Episode 32: 5 & 9 February 1944
OK, going with the flow of this one to see how quickly a resolution can be achieved. Two saves here, each four days after the last, with much happening. Have kept them together for continuity purposes, so strap yourselves in for a longer than normal chapter. Markkur, will do the unit count in the next episode - already had all the screenies for this one done, and as you can see it is pretty full!
5 February 1944
Germany
The general situation: Berlin and Munich are both under attack now, but still holding comparatively comfortably while the rest of the Allied formations catch up. The Nordhausen Pocket, hoped for in the last update, has been created, bagging many Axis units. Pressure is kept up along the front.
A closer look at the pivotal battle for Berlin. French and British medium armour push for a
masterful breakthrough: their offensive spirit and
élan cannot be faulted! They want this over as soon as it can be managed.
The Nordhausen Pocket – the noose tightens.
They are surrounded and the escape route for those already retreating is being blocked off.
Weiden is pressed while forces advance north and south to cut off and surround another pocket.
And finally, in the south Munich is now under attack, as is Kaufbeuren to its south-west. The Germans are to be given no rest.
The Adriatic Sectors
Not a great deal more movement, but pressure is increasing, including in northern Yugoslavia.
The Germans have managed to join their southern Italian pocket again, but the trap closes. Termoli is all but won. The rest of the front is holding fast – perhaps avoiding unnecessary bloodshed?
The tough mountain battle of Bovec continues against the Bulgarians, both sides still pounding away at each other.
While more Bulgarians are now being attacked in Celje, in an attempt to widen the narrow corridor to Zagreb.
In Norway, the Germans have almost managed to drive a wedge to sever the north-south link-up.
And in Australia, the Japanese have occupied Canberra, with Melbourne being declared the new capital. There are significant Australian (in Melbourne) and NZ (in Brisbane) air components present: it is hoped these may at least extract some toll on the Japanese, as there are no substantive ground forces to stand in their way as yet – the US has not answered the call for reinforcements.
[Where's some yellow sticky tape and a bit of dirt to rub into the cricket ball when you need it! ]
9 February 1944
Huzzah! VG Day: Germany has just surrendered! As a consequence, German-occupied Poland has been freed, as has the remainder of occupied Norway and Denmark. Many of the Axis minor allies still fighting the Soviets in the east have been stranded or will now have great gaps in their lines.
Here is a closer look at the new political situation. Germany is now in the Allies, as a French puppet and ally. They are at war with Japan and
its puppets, but
not with their erstwhile Axis allies in Europe. Yet, anyway. Even though their territory has now been liberated, Poland, Norway and Denmark are for now still governments-in-exile. And a pro-French Social Liberal government now runs Germany. Excellent. And let us see who their new leaders are … what!? WHAT!!?
WHAT!!!?
No, Joe, say it isn’t so! Hitler is Head of State, Head of Government and Chief of the Army! De Gaulle, what the hell were you thinking?
*author palms face*
We
have to take a closer look at this (by tagging briefly to Germany to check the government out).
From which we can see that there are now elections, but not for another four years (ie not until February 1948)! The parties seem to take their names from the French (?). German resources and industry (now Germany is whole again, anyway) are in good shape. Manpower and officer levels are healthy but supplies and fuel are dire. The laws appear to be what they would have been under Hitler as the Nazi leader. But how he can still be in power leading a democratic ‘SPD’ government is a mystery – or a Paradox!
[Anyway, enough of that, I probably didn’t even look at any of that at the time, as this was a ‘real-time’ game and I wasn’t documenting it for an audience. Back to the story.]
As you can imagine, there will be even greater chaos to start with than during the fall of Italy. Let’s first take a quick look at Germany itself and Poland. Just a broad sweep here – there are many Axis minor units now strewn throughout the old German front and in Poland. The Allies are still at war with those countries, but remember the Germans are
not. And some of those Minor-coloured units will be German units yet to revert from being expeditionary forces still under foreign colours.
Those who know more about the mechanics of such situations will probably be able to clarify, but I’m not that familiar with this aspect and, at the time, just had to deal with things as they lay. This was the save that just summarised the German surrender vent before such measures to start ‘tidying up’ had begun.
So, this is Berlin just after it was occupied. Still plenty of Hungarians and a few Romanians around. We will see what happens to them next episode (I can’t recall exactly now and haven’t peeked ahead).
And the same for Munich, except we can see some German units nearby are still under Axis Minor command.
Interestingly, in Norway three German units have been seconded to serve
under the Norwegians!
On the northern sector of the Soviet front, a whole bunch of German Allied units now need to make their way back from Russia – with whom they now of course have a truce. With any luck, most of the Axis Minors there will be isolated and killed off by the Russians – who of course now can’t cross into Allied Germany or ‘Free’ Poland!
Not many German units in the southern sector – and we have little visibility of what else is around there from the Minors or the Soviets – though the latter have managed to cross onto Romanian soil on the coast.
Balkans
Northern Yugoslavia is much as it was four days before, though the Zagreb corridor has been widened now and the Italians are advancing to the south.
The Bovec slugfest continues, with both units still quite evenly balanced and at the end of their endurance.
The even more evenly matched battle for Celje also continues.
Not much has changed in southern Yugoslavia either. Any spare units that
might be available from the suddenly subdued southern Italian mopping up battles are yet to appear. But the German units pulling out of the fight will badly undermine the Axis defence.
The Bulgarians have initiated a serious attack on Skopje, where only a light French division is in place.
Indo-China
The Japanese are, fortunately, making slow progress in occupying Vietnam and Laos and no heavy force is in sight.
And the French are now ready to put up a bit of a fight if they have to.
New Zealand
Since we last checked a few episodes ago, the Japanese have advanced a bit further on NZ’s South Island. This is still the only Japanese unit seen to have landed there so far.
No real changes to speak of in the Far East, Borneo, New Guinea, Australia or the Central Pacific.
Victory Objectives
As we can see below, the fall of Germany and consequent liberation of Norway have added another two conditions to the Allied column. Just two to go now to the pre-ordained 12 objectives for victory. It will need to be two of the three Balkan countries highlighted, noting Greece remains staunchly pro-Allied but also neutral.
If the Soviets get Romania first, things could get tricky: could
Operation Unthinkable become necessary for the last quick smash-and-grab? Or even a somewhat unfair/out of character attack on Greece, if they won’t join the Allies voluntarily? That will all be dealt with in the next episode or two: we’ve had quite enough excitement for now, so will leave it there, with Adolf Hitler now a loyal, ‘democratic’ Allied leader.
[That still grates badly - argh!]
