Poles Apart – an HOI4 Ahistory

[TheButterflyComposer]

Persia continues to be the week link and the allies are about to lose their land connection to India. Not going to end well with China front going so badly

 

[jak7139]

Poland received a very surprising offer from Germany on 24 July: a corps of six Wehrmacht divisions was offered as an expeditionary force – but they were all scattered over the Mexican theatre!

Maybe something can be done in Mexico with these forces. It's good to at least have some presence over there without risking your own divisions.

Iran

Quite the chaotic back-and-forth over there. Making sure Iran and Iraq remain connected by land is a top priority.

With their current conscription laws, the Poles figured they were now in a state of low manpower and would be forced to either widen the draft (at the expense of domestic industry) or start suffering shortages at the front in coming months.

Your total manpower is 2.28 million (currently only 971,000 but you are mobilizing up to 2 million). I wouldn't call that a manpower shortage. If you have less than 500,000 that's when you should worry about it.

 

[Bullfilter]

Your total manpower is 2.28 million (currently only 971,000 but you are mobilizing up to 2 million). I wouldn't call that a manpower shortage.

Quick response: my wording there may have been ambiguous: I meant the Soviets might (for the size of their military) be in a low manpower situation. Mainly, because when I briefly tagged over to see how the estimates compared to actual numbers as a test, the had a ‘low manpower alert’ on their top ribbon! The Poles seem to have ample and growing MP at the moment.

 

[Bullfilter]

Right, have done all the hard work (image editing and writing up the first instalment) for the next two chapters (will need to break next month into two parts because of a special supplementary event/review and some interesting developments during the month. Feedback time:

With elections looming in Germany, the outgoing government clearly hopes to keep some of its military assets out of communist hands. A weird choice to transfer divisions in Mexico over to Poland though!

True, in a narrative sense! But fortunately, due to the way the game works, once in the faction a mere change of government to Communism should do nothing to prevent their current full commitment to the cause. I hope, anyway! But aesthetically, it's why I've been trying to influence their politics all this time. Though the German Communists are gradually shedding popularity to our Polish backed centre-right/conservative (?) DNVP, we've all suspected it won't be enough to sway the election.

At least these two pockets will cancel each other out...

Yes, roughly. More developments in August!

With a couple of other unoccupied ports open to the Japanese we could be witnessing the start of another lengthy campaign?

I think so. The Allies look to be able to hold Papua for now, but the Japanese (with more troops on their hands since the fall of Indochina and not having to worry about the USN) seem to be pouring quite a few troops into this new campaign and making it difficult for the Aussies in NG.

This is most unfortunate news. I wish the general a speedy recovery. Poland needs him!

Very. We need him back - certainly in time for the planned Winter Offensive. He should be OK by then.

Well done on recapturing Birjand... but the Allies have lost Yasuj and the overall position looks perilous. If Ahvaz were to fall it appears the Allied front would be cut in two? Not good.

It's been a tough, see-saw fight and is now strongly held again. But the situation to the west is not so good and it is unclear what effect the eventual fall of the Iranian Government (which seems all but certain now) will have on the theatre. Though if the Allies are cut in two, they are still in contact with the Raj and can also move through and be supplied quickly via ports on the Gulf and southern Iran

Good to get this update although it continues to be quite the slog.

Thanks! Yes, hard going with a war extended longer for Poland than I had ever anticipated when starting this story.

I am always going to cheer on the Danes. Not a game changer as you said, but good to have them helping.

Nice. Every little bit helps. Let's hope their current King doesn't have a treacherous half-brother.

Pollyanna would be hard-pressed to find anything cherry in this update. Thanks

Only a cherry bomb!

President Mościki has a point, no-one could read that update and have any hope. I would however perhaps tweak his order of the day;

Let's hope its not Melchetskowski but Melchetnayev who takes command on the Eastern Front in this alternative meatgrinder.

On a more useful note, if manpower is starting to get low in Poland is a switch to airpower possible? It seems to be inflicting large casualties on Poland so a large run of fighters (to get air superiority) and then loads of CAS might be a plan that plays more to Poland's relative strengths, at least on the Eastern Front?

It's the opposite really: plenty of Polish manpower and growing, with two conscription levels available if ever needed (hopefully unlikely, as we now have as many men in reserve as are currently serving in the entire army). But fighters, AA and infantry equipment are basically our dominant industrial outputs and even more so in coming days, as you will see shortly.

With the Eastern Front pretty quiet for now, we're not losing men to air attacks there, so no need for PAF intervention. It's Iran we're losing those men, where the Soviets have overwhelming air superiority most of the time and we're pretty much powerless to intervene. Even transferring our whole fighter force there would probably not be enough and would just see lots of planes shot down, with fewer than 10,000 troops per month being lost to air attacks there. Alas, for now the poor 4th Army will have to grimace and bear it as they slowly build up their AA defences.

Persia continues to be the week link and the allies are about to lose their land connection to India. Not going to end well with China front going so badly

Yes, and getting steadily weaker. Though at least it still bleeds and distracts the Soviets. China is roughly the same: losing ground slowly, but no doubt at heavy cost to the enemy who will eventually be restricted to a pretty narrow (and you'd hope easily defensible) axis of advance. Unless Afghanistan is drawn into the war.

Maybe something can be done in Mexico with these forces. It's good to at least have some presence over there without risking your own divisions.

We can hope so: depends on whether the Allies can hold around them and on the US: will they press their advantage hard, or dither again as they have before when presented with such opportunities.

Quite the chaotic back-and-forth over there. Making sure Iran and Iraq remain connected by land is a top priority.

It's actually been an interesting and challenging campaign, fun to play when on a back-pedalling side where you only have direct (and often limited) influence in a couple of the sectors. Yes, that land bridge remains a high priority, but we are largely reliant on our AI partners ...

To All: The next chapter will be published soon. It introduces a new narrative character and will start taking us through the big strategic review Poland has commissioned as it re-assesses the state of the war and evaluates its broad planning for the long-awaited offensive in the winter of 1946-47 that is being prepared to take advantage of the forthcoming coup in Byelorussia. Poland does not intend to go passively or quietly into the night: we will either be avenged against the perfidious Soviet invaders or go down in a tumultuous and typically gallant and glorious Polish fighting defeat!

 

[Bullfilter]

Chapter Eighty: The Jakowski Review
(1-11 August 1946)

British troops disembark in Archangelsk in an initially unopposed surprise landing in mid-July 1946. The landings were kept so quiet by the British that the Polish Government did not become aware of them until the end of the month!

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Archangelsk

The surprise British landings on the White Sea coast in northern Russia took place in around mid-July, though the Poles did not become aware of them until a low-key cable from their Embassy in London communicated the existence of the new front after being informed by the British at midnight on 31 July. A report was provided showing how the lodgement had expanded unopposed by 22 July [my previous game save], but no more details than that were forthcoming. It was seen as a typically Churchillian amphibious scheme 'at the periphery'.

​

By the end of July, the landing zone had expanded a little with an overland drive to the south-east, but by then Soviet units – including a number of tank divisions – had begun to arrive along its western edge to begin the job of containing the unexpected new front.

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The Jakowski Review

With Allied prospects in Iran, the Middle East and central Asia steadily deteriorating while the lull in heavy fighting on the Eastern Front continued (perhaps explained by the Soviet focus on Iran, the Middle East and now the diversion in Archangelsk), Poland decided it was time for a thorough review of its force structure, research and industrial priorities. The other driver was re-gearing Army Group East and the Air Force to be ready for the coming offensive that was planned to coincide with the long-planned coup in Belarus.

To help them with this daunting task, the services of respected Polish military thinker Władisław Jakowski [aka @jak7139 – thanks so much mate!] were called upon to provide recommendations and advice in many areas of Polish strategy, industry and military organisation. This produced the 7,139-page Jakowski Review, most of which began to be implemented from midnight on 31 July onwards.

​

A quickly adopted recommendation related to the Navy’s use of outdated ship designs. New hull types had been developed in recent years but never completed with the required modules to allow construction of them to commence. For example, the 1944 submarine hull needed a minimum of torpedo tubes to be included, while the new 1940 destroyer hull required at least a gun battery to be installed.

​

With only limited Naval effort available for this work [ie 35 design points total], it was decided that for now a minimum would be done to make the new subs seaworthy. The main effort would go into making a credible destroyer design, as they were seen as more likely to be of use in the future for escort and ASW work. The last of each of the old vessels would be completed during August and would be replaced by the new ones when the time came.

Next came a change to the standard infantry division template. To help save on equipment requirements and erase the AT gun deficit – and be able to suspend their further production to consolidate industrial effort – the AT battalions in the first brigade of each division would be replaced with a support AT company at divisional level, leaving hundreds of spare AT guns available. The field hospital and logistics companies were removed, with an engineer company brought in to aid with the defence, the support AT company taking the other slot. However, more infantry equipment would be needed, leading to a temporary shortage.

​

Another idea that the general staff and been mulling over was the creation of cavalry divisions, to give them more punch and durability. At Jakowski’s recommendation, the new template did away with the recon detachments. [Cavalry brigade template duplicated then the extra four cav brigades added, to save some design points].

The first new cavalry division was created with two co-located brigades in northern Poland straight away. The rest would be completed in a similar fashion as they were brought together behind the lines during coming days and weeks.

Note the wide range of old and new Polish and borrowed equipment in use.​

In all, the ten Polish cavalry brigades would be consolidated into five divisions. Most would assemble behind the lines on the Eastern Front and combine one by one when gathered.

​

The KBK, currently in Birjand with 4th Army, was put on trains for Bandar e’Abbas from where they would take ship back home after years away fighting in China and Iran. As they headed back home, so the mountain troops of 50 DPG took ship from Athens to Beirut, on transfer to the 4th Army in the Middle East and Iran.

Another Jakowski recommendation saw the last three divisions of the 6th Army Sinkiang also transferred to the 4th under its temporary commander Haller, freeing up the experienced General Marian Kukiel for a new job when the time came. The two infantry divisions were sent on to Iran, leaving just the one division of mountain troops to assist with the defence of Yarkand.

This was the cue for the much-awaited broader reorganisation of Field Marshal Sikorski’s Army Group East to begin.

By its end, the four armies in Army Group East were organised into three different types. 1st Army, already with a majority of the mobile units, would become Poland’s fully mobile force, designed for exploitation of any breakthrough that might be made. General Roman Abraham, imbued with the offensive spirit, would remain in charge. It now contained all the light armoured and new motorised divisions, the four newly reorganised cavalry divisions, plus the one armoured and two cavalry formations the Czechs had provided as EFs.

The 2nd Army, under Władysław Anders, contained the four ‘heavy’ divisions (which included the heavy infantry support tanks but were essentially leg-infantry formations despite the symbol) and 20 regular infantry divisions. It would provide the backbone of the defence in coming months and would be called upon to fight the expected grinding breakthrough battles for 1st Army to exploit in the offensive. 3rd Army (Sosnkowski) and 5th Army (Kowalski) were the lighter line armies. Each had seven regular divisions each at their corps, supported by a mix of the Polish militia divisions (more like reinforced brigades) and lighter Latvian or Czech EF infantry formations to bring both up to 21 divisions.

​

The idea was that 3rd and 5th Armies would be evenly distributed along the line to provide the base of the defence. As the offensive came close, the plan was as many as possible of 1st and 2nd Armies would be held back and fully prepared for the offensive. If that induced an exhausting attack by the Soviets that could then be exploited by a counter-offensive, then all the better. 2nd Army would then launch in to crack the Soviet line in at least two places if possible, hopefully exploiting the pro-Polish Byelorussian uprising, allowing 1st Army to breakthrough and conduct ‘lightning war encirclements’ if at all possible.

Field Marshal Rydz-Śmigly’s Expeditionary Army Group was now roughly in its settled form, barring a few planned adjustments along the way.

Largely in accordance with Jakowski’s advice [any changes or omissions are my responsibility], production priorities would be progressively adjusted in coming days. For now, the one factory allocated to Light SP artillery (of which there was enough in stockpile) was re-tasked to AA production. Other changes would follow.

For some time, the equipment for a proposed mechanised division (medium tanks, mechanised infantry and medium SP Artillery - not part of the Jakowski Review) had been under production with no template provided. There was now almost enough to fit out a prototype division that would eventually be allocated to 1st Army. Its initial template would be added to as time went by (and more equipment was produced). It was uncertain whether it would be ready to deploy as part of the proposed winter offensive of 1946.

​

Its main tank was the 14TP, but a range of German and Italian lend-lease vehicle helped make up its numbers. Similarly, there was some German SP artillery and the usual mix of Polish and borrowed infantry equipment, but all the personnel carriers were of the Polish C7P design. It was still awaiting delivery of support equipment, AA and trucks.

The Air Force was also subject to some consolidation. The Pustułka Mk1 interceptor would continue production as the main fighter type. Production of the Lis (Fox) Mk1 heavy fighter would be discontinued: its main role was to provide escort to Poland’s tactical bombers on any longer-range missions and it was considered there was now enough of these for that job.

​

A similar process was applied to the bomber arm: Jakowski had recommended discontinuing TAC production to concentrate on the cheaper Okoń (Perch) CAS aircraft, but the Air Force brass wanted to also retain a deeper range and more multi-purpose (though more slowly built) tactical bomber force, so the Dzik (Boar) TAC was retained. The three freed factories went to building more Lis, Dzik and AA (not shown).

The 73 remaining stockpiled Lis heavy fighters and 39 Okoń CAS were added into new or existing wings in Lwów. The stockpiled fighters were all older models (some inter-war vintage) so were left as ‘emergency spares’.

Building the lagging industrial base was also given higher priority, with new military and civilian factories programmed and sent to the top of the construction queue, being built in the provinces with the best infrastructure.

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The Americas - Mexico

The responsibility for commanding the German Expeditionary Corps in Mexico (dubbed the 7th Army) meant there was now some direct Polish interest and involvement at the tactical level. General Sosabowski – a special forces operator – looked to use his commando and camouflage skills to help his men if they found themselves lacking supply and to protect them from US CAS attacks. One of his divisions – stuck down on the Yucatan Peninsula – was however ordered to head across the Atlantic for Beirut, where it was planned they would join the 4th Army in the Middle East.

On 1 August, 2 Pz. and 340. Inf Divs still found themselves somewhat exposed in north-western Mexico by the enemy’s advances there. Both were ordered to withdraw to Hermosillo but were delayed twice that day by enemy holding attacks: both won by 2000hrs that night, with time being the only cost incurred.

​

At the same time, 198. Inf was ordered north to see if it could establish a strong river defence and firm base for their retreat, plugging a dangerous gap in the Allied line.

The next day, further north just over the border in Arizona (the last little foothold on US territory), the Anglo-German defenders risked isolation and encirclement. They had managed a strong defensive victory that morning but were under attack again two hours later, where the Polish-commanded Germans had just had to brush off another delaying attack in Sonora.

​

In the east, the Allied pocket trapped on the Gulf Coast had been whittled down to three divisions and looked to be on their last legs. They retained supply as they were actually in a port, but it seemed unclear if any of their comrades had escaped to sea: none had yet been observed getting away. [Question, when attacked in such situations and forced to retreat, are units usually destroyed? Do they ever escape to sea?]

​

2 Pz. Div reached Hermosillo at 1100hrs on 2 August and started digging in, to provide a safe base for 340. Inf (and any other Allied units to the north) to retreat through. Early the next morning, the 340th had to defeat yet another delaying attack (25 German, 357 US casualties) and were still some way of reaching safety.

They completed their long, harried march to Hermosillo on the night of 4 August. A day later and they were ordered to keep heading south-east to join 198. Inf in their defensive line. With its extra speed, 2 Pz. Div would be able to withdraw if necessary, so stayed in the screening position at Hermosillo. By then, the pocket in the east had been eliminated, with Polish observers not seeing any indications of the troops escaping to sea.

By the night of 6 August, the Allied line in northern Mexico again seemed to have stabilised. And the US seemed to have significantly thinned their lines across the front, especially in the far south-east, where a surprising gap had been left along the Texan border. Conversely, the Allies had also been thinning their lines, with a lot of units seen crossing back over the Atlantic: perhaps to Europe and/or the Middle East. As for where the US divisions had gone, there was no indication, with no big increase seen in eastern Canada or anywhere else – yet, anyway.

By 9 August, the Allies had successfully evacuated their men from Arizona, 198. Inf had reached their defensive assignment and been joined by a British division as 340. Inf still marched towards them from Hermosillo. The two other Polish-commanded German divisions to the east also held firm while the front remained fairly quiet.

​

Little would change over the next few days, similarly in Canada, where no significant developments had occurred.

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Georgia

To the surprise of many, the perimeter around Batumi remained firm by 5 August, with the Soviets either unable or unwilling to wipe it out, despite a number of previous attempts.

​

The perimeter would remain intact for the rest of the period until the end of 11 August.

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Asia and the Middle East

The Soviets continued to heavily dominate the skies over Iran, with over 1,200 aircraft (of all types) operating there on 1 August 1946, and only 200 RAF bombers contesting. It was here that the vast majority of Polish casualties from air strikes were being suffered and there was virtually nothing the Poles could do to alleviate this, other than continue to increase the spread of AA guns through their divisions.

By the evening of 2 August, two Polish divisions had (after being delayed a number of times by Soviet holding attacks) almost reached Ahvaz from the east, where an Anglo-German force was still holding on grimly. Another Polish division was almost at the port to its south, where it would try to aid the Allied defence of the last land connection to the rest of the Middle East should Ahvaz fall, as seemed likely.

16 and 29 DPs arrived in Ahvaz early on the 3rd, already somewhat disorganised after their fights to get there. Even with their arrival (in reserve for now) the defence was in big trouble, with the Anglo-German divisions having apparently been forced or pulled out and just one Iraqi division holding the line against 8 Soviet attackers. There was only one way this combat was likely to end.

​

At this point 1 and 15 DPs also began heading west, following 26 DP to the head of the Persian Gulf, to avoid being stranded in Iran if at all possible. At 1300hr that day the Iraqi defence of Ahvaz folded without the Polish division being engaged: they were forced to join the retreat to Basrah, but at least they had been spared a mauling at the hands of superior Soviet firepower.

By early on 5 August, they were in place behind the Shatt Al Arab waterway, which should afford a decent defensive boost. 26 DP was starting to dig in to the east, but 1 and 15 DPs had been detained by a Soviet spoiling attack on the sole British division left to defend while all the other Allied formations were either counter-attacking Ahvaz or (like the Poles) trying to move elsewhere.

​

By that night, the Poles (though still well enough organised) had been caught up in a general confused withdrawal, their march west abandoned as they were instead made to retreat south-east to Shiraz. The Allied grip in the sector was rapidly slipping.

​

At this juncture, 50 DPG arrived in Beirut with the mountain troops still being sent by train across to Kuwait City, where it was envisaged they would be shipped across the Gulf to help the defence of mountainous Iran.

The Soviets had pushed through to the Gulf and thus isolated Iran from the rest of the Middle East by the evening of 8 August. 1 and 15 DPs had just arrived in Shiraz, leaving the large body of Allied troops gathered there to head south to secure Bushehr – one of the remaining Iranian ports and a possible exit point should a general Polish withdrawal from Iran be ordered.

​

The next day, 26 DP was ordered out of Iran to join their comrades in Basrah, as the Soviets tried to cross the Tigris River at three different points, with the key city of Baghdad under severe threat, one crossing to its south an even-money bet and the third attempt north of Basrah being resisted more strongly. The worried Poles sent a message strongly urging the Allies to hold Baghdad as a high priority.

​

From 9-10 August, the strong Polish defence of hard-won Birjand started to come under increased Soviet pressure. A particularly heavy battle was won late on the 9th and another smaller attack defeated the following morning. The three infantry divisions were starting to fell the effects but still held strong.

​

10 and 17 DPs arrived in Iranshah from Yarkand on the morning of the 10th and were ordered to continue their train trip to Bushehr. Birjand was under determined attack again, which would be defeated the following evening.

​

Iran was edging closer to surrender, while the MAB kept up the pressure in Western China and Tibet with another front-wide offensive.

​

On the evening of the 11th, the situation in Iraq had stabilised a little. Baghdad had been reinforced and was now holding, as was the middle crossing attempt of the Tigris, while the southern one had been defeated.

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The Pacific

While the US remained contained in Indonesia, the latest Japanese invasion of New Guinea had fanned out by 10 August as the Australians and their allies tried to contain the breakout.

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The Eastern Front

Despite its reorganisation and the deployment of new aircraft mentioned earlier, the Polish Air Force was not yet ready to commit to the contested air zones in the East. They would be preserved for the decisive moment (either in a desperate defence or, as hoped, for the winter offensive). But for now, with the front quiet few if any casualties were being taken there from enemy air action.

​

In any case, the Ukraine was too heavily controlled by the Soviets, though Belarus was being more evenly contested by the RAF. The PAF could muster around 900 fighters of all types at that point. Other Allied air forces were present but not too active for now, with Nowogródek somewhat overcrowded.

By 3 August all remained quiet on the Eastern Front, with no battles in progress from Estonia to the Romanian border. The situation was little changed by the 9th, so it was deemed timely for General Kukiel – a highly skilled defensive commander returning from previous injury and then brief service in Sinkiang – to take over 5th Army in eastern Poland.

​

Up in northern Russia, the British Archangelsk landing were being more fully sealed off by the Soviets with further progress curtailed and counter-attacks begun. The British did not seem to have reinforced the sector: perhaps it was intended more as a diversion than a serious assault?

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Industry, Research and Reorganisation

After the initial adjustments of the Jakowski Review, on 1 August the military production allocations were as follows:

Infantry equipment, TAC, interceptors and AA production had all been increased, though it would take a while for efficiency to raise output to the maximum level. Medium tank and SP artillery plus mechanised carriers were kept going to help fit out the new mechanised division. AT production was kept ticking along for now until the recent reorganisation had shaken out and the new requirements were clearer.

On 3 August, AT production was cancelled with 353 guns now in stockpile after the reorganisation with the spare factory temporarily allocated to medium SP artillery production to speed the equipment provision for the mech div. Apart from the AA rollout (-1,000), the other current deficiency was in infantry equipment (-369), needed for new units and replacements, hence its ramping up previously.

There was big news on 4 August when Poland’s first operational jet fighter – the PZL.71 Orzeł (Eagle) – design was completed. The first production model would have extended range (to match the current Pustułka Mk1 piston-engine interceptor) and an improved engine (all that could be afforded in design points).

​

Due to initial start-up inefficiencies production was scaled down from 8 to 5 factories when the Pustułka (Kestrel) was discontinued. The saved effort from that and ramping back on artillery production was sunk into AA and more infantry equipment: if all that extra manpower was going to be used for new divisions (or supplementing the current militia establishment) then a lot more of that was going to be needed.

On the 5th, on Jakowski’s advice, the Governments-in-Exile of Pakistan and China were both tapped for manpower support, ostensibly for the garrisons Poland had to maintain in Byelorussia and Romania, effectively adding 113,000 to the Polish reserve pool.

​

The current artillery surplus allowed for a battalion of field artillery to be added to all 20 militia divisions the same day, with the rollout starting immediately, beefing up those formations for the demands ahead.

​

And that evening the KBK took ship in Bandar e’Abbas for the long voyage around Arabia and through the Suez to Athens for their return home. By 8 August, the new mountain division – 113 DPG – had all its equipment issued and had finished 41% of its training, due to deploy in late October.

 

[SSmith]

The surprise British landings on the White Sea coast in northern Russia took place in around mid-July, though the Poles did not become aware of them until a low-key cable from their Embassy in London communicated the existence of the new front after being informed by the British at midnight on 31 July. A report was provided showing how the lodgement had expanded unopposed by 22 July, but no more details than that were forthcoming. It was seen as a typically Churchillian amphibious scheme 'at the periphery'.

I doubt very much the British war cabinet was informed about this venture either! The AI certainly has ambition even if it lacks judgement. As a distraction, this is probably very helpful as I can imagine a lot of Soviet divisions redeploying over long distances right now. Unfortunately the AI probably won't have the sense to evacuate later on...

The main effort would go into making a credible destroyer design, as they were seen as more likely to be of use in the future for escort and ASW work.

Yes, I concur. Destroyers to escort troop ships and counter Soviet subs.

As the offensive came close, the plan was as many as possible of 1st and 2nd Armies would be held back and fully prepared for the offensive. If that induced an exhausting attack by the Soviets that could then be exploited by a counter-offensive, then all the better. 2nd Army would then launch in to crack the Soviet line in at least two places if possible, hopefully exploiting the pro-Polish Byelorussian uprising, allowing 1st Army to breakthrough and conduct ‘lightning war encirclements’ if at all possible.

A solid plan... and if the Soviets do attack and the front line falters, that just becomes the trigger to start the offensive. Here's hoping the Byelorussian uprising will be worth the wait!

Jakowski had recommended discontinuing TAC production to concentrate on the cheaper Okoń (Perch) CAS aircraft, but the Air Force brass wanted to also retain a deeper range and more multi-purpose (though more slowly built) tactical bomber force, so the Dzik (Boar) TAC was retained.

Yes, I would prefer the flexibility of the longer range as well.

And the US seemed to have significantly thinned their lines across the front, especially in the far south-east, where a surprising gap had been left along the Texan border. As for where the US divisions had gone, there was no indication, with no big increase seen in eastern Canada or anywhere else – yet, anyway.

Unless they're redeploying to Canada, I really don't know. The Americans don't have the problem of balancing a lot of separate theatres in the same way the Allies do.

By that night, the Poles (though still well enough organised) had been caught up in a general confused withdrawal, their march west abandoned as they were instead made to retreat south-east to Shiraz. The Allied grip in the sector was rapidly slipping.

The next day, 26 DP was ordered out of Iran to join their comrades in Basrah, as the Soviets tried to cross the Tigris River at three different points, with the key city of Baghdad under severe threat, one crossing to its south an even-money bet and the third attempt north of Basrah being resisted more strongly.

This really isn't going very well, is it?

While the US remained contained in Indonesia, the latest Japanese invasion of New Guinea had fanned out by 10 August as the Australians and their allies tried to contain the breakout.

At least the Australians have secured the ports in New Guinea now, and they've done so very quickly. This limits Japan's potential supply throughput, though past experience suggests the Allies will still contrive to lose this one somehow.

There was big news on 4 August when Poland’s first operational jet fighter – the PZL.71 Orzeł (Eagle) – design was completed.

There's no doubt the PAF needs every possible technological advantage but I am concerned how long it will take to ramp up production?

 

[Historywhiz]

[Question, when attacked in such situations and forced to retreat, are units usually destroyed? Do they eve escape to sea?]

Hahahahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ha….
Ah… yes, they almost always are destroyed. Any escapes are usually freak occurrences caused by the unit having been previously ordered to another location and then not being part of the battle for whatever reason. In normal circumstances the AI does not possess the intelligence necessary to avoid dying in any sort of encirclement, to the frustration of any player allies. I would even go so far as to say that I suspect Paradox deliberately knocks a couple dozen relative IQ points off the AI when an encirclement situation is imminent because they know that the thrill of a player-caused encirclement is one of the main attractions of the game. Just winds up being a case of “the game is brilliant when I encircle and destroy, it’s $&@!#%@$! when my allies and possibly some of my units get encircled and destroyed (but not my fault and I can at least feel smarter than the computer).”

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Hahahahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ha….
Ah… yes, they almost always are destroyed. Any escapes are usually freak occurrences caused by the unit having been previously ordered to another location and then not being part of the battle for whatever reason. In normal circumstances the AI does not possess the intelligence necessary to avoid dying in any sort of encirclement, to the frustration of any player allies. I would even go so far as to say that I suspect Paradox deliberately knocks a couple dozen relative IQ points off the AI when an encirclement situation is imminent because they know that the thrill of a player-caused encirclement is one of the main attractions of the game. Just winds up being a case of “the game is brilliant when I encircle and destroy, it’s $&@!#%@$! when my allies and possibly some of my units get encircled and destroyed (but not my fault and I can at least feel smarter than the computer).”

Bullfilter should know this, as this was covered in Imperial Cheese, where Colnel Kaboom somehow managed to escape from China in similar circumstances despite the game usually killing all units in such situations.

 

[Midnite Duke]

I see a light whether it is the flickering candle of hope or an onrushing express locomotive, that I know nothing about. Thank you for another tale of Polish perseverance.

 

[TheButterflyComposer]

Looking back, maybe relying on Poland to be the linchpin upon which the free and democratic wirkd rests was a bad idea...

 

[Bullfilter]

Looking back, maybe relying on Poland to be the linchpin upon which the free and democratic wirkd rests was a bad idea...

In what way … ‘democratic’ values, decision making, execution, leaving them to carry the east while wasting themselves in China and North America? All or none of the above?

 

[jak7139]

Archangelsk

More fronts are always good, hopefully.

The UK did launch a naval invasion into Archangelsk around this period in my own test game, so seems this was already planned by the AI.

[aka @jak7139 – thanks so much mate!]

You're welcome! Always happy to help!

[Question, when attacked in such situations and forced to retreat, are units usually destroyed? Do they ever escape to sea?]

They can escape, but usually don't, as @Historywhiz has pointed out.

And the US seemed to have significantly thinned their lines across the front, especially in the far south-east, where a surprising gap had been left along the Texan border.

Good. But also ominous.

Iran isn't looking good. Let's hope your offensive can take the pressure off.

 

[Chac1]

A bit late to this chapter but pleased to see a tip to toe review courtesy @jak7139 aiding the Polish forces. That was a pleasant surprise. Looking forward to the tactical and strategic results of these shifts.

By the way, does any other air force have jet fighters yet besides the Poles? Are these fighters this play-through's version of the Me 262?

 

[Bullfilter]

I looked up something similar (might have had a pic in an earlier episode, when we started the research) a while back and it looked more like one of those early Migs, iirc. Single engine, air intake through the nose. Just on my phone now for a week, so can’t easily check.

 

[El Pip]

British troops disembark in Archangelsk in an initially unopposed surprise landing in mid-July 1946. The landings were kept so quiet by the British that the Polish Government did not become aware of them until the end of the month!

On the one hand, three sergeants suggests no shortage of experience. On the other hand, the first chap only has one leg and the middle one has his rifle held together with duct tape. I'm amazed they achieved so much.

Yet another tale of slow collapse and the oncoming train getting ever larger. I doubt even Polish jet fighters are going to make much of a difference at this point, though the Soviets will no doubt be appreciative when they loot the tech and drag it back to the Motherland.

 

[Bullfilter]

Hi all, an update: I’m back from my week away at a cricket tournament but alas, in the fourth match I gave myself a nasty ankle sprain (both sides of it) resulting in my world narrowing a bit to a moon boot, ice packs and pain relief for now. And negotiating a two leg (pun intended) return flight today. With a dodgy knee on the other leg, which led to the stumble that ruined my good one!

So, in essence it not only took a week out of my schedule but it will slow my return to full steam a bit. Plus the Olympics being on. But no worries, the schedule will be resumed in due course.

 

[jak7139]

I hope the strain of your sprain isn't too annoying. Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Bullfilter]

Fortunately, the images were mainly done for the second half of the month (just needed a few illustrations added and a bit of fine tuning) so I was off to a head start with this next chapter after my sporting sabbatical/injury farce. Some more comment feedback first:

I doubt very much the British war cabinet was informed about this venture either! The AI certainly has ambition even if it lacks judgement. As a distraction, this is probably very helpful as I can imagine a lot of Soviet divisions redeploying over long distances right now. Unfortunately the AI probably won't have the sense to evacuate later on...

Yes, I doubt it will go anywhere but it is a good distraction, I think. Puts some uncertainty in AI Trotsky's 'mind' and time spent in transit is time wasted for any unit, at least. And the Brits did secure a port early on, which will help prolong the duration of the operation. If, as you say (and is discussed below) an orderly evacuation later may not happen.

Yes, I concur. Destroyers to escort troop ships and counter Soviet subs.

I toyed with the idea of reducing naval output to preserve resource consumption, but the idea of any factory/dockyard not being used makes me itchy

A solid plan... and if the Soviets do attack and the front line falters, that just becomes the trigger to start the offensive. Here's hoping the Byelorussian uprising will be worth the wait!

Yes, we have some hopes but I've never had one fire before (or attempted one in HOI4) so will see what happens.

Yes, I would prefer the flexibility of the longer range as well.

I thought so, though it may not have been as effective in terms of resource consumption and construction time.

Unless they're redeploying to Canada, I really don't know. The Americans don't have the problem of balancing a lot of separate theatres in the same way the Allies do.

The concern is they may be gathering troops for an invasion somewhere in Europe or even North Africa. They already have Bermuda as a stepping stone. But I don't know what 'normal' behaviour is for the US in such non-historical situations when they are at war with the 'EU' while being co-belligerents with the Japanese. Will find out, I guess. I thought they might have been reluctant to do too much without finishing up Canada and Mexico first, but they seem unable/unwilling to do either in a timely fashion.

This really isn't going very well, is it?

No, another slow drowning under relentless Communist attacks.

At least the Australians have secured the ports in New Guinea now, and they've done so very quickly. This limits Japan's potential supply throughput, though past experience suggests the Allies will still contrive to lose this one somehow.

Though they did manage to secure that one port in the north (Lae, perhaps?) so that has facilitated the expansion of their beachhead.

There's no doubt the PAF needs every possible technological advantage but I am concerned how long it will take to ramp up production?

Yes, it will take a while, but in the meantime we have a reasonable fighter force and older planes in reserve that hasn't been taking any casualties. We've decided to go for the quality over quantity approach for Poland, hope for some Allied air support when the time comes, and will see if that works.

Hahahahahahahahahahaha! Hahahahahahahahahahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ha….
Ah… yes, they almost always are destroyed. Any escapes are usually freak occurrences caused by the unit having been previously ordered to another location and then not being part of the battle for whatever reason. In normal circumstances the AI does not possess the intelligence necessary to avoid dying in any sort of encirclement, to the frustration of any player allies. I would even go so far as to say that I suspect Paradox deliberately knocks a couple dozen relative IQ points off the AI when an encirclement situation is imminent because they know that the thrill of a player-caused encirclement is one of the main attractions of the game. Just winds up being a case of “the game is brilliant when I encircle and destroy, it’s $&@!#%@$! when my allies and possibly some of my units get encircled and destroyed (but not my fault and I can at least feel smarter than the computer).”

Quite funny: I'd rather it fought hard and smart in these situations. At least when it's AI v AI (as the bulk of this war has been) that evens out a bit. And I won't be reluctant or apologetic if I actually managed to perform an encirclement against the Soviets if the opportunity arises!

Bullfilter should know this, as this was covered in Imperial Cheese, where Colnel Kaboom somehow managed to escape from China in similar circumstances despite the game usually killing all units in such situations.

Hmm, hadn't quite recalled that, but it seems to be par for the course.

I see a light whether it is the flickering candle of hope or an onrushing express locomotive, that I know nothing about. Thank you for another tale of Polish perseverance.

I like the uncertainty. We won't let it go (or go on forever) without trying something dramatic. Like recreating the Polish super-state of the early modern age!

Looking back, maybe relying on Poland to be the linchpin upon which the free and democratic wirkd rests was a bad idea...

In what way … ‘democratic’ values, decision making, execution, leaving them to carry the east while wasting themselves in China and North America? All or none of the above?

Still not sure exactly what that was getting at, but the Polish High Command will try to prove the military side of that wrong, anyway.

More fronts are always good, hopefully.

The UK did launch a naval invasion into Archangelsk around this period in my own test game, so seems this was already planned by the AI.

Yes, from my perspective the more the better. Although ironically, I'd actually like to see the Soviets dashing themselves to death a bit more on the Eastwall before we try to strike at them in the winter.

You're welcome! Always happy to help!

They can escape, but usually don't, as @Historywhiz has pointed out.

<palms face>

Good. But also ominous.

Iran isn't looking good. Let's hope your offensive can take the pressure off.

Per above, my thought was for something attempted across the Atlantic, but doing so before completing Canada and Mexico would seem a little imprudent. The more they faff around, the better.

A bit late to this chapter but pleased to see a tip to toe review courtesy @jak7139 aiding the Polish forces. That was a pleasant surprise. Looking forward to the tactical and strategic results of these shifts.

Not at all - it was always going to take me a while to get back to commenting anyway - even before I crippled myself last week!


It should all help to prepare for the big offensive: a reorg for that was always on the cards and now we can hope for a good old Polish glory or death episode in the winter of 1946/47

On the one hand, three sergeants suggests no shortage of experience. On the other hand, the first chap only has one leg and the middle one has his rifle held together with duct tape. I'm amazed they achieved so much.

One can only hope the rifle had been wrapped in waterproofing to prevent corrosion. With any luck it will be used at some point!

Yet another tale of slow collapse and the oncoming train getting ever larger. I doubt even Polish jet fighters are going to make much of a difference at this point, though the Soviets will no doubt be appreciative when they loot the tech and drag it back to the Motherland.

We will tap dance on Lenin's mausoleum in Red Square before this is over! Or so say out propagandists. No towels are being thrown in. March on, Dabrowski!

I hope the strain of your sprain isn't too annoying. Hope you feel better soon!

Not good for now but it should just be a matter of time.

To All: Thanks for your comments and patience, the next chapter is ready and will be going up soon. First, here's another post-script of something that happened earlier in 1946 but was neither reported (by the game) or noticed by me until now: it looks like Roosevelt shuffled off his mortal coil in the second half of February 1946 and was replaced by Truman.

If only there was some way of negotiating a peace and combined front against the Communists with the him!

 

[Bullfilter]

Chapter Eighty-one: Always Something New and Old
(12-31 August 1946)

=======​

North America

By mid-August 1946, the Allies remained on the back foot in northern Mexico but their position had not collapsed as the US thinning out along the front remained unexplained. The line was generally quiet, while a seeming yawning gap had opened up along the south-eastern border with Texas along the Rio Grande.

​

While in the south, the US failure to secure a port meant the total of 13 divisions landed there seemed trapped as their supplies steadily dwindled and the Allies had mustered sufficient divisions to contain both the beachheads.

​

Five days later, the attack on the western of the two pockets had eventually ground the defenders down, resulting in eight US divisions being forced to surrender. Some welcome news for the Allied cause.

​

At the same time, the Allies had managed to probe across the Rio Grande, though had encountered at least four US divisions in reserve positions behind the line and the initial bridgehead was having trouble holding on under the US counter-attack.

By the following afternoon the counter-attack had been repelled and another division was across the Rio Grande along the coast to widen the bridgehead, though it remained thinly held.

​

However by 29 August, both the crossings had been withdrawn and the US had recreated the previous ‘DMZ’ in both provinces and the line was only thinly held by both sides.

And while it was only one small contact in isolation, an Allied report of an engagement in the Mid-Atlantic on 31 August, where two German U-Boat wolfpacks had found what appeared to be an American troop convoy had some analysts wondering whether it might be an early indicator of US intentions for all those troops withdrawn from the Mexican front.

​

As the month ended, all was quiet both in Mexico and Canada as both sides seemed to be focused elsewhere. The only change of substance had been the surrender of the US landing in the south earlier in the month.

​

A closer look at northern Mexico showed how far both sides had reduced their numbers in recent days.

=======​

The Middle East and the Black Sea

Early on 14 August, 26 DP had completed its withdrawal across the from Iran into Basrah and was sent north to reinforce the defence of the Tigris River in the south-east of the Baghdad region. The Iraqi capital now seemed to be strongly held, though the line along the Tigris from there to Basrah looked a little vulnerable.

​

The last Iranian port at the head of the Gulf, just east of Basrah, fell to the Soviets on 20 August, though Allied units in Basrah were attempting a counter-attack against the Soviet advance guard that had taken it. Two days later the Soviets had reinforced and six divisions now held the port as the attack faltered and would eventually fail by the evening of 22 August.

​

26 DP had reinforced the Tigris defence line north of Basrah by then and it was just as well. In the preceding days the Soviets had forced their way across the Tigris east of Karbala and only a 26 DP and the German 711. Infanterie were holding in south-east Baghdad province, where the Tigris joined the Euphrates.

The Georgia lodgement had continued to hold on grimly and at that stage contained a heavy concentration of Allied divisions resisting heavy Soviet attacks towards Batumi from the north and east.

​

And a new Allied diversion had begun in the Black Sea, with early reports of attempted Allied landing in the south of the Crimean Peninsula. These first landings were being led by French units under General Pierre Hoch.

​

In Iraq, the Soviet crossing of the Tigris prompted 16 DP to be detached from its defence of Basrah – which was by then heavily garrisoned by other Allied divisions – to try to hold the Allied line in front of the Euphrates, in the hope the Allies might eventually be able to restore the Tigris defensive line.

​

South-east Baghdad was still under attack in what had developed into a major battle that was won by the Allied defenders five days later after the Soviets took heavy casualties.

In Crimea, the initial French landing attempts had failed but now the Germans were in the Sea of Azov and attempting to land at the north of the peninsula.

​

The Soviets were however on the attack along the Tigris, both in Kurdistan and Iraq. The Allies were mainly holding though the situation east of Mosul was becoming concerning and the battle for Karbala was evenly poised.

As August was ending, the Allied landing attempts on the northern coast of Crimea had intensified, with British units joining in and four landing sites now under attack.

​

Then by midnight on the 31st, three British divisions were ashore east of the Kerch Strait, with the other four landings on northern Crimea still under way and new direct assaults on Sevastopol and Odessa had begun.

​

If the Allies could get a beachhead in Odessa and expand it to the (neutral) Romanian border, Allied military access should allow it to be substantially reinforced.

In Georgia, it seemed many of the Allied units that had been there must have been used for the recent spate of Black Sea landings, but the thinned defence was still holding for now, if under pressure, sustained in part by military access through Turkey.

=======​

Iran

The heaviest Polish engagement in the region remained in Iran, which by mid-August 1946 was cut off by land from the rest of the Middle East and teetered on the edge of capitulation. In the west, the Poles were trying to help the Allies hold the cities of Shiraz and the key port of Bushehr, now the principal link with Iraq and Kuwait.

In the east, the Poles still held onto the much-contested Birjand with five divisions, repelling yet another Soviet attack on 14 August (196 Polish, 671 Soviet casualties). A new attack was soon being made.

On the night of 17 August, 50 DPG – the mountain formation redirected from Poland during the Jakowski reorganisation earlier in the month – had arrived in Kuwait and began the short crossing of the Persian Gulf to Bushehr. 10 and 17 DPs were at the same time in transit by rail from eastern Iran but had been caught up in a Soviet attack on the rail line.

​

Due to their disorganisation in transport mode, they would be forced to withdraw south-east towards Bandar e’Abbas the next day, slowing down their progress to reinforce their comrades at Shiraz and Bushehr.

The latest Soviet attack on Birjand had been defeated on 19 August but the casualties were starting to mount (782 Polish, 1,890 Soviet) and one Polish division had been forced to retreat. Of course, a new attack was already being made on 20 August.

50 DPG arrived in Bushehr on 21 August and began reorganising there in the mountains surrounding the port. The Soviets had closed up to the port and a first enemy probe on it was defeated easily enough (11 Allied, 725 Soviet casualties) on the 22nd, though only two Polish and one British division now held on, the rest having been withdrawn by the Allies.

And in the last few days, the situation had deteriorated significantly in Birjand as the constant Soviet pressure, including air support, finally saw the defence fade by the afternoon of the 23rd, with just the mountain specialists of 21 DPG left in the fight.

​

2 and 7 DPs were belatedly ordered up to either reinforce 21 DPG or slip into the city after the defence broke at midnight on the 24th. It was in fact a counter-attack that was mounted when the Soviets occupied Birjand on 27 August, with the Poles quickly defeating the Soviet advance guard at midday.

​

While that was happening, in the west the Allies seemed to be landing troops back into Bushehr while the Soviets attacked Shiraz, where the Polish division had been forced to retreat but the British still held the city. Fars was under attack again, even after the earlier battle had seen each side lose over 4,000 men by the 22nd.

​

The Poles were now moving to reinforce both Bushehr and Bandar e’Abbas, the last two Iranian ports still in Allied hands. And calling on the Allies to rush reinforcements to defend Shiraz.

But the Allies were unable to rescue Shiraz before the defence faltered on the afternoon of the 27th and then failed a day later with the city falling into Soviet hands.

​

Also on the evening of the 28th, the Soviets had managed to reinforce Birjand and the prospects of a second Polish attack turned from positive that morning to negative. This became too much for 2 and 7 DPs and the attack was cancelled as casualties began to mount and the situation elsewhere in Iran deteriorated.

​

The Poles began to thin out their presence on northern Kerman on the morning of 30 August, leaving screening forces while the rest headed further south to set up delaying lines and ensure there would be no cutting off of the major part of the 4th Army if things worsened rapidly.

Shiraz was occupied by the enemy on the evening of 30 August and 1 DP was ordered into a last desperate counter-attack, despite the unfavourable mountain terrain. 50 DPG, by then well dug in to the mountains of Bushehr, was not risked in this last-ditch gamble to head off Iranian surrender.

​

With the writing on the wall, the thinning out in the east increased in pace that evening as the most exhausted divisions from the fighting in Birjand were sent further south to recover. The Allies till retained a large presence in central Iran, including 11 South African formations in Fars alone.

​

The inevitable happened after midnight: Iranian capitulation. Some unoccupied provinces in the south-east were transferred to nominal Soviet control and some of the rail lines in the south-east leading to Pakistan were damaged, even though held by an Allied division.

​

But in general, the remaining Allied dispositions were not greatly affected, at first anyway, with the Battle for Iran continuing – if likely doomed. The short attack by 1 DP on Shiraz was clearly not going to succeed and was called off at 0700hr on the 31st.

=======​

Asia-Pacific

On 18 August 1946 PLA troops managed to cut off a pocket of four Allied divisions in the south of the Western China front as they started pushing on the Tibetan capital of Lhasa. At first, the Allied divisions were generally in good condition and well dug in, but they were already starting to draw down on their limited supplies.

​

From Western to Central Asia and onto Western China, on 22 August the Communists were on the offensive, except for the already mentioned landings in Crimea. The Allies were holding in most bot not all of these battles.

​

Towards the end of the month, the Japanese launched yet another amphibious attack, this time on Okinawa again, with exiled Korean and Manchurian troops mounting the defence.

​

While the main line in Western China was generally holding, Tibet looked to be in trouble and the southern pocket was under attack from three sides.

​

Lhasa itself was under attack and in danger of falling as the month ended, with the southern pocket still fighting hard but with little realistic chance of avoiding defeat and destruction.

​

On Okinawa, the initial Japanese attempt to take the Naha by direct assault had not yet succeeded but a division had made it ashore to the north to reinforce the seaborne attack. The battle was looking a bit difficult but the defenders may still be able to turn it around. And the large Allied fleet there seemed to be unable to disrupt the invasion, either from lack of supplies or inexcusable inertia.

​

There had been little change in the situation in New Guinea or Indonesia over the last few weeks.

=======​

Eastern Front

With all their other distractions, the Soviets had not made any serious offensive effort on the main part of the Eastern Front, which remained largely quiet for the rest of the month after a relatively small probe in Bessarabia that was easily defeated on 15 August, over a 1,000 Soviet troops killed for no Allied casualties.

The apparently diversionary Archangel landing had been contained by the Soviets, who were gradually compressing it by 22 August.

​

The KBK landed in Athens on 31 August and began its train trip north to complete the last of the cavalry division mergers.

=======​

Industry and Diplomacy

The first of the new destroyer designs (1940 hull Mark 1), the ORP Orkan, began construction on 12 August 1946. By this stage import requirements for steel and chromium left 22 civilian factories available for construction and repairs.

With the German elections due to occur in September, by 21 August the Communist KPD led the polls with 435, followed by the Polish-aligned conservative DNVP on 34%, the governing Zentrum democrats on 21%. Though a Communist victory would be politically uncomfortable, for the purposes of the war it should not affect the German war effort.

With AA remaining the main logistic shortfall, another round of lend-lease negotiations won minuscule (0.25 unit) promises from Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia. Since January, the UK had delivered 45 and France 71 20mm flak guns but none of the other smaller donors (Hungary and China, who did not have a valid transport path for their excess gear) had delivered any.

A new military factory came on line on 26 August and was dedicated to AA production, bringing that to eight but with efficiency that was still below 50%. And in Byelorussia, the planned coup was still on course for being launched in Mozyr on 2 December 1946, which if successful would trigger the major Polish winter offensive.

By the end of August, Poland had 35 military factories and 12 dockyards on line, with AA guns the only equipment still in deficit. The only aircraft being produced now were the new jet fighters and tactical bombers. 164 old piston fighters being kept as surplus, for use as emergency replacements if needed during the coming offensive.

​

In order to speed up production, the national focus was switched back to aircraft production.

=======​

Summary

At the end of the month, fighting in Eurasia was largely concentrated in three hotspots: in Crimea, along the Tigris River and in Western China.

​

Over the whole of August 1946, the enemy (the Communists and the US combined) had suffered more casualties than the Allies. In the Polish-Soviet comparison, casualties had been very low for the Poles (only 9,000 for the month), while those of the Soviets were now being measured in less accurate units, having risen above 1,000,000 caused by the Poles since the start of the war. This was an overall ration of around 6:1, but closer to even in August – almost all in Iran in more even battles and a large majority to air attack rather than ground combat, on a small sample size.

​

Thanks to the garrison contributions from Pakistan and China and natural net growth, Polish manpower reserves were now above the 1.17 million mark, while those of the Soviets were estimated at around 1.675 million.

Another month had ended with slow deterioration for the Allies around the periphery but a solid position in Poland, while Allied landings nibbled away on the Black and White Seas. Neither optimism nor despair reigned in Warsaw. There was still a chance to turn things in the Allies’ favour in Europe at least before the end of 1946. Would it be enough? This remained a moot point.

 

[Midnite Duke]

Moscow's most vocal complainer would be rendered mute this month. Thanks