War and Peace II - Back in the U.S.S.AAR (1936 - 1947)

[Syt]

War and Peace II - Back in the U.S.S.AAR (1936 - 1942)

Note to first time readers: This AAR was done on V1.01!

St. Petersburg, present day

You young folk! You have your computers. Your cell phones. Your tv, DVDs, and most of all, you have... peace!

None of you ever fought in a war. Risked your life for something, your country, your family, your ideals! You haven't seen the perils of dying, of battle, of famine, of human misery and distress.

You have no idea of the time when Russia was a mighty empire, under the iron fist of Yossif Djugashvili who called himself Stalin, who faced the imperialist threats and the rising fascists in Europe. Who sent millions of Sons of the Country to their deaths to stem the tide of these threats to Mother Russia, expanding the influence of the U.S.S.R.

But there were other dangers besides those from outside. Stalin was as dangerous as the Americans, the Germans, the Japanese were. He saw conspiracy and treason everywhere. Who lost his trust - deservedly or not - perished quickly. The officers, the ministers, the commisars, they were loyal to the leader, because they were frightened. And this union and loyalty, two traits many of you so terribly miss today, are what made our nation great in that time.

Not that it was a better time.

It was a more glorious time.

My name? Not of importance. But I was in the Kremlin at the time, watching most of the decisions being made, and seeing them carried out.

Let me tell you about the year 1936....

Josef Djugashvili "Stalin"

 

[Syt]

Much as I would love to start writing today, I have a friend coming over tonight. But don't worry, the story will commence tomorrow.

This is sort of a sequel to my first major EU2 AAR War and Peace and will follow the same style.

 

[unmerged(8584)]

sounds very promising

 

[unmerged(7078)]

looks very intersting. nice start and nice to see an ACTIVE aar.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Yeah a new AAR. I'll surely follow it

Thanx Sytass

 

[unmerged(3388)]

Kick the friend out and start writing man....please

Cheers, Ice

 

[unmerged(9895)]

[Knock it off KrisKannon !!! Text deleted by Patric]

 

[unmerged(5383)]

Yeah! A USSR AAR! Finally. good luck Sytass. I hope that I will do as well as you do in my Soviet AAR.(sorry to plug it but I have to)

 

[unmerged(7580)]

This time when it said 13 threads, it actually WAS a new AAR

 

[unmerged(8584)]

Originally posted by KrisKannon
maybe somebody will happen to "delay" the arrival of his friend so he can write tonight

when the police call my house asking questions i'll just tell them it was a "manufacturing issue"

 

[unmerged(2377)]

Yay a Sytass HoI aar!

 

[unmerged(3388)]

Please man as soon as you can ........we all dying out here.

Cheers, Ice

 

[unmerged(349)]

How about we all shut up, so it isn't a pain in the ass to find and read the AAR when it finally arrives.

Myself included, of course.

 

[unmerged(8584)]

huh?

 

[unmerged(2970)]

I thought finally a new AAR and what I found here ... ?

 

[Syt]

* * * January - June 1936 * * *

In 1936, Stalin had been in power for almost 12 years after succeeding V. I. Lenin himself as head of the government. The perils of the Civil War were almost forgotten, and the ones opposing to the new workers' system expelled. But Stalin was a ruthless man. He still smelled treason everywhere, true or rumor. And he strove to secure the new workers' paradise, and maybe expand it.

Europe 1936

The scars of the previous wars were slowly healing, though I admit Stalin was adding new wounds with his authoritarian rule. But already there was a feeling of a new war looming on the horizon. There were many dictators in Europe, but the mightiest of them, Hitler and Mussolini, had strong countries with great ressources under them, and their greed for glory and power made another Great War almost inevitable. Already Italy was fighting in Ethiopia, seeking to add the African country to their holdings in Somalia.

Compared to Germany who were in the status of re-arming themselves after the demilitarization of the Versailles Treaty, the Red Army was behind times, though impressive in size. And thus Stalin instructed Armaments Minister Kaganovich to enact a program that would lead to the modernization of the Soviet military. Kaganovich was wise enough not to ask about how to conduct such a program when the U.S.S.R.'s economy under the Five Years' Plan had to focus so heavily on consumer products to sufficiently supply the people's needs. Instead he began to launch a research program, focusing on the land troops for the time being. Our tanks were little more advanced than they had been in World War 1, and our artillery and infantry needed improvements as well. When these were in a shape good enough to measure up to the modern armies of the Western Powers, all of which were seen as threat by Stalin, from Poland to the United Kingdom, further research would then be directed towards the improvement of our air forces.

The Soviet Cabinet 1936

The October Revolution in 1917 had led to the loss of Finland. This territory rich in iron and coal, was crucial to the industrial effort, and Stalin intended to bind the country to the Soviet Union. Romania on the southern border held some of the richest oil fields in Europe. The premier wanted to increase his influence there, as well. To protect the still young Soviet Union from threats his long term goal was to create a buffer of affiliated states and territories around the Russian mainland, the first that could be regarded as such was Mongolia, who had already ceded millitary control to Moscow. Already he'd secretly given out word that for 1937 he intended to launch an offensive into Persia, rich in oil and ore. In addition, this would provide the Soviet Union with access to the Indian Ocean. For the moment, however, foreign minister Litvinov was ordered to seek to create amicable terms between the U.S.S.R. and Finland and Romania.

More immediate were plans to improve the inefficient economy in the giant country. In several districts additional industries were built, and Stalin personally supervised the improvemnt of infrastructure between the capital and the borders, so troops and supplies could travel quickly. The greatest hinderance to economic devleopment was the lack of original rubber. While this could be synthesized from oil which was available readily, Stalin would have preferred to secure sources of "real" rubber. However, these sources lay in Africa, South America, or Indonesia. The closest territories being rich in rubber was French Indochina, and Stalin was more than reluctant to invade China, possibly clashing with the Japanese who were eager to take the lands for themselves, and afterwards into the jungles of Indochina. Therefore Stalin gave instructions to trade coal and oil on the world market for the much needed rubber.

On the morning of January 29th, 1936, foreign minister Litvinov met in Helsinki with representatives of the Finnish government. He assured them that the Soviet Union was interested in peaceful relationship with their country and that they would hold no claims on their territory whatsoever. The meeting took place in a very relaxed atmosphere and marked the beginning of good relationships between the two neighbours.

The Italian campaign in Ethiopia went well - for the Italians. In mid-February Mussolini formally annexed the country. Later the same month, Litvinov travelled to Bucharest. The Romanian welcome was not as warm as it had been in Helsinki, but still, their government seemed willing not to dismiss the Soviet overtures as a feint. Just two weeks later, the German government conducted the most open breach of the Versailles Treaty by re-occupying the territory along the Rhine again. Great Britain and France did nothing to punish Hitler for this bold move.

In April a new service rifle was issued to the valiant troops of the Red Army. This more standardized weapon superceded the ancient weapons of the previous Great War and greatly enhanced the fficiency of almost every branch of our infantry. Stalin was present during a demonstration of this new weapon and was very pleased. The new 70 mm infantry guns were also introduced at the time, adding to the firepower of the Soviet troops on future battlefields. Already in early June a prototype for a light tank was finished. While a light tank with a machine gun could have been developed from this early design quickly, Stalin decided against it. He wanted this new model to be provided with something with more punch. And so our scientists began development of a 20 mm gun to be mounted on this light tank.

The Kremlin in Moscow

 

[unmerged(2377)]

More!

 

[unmerged(11119)]

Very good...more please!!

 

[Idiotboy]

Looks like we have one of the true talents of the AAR section writing now. I can´t wait until Durham gives a try.

 

[Faeelin]

The USSR is producing massive amounts of Consumer Goods

Somehow, I missed that in my hsitory lessons. Or are consumer goods just a way to say stability?

Hmm. I think you might wnat to consider invasding China and Persia. Join the Germans, and fight Western Imperialism! With China, Indochina, and Persia, you'll have everything you need to conquer Europe.