Soviet inf armies adj -> 0, (e) 2 Soviet gun div adj -> 0, (f) fine in arctic & north temperate -> 0 => D10+a+b+c+d+e+f = D10 which can never be greater than 10. Germany allows the claim. This decreases by 1 to 5 RPs (2 Oil) that the USSR must send to Germany.
Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(26), USSR – No(23.5).

Axis #3. Claim. Germany allows Bulgaria’s & Hungary’s claims against Romania.
Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(30), USSR – No(22.5).

Allied #4. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(24.5), USSR – No(54.5).

Axis #5. Counterfactual - Germany aligns Norway and guarantees their sovereignty (minus the Finnish Borderlands) against future Soviet aggression. Because of this the US does not react.

Wargaming. USE Entry D10(3) = 6. No chit added.
Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(24.5), USSR – No(54.5).

Allied #6. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(30), USSR – No(36.5).
USSR moves into and claims the Baltic States. 0 US Ge/IT entry chits removed.

End of Turn. Nazi-Soviet Pact. Germany. 2 Chits (3 & 1) -> offensive. USSR. 1 Chit (1) -> defensive. Post Reorg (pact breakable)? Germany – No(36), USSR – No(35.5). Trade. USSR -> Germany -> 5 RPs (2 Oil). Germany -> USSR -> 2 BPs.

Turn 6. Jul/Aug 1940.

Allied #1. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(33), USSR – No(41.5)

Allied #3. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(63), USSR – No(30.5)

Axis #4. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(51), USSR – No(33.5)

Allied #5. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(47), USSR – No(41.5)

Axis #6. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(47), USSR – No(41.5)

Allied #7. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(49), USSR – No(37.5)

Axis #8. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(47), USSR – No(38)

Allied #9. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(47), USSR – No(38)

Axis #10. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(41), USSR – No(39.5)

End of Turn. Nazi-Soviet Pact. USSR. 1 chit(1) -> defensive. Germany. 1 chit(3) -> defensive, 1 chit(1) -> offensive. Post Reorg (pact breakable)? Germany – No(34), USSR – No(46). Trade. USSR -> Germany -> 5 RPs (2 Oil). Germany -> USSR -> 2 BPs.

Turn 7. Sep/Oct 1940.

Allied #1. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(34), USSR – No(46Axis #3. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(34), USSR – No(46)

Allied #5. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(34), USSR – No(46)

Axis #7. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(46), USSR – No(43)

Allied #9. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(46), USSR – No(43)

Axis #11. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(54), USSR – No(41)

Allied #9. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(47), USSR – No(38)

Axis #10. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(41), USSR – No(39.5)

End of Turn. Nazi-Soviet Pact. USSR. 1 chit(1) -> defensive. Germany. 1 chit(0) -> defensive, 1 chit(3) -> offensive. Post Reorg (pact breakable)? Germany – No(56), USSR – No(41). Trade. USSR -> Germany -> 5 RPs (2 Oil). Germany -> USSR -> 2 BPs.

Turn 8. Nov/Dec 1940.

Axis #1. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(56), USSR – No(41)
Germany aligns Hungary. 1 chit(1) added to US Ge/It entry. Soviet decrease trade to Germany from 5 to 4 RPs (2 oil).

Allied #4. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(62), USSR – No(46.5)

Axis #7. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(58), USSR – No(47.5)

Allied #9. Nazi-Soviet Pact (break)? Germany – No(58), USSR – No(47.5)

End of Turn. Nazi-Soviet Pact. Germany. 2 chits(1,2) -> offensive. USSR. 1 chit(1) -> defensive. Post Post Reorg (pact breakable)? Germany – No(64), USSR – No(46.5). Trade. USSR -> Germany -> 4 RPs (2 Oil). Germany -> USSR -> 2 BPs.

Addendum to original post.

[rkr1958]

December 31, 1940.

Counterfactual. On the one year anniversary of the conclusion of the brief (2 month) but bitter winter war between the USSR and Finland, an air of mistrust still hangs over the arctic border between the two nations. The Finns are cautious of their Soviet neighbors who have shown a reckless willingness to violate their sovereignty to get what they, really what Stalin, wants. The Soviets too are a bit cautious of their Finnish neighbors but for a difference reason. The Red Army was bloodied by the smaller and less well-equipped Finnish army and are hoping not to have to repeat such an adventure anytime soon.

Wargaming.
HR 8. Murmansk Rail Line & Arctic Highway Interdiction Limits.
If Murmansk is garrisoned by 3 Soviet ground units, 2 of which must be corps or army size, the axis may only cut the rail line between Murmansk and Vologda south of hex row 35 (i.e. south of Konosha hex row). If Petsamo is garrisoned by 3 axis ground units, 2 of which must be corps or larger, the allies may not cut the Arctic Highway between Petsamo and its southern terminus in hex 25,49.

Finland and the USSR began moving units to their positions in accordance with HR 8 to ensure that it'll be in force when Germany and the USSR go to war. Unless Germany is willing to wait until 1942 then they have some work to do in the Balkans in order to invade in 1941. Originally, I set May/June 1940 as the goal for Germany’s invasion of the USSR. That now with all that’s happened in France may be too optimistic for Germany. Maybe June/July 1941?

[rkr1958]

Persia and Iraq. September 1, 1939 – December 31,1940.

Historical. Anglo-Soviet Invasion of Persia (Iran). Operation Countenance.

Great Britain and the Soviet Union invaded Persian (Iran) on August 25, 1941 to secure allied supply lines through Persia to the USSR, secure Persian oil, preempt German influence in Persia and prevent a possible axis advance from Turkey through Persia to Baku or India.
The Soviet Union did not declare war on Persia but justified its invasion by language in the 1921 Russo-Persian Treaty, “If a third party should desire to use Persian territory as a base of operations against Russia, Russia shall have the right to advance her troops into the Persian interior for the purpose of carrying out the military operations necessary for its defense.”

The Persian military was 9 divisions, 60 aircraft, 2 sloops & 4 patrol boots. The Soviets invaded with 3 armies from the north and the British with 2 division and 3 brigades from the west, south and east. The RN & RAN provided numerous armed vessels and landed troops near Bandar Shapur on the Persian Gulf. Surprised and badly outnumbered the Persian army who resisted initially, soon devolved to chaotic fighting and then began surrendered en masse. Seeing that his forces were badly outnumber and disintegrating, the Shaw of Persia ordered his forces to cease resisting and lay down their arms on August 29. On August 31 British and Soviet troops linked up (shook hands) in Qazvin, 100 miles from Tehran. Allied troops entered Tehran on September 15 and held a joint military parade. The finial tally for the invasion was 800 Persian military and 200 civilians dead. The Soviets lost 40 and the British 22 dead.

The Soviets occupied the northern part of the country and the British the southern and south-western parts. The Shaw abdicated in favor of his son (Mohammad Reza Pahlavi), who then guided his government to declare war on Germany. This established the Persian Corridor through which millions of tons of Lend Lease goods and material throughout the war flowed from the USA and Great Britain to the Soviet Union. Also, allied leaders in 1943 held a conference in Tehran.

[rkr1958]

Wargaming. I don’t have statistics on the percentage of (M)WiF games in which the USSR player invades and conquers Persia but I’d say it’s pretty high. I’d say that among the more experienced Soviet players it’s generally a no-brainer. However; unlike the historical this invasion often happens in the early game (1939 or 1940) and before Germany has invaded the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. Also, unlike the historical the invasion is usually a Soviet only enterprise versus a combine Anglo-Soviet one. Personally, I’ve never heard of any (M)WiF game with a joint Soviet & CW invasion of Persia. However; I have heard of (M)WiF with a joint Soviet & Japanese invasion. In game terms it would be a Soviet invasion, Persia aligned to Japan and Japan sending troops and ships through the Persia Gulf to get the Persia oil. Though I would believe that such a “joint invasion” would be counter to the Soviet player’s wishes and objectives. I digress …

Counterfactual. Joseph Stalin always looking to expand the Soviet Union turns his eyes on the oil rich state of Persia in the Middle East. His spies have reported that the Shaw of Persia is pro-German and that any future conflict with Germany would likely see Persia entering the war as a German ally and thus threating Soviet oil fields in the Caucuses. With Germany’s and the USSR conquest of Poland complete, German military redeployment (and fighting) to the West against France and Great Britain, Stalin has ordered the invasion and conquest of Persia no later than the end of summer 1940.

July 1, 1940. General Yeremenko is given command of all Soviet ground, air and naval forces in Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan bordering the Caspian Sea. This includes his HQ reserves (HQ-I), 51st inf army, 1st MTN corps, 2nd Cav corps, 4th inf div, 1st Eng div, 4 land based bomber armies (TB-7, Pe-8, IL-4 & IL-4), CA Voroshilov & Transport Group 4508. Stalin personally phoned General Yeremenko at the end of June expressing his confidence that, “he will have this whole Persian thing” dealt with and taken care of in no more than 2 to 3 weeks. General Yeremenko guarantees comrade Stalin victory within his timeframe. If fact General Yeremenko is so confident in a quick victory that he’s releasing the 51st inf army for garrison on the frontier against Germany.

[rkr1958]

Wargaming.

Turn 6. July/August 1940.

Reinforcements. Yermentko HQ-I -> Baku.

Initiative. AX+1, AL win tie. Roll #1: AX=3+1=4, AL=8. Axis request re-roll. Roll #2 (No DRM, AL win tie): AX=2, AL=7. Allies win initiative and elect to move first.

Weather. DRM=0, D10=1, Fine x 6 (DRM=0 & Adv=1). Specifically, fine in Med zone where Persia & Yermentko forces are.

Allied #1. DOW. USSR -> Persia. USE D10(9)=3, 1 chit(3) removed from US Ge/It entry pool. The implication is that in this counterfactual version of Operation Countenance where the Soviet Union is going it alone and without the blessing of Great Britain, France, and more significantly the USA. The loss of a 3-value chit from the US Ge/It entry pool stings the allies.

Persia aligns to Germany. Royal Persian Cav Corps (3-5) -> Tehran.

USSR (neutral) action. Combine, giving the Soviets 4 air, 1 naval, 1 rail, 5 land & 2 land combat actions.

Naval Move. (1/1). TRS w/Yermentko HQ-I. Baku -> Caspian Sea 3-box.

Rail. (1/1). 51st inf army. Baku -> Vitebsk, USSR. Closer but still not at the frontier with Germany. Will get there next turn after being reorg at the end of this turn.

Land Moves. (1&2/5). 2nd Cav & 1st MTN corps. USSR 72, 82 -> Persia 74,81 (NE of Teheran). Captures minor port and airbase at Bandar Shah & airbase (empty hex) at Persia 73,82.

Air Rebase. (1/4). SB-2. USSR 72,82 -> Persia 73,82. (2/4). IL-4. Krasnovodsk, USSR -> Bandar Shah. (3/4). IL-4. USSR 69,81 -> Bandar Shah. All four Soviet LND (Pe-8 in Baku, SB-2, IL-4 x 2 w/TAC 3, 2, 3 & 2) are now within normal range of Teheran. Also, 1st Eng Div at USSR 72, 82 (Swamp) no longer needed to base SB-2 and now free to move away (next turn).

Axis #2. Persian Royal Cav Corps stays put waiting for the inventible assault by the Red Army and Air Force.

Allied #3. Weather. DRM=0. D10=7, fine everywhere (specifically Med zone) except for storms in the north monsoon (DRM=0, Adv=1).

USSR (neutral) action. Combine, giving USSR 4 air, 1 naval, 1 rail, 5 land & 2 land combat actions.

Naval Move. (1/1). CA Vorsohilov. Baku -> Caspian Sea 4-box. Embarks 1st Eng div from USSR 72,82.

Land Moves. (1/5). 1st MTN corps. Persia 74,81 -> 75,81. (2/5). Disembark. Yermentko HQ-I. Caspian Sea 3-box -> Persia 74,81. (3/5). Disembark. 1st Eng Div. Caspian Sea 4-box -> Persia 74,81.

Land Combat Declaration. (1/2). Tehran (1 unit, 3 factors). 4 Soviet units (14), Eng and/or HQ cancel out -1 city modifier, HQ support (+1.5), 4 LND Ground Support (10). LC (Assault) = (14/3)x2 (initial) -1 (city modifier) + 1 (eng or HQ) + 1.5 (HQ support) + (10/3)x2 (ground support) = +9.333 -1 + 1 + 1.5 + 6.667 = 17.5 A. PWIN=100%, PNL=94.5%. The only question is whether or not the Soviets will take a loss (5.5%).

LC RES(Tehran, +17.5A): FOR=924 (no), 2D10=9, LCR=17+0+9=26. PER Royal Cav corps destroyed without loss or flip (except for Yermentko who provided HQ support). 1st MTN & 2nd Cav corps -> Teheran.

[rkr1958]

End of Turn. The Soviet 2nd Cav corps managed to capture 2 of 3 Persian oil RPs by the end of the turn. This left 1 oil still under control of Germany, which could only be used to reorg German units at sea due to being isolated from Germany and German units. Persia was completely conquered by the USSR.

[rkr1958]

Historical. Iraq.
The Prime Minster of Iraq, Nuri al-Said, and author of the 1930 Anglo-Iraqi Treaty wanted an alliance with the Western Allies and to declare war on Germany when war broke out in Europe in 1939. However Iraqi ministers cautioned against such as British continued belligerence against Germany was at best in doubt. So, Iraq declared themselves as nonbelligerent and broke diplomatic ties with Germany. When Italy entered the conflict in June 1940, Nuri al-Siad, in his new position as minister of foreign affairs, was unable to pursued Iraqi’s cabinet to also break diplomatic ties with Italy. After the fall of France, Pan-Arab Iraqis urge Iraqi leaders to free Syria, Palestine and achieve unity among Arab counties. Some even advocated allying with Germany to that aim.

A group of Iraqi officers unwilling to cooperate with Great Britain began secret negotiations with the axis. After learning of these secret negotiations through their ultra-intercepts Great Britain sent reinforcements to Iraq. The then Prime Minister, Rashid Ali, because he allowed this small British force to land in his country was forced to resign in early 1941. However; he was reinstated by the army in April 1941 and refused to allow more British forces to enter.

British forces in April and May 1941 forced entry into Iraq from the Persian Guld and from the Habbaniyyah air base. Skirmishes between British and Iraqi forces ensued for 30 days after which Nuri al-Said fled the country. By the end of May, the Iraqi army surrendered and Rashid Ali and his par-Arab supporters left the country. Great Britain was given the use of Iraqi transportation and communication facilities and a formal declaration of war by Iraq on the Axis Powers in January 1942. Remaining Rashid Ali’s supporters in the Iraqi military were rooted out and dismissed from service and 4 Iraqi officers responsible for the conflict were hanged.

[rkr1958]

Wargaming. In (M)WiF the major power that controls Syria gets 1 Iraqi Oil. Assuming no axis conquest of Syria prior to the fall of France that’s France. After the fall of France if Syria goes Vichy, then that oil goes to the side that installed Vichy, usually Germany. If Syria goes Free French, if Vichy isn’t installed or France is incompletely conquered then that oil goes to Free France. In my opinion a Vichy Syria with 1 Iraqi Oil going to Germany (or Italy) represents the pro-axis leaning in Iraq in 1940 and early 1941 after the fall of France. Currently I’m at the end of 1940 in my game so I have the first half of 1941 for the CW to invade and conquer Iraq to match the historical record. FYI. I just added, “CW to invade & conquer Iraq (ASAP)” to CW’s action item list.