To restore the Republic (Nationalist China)

[General Guisan]

Defensive turns into offensive

Late september 1936, with the recently signed armistice with the Communists, Chiang Kai-Shek rushes with his best troops South, with the ultimate target of freeing our capital. Massive amounts of Chinese Nationalists behind the lines of the enemies, small units who got cut off or just farmers fighting for their country are slowing down the Japanese advancements, while reserves from more inland parts are on their way towards the coastline. While badly equipped, their fighting spirit is high, and they shall be used to defend the mountains in northern Shanxi to bind massive amounts of enemy troops in this region. We need a strong hit now, as the japanese numbers are growing every day, and soon will be too strong to be able to overcome.

As the Japanese troops come closer to the Yellow river, we're faced with a serious question: Destroy the upper dikes and slow them down massively but also makes it impossible to mount an offensive in the near future, or keep them intact and gamble on a quick victory in the South. We choose to gamble.

After a hard marsh through Southern China, troops from the former Guangxi Clique are reaching Shangrao, while we managed to move troops into assault position in Ningbo and Wuhu. As our partisans have cut off enemy supply lines just before the battle, the vanguard of the Imperial japanese army gets cut off. With a bajonet at their back, over 6.000 japanese PoW make their way towards our coal mines in Chengdu. As news of the victory are spread over radio and newspapers, the fighting spirit of our troops all over the frontline is massively increased. It shall not be the last victory.

At Kaifeng, the strongest of our units are making a stand against attacking japanese troops. For a while, the corridor our troops could hold was as tight as 50km, and the Japanese troops smelled victory already, but with our President himself holding out, moral never fell and all attacks got stopped. Eventually, as trucks made their way into Kaifeng, supplies were stocked and we got ready for the planed late autumn operation, before cold weather would stop any offensive.

Further South, the city walls of Nanjing came under fire again. But this time it was our troops attacking and weak japanese troops fleeing the city as the first bullets flew close over their heads. No time for celebration though, only a quick rest as winter came closer. With day temperatures of around 15C and mild nights, good November weather was certainly helping to advance.

We heard news that the United States had voted a new president, Alf M. Landon, a republican was replacing President Roosevelt. Seems they prefer to stay isolationistic instead of helping us to fight the japanese brute.

Further equipment arrives in the recently moved capital and it's region as transport of industries are a success. Our industrial output is almost back on level prior to the outbreak of war against the Japanese.

With the South secured, we're also starting our offensive against Fuyang, to bring the frontline closer to the sea again. If we manage to combine the troops from Guangxi and those under Chiang, they might be able to push the japanese back till Tsingtao, even though they had massively expanded their invasion army. Every day not pushing forward is a lost day.

Karaiskandar: Unfortunately, not enough troops to counter them quickly, but enough to stop their advance, and as I'm fighting on home turf, I can prepare them some nasty surprises more easily.
Everyone: Thanks for supporting the AAR, China for sure can use every help here

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Nanjing has been liberated, a great success for the KMT !

 

[hoi2geek]

100th Post from IEPH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Anyways, this AAR looks promising.

 

[General Guisan]

Frontline getting more complicated

For days, our troops have assaulted the Japanese positions at Fuyang. As it appeared, they have been caught rather by surprise, as they've had already tooken offensive positions, and we've been able to gain some advantage early in the battle, leading to ultimate victory. While we lost slightly more men, this was one of the first major battles we've been able to win against the Japanese. And with the fortune on our side, the attacks continued.

North of Nanjing, our forward units from the Guangxi troops have managed to cross the Yangtze river and managed to engage some rear troops from the Japanese at Xuzhou, while our Chinese core armies led by Chiang Kai-Shek are advancing in from the other side. We're now fielding 60 divisions on this frontline, and most of them are at least in acceptable fighting conditions.

To ease the pressure on their troops North of Nanjing, the Japanese apparently have started some further landings close to Fuzhou, a place we've not been stationed very much troops. For the moment, we hope they can hold out long enough till we can spare some troops to push the Japanese back to the sea.

Cut off from the coastline, we manage to destroy one of the elite divisions of the Imperial Japanese army, fully equipped with 200 of the most modern guns. As we interrogate their officers, we learn that the Germans are close to switching their support from us to the Japanese. Falkenhausen is put onto a less dangerous post, as we aren't sure we can trust him and his officers, at least not for the moment.

Using their foothold in Fuzhou, the Japanese have quickly landed much more troops and managed to link up with their base at Shanghai and further North, putting our own lines at the important Nanjing-Suzhou railway in great danger. For the moment, we can hold our positions.

As the new year 1937 comes around, we're finally able to replace our corrupt armaments and security ministers with slightly less bad men. It seems immediately more supplies are reaching our frontline troops.

As the Americans lower their interest in helping us fighting the cruel Japanese, the Soviet Union suggests us a very interesting deal: Massive support of our case, and all we've to sign is a non-aggression pact with them. With the new airplanes, we might be able to keep the Japanese bomber off at least regionally. But this war will be won on the ground, that's for sure.

Karaiskandar: It's already under pressure again, as you can see. The frontline are extremely fluid, as the winter doesn't go much more South then the Yangtze, and even those regions North are only having a few weeks of snow.

 

[unmerged(216158)]

The Middle Republic must crush the Nipponese!

 

[unmerged(166917)]

The Japanese should be more cautious, I foresee more encirclements !

 

[General Guisan]

"Stalemate"

Just as the winter had started light, it turned around and went to be one of the colder winters in the last years, with even some snow falling in Nanjing. Offensive operations were mostly stopped on both sides, which allowed us to send some troops South to finish off the invasion which had tried to link of the landings at Fuzhou with the Manchurian frontline.

Thanks to improved supply situation and the ability to move trucks at daylight more often due to our improved airforce, our men were motivated to bring an end to the invasion in 1937. Unfortunately, the Japanese had started to put their economy onto a full war footing, sending more and more men equipped with most modern material over the sea. Only small amounts of enemy soldiers could be captured during those few winter months, and what we learned from them was that the Japanese apparently even had forced Koreans into their army. Those people were just too happy when they reached our side of the frontline, and using some messengers, in February no less than 500 korean soldiers made their way onto our side during the nights. We shall free their country too, one day!

It was a sad spring festival at this 11th February, but the year of the bull hopefully will bring victory.

With spring approaching, we suggested to the remaining, neutral Chinese factions that we need to ally to drive the Japanese out. Yunnan accepted, while, as very much expected, the Communists declined. Of course anything else would have been highly surprising. They'll pay for their treason one day.

On the first day with acceptable weather, our spring offensive started against Jinan. Unfortunately, our assaulting men were facing well prepared positions. Heavy maschinegun defenses supported with massive amounts of artillery stopped any successfull operation dead in it's tracks. We simply lack the equipment to break through such lines, and even our organisation is way inferior to those of the enemy. And with the chaos that exists with several former independent armies without a central headquarter, any bigger offensive will suffer from the lack of coordination.

At least, the enemy doesn't seem to be able to penetrate our frontlines either. And Falkenhausen on his quiet position wasn't lazy, either. Given the recent experience, he was able to teach our staff some new, revolutionary ideas about warfare. We will be more mobile in the future, able to outrun the enemy and hopefully attack his weak positions in the future. With our successfull counter-attacks, the possibility of Germany abandoning their support to our case seems also be lowered, so Falkenhausen is returned into command. He shall be in charge of the next development on our offensive tactics, which hopefully will help us in beating the Japanese once and for all.

As spring passed without any major battles due to the balance of Strength, with the arrival of Yunnans troops at the frontline, and having our staff using the new mobility doctrines, July was set to be the month were we shall attack once again. With Datong further fortified with more troops, we made the Japanese committing more troops to the Beijing region, as they feared our attack there. It would have been logical, perhaps, to indead do so...

But it was clear that attacking in the North wouldn't bring victory, as they could bring in reserves quickly and stop any attack as good as our odds would have been. Making a bridgehead over the Huanghe close to Anyang, on the other hand, would bring the whole Southern Japanese frontline in danger and keep them in doubt where to send their troops, while our troops in Datong would still keep their northern forces occupied. With little over 500.000 men totally ready for this operation, the assault on the enemy positions on the other side of the river started at July, 4th.

Thanks everyone for reading and especially your comments - encirclements are rather difficult to achieve, but the generalissimo has a plan.. the current operation will be crucial to see if it can be achieved.

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Too bad you couldn't achieve some more encirclements, this frontal offensive is going to be bloody...
The good thing is that you're far from running out of manpower.

 

[General Guisan]

Bloody July

The Huanghe positions of the Japanese defenders were taken in complete surprise, with our troops landing just as planned. Quickly securing some suitable sides on the other side of the river by our assault squads made it possible to rush over massive amounts of troops before any kind of enemy reaction was possible. When the sun appeared on the horizon on the 5th July, the Japanese forces were already on the defensive far behind the river.

Not only had we catched them unprepared, our non stop attacks also left them in such confusion that many japanese units simply dug themselves in rather then retreating. Those isolated positions took a while to take out, but highered their looses a lot. Despite our initial attack was over a river into swamps, we managed to kill many more men then we've lost. But there was no time for celebrations, the timetable was tight.

Our advance continued towards Handan, the most Southernmost city in Hebei. Good terrain, partisans in the rear of the Japanese and the smell of victory supported our troops when attacking the weak enemy positions. Seems the confusion in the Japanese headquarters was on a boiling point.

"Good we don't have a headquarter" was the joke of the day, when our forward troops catched some of their leading officers in total disorganisation.

As soon as the attack against Handan proved to be a success, the order was given to attack Shijiazhung from the west. While initial attacks were unsuccessfull, we kept attacking. The Japanese then did moved most of their troops to the West, not aware of the trap coming from the South, the New National Army lead by Chiang Kai-Shek, reorganised for this crucial operation will all the equipment we could spare.

Soon, heavy house-to-house fights started, with our troops attacking forward without any break. Further improvements in our supply system made sure we never ran out of ammunition.

In the last hours of the battle, when from both sides our formations came closer to the city center, the japanese defenders became more and more hopeless. Finally they retreated in hasty order, leaving some supplies for us to catch.

With our operation a success, the japanese troops in Shanxi were trapped. The dragon has opened his mouth wide, can it swallow it's prey?

Having recently recovered from the shock given to them over the past weeks, the Imperial Japanese Army started a massive attack against the encirclement laid upon parts of their army. If we can't hold the attacks off, all achieved in the past months, all preparation, would have been for nothing.

Quickly, all available troops were rushed into Shijiazhung to stop the attack, and the attacks became more and more desperate, our lines would move, but not break, and the japanese took heavy looses in their own lines. After weeks of fruitless attacks, the attacks stopped. In the biggest battle so far, despite the terrain and good weather supporting the attacker, we had won, even inflicting more looses to them than they did to us. And our ranks may be filled quickly again. Already, our textile factories barely can catch up with the speed our army is expanding.

Karaiskandar: Yes, damn bloody, but there wasn't any other way to make gains. And the japanese are hurt much more by manpower lost than I am, and with the trap in Shanxi, they're hurt. Not badly, but I've given them a bloody nose and bought myself some time. Still 90% of my army is either militia or '18s divisions, I have to be very carefull when and where using my few troops able to advance quickly. Plus, I'm lacking brigades at all.

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Well done with that Shijiazhung-Handan offensive.
The Chinese soldiers have proved, even if badly equipped, that they are more than a match for the Japanese !

 

[quaazi]

It seems that this will be your decisive battle.

 

[Porkman]

It seems that this will be your decisive battle.

I don't thinks so. If he's lucky he's got 9 divisions in the bag in the mountains and they will take about a month to reduce. The real problem is that he doesn't have any Hq's and won't until November of 37 at the earliest. (that's provided the 10.2 IC was devoted to it fully)

Japan is going to retreat north and concentrate. Japan is also upgrading and most of those 1918 infantry are moving to 1936 and keeping their brigades. As Japan's territory shrinks, they will start stacking in 20+ divisions around Beijing and Changde. Without Hq's he's going to only be able to hit that with, at best, 36 - 48 unbrigaded 1936 infantry, that have lower org and morale than the Japanese troops. (Japan starts with all the 1938 land doctrines.) You can get around it by rotating out soldiers, but you can still get a situation, especially in Changde, where the Japanese have 40 divisions in the province and you only have 3 bordering it so you can't even outnumber them. (3 x 12 field marshals). This also leads to a situation where you have to spread your troops out thin to get the maximum amount of bordering provinces while the Japanese can strike out from their superstack in a 24 strong conquering army of brigaded death under their ubiquitous skill 5 field marshals.

He's not going to lose, but the offensive is going to stall badly as the Japanese get bottled up towards manchuria and he has to wait the 10 months it takes for an Hq to build. Some artillery would help alot as well and they'll arrive faster than the Hq will.

 

[unmerged(216158)]

excellent

 

[General Guisan]

The great offensive continues

With our defenses holding various attempts of the Japanese army to break our lines and reconnect with their troops in western Shanxi, Falkenhausen in Anyang and Chiang Kai-Shek in Handan prepare their troops for the next blow against our enemies. The Japanese troops in Shanxi will be dealt a bit later, as they're unable to mount any offensives on their own right now.

With the last attacks against Shijiazhuang stopped, we're ready. Battle reports recently arrived from the last heavy clush between our defending troops and the failed Japanese assaults indicate they've token quite some loses too.

Using all available forces in this region, the assault on Yucheng begins on the 24th August. At the start, only 12 divisions of the enemy are holding the province, most of them already on low organisation from retreats not long ago, but Japan has noticed of the big strategical importance of this province and keeps bringing meat for the grinder. A grinder which we can attack from 4 directions, 3 of them being regular plain attack. It goes well, very well.

Also, Western Shanxi is now almost completely under our control.

Still, with the enemy not giving up, even though we're using superior numbers on this battle, more and more soldiers have to be buried on the battlefield. But as we advance deeper into Yucheng, we do notice the enemy had to pay an even bigger toll. With the Northern and Southern defenses falling more quickly then the middle front, over 70.000 men of the Japanese army are either captured or left death behind. I think the fact they sent several times more divisions into mixed with garnisons who got wipped out eventually lead to those numbers.

The reaction of the Japanese is weird at best. A massive attack on Xuzhou is mounted, and while they enjoy the opportunity to attack from 3 regions at the same time, our defenders at this frontline are well prepared and rested.

With reinforcements rushed in, the attack is stopped. And with our offensive armies under Falkenhausen and Chiang Kai-Shek now heaving South, it's time to drive the Japanese Southern front into the sea.

Our industrial research makes progress, as we're able to introduce basic machine tools, further research shall bring more progress. It's a slow path, but we're putting as much effort into it as we can afford. 75% research rate, at 50% costs

Thanks everyone for your comments. Unfortunately work keeps my busy sometimes for weeks, so I can upgrade only infrequently, sometimes more, sometimes less.
Karaiskandar: Yes, with doctrines slowly catching up and some '36 divisions available, I am finally able to pick my targets rather than to shuffle troops around to hold the line.
quaazi: Unfortunately not, Porkman is right
Porkman: It were even less, 6 divisions in total, if I've seen it correctly. Still, it was important to get this region, as a stable front is required for the upcoming battle. You seem to have played lots of games on that front, as your knowledge tells me. I didn't pushed for HQs as I prefered to have enough '36 divisions ready soon. With my current production level, I won't be able to field more than 24 or so divisions of '36 divs by late '38 anyway, and with AoD battle mechanics, I prefer to attack with 24 '36 divs rather than 48 '18 divs. Some artillery would come in handy, too, but my ressources are still very thin to produce anything but supplies, consumer goods and a few IC left for production, repairs and fresh men for my army. Which I need a lot.

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Another encirclement, Yay !
At this rate the Japanese will soon run out of divisions.

 

[matt12th]

Bleed them dry!!

 

[Porkman]

With CCIP, I've never used the initial 36 divisions you get with the initial build. Another thing that hurts with using CCIP with AOD is that the starting file doesn't specify National ideas so China starts out with an imperial world view as opposed to parochial.

The other thing that you got shafted on this round was that the commies stayed out. Those 14 60 experience 1936 divisions with skill 5 multiple traited generals are gold.

China can start a serial of Great war medium artillery at the beginning and start equipping it on everything. You can even equip it to the warlord armies if you make them expeditionary forces. By only building one serial of artillery, you have the IC to keep an HQ going at more than half speed.

My question is, did they retreat south or north from Yucheng?

 

[Ivir Baggins]

It looks like they went to Yantai. So yay for China!

 

[General Guisan]

Winter war

As the main bulk of the Japanese forced fleed to Yantai, our troops immediately followed them, routing them from their positions after a few hours of fighting. The highly strategical city of Qingdao (not only for it's beer, but that for sure helps our fighting spirit) was heavily defended by the Japanese troops. It will be bloody to take, but it needs to be taken quick. As long they still have some harbors, they can keep resupplying their troops as they wish.

With our troops in position, the assault begins, at the same time we're attacking their positions South of it in Lianyungang to prevent them from shifting any troops North.

Our troops manage to win over the defenders after an extremely bloody assault is able to break their defenses. A lot of young men had given their blood for the Republic, and many more will have to.

The Japanese keep trying the defending line at Shijiazhuang, but our troops at the North front are well prepared, and give them a bloody nose. A very bloody nose.

As the Japanese did send fresh troops to Qingdao, our troops have to push further, even though winter has arrived and the ground is frozen. Many more die in their attempt to break the enemies lines, and finally our troops free the city.

And yet another attack on Shijiazhuang is stopped. We've told the General in charge there to only send us news if really something new happens. Of course we don't mind the Japanese bleeding themselves dry at our positions. They seem more desperate every day to reconnect their positions, something we try to avoid at all costs.

Taking Qingdao was extremely hard, holding it is easier. The massive Japanese assault we've to defend against is putting us under pressure, but now with the uphill position and the enemy attacking in freezing conditions against our well supplied men, victory is assured.

Porkman: Most did retreat South I think.. the Southern pocket is huge. Anyone knows if AI can evacuate troops if they are massively treatened?

 

[unmerged(166917)]

Anyone knows if AI can evacuate troops if they are massively treatened?

I don't really know, but if you act quickly enough it won't happen !