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

[BanzaiCat]

I'm assuming you have gone further in game, time-wise, than you're writing about...

I'm curious what other world events are occurring. Is Germany annexing the Rhineland and Austria?

It's been a long time since I've played HOI, but I remember a certain randomness to these events when it comes to the AI playing the other major powers.

[undercovergeek]

Just as the greek campaign started they annexed austria and ive seen something fire about czechoslovakia although thats not german yet, I get an invite to the axis every month and japan just signed up. Japan has nearly all of nationalist china   and one of the chinese provinces out there has joined the axis - ill post some world shots in the next one

[undercovergeek]

With the northern offensive well established and advancing steadily it was time for Mussolini to attempt a more stealthy approach as opposed to trying to bludgeon his way through Greece. Mussolini had kept Pintor and his infantry divisions back whilst the northern campaign started. As a prelude to his plan, the 1st fleet moved into position off the Attic coast to clear the sea lanes and secure the coastal areas here. Through various agents in the area it was determined that the majority of the Greek reserves had marched north to reinforce the border, the time was perfect. On March 16th 1938, a transportation flotilla of troop transports guarded by three heavy cruisers and various screens landed Pintor and his corps at Patra - the aim, a lightening strike in the South of Greece and a raid on the undefended Athens. The attack achieved total surprise, and the Greeks only had a two brigade garrison division between Pintor and Athens.



Pintor's men board at Tirane for their amphibious landing, the northern corps begin to push down into the Greek Epirus - in the south Pintor advances east to Athens

In the northeast near Salonika, the Greeks had fortified at Giannitsa but instead of a head on assault of the fortifications similar to that tried at Iaonnina, Mussolini decided to bypass and encircle this defensive position - the strategy paid off, the Greek defenders abandoned their forts and headed to Salonika. Zingales' corps continued its offensive south from Meliki to Kilkis. The gaps in the line after the fall of Giannitsa left an opening for Roatta to begin his march on Salonika - Zingales being the battering ram while Roatta headed straight for the streets of the city.

Further south Messe, Lisi, Calvi di Bergolo and Gambelli were destroying all in their path, pushing the Greeks towards Athens while Pintor set the trap for them there. Off the coast of Athens the reassigned 1st fleet found the pride of the Greek navy. For the cost of a few damaged Italian destroyers the notorious Greek ships Vassilissa Olga and Adrias, amongst many other screens protecting the battleships Kilkis and her sister Lemnos, and the famous cruiser Georgios Averof were intercepted and sunk in a massive sea battle in the Western Aegean. Captains and crew of the battleship Vittorio Veneto and the cruiser Fiume would be recognised after the battle by Mussolini for their outstanding performance in battle.



Destroyers lead the Battle of the Western Aegean, hunting out the Greek ships, the Adrias capsizes and sinks after two torpedo strikes, the Vittorio Veneto and her sister Roma pummel the Greek capital ships



"Greek resolve, no matter the force of their pride, will break"

Mussolini had counselled his General Staff and advised them there would be a point in the invasion when Greek resolve, no matter the force of their pride, would break. Almost a month into the fighting that point came. The Hellenic navy was smashed to pieces in sight of Athens itself, all merchant activity had either ceased or been destroyed. On land the last of the best defenders were routed at Larissa and Amfissa and they turned to flee for Athens, only to find Pintor already there - their homeland was lost, on the 5th April 1938 General Pintor raised Il Tricolore on the Acropolis and Metaxas was captured and immediately offered unconditional surrender.

[Martok]

Marvelous!  Looks like it was practically a textbook-perfect campaign. 

[undercovergeek]

it was - im embarassed to say i was really nervous after declaring war and marching over the border - there was a real sense of trepidation as the attack went forward, i think it was just the size of Greece compared to the other conquests so far, and the first country to have a decent enough naval force to cause me some trouble - genuine nerves - weird, god knows how ill feel if the Grey machine up north comes calling

[BanzaiCat]

Join ze Pact uff Shteeeeel und you do not haff to vorry about ze Zhird Rrrrreich comink to call on Rrrrome!

[undercovergeek]

never - well, not until i can close down the Suez and Gibraltar, and that needs a war with Nationalist Spain - however, if im rebuilding the Roman Empire that may need to be done yet

[BanzaiCat]

Isn't the UK and France making noises about your thinly-disguised reestablishment of the Roman Empire?

[Keunert]

that's the nice thing about this game:

if you play the US it's almost like Nintendogs, if you play France it's an endless runner, if you play the Nazi's it's rogue like and if you chose Italy it's an exposure therapy: you have to expect the worst whenever you act.


btw what's going on in Spain?

[besilarius]

Just curious, but if Il Duce advanced through Greece into Roumania, how would the Germans react if you got to Ploesti before them?
Probably the Bulgars would be willing to assist you by opening their borders, if it meant keeping the really big boys, like Germany or Russia, out of their neighborhood.
Controlling the whole of the Balkans looks like it could be within your reach.  However, economically, there would be nothing but the oil in Ploesti to justify such a move.  In fact, I'd wager that Greece could end up a real pit to absorb huge amounts of capital.  The pre-war economy was not exactly scintillating.
And as long as we are in fantasy land, have you put out feelers to Turkey for an alliance to clear the Middle East?

[undercovergeek]

Just curious, but if Il Duce advanced through Greece into Roumania, how would the Germans react if you got to Ploesti before them?
Probably the Bulgars would be willing to assist you by opening their borders, if it meant keeping the really big boys, like Germany or Russia, out of their neighborhood.
Controlling the whole of the Balkans looks like it could be within your reach.  However, economically, there would be nothing but the oil in Ploesti to justify such a move.  In fact, I'd wager that Greece could end up a real pit to absorb huge amounts of capital.  The pre-war economy was not exactly scintillating.
And as long as we are in fantasy land, have you put out feelers to Turkey for an alliance to clear the Middle East?

yeah, errmmm about Bulgaria and Turkey, ahem

[JasonPratt]

Heh. Reestablishing the Roman Empire means Bulgaria and especially Turkey are on the plate. ;) Especially Turkey for purposes of opening up a route to the oilfields (although I suppose also Bulgaria for a path to the Caucases.)

Meanwhile in regard to Greece: now THAT'S Italian!  ;D

[undercovergeek]

btw what's going on in Spain?

its all over - tis a Nationalist stronghold

[undercovergeek]

Ciano and Mussolini meet Chamberlain at 10 Downing Street, London

On 18th April 1938 Mussolini and his advisors boarded a plane bound for England. Chamberlain had contacted Ciano through diplomatic channels to convey his dismay at Italy's annexation of Greece, and Mussolini saw fit to speak directly with the Prime Minister. Mussolini calmly told Chamberlain that the entire Balkans region belonged in Italy's sphere of influence, and that he intended to maintain the peace in its sphere as he saw fit. Mussolini was clever to avoid any conversation about what he thought actually constituted the 'Balkans'. He went on further to explain that the minor powers in this area were in-fighting, tribal, and prone to rebellion, and that those disputes had more than once engulfed the major powers including the UK itself in destructive and needless violence. Mussolini intended to gather the minor powers in the area to submit to his central authority thus sublimating all the petty border disputes between the minor fiefdoms. Mussolini was quick to point out to Chamberlain that his inspiration was the United Kingdom's political dominance of India and her other overseas territories and it was a shining example for all to follow, what could Chamberlain say? Rome's dominance in the Balkans may not be to the local's liking, but it is nevertheless in their best interests. Mussolini warned that there may be additional campaigns to which Chamberlain may object, but he gave his personal assurance that none of Italy's designs were directed at those areas in the Mediterranean under current British control. He was very specific - Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, Egypt and the Levant. Italy had no problem living side-by-side in peace with another benevolent colonial power. So long as that power respected Italy in its sphere. In the end Mussolini was satisfied he'd conveyed his message clearly. It was difficult however to read Chamberlain's position on the stated Balkan plans. He remained noncommittal and seemed much more concerned with Hitler and Germany.



Germany marches back into the Rhineland, German soldiers enter the recently annexed Austria, overwhelmed Sudetanland Germans welcome their liberators

By the time of Mussolini's visit to the UK, Germany had remilitarised the Rhineland, violated the prohibitions on rearmament, annexed Austria, and voiced designs on the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. Germany was also asserting diplomatic influence on the expansion-minded nations of Europe in an effort to get those minor powers to join Germany in the Axis. Chamberlain was obviously in grave fear of an impending war with Germany - the same war that Mussolini knew to be inevitable. Mussolini assured Chamberlain that Italy had no intention of joining the Axis, unless attacked by the United Kingdom or its allies. At the time of his departure Chamberlain declared that the United Kingdom's official position was one of opposition to Italy's expansion in the Balkans, but he also noted that those nations forced to submit to Mussolini's central authority would not be able to join the Axis powers. Mussolini took that last comment to be the most important statement of the conference. He left for Rome on the 21th April, quietly certain the UK would be no trouble.

This was of great comfort to Mussolini, since his plane had left the runway for England his victorious generals had been traveling North. The entire Greek invasion army were boarding requisitioned trains, and company by company, brigade by brigade in a feat of splendid logistical superiority and organisation they were travelling to further glory. By the 10th May there was a ring of steel around Bulgaria

[Martok]

Uff-da.  Benny's on a roll!