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

[Martok]

Hmm.  Things have just taken an interesting turn.  Which way will the NRE jump? 

[undercovergeek]

im going to keep an eye on the situation through the winter and see what happens - easter of '42 is decision time

[JasonPratt]

Well, the Bigger Mustache always wanted a thrust against Germany from the south asap, to open up a second front. Could be a slick way to take a lead in world affairs while having an excuse to consolidate more of the former Empire.

[undercovergeek]

Towards the end of 1941 and early 1942, Germany found itself at war on many fronts. The Luftwaffe was still battling the British in the skies over London, its u-boats were still battling the allied destroyers and convoys under the freezing North Atlantic, and the Russian front was, after six months of fighting, starting to bend under the pressure. By October of 1941 Hitler had smashed through Leningrad and surged toward the Finnish border.



Leningrad under siege



Further south there were breakthroughs beyond Minsk and onto Smolensk -



German troops set fire to farm holdings on the outskirts of Smolensk



And to the extreme South, Odessa had succumbed to the panzers of Guderian -



The crew of a Russian anti-tank gun ready themselves at the Odessa front



Contrary to the predictions of his General Staff and intelligence services it would appear Hitler's war against communism was going better than hoped. Mussolini was waiting for the German forces to be swallowed by a Soviet winter and then he would cross the Alps and rid the world of this mad man forever - but this plan lay in tatters, a simple glance from Ciano over the maps told Mussolini all he needed to know about more than one senior aides thoughts on the overtures from the German embassy and the persistent Axis offers. Never a man blessed with a huge amount, Mussolini decided to exercise some patience a little longer - fine tune his forces and see if Moscow and Stalingrad were as safe as he had originally been told.

On November 4th 1941, Mussolini's world became a whole lot more complicated -



'Today, November 4th, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that Nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American Island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.'

At the same time Japanese forces seized the islands of Guam, Wake and Midway.

In turn the US declared war on Japan, the Pact of Steel and Germany, and promptly joined the Allies

Back at home, by the end of the year Mussolini's new forces were rolling out of the factories and marching out of the training grounds. In mid-February, Mussolini finally felt secure with his borders. It was time to re-seize the initiative...............

[JasonPratt]

Oooo, someone's going to be busy this weekend.

[Keunert]

i am undecided if i enjoy my recently started journey into game of thrones (books) more than reading your aar.
even though my faith in your history mastery recently got a little blow by your switzerland / sweden thing.

[JasonPratt]

He was just thinking ahead for the long-term. ;)

[undercovergeek]

i am undecided if i enjoy my recently started journey into game of thrones (books) more than reading your aar.
even though my faith in your history mastery recently got a little blow by your switzerland / sweden thing.

lol thanks, it had been a long week!

[undercovergeek]

Ever since Julius Caesar had Vercingetorix publically strangled in the Tullianum after his glorious victory at Alesia, Gaul had been a Roman province.

After their defeat by the Germans in 1940, Petain had established his government, but it was never widely recognized as anything other that Hitler's puppet. A rival French government had been set up in London, and the French colonial possessions were divided between these vying power structures. In addition to this unnecessary chaos on the Empire's border, and as a separate but clear casus belli, the Vichy Regime was providing material support to the new island of Nationalist Spain.

Inevitably, it appeared that the Gauls were descending into chaos again and demonstrating an inability to properly govern themselves. Into this vacuum, Mussolini would propose that the New Roman Empire should step, to provide much needed stability, universal citizenship, and uninterrupted freedom of movement and trade from Iberia to Turkey. In anticipation of German capitulation on the Russian front during January 1942, Mussolini quietly sent his legions into motion.

In Spain, the mixed Alpini/Artillery corps, now under the leadership of a new General, General Pariani shifted their positions northwest towards the Bay of Biscay and the coastal town of Bayonne and its port there. Replacing General Pintor, the flamboyantly named General Amedeo Duca Degli Abruzzi's mixed corps abandoned their positions around Gibraltar and were shipped to positions on the Vichy frontier at Foix. From the countryside surrounding Madrid General Marinett and his pure Alpini Corps marched for the front just north of Barcelona. Twelve divisions in all moved into position on the Spanish border with Vichy France. In Northern Italy, the eight divisions on the Vichy border were readied for operations. Mussolini hoped to add Vichy to the territories of the Empire without a fight, but was prepared for one if necessary.

There was always the chance that Germany would attempt to enforce its guarantee of Vichy independence. If this were the case, preparations needed to be made in the event that Germany declared war. Germany had no border guards, in the event of war the Italians would immediately go on the offensive.

On March 1 1942, the Italian forces were in position. Ciano delivered to Petain, Mussolini's invitation to the people of Southern France to join the new Roman Empire. Petain immediately rejected the invitation and vowed to fight. That same day, Italy declared war. Simultaneously, Mussolini had a private letter hand delivered to Hitler wherein he personally implored Hitler to not act foolishly and to abandon his guarantee of the corrupt Vichy government................

[BanzaiCat]

Let's see if this New Roman Empire deals with the Germanic barbarians better than the Old Roman Empire.

[Martok]

Hoo-boy... 

[Staggerwing]

Merda is getting' real...

[JasonPratt]

Clever use of that little island.  ;D

Wait, I thought the Germans were kicking ass over the winter up in Russia. What changed? Why would they capitulate now?

And so the pure Alipini prepare to prune the Aryan purity patrols.

[BanzaiCat]

The Obersalzberg will make a nice mountain home for Il Duce and his followers.

[undercovergeek]

Clever use of that little island.  ;D

Wait, I thought the Germans were kicking ass over the winter up in Russia. What changed? Why would they capitulate now?

And so the pure Alipini prepare to prune the Aryan purity patrols.

They're not - they're kicking ass but if I leave it til after moscow of stalingrad the russians may surrender and then I'm in trouble, unless I join the axis - but from a RPG perspective I just can't bring myself to do that!