The Moscow-Berlin Axis II: The Light of the 3rd Republic

[ulver]

So I did a play though as the United States were I forced the German-Soviet alliance looking for an interesting challenge.

You can read it here: https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/lest-darkness-falls-the-moscow-berlin-axis.1451978/ and it was a bit of a bust. Turns out the advantages of the United States are so massive that I had little trouble in overcoming the German-Soviet Alliance.

So I decided to try again as the 3rd French Republic. The cradle of the enlightenment and the shining beacon of civilization. A world where Hitler and Stalin team up should prove quite a challenge.

I’m setting the game up with historical focus on to prevent any unwanted weirdness. The one exception is that Spain will choose preserving its democracy. When I tried this as the United States Spain choose the Fascist side with the weird result that the Spanish Fascist stayed in the Allies fighting against the Republicans. Seems much more logical that it is the Spanish Republicans that stays in the Allies.

The French are not the only ones committed to defending democracy against the odds.

The only set-up cheat I make is instant completing the unholy alliance focus in the German focus tree.

The world will tremble.

I’m not a good player so I will try playing my best with only a reasonable amount of role-playing. The intention is to save France and make the world safe for democracy against fearsome odds.

 

[ulver]

January 1st, 1936

From the French Empire to the family of Francophile nations

With rumors of an impending German-Soviet alliance something close to panic grips France. To have any chance against such a collation France will need allies and lots of them. While the French Prime Minister fly to London along with the leaders of other Democracies his colonial ministry comes up with an audacious plan. France will need to concentrate her forces at home and can no longer afford to police her far flung empire.

Mired in Political crises and the great depression France announces responsible self-government for of all its overseas colonies hoping to turn them into allies insted of subjects.

A community of (mostly) free nations.

The thinking here is that there is no real point in garrisoning all these essentially worthless far-flung possessions. This way they all get to pick focuses that will hopefully eventually result in them gaining some factories and I can always create some templates that use some of their manpower.

On the political side the absolute priority is getting rid of the Disjointed Government and strengthening Democracy so I Revive the National Bloc.

Going for a free-marked center-right compromise.

I also begin the creation of an Intelligence Agency at once. I have great plans for The Deuxième Bureau

Strike from the shadows.

 

[ulver]

January 4th, 1936

The Grand Alliance is formed. France is eager to join.

Mother France speaks for her children when it comes to foreign affairs.

 

[Nikolai]

This should be a challenge.

 

[ulver]

Marts 12th, 1936

Germany occupies the Rhineland. It is a surprisingly tough call but I ultimately decide not to make a stand. While I’m quite confident I could win a war the real risk is Germany backing down leaving the Rhineland unmilitarized at little cost to German and crippling France with even further internal division.

 

[ulver]

May 1st, 1936

With the shock of the German-Soviet pact followed by the occupation of the Rhineland the French people is finally beginning to wake up to the danger facing them

 

[ulver]

Jun 4th, 1936

Despite an impassioned plea from the Ethiopian Emperor for help from the League of Nations, the international community watches passively as Mussolini pursuits territorial expansions.

 

[ulver]

August 13th, 1936

France becomes a spymaster for the Allies. Ambitious plans are being drawn up to destabilize Germany.

 

[ulver]

December 11th, 1936

Civil War in Spain. Due to the low world tension, France is powerless to assist. Fortunately, The Spanish republic looks like it has been making preparations.

 

[ulver]

January 1st, 1937

The army rebellion against the legitimate elected Government of Spain seems to be going badly.

Meanwhile, French intelligence is working from the shadows to undermined confidence in Nazi leadership and supporting pro-democratic elements in the country. There is another Germany just waiting to be born.

 

[ulver]

May 8th, 1937

The united front forms in China. While the French Government regrets that this will mean China not joining the Allies we are in support of anything that might strengthen China against potential Japanese aggression.

Chinese United Front. Good or bad news for the Allies?

 

[ulver]

June 30th, 1937

Given how well Spain seems to be managing I see no reason to sacrifice internal stability to assist her. The French Government expresses its full confidence that the Republic is perfectly able to handle matters on its own.

I’d like to help out but it would improve support for the communist at the polls by a few percentage points so – sorry.

 

[ulver]

July 14th, 1937

Japan launches its attack on a surprisingly unified China.

 

[ulver]

August 14, 1937.

The Republican side in the Civil War splinters. Still looks pretty solid for the Republic.

 

[ulver]

December 1st, 1937.

Italy lays claim to the Yugoslavian territory.

As Italy drifts closer to the revisionist powers of Germany, Japan and the Soviet Union international tensions continue to creep up.

Even so tension is still not high enough to allow democratic nations to begin issuing formal guaranties. Fortunately Yugoslavia is guaranteed by Rumania so the allies should be able to intervene in case of early Italian aggression.

 

[ulver]

December 2st, 1937.

Despite diplomatic objections, Germany marches unopposed in Austria. France reaffirms her support to Czechoslovakia, a country now under grave threat from Germany on all sides.

On the upside new are now in a position to issue a formal guarantee as global tension rises to 31. On the next day, Japan and Italy abandon the London Naval Treaty.

 

[ulver]

April 10th, 1938.

The Republicans triumph in the Spanish Civil War. It remains to be seen if democracy can prevail in the face of communist agitation.

 

[ulver]

April 25th, 1938.

I finally get rid of the Disjointed Government allowing France to unite in the face of the existential threat of totalitarianism.

Still stuck with “Victors of the Great War” which gives a -75% penalty on land doctrine research speed so France has no land Doctrines researched although I’m only 140 days away from completing “Army Reform” allowing me to finally begin doing so.

Of course, I still have only 3 research slots so I’m behind in everything. Hoping my superb intelligence agency can help.

 

[ulver]

May 26th, 1938.

Bulgaria seeks closer cooperation with the Axis. Worrying but there is little Paris can do with all her intelligence focused on Germany.

 

[ulver]

July 2nd, 1938.

Despite firm promises of support from France Lithuania gives in to German pressure. French intelligence reports the Germany intends to demand the Sudetenland next.

French intelligence responds by stepping up its effort to reach out to disgruntle German Officers hoping to prevail on to set up a resistance network and topple Hitler. There will be no selling out the Czechs