Roleplaying as the Commune of France - Kaiserreich AAR

[Miihkali]

ROLEPLAYING AS THE COMMUNE OF FRANCE - KAISERREICH AAR

• Sacre Bleu! Imperialists are trying to crush the Commune
• How did we get here? - France before the World War II
• The German Breakthrough

Some thoughts about Kaiserreich

I just re-downloaded Kaiserreich mod for maybe hundredth time. After launching the game I began thinking: "Why I downloaded this mod". Well, I took a look on the map and tried to remember something about this mod... At least I remembered now very well why I had deleted this mod from my hard drive. Reason surely wasn't need for free space, but more likely because in my opinion Kaiserreich's historical timeline is unplausible, most of event timelines and chains unrealistic (and leading somewhat random and often chaotic situations), and especially there are some very odd positions - like Mongolia and Transamur, nations with around million population or less, having capacity to build armies more powerful than many of the well-industrialized semi-major European countries. Allright, maybe I take these things more serious than most, since I am history student and history is one of my greatest obsessions and hobbies.

Then, sceptically I took another look on the map. I remembered why I once fell in love to this mod. So much new nations, so much new events and so exotic things, like Delhi with her turban-wearing ministers, and Alash Orda and Turkestan controlling Central Asia instead of one huge USSR controlling half of whole Eurasia. But then I remembered more things about the mod: most of event chains just lead to all nations in certain area rushing insanely against each other. There are no peace treaties or trench warfare, but after several nations beating simultaneously everyone else, and finally this leads to situation that one of these nations rules whole area. So no more exotic nations and situations...

But I'm not here to mock Kaiserreich. Because then happened this: I've never enjoyed playing France, but I thought that since almost everything is changed from vanilla HOI2 that could have changed too. And it was, and through playing Commune of France I found out why its fun sometimes play this mod. Well, it first gives several new timelines, not as structured timeline as DD, and through several events it makes atmosphere of the 1930s and 1940s of the new world. And also, several events with several possibly paths to follow and select, player has much larger impact on the whole world and also to his own nation, than in DD. So, actually, super-large amount of events actually mean that player is able to control foreign policies etc., not just select to offer alliance or build move sliders.

Oh, this actually is good mod! What I have been thinking all the time? And the major good thing of Kaiserreich: lots of new challenges and new things to try. And thus far I've really enjoyed my game as Communist France. Though I maybe didn't concentrate well enough, since I at some point noticed that Germany had declared war on my clique and started pushing my troops towards Paris! Damn! And I was almost unable to hold them. Even with normal/normal settings!

So now I really have to concentrate. As I mostly play HOI2 as single player I always roleplay. I also haven't had AAR for years now, and roleplaying is of course funnier if there are some one for whom I play the role. Thus I decided to start AAR, hopefully someone wants to read this (very unprobable though :rofl. So let's roleplay that I wasn't concentrating since I wasn't there very much. Probably I was some unimportant officer, low-rank general in the HQ of French army. But as old chief of staff of French army Maurice Gamelin seems to have been unable to do his job, he will be moved to secondary missions. Now General Miihkali Tuominen, Finnish immigrant (maybe I as leftist escaped white terror after Finnish Civil War) commands whole French military!

And here's the situation:

I sadly didn't made a note when Germany attacked, but it was late 1938. Maybe around mid-november.

I'm defensive doctrine because always when I play Combat Mission (or CM2 ) I win if I were the defending one. As the attacker I always lose. And since I am Finnish I of course excel in winter warfare.

French are not completely alone... Sadly they almost are.

I love flavour events, even if I have to make them myself!

As I said, Maurice Gamelin was removed from the command of French army. That good-looking guy took his position. I am social democrat. And chief of army is May Picqueray since she participated in Spanish civil war and was quite victorious. Faithful will be awarded.

I hope you managed to read all this stream of consciousness written with my awful English.
In next update we'll take a look how Commune of France managed to get this situation from 1936 to 1939. And after that there will be something interesting too.

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Interesting, I hope that you'll be able to teach the Germans a lesson, but franlky I'm not optimistic right now.
Good luck !

 

[Pompidou]

Quite... peculiar playing style you have, sir. Good luck with the war, I think you'll need it a lot since Mittleeuropa has about 5x more soldiers than you, plus they may try amphibious landings on your coasts..
I see you have Georgia in your alliance. Do you have any non-european countries in the Internationale? I like to invite Bengal, Mexico, Brazil so the war has more than one front. And of course tell us who won the American Civil war in the next update, I guess not CSA, did they? ;/

 

[Davisx3m]

Good luck!

 

[Miihkali]

How did we get here?

Quite... peculiar playing style you have, sir.

Well, if you mean why I didn't concentrate and play more 'harder', that's simply because I was just taking a look how's Kaiserreich etc... But as I found out that this really is interesting, I decided to play seriously and also to share my experience here on Paradox board.

How did we get here? - France before the World War II
From Post-Great War military history of Commune of France, British Institution of Military Sciences, 1964.

Internal politics

From 1936 the socialist French government started active industrialization. Though France already was - with Union of Britain - the most industrialized and technologically advanced nation of the Leftist block of the world, new government began concentrating on more likely heavy industries and not as much to consumer goods and light industry. Collectivization of agriculture and economy was pushed to ultimate, and during the 1936-1938 Commune of France completely abandoned freedom of speech and ideas of "liberty, equality and brotherhood".

As all remains of democracy were removed to get all power centralized to the new government, struggle of power caught fire and old, idealist Syndicalist leaders of Communist Party and whole Commune were removed. As government of Marceau Pivert fell with its leader, Marcel Déat and Marcel Cachin survived as the winners of power struggle; Déat took the lead as the head of state of the Commune, while Cachin became his protégé, controlling things behind the curtain. Same time the French army began to re-arm through supplying and modernizing army infantry, and abandoning the old doctrines of Great War and now focusing to modern and workable army. Also naval and air force programs were started, focus being to make the Commune able to defend her shores from huge German fleet, and tactical air force having capability to protect French cities from bomber raids and destroy enemy's attacking forces, thus easing the pressure of French infantry in the frontline.

Very ugly collage of advance of my attempts to improve performance of my armed forces (as of February 17, 1939).

Target of all this gearing was simple: to have a revenge against Germany, after humiliations of French-Prussian war and the World War I. This meant that the new heavy industry was aimed to construction of new weapons, and to another war preparations. Whole western border of France was heavily fortified - though Commune had already improved fortifications of German border during 1920s and 1930s, and there even were some bases dating to the Great War, aim of new forts and heavy anti-aircraft batteries were to make whole France between Paris and Germany (and her puppet Flanders-Wallonia) impossible to breakthrough. Most heavily improved were the defenses of Paris and Auxerre. Additional, secondary fortifications were built also to southern France, Marseille, and Spanish border.

Main fortified lines are in North-Western France, following rivers and other
natural defenses. Purple marks less important defenses, constructed against
possible aggressions by Kingdom of Spain and Italian Federation.​

Foreign policies

New, extremist government of France took soon active role in foreign policies. Attempts to unite Communist nations all around the world lead eventually to formation of the Third International in early 1936. Even though Syndicalist French government and other Socialist nations had already been planning such International for years now, it was the new Totalist leadership which took the needed steps to unite Third International.

As years passed by Commune of France showed her active status as the leader of the International. The Commune participated actively in foreign actions, supporting the revolution in North America. Though French army never fought in American Civil War and Socialist revolters of Combined Syndicates of America never shown interest in full military alliance between the French and American Syndicates, relations were warm, and volunteers and material sent from France proved that the Commune was seriously supporting the world revolution and willing to help Socialist revolts all around the world. When Second American Civil War eventually ended to the destruction of USA and partition of her former territories between Pacific States and United Syndicates, it was a general holiday in France (even though few scattered US soldiers still controlled Washington D.C. territory and Puerto Rico when France entered to war against Germany).

North America in early 1939. Note how Combined Syndicates have triumphed against US, but Washington D.C.
is still controlled by those damned imperialist capitalists! Pacific States have occupied some areas on the East
Coast too. New England is independent, and alongside with Canada, the only democracy of North America.​

As Spanish Civil War broke out between Carlists and the old Kingdom, French Commune made similar intervention, promising to support local Communists if they would try to destroy monarchy from Spain. Soon the Federacion Anarquista Iberica rose to arms, but even with the help of French volunteers and supplies they seemed to be unable to defeat their enemies - it looked more likely that Anarchists would fall in few months. To avoid this, Commune of France moved several divisions to Spanish-French border. Without declaration of war, these armies crossed the border and French naval infantry landed in Oviedo. These forces were commanded by May Picqueray, and as the hero of Spanish Civil War she would later become commander of the whole French land forces.

With the help of 120,000 French soldiers, those mostly being special forces like armoured, motorized, cavalry, or marine divisions Carlists fell immediately. Spanish Kingdom was also unable to fight against much better equipped and organized French forces, even though Spanish general Francisco Franco Bahamonde is today regarded as one of the most talented military commanders of 1930s. Forces of the Kingdom soon collapsed, and the endless air raids of light bombers of the Commune - French air force had took total air superiority in the first day after France attacked to Spain - ruined infrastructure, industries, and military formations of the Kingdom. Mid-1938 Spanish Civil War had ended to the victory of the Third International.

Anarchist soldiers during Spanish civil war. Most of the Spanish forces that foughti in the civil war, especially those of Carlist
and Anarchist rebels, were poorly equipped and trained, though their morale was high. Arrival of over 100,000 well-equipped,
well-trained and armoured French soldiers meant great advantage for Anarchist Federation of Iberia which before that
was close to be defeated from the very beginning of the war.​

Though Communist propaganda asserted for years that French army gave only minimal help to Anarchist Federation and Spanish revolution was completely made by Spanish workers, it is today commonly accepted fact among historians that Anarchists would never have been able to win the civil war alone. For French army that meant new, rather powerful ally, in the Southern Europe, and that ally being completely under French leash. It also meant important experience for French army. But it also caused losses of around 30,000 men, many of them being in precious naval and armoured divisions.

As the leading force of the International, and also having the largest industrial capacity of the league, the Commune took responsibility for the development of economies of the International. Supporting socialist regimes in Bengal, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, and Georgia, the Commune actually seized some of her industry to improve industries of these distant allies, while the Commune still rejected requests for similar aid by Spanish and South Italian socialist regimes. This divide and conquer' styled aid policy was justified by saying that it was duty of former colonial powers to help old colonies exploited by these nations before the Great War. More likely this was only propaganda, and French policy actions realpolitik: France surely had large industry, but not large enough to be seized all around the world. On the other hand socialist regimes of Spain and Italy were more or less puppets of the Commune, and Paris was able to defend and supply these nations close to France with French industry and French army in the case of crisis. On the other hand weak French navy would be completely unable to do the same in South America or India.

As the Second World War came closer and closer, crises broke out all over the world. Sternbergist Mongolia intervened China and crushed local Moslem warlords of North-Eastern China. Later Russia did the same for Sternberg who had been defiant for Russia for years now. Major power of Central Asia, Turkestan, exploited increasing interventionism of Russian Empire and partitioned Kazakh Republic, known also as Alash Orda, with the Empire. France was unable to have impact on these actions, even though they loudly protested such 'imperialism'. This 'anti-imperialism', however, didn't prevent the Commune for intervening outbreaking war in South America - actually they soon sent material aid to Brazil and Bolivia in order to let the Communism triumph against Fascist La Plata federation and Chile.

Mongolia puppeted by Russia still controls large territories in China, weak Qing Empire being unable to claim her old
provinces back. Turkestan has became main military power in Central Asia. India and China are still peaceful.

War between Fascist and Communist nations of South America has raged for several months now (as of
February 1939). For honour of Communists it has to be said that this war wasn't started by them.​

Next we will finally take a look on the current situation in France. If you have good tips how to survive with unfinished army against enemy having several times as many divisions as you, I'll gladly hear them.

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Next we will finally take a look on the current situation in France. If you have good tips how to survive with unfinished army against enemy having several times as many divisions as you, I'll gladly hear them.

Find new and useful allies, try to encircle German divisions by letting some holes in your lines open, use a massive airforce...and pray !

 

[Miihkali]

The German Breakthrough

The German Breakthrough
From Post-Great War military history of Commune of France, British Institution of Military Sciences, 1964.

German assault began in late 1938, and even though French army had been seeking for a revenge for years now, Germans almost completely surprised and overrun French troops on border. Slow reaction of the high command - both military and political - of the Commune of France worsened the crisis. Both French army and civilians had been ordered to fortify areas between Paris and Germany/Flanders-Wallonia, but these preparations proved to be inadequate, as the equipment of French divisions on border was obsolote and divisions themselves often understrengthed and badly trained.

French frontline collapsed almost immediately, especially in the central front. German infantry advanced rapidly through Reims and arrived soon banks of Seine. Though not fast enough to encircle and completely destroy French troops, Germans still advanced quickly enough not to give time to organize for the reserves of Commune's army. Consequently, most of fortresses built between Seine and Reims, were useless and actually now protected attackers from French counterattacks. In these battles French army first time used its tank units in large scale against Germans. This may have been partially the reason for slight success of the first counterattacks, but French still were unable to completely drive Germans away from Seine and thus the capital of France and her main bases remained under threat.

Quick drafting of reserves and even untrained troops, as well as decision to mobilize civilians to
construct fortresses for the defense of heartland of the Commune was crucial for stopping
quick advancement of Germans before they captured Paris.​

In the north and south French defense was slightly more succesfull. French army was able to hold on Flanders-Wallonian border for several months, and Lille was captured not until mid-january 1939. Before that German-Belgian army had advanced by French north coast and conquered Duncerque and Calais, thus leaving French armies in Lille forming very vulnerable bridgehead. If quickly arrived reinforcements that arrived to Paris and Auxerre regions wouldn't have been succesfull in their counterattacks stopping German maneuvers in Compiegne, it's probable that large part of the Commune's army would have destroyed in Lille pocket, which - luckily - in real history was never formed. Slightly succesfull counter attacks that prevented central German forces from turning to north and encircling forces on Flanders-Wallonian border would have been impossible without fresh troops that arrived in quick mobilization after Germans arrived to the flanks of Paris.

The southern front was the only front during this phase of war, where the French really were succesfull. After losing Chaumont lt. general Lamson was able to set up tough and strong defense line. As most of French special forces, such as mountain and armoured corps, were here, he also had technical superiority against Germans. Heavy counterattack towards north succeeded and crushed weak German defending forces - armoured divisions of French army even were able to temporarily occupy Mulhouse, though they were soon pushed away from there.

French tank destroyed by German infantry gun, left to Mulhouse after
French retreat. French forces suffered only minor casualties in Mulhouse,
especially when compared to German losses, but for rather small army of the
Commune, these casualties - especially losing armour - often meant
significant setback.​

After Germans realised that they were unable to reach Paris with one massive strike, and as well unable to encircle large parts of French army near Belgian border or gain important breakthrough in the south to threaten Marseille, they started to push whole front towards west. Lille bridgehead was finally destroyed by continuing artillery barrages and mass attacks and lt. general Blanc retreated to Amiens. In early february 1939 new static frontline was established. It had however turned out that commander-in-chief Maurice Gamelin was unable to fight effectively against Germans, since most of his counter-attacks completely had failed and he had been mostly retreating. It can of course always be discussed, how much choices he had - he had at least stopped German wave before Paris had fallen. Despite these facts he was removed and general Miihkali Tuominen was named as his replacement.

Ugly and rough map showing the main operations.​

New, more straight frontline ment less pressure for French divisions as they had no more to protect too long parts of the front. At least temporary halt of German divisions gave possiblity to reorganize and reinforce the troops, and arrival of 24 Spanish divisions (over 200,000 men) to the southern front meant that the situation of French army was in mid-february 1939 much better than month or two earlier.

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Are you going to wait for the good weather, or will you show us your winter-warfare skills ?

 

[Pompidou]

By your playing style I meant putting yourself in the game, i.e. your name and photo (I assusme it's you in the photo, isn't it?). It feels a bit different than adding some nicknames and pictures to leader files.
Why did the Germans attack? Was it because of the assasination event? If so, you're very unlucky that Union of Britain didn't join the fight.
On another note I think the Mittleeuropa is way overpowered being a three empire alliance. Personally I modded the ai files so that the annoying Ottomans won't ever ask Germans for an alliance.

 

[Miihkali]

By your playing style I meant putting yourself in the game, i.e. your name and photo (I assusme it's you in the photo, isn't it?). It feels a bit different than adding some nicknames and pictures to leader files.

Well, it's my pic and my name. Isn't it handsome guy? I like the realist feeling. Though I often use my real name in internet...

Why did the Germans attack? Was it because of the assasination event? If so, you're very unlucky that Union of Britain didn't join the fight.

I think its because of that, but I really am not sure.