1940 (the diary will take a slightly more condensed form since little goes on that directly affects Sweden for a bit)
April 20
While Swedish troops are withdrawing from the front lines and returning home, the Germans are renewing their offensives in France, pushing the allied forces to the brink. In the east, the war finally breaks the deadlock, as Japanese forces move southwards, capturing all of the Chinese east coast.
May 1
Plans are made to reorganize the Swedish army to strengthen its numbers with a new armoured division and a higher quality of equipment. The black day cannot be allowed to repeat in a future conflict.
May 15
The allies are falling back all along the front, planning to reorganize in new defensive positions.
May 25
The Germans control most of northern france, though Paris still holds out. The Maginot line is completely cut off from reinforcements, trapping an unknown number of French units in their trenches.
May 26
Unexpectedly, Japan and the Manchukuo joins the Axis. Great concerns are voiced in the Swedish government as this effectively puts the Axis in a world dominating position. Public oppinion begins to split along three lines.
One promotes isolationalism and neutrality, the second demands that Sweden take action against the fascist powers, threatening to overrun Europe, while the last sees the Axis alliance as the main force against the hated Soviet Union.
June 1
Japanese forces begin to march inlands in the south. It is not expected that this offensive will accomplish much
June 17
Italy joins the Axis as well, adding formidable naval power to the alliance. A French politician urges Sweden to intervene but no public request is done, and without such, the Swedish public will never support an intervention into war, when the losses of the winter war are still painfully fresh in memory.
June 18
Causing great outrage in Germany, Yugoslavia renounces their alliance with the fascist powers and declares for the western allies.
June 21
Yugoslavian troops advance into Romania, the latter being largely unprepared for fighting as most of its army is deployed in France.
Italian troops begin to launch offensives against weakly held French colonies in Africa, obviously using the war as a way to acquire colonial possessions.
June 26
Romanian counterattacks repel the Yugoslavian invasion. While Italian forces continue to advance on the French, British colonial troops begin a series of raids and spoiling attacks against Italian colonies, particularly in southern Africa.
July 1
Further German advances push the allies back relentlessly. Several Italian colonial provinces overrun by British troops. Pictures of a young Italian corporal surrendering adorn newspapers world wide.
July 12
Voices in the Swedish ministry of defense urge for the formation of large-scale airforce units, though it is estimated that currently, such weapons will be limited use in Scandinavian terrain.
July 19
Venezuela joins the allies, though this is seen as little more than an empty gesture on their side.
July 21
After fierce fighting, the French are left with little option but to surrender. A new fascist government is installed, with its seat in Vichy. Huge numbers of allied troops are taken prisoner as the allied front collapse. Britain declares that it will keep on fighting till democracy is safe again. With the axis powers now virtually ruling Europe, tension rises in Sweden.
July 23
Italian troops begin an offensive into Yugoslavia, pushing back the inferior enemy quickly. In Sweden, analysis of the winter war leads to a number of radical revisions in field medicine and leads to the formation of a number of field hospitals.
August 5
With Yugoslavia hardpressed to defend themselves in a two front war, the world watches as the nation fights on its own against superior enemies.
In Africa, the Italians suffer greatly from British attacks, loosing more and more ground.
Siam declares its support for the Axis, though it is not expected that it will deploy any troops in the war.
August 13
First prototype of an easily transportable bridge unit is unveiled. With these, engineer units can quickly establish bridges across even wide rivers, enabling assault forces to quickly cover ground. Each division is to have a small engineer company attached for this purpose. There is urgings to establish entire engineer brigades, but these are seen as having too little impact on combat actions to warrant such a decision.
In Africa, almost all of Italy's southern colonies are overrun, leaving only scattered pockets of resistance.
August 24
Afghanistan joins the Axis powers
September 4
The Axis declares war on Denmark and Norway. This causes enormous shock in Sweden, as their scandinavian brethren are now under attack. In some towns, riots threaten to break out as cries for military intervention or neutrality break out.
The Swedish government is in a difficult position...
The severe losses are not yet forgotten, and entry into another foreign war could be disastrous for the public willingness to contribute to the industrial victory. Yet, Sweden, as the most industrialized nation in Scandinavia and with a highly developed army, should not simply look on, as its brethren are overrun by the fascists.
Of final concern is the possibility of a later Axis attack on Russia, and the potential for a joint operation to liberate occupied Finnish territory.
(this is the readers chance to reflect public opinion and the swedish politicians. What do you think should be done ? Try to respond "in character", reflecting newspapers,the civilian public, or swedish ministers or military leaders, and with a little bias or nationalist pride, rather than in cold game terms
)
April 20
While Swedish troops are withdrawing from the front lines and returning home, the Germans are renewing their offensives in France, pushing the allied forces to the brink. In the east, the war finally breaks the deadlock, as Japanese forces move southwards, capturing all of the Chinese east coast.
May 1
Plans are made to reorganize the Swedish army to strengthen its numbers with a new armoured division and a higher quality of equipment. The black day cannot be allowed to repeat in a future conflict.
May 15
The allies are falling back all along the front, planning to reorganize in new defensive positions.
May 25
The Germans control most of northern france, though Paris still holds out. The Maginot line is completely cut off from reinforcements, trapping an unknown number of French units in their trenches.
May 26
Unexpectedly, Japan and the Manchukuo joins the Axis. Great concerns are voiced in the Swedish government as this effectively puts the Axis in a world dominating position. Public oppinion begins to split along three lines.
One promotes isolationalism and neutrality, the second demands that Sweden take action against the fascist powers, threatening to overrun Europe, while the last sees the Axis alliance as the main force against the hated Soviet Union.
June 1
Japanese forces begin to march inlands in the south. It is not expected that this offensive will accomplish much
June 17
Italy joins the Axis as well, adding formidable naval power to the alliance. A French politician urges Sweden to intervene but no public request is done, and without such, the Swedish public will never support an intervention into war, when the losses of the winter war are still painfully fresh in memory.
June 18
Causing great outrage in Germany, Yugoslavia renounces their alliance with the fascist powers and declares for the western allies.
June 21
Yugoslavian troops advance into Romania, the latter being largely unprepared for fighting as most of its army is deployed in France.
Italian troops begin to launch offensives against weakly held French colonies in Africa, obviously using the war as a way to acquire colonial possessions.
June 26
Romanian counterattacks repel the Yugoslavian invasion. While Italian forces continue to advance on the French, British colonial troops begin a series of raids and spoiling attacks against Italian colonies, particularly in southern Africa.
July 1
Further German advances push the allies back relentlessly. Several Italian colonial provinces overrun by British troops. Pictures of a young Italian corporal surrendering adorn newspapers world wide.
July 12
Voices in the Swedish ministry of defense urge for the formation of large-scale airforce units, though it is estimated that currently, such weapons will be limited use in Scandinavian terrain.
July 19
Venezuela joins the allies, though this is seen as little more than an empty gesture on their side.
July 21
After fierce fighting, the French are left with little option but to surrender. A new fascist government is installed, with its seat in Vichy. Huge numbers of allied troops are taken prisoner as the allied front collapse. Britain declares that it will keep on fighting till democracy is safe again. With the axis powers now virtually ruling Europe, tension rises in Sweden.
July 23
Italian troops begin an offensive into Yugoslavia, pushing back the inferior enemy quickly. In Sweden, analysis of the winter war leads to a number of radical revisions in field medicine and leads to the formation of a number of field hospitals.
August 5
With Yugoslavia hardpressed to defend themselves in a two front war, the world watches as the nation fights on its own against superior enemies.
In Africa, the Italians suffer greatly from British attacks, loosing more and more ground.
Siam declares its support for the Axis, though it is not expected that it will deploy any troops in the war.
August 13
First prototype of an easily transportable bridge unit is unveiled. With these, engineer units can quickly establish bridges across even wide rivers, enabling assault forces to quickly cover ground. Each division is to have a small engineer company attached for this purpose. There is urgings to establish entire engineer brigades, but these are seen as having too little impact on combat actions to warrant such a decision.
In Africa, almost all of Italy's southern colonies are overrun, leaving only scattered pockets of resistance.
August 24
Afghanistan joins the Axis powers
September 4
The Axis declares war on Denmark and Norway. This causes enormous shock in Sweden, as their scandinavian brethren are now under attack. In some towns, riots threaten to break out as cries for military intervention or neutrality break out.
The Swedish government is in a difficult position...
The severe losses are not yet forgotten, and entry into another foreign war could be disastrous for the public willingness to contribute to the industrial victory. Yet, Sweden, as the most industrialized nation in Scandinavia and with a highly developed army, should not simply look on, as its brethren are overrun by the fascists.
Of final concern is the possibility of a later Axis attack on Russia, and the potential for a joint operation to liberate occupied Finnish territory.
(this is the readers chance to reflect public opinion and the swedish politicians. What do you think should be done ? Try to respond "in character", reflecting newspapers,the civilian public, or swedish ministers or military leaders, and with a little bias or nationalist pride, rather than in cold game terms
)
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