HOI III (Their Finest Hour) AAR - Going it alone

[JasonPratt]

Were you kind of hoping that Das Bittestachëfuhrer would go for Poland around that time, U'geek? Or was that just good luck?

(From your report it sounded like you thought it was just good luck, but surely the game engine -- i.e. Italy's political analysts -- was going to look for ways to kick off the first main Blitz around that time, so that would be a good time to do something the French at least would want to contest if they weren't already otherwise engaged.)

[undercovergeek]

The Malaga beachhead after three weeks

Arena and the Ist Marine Corps landed unopposed at Malaga and spread out to secure the new beachhead. Almost instantly the attack ground to a halt due to the lack of supplies, Balisti and the IInd Marine Corps were tasked with this zone also and land a few days later. With their arrival Arena and his Corps were briefed to head west and north, capture Sevilla and Cadiz and defend both towns until the supply situation could be rectified. Balisti was to head east toward the port of Almeria and defend there until new supplies could be shipped in. The Generals found this far from easy as the supplies dried up almost instantaneously, the Spanish defenders were reluctant to attack but Mussolini's troops also could not attack and movement was painfully slow. Where opposing forces met, all the Italian divisions could do was simply dig in and defend - advance was impossible. With the rest of Europe erupting into war, his northern borders without serious garrison, and the eyes of the world watching the last thing Mussolini could afford was a stalemate in Spain.

Back in Rome, junior members of the General Staff begin to whisper the suggestion that maybe this was a step too far, maybe Il Duce has over-reached after all and it was time to make a withdrawal, sue for peace and leave the area to concentrate on the new war breaking out. Mussolini heard the rumours, there would be time later to deal with the dissenters but he was having 'difficulties' himself right now - for a long while now, maybe three to four years he had felt a guiding hand in his decisions, a second voice lending weight to his thoughts. It gave him confidence in his decisions, steered him through political intrigue and expansive warfare and strategy - it was the reason for his bravado and grandstanding - this omnipitent presence at his side. He had put this down to the spiritual approval of Roman ancestors, nodding their heads from eras past, leading him on the right path to glory, but with the war in Spain this hands guiding influence had waned, was not so strong on his shoulder as it once was, he knew that maybe his 'guide' also doubted the wisdom of the Spanish War.

He recalled Pintor, Messe and Lisi to Rome to discuss strategy. The Generals left the meeting with no doubt that the Spanish War was on short notice - all eastern ports must be taken immediately to improve the supply situation or a full withdrawal would be ordered, and the blame would be laid firmly at his Generals' doorsteps. The situation in Southern Spain was so bad the Marines could not even make their way to the port to embark on the mission - standard infantry would have to be used supported by Messe's tanks when the ports were secure.



Lisi lands at Valencia, he is ordered to hold the port and town for General Messe's armoured advance which will drive northeast and try to connect with the Catalan Zone there



A day later Pintor lands at Cartagena in the southeast - he is tasked with a breakout to the southwest to try and open the supply routes to the beleagured Marines

The Generals had two weeks to get supplies and fuel moving through the combat zones......................

[undercovergeek]

Were you kind of hoping that Das Bittestachëfuhrer would go for Poland around that time, U'geek? Or was that just good luck?

(From your report it sounded like you thought it was just good luck, but surely the game engine -- i.e. Italy's political analysts -- was going to look for ways to kick off the first main Blitz around that time, so that would be a good time to do something the French at least would want to contest if they weren't already otherwise engaged.)

yeah, i was hoping to coincide the attack just on the right side of the 'Danzig or bust' event - i thought if i went too early the Allies would attack me, i would imagine theyd then declare on Germany over Poland but it would still leave me with the the African forces of France and the UK to contend with - it worked - phew!

[undercovergeek]

Messe lands and drives north to connect the beacheads

After three days Messe lands with his armoured corps and races unopposed towards Barcelona through the plains and flatlands on the coast. Within six more days the gap is bridged between the two ports and the supply situation is almost instantly relieved. Replenished and rested the Italian troops switch straight to the attack and roll over the defenders in the Catalan zone. Generals Calvi Di Bergolo (flown back to the front after been treated in Rome) and Roatta head northwest to Bilbao and the north coast whilst Gambelli moves southwest to drive towards Madrid - once the front line of Spanish defenders had been breached there was almost no opposition.

Similarly in the South the capture of Cartagena and Almeria lifts the supply drain and the forces can get moving again. Arena guards Cadiz and Saville whilst the IInd Marine Corps push the Spanish further North but the plan for the South is to hold firm rather than push inland - this is the job of Lisi and Messe at Valencia.

By the end of September both Poland and Denmark are collapsing under the weight of German military might. The Italian/French border, both near Milan and Barcelona has all but been abandoned. Mussolini is torn - on one hand the war in Spain is on the move again but the alarming speed of the German advance is worrying. By lamplight on his desk he surveys the newly arrived Spanish maps:-



Italy's new Western border, 01 Oct 1939

[BanzaiCat]

Spain is a pretty big bite to chew on. I think you can take 'em.

With regards to France, though - is the conundrum that if France surrenders to Germany (pfft, of course they'll surrender), that the Vichy France result is inevitable and any southern France gains you make would suddenly be null?

[Staggerwing]

Interesting question! OTOH, maybe you'll get the Southern French equivalent of the Molotov-Von Ribbentrop Pact.

[undercovergeek]

AFAIK Vichy is automatic (well, assuming Germany beats France) and then Germany becomes a protectorate of Vichy - we'll have to see, suffice it to say Italian sooth sayers are sat on the Russian border waiting to see how Germany performs there - any sign of weakness and Mussolini maybe rolling dice in Monte Carlo

[BanzaiCat]

I wonder how that would play out if Italy invaded France and conquered it, instead of the Little Austrian.

[undercovergeek]

id rather invade a German France than an Allied France right now - Britain and France and eventually Russia and the assumed automatic entrance into the Axis worries me more than Germany and Japan - i think! i have a lot of SP Artillery and TDs to build between now and making that decision

[undercovergeek]

The Catalan zone breaks out

With fast flowing replenishment of supplies and fuel, at last the mountaineer troops of Calvi di Bergolo race north. Their first goal Bilbao, from there the northwest coast and Coruna. Air recon from the newly captured air field at Barcelona showed no northern resistance, all Spanish troops appeared to be withdrawing west to defend Madrid. Roatta and his Corps head deeper west, chasing the defenders and mopping up resistance in Zaragoza and the surrounding districts.



Armoured advance

South and to the east Messe drives further inland, heading for the town of Guadalajara where he can dig in and wait for the double hammer blow of Gambelli's alpine troops to his right and Lisi's combat veterans to his left to form up and attack Madrid. Further south Pintor secures the flanks and clears the way for Lisi.



The southern zone

In the South the very presence of the Marines had kept a sizeable Spanish defensive force in place. The newly formed XII Corpo d'Armata advance through the gaps towards Huescar in an attempt to shift the enemy and move down their flanks.

The battle for Spain was not yet won but the tide had turned in Mussolini's favour. It was a day of mixed news in Rome, Poland was close to capitulation and countries from all over the world were joining the Allies.

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

What sort of governance are you setting up once you've successfully occupied a country?

[undercovergeek]

What sort of governance are you setting up once you've successfully occupied a country?

I've built a mass of semi-divisions.... one infantry regiment and one artillery brigade which is half of a full division. These have been placed on garrison duties in all the victory point locations in the new territories and have proved very effective at stamping out partisan uprisings in Hungary and Yugoslavia.... when the war in Spain is over and the bulk of the forces come home these half divisions will be combined and sent to the new German border

[Staggerwing]

You are thinking of making the first move, aren't you?

Just biding your time, you sly, sly fellow, you...  ;)

[Silent Disapproval Robot]

Are you selecting "full occupation", "exploitation", "collaborative government", etc?

[Martok]

Excellent, geek.  I'm sure Benny's generals are relieved.  ;) 

Are you selecting "full occupation", "exploitation", "collaborative government", etc?

What are the differences between the choices?