Nirosi (Axis) vs PL1 (Allies) PL1 welcome now

[Nirosi]

Ok, so third time is the charm. This one cleared France so I can now post![:D] Should reach 1943 at least![8|]

And yes, I am not the best Axis player (I am a little less mediocre as Allied). I will take gambles (bad ones), miscalculate, be rash and, especially, have psychological or symbolic reasons to want to do or take something! But that will make for an approach to the war much more like the historical German and... for a more interesting story!

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of September 1st, 1939

German troops advanced from three different directions toward Warsaw, Krakow, and Poznan with the mobile units heading straight for the capital. Poznan’s defenders were pulverized in the direct assault on the city, but in Krakow the mechanized units holding the city managed to repulse the Germans for now.

On that same first week, German bombers targeted industrial areas in and near Lyon causing moderate damage.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of October 27th, 1939

Two U-boat flotillas at sea since the start of the war came back in Kiel after a mediocre hunt. OKM is not pleased with the situation. In the North Atlantic, the Allied fleets are maneuvering East of Scotland in a strange pattern. Abwehr managed to intercept messages from a French task force. It seems that the heavy patrols are a way to force U-boats to surface within range of the RAF bombers, based in Scotland, before they can reach further in the Atlantic.

[Nirosi]

U-boats coming back from patrol.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of May 10th, 1940

After a long period of inaction, OKH ordered the Panzer corps to move into Belgium and Luxemburg and occupy those countries to use them as a springboard for the follow-up offensive in France. Not wanting to spread out their force too much, OKW ordered all units to avoid encroaching over Dutch territory. For the battle, the Herr can field 7 mobile corps (including two PanzerGrenadier corps). A cavalry corps will also be available shortly later in the month at the request of General Hansen. OKW resisted the request at first, seeing it as a nostalgic gesture, but after much insistence on the part of Hansen, the request was approved.

Above the battlefield, OKL will provide 4 medium bombers group and 3 Stuka groups. All those bombers will be protected by 4 fighter groups with a 5th one about to become operational before the end of the month.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of May 24th, 1940

German panzer groups did what was expected from them in the first phase and pushed back French defenders out of their entrenched position while also taking Lille in the process. OKW is pleased to see that most of the French army has been stripped of the logistical resource to be mobile and will not be able to properly react to the panzer’s push.

The British seem to have deployed a considerable, but not overwhelming, force behind the Somme. OKW is monitoring the threat carefully.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of June 7th, 1940

The second phase of the Battle for France allowed the Wehrmacht to reach the Somme and make contact with the British while also trapping two French corps around Calais. After much insistence from General Leeb, OKW will finally consider more carefully the possibility to go through the Maginot line that seems to have been stripped much more than previously thought.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of June 21th, 1940

On the third phase, the panzer continued, albeit at a slower pace, toward Paris, by-passing the Somme and closely monitoring the British as it was planned. However, the Maginot Line was also breached during that same phase and OKH ordered to press with the opportunity.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of July 7th, 1940

The French front locally collapsed East of Paris. And in a daring move OKW ordered the panzers to infiltrate the breach gambling that the Allies where in no position to close it. Paratroopers where also ordered to take Franche-Compté and cut any rail connection for the French troops in the North-East. French alpine troops managed to heroically repulse German assaults on Metz but at a great cost in lives. A message from General Doyen was intercepted while he was informing Paris that the defenders will not resist much longer without help.

With panzers at the Southern suburbs of Paris, the world is wondering what the Allied reaction will be.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of July 19th, 1940 (Start)

The BEF, probably worried about been trapped on the Somme by panzers rushing toward the Channel, retreated toward French ports. In complete disarray, and fleeing to Bordeaux, the French government was too busy to even file a formal protest. Reconnaissance seems to indicate, to OKH surprise, that both Lyon and Vichy are only lightly defended by security force of army headquarters. OKH orders a push to the South hoping to collapse what is left of the French will to fight.

[Nirosi]

French security troops lying in ambush at the outskirts of Vichy.

[Nirosi]

German reconnaissance unit taking a break after reporting only light defenses at the outskirts of Vichy.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of July 19th, 1940 (End)

As expected, security forces in Lyon and Vichy are no match for full strength Panzer corps. In the North, after another assault, the French alpine corps must leave Metz to the Germans, but still managed to surprisingly retreat in relatively good order.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of August 2nd, 1940

German panzers rush to the Atlantic ports and this allows some U-boats to make a port stop at Bordeaux only a few days latter. At the same time, the German and French agree to a cease fire and all French troops are starting to be demobilized in the next few days.

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of August 16th, 1940

It seems that Germany is redeploying troops in Denmark and at the Dutch border. Norwegian and Dutch ambassadors in Berlin requested an audience. The Foreign Affairs Ministry seems to be staling the meetings…

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of August 30th, 1940

A serious and amateurish logistical mistake, resulting in a traffic jam, stopped the Heer from taking Amsterdam as planned on the first push. The General staff is considering replacing and/or demoting General Wagner. OKL however reported that all important military ships in Amsterdam were sunk and will therefore not complement the Royal Navy.

[Nirosi]

In a déjà vu note, it seems that Germany is redeploying troops at the Yugoslavian border. The Yugoslav ambassador in Berlin requested an audience. The Foreign Affairs Ministry seems to be staling the meetings…

[Nirosi]

In Africa, General Rommel and a panzer corps arrived in Tobruk to help defend Libya

[Nirosi]

Axis turn of September 13th, 1940

The Royal Navy is patrolling near Narvik. OKM is not pleased, as this might means the British will land troops in Narvik to come to help the Norwegians and block the iron ore trade route during the winter. After much debate, operation Weserübung is nonetheless ordered to go forward.

[Nirosi]

Amsterdam finally fell, quite easily, to German troops. The government however escaped to London. Abwehr is still trying to determine if it was by air or using a fishing trailer. OKW informed Abwehr that they don’t really care to know…

In the North a whole German infantry corps with full air and naval support took Oslo in the first naval invasion of the war.