It is 12:00 hours on the 8th September 1938. You are Winston Churchill's Chiefs of Staff.
Churchill is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
There will be no more appeasement of Hitler, who has now set his sights on the Sudetenland.
Intel from Germany suggests that in 70 days Hitler will threaten war if Czechoslovakia doesn't cede the Sudetenland to Germany.
Churchill is not going to allow that to happen.
His position is that the UK and France will go to war against Germany if it attacks Czechoslovakia.
This is where you come in. As Churchill's Chiefs of Staff, there are two options which he has suggested, but perhaps there are more.
OPERATION IRON will be the military response to Hitler declaring war on Czechoslovakia.
Churchill has suggested two options.
Option A
A daring and risky operation to take Wilhelmshaven. With the Germans commiting forces to the attack on Czechoslovakia and France pinning down their border force along the Maginot, a bold amphibious assault on the port will form a beachhead for landing substantial forces in order to thrust towards Berlin with a view to ending the war quickly.
The hazards of this are that The Kriegsmarine must be put out of commission and air and naval superiority must be won over the proposed area of operations.
Royal Navy and Royal Air Force casualties could be high and there is no guarantee of any degree of success, but if successful, it could provide a faster route to Berlin.
Option B
To commit all available offensive forces to punching through the border along the Maginot. The expectation here is that a thrust could be made towards the industrial heartlands in the Northwest of Germany and onto Berlin while the Germans are committed to their attack in Czechoslovakia.
The risks are low, compared to the previous option but it's possible Germany will be more prepared to slow the allied advance.
As the chiefs of staff and associated advisors and planners, you have command of all forces in all theaters including the RAF, The Royal Navy and the Army.
As intel said, there are seventy days left before Hitler might attack Czechoslovakia.
What would you suggest The Prime Minister do? Are there other military options?
GENERAL STAFF REPORT
POLITICAL
Czechoslovakia and Poland both have Guarantees of Independence from The United Kingdom.
France is part of the Allies.
INTELLIGENCE
We currently have broken both the German and Italian cyphers which will give us substantial benefits in any offensive operations until the enemy realises its broken, in which case they will reset it. We will have a bonus for a period of 30 days until it is reset.
We have infiltrated both the German army and navy. Infiltration of the Luftwaffe is in progress.
Intelligence assets:
'HELGE' Native German and Yugoslav double agent.
'LISE' Native German and British double agent.
'SNOW' Native British agent.
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE REPORT
Accuracy 77%
The Kriegsmarine
Battleships 2
Destroyers 17
Cruisers 2
Light Cruisers11
Submarines 23
THEATRE SITREP
HOME COMMAND
All forces full strength
MEDITERRANEAN & MIDDLE EAST COMMAND
All forces full strength
Additional Indian Divisions are covering the East African borders and are also stationed in Alexandria in the case that Italy enters the war.
FAR EAST COMMAND
All forces full strength
FORCES IN ENGLAND AVAILABLE FOR OPERATION IRON
1st Marine Corps (Leese)
(1, 2 Royal Marines Divisions)
1st Armoured Corps (Gott)
(1, 2 ,7 Light Armoured Divisions)
1st Army (Alexander)
(1,42, 50, 54 Infantry Divisions, 6 Armoured Cavalry Division)
2nd Army (Ritchie)
(7, 8, 9, 15, 18, 38, 45, 59, 61 Infantry Divisions)
The Home Army is in defence of the British Isles but divisions may be appropriated in needed (14 Infantry divisions, 1 Tank Brigade).
The RAF
Fighters: 528
Close Air Support 128
Medium Bombers 48
Long Range Bombers 144
Naval Bombers 24
All Naval Forces
(https://i.postimg.cc/pd0FQMVb/20200425113317-1.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/gJQL5y6g/20200425113806-1.jpg)
What are the chances of us getting Holland on our side, or even Denmark? It would be better to stage an invasion from a more secured port area.
Denmark would have less frontage, which will make it easier for us to defend Denmark from reprisal strikes, though also easier for any thinly defending German forces to concentrate. On the other hand, from Denmark basing, much shorter and better supported amphibious strikes could be launched to the east and/or the west of the Germans. And Denmark's cooperation might give us a better chance to keep German navies corked -- unsure where they're mostly basing right now. It also allows a forward base for striking against German supply sources in Scandanavia (if they have any yet), and helps protect Norway from invasion.
If we can't get a good land-based staging area, I'm inclined to go for the push forward from the Maginot Line, using the line as the equivalent of Soviet Fortified Sectors. Recon about the Siegfried Line might prove decisive here!
Quote from: JasonPratt on April 25, 2020, 01:57:06 PM
What are the chances of us getting Holland on our side, or even Denmark? It would be better to stage an invasion from a more secured port area.
Currently, the political situation in the Low Countries and Denmark are that they are firmly neutral. Belgium is actively pursuing a policy of Neutrality. It is possible to begin covert ops to promote propaganda but results will be slow in coming.
QuoteIf we can't get a good land-based staging area, I'm inclined to go for the push forward from the Maginot Line, using the line as the equivalent of Soviet Fortified Sectors. Recon about the Siegfried Line might prove decisive here!
The situation on the Franco-German border is that the Germans are garrisoning it with a thin covering line 1 division deep, a total of 10 divisions. In the event of hostilities breaking out here is no doubt that the Germans could mobilise more forces to defend against an allied advance, but it is uncertain how strong the forces would be. It is assumed that their main concentration of forces would be used for their offensive against Czechoslovakia., who as a defender have considerable fortified borders. They might be able to withstand a direct German assault for some time, giving our forces a better chance of making a significant advance.
What game is this?
I would say an amphibious assault is far too risky. Attack from friendly territory. Still a big challenge as we'd have to get men and materiel across the channel, but at least they'd be landing at a friendly port. Also we could hope for help from the French.
Hmm 70 days. I say option 2 since it's not certain they will invade Czechoslovakia. A massive show of force could make them reconsider or show their hand earlier than they had planned.
Quote from: solops on April 25, 2020, 02:40:56 PM
What game is this?
HOI 4, all DLC, no gameplay mods, latest Beta.
Grognards would never choose sprites over counters!
I say Wilhelmshaven.
As an aside, how do you find the intel agent function? I think it's a nice distraction in peacetime, but during war I completely ignore it.
Ooh, good, yes! -- massive show of force, distracts Hitler, saves Czech indirectly. Cold War Zero starts early. :clap:
Invade Wilhelmshaven! Direct action is the only thing that will deter Hitler.
Trying to go through the frontier at the Maginot Line where they have lots of troops will just bog down.
The RN is the greatest there is. The Kriegsmarine is no match.
But do they have lots of troops there? Apparently there's some question. Theoretically, he'll need most of his troops to forcibly take the Czechs, assuming they refuse his demand.
Edited to add: I do agree (in classic Churchillian fashion!) that we should be searching for some way to goad the Kriegsmarine into a standup fight and let our navy show why it's the class of the world.
How the hell did Churchill get to be in charge in 1938? Is he with the Tories or the Liberals? How divided is the British government and what are the chances of a military failure resulting in Winston's government falling? Knowing this will allow us to gauge whether the riskier First Option is worth it or not.
Quote from: Sir Slash on April 25, 2020, 10:33:31 PM
How the hell did Churchill get to be in charge in 1938?
A series of choices I took in the UK focus tree. It allows alternate history choices that ceases appeasing Hitler early on. It's a route I've not taken before and thought it would be interesting to see if stopping Hitler militarily could work.
(https://i.postimg.cc/gJGS2bFB/tyusrfhjurf.jpg)
Quote
Is he with the Tories or the Liberals? How divided is the British government and what are the chances of a military failure resulting in Winston's government falling?
He's with the Tories and a military failure would not cause the government to collapse, in the confines of this simulation. The UK currently has 93% stability.
Quote from: hellfish6 on April 25, 2020, 04:57:46 PM
As an aside, how do you find the intel agent function? I think it's a nice distraction in peacetime, but during war I completely ignore it.
It's interesting. The bonuses it provides from cracking an enemy cypher are good and the Coordinated Strike mission is now useful for surprise attacks. It works best when playing the UK as Spy Master or as head of a faction with many allied nations. You can do less with it when playing nations like Germany.
Apologies. This is a very ambitious post that I think I'm not going to be able to update regularly.
However - I did run the plan to use a force along the Maginot and here's what happened.
16th November 1938
The UK opposed any kind of compromise over Czechoslovakia. When the conference came, we refused and then Germany declared war.
18th November 1938
Italy joins the Reich but does not join the war.
However, once the Czechs immediately joined the allies we saw that German forces were spread across the Czech border only 1 division deep - to match the Czech's own defense. The Germans had mobilized their army towards the Maginot and were only holding the Czechs in place.
An unsuccessful attack by our forces at the weakest enemy point on the Seigfied Line was inconclusive and the conflict became static as snow started in November.
Sparse attacks on UK convoys began in the Bay of Biscay.
28th December 1938
Germany declares War on Luxembourg.
2nd January 1939
Civil war erupts in Germany! It appears our defiance towards Hitler worked. His failed gamble only fractured his hold on his country and armed forces. There must have already been instability and dissension present. The Democratic German Republic Forces are concentrated along the main parts of German where the regular army were stationed -around the south and the Czech border.
28th February
Our forces have advanced into the north west, towards Wilhelmshaven and two Marine divisions land unopposed in the port then advance towards the east along the coast, but come into contact with German forces moving west.
Very heavy fighting across all areas. French and German Democratic forces slowly push forward.
16th March 1939
Italy joins the war. Our forces in east and North Africa are prepared and hold the lines before counterattacking very successfully and pushing the Italian forces slowly back into the Horn of Africa.
A single Armoured Cavalry Division successfully defends El Alamien against two Italian infantry divisions.
24th April 1939
Nazi Germany surrenders and Germany is controlled by The Democratic Government.
The war with Italy continues.
Total Casualties In Europe:
UK: 49.1k
France 42.4k
German Republic 106.0k
Czechoslovakia 20.9k
Germany 184k
83.6k vs. German Republic
70.3k vs. France
22.9k vs. UK
7.0k vs. Czechoslovakia
Aw the kill ratio was ugly for Britain, compared to that of the French - what happened, did you lose convoys with troops on them? Is there an ugly episode Mr. Churchill has hidden from us? :coolsmiley:
Quote from: The_Admiral on April 26, 2020, 09:51:21 AM
Aw the kill ratio was ugly for Britain, compared to that of the French - what happened, did you lose convoys with troops on them? Is there an ugly episode Mr. Churchill has hidden from us? :coolsmiley:
I tried roleplaying what Churchill might have done.
The orders were to "keep on attacking and give the enemy no respite".
I didn't hesitate in launching very mobile offensives where I could. The haste to push north to the coast was what did it. The Germans fought very well.
Great post IC....the ability to try out these alternatives is one of HoI4's greatest strengths. Just curious...did the Russians take any aggressive action anywhere?
Quote from: Rayfer on April 26, 2020, 10:43:34 AM
Great post IC....the ability to try out these alternatives is one of HoI4's greatest strengths. Just curious...did the Russians take any aggressive action anywhere?
Not at all. I might try playing a new game with the Historical mode off. Trying out plans for situations that weren't historical is a new challenge.
Quote from: Rayfer on April 26, 2020, 10:43:34 AM
Great post IC....the ability to try out these alternatives is one of HoI4's greatest strengths.
Yes, thanks for this - gave the grey cells a little workout. This is one of those games I thought I *ought* to have, picked up in a 75% sale, and have never even started up.
An interesting exercise. Thanks Ian C. O0