Part IV: War in the East
MODERNIZED SHIPS:
As early as 1935 efforts have been made to strengthen the German Navy, to make it a formidable force against the daunting British Royal Navy. On the 21st of February, 1937, two Deutschland-Class battleships of the old
High Seas Fleet, KMS Schleswig-Holstein and
KMS Schlesien, completed modernization. Schleswig-Holstein and Schlesien fought in the first World War. During World War I, she saw front-line service in the II Battle Squadron of the High Seas Fleet, culminating in the Battle of Jutland. Schleswig-Holstein saw action during the engagement, and was hit by one large-caliber shell. After the battle, Schleswig-Holstein was relegated to guard duty in the mouth of the Elbe River before being decommissioned in late 1917. Today these two battleships have once again been pressed into service, with new life breathed into them.
WAR IN THE EAST:
Tensions between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan have been building sense the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931. Throughout 1936 the concentration of troops on the Sino-Japanese border had seen a steady increase, Chinese divisions dug in a prepared heavy fortifications while the Japanese readied itself for an offensive.
By the 20th of July, the Marco Polo Bridge incident had escalated into a state of war between the two nations and by the the 25th, the Japanese offensive had begun. The Japanese broke through the Republican first line of defense by the end of the month.
Japanese troops break through Chinese defenses.
RESEARCH:
During September, the Reich Research Council was once again besieged with work. Many of the projects scheduled in 1936 had been completed or have progressed into something larger, therefor it is time to direct new efforts for technology. The RFR ruled to continue all of the naval projects, (With heavy insistence from Hitler) however the 1937-38 period would primarily focus on infantry and armored equipment.
Efforts would be made to improve light artillery, small arms and defensive weapons. Armored research would see a completed overhaul in likeness to previous projects. The Kreigsmarine is in need of a new class of destroyer, reporting there old 1918 classes to be woefully outgunned by any modern navy, therefor improvements would sought to be made on our destroyers. Industrial technology and practices continue to advance under the watch of the RFR at a good pace, however, our industry as of now, is running at peak efficiency, the likes of which have never been reported. In light of this, industrial technology has now been given a lower priority.
The second phase of the
Industrieplan completed in late September, this time the construction of these new factories has expanded around the Ruhr, the heart of our industry. Production, thus far, has soared, a 30% growth in plant and equipment has been estimated for the Ruhr Valley. Heavy industry and steal production are the forefront of this new expansion.
Heavy industry in the Ruhr Valley.
END OF THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR:
Franco's troops conquered Catalonia in a whirlwind campaign during the latter half of 1937. Tarragona fell on 15 September, followed by Barcelona on 26 September and Girona on 2 October. On 27 October, the United Kingdom and France recognized the Franco regime.
Franco declares the end of the war. However, small pockets of Republicans fought on. Only Madrid and a few other strongholds remained for the Republican forces. On 5 November 1937 the Republican army, led by the Colonel Segismundo Casado and the politician Julián Besteiro, rose against the prime minister Juan Negrín and formed the National Defence Council (Consejo Nacional de Defensa or CND) to negotiate a peace deal. Negrín fled to France on 6 November, but the Communist troops around Madrid rose against the junta, starting a brief civil war within the civil war. Casado defeated them, and began peace negotiations with the Nationalists, but Franco refused to accept anything less than unconditional surrender.
On 26 November, the Nationalists started a general offensive, on 28 November the Nationalists occupied Madrid and, by 31 November, they controlled all Spanish territory. Franco proclaimed victory in a radio speech aired on 1 December, when the last of the Republican forces surrendered.
