Home Trending Latest threads New posts Developer diaries

We AAR not so Axis - Italy DAIM AAR

Jump to latest Follow Reply
  • We have updated our Community Code of Conduct. Please read through the new rules for the forum that are an integral part of Paradox Interactive’s User Agreement.
Great Progress, I love playing Italy, it is a very versatile country and you can take it on many different paths.

I agree, release puppets in southern and central Africa. They will produce some troops that you can use to guard the coasts, and give you resources.
 
Hello again class. Since our last lesson was sooo looong agooo let's begin immediately.

First: in the ME we have two important battles. The first one near Aden (3rd of Febuary 1941) where the British were making their last stand against the Italian.



The Regia Marina had been already attacking the allied naval forces along the coast for many days crippling their sea supply routes. In the end 7 allied divisions were defeated. Over 50'000 POWs were taken.

The second battle was against Oman forces and it started only two days after the victory in Aden.



Oman soldiers were poorly equipped and badly outnumbered. It was an easy win for Italy. It still took almost a month to finally take full control over the country and annex it.



That allowed to support arab nationalists and create an almost free Arab Federation. Why did I say almost? The country was shipping it's resources to Italy almost for free, it's army was controlled by Italian high ranked officers and it left Suez under full Italian control.





Now let us look at Africa. The British commanders were doing their best to defend agianst the Italian march but they were slowly losing ground and support from the local population. They tried to capture the Sudan capital but in the end that plan failed.





On the other hand Italian commanders recruited local men to gain advantage thanks to their knowledge on best paths on their way. Thanks to that they managed to easily win many battles.



This is the situation in Africa in June 1941:



And this is what happened in July 1941 (19th of July 1941 to be precise):




As for your questions - attacking Bulagria wasn't an option. The Duce was really unhappy with that but Hitler stated that he wouldn't hesitate to declare war on Italy if it's soldiers would cross the Bulgarian border. Hitler saw Bulgaria as an ally. He was probably getting worried about Italy gaining too much influence.

Sooo... for your homework - how do you think Mussolini reacted to this new front? Who had greater advantage and was more likely to win? Don't worry I'm not going to check it. Let's say I'd like to hear your opinions before I will tell you all how it went (since many of you were right about a lot of things... did't expect to see so many history lovers). I'll help you with it a little - both Germany and the Soviets had over 350IC, the Reds had almost twice as much soldiers as Germany but they had less armored divisions and specialised forces. The Reich had also an advantage in air - three times as many planes. Plus you can't forget their experience - many of the Reichs soldiers have fought in Europe.
 
that is a very nice list of puppet nations you have there

when i play italy without joining the axis, then usually i keep my enemies list as low as possible by just concentrating on the UK...let germany and USSR fight all on their own, they will counterbalance each other and allow italy to do whatever it wants without interference...
 
I hope neither win.
 
So two monsters take on each other. The outcome of that clash was going to affect the future of the war and in the end - the war.

Anyone remember what was the date of Germanys declaration of war against the Soviets? Hmmm I see some hands up. Good - means somebody is still listening. For the rest - it was the 19th of July 1941. On that same day Finland joined the German alliance and attacked the USSR up north. That wasn't a good idea. Their offensive was a total failure and on the 12th of August 1941 the Finnish goverment surrendered and Finland became a Soviet puppet.



Let's leave our hand-waving, funny mustache Hitler and move to our "hero" - Mussolini.

The offensive in Africa was going pretty well. Italian soldiers were moving slowly but constantly. Any resistance was usually quickly beaten.



The african campaign was going so well Mussolini approved the invasion against Turkey. On the 4th of October 1941 the battle for Istambul begun.



At the same time troops invaded Turkey from their border with the newly created Arab Federation.



Both battles were won and new plans were prepared. Italian troops were supposed to land in Izmir to try to cut off Turkish troops in Bursa by taking Izmit.

Before that another world shocking event took place:



The 27th of October 1941 - Japan attacks Pearl Harbor. The world is terrified by this sudden declaration of War. Soon after USA joins the allies (the 7th of November 1941) which complicates Italys situation.

You see the US is a gigantic economic power. The fact that it is separated from Italy by an ocean makes it tricky to threaten them in any way. As if to prove how bad the situatin had become Italy lost it's first battle in africa since their march west begun.



The offensive was slowed down...

What was the political reaction of Duce? He decided to show support for Japan. A risky move - true, but it's not like there were any other choices. He was also happy that Japan didn't join the German alliance. Hirohito didn't want war with the Soviets. Not that they loved each other, hell no. It's just that fighting on multiple, large fronts is stupid. Someone should tell that to Hitler...
 
So, progress in Africa, though it's not particularly valuable territory by any standards. Still, at least you're not embroiled in a war with the Soviet Union AFAIK, so you don't have much to worry about when it comes to the Eastern Front and the possibility of the Germans being pushed back.
 
Do I sense some grander motives for the Turkey invasion? Access to the black sea and thus the Crimea, Caucasus and possibly Stalingrad makes for large potential in the oil departement.
 
Truely a world war now.

Turkey looks to be a quick grab.
 
I'm afraid it wasn't that simple Mr.Myth. If Germany would be pushed back from the soviet front that wasn't very dangerous for Italy - that is true, but if communism was spread accross europe that would lead to it's downfall. Stalin wouldn't stop his advance on berlin. At least Mussolini thought he wouldn't. So there were three plans made.

The first one was assuming that the Reich pushes the front East. Then Italy would attack the soviets by landing in Crimea and through the northern border of Turkey.

The second plan was if Germany was losing on the Eastern front and the Soviets were entering Europe. Then Mussolini would declare war on them. If he couldn't help Hitler stop them Duce was ready to sign peace with the allies (giving them back all the colonies in Africa and liberating Greece) as long as they would stop Stalin.

The third plan - Germany loses on the Eastern front and allies open a new one in the West. Duce would begin negotiations with the allies and stop any offensive actions against them. Also - he would declare war on Germany. The idea was to stop Stalin from getting too deep into europe.


Now let's concentrate on todays lesson.

The 13th of November 1941 - the landing in Izmir is a complete success.



Soon after the landing the encirclement plan was being in motion.



The four divisions defending Izmit retreated East after the fight. That left about 60'000 men in Bursa. After the encirclement Bursa was attacked from all sides. Turkey soldiers there hoped that they could hold till more forces from the East came to push the aggresors from Izmit. It never happened. On the 9th of December 1941 they surrendered.

The offensive on the other border of Turkey was also going smoothly.



Almost forgot - on the 9th of November Brazil declared war on Vichy (but didn't join any alliance) and Siam was forced to join Japan in their war against the allies in Asia.

So in January 1942 we have a global scale war - all continents involved. In europe Germany and USSR are fighting hard but none of them can push the front. Italy is taking Turkey. In africa Italian troops start having problems as the allied front is being orgnized. Italy is having a hard time with fighting against armored divisions. In asia Japan is doing good progress but it is mostly due the fact that their opponent was surprised by the attack.

What will 1942 bring us? You will know soon.
 
Interesting plans for Europe and the Communists.:cool:
 
Plans for all occasions are good. Plus, taking Turkey is also good, it'll put the Soviet oilfields in reach in case of war. Though given that they've had years of stockpiling, it wouldn't do too much quickly. Maybe you should trade with the Soviets, taking as much oil as you can from them. :D
 
Hello class. How is your free time? I hope you enjoy it becouse guess what? It's class time!

Continuing about the invasion in Turkey. The Italians had one good plan of quicly capturing Ankara, the capital. Trying to mimic the blitzkrieg tactic they attacked the city on the 2th of January 1942.



The city was captured three days later. Almost immediately the Turks began their counteroffensive to reclaim the city. Even thou they won (6th of January 1942) the Italians managed to steal lots of supplies and destry much of the communication in Ankara (roads, radio stations).



In February the Italian front was united. It became clear that it was just a matter of time till Turkey lost.



In March (the 27th), a new goverment was formed bringing the Ottoman Empire to life agian as a Italian puppet.



The achievments in Turkey allowed to move some divisions from the middle east to africa. They were transported west to attack the allies from their back. The east front was rather a stalemate.



In April the US made it's move against Italy in africa by landing 3 div in El Aiun.





Even thou they were defeated the threat of another landing was upon the Italian command. The offensive had to be accelerated. Thats why most of the army moves were made by sea. Instead of going through the desert divisions were transported along the coast.





As we can see on this slide, almost instantly after capturing Freetown Sierra Leone was "liberated". The date for that is the 16th of June 1942.

On a side note. You should remember how Duce didn't pay much attention to the airforce. Same thing for submarines. The crews weren't well trained and served on old ships. Because of that on the 22nd of June 1942 while patroling the coast of Spain, near giblartar almost all Italian subs were sunk by the US.



Only two subs survived. They were rebased in the country for the rest of the war.

Let us finish todays lesson with the battle for Conakry where almost 30'000 POWs were taken after a long battle. Since the Italian navy was patroling for convoys the allies had to fight with no supplies.



Some of the equipment captured in that battle was used later on during the campaign (mostly artillery and transport vehicles).

Hope you enjoyed your lesson today. Since I will be absent for the weekend I will try to prepare some material for you before Friday. If I can't then we will see each other after the weekend. Class dissmised.
 
Ahh, Turkey/Ottoman Empire as a puppet. Any particular reason, or just to avoid partisans and get the full IC and resource worth out of the peninsula, even if indirectly?
 
I'd have sent those last two subs on a suicide mission.

Anyways, I like seeing the Ottomans back in "control", you made some good work of Turkey.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back