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

[undercovergeek]

Early April in southern Poland the war is raging to the east and west, but General Arena and his marine divisions find themselves virtually alone in the city limits of Krakow. This portion of the front was apparently devoid of opposition in strength, so General Arena had tentatively advanced all the way to Kraków.



Kraków, strategically placed on the Vistula River was before the war a leading center of Polish economic, academic, cultural, and artistic life. However, after the invasion of 1939, Kraków had become the seat of the General Government for the Occupied Polish Territories. It was selected by the Germans as their administrative center for all occupied eastern territories presumably because the city was a major transportation hub between east and west. All roads and rails in the area ran through Kraków.

As soon as Arena's troops reached the outskirts of Krakow, Governor General Hans Frank and his staff blackened the sky with smoke as they frantically burned government records in Wawel Castle and evacuated the town. Later that same day, April 3 1942, General Arena moved his Italian marine divisions into the city. The Italians were not prepared for what they found. The town was unscathed by war, but had been the scene of many horrific crimes by the occupying German army. The Italians were welcomed by the desperate looking residents, clearly relieved the Germans had gone, but they seemed too dispirited to even celebrate their own liberation. Most just stayed in doors, the streets were deserted.

General Fautilli of the 1st Marine Division immediately positioned his 8,000 troops in strategically important defensive sectors around the city anticipating a viscious German counter-attack.



Nobody could anticipate at that moment that Krakow was the key to the entire war with Germany - the events that would unfold in the next few weeks would be bourne out of Fautilli's heroism. To the west, the main Italian divisions were advancing into Germany itself, defended only by light divisions thrown together in an emergency until the heavy German divisions could be railed back home from the eastern front. However, all the trains would ultimately pass through Krakow so the Germans needed to recapture the Polish city before they could efficiently return the tanks and trucks needed to beat back the Italian invasion of their homeland. Hitler told his generals that the recapture of Krakow must be made their first priority and all other objectives were of secondary importance.

Within days of its capture three German panzer divisions descended from the North to assault the city. The actual assault started on April 10 1942 when two of the panzer divisions, a light armor division and a heavy armor division tried to force their way back into the city streets. General Fautilli's troops had never seen anything like the monster designated the Panzerkampfwagen Tiger Ausf. E before. These monsters had armour that ignored his troops ordinary anti-tank weapons, and they were armed with a massive 88mm cannon. However, the urban setting and defensive stance the Marines had prepared played into the Italian's hands. Tank commanders had to choose between buttoning up and stumbling through the city streets or exposing themselves at close quarters to Italian snipers. Though out-numbered and outgunned, the Italians were giving as good as  they got, but the German assault continued, on the outskirts of the city scouts could see reinforcements en route. More tanks were been brought to bear by the Wehrmacht.



As soon as the assault started, Bastico's 2nd Marine Corps further east were disengaged from their battle with German forces coming from the Eastern front, boarded trains and sent with all speed to the gap in southern Poland, but it would be a long time before they could come to General Fautilli's aid. More immediate aid came in the form of General Cei's infantry corps. His divisions were moved into the city to assist with the defense, these divisions were some of the first Italian forces to receive purpose built anti-tank brigades - they were armed with Italy's finest anti-tank weapon, the lethal pezzonovante. The Ansaldo Cannone da 90/53 was much like the German 88 mm, now mass produced from factories in Milan and La Spezia. It was a converted anti-aircraft gun that made a vicious anti-tank gun, except the Italian version has a single-piece barrel, making it easier to manufacture. It also fired a slightly bigger projectile, had a higher muzzle velocity and longer range.



Once the pezzonovantes made their way into the city, the battle swung Arena's way, the Tiger's armour could not withstand a well placed solid shot from one of the big guns. The battle stretched out from day to  day, more heavy units pulled from the Russian front headed back towards Germany found themselves stuck in the meat grinder that was becoming Krakow. The units unable to make it west were thrown into the battle. By April 20 1942, the battle had been raging for seventeen days, two Italian divisions, one of infantry and one of marines were alone in Krakow centre assaulted by two Tiger divisions, two light panzer divisions and a combined arms division made up of motorized infantry and tank destroyers. The other supporting divisions of the two corps held back further reinforcements from the North.



The streets of Krakow were littered with the burning hulks of German armored vehicles, but more tanks were sent in to push aside the wreckage and continue the assault. By May 1 1942, the battle had been raging for almost a month. The Germans kept attacking with fanatic zeal bolstered by the new arrival of an SS Panzer division and this was the first German unit to turn the tide of battle towards the Germans. The Italians had reached the extremity of human endurance. General Flautilli's division had held the line in the city while General Arena had defended the surrounding areas but a desperate and disastrous retreat was looking more and more likely.

Then the II Marine Corps arrived, with some very clever adjustment of battle lines before the eve of the fight anti tank brigades had been added to Bastico's divisions - this was enough to force even the much vaunted IIIrd SS Panzer Division over the brink. They and the rest of the German attackers retreated in disarray, the casualties on both sides were horrific, but the city had held, the marines had held, what ordinary Italian citizen soldiers accomplished there would never be forgotten.

[Staggerwing]

 :o

[BanzaiCat]

Stalingrad in Poland. Nice work, Generalissimo.  8)

[Steelgrave]

And with this victory, the title of biggest European surrender-monkeys passes forever from the Italians into French hands, therefore reshaping history and comedy routines forever.

[MetalDog]

Nicey told and AWESOME defense Geek!!

[Martok]

And with this victory, the title of biggest European surrender-monkeys passes forever from the Italians into French hands, therefore reshaping history and comedy routines forever.

LOL.  Nicely put, Steelie.  :D 

Stalingrad in Poland. Nice work, Generalissimo.  8)

Nicey told and AWESOME defense Geek!!

Seconded so very, very much.  That was epic! 

[undercovergeek]

To the West scouts report the stout defenders of the Atlantic wall are heading south - the easy ride in Western France is over for Pariani. Divisions are also coming south from Belgium and the Netherlands



At Toulon the five extra divisions of the border corps arrive from the North just as four German divisions advance South in their wake. On April 10 the renewed German assault began on the Italian occupied city of Cogolin. General Ferrari and his Alpini division have enough supplies and room to manouever to the the rear of the German lines in Marseilles - as another German assault moves from Marseille to Brignoles in the North, Ferrari moves into the undefended city of Marseilles, with the port secure further supplies and men can be brought to bear against the encircled German defenders.



Italian troops move through the streets of Marseilles

In Cogolin German divisions attack with near reckless abandon - the need to breakout and resupply is getting desperate



Simultaneously, the four German divisions re-assault Ferrari in Marseilles. He would have been quickly overrun if he had not been reinforced by two of General Babini's divisions from Manosque to the north. However, that move would merely buy more time. In a matter of days a renewed German assault pushes the Italians out of the city, Ferrari retreats in disarray - the path east to Northern Italy is open to the Germans.



Victorious French troops march back into Marseilles

As the disorganized combat divisions came streaming back, rifles were issued to the startled clerks and cooks. The Alps needed to be held at all costs. Orders were also issued to two mini-divisions guarding the Swiss border to consolidate into a single front line division and travel as fast as possible to Balbini's position to the East of Toulon. However, it was doubtful that that division could stem the tide even if it could arrive in time. Something else needed to be done to salvage the Northern Italian front.

It was the first time Mussolini had tasted the bitter flavour of defeat. There needed to be a way to relieve the pressure on the front other than just feeding more troops into the theatre and starting over. He turned to the garrisons in captured Italian island provinces, already stationed in ports, their mobilisation and shipping could be arranged immediately. It was a last desperate throw of the dice to shore up the battered forces of the border corps

[Martok]

Well, we knew it couldn't be all smooth sailing... 

[undercovergeek]

Well, we knew it couldn't be all smooth sailing...

yeah - the composition of those German divisions in the south is a killer

[undercovergeek]

Mussolini had at his disposal a rapid deployment force of six divisions that could assault the beaches anywhere along France's southern coastline. They could be transported to Barcelona and sent by train to Ferrari's line like regular soldiers, but that was deemed a waste of the marines special abilities at amphibious assaulting. They could be landed just behind the German lines in the Montpellier area. That plan would provide the most immediate relief to Ferrari, but it was deemed too risky. After the fall of Marseilles there was no port in the area in which supplies could be shipped. Since Italy had no idea how many German divisions were arriving, landing too far west ran the risk of being cut off and destroyed. It was decided the landing would be further to the east, just to the west of Marseilles. The marines should not have too much trouble taking the port of Marseilles for supply convoys, and the landing would relieve Ferrari whilst at the same time threatening the German flank and halting their advance to the Alps.



Civilians flee their homes after waking up to the Italian invasion flotilla parked off their coast

On April 20, the transport flotilla was loaded with the six relief divisions that had been gathered in Sicily from the outlying islands of Italian conquests. Two battleship squadrons, a carrier task force, and the infantry in their transports were sent to the coastline off of southern France just west of Marseilles. By April 21 1942, all six divisions were put on shore without opposition, three divisions were put ashore in Marignane and three divisions in Arles to the west. The three divisions in Marignane under General Alberceti immediately attacked the German division in Marseilles. The port needed to be secured to support the invasion.



IV Division, 8th Armata unload at Marignane

Under the weight of the massed fire of the three divisions, the German division was quickly defeated and the three infantry divisions started moving into Marseilles to secure the port. Meanwhile, the three divisions landing in Arles started to fan out to expand the beachhead before the anticipated German divisions started arriving to arrest the advance. General Dapino advanced northeast into Avignon and immediately attacked a German army headquarters behind the lines there. General Battisti advanced north east into Provence, but stopped his advance when he encountered two German divisions coming the other way. General Sala advanced east to push straight through Marseille and march on German occupied Cogolin.

General Dapino pressed his attack on the headquarters in Avignon while the three victorious divisions fanned out from Marseilles. General Mancini attacked eastward toward Toulon with his infantry division and managed to link up with General Sala and his punching attack on Cogolin. From the North now came the rested 5 divisions of the border corps, Generals Frusal, Romegial and Babini were eager for revenge - buckling under the pressure the last remaining German forces here were pushed into the tiny pocket of Cogolin. Five German divisions and one French division were now encircled on the French coast, after a few feeble counter attacks it became clear that the units in this pocket were doomed. Appropriately, Frusal applied the finish on the 2nd May 1942, the forces surrendered - the south of France was clear - it was of little comfort - these units were ordered to march North to stem the tide of German divisions coming down the Maginot line.

To the east something extraordinary and unexpected happened. Under constant attack and subjected to disordered retreats and lack of supplies the German forces in occupied Poland were having difficulty recovering from the slaughter at Krakow. A fighting withdrawal was under way as the Germans headed west and north to defend their homeland - encouraged by the sight of retreating Germans and confident in the strength of the Italian advance, the people of Poland rose up and took back their previously German occupied homeland.



The people of New Poland looked immediately to Mussolini for guidance and protection. A loyal fascist government was installed in the fledgling state and they declared themselves subjects of the New Roman Empire. Already facing enough enemy fronts Hitler declared a non-aggression pact with New Poland and immediately withdrew all his forces...... as a puppet state of the Roman Empire it meant Mussolini could march where he saw fit - the consequences were far reaching.............

[Martok]

Wow!  Just in case things weren't already interesting enough... 


Any reaction from the other powers, by the way?  Is Benny receiving any "attaboys" from Britain, USA, etc?  I'd imagine your assault on the Deutchland has to have thrown their diplomatic postures in complete disarray. 

[undercovergeek]

Britain has co-ordinated a few attacks with Italian forces from the air. On more than one occassion ive been strafed by German air power and then they are chased off the scene by the RAF

Im not sure how or when it happened but the whole of France is annexed by Germany now - there is no Vichy France in Europe, they still have a presence in Africa, and indeed have taken some Italian lands there - as thats the nation i declared war on and that subsequently brought in Germany i fear, Crusader King style if Vichy surrenders anything ive achieved against Germany will be returned to them - to get around that ive made the conquest of Germany one of my war goals - theres no escaping Il Duce

[JasonPratt]

So... wait, what happened with Poland again?? Was that an actual game result, or clever narrative angulation to explain something else the game did? (I have trouble believing a non-aggression pact with an Italian client state would mean anything if Germany is already at war with Italy.)

[undercovergeek]

lol - tis all true - after capturing Lodz the map went red just as you see, New Poland (my name for it) appeared with a diplomacy trigger of 'Poland has joined the No Faction' (i guess thats me) and a loyal Fascist Republic has been put in place. When i went into the diplomacy screen to see what was what they are my puppet and ally, no longer a member of the Allies

Edit - apologies it is not a non aggression pact it is a truce with the Axis powers

[JasonPratt]

A truce???

Wow. Wonder how long that will hold out in the game's algorhythms, under the circumstances.

Also, what's happening with the German forces still in-country? Do they have a time limit to get out, and are they trying?