Rise of the German Reich [Germany Narrative AAR]

[Theodorian]

INTRODUCTION
​

The German Reich and her territories, January 1936
​

January 1st, 1936. The sun rises on a new Germany. For nearly fifteen long years, the Treaty of Versailles has hung over Germany whilst her people suffer. Humiliation is all she has known sense the end of the Great War, from the crushing reparations to the degradation of the once legendary Prussian generalship. Now, those times are over. While the sun slept on the night of the 27th of February, 1933, the Reichstag burned - and the Republic with it. Believed by many to be a symbol of the Allied victory years prior, the deposition of the Weimar Republic was welcomed, especially among the people.

Today, nearly 3 years later, our glorious Fuhrer has brought about a new beginning to the German Reich. Unemployment has dropped to an all time low, the newly formed Heer and Luftwaffe have stunned the world, and our people enjoy an unprecedented era of peace of prosperity. However, nothing lasts forever, and to survive our Reich must defend itself from those who wish to see us on our knees, it is time to look westward...
​

_________

Country : German Reich
Difficulty : Hard
Version : Waking the Tiger, Man the Guns
Mods : Coloured Buttons, German Tanks & Equipment (Aesthetic), Strategic View Adjustments (Multiplayer)​

 

[stnylan]

So Germany - I wonder if you will Oppose Hitler or not.

 

[Theodorian]

Part I: A New Germany
​

On the morning of January 3rd, 1936, word reached the Fuhrer that--following his request--an agreement had been reached with the neighboring Soviet Union for twenty-four thousand barrels of oil to be shipped in exchange for an accounted sum of money. Remiss that German goods and marks were being sent to support the Bolsheviks, the Fuhrer, as well as his accounted for staff and among them, Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop that oil was a scarcity that the German fatherland was without. It's factories, more than anything else, needed oil to fuel the growing elements of the Wehrmacht and it's child, the Heere, Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe.

While both Ribbentrop and certain elements of the German economy expressed reluctance to trade to send goods to the Soviets, the Fuhrer expressed his very direct concerns that the German economy would not fall behind due to scarcity of natural resources. The Fuhrer promised that Germany's dependence on crude oil would not last forever and that plans were in the works already to eye potential locations for synthetic plants to reduce her need for import.

German-Soviet Trade Pact, January 1936
​

Only hours following the signing of the German-Soviet Trade Pact, the Fuhrer summoned and relevant personnel to discuss the possible continuation of the MEFO bills. Hjalmar Schacht had formed the limited liability company Metallurgische Forschungsgesellschaft, m.b.H or "MEFO" for short. The company's "Mefo bills" served as bills of exchange, convertible into Reichsmark upon demand. MEFO had no actual existence or operations and was solely a balance sheet entity. The bills were mainly issued as payment to armaments manufacturers. Mefo bills were issued to last for six months initially, but with the provision for indefinite three-month extensions. The total amount of Mefo bills issued was kept secret.​

Essentially, Mefo bills enabled the German Reich to run a greater deficit than it would normally have been able to. By 1939, there were 12 billion Reichsmark of Mefo bills, compared to 19 billion of normal government bonds. This enabled the government to reinflate their economy, which culminated in its eventual rearmament. Given the strengthening economy, the Fuhrer seemed incline to discontinue their use but Schacht reassured him that they were still very much a looming threat to a fragile German economy. The Fuhrer, a man out of his element in the realm of international banking and finance, relented and agreed for Schacht to enable another six month push on the MEFO bills.

Metallurgische Forschungsgesellschaft Bills, January 1936
​

On January 7th, Vizeadmiral Alfred Saalwächter received a telegram at his personal headquarters that he was being promoted to Generaladmiral and made commander of the Ostseeflotte, stationed in the North Sea. Saalwächter was now in command of the prized possession of the Kriegsmarine. Among his promotion was a rather grandiose promise from the Fuhrer that the "Navy will not fall prey to the same mistakes made during the First War, and that she will be made to have her place in the sun." Saalwächter's command espoused only two Deutschland-class battleships and two squadrons of destroyers, but nonetheless Saalwächter wrote hurriedly to his wife in Silesia on the good news and made arrangements for her to travel to Prussia on an extended vacation. The Fuhrer, with assistance from the OKW (Oberkommando der Wehrmacht), other routine and necessary promotions were made as well.

The Ostseeflotte, anchored in Prussia, January 1936
​

The world was not to stay quite and the German Reich's first test was soon inbound. Not a month and a half after the new year had started, a planned military coup in Spain kicked off--with elements of the far right nationalists decided that the time to strike was now. Francisco Franco, taking the reigns after his predecessor was killed in an plane crash crossing from Africa, immediately began consolidating his position on the Iberian Peninsula. Similarly, the Fuhrer wired the German embassy there to extend a hand and make a request of assistance. Franco did not slip. Materiel. The Fuhrer would answer his plea. Initially, elements of artillery, rifles, equipment and even tanks were devised to be shipped from German ports to the Northwest coast of Spain but cooler heads prevailed. Instead, outdated biplanes and interwar bombers, those relegated to training vehicles and being phased out for more competitive and modern designs would be shipped off to the nationalists.

The Spanish Civil War begins, 1936
​

 

[stnylan]

Well sometimes one has to deal with a foe.

 

[Theodorian]

So Germany - I wonder if you will Oppose Hitler or not.

This will be a historical start, as far as that decision goes!

 

[ijzervuist]

I wonder what this new Germany will become

 

[Kurt87]

Good to see a Germany AAR without any big Mods!

 

[Theodorian]

Part II: Germany on the Rise
​

At the end of the first week of March, elements of the German Army crossed the Rhine River and entered the famously demilitarized Rhineland. This was actually a flagrant violation of Part V of the Treaty of Versailles signed by Germany back in 1919 after its defeat in World War I. Breaking the Treaty was an affront to Germany's former World War I enemies, France and Great Britain. Everyone waited to see how they would respond to the news. Some of Hitler's more cautious Army generals thought there might even be an immediate military attack by France. But absolutely nothing happened, except for a few diplomatic protests.

The Rhineland, German once more​

Hitler, for the first time in his career, had gambled against Germany's old enemies and won. He knew France was suffering from serious political in-fighting and that Britain was in the grips of an economic depression. He wagered that the two countries, given their internal problems, didn't have the stomachs to respond militarily. And he was right. But Hitler still found it necessary to soothe the jangled nerves of the world's democracies and Germany's next door neighbors. On May 21st, two months after the conscription announcement, he appeared before the Reichstag in Berlin and delivered a conciliatory speech. "Germany wants peace...None of us means to threaten anybody," Hitler declared. He then announced a thirteen-point peace program containing all kinds of promises such as: Germany will respect all other provisions of the Treaty of Versailles including the demilitarization of the Rhineland; Germany is ready to cooperate in a collective system for safeguarding European peace; and the German government is ready in principle to conclude pacts of non-aggression with its neighbors. Hitler's method of diplomacy in dealing with the gun-shy Western democracies was thus established. His original bombastic announcement was usually made on a Saturday to catch the other governments off-guard. It came in the midst of an ongoing action, or after the fact, and was followed by a conciliatory speech full of reassuring promises.

Between Hitler's gambles, there would be a considerable lapse of time, during which he returned to Berchtesgaden, contemplating his next move like a chess master pondering all of the potential outcomes. Hitler's next big move in the game of international diplomacy didn't occur until a year later and it would be one of the biggest risks of his entire career. Beginning at dawn on Saturday, March 7, 1936, three battalions of the German Army crossed the bridges over the Rhine and entered into the industrial heartland of Germany known as the Rhineland. This demilitarized area included all territory west of the Rhine River extending to the French border as well as a portion east of the river including the cities of Cologne, Düsseldorf and Bonn. At 10 a.m. that morning, Hitler's Foreign Minister, Constantin von Neurath, summoned the ambassadors of France, Britain, and Italy, and handed them a lengthy memorandum stating that the German government had "restored the full and unrestricted sovereignty of the Reich in the demilitarized zone of the Rhineland."

This was another gross violation of the Treaty of Versailles. At noon, Hitler appeared before a hastily called Reichstag assembly, accompanied by several visibly nervous Army generals. The six hundred Reichstag members in attendance had no idea what was happening. As soon as Hitler informed them that German troops were on the march into the Rhineland, they jumped to their feet amid wild cheering for the Führer and shouts of 'Heil!'

When they calmed down, Hitler solemnly promised: "First, we swear to yield to no force whatever in the restoration of the honor of our people, preferring to succumb with honor to the severest hardships rather than to capitulate. Secondly, we pledge that now, more than ever, we shall strive for an understanding between European peoples, especially for one with our Western neighbor nations...We have no territorial demands to make in Europe!...Germany will never break the peace." Once again, the whole world waited to see how the French and British would react. German troops entering the Rhineland even had orders to scoot back across the Rhine bridges if the French Army attacked. But in France, the politicians were simply unable to convince their generals to act, and were also unable to get any British support for a military response. So they did nothing. The French Army, with its one hundred divisions, never budged against the 30,000 lightly armed German soldiers occupying the Rhineland, even though France and Britain were both obligated to preserve the demilitarized zone by the Treaty of Versailles and the subsequent Locarno Pact of mutual assistance.

It had been a tremendous gamble for Hitler, one that might have cost him everything if his troops had been humiliated by their old enemies. Later, Hitler would privately admit: "The forty-eight hours after the march into the Rhineland were the most nerve-racking in my life. If the French had marched into the Rhineland, we would have had to withdraw with our tail between our legs, for the military resources at our disposal would have been wholly inadequate for even a moderate resistance." Some of Hitler's top Army generals had gotten cold feet during the maneuver. Only Neurath, his Foreign Minister, had calmly assured him: "You can risk it. Nothing will happen." Hitler would never forget the fearful behavior exhibited by some of his top generals during his first military venture. As a result, their cautious advice would often be ignored in the future. In Cologne, the people went wild with joy. Inside Cologne's Catholic Cathedral, Cardinal Schulte even praised Hitler for "sending back our Army." A few weeks later, on March 29th, a nationwide referendum was held in which 99 percent of the registered voters in Germany went to the polls and gave a 98.8 percent "Ja" vote approving Hitler's reoccupation of the Rhineland. The Führer had reached new heights of popularity.

After this victory, Hitler once again went back to his mountain retreat at Berchtesgaden to relax and ponder his next move. Meanwhile, in Berlin and throughout Germany, preparations were underway to host the coming Summer Olympics. For the Germans, the Berlin Olympics would be an opportunity to show off the New Order to people from all over the world. It would also be a chance to impress everyone with the natural superiority of German athletes.

Soldiers of the German Army marching back into the Rhineland, March 1936
​

A month following the triumphant reclamation of the Rhineland, Adolf Hitler announced the appointment of Rudolf Hess as Deputy Fuhrer to the German Reich. Given his ability to facilitate the political machinations of German politics, the Fuhrer felt he was well suited to the position. As Deputy Fuhrer, Hess would proselytize on the radio, announce the Fuhrer's movements and actions to the populace, and carry out the standard operations of the government while the Fuhrer focused his efforts elsewhere. Rudolf Hess was born in Alexandria, Egypt, April 26, 1894, the son of a prosperous wholesaler and exporter. He did not live in Germany until he was fourteen. He volunteered for the German Army in 1914 at the outbreak of World War One, partly to escape the control of his domineering father who had refused to let him go to a university but instead persuaded him into an unwanted career in the family business.

In World War One, Hess was wounded twice, then later became an airplane pilot. After the war, Hess joined the Freikorps, a right-wing organization of ex-soldiers for hire, involved in violently putting down Communist uprisings in Germany.

At the University of Munich, Hess studied political science and came under the influence of the Thule Society, a secret anti-Semitic political organization devoted to Nordic supremacy. Hess was also influenced by Professor Karl Haushofer, a former general whose theories on expansionism and race formed the basis of the concept of Lebensraum (increased living space for Germans at the expense of other nations). After hearing Adolf Hitler speak in a small Munich beer hall, Hess joined the National Socialist Party, July 1, 1920, becoming the sixteenth member. After his first meeting with Hitler, Hess said he felt "as though overcome by a vision."

At early meetings and rallies, Hess was a formidable fighter who brawled with para-military Marxists and others who often violently attempted to disrupt Hitler's speeches. In 1923, Hess took part in Hitler's failed Beer Hall Putsch in which Hitler and the Nazis attempted to seize control of Germany. Hess was arrested and imprisoned along with Hitler at Landsberg prison. While in prison, Hess took dictation for Hitler's book, Mein Kampf, and also made some editorial suggestions regarding Lebensraum, the historical role of the British Empire, and the organization of the Nazi Party.

Rudolf Hess, Deputy Fuhrer of the German Reich, April 1936
​

After his release from prison in 1925, Hess served for several years as Hitler's personal secretary in spite of having no official rank. In 1932, Hitler appointed him Chairman of the Central Political Commission of the Nazi Party and SS General as a reward for his loyal service. On April 21, 1936, he was made Deputy Führer, a figurehead position with mostly ceremonial duties.

Hess was a shy, insecure man who displayed near religious devotion, fanatical loyalty and absolute blind obedience to Hitler. In 1934, Hess gave a revealing speech stating - "With pride we see that one man remains beyond all criticism, that is the Führer. This is because everyone feels and knows: he is always right, and he will always be right. The National Socialism of all of us is anchored in uncritical loyalty, in the surrender to the Führer that does not ask for the why in individual cases, in the silent execution of his orders. We believe that the Führer is obeying a higher call to fashion German history. There can be no criticism of this belief."

 

[stnylan]

So we are off!

 

[PzIVF2 Spezial]

Theodorian why did you do 'Rhineland' first, just for the +120 PP unless you are uber spamming Divs and doing Anschluss 2nd and rushing down to 'Fate of Czechoslovakia' at 5th since I thought 'everybody' does the '4 Year Plan' first and rushes through the CIC building National Foci to the 'Extra Research Slot' at number 5 and only then does Rhineland, Anschluss 6 and then the three Czechs...?

BTW did you switch to Free Trade first in March and what are you using your Civ Construction for exactly and what are your production & Division buildings schemes?

(BTW was there an actual German plebiscite held shortly after the re-militarisation of the Rhineland or was that role play fantasy? Perhaps the remainers should hear about that one, ha!)
Feel free to role play your answers if you like... thanks.

 

[Captured Joe]

I think he wants to start the game historically rather than "gamey"...

 

[Theodorian]

Theodorian why did you do 'Rhineland' first, just for the +120 PP unless you are uber spamming Divs and doing Anschluss 2nd and rushing down to 'Fate of Czechoslovakia' at 5th since I thought 'everybody' does the '4 Year Plan' first and rushes through the CIC building National Foci to the 'Extra Research Slot' at number 5 and only then does Rhineland, Anschluss 6 and then the three Czechs...?

BTW did you switch to Free Trade first in March and what are you using your Civ Construction for exactly and what are your production & Division buildings schemes?

(BTW was there an actual German plebiscite held shortly after the re-militarisation of the Rhineland or was that role play fantasy? Perhaps the remainers should hear about that one, ha!)
Feel free to role play your answers if you like... thanks.

I think he wants to start the game historically rather than "gamey"...

I did the Rhineland focus because I wanted it to line up with when it occurred. I'm bolstering my civilian economy and I'm producing a single Panzer Division, single Motorized Division and about ten Infanterie-Divisions. We'll get to that aspect shortly!

 

[Theodorian]

Part III: Spanish Civil War
​

The end of March saw the formation of the Condor Legion, in Berlin, Germany. Following the military coup in Spain on 17 July 1936 at the start of the Spanish Civil War, the Nationalists requested the support of Hitler's Germany and fascist Italy. The first request for German aircraft was made on March 25th, with an order for 10 transport aircraft. Hitler decided to support the Nationalists on 25 or 26 July, but was wary of provoking a Europe-wide war. The Reich Air Travel Ministry concluded that Nationalist forces would need at least 20 Junkers Ju 52s, flown by Luft Hansa pilots, to carry the Army of Africa from Spanish Morocco to Spain. This mission became known as Operation Magic Fire. The joint Spanish-German "Spanish-Moroccan Transport Company" and an entirely German company, the Raw Materials and Good Purchasing Company were established. This involvement was kept covert, hidden from both foreign and economic ministries, and funded with three million Reichsmarks. The organisation and recruitment of German volunteers was also kept secret. The first contingent of 86 men left on April 1st, unaware of their destination. They were accompanied with six biplane fighters, anti-aircraft guns and about 100 tons of other supplies. They were positioned at Tablada airfield near Seville, and accompanied by German Air transport began the airlift of Franco's troops to Spain. Germany's involvement grew in September to encompass the Wehrmacht's other branches; Operation Magic Fire was renamed Operation Guido in November. A wide belief was that the soldiers would train the Nationalists, and not engage.

German sale of aircraft to the Nationalists, April 1936
​

Germany's plan was twofold: they wanted to embolden the Nationalists by offering them materiel in the form of aircraft, munitions and fuel but in a similar vein liquidate antiquated interwar aircraft. The Heinkel He 51 was still a very modern biplane and well regarded by Spanish pilots. The first official shipments reached Nationalist ports in the north of Spain in early May. Additionally, the Fuhrer was content to send advisers abroad until receiving word that nearly 50,000 Soviets had been shipped to support the left wing Republican coalition. Fuhrer Directive #1 was signed on April 16th, 1936, authorizing an entire Panzer Division--the 3. Panzer Division and an SS Motorized Division to be sent under the name of the Condor Legion and under the command of the relatively unknown General Wilhelm List. They arrived in Oviedo, Spain--safely in Nationalist control--on April 29th, 1936. Their goal was to ensure the complete eradication of the Republican government as well as utilizing and working out nuances in tactical level training for combined arms assault.

Elements of Wilhelm List's Condor Legion in Spain, 1936
​

 

[stnylan]

Let us see what the Condor Legion can get up to.

 

[Captured Joe]

Isn't Italy involved too?

 

[PzIVF2 Spezial]

Thanks Theodorian for answering my questions, helps to figure out what you are doing and follow along, cheers.

I gather your are constructing CIC in the 80% structure regions in western Germany...

As you said I thought you were playing historical and that was why you did Rhineland first. I used to do that too, since I just started re-playing the game recently (waited for bug fixes, game balancing and a few good DLCs after getting the game near launch - and was a bit hung over sick & tired of the bog standard HOI3 Div builds both of Combined Arms Div 1xPz1Mot/Mech2SPArt1TD and Inf Div 2xInf2/3xART1xAT/TD etc...) now I just rush 4yrs to the xtra.

I think in older versions you always needed to do Rhineland first to get anywhere and for the all important extra research slot IIRC, but in terms of gameplay I have switched to just rushing from 4yr plan to extra, then do a late Rhineland, prioritizing advancing research (by 70 days whoa!) over historical date, still not sure if slowing down the PP is worth it though.

One more question on trade, although you might answer it in covering production or when you cover the Luftwaffe, but while you traded for 4 amounts of oil with the SU, you didn't mention trading for rubber - don't you need it for Opel trucks for your motorised div build and for your planes?

 

[Theodorian]

Isn't Italy involved too?

The Fuhrer has not spoken much with the Italians. They are finishing the Second Ethiopian War, thus far. The Italians did not--yet--send any aid to Franco.

Thanks Theodorian for answering my questions, helps to figure out what you are doing and follow along, cheers.

I gather your are constructing CIC in the 80% structure regions in western Germany...

As you said I thought you were playing historical and that was why you did Rhineland first. I used to do that too, since I just started re-playing the game recently (waited for bug fixes, game balancing and a few good DLCs after getting the game near launch - and was a bit hung over sick & tired of the bog standard HOI3 Div builds both of Combined Arms Div 1xPz1Mot/Mech2SPArt1TD and Inf Div 2xInf2/3xART1xAT/TD etc...) now I just rush 4yrs to the xtra.

I think in older versions you always needed to do Rhineland first to get anywhere and for the all important extra research slot IIRC, but in terms of gameplay I have switched to just rushing from 4yr plan to extra, then do a late Rhineland, prioritizing advancing research (by 70 days whoa!) over historical date, still not sure if slowing down the PP is worth it though.

One more question on trade, although you might answer it in covering production or when you cover the Luftwaffe, but while you traded for 4 amounts of oil with the SU, you didn't mention trading for rubber - don't you need it for Opel trucks for your motorised div build and for your planes?

Not focusing too much on trucks--just a single division right now, but needing the POIL (Petrol, Oil, Lubricants) to focus on building up the Luftwaffe.

 

[Crimson Lionheart]

Watching this. This seems interesting :3

 

[guillec87]

subbed!

 

[Theodorian]

Part IV: Continuing the Spanish Civil War
​

Only four days after General Wilhelm List's Condor Legion--totaling 17,000 men--landed at Oviedo, they moved into the front to support the Nationalist assault on Bilbao there. Even attacking into the hill terrain there, the under equipped Republicans, the front held by only two meager militia divisions, were forced back after three days of intense fighting. The Panzerkampfwagen I displayed itself capable of as an anti-infantry weapon. Air support here was non-existent and the Wehrmacht soldiers present lamented the lack of Nationalist airplanes in the region. Shipments of aircraft from the Luftwaffe were still being prepped, and thus the Republicans continued to control the skies over all of Spain.

The Condor Legion assists the Nationalists, April 1936
​

By April 20th, 1936 elements of the 3. Panzer Division had entered Bilbao, effectively accomplishing tactical objectives in the region as well as successfully encircling an entire division of Republican soldiers and guerrilla fighters there. Wilhelm List allowed his men thirty-six hours of liberty in the town of Bilbao, reminding the men there "..we are not fighting a German war, but rather this is an extended training exercise." Soldiers of SS-Verfugungstruppe continued hard fighting across the river, but after 48 hours of fighting had taken nearly 6,000 prisoners of which were immediately handed off to the Nationalists.

Bilbao falls to Franco's Nationalists, April 1936
​

Developments did not halt in the Fatherland. Scientific development of advanced key engineering solutions allowed for a more complete breakdown of the Wehrmacht's scientific and technological divisions--allowing the Wehrmacht to divide and conquer in it's technological developments. The Fuhrer anticipated the Wehrmacht would be the premier fighting force by no later than 1938.

German technological breakthrough, April 1936
​

On April 29th, the first shipments of Luftwaffe equipment reached Oviedo and Bilbao in Northern Spain. The Heinkel He-51 was a German single-seat biplane which was produced in a number of different versions. It was initially developed as a fighter, a seaplane variant and a ground-attack version were also developed. It was a development of the earlier Heinkel He-49. With 250 of them hitting the docks at Oviedo and Bilbao, within days the skies were raked with squadrons of the German built biplanes who were now fighting for supremacy of the skies.

Nationalist Heinkel He-51, circa 1936
​

By May 1st, 1936 the entire "Bilbao Pocket" had effectively been closed. Already Nationalist militia's were force marching to the Southeast, but Wilhelm List's Condor Legion did not, instead waiting nearly a week before moving out. This was two fold. The Fuhrer was adamant that the endeavors in Spain were purely participatory. This was not a war of German soldiers. Second, the Fuhrer did not want half equipped soldiers fighting. The 3. Panzer Division received four additional Panzer II's on May 1st at Bilbao, a new and fierce fighting weapon intended to phase out the Panzer I. On May 2nd, the Condor Legion began heading toward the new front line in Eastern Spain.

Northern Spain, May 1936​