Chapter 70: Solidarity Forever! (1 to 31 January 1940)
(2:22min)
Battle of Suomussalmi
Here we see an example of enemy propaganda and a twisting of reality. The British newsreels trumpet the
Battle of Suomussalmi as a great victory for the Finns
[which it was in OTL]. But in
[alternate] reality, the battle (in the central Finnish front, half way between
Helsinki and
Murmansk) was a clear victory for our Soviet allies. However the Finns may have cleverly spliced together some footage from other incidents,
Suomussalmi was a victory for the Comintern and the province lies firmly in Soviet hands. That said, apart from the obvious Western propaganda, the newsreel does show aspects of the Winter War that are viewed with interest in Ankara (though not in public, mind you, where all such obvious Allied fabrications are strictly censored or banned outright).
1 Jan 40
New Year’s Day is celebrated by reports of the reoccupation of the Soviet province of
Sestroretsk (just north of
Leningrad), following a successful battle there late last year.
2 Jan 40
No sooner had our emissary returned from
Moscow following the latest (successful) request to buy a license for a new medium tank brigade, than the answer to the alignment question came very quickly: notwithstanding recent Axis and Allied interference, our Comintern alignment distance had rapidly fallen to below the 50 threshold for admission to the faction. The offer came from Stalin immediately!
The acceptance was immediate from Inönü: the iron was hot and he would strike straight away. Now the Soviets have a
real ally, not those minor fellow travellers who were all that graced the faction up until this point. Foreign Minister Aras and Interior (Security) Minister Kaya both breathed great sighs of relief. No more fearing and fighting unwelcome foreign interventions! Free resource trades! No more requirement to garrison mutual borders. We’re hoping this frees up a good many Soviet and Romanian units for the main tasks at hand – not having to watch over each other. And, while Turkey has a
real major ally now, there is still some discretion (if we wanted to use it for short-term, tactical reasons) about declaring war if the Soviets are attacked; unlike the Allies “one in, all in” approach. Of course, if
we’re attacked we’ll be bleating to big brother (term used advisedly) straight away!
Later that night, our GRU liaison (the redoubtable SkitalecS3) advises he has been authorised to send us real time situational reports
[ie. no more tagging required]: we may not be able to see battle progress and other such detail, but we can now see all Soviet field dispositions and nearby enemy units. This will give us a far more detailed and continuous feel of our ally’s progress in the Finnish Winter War. The map below shows the key objective of
Viipuri and Soviet progress towards it, with two tank divisions now assaulting
Kivennapa.
3 Jan 40
A couple of events have been triggered by the factional alignment, with the advantages greatly outbalancing any disadvantages, especially in Leadership and Supply Throughput. The extra LS is used to bring our research back up to a full 7 LS and to boost our officer training while still maintaining our current espionage effort. This is all very welcome.
[I hadn’t been tracking these events, so it is a good early reinforcement of the decision. Out of interest, back in Chapter 16 when alignment timings were being estimated, the Turkish intel working group calculated Comintern alignment should be possible by around December 1939: despite that massive Japanese intervention, this ended up proving pretty accurate. The rate really speeds up once Germany starts throwing its weight around!]
The morning papers are full of reporting about the great events of 2 January 1940: the new year certainly got off to a momentous start and, while not complacent, the Glorious Union’s military planners breath a considerable sign of relief. Turkey is far less lonely than it was a few short months ago.
News Report: Washington DC, US. President Franklin D. Roosevelt gives the 1940 State of the Union Address to Congress. "In previous messages to the Congress I have repeatedly warned that, whether we like it or not, the daily lives of American citizens will, of necessity, feel the shock of events on other continents. This is no longer mere theory; because it has been definitely proved to us by the facts of yesterday and today," the President says. He asks the Congress to approve increased national defence spending "based not on panic but on common sense" and "to levy sufficient additional taxes" to help pay for it.
4 Jan 40
A general report re the situation on the Soviet Union’s western border has been received. A thin but solid line of German infantry units lines the shared border. No panzer divisions are spied among them: they all appear to be massing against France. Already, Soviet and Romanian units are evacuating their respective border
en masse, reinforcing the line against the
real enemy threat.
Similarly, the shared Turkish-Soviet borders in the Caucasus and former Iran are being evacuated by the Russians: all the more units available for the real war to come! This deal is already paying dividends for allies, old and new, and confirms the advantage of doing this now, rather than waiting until after one or the other of us is attacked by the Axis. These freed forces should make a difference when it comes to the great battles of the war to liberate the world.
That morning, 3 Inf Div finally reaches the port of
Irakleio in Crete after a long trek over the mountains from
Rythemno. They are re-embarked on the 1st Fleet and all travel safely back to
Istanbul.
5 Jan 40
Another Iraqi spy is apprehended. The British are using their Iraqi surrogates to try to keep an eye on us, but we are unconcerned: more fun for Kelebek. Aras also confirms that all Soviet production licenses are now ‘very likely' (though
not free as we had previously hoped). We just need the production facilities and/or manpower to be able to afford building them! That morning, 1/13 Inf Bde (back from counter-insurgency duties in the south) is installed in
Ahvaz (on the Persian Gulf) to guard its precious oilfields. Another INF bde will be added in due course to make this garrison stronger than the average rear-area port guard.
6 Jan 40
Cennet makes her first report back to
Ankara from
Paris: our spy strength there is back up to 10, and there is now one spy in reserve. Tech espionage is resumed – Ögel figures with that much German armour massing on the French border and no sign yet of the BEF, he’d better get some value out of these spies while he can! Casualties are expected, but that is the secret war for you.
Welcome news is received: the ‘Stakhanovite Program with Turkish Characteristics’ launched last year has succeeded, with Agriculture receiving another boost for our manpower accrual. BJ Guildenstern and Persephonee are very pleased! Research effort is now swung towards further modernising Turkish AT capability for the coming “Armour-geddon” against the German panzers!
In the Winter War, the Soviets continue to make progress: they have occupied
Kivennapa (163rd Tank Div), while the key Finnish river-line and fortified province of
Käkisalmi looks like falling undefended to the Soviet 16th Tank Div.
And late that night, Romania advises they are mobilising their armed forces. Perhaps it has something to do with now being formally a member of the Comintern. Whatever the reason, it is a welcome development, as it ensures their forces will be prepared when war comes. They may be able to hit Hungary hard before the Germans come to their rescue (and thus also help blunt the German attack on the Soviets).
9 Jan 40
Cennet reports from
Paris again: another of our dedicated agents has been arrested by the French.
10 Jan 40
The Soviet 16th Tank Div has taken
Käkisalmi and its fortifications. The Finnish line is now looking very thin and patchy along this key part of the front. The Soviets seem to be picking up momentum.
Intelligence Report: Brussels, Belgium. Mechelen incident [an OTL event]: A German aircraft with an officer on board carrying plans for Fall Gelb (Plan Yellow), the German invasion of the Low Countries, crash-lands in neutral Belgium. The plans have fallen into the hands of Belgian intelligence (and through them to Paris, where one of our agents was able to take a copy). This prompts an immediate crisis in the Low Countries and amidst the French and British authorities.
A picture of a fragment of the plans seized by the Belgians and obtained by one of our agents – at the cost of her life (she was apprehended by the Sŭreté on 19 January and never seen again, but had managed to pass them on shortly before). Although damaged by fire, there was enough to determine their content – though of course not to tell whether it was genuine or a deception attempt, or (if authentic) German plans may change.
11 Jan 40
More technical achievement, which will further boost the speed and efficiency of Turkish research. The drive to bring Turkish infantry equipment up to contemporary standards continues.
Entertainment Report: Leningrad, USSR. The Sergei Prokofiev ballet Romeo and Juliet made its Russian debut at the Korov Theatre in Leningrad amid wartime blackout conditions.
12 Jan 40
Germany has now garrisoned its border with former Yugoslavia, but it looks primarily defensive in nature. Italy too has a reasonable but by no means excessive garrison. Now we are in the Comintern, the Glorious Union should continue to accrue the benefits of the Nazi-Soviet non-aggression pact, while Turkey gives no excuse for war by not manning the border (as a result of the current defence-in-depth doctrine).
Entertainment Report: Schenectady, New York, US. NBC initiates its first network television programming. A play called Meet the Wife is broadcast to a station in Schenectady.
13 Jan 40
More new fortifications in
Istanbul bring them to level 4, with level 5 commissioned straight away. This will not stop until it has reached level 10 (time permitting - which it probably
won’t).
15 Jan 40
The central and northern fronts in Finland are really side-shows. In the north, the front line has stabilised with the Finns still holding three arctic Soviet border provinces. In the centre, another Finnish province (
Panozero) has been occupied. But it is the fighting in the south that will decide this war – depending on whether Soviet objectives are limited (enforcing their core border province claims) or more wide-ranging (conquering Finland and making the Finnish Democratic Republic a Soviet puppet state).
16 Jan 40
News Report: London, UK. British Parliament meets for the first time in the New Year. Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain makes a speech on the general war situation which concludes, “At the moment there is a lull in the operations of war, but at any time that lull may be sharply broken, and events may occur within a few weeks or even a few hours which will reshape the history of the world. We, in this country, hope, as do the peoples of every nation, that the just and lasting peace which we are seeking will not be long delayed. On the other hand, it may well be that the war is about to enter upon a more acute phase. If that should prove to be the case, we are ready for it, and in common with our Allies we will spare no effort and no sacrifice that may be necessary to secure the victory on which we are determined.”
17 Jan 40
During a visit to
Leningrad, the Turkish defence attaché visits the main military airfield to report on aircraft strength on the main southern front. They have considerable tactical bomber support deployed.
19 Jan 40
Yet another of our spies in France has been caught: their counter-intelligence is certainly more active now, though its strength is still only 4. We are down to 9 spies with no reserves to hand, but the tech espionage mission is maintained. Cennet has been instructed to remain based in the Embassy (as she is still under training) under her cover as the 3rd Secretary for Arts and Culture and not get caught up in field work. That will come later. Next month she will be posted to
Moscow to begin her GRU training, now the Comintern alignment has been completed.
20 Jan 40
Kaya reports an Italian spy has now been caught – this one was lurking around
Istanbul. Nothing overt is said or done, but names and notes are being taken: once the gloves come off, there will be some industrial strength revenge taken on these Italian leeches!
21 Jan 40
Next day, a South African spy is apprehended, posing as a Boerewors salesman. Kelebek has an interesting idea for his latest ‘sporting’ escapade, but no-one wants to delve too deeply into that.
This unfortunate Boerewors seller in Istanbul was using his business as a cover for his espionage activities. He now finds himself out of the frying pan and into the fire (given Kelebek is involved, this is probably a literal description of his predicament)!
Based on Soviet reporting, the boffins in Ögel’s intelligence analysis section have produced this estimate of Finnish national unity and the relative value of Finland’s key cities for victory purposes.
Viipuri has only minor significance as far as overall national unity is concerned, but its seizure may be enough to bring about an end to a limited border war. However, Stalin is keeping his plans for the campaign closely guarded, so we will need to wait and see.
23 Jan 40
The tech espionage efforts in France continue to cause casualties among our agents. Another is caught, bringing strength there down to 8, but a replacement is available in
Ankara, who will soon be deployed. Meanwhile, word comes through of another uprising in the south of Iran, this time in
Kerman. 1 Mil Bde is sent from
Tehran by rail to see if it can quell this revolt without further assistance.
News Report: London, UK. Oliver Stanley announces in the House of Commons that kilts will not be issued to members of Scottish regiments except to pipers and drummers, for reasons connected to the possible use of poison gas by the enemy.
Now we know they’re getting serious! Phoney War? Phooey!
24 Jan 40
The Soviets occupy
Koivisto and are now adjacent to the key objective of
Viipuri. The Finns have now been able to establish an unbroken defensive line across the isthmus (three provinces wide now), but there is only one infantry division in each. A very large Soviet stack of units can be seen moving up to the front.
26 Jan 40
A Soviet attack north of
Lake Ladoga has taken
Salmi and cut off the Finnish division that had occupied
Vidlika in early December. Perhaps the Soviets will be able to starve and eliminate this small pocket.
27 Jan 40
The additional leadership allocation to officer training is now showing dividends, with strength now up to
107%. This rate will need to be maintained or even further increased to keep pace with future unit builds that are already queued. The
One Year Draft legislation remains a significant drag (25%) on training.
Provincial AA efficiency has been increased: this line of research will be maintained, given Turkey’s heavy investment in these heavy AA batteries on the main defensive lines.
29 Jan 40
In an impressive continuation of their solo advance, the Soviet 16th Tank Div has broken the Finnish defense of
Hiitola and occupied the province. With reinforcements on the way, this will help to stretch Finnish defences and perhaps outflank
Viipuri, which is strongly situated. On the
Ladoga front, the Finns have counter-attacked
Salmi from the north in an attempt to break the siege of
Vidlika. The two Soviet divisions there appear to be retreating north-east back to their starting point.
31 Jan 40
Yet another of our agents is ‘neutralised’ in France. This sends our strength there back down to 8, though we notice the French
Sûreté is now down to 3 in strength – whether through their battles with Turkey or other foreign intelligence services. No reserve spies are yet ready to deploy. Meanwhile, officer strength is now up to
108%. Cennet heads off to
Moscow for some more intensive ‘wet ops’ training: her one-month attachment in
Paris has shown how important good tradecraft is.
Midnight reveals the 163 Tank Div to be attacking
Viipuri: early reports indicate the Finns may be retreating, but this is not yet certain. North of
Lake Ladoga, the Finns have retaken
Salmi and appear to have rescued their stranded division in
Vidlika.
The Cabinet also receives a very accurate read-out of French dispositions at the end of the month.
Sedan remains unoccupied and the three provinces to the east of it, including the northern section of the
Maginot Line, are lightly held, in some cases with just a garrison division. A thin screen of infantry units occupies the Belgian border from the west of
Sedan through to the English Channel. Either they are preparing to hold this unfortified border should the Germans invade the neutral Belgium and breakthrough there, or alternatively could be readying to rush forward to bolster the Belgian defences before they collapse. The German troop build-up along the French border (
Maginot Line) is very heavy, with a range of light and medium panzer divisions deployed. We have no information on what may be further north, along either the Belgian or Dutch borders.
(1:05min)
French 8” SP Artillery
Coming Up: The Turkish Government begins to feel a new confidence about future prospects – surely now, with the immense resources of the Soviet Union behind them, victory and glory are much closer. The ‘forward defence’ lobby starts to get vocal again. Indeed, a few of the bolder (and younger) souls are suggesting that should war break out, The Soviet and Glorious Unions should actually be looking to
attack the Germans rather than defend at first. Especially if the Germans get hung up in northern France like they did 25 years ago. They argue all the resources spent on fortifying southern Greece and the Sea of Marmara/Dardanelles are a waste. But Inönü and the more experienced leadership remember the First Great War (or GW1, as some are starting to refer to it as) as it was experienced by Turkey. They are worried about the long haul and the true power of the German war machine, especially if Italy joins them. The reporting back from France does not fill everyone with confidence. Both sides agree that the German hammer blow on France, when it falls as it surely must, will be the true measure of Germany’s new and much boasted about power. Only then will the strategic pattern for the future become clearer. Until then, caution and the preservation of the Turkish homeland remain the first priority.
