Nirosi (Axis) vs PL1 (Allies) PL1 welcome now

[Nirosi]

In Yugoslavia, German and Italian troops advanced toward Belgrade in the hope of at least reaching the capital before the rain season starts. The Italians informed the Germans that they will try to block as much as possible the Yugoslav troops from the South to reach Belgrade and participate in its defense.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of September 27th, 1940 (start)

In Yugoslavia, the Italians managed to partly keep their promise. But Yugoslav troops are also doing their best to slow down the Germans hoping for the rain season to start.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of September 27th, 1940 (End)

For whatever reasons, no British troops attempted to land in Narvik. However, OKW ordered the port to be garrisoned immediately!

OKM suggested to OKH that they could simply send in as many troops as possible and surely some will reach Narvik. The answer provided by OKH will no be reproduced here as children might be reading. Therefore, albeit unwillingly, OKM sent in the whole Kriegsmarine in two groups to attract the Royal Navy away from incoming transports. The result was an outstanding victory for the Royal Navy. At very minimal casualty on 4 groups, it managed to sink the only DD/CL group of the Kriegsmarine and what was until recently its only BB group (Scharnhorst/Gneisenau). All other German groups retreated in very bad shape and are desperately attempting to reach German ports. OKM is not very confident they can…

[Nirosi]

In Yugoslavia, the Axis managed to reach Belgrade and should have it surrounded just enough to make an assault on the city plausible even in sub-optimal weather. What seems to be the best Yugoslav troop in the South might have been delayed just enough by the Alpini to maybe not reach Belgrade proper in time.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of October 11th, 1940

Brilliant maneuvering by admiral Lütjens and captain Brinkmann (which took over command of the second group after the death of Admiral Schmundt on the Scharnhorst) allowed the two battered squadrons to evade the searching patterns of the Royal Navy.

[Nirosi]

They both arrived a few days latter in Copenhagen and were immediately put under fighter cover while awaiting transfer back to Germany where decisions are been made concerning their eventual repair. The cost will somehow be prohibitive, but OKM is arguing that they must not let the Baltic become a Soviet lake.

[Nirosi]

Good weather and some German and Italian luck on the battlefield spelled doom for Belgrade’s defenders. Soon afterward, the Yugoslav government collapsed, and its army offered unconditional surrender. Axis mobile corps quickly redeployed on the rail network awaiting soon to come redeployment elsewhere.

[george420]

Very good, and which mod are you using? looks nice.

[Nirosi]

Thanks. the mod is Uxbridge graphics i believe.

[Nirosi]

PL1 can now look up to here. But no farther[:-]

[ComadrejaKorp]

Fantastic Aar as always!
This time you have Europe under your boot!
Long live for the NiroReich!

[Nirosi]

Well this is only the start. Barbarossa is coming eventually and with it, performance anxiety [;)]

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of October 25th, 1940

The bulk of the German fleet, what remain of it anyway, reached Dantzig during the night of October 28th. OKM considers it is officially out of danger for now.

In Yugoslavia, some German and Italian troops redeployed toward the Greek border. The Greeks ambassadors in Berlin and Rome requested an audience. The Foreign Affairs Ministries seems at first to be staling the meetings but eventually agreed to meet the ambassadors, strangely on the exact same day and hour in both Berlin and Rome. They were reassured that the troops deployed there were on anti-partisan duties.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of November 8th, 1940

The bulk of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean was deployed for patrol South of Greece in what seems to be a preventive move. Italian bombers (and some Germans) and submarines were sent in to try to engage the enemy. Only the submarine flotillas had some very minor success against the Ark Royal group but got themselves hit relatively hard in return.

[Nirosi]

The Soviet Union seems to be fielding a very impressive army, and it is deployed very close to the border. However, General Jodl has been reported as saying that “all those conscripts barely know from which side to fire their weapon and are no serious threat”.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of November 22nd, 1940

The British surface fleet returned to Alexandria not wanting to risk staying in potentially dangerous waters but the Royal Navy submarine flotillas stayed to monitor the situation. Italian submarines returned home for repairs.

In Africa, Axis troops advanced in Egypt probing the British reaction.

Hungary and Romania joined the Axis, in one case as payment for having obtained a big part of Transylvania, in the other for protection against the Soviet threat.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of December 6th, 1940

In face of what seems to be British overwhelming superior forces deployed in Egypt, according to Italian operatives in Cairo, both OKH and the Regio Esercito high command agreed that it would be wise to slightly pull back closer to the Libyan border and wait to get a cleared understanding of the situation. Expected problems with the delivery of supply deep into Egypt were also raised in the discussions.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of December 20th, 1940

In order to make of Europe a fortress, OKW decided a few months ago that it needed to occupy Greece. Both Italy and Bulgaria agreed to join in the invasion of the country in exchange for land grabs. The invasion was planed for Spring 1941. It would have involved two amphibious assaults (one in Crete by Italians, one in the Peloponnese by Germans to encircle Athens), and three paratrooper corps (including one Italian) trapping the bulk of the Greek army at the border while Panzers would rush toward Athens unopposed.

However, it was decided at the uppermost level that Greece had to be taken as soon as possible, despite possible bad weather, in order to free all Panzer corps by early March. General Manstein, in charge of the operation, was told that all the Panzer and PanzerGrenadier corps, and most air support, would have to be redeployed North late February at the latest. If necessary, OKH will then provide extra infantry corps to finish the job. No reasons were given for now. General Manstein’s chief of staff mentioned that his boss tried to hide a smile when reading the request.

The rushed plan was therefore reduced to a single Italian landing in Crete. Only a single, German, paratrooper would be used to replace the landing the Peloponnese. However, this latest operation was latter postponed when General Student insisted his troops were not ready as they were preparing for a Spring operation. This corps will therefore remain in reserve in case the British make a move toward Kalamata.

On land the initial operation easily pushed aside Greek troops at the border. The only failure of the early part of the operation was that attacks by three axis bomber groups did not manage to do any serious damage to the Greek navy in Athens. It is expected it will run for British protection in Egypt. At sea, three Italian submarine flotillas deployed to screen any British attempts to come to help.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of January 4th, 1941

British transport managed to pass, with minimal damage to the escorts, the submarine and air blockade of Greece and landed troops in Athens and Kalamata. The weather also turned for the worse and slowed down the German Panzers stuck in mud, gaining only slightly over 10 miles of terrain in the last two weeks in their progress towards Athens. General Manstein has been heard saying that he would need only four weeks of nice weather over he next two months to finish the job, but that he is not the one deciding that…

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of January 17th, 1941

Weather is still inclement is Greece and Axis troops remained bugged down. Another British corps was sent in through Kalamata, but not without some loses due to air attacks on the troop convoy. General Manstein is trying to negotiate with OKW for a few extra weeks to finish the job with the Panzers if necessary.

With a probable three British corps in Egypt, Axis troops in Africa decided to cautiously push forward.