V1.02, VH/Normal, fog on. No house rules except avoid total absurdities like invading america with 5 transports in 1938. Goal: ended up being World Conquest but at first it was just to try out a new "early war and puppets" approach.
January 1st, 1936.
The new policies of the Fuhrer were slowly being implemented during the winter. With a new focus on research, a new minister of security, experimented generals assigned to her units, and a rough sketch of exterior policy being drawn out, it seemed to observers the next few years would be quiet for the young Reich. But is there not always something unexpected that happens in those times?
As the General Staff was reviewing scenarios that might lead to the reocupation of the Rhineland, a furious Hitler stormed in the winter headquarters at Bertershgaden, in southern Germany. "Belgians!" he screamed. "How dare they! Their troops are invading Eupen and Malmeny and massacring our german brethen!" It turned out violent pro-nazi manifestations in the former German cities had taken a turn for the worse...
What was a small diplomatic incident turned soon into a full fledged Casus Belli, under the masterful propaganda of Joseph Gobbels. The young but increasingly powerful Werhmacht was entirely thrown westwards; there was a wrong to right, and more importantly an Empire to build.
But there was as always the issue of the western powers. Britain said she would not accept Germans on the coast, France threatened war if the Germans crossed into Rhenania. But on February 5th, when Hitler decided they were bluffing, he turned out to be right. The rape of Belgium soared anti-german feelings in the western countries but as long as the Fuhrer did not annex Belgium, that would proove insufficient for war. Two weeks after the beginning of the operations, Bruxells accepted the German terms; Belgium was now a puppet regime under Germany's control.
Of course the west was furious and saw war as unavoidable, but Germany now had the ressources and the bases to carry out such a war. Sensing the tide of the wind, Austria accepted the Anshluss on March 17th, 1936. Soon after, Spain imploded into civil war, with the German help to General Franco hastening the resolve of the allies.
Feeling confident of their eastern borders, the Germans placed all their might in the west. France was not ready for war, but Germany was only little better, when early in 1937, Paris, finally unable to contain it's citizens thirst for blood, declared war on the reborn power, with the full backing of the English. But they did not know how costly their folly would be.
Operation Fall Weiss called for a panzer attack on Sedan and a drive to Paris, with aircraft support. The plan was carried out flawlessly under General Manstein's command. Along with their Belgian allies, the Germans created a huge breach in the french lines and complete chaos ensued. 8 days after the French declaration of war, the Germans were in Paris. The unthinkable had happened. The French were already demanding an armistice and willing to rule their broken country from Vichy. Even the Nazi leadership had not expected such a triumph, but it would be well exploited.
The rump state of Vichy turned back on his former allies and started deploying the still impressive forces that had survived the fast German thrust to the keypoints of France. Italy immediately joined the Axis, all too eager to feast on British bones. (Note, at this point i manually puppetted Vichy in the save file as it should be. Its broken right now but i have all reasons to believe its intended to be that way and it should be fixed soon. Anyhow, I thought it suitable, if only to allow the english to attack french colonies)
Then, his hands free, Hitler unleashed his wrath on his now hopelessly outnumbered neighbors. Luxembourg annexed March 16th, 1937. The netherlands invaded and it's leadership forced to fly into exile, march 25th, Danemark invaded and annexed outright, april 11th. The switzerland, invaded, puts a strong fight and ends up being a puppet of the Reich due to the Fuhrer's respect for their fighting skill, april 27th. Western Europe had crumbled under the might of Germany.
But there was still the matter of Britain. The Reich had already begun the construction of many transports to attempt an invasion, but few were convinced of its chances of success. For now, defense against air raids and consolidation of the continent were on the agenda.
On may 1st, Spain accepted an offer to join the Axis. Immediately, their forces cooperating with German units, Spain declared war on Portugal, occupied it, along with Gibraltar. The alliance of Vichy France and Nationalist Spain, along with Belgian Congo and the Italian african colonies would proove in the coming years to be a force strong enough to crush the British holdings. Already, the French were starting to invade England's holdings in Equatorial africa.
Berlin would have been pleased if the balkans had cooperated as easily as Spain, but they did not. Their leaders were recalcitrant to the fachist way of life, but Hitler did not desire to occupy all of the balkans and struggle against gerillas. Therefore, a plan was drawn up with one goal in mind; make all the countries that resisted the Axis fall one by one like a domino.
Late may, Hungary was invaded. Her armed forces suffered little; nothing stood in the German path to budapest. A fachist puppet state, all too happy to give Germany the blood and the food of Hungary, was put in power. Hungarian armies suddently switched sides. The model had been tested and would soon be applied everywhere. Rumania was the next victim, and was puppeted on june 25th. German supplies had rapidly grown huge through trade and there was no need to annex her oil fields; she would yield enough, anyhow. Bulgaria's turn came on July 14th. Then Yugoslavia on the 27th. The latter was torn apart between its neighborgs, an independant and puppetted Croatia holding the nation's core. Albania was left to Italy who annexed it early August. As for Greece, it proved a more complicated task, and required the cooperation of the Italian navy. But crete finally fell on August 30th, and Greece accepted her new masters. The Balkans were subdued.
If Poland and Czechoslovaquia remained in the way, they were still not belligerant, and it was well that way since the Kriegmarine now had finished her transports. Overjoyed with the results obtained in the Balkans, Hitler decided to carry his campaign to Scandinavia. Norway was rapidly invaded before the twilight of the summer, and annexed into the Reich (Historical preference). Sweden and Finland fought a bitter autumn war, but eventually were forced into reason, and accepted more friendly governments. The Fuhrer of Germany was invincible.
With the north secure, the armies of the Reich prepared for the conquest of Poland. However, in order to reorganize his empire and strengthen his military, the fuhrer delayed the operation thrice, until the spring on 1938. Then, its an overwhelming army that liberated Danzig and rolled over Poland. There was then discussions about establishing a puppet state; but they were put aside. Lands east of Germany were Lesbesbaurn, and needed to be purged and germanified; there was no other way. Either way, the polish army had been totally exterminated; there was no army left to assist Germany in her wars.
Leaving surrounded Czecoslovaquia for now, the German planners, fearing a Soviet attempt to block their expansion eastwards, quickly grabbed the baltic states. There was not a semblance of opposition. By Late march, the three were annexed and incorporated. Already, German colonists began to resettle eastwards.
Unwilling to wait any longer to settle the fate of Czecoslovaquia, Hitler then quickly declared a state of war. The helpless country stood no chance and was invaded on all sides. Hungary was allowed to occupy Ruthenia and parts of Slovaquia, while the Sutendenlands and Bohemia-Moravia were annexed by Germany. Those fools had caused too much trouble for too long to be allowed to exist any further. Heydrich would make sure the Czechs posed no more problems.
May, 1938. Europe is Fachist, beyond all doubts, but Britain remains. The true test for the Kriegmarine lies ahead. Italy has conquered Egypt, but their Empire remains huge. Fortunately, in the last year, sufficient naval progress has been made, techonologically and materially, to give Germany a chance to triumph.
The italian navy passed Gibraltar, an ill omen for the ages-old Empire of the sea. Meanwhile, the transports of Germany, protected by an impressive fleet of u-boats and cruisers set sail from Hamburg. Destination; Scotland.
Circling around the Royal Navy, the Axis forces landed in northern Ireland and in Scotland on June 11th. The weak sea forces in the north were crushed by sheer numbers. Conveys were established to both islands, and war declared upon Ireland. The conquest of Britain was about to begin.
Ireland was easily dealt with; small units quickly invaded it and established a puppet regime. Scotland and Scapa Flow were also overrun within the week, and York was captured in northern England. But then the british moved enough forces to confront them that the Germans halted their advance. Reinforcements were called from the mainland.
Crushing a path through the British warships, the transports brought sizable reinforcements to Britain. Under Rommel's leadership, they fought their way to London, crushing mercilessly small units of the Home Guard. Soon, Britain's back was broken. It was time for peace.
From the British dominions, though, the talk was different. From Canada... "Never shall Canada surrender to the..." or Australia... "...and we shall thus stand against the scourge..." and a not much better result in south africa: "against the horrors and the crimes of Nazi Germany...". But with Britain controlled, the new government under Lord Halifax was able to rein in the parts of the British Empire London controlled directly. The Italian warfare in Sudan ceased; the British Empire was now an axis ally and paid tribute to the Reich. Her great navy set sail with a new goal in mind; reel in the rebellious dominions that threatened the Great German Alliance. Hitler's dream had come true.
In the coming years, Britain would not only protect Germany from her enemies overseas but conquer the enemies of the Reich. The portugeuse and dutch colonies that resisted the axis were invaded and added to the British collection. The ex-dominions followed a coalition under Canada that had hopes to free Britain; chimeric dreams they would have to forget about sooner than later.
Also, Japanese's Imperial government had found a precious ally in Great Britain; no US blockus would threaten her economy now that she could trade with the very power she had for so long tried to emulate, and do so in all freedom. The conquest of China and former Tibet was thus soon achieved in late 1938.
For Hitler, the triumph was complete - almost. America, once threatening to defend Britain now saw the power of the Axis. If their citizens claimed to be unanimously ready for war, the only action the overseas power took was to growl and gulp, accepting de facto the German triumphs. But Hitler still had one enemy - one last triumph in sight. The USSR.
The vast, rich lands of the east. Cold, perhaps, but filled with hidden potential. A land that could forge millions of stout, strong, germans, and feed someday a billion. Oil, coal, steel, rubber, gold. So much of it too. And ripe to be taken from the evil and decadant communist regime!
It was however already late July when all the forces in the East were ready to begin the titanic clash. Intelligence reported significant soviet armies; perhaps would it be wise to delay the invasion until next year's spring? It was the chosen course of action. There was after all much to be done until then to assure Axis supremacy.
Havana had always had a soft spot in the Fuhrer's heart. At America's outrage, the Werhmacht landed units and annexed the island in the fall, using her long range transports. A base was established to fight America, and she was powerless to enforce for Monroe doctrine. Should she declare war, Germany would be the one to bring the war to her soil!
After that, substantial diplomatic activities were made to align southern america with Germany. In october, Argentina accepted to join the Axis, and many markets had opened, and many sumpathies were born in other countries. Truly, Germany's influence was now world-spanning.
Then, late in november, the United States of America declared war on Japan. Ironic, thought Hitler, that the island nation had refused an alliance with Germany a few weeks before. Our efforts will be better spent teaching our allies new technologies than declaring war on America, he wisely thought. The asians and the jew-lovers in Washington could duke it out. He had a Russia to conquer.
Winter passed unevently. Germany had realized she needed to teach her numerous allies the technology she had developped - at least a part of it - and she did. It payed off well when Berlin signed the ReichsDirective #16, placing most of her allies' armies under her control for the invasion of the Soviet Union. At the last minute, Turkey was willingly added to this long list; one less war to fight, thought the General Staff. Few doubted of the outcome of the Eastern Campaign. The German army was now too strong, too numerous. Brand new Panther tanks rolled into poland. The T-34s would have their match!
The invasion began on April 1st, 1939. Four months during, the Werhmacht struggled with the Russian bear, rapidly gaining ground, but at an high cost. Allied divisions were used whenever possible to preserve Germany's elite forces. Karelia fell, and with it Leningrad, very soon in the conflict. The Russians gathered most of their armies in the Pripet Marshes, and fought on the very poor ground, causing more attrition losses to the invaders than anything else. But when the Germans stood triumphant, the path of Muscow and Stalingrad were opened. Fast units speared foward; soon the red titan lied on it's knees, and begged for peace. Peace with the soviets? A funny concept, but there was ground to gain. "Peace" was signed in August; why not reorganize things a little during the cold season, and in peace? The German warriors took their new positions on the Arstrangelsk-Astrankhan line, the new border, east of the Volga. The rest of the year saw operations in the middle east, to force the neutral countries there to join the Axis side and recognize German superiority. Meanwhile, the Japanese conquered the philipins and clashed in the pacific with the USA; the longer they would be busy, the better, thought the Fuhrer.
In spring, an even stronger Germany was prepared for action. "Not bad" thought the Fuhrer when he was informed his British puppets had reached Toronto and were about to force Canada's surrender. "I didn't think theyd manage that on their own."
It mattered little. Operation True Steel was the only thing that was of importance that year; despite the horrible state of the siberian roads, his armies would be in Vladivostok by Winter. All of former USSR would bow to Europa.
It was once again a gamble, for this time he fought not the russians but their homeland. Due to methodical preparation, though, the Urals were quickly overran, and the Transsiberian carried the German forces all the way to the Japanese border. There was no puppeting this time. When he proclaimed the creation of the Ostland; virtual annex of the Great Reich, the Fuhrer secured Germany her Lesbestraum for all eternity.
Calmer than ever, he believed his duty was over. A complete year was spent reorganizing the armed forces and strengthening the technology of the Empire. The war seemed a far away thing. Reports that the former British dominions had all sued for peace under the combined operations of the Kriegsmarine and the Royal Navy were encouraging but meant very little as they would have never posed any threat. Fachist influence growth in southern america was a pleasing turn of events, but what would the Brizilian adheration to the Axis truly bring to him in this 1940? He was too busy redrawing the German cities into glorious megapolises and arranging the colonization of his hard-fought land to care.
However, a last task would befall Germany. The path he had embarked on in 1936, although he did not expect it at first, not only made Germany the single superpower on Earth but placed it in a situation where it had to triumph or be annihiliated. As the U.S. Navy won victory after another against the mighty Japanese, the Germans slowly understood they would have no choice but to comfront the Titan. It's economic strength was insane, almost matching the Greater Reich's. This would be quite the crusade. Hitler hesitated to begin it, until one day...
In July, 1941, Heichenkoster, head of the Karelian Project, requested a meeting with the Reich's highest authorities. Germany had successfully exploded, on the eve, the first nuclear weapon in history, on the ices of desertic northern Russia. It's awesome destructive power was unmatched. Finally, the war in the west was no longer a gamble.
Suddently, south american sympathies became more important. Venuzuela and Mexico accepted Axis membership within a week of each other, and several declarations of war were issued, to all the smaller countries of the region. Within a month, they were all overran. Large bodies of German soldiers landed in Mexico. The US gathered large armies to fight this undeclared war, massing them in Texas and California until...
11th September, 1941, a declaration of war is formally issued to the U.S.A. The next morning, Texas, home of the largest amount of US soldiers on the mainland, explodes in fiery death. From New-Havana, large amphibious forces land in Florida. Great amount of planes follow them. From their reconquered Canada, the British invade New-England The Struggle for America has begun.
From the north and the south, hordes of warriors pour across the borders. American forces are strong, and well armed, but will it be enough? The matter of transportation of troops put Germany at a disadvantage; will her super-weapons compensate?
Panzers roll on New-York, and then Washington. The East coast is defended vailliantly, but all is for naught. Secure conveys between Manhattan and Le Havre moves freely, German U-boats crushing the US Atlantic fleet, while paratroops ensure that the Panama channels stays closed to reinforcements. Then the panzers rolls westwards...
The German General Staff had feared the size of America; almost as large as Russia, and much more well defended. But they had underestimated the disadvantage they had been put at in Russia due to the terrible condition of the roads. Its smoothly, using the american highways, that the panzers rolled from target to target. In the air, the luftwaffe reigned supreme, ensuring softened targets, along with the powerful long range missiles of the Reich.
The West Coast was the last point of resistance. It was well into the winter when Seattle was finally overran, marking the end of the war. Since the Japanese had been unable to exploit the american defeats, the Kriegsmarine quickly moved in the Pacific and conquered the last holdings of the great democracy; Alaska and Hawaii. As the U.S. Congress is exile tried to negociate favourable terms, the swift order arrived from Germany; full annexation.
It would take fifty years for Germany to restore moral values to America and organize it into a true extension of the Greater Reich, but as soon as the beaten Roosevelt signed the capitulation, one thing was clear; victory was absolute.
Still, the belliquose mood of the Nazi leadership took over after another year of cosolidation. A bitter war was fought in the pacific, with in mind the goal of forcing Japan to surrender to the Axis. It was after all unacceptable to yield an entire continent to the yellow plague. With the Japanse Unconditional Surrender in September 1944, the world was finally put at the Eagle's heel. In eight years, Germany had accomplished the unthikable and conquered the world.
Truly, there was nothing to match German efficiency and planning. The truth and the righteousness behind the German doctrine had been proven, and throughout history the feats of the Werhmacht would be remembered, as unparalled in history, shaming Alexender and Charlemagne, leaving the mongols far behind in the dust.
((Note: I had almost zero manpower by the end of the game, and im pretty sure without all my puppets i would have had a bottleneck of both ressources and manpower by 1942 at the latest.))
January 1st, 1936.
The new policies of the Fuhrer were slowly being implemented during the winter. With a new focus on research, a new minister of security, experimented generals assigned to her units, and a rough sketch of exterior policy being drawn out, it seemed to observers the next few years would be quiet for the young Reich. But is there not always something unexpected that happens in those times?
As the General Staff was reviewing scenarios that might lead to the reocupation of the Rhineland, a furious Hitler stormed in the winter headquarters at Bertershgaden, in southern Germany. "Belgians!" he screamed. "How dare they! Their troops are invading Eupen and Malmeny and massacring our german brethen!" It turned out violent pro-nazi manifestations in the former German cities had taken a turn for the worse...
What was a small diplomatic incident turned soon into a full fledged Casus Belli, under the masterful propaganda of Joseph Gobbels. The young but increasingly powerful Werhmacht was entirely thrown westwards; there was a wrong to right, and more importantly an Empire to build.
But there was as always the issue of the western powers. Britain said she would not accept Germans on the coast, France threatened war if the Germans crossed into Rhenania. But on February 5th, when Hitler decided they were bluffing, he turned out to be right. The rape of Belgium soared anti-german feelings in the western countries but as long as the Fuhrer did not annex Belgium, that would proove insufficient for war. Two weeks after the beginning of the operations, Bruxells accepted the German terms; Belgium was now a puppet regime under Germany's control.
Of course the west was furious and saw war as unavoidable, but Germany now had the ressources and the bases to carry out such a war. Sensing the tide of the wind, Austria accepted the Anshluss on March 17th, 1936. Soon after, Spain imploded into civil war, with the German help to General Franco hastening the resolve of the allies.
Feeling confident of their eastern borders, the Germans placed all their might in the west. France was not ready for war, but Germany was only little better, when early in 1937, Paris, finally unable to contain it's citizens thirst for blood, declared war on the reborn power, with the full backing of the English. But they did not know how costly their folly would be.
Operation Fall Weiss called for a panzer attack on Sedan and a drive to Paris, with aircraft support. The plan was carried out flawlessly under General Manstein's command. Along with their Belgian allies, the Germans created a huge breach in the french lines and complete chaos ensued. 8 days after the French declaration of war, the Germans were in Paris. The unthinkable had happened. The French were already demanding an armistice and willing to rule their broken country from Vichy. Even the Nazi leadership had not expected such a triumph, but it would be well exploited.
The rump state of Vichy turned back on his former allies and started deploying the still impressive forces that had survived the fast German thrust to the keypoints of France. Italy immediately joined the Axis, all too eager to feast on British bones. (Note, at this point i manually puppetted Vichy in the save file as it should be. Its broken right now but i have all reasons to believe its intended to be that way and it should be fixed soon. Anyhow, I thought it suitable, if only to allow the english to attack french colonies)
Then, his hands free, Hitler unleashed his wrath on his now hopelessly outnumbered neighbors. Luxembourg annexed March 16th, 1937. The netherlands invaded and it's leadership forced to fly into exile, march 25th, Danemark invaded and annexed outright, april 11th. The switzerland, invaded, puts a strong fight and ends up being a puppet of the Reich due to the Fuhrer's respect for their fighting skill, april 27th. Western Europe had crumbled under the might of Germany.
But there was still the matter of Britain. The Reich had already begun the construction of many transports to attempt an invasion, but few were convinced of its chances of success. For now, defense against air raids and consolidation of the continent were on the agenda.
On may 1st, Spain accepted an offer to join the Axis. Immediately, their forces cooperating with German units, Spain declared war on Portugal, occupied it, along with Gibraltar. The alliance of Vichy France and Nationalist Spain, along with Belgian Congo and the Italian african colonies would proove in the coming years to be a force strong enough to crush the British holdings. Already, the French were starting to invade England's holdings in Equatorial africa.
Berlin would have been pleased if the balkans had cooperated as easily as Spain, but they did not. Their leaders were recalcitrant to the fachist way of life, but Hitler did not desire to occupy all of the balkans and struggle against gerillas. Therefore, a plan was drawn up with one goal in mind; make all the countries that resisted the Axis fall one by one like a domino.
Late may, Hungary was invaded. Her armed forces suffered little; nothing stood in the German path to budapest. A fachist puppet state, all too happy to give Germany the blood and the food of Hungary, was put in power. Hungarian armies suddently switched sides. The model had been tested and would soon be applied everywhere. Rumania was the next victim, and was puppeted on june 25th. German supplies had rapidly grown huge through trade and there was no need to annex her oil fields; she would yield enough, anyhow. Bulgaria's turn came on July 14th. Then Yugoslavia on the 27th. The latter was torn apart between its neighborgs, an independant and puppetted Croatia holding the nation's core. Albania was left to Italy who annexed it early August. As for Greece, it proved a more complicated task, and required the cooperation of the Italian navy. But crete finally fell on August 30th, and Greece accepted her new masters. The Balkans were subdued.
If Poland and Czechoslovaquia remained in the way, they were still not belligerant, and it was well that way since the Kriegmarine now had finished her transports. Overjoyed with the results obtained in the Balkans, Hitler decided to carry his campaign to Scandinavia. Norway was rapidly invaded before the twilight of the summer, and annexed into the Reich (Historical preference). Sweden and Finland fought a bitter autumn war, but eventually were forced into reason, and accepted more friendly governments. The Fuhrer of Germany was invincible.
With the north secure, the armies of the Reich prepared for the conquest of Poland. However, in order to reorganize his empire and strengthen his military, the fuhrer delayed the operation thrice, until the spring on 1938. Then, its an overwhelming army that liberated Danzig and rolled over Poland. There was then discussions about establishing a puppet state; but they were put aside. Lands east of Germany were Lesbesbaurn, and needed to be purged and germanified; there was no other way. Either way, the polish army had been totally exterminated; there was no army left to assist Germany in her wars.
Leaving surrounded Czecoslovaquia for now, the German planners, fearing a Soviet attempt to block their expansion eastwards, quickly grabbed the baltic states. There was not a semblance of opposition. By Late march, the three were annexed and incorporated. Already, German colonists began to resettle eastwards.
Unwilling to wait any longer to settle the fate of Czecoslovaquia, Hitler then quickly declared a state of war. The helpless country stood no chance and was invaded on all sides. Hungary was allowed to occupy Ruthenia and parts of Slovaquia, while the Sutendenlands and Bohemia-Moravia were annexed by Germany. Those fools had caused too much trouble for too long to be allowed to exist any further. Heydrich would make sure the Czechs posed no more problems.
May, 1938. Europe is Fachist, beyond all doubts, but Britain remains. The true test for the Kriegmarine lies ahead. Italy has conquered Egypt, but their Empire remains huge. Fortunately, in the last year, sufficient naval progress has been made, techonologically and materially, to give Germany a chance to triumph.
The italian navy passed Gibraltar, an ill omen for the ages-old Empire of the sea. Meanwhile, the transports of Germany, protected by an impressive fleet of u-boats and cruisers set sail from Hamburg. Destination; Scotland.
Circling around the Royal Navy, the Axis forces landed in northern Ireland and in Scotland on June 11th. The weak sea forces in the north were crushed by sheer numbers. Conveys were established to both islands, and war declared upon Ireland. The conquest of Britain was about to begin.
Ireland was easily dealt with; small units quickly invaded it and established a puppet regime. Scotland and Scapa Flow were also overrun within the week, and York was captured in northern England. But then the british moved enough forces to confront them that the Germans halted their advance. Reinforcements were called from the mainland.
Crushing a path through the British warships, the transports brought sizable reinforcements to Britain. Under Rommel's leadership, they fought their way to London, crushing mercilessly small units of the Home Guard. Soon, Britain's back was broken. It was time for peace.
From the British dominions, though, the talk was different. From Canada... "Never shall Canada surrender to the..." or Australia... "...and we shall thus stand against the scourge..." and a not much better result in south africa: "against the horrors and the crimes of Nazi Germany...". But with Britain controlled, the new government under Lord Halifax was able to rein in the parts of the British Empire London controlled directly. The Italian warfare in Sudan ceased; the British Empire was now an axis ally and paid tribute to the Reich. Her great navy set sail with a new goal in mind; reel in the rebellious dominions that threatened the Great German Alliance. Hitler's dream had come true.
In the coming years, Britain would not only protect Germany from her enemies overseas but conquer the enemies of the Reich. The portugeuse and dutch colonies that resisted the axis were invaded and added to the British collection. The ex-dominions followed a coalition under Canada that had hopes to free Britain; chimeric dreams they would have to forget about sooner than later.
Also, Japanese's Imperial government had found a precious ally in Great Britain; no US blockus would threaten her economy now that she could trade with the very power she had for so long tried to emulate, and do so in all freedom. The conquest of China and former Tibet was thus soon achieved in late 1938.
For Hitler, the triumph was complete - almost. America, once threatening to defend Britain now saw the power of the Axis. If their citizens claimed to be unanimously ready for war, the only action the overseas power took was to growl and gulp, accepting de facto the German triumphs. But Hitler still had one enemy - one last triumph in sight. The USSR.
The vast, rich lands of the east. Cold, perhaps, but filled with hidden potential. A land that could forge millions of stout, strong, germans, and feed someday a billion. Oil, coal, steel, rubber, gold. So much of it too. And ripe to be taken from the evil and decadant communist regime!
It was however already late July when all the forces in the East were ready to begin the titanic clash. Intelligence reported significant soviet armies; perhaps would it be wise to delay the invasion until next year's spring? It was the chosen course of action. There was after all much to be done until then to assure Axis supremacy.
Havana had always had a soft spot in the Fuhrer's heart. At America's outrage, the Werhmacht landed units and annexed the island in the fall, using her long range transports. A base was established to fight America, and she was powerless to enforce for Monroe doctrine. Should she declare war, Germany would be the one to bring the war to her soil!
After that, substantial diplomatic activities were made to align southern america with Germany. In october, Argentina accepted to join the Axis, and many markets had opened, and many sumpathies were born in other countries. Truly, Germany's influence was now world-spanning.
Then, late in november, the United States of America declared war on Japan. Ironic, thought Hitler, that the island nation had refused an alliance with Germany a few weeks before. Our efforts will be better spent teaching our allies new technologies than declaring war on America, he wisely thought. The asians and the jew-lovers in Washington could duke it out. He had a Russia to conquer.
Winter passed unevently. Germany had realized she needed to teach her numerous allies the technology she had developped - at least a part of it - and she did. It payed off well when Berlin signed the ReichsDirective #16, placing most of her allies' armies under her control for the invasion of the Soviet Union. At the last minute, Turkey was willingly added to this long list; one less war to fight, thought the General Staff. Few doubted of the outcome of the Eastern Campaign. The German army was now too strong, too numerous. Brand new Panther tanks rolled into poland. The T-34s would have their match!
The invasion began on April 1st, 1939. Four months during, the Werhmacht struggled with the Russian bear, rapidly gaining ground, but at an high cost. Allied divisions were used whenever possible to preserve Germany's elite forces. Karelia fell, and with it Leningrad, very soon in the conflict. The Russians gathered most of their armies in the Pripet Marshes, and fought on the very poor ground, causing more attrition losses to the invaders than anything else. But when the Germans stood triumphant, the path of Muscow and Stalingrad were opened. Fast units speared foward; soon the red titan lied on it's knees, and begged for peace. Peace with the soviets? A funny concept, but there was ground to gain. "Peace" was signed in August; why not reorganize things a little during the cold season, and in peace? The German warriors took their new positions on the Arstrangelsk-Astrankhan line, the new border, east of the Volga. The rest of the year saw operations in the middle east, to force the neutral countries there to join the Axis side and recognize German superiority. Meanwhile, the Japanese conquered the philipins and clashed in the pacific with the USA; the longer they would be busy, the better, thought the Fuhrer.
In spring, an even stronger Germany was prepared for action. "Not bad" thought the Fuhrer when he was informed his British puppets had reached Toronto and were about to force Canada's surrender. "I didn't think theyd manage that on their own."
It mattered little. Operation True Steel was the only thing that was of importance that year; despite the horrible state of the siberian roads, his armies would be in Vladivostok by Winter. All of former USSR would bow to Europa.
It was once again a gamble, for this time he fought not the russians but their homeland. Due to methodical preparation, though, the Urals were quickly overran, and the Transsiberian carried the German forces all the way to the Japanese border. There was no puppeting this time. When he proclaimed the creation of the Ostland; virtual annex of the Great Reich, the Fuhrer secured Germany her Lesbestraum for all eternity.
Calmer than ever, he believed his duty was over. A complete year was spent reorganizing the armed forces and strengthening the technology of the Empire. The war seemed a far away thing. Reports that the former British dominions had all sued for peace under the combined operations of the Kriegsmarine and the Royal Navy were encouraging but meant very little as they would have never posed any threat. Fachist influence growth in southern america was a pleasing turn of events, but what would the Brizilian adheration to the Axis truly bring to him in this 1940? He was too busy redrawing the German cities into glorious megapolises and arranging the colonization of his hard-fought land to care.
However, a last task would befall Germany. The path he had embarked on in 1936, although he did not expect it at first, not only made Germany the single superpower on Earth but placed it in a situation where it had to triumph or be annihiliated. As the U.S. Navy won victory after another against the mighty Japanese, the Germans slowly understood they would have no choice but to comfront the Titan. It's economic strength was insane, almost matching the Greater Reich's. This would be quite the crusade. Hitler hesitated to begin it, until one day...
In July, 1941, Heichenkoster, head of the Karelian Project, requested a meeting with the Reich's highest authorities. Germany had successfully exploded, on the eve, the first nuclear weapon in history, on the ices of desertic northern Russia. It's awesome destructive power was unmatched. Finally, the war in the west was no longer a gamble.
Suddently, south american sympathies became more important. Venuzuela and Mexico accepted Axis membership within a week of each other, and several declarations of war were issued, to all the smaller countries of the region. Within a month, they were all overran. Large bodies of German soldiers landed in Mexico. The US gathered large armies to fight this undeclared war, massing them in Texas and California until...
11th September, 1941, a declaration of war is formally issued to the U.S.A. The next morning, Texas, home of the largest amount of US soldiers on the mainland, explodes in fiery death. From New-Havana, large amphibious forces land in Florida. Great amount of planes follow them. From their reconquered Canada, the British invade New-England The Struggle for America has begun.
From the north and the south, hordes of warriors pour across the borders. American forces are strong, and well armed, but will it be enough? The matter of transportation of troops put Germany at a disadvantage; will her super-weapons compensate?
Panzers roll on New-York, and then Washington. The East coast is defended vailliantly, but all is for naught. Secure conveys between Manhattan and Le Havre moves freely, German U-boats crushing the US Atlantic fleet, while paratroops ensure that the Panama channels stays closed to reinforcements. Then the panzers rolls westwards...
The German General Staff had feared the size of America; almost as large as Russia, and much more well defended. But they had underestimated the disadvantage they had been put at in Russia due to the terrible condition of the roads. Its smoothly, using the american highways, that the panzers rolled from target to target. In the air, the luftwaffe reigned supreme, ensuring softened targets, along with the powerful long range missiles of the Reich.
The West Coast was the last point of resistance. It was well into the winter when Seattle was finally overran, marking the end of the war. Since the Japanese had been unable to exploit the american defeats, the Kriegsmarine quickly moved in the Pacific and conquered the last holdings of the great democracy; Alaska and Hawaii. As the U.S. Congress is exile tried to negociate favourable terms, the swift order arrived from Germany; full annexation.
It would take fifty years for Germany to restore moral values to America and organize it into a true extension of the Greater Reich, but as soon as the beaten Roosevelt signed the capitulation, one thing was clear; victory was absolute.
Still, the belliquose mood of the Nazi leadership took over after another year of cosolidation. A bitter war was fought in the pacific, with in mind the goal of forcing Japan to surrender to the Axis. It was after all unacceptable to yield an entire continent to the yellow plague. With the Japanse Unconditional Surrender in September 1944, the world was finally put at the Eagle's heel. In eight years, Germany had accomplished the unthikable and conquered the world.
Truly, there was nothing to match German efficiency and planning. The truth and the righteousness behind the German doctrine had been proven, and throughout history the feats of the Werhmacht would be remembered, as unparalled in history, shaming Alexender and Charlemagne, leaving the mongols far behind in the dust.
((Note: I had almost zero manpower by the end of the game, and im pretty sure without all my puppets i would have had a bottleneck of both ressources and manpower by 1942 at the latest.))
