So Long, and Thanks For All The Cities - USA versus the Greater Reich

[tuore]

So Long, and Thanks For All the Cities​

A USA AAR​

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I wish to welcome you to the So Long, and Thanks For All the Cities After-Action Report (or SLTFAC). This game started as a regular 1936 game as the USA. However, I have made some changes. First, I modded the VH difficulty so, that I get normal difficulty's effects and the AI gains their VH bonuses. In addition I made some changes on the AI files, which you can probably see in this AAR later on. Apart from the allies joining to gain some IC (which I consider fair, since I've boosted the AI a lot), I will not use 'gamey' tactics and prefer operations and offensives that could have been historically plausible.

And finally, I have read the "Democracy's Last Legs", an awesome AAR by Firestorm. The difficulty changes I have made can lead to a defeat similar to DLL, but I will face it bravely.
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1936-1941:

• Republican Spain won the SCW
• I (USA) joined the Allies in 1939 to get some more IC
• Poland lasted for 5 days
• France fell in three weeks
• Yugoslavia is not yet attacked
• Germany attacked the Soviet Union in May 1941
• It is now June

 

[tuore]

What happened before

In early 1941, the forces of the United States invaded Portugal after their clear rejection of a military access. The rumours tell that the government is planning to invade German-occupied France directly from Spain, due to the narrow front.

Portugal's government surrendered in February, but the USA was merciful and released Portugal with a US-favouring government. The operation continued with an invasion of Republican Spain in mid-February. Due to the mountains in northern Spain, the offensive was slow. Finally in April the United States forced Republican Spain to accept a pro-US government. The Germans reacted to this with a massive invasion to Huesca and Bilbao, and the Italians reacted with an amphibious assault in southern Spain. It is now late May and the Germans have been repelled from the Iberian peninsula. The Germans declared war on the Soviet Union on 7th May, and are advancing terribly fast.

One hundred U.S divisions are not winning the German 46-division armies in Dax. This is mainly due to communication problems, since the recent German counterattack destroyed two HQ units. New ones are in production, though, and are ready in November.

The feared German front. In only less than three weeks they achieved this, but now their speed is slowing.

What will happen? Can the United States reach Berlin, or will they be driven back to the sea?

 

[unmerged(166917)]

A very narrow front in Southern France, I don't like it.
You should invade Vichy.

 

[tuore]

October 25th 1941

You are listening the World News Today. After a defeat against the German forces in Dax, the Chief of Army decided to try a different approach. About 45 Allied divisions landed in Bordeaux to encircle the Nazis in Dax, but they still managed to resist. The headquarter units were delayed, so the troops had to withdraw from Bordeaux back to Dax. The Axis reacted quickly, with 5 Italian divisions landing in eastern Spain. They were quickly repelled, but the infrastructure in the province was destroyed.

November 15th the German troops captured Moscow. It seems that the Soviet troops are doomed to defeat.
When the tensions in the east continued, Germany sent some of the troops in Dax to Russia. It was a mistake, and the Allied forces managed to capture Bordeaux with heavy losses. However, they were running low on supply and Bordeaux with a port was still heavily guarded.
The HQ units are on their way to the front as of 2nd January 1942. Maybe the soldiers can gain the upper hand and defeat the Germans?

 

[unmerged(58579)]

I agree - do vichy - get the bases in North africa - get troops and aircraft over there and attack where they are weak. Force the germans to take over vichy and spread out.

going head on will not make you able to use your fleet - use them to support your armies or you will loose many men against a strong defender or is the german navy still a strong foe?

 

[tuore]

I agree - do vichy - get the bases in North africa - get troops and aircraft over there and attack where they are weak. Force the germans to take over vichy and spread out.

going head on will not make you able to use your fleet - use them to support your armies or you will loose many men against a strong defender or is the german navy still a strong foe?

But is that something the Allies would have done in real history?

 

[unmerged(58579)]

they did torch while the area was still under vichy - remember that syria was at that time taken over by the UK June (8–July 14, 1941) as the vichy could take palestine and had granted access to german and italian planes to support the iraq coup that tried to throw the uk out of Iraq in 41. Covert negotiations prevented an all out fight in north africa and made some french commanders accept the invasion of north africa while others fought - the vichy navy fought hard. - the vichy takeover is meant to trigger in 1942 but given the situation I would declare war on vichy. They have given indochina to the japanese. brits took madagascar from May 5 – November 6, 1942. You can wait in rep spain and tie up these german divisions with your forces in rep spain - remember to guard the whole rep spain border before declaring war - dont forget that!. hold rep spain borders in the mountains - take north africa support with navy but you need those bases and if you insist on offensive from spain - you will need a broader front and 40-50 divisions on border to hold plus attack force of 12 divisions and mobile reserve of 12? - you can use time until vichy takeover by germany to get those forces and not waste time and energy on skirmish on the current narrow front

expect the same needs with a declaration of war on vichy now - plus a force to the invasion - 12? divisions in 6 corps with a reserve of 6 divisions to counter italian moves from italian north africa

Edit - okay italians are out of africa i see - still you will have to guard bases for action in med against italy and vichy even if the germans take over toulon etc

 

[unmerged(166917)]

they did torch while the area was still under vichy - remember that syria was at that time taken over by the UK June (8–July 14, 1941) as the vichy could take palestine and had granted access to german and italian planes to support the iraq coup that tried to throw the uk out of Iraq in 41. Covert negotiations prevented an all out fight in north africa and made some french commanders accept the invasion of north africa while others fought - the vichy navy fought hard. - the vichy takeover is meant to trigger in 1942 but given the situation I would declare war on vichy. They have given indochina to the japanese. brits took madagascar from May 5 – November 6, 1942.

+1. I can't say it better myself.
After all you have done the same with Republican Spain (and they were no friends of the Nazis).

 

[tuore]

Looks like there's no need to DoW Vichy. Germany did it already. I won't tell anything else, or else the update will be spoiled.

 

[unmerged(58579)]

great - lets hope you can hold spain and can then judge what actions will involved the largest possible mass of germans to take the pressure off the soviets

 

[tuore]

WNT, January-March 1942

"Even though the allied forces received more headquarter units, the front is too narrow for any big operations. Units are already being moved to the borders of Vichy France, and the leaders of the Allied forces are considering to declare war on Vichy France. This would make the front wider, allowing attacks from multiple provinces at once. "

News from the Eastern Front. On the 21st of January, the leadership of the Sovet Union sued for peace with the Germans, giving up all territory all the way to the Ural mountains.

"The Germans now have clear way to Persia, Iraq and nearly any important Allied nation. News from Germany, however, tell that Hitler is aiming to secure Europe first. Germany declared war on Vichy France and Yugoslavia within three days from the peace with the Russians."

"The Allied forces have already announced to send troops to Vichy France to defend them. The war has lasted for only one week, and Vichy France is near its defeat, when the U.S counterattack starts. Auch and Bergerac are recaptured, and the soldiers attack Bordeaux from three different provinces."

"The soldiers capture Bordeaux on 27th February. The armies continue to attack La Rochelle. The attack is a failure, though."

"When the Germans capture Lyons and are nearly in Marseilles, the United States counter-offensive in that area starts."

 

[Ciryandor]

A 'very Emu" game I see.

 

[unmerged(58579)]

how much can you spare for iran? - I would make haste and get divisions to tabriz before the german forces take the march towards india in a fever to have aryans see the indian birthplace of the race again or some such nonsense.

I have always liked the idea of having the US take berlin from the east if the bear goes hiking in the urals - you could also take baku from them and prevent them from taking iraq and iran with the oil there....and save india...if need be just hold spain and bind the german forces - if the middle east falls the uk falls - the oil keeps the royal navy running and you know what that means right?

if I dont make that point clear be sure that churchill will until he chokes on his cigar or you give in...

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Epic battles ahead. Germany is quite scary now.

 

[tuore]

ABC News, April 24th 1942

"Good listeners, we have more news from Europe. After the successful attack against Germany earlier this year, the army had to switch to defensive and hold the lines until a good opportunity would come. However, the fast German motorized divisions cut 24 divisions in Lyons, leaving them only with their own supply."

"Marseille had fallen, and the high command ordered a full-frontal retreat to the mountainous area in Spain. Vichy France was lost. One last attack was conducted by these 24 divisions, in which they succeeded and managed to capture Marseilles back, but only for a short time. They were evacuated quickly, and Marseilles was under German control again. In Africa, Germany has been advancing towards Tunis, capturing it twice, but now they are pocketed and getting defeated."

"Other news from the Allied fronts. Today, 24th of April, Iran's government surrendered to the Axis forces. The result was complete annexation. German troops are now heading towards Iraq and Suez, and they are estimated to hit India soon."

 

[unmerged(58579)]

****! ***********! ************! *******! Those *****! ill **** if i get my **** into their *****! *************! ******!

ehem...sorry about that - must have been something i ate - certainly, well - ehem...carry on....

might i ask that troops be shipped to karachi and jordania to hold a front? - if not then tel aviv jerusalem akaba or gaza akaba and east of indus

 

[unmerged(166917)]

I have a really bad feeling about this.
What can you do to stop the germans? Are you waiting for them to be overextended?

 

[elbasto]

As soon as Germany annexes 42 countries they will have control over all life on Earth!

Also, could we see some IC comparisons? I suppose Britain is very well guarded...

 

[tuore]

I have nothing to do right now, so how about an update.

ABC news again.

"April 28th. Convoy productions are finished, helping the soldiers to hold their defensive line. It comes at a good time, since a massive German attack is repelled, causing 29.904 deaths to them."

"The High Command realizes that this kind of warfare will lead to nothing but our men sitting in Spain for the next years. More soldiers are needed in the Middle East, especially after the recent annexation of Iraq, so some progress needs to be made. The Command makes a plan: Division in Huesca makes a dangerous move to Saragossa, leaving Huesca open for Germans. When the Germans took the city, 24 divisions took Pau and 56 divisions from Barcelona took a coastal city of Vichy France, encircling 30 German divisions. Then they would get attacked from all directions."

The plan worked, and 30 German divisions, a total of 450.000 died. 20.000 of those died in the actual battle.

"Shortly after this, an Italian invasion was repelled."

"Can the tide of the war be turned? The Germans are already making massive counterattacks, and the troops are disorganized."

And the next part is up to the readers to decide.
Should we fight for Spain to the last man, or should we evacuate the forces (and avoid further losses) and head for the middle East to hold Suez?

 

[unmerged(166917)]

I vote for Spain, it's the only bridgehead in Europe we have for the moment.
Let the Germans wasting divisions in the sands of the Middle East.