The year is 1936 and in the large room in a government safe house sits each member of the government. The room is dank the lights are dimmed and the general atmosphere is relatively calm: Head of State: Albert Lebrun, Head of Government and Foreign Minister: Pierre Lavel, Armaments Minister: Jean Fabry, Minister of Security: Joseph Paganon, Chief of Staff and Chief of Army: Gamlin, Chief of Navy: Francois Darlan, Chief of Air: Victor Denain.
Lavel asks Lebrun, Sir, why did you call us to this special meeting, you know its my daughters birthday today, I should be at home celebrating. (Lebrun) Well gentlemen, our intelligence minister, Mr. X for I can’t name him and he will appear in a disguise, has informed me that Germany, under Hitler who has seized power, has started an aggressive rearmament program. (Gamlin) Hitler? He hasn’t seized power, they have only given him a job, he has no military background except that tiny stint on the front against us in the Great War, and we know what happened there!
In walks Mr. X with a roll of papers and a sour look upon his disguised face. Gentlemen, I guess you are wondering what we are all doing here, well if it were good news I would be happy, but that’s not the case. My agents in Germany, Italy and Russia have informed me that Germany has started a very aggressive rearmament program. Germany’s economy is gearing up, but our estimates are that Germany can not withstand the pressure of such a build up without something giving, and that my friends, are what we are here to discuss. There has been an unsubstantiated rumor that Germany is training inside Russia using tanks, which it is forbidden to have. (Fabry Minister of Armaments) Germany could not conceive of defeating us using tanks, between our friends the British and us, we easily have the best armor in Europe.
Marshall Gamelin stands up and points to each member of the armed forces. We need to get together and work out a plan incase the unthinkable happens and that dolt Hitler gets frisky. We need to build our army around the Maginot line to hold and wait for the British so we can counter attack if it becomes necessary. (Chief of Air Lafont) I will ensure that the Airforce is adequately staffed and supplied for we will punish any attempt to breach our territory. (Head of State Lebrun) Laval, you need to get that silver tongue of yours talking to the Brits and anybody that could help us in a war with Germany. (Laval) I will, and I will also talk to the Italians and the Polish, hopefully I can create a rift between Hitler and Mussolini, while encouraging the Poles to stand up against Germany, with a strong alliance opposing him, Hitler would surely see that this rearming business is futile.
One year later, 1937, Lebrun calls a meeting with the military cabinet only. Gamelin, what is the status of our army? (Gamelin) We have fortified the line to the point that an assault against it will be utterly useless. We have 32 Infantry Divisions, 4 specially trained Mountain Divisions, 4 Cavalry and 3 Motorized 1 Mechanized 2 Armored Divisions for a quick response. I have also been studying the papers that Mr. X has forwarded to me and currently changing our land doctrine to help our organization and slowly trying to implement armor into our doctrine, which would give us a huge advantage. (Chief of Navy: Darlan) Our Navy is one of the strongest and modern in the world, we can easily defend our empire against any threat, and ensure that our colonies and convoys are protected. (Chief of Air
enain) We have 5 bomber squadrons and 3 Fighter squadrons. I am currently trying to upgrade our airforce as it seems the British have much better fighters and bombers than we do, and that would serve our Air Doctrine (Carpet Bombing) a lot better.
The year is 1938 and Lebrun calls the annual meeting once again, this time its a bit more tense and there is some electricity in the air. As Hitler has occupied Slovokia and absorbed it in the “Greater Reich.” Mr Laval how is the foreign support coming along? (Laval) I have persuaded the Polish to our thinking, I have also helped pull Greece into our thinking. On a sour note, I have not been so successful with Mussolini as he seems hell bent on recreating another Roman Empire. I have, however, seemed to create a rift between him and Hitler by means of jealousy. The British are staunch supporters of our policies and we can count on them. (Lebrun) Marshall Gamelin how are the improvements with the army coming along? Sir, we have completely reorganized our army (Improved land doctrine and deep defense) we have also upgraded many of our tank, infantry and anti-tank guns. Our problem will be support from the airforce, which seems to be lacking. (Denain) Lacking? I have receive no support from our finance minister and I still have the same units that I had in 1936, how can I improve on a budget that keeps shrinking? If this is the way it is then I will resign immediately. Denain walks out the door and is never heard from again, as he turned into a recluse. Lebrun appoints Marcel Deat(Air Superiority) as Chief of Air. Gentlemen I have taken the liberty of restructuring our economy (Tied up the loose ends on convoys and got rubber flowing in from French Indo China). Now, for the first time in years, we have an ample amount of supplies flowing into our industries and this can fuel our war machine, if needed. Germany is becoming more aggressive. The French have now solidified an alliance with Belgium and the Netherlands. Technology is rapidly increasing but at a cost of production as there have only been 3 mountain, 3 tank and 2 mechanized divisions produced since 1936. I have, just incase of war with Italy, consolidated all but 2 destroyer squadrons for escort duty.
1939 comes and with it comes war, as Germany invades Poland, which initiates the British/French and Polish alliance. Germany then DOW’s Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. The cabinet meeting is extremely intense, as the prospect of a German invasion becomes reality.
Gentlemen the time has come that our preparations will either be our savior, or our demise. Gamelin, what is the status of our army and what are the plans? Sir, all reserves have been called up and are responding faster than anticipated (Pulled all but 1 Mtn infantry division out of the pool) Sir our immediate plan is one of reaction to the first German action, we will use the Netherlands as the sacrificial lamb and if Hitler pulls troops off the siegfried to take them then we, with air support and mass artillery (I have attached artillery to all but a few units, which have ant-tank ability), will strike. I have the 3rd, 2nd and 6th armies in Strasbourg, under my direct control. In Colmar we have the 5th and 9th armies in a purely defensive manner. Metz comprises of the 7th and 4th with support from the 1st and 2nd cavalry divisions. Nancy is the key point as it contains our newly formed 2nd armored army comprising of the 1st, 2nd, 4th ,5th and 6th armored divisions supported by 1st, 2nd and 3rd mechanized divisions, accompanied by the 3rd and 4th Motorized infantry divisions. On the Italian front we have the 1st 2nd and 3rd mountain divisions supported by the 1st and 2nd motorized division with the 4th mechanized division in reserve.
Germany invades Luxembourg, I send the 7th and 4th army to kick them out, however, Germany reinforces with a panzer division, in return I send in the 2nd armored army in. The total amount of men was Germany 7 infantry divisions and 3 panzer divisions, I had 12 infantry, 5 armored, 3 mechanized and 2 motor divisions. I used my airforce to bomb him, but 2 out of 3 attempts were turned back by the luftwaffe. Just as it appeared I would win, Rommel arrived with an additional 5 infantry and 2 more panzer divisions. In response I committed the 1st and 2nd cavelry divisions with support from the legionere and chauserre division. It took almost a week, but after it was said and done I won luxembourg. Germany lost 6 infantry divisions and 2 panzer divisions, I on the other hand lost only 2 infantry divisions, but all were severely weakened and not ready for the counter attack that came, so I retreated, refitted and blocked his advance with Gamelins 3rd Army.
The Netherlands fell without much fighting and now came the advance on Belgium, I knew that if Belgium fell I too, would fall, so I had to help as best as I could. I combined the 1st and 2nd cavelry divisions with the 1st legionere and 1st chaussere division to form the 10th army. I sent the 10th army to relieve the siege on Arnon. Four German infantry divisions attacked Arnon, and the Belgiums had 6 infantry there defending in a fort, along with my 10th army we won.
I noticed that Germany was increasing its numbers four fold, so I knew I had to attack quickly before they combined armies. Antwerp fell and my Northwest was exposed, so I sent my fire brigade the 10th army along with Belgium defenders and attacked. The Germans had 2 Infantry and 1 panzer divisions, with the help of my airforce, we won, but at the cost of 2 Belgium divisions, while Germany lost 1 infantry division.
At the same time I noticed Germany was building up in Luxembourg, but it was forming a big bulge. I sent the 2nd Armored Army backed by the 2nd and 3rd army into Saarbrucken and engaged the Germans. I had a plan, If I could dislodge the Germans from Saarbrucken, hold it, and also take Koln, the I would have the defenders trapped in Luxembourg. I hit Saarbrucken with Gamelins 3rd and 2nd army (12 infantry divisions) along with the 5th army from Colmar(5 infantry divisions) The armor showed up 1 hour later with 5 armor 3 mechanized and 2 motorized divisions. The Germans had 9 Infantry 2 panzer divisions and would add 4 more infantry before the battle would end.
While the battle for Saarbrucken was taking place, the Belgium army, now under my command, took Eindhoven and with my 10th army held a defensive perimeter around all the rivers, forcing any attack to come at a severe penalty.
The battle for Saarbrucken came at a heavy price on both sides, for the 5th army lost 2 infantry divisions, and Gamelins 2nd army lost 1 and the 3rd army lost 3! The armored divisions were all weakened but none the less in tact. Germany took an equal loss, out of his total of 13 infantry divisions he lost 4 and he lost 1 panzer division.
Germany countered in the Saar, but I held with the help of depleting the last defenders of Strasbourg; I lost 2 more infantry, Germany retreated in tact. I received reinforcements (2 Mountain Divisions with Anti-tank ability) from my production pool and quickly placed them in Strasbourg. As I waited for my armies to regroup, Germany invaded Belgium again and pushed back into Antwerp. I had to rob a few divisions out of Metz to help the 10th Army retake Antwerp and completely annihilated two German infantry divisions and sent the panzer division back across in the Netherlands.
My armies in Saarbrucken were now ready, but the Luxembourg salient was getting smaller because Germany, foreseeing the problem, sent more troops into Koln, for what would be the biggest battle yet. I sent Gamelins 3rd and 2nd, which was reinforced with 3 fresh divisions from the production pool, army in, while leaving the remnants of the 5th army to hold the Saar. I also sent my tank army into the fray with 2 Belgium infantry divisions along with my 10th army out of Arnon. The total amount of infantry was 15 infantry divisions, 2 cavalry, 5 armor, 3 mechanized, 2 motor divisions, I sent the remaining 5th army and 4 more Belgium infantry divisions in also. Opposing me was 8 infantry, 4 tank/mech divisions, with 3 more infantry and 1 more armored division coming later.
Germany kept bombing me and I tried to do the same, but like before they turned me back most of the time. I had also received two more mechanized units and one more tank from production shortly following the battle as it would be much needed.
The battle took awhile to finish, as I don’t remember how long, but I do know I won. After it was over, if I added/subtracted right, Germany out of 11 infantry commited lost 6, and out of 5 armored/mech he lost 2. I, on the other hand, lost more. Out of the 6 divisions from Belgium, 4 were lost, my tenth army lost both its cavelry divisions, before I could pull them back, The 5th army lost 1 more infantry division, while 3rd and 2nd army each lost 1. My tank army lost both its motorized divisions. On top of that I lost 1 fighter unit.
Bad news for Germany was that its army had retreated into luxembourg and it was now successfully surrounded. The Germans took Strasbourg, but my 9th army from Colmar, quickly threw them back out, and I added the two divisions that were into Strasbourg into the 9th army and attacked Freiburg and Stuttgart taking them both, while pushing the weakened German defenders back easily.
I noticed a large Panzer army heading for Koln where I was refitting the hardest hit units. While leaving the others alone to help any counter attack that might come, or to help the attack from Metz.
The turning point was coming, either I win in Luxembourg or I die trying, I launched the 7th and 4th armies from Metz, accompanied by a few divisions from Koln in an effort to dislodge and destroy the German defenders in Luxembourg. I was able to fly my airforce unabated for the luftwaffe was too far out of range to help. The battle took no time and the end result was complete destruction of 10 infantry divisions and 4 armored divisions. It came just in time to as the attack on Koln came and I had to retreat, but my counter attack from all available units threw Germany right back out and in disarray.
The battle had now turned against Germany and in less than a year I would completely annex Germany, Slovokia, Hungary. Poland was almost destroyed when I reached its borders and together we lifted all sieges, and WW2 would come to an end.
My diplomatic efforts paid off as Italy never entered the war, had they it would have definitely turned out different.
Lavel asks Lebrun, Sir, why did you call us to this special meeting, you know its my daughters birthday today, I should be at home celebrating. (Lebrun) Well gentlemen, our intelligence minister, Mr. X for I can’t name him and he will appear in a disguise, has informed me that Germany, under Hitler who has seized power, has started an aggressive rearmament program. (Gamlin) Hitler? He hasn’t seized power, they have only given him a job, he has no military background except that tiny stint on the front against us in the Great War, and we know what happened there!
In walks Mr. X with a roll of papers and a sour look upon his disguised face. Gentlemen, I guess you are wondering what we are all doing here, well if it were good news I would be happy, but that’s not the case. My agents in Germany, Italy and Russia have informed me that Germany has started a very aggressive rearmament program. Germany’s economy is gearing up, but our estimates are that Germany can not withstand the pressure of such a build up without something giving, and that my friends, are what we are here to discuss. There has been an unsubstantiated rumor that Germany is training inside Russia using tanks, which it is forbidden to have. (Fabry Minister of Armaments) Germany could not conceive of defeating us using tanks, between our friends the British and us, we easily have the best armor in Europe.
Marshall Gamelin stands up and points to each member of the armed forces. We need to get together and work out a plan incase the unthinkable happens and that dolt Hitler gets frisky. We need to build our army around the Maginot line to hold and wait for the British so we can counter attack if it becomes necessary. (Chief of Air Lafont) I will ensure that the Airforce is adequately staffed and supplied for we will punish any attempt to breach our territory. (Head of State Lebrun) Laval, you need to get that silver tongue of yours talking to the Brits and anybody that could help us in a war with Germany. (Laval) I will, and I will also talk to the Italians and the Polish, hopefully I can create a rift between Hitler and Mussolini, while encouraging the Poles to stand up against Germany, with a strong alliance opposing him, Hitler would surely see that this rearming business is futile.
One year later, 1937, Lebrun calls a meeting with the military cabinet only. Gamelin, what is the status of our army? (Gamelin) We have fortified the line to the point that an assault against it will be utterly useless. We have 32 Infantry Divisions, 4 specially trained Mountain Divisions, 4 Cavalry and 3 Motorized 1 Mechanized 2 Armored Divisions for a quick response. I have also been studying the papers that Mr. X has forwarded to me and currently changing our land doctrine to help our organization and slowly trying to implement armor into our doctrine, which would give us a huge advantage. (Chief of Navy: Darlan) Our Navy is one of the strongest and modern in the world, we can easily defend our empire against any threat, and ensure that our colonies and convoys are protected. (Chief of Air
enain) We have 5 bomber squadrons and 3 Fighter squadrons. I am currently trying to upgrade our airforce as it seems the British have much better fighters and bombers than we do, and that would serve our Air Doctrine (Carpet Bombing) a lot better.The year is 1938 and Lebrun calls the annual meeting once again, this time its a bit more tense and there is some electricity in the air. As Hitler has occupied Slovokia and absorbed it in the “Greater Reich.” Mr Laval how is the foreign support coming along? (Laval) I have persuaded the Polish to our thinking, I have also helped pull Greece into our thinking. On a sour note, I have not been so successful with Mussolini as he seems hell bent on recreating another Roman Empire. I have, however, seemed to create a rift between him and Hitler by means of jealousy. The British are staunch supporters of our policies and we can count on them. (Lebrun) Marshall Gamelin how are the improvements with the army coming along? Sir, we have completely reorganized our army (Improved land doctrine and deep defense) we have also upgraded many of our tank, infantry and anti-tank guns. Our problem will be support from the airforce, which seems to be lacking. (Denain) Lacking? I have receive no support from our finance minister and I still have the same units that I had in 1936, how can I improve on a budget that keeps shrinking? If this is the way it is then I will resign immediately. Denain walks out the door and is never heard from again, as he turned into a recluse. Lebrun appoints Marcel Deat(Air Superiority) as Chief of Air. Gentlemen I have taken the liberty of restructuring our economy (Tied up the loose ends on convoys and got rubber flowing in from French Indo China). Now, for the first time in years, we have an ample amount of supplies flowing into our industries and this can fuel our war machine, if needed. Germany is becoming more aggressive. The French have now solidified an alliance with Belgium and the Netherlands. Technology is rapidly increasing but at a cost of production as there have only been 3 mountain, 3 tank and 2 mechanized divisions produced since 1936. I have, just incase of war with Italy, consolidated all but 2 destroyer squadrons for escort duty.
1939 comes and with it comes war, as Germany invades Poland, which initiates the British/French and Polish alliance. Germany then DOW’s Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg. The cabinet meeting is extremely intense, as the prospect of a German invasion becomes reality.
Gentlemen the time has come that our preparations will either be our savior, or our demise. Gamelin, what is the status of our army and what are the plans? Sir, all reserves have been called up and are responding faster than anticipated (Pulled all but 1 Mtn infantry division out of the pool) Sir our immediate plan is one of reaction to the first German action, we will use the Netherlands as the sacrificial lamb and if Hitler pulls troops off the siegfried to take them then we, with air support and mass artillery (I have attached artillery to all but a few units, which have ant-tank ability), will strike. I have the 3rd, 2nd and 6th armies in Strasbourg, under my direct control. In Colmar we have the 5th and 9th armies in a purely defensive manner. Metz comprises of the 7th and 4th with support from the 1st and 2nd cavalry divisions. Nancy is the key point as it contains our newly formed 2nd armored army comprising of the 1st, 2nd, 4th ,5th and 6th armored divisions supported by 1st, 2nd and 3rd mechanized divisions, accompanied by the 3rd and 4th Motorized infantry divisions. On the Italian front we have the 1st 2nd and 3rd mountain divisions supported by the 1st and 2nd motorized division with the 4th mechanized division in reserve.
Germany invades Luxembourg, I send the 7th and 4th army to kick them out, however, Germany reinforces with a panzer division, in return I send in the 2nd armored army in. The total amount of men was Germany 7 infantry divisions and 3 panzer divisions, I had 12 infantry, 5 armored, 3 mechanized and 2 motor divisions. I used my airforce to bomb him, but 2 out of 3 attempts were turned back by the luftwaffe. Just as it appeared I would win, Rommel arrived with an additional 5 infantry and 2 more panzer divisions. In response I committed the 1st and 2nd cavelry divisions with support from the legionere and chauserre division. It took almost a week, but after it was said and done I won luxembourg. Germany lost 6 infantry divisions and 2 panzer divisions, I on the other hand lost only 2 infantry divisions, but all were severely weakened and not ready for the counter attack that came, so I retreated, refitted and blocked his advance with Gamelins 3rd Army.
The Netherlands fell without much fighting and now came the advance on Belgium, I knew that if Belgium fell I too, would fall, so I had to help as best as I could. I combined the 1st and 2nd cavelry divisions with the 1st legionere and 1st chaussere division to form the 10th army. I sent the 10th army to relieve the siege on Arnon. Four German infantry divisions attacked Arnon, and the Belgiums had 6 infantry there defending in a fort, along with my 10th army we won.
I noticed that Germany was increasing its numbers four fold, so I knew I had to attack quickly before they combined armies. Antwerp fell and my Northwest was exposed, so I sent my fire brigade the 10th army along with Belgium defenders and attacked. The Germans had 2 Infantry and 1 panzer divisions, with the help of my airforce, we won, but at the cost of 2 Belgium divisions, while Germany lost 1 infantry division.
At the same time I noticed Germany was building up in Luxembourg, but it was forming a big bulge. I sent the 2nd Armored Army backed by the 2nd and 3rd army into Saarbrucken and engaged the Germans. I had a plan, If I could dislodge the Germans from Saarbrucken, hold it, and also take Koln, the I would have the defenders trapped in Luxembourg. I hit Saarbrucken with Gamelins 3rd and 2nd army (12 infantry divisions) along with the 5th army from Colmar(5 infantry divisions) The armor showed up 1 hour later with 5 armor 3 mechanized and 2 motorized divisions. The Germans had 9 Infantry 2 panzer divisions and would add 4 more infantry before the battle would end.
While the battle for Saarbrucken was taking place, the Belgium army, now under my command, took Eindhoven and with my 10th army held a defensive perimeter around all the rivers, forcing any attack to come at a severe penalty.
The battle for Saarbrucken came at a heavy price on both sides, for the 5th army lost 2 infantry divisions, and Gamelins 2nd army lost 1 and the 3rd army lost 3! The armored divisions were all weakened but none the less in tact. Germany took an equal loss, out of his total of 13 infantry divisions he lost 4 and he lost 1 panzer division.
Germany countered in the Saar, but I held with the help of depleting the last defenders of Strasbourg; I lost 2 more infantry, Germany retreated in tact. I received reinforcements (2 Mountain Divisions with Anti-tank ability) from my production pool and quickly placed them in Strasbourg. As I waited for my armies to regroup, Germany invaded Belgium again and pushed back into Antwerp. I had to rob a few divisions out of Metz to help the 10th Army retake Antwerp and completely annihilated two German infantry divisions and sent the panzer division back across in the Netherlands.
My armies in Saarbrucken were now ready, but the Luxembourg salient was getting smaller because Germany, foreseeing the problem, sent more troops into Koln, for what would be the biggest battle yet. I sent Gamelins 3rd and 2nd, which was reinforced with 3 fresh divisions from the production pool, army in, while leaving the remnants of the 5th army to hold the Saar. I also sent my tank army into the fray with 2 Belgium infantry divisions along with my 10th army out of Arnon. The total amount of infantry was 15 infantry divisions, 2 cavalry, 5 armor, 3 mechanized, 2 motor divisions, I sent the remaining 5th army and 4 more Belgium infantry divisions in also. Opposing me was 8 infantry, 4 tank/mech divisions, with 3 more infantry and 1 more armored division coming later.
Germany kept bombing me and I tried to do the same, but like before they turned me back most of the time. I had also received two more mechanized units and one more tank from production shortly following the battle as it would be much needed.
The battle took awhile to finish, as I don’t remember how long, but I do know I won. After it was over, if I added/subtracted right, Germany out of 11 infantry commited lost 6, and out of 5 armored/mech he lost 2. I, on the other hand, lost more. Out of the 6 divisions from Belgium, 4 were lost, my tenth army lost both its cavelry divisions, before I could pull them back, The 5th army lost 1 more infantry division, while 3rd and 2nd army each lost 1. My tank army lost both its motorized divisions. On top of that I lost 1 fighter unit.
Bad news for Germany was that its army had retreated into luxembourg and it was now successfully surrounded. The Germans took Strasbourg, but my 9th army from Colmar, quickly threw them back out, and I added the two divisions that were into Strasbourg into the 9th army and attacked Freiburg and Stuttgart taking them both, while pushing the weakened German defenders back easily.
I noticed a large Panzer army heading for Koln where I was refitting the hardest hit units. While leaving the others alone to help any counter attack that might come, or to help the attack from Metz.
The turning point was coming, either I win in Luxembourg or I die trying, I launched the 7th and 4th armies from Metz, accompanied by a few divisions from Koln in an effort to dislodge and destroy the German defenders in Luxembourg. I was able to fly my airforce unabated for the luftwaffe was too far out of range to help. The battle took no time and the end result was complete destruction of 10 infantry divisions and 4 armored divisions. It came just in time to as the attack on Koln came and I had to retreat, but my counter attack from all available units threw Germany right back out and in disarray.
The battle had now turned against Germany and in less than a year I would completely annex Germany, Slovokia, Hungary. Poland was almost destroyed when I reached its borders and together we lifted all sieges, and WW2 would come to an end.
My diplomatic efforts paid off as Italy never entered the war, had they it would have definitely turned out different.
Last edited:
