Das Dritte Reich: Deutschland's Letzte Gelegenheit
- Thread starter Korporal Nooij
- Start date
Franco-Japanese Negotiations:
In 1940, Japanese Prime Minister and Prince Fumimaro Konoe (近衞 文麿) had introduced the East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere into the Japanese politics. With the proclamation of a new weak French Republic, barely capable of suppressing the rising criminality and vandalism within their European possessions, Japanese politicians realize that France is not capable of defending its colonial empire, and would have to give in to any Japanese demands. The Japanese government under Konoe immediately begins pressuring the French government into granting the Japanese Army special rights within the colony on June 21 1942. After a couple of days, Japan and French Indochina sign an accord, granting Japan access into the port of Haiphong and granting them military access into the Tonkin region of the colony, although only a maximum of 10,000 Japanese troops may be stationed in the region at any given time. Besides that, the maximum amount of French troops within the colony is reduced to 18,500.
The Conference of Budapest:
On June 21 1942, a conference is held between the Soviet, German, Romanian, Slovakian and Hungarian governments in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. Despite the Soviet breach of the terms agreed upon earlier in Vienna, it is agreed by all powers that Budapest should come under joint German and Soviet administration, after hours of debate. Transylvania is returned to Romania; Upper Hungary is returned to Slovakia; Western and Central Transdanubia are placed under German military occupation; Northern and Central Hungary and the Northern Great Plain are placed under Soviet military occupation and Southern Transdanubia and the Southern Great Plain are placed under Yugoslav military occupation. The eventual fate of Hungary is to be decided in later conferences and treaties.
In 1940, Japanese Prime Minister and Prince Fumimaro Konoe (近衞 文麿) had introduced the East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere into the Japanese politics. With the proclamation of a new weak French Republic, barely capable of suppressing the rising criminality and vandalism within their European possessions, Japanese politicians realize that France is not capable of defending its colonial empire, and would have to give in to any Japanese demands. The Japanese government under Konoe immediately begins pressuring the French government into granting the Japanese Army special rights within the colony on June 21 1942. After a couple of days, Japan and French Indochina sign an accord, granting Japan access into the port of Haiphong and granting them military access into the Tonkin region of the colony, although only a maximum of 10,000 Japanese troops may be stationed in the region at any given time. Besides that, the maximum amount of French troops within the colony is reduced to 18,500.
The Conference of Budapest:
On June 21 1942, a conference is held between the Soviet, German, Romanian, Slovakian and Hungarian governments in the Hungarian capital of Budapest. Despite the Soviet breach of the terms agreed upon earlier in Vienna, it is agreed by all powers that Budapest should come under joint German and Soviet administration, after hours of debate. Transylvania is returned to Romania; Upper Hungary is returned to Slovakia; Western and Central Transdanubia are placed under German military occupation; Northern and Central Hungary and the Northern Great Plain are placed under Soviet military occupation and Southern Transdanubia and the Southern Great Plain are placed under Yugoslav military occupation. The eventual fate of Hungary is to be decided in later conferences and treaties.
Last edited:
German Invasion of Gibraltar:
On June 18 1942, the XXVIII Army Corps, commanded by Generaloberst Wilhelm Keitel, reaches Gibraltar. The corps consists of three Infantry Regiments, two Panzer Divisions, twenty medium and heavy artillery battalions, two observation battalions, four engineer battalions, four smoke battalions and over a hundred Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath remote-controlled tracked mines.
Before the Corps makes any major advances (and before the Reichsluftwaffe makes any moves), the observation battalions are ordered to locate British anti-aircraft guns, after which the engineer battalions are sent to destroy them. Unfortunately for the Corps, the engineer battalions are spotted and captured by the British ‘Gibraltar Regiment’. All British troops are alarmed about the invasion, forcing Keitel to initialize a full-blown offensive into the fortress.
The German artillery guns are deployed on the boundary of Gibraltar, while the Panzer Divisions are sent to penetrate into the newly formed British infantry formations. This results into huge casualties on the British side, but the British troops are soon reinforced by tank regiments.
The German panzer units are greatly outnumbered by the British tanks, and are immediately ordered by Keitel to withdraw. A new frontline is drawn right outside of Gibraltar, south of the Spanish town of La Línea de la Concepción. Keitel immediately orders his troops to fortify their line, to dig themselves foxholes and to install machineguns to prepare for an attack by the British.
As the British forces under Bernard Montgomery advance upon the German positions, the Goliath tracked mines are sent to destroy the British tanks. This marks an initial success until the British troops discover the vehicle’s weakness by cutting off the command cables. While the German machineguns open fire upon British infantry formations, the German panzer is immediately drawn back unto the field and, this time, manages to force the now weakened British tank formation to withdraw.
The German infantry is immediately sent forward, and they are ordered by Keitel to flank the British troops and to clear the arillery positions. This goes successfully, and the British troops head into the underground tunnels under the Rock of Gibraltar. The German observation battalions requests Reichsluftwaffe intervention to help the German panzer take out the last remaining tanks, and in the meantime the German infantry enters the limestone tunnels. Large dogfights follow, in which both sides inflict great damage upon each other.
Underground, the Germans find a huge man-made caverns complete with barracks, caverns, offices and hospitals. Urban warfare follows, and the German soldiers are equipped with flamethrowers and ordered to check all buildings. This goes unsuccessfully, and the talented British troops inflict many casualties on the unprepared German troops. After realizing the failure, Keitel orders the retreat of the German infantry and instead orders the bombardment of the limestone formations by his heavy artillery battalions.
After 15 minutes, governor Lt. General Sir Noel Mason-Macfarlane decides to avoid the destruction of the underground system and the death of any more British troops, and thus surrenders to Keitel, granting him full control over Gibraltar.
On June 18 1942, the XXVIII Army Corps, commanded by Generaloberst Wilhelm Keitel, reaches Gibraltar. The corps consists of three Infantry Regiments, two Panzer Divisions, twenty medium and heavy artillery battalions, two observation battalions, four engineer battalions, four smoke battalions and over a hundred Leichter Ladungsträger Goliath remote-controlled tracked mines.
Before the Corps makes any major advances (and before the Reichsluftwaffe makes any moves), the observation battalions are ordered to locate British anti-aircraft guns, after which the engineer battalions are sent to destroy them. Unfortunately for the Corps, the engineer battalions are spotted and captured by the British ‘Gibraltar Regiment’. All British troops are alarmed about the invasion, forcing Keitel to initialize a full-blown offensive into the fortress.
The German artillery guns are deployed on the boundary of Gibraltar, while the Panzer Divisions are sent to penetrate into the newly formed British infantry formations. This results into huge casualties on the British side, but the British troops are soon reinforced by tank regiments.
The German panzer units are greatly outnumbered by the British tanks, and are immediately ordered by Keitel to withdraw. A new frontline is drawn right outside of Gibraltar, south of the Spanish town of La Línea de la Concepción. Keitel immediately orders his troops to fortify their line, to dig themselves foxholes and to install machineguns to prepare for an attack by the British.
As the British forces under Bernard Montgomery advance upon the German positions, the Goliath tracked mines are sent to destroy the British tanks. This marks an initial success until the British troops discover the vehicle’s weakness by cutting off the command cables. While the German machineguns open fire upon British infantry formations, the German panzer is immediately drawn back unto the field and, this time, manages to force the now weakened British tank formation to withdraw.
The German infantry is immediately sent forward, and they are ordered by Keitel to flank the British troops and to clear the arillery positions. This goes successfully, and the British troops head into the underground tunnels under the Rock of Gibraltar. The German observation battalions requests Reichsluftwaffe intervention to help the German panzer take out the last remaining tanks, and in the meantime the German infantry enters the limestone tunnels. Large dogfights follow, in which both sides inflict great damage upon each other.
Underground, the Germans find a huge man-made caverns complete with barracks, caverns, offices and hospitals. Urban warfare follows, and the German soldiers are equipped with flamethrowers and ordered to check all buildings. This goes unsuccessfully, and the talented British troops inflict many casualties on the unprepared German troops. After realizing the failure, Keitel orders the retreat of the German infantry and instead orders the bombardment of the limestone formations by his heavy artillery battalions.
After 15 minutes, governor Lt. General Sir Noel Mason-Macfarlane decides to avoid the destruction of the underground system and the death of any more British troops, and thus surrenders to Keitel, granting him full control over Gibraltar.
At least without the Nazis in power, this Germany won't have any killing of Jews or any hollocaust, but military, they're a threat.
The Battle of Kemi:
By June 15, the Finnish 11th Infantry Regiment has reached Kemi, where it is set to recieve reinforcements in the form of 500 new army recruits, to add to the 800 men still alive after the fighting in Tornio. Unfortunately for them, so has the Swedish 6th Armoured Regiment, who attack immediately. The Finnish force is almost completely destroyed, and the roughly four hundred men who survived are taken prisoner. This is a huge morale victory for Sweden, and the armies continue moving through the countryside, having captured the entire Lapland County by June 21. The armies meet at Ii to make a unified strike at Uleåborg.
Advances in the Archipelago:
The Archipelago Fleet moves quickly through the islands of the Archipelago Sea, planting flags on each and every one of the islands one at a time. By June 20, the fleet has captured everything west of Kökar, and are moving steadily toward Åbo, the second largest city in Finland and the objective of the campaign.
Mobilization of the Home Guard:
The emblem of the Home Guard
On June 22, the Swedish Home Guard (Hemvärnet), consisting mostly of middle-aged working men, are called up to serve in Finland. The Army is able to form 27 regiments out of the men, 12 of which are put in forts along the border with Norway. 6 regiments are used as garrisons in Northern Finland to prevent revolts. The 15 remaining regiments were to be stationed in ports along the coast of Norrland and Stockholm County, and later move across the sea in large barges quickly assembled from steel and German-made engines. These boats were to land the troops in low-armed areas of the Finnish coast, and reinforce the main invasion force once they reach the area.
The Battle of Uleåborg:
On June 25, the Swedish troops arrive in Uleåborg. They immediately attack the Finnish troops stationed there. The armies of Finland are again hopelessly outnumbered, but they fight with the Finnish sisu, which inspires awe on both sides. However, they are again forced to surrender. On June 27, the barges (called Plåtniklasar/Tin Nicholases by the Swedish soldiers) are used for the first time, as two Home Guard regiments and one Amphibious Corps regiment are shipped into the newly taken city. The newly reinforced armies move southward to take the cities of Brahe and Kokkola, and a smaller force is sent eastward to capture Kajana.
By June 15, the Finnish 11th Infantry Regiment has reached Kemi, where it is set to recieve reinforcements in the form of 500 new army recruits, to add to the 800 men still alive after the fighting in Tornio. Unfortunately for them, so has the Swedish 6th Armoured Regiment, who attack immediately. The Finnish force is almost completely destroyed, and the roughly four hundred men who survived are taken prisoner. This is a huge morale victory for Sweden, and the armies continue moving through the countryside, having captured the entire Lapland County by June 21. The armies meet at Ii to make a unified strike at Uleåborg.
Advances in the Archipelago:
The Archipelago Fleet moves quickly through the islands of the Archipelago Sea, planting flags on each and every one of the islands one at a time. By June 20, the fleet has captured everything west of Kökar, and are moving steadily toward Åbo, the second largest city in Finland and the objective of the campaign.
Mobilization of the Home Guard:
The emblem of the Home Guard
On June 22, the Swedish Home Guard (Hemvärnet), consisting mostly of middle-aged working men, are called up to serve in Finland. The Army is able to form 27 regiments out of the men, 12 of which are put in forts along the border with Norway. 6 regiments are used as garrisons in Northern Finland to prevent revolts. The 15 remaining regiments were to be stationed in ports along the coast of Norrland and Stockholm County, and later move across the sea in large barges quickly assembled from steel and German-made engines. These boats were to land the troops in low-armed areas of the Finnish coast, and reinforce the main invasion force once they reach the area.
The Battle of Uleåborg:
On June 25, the Swedish troops arrive in Uleåborg. They immediately attack the Finnish troops stationed there. The armies of Finland are again hopelessly outnumbered, but they fight with the Finnish sisu, which inspires awe on both sides. However, they are again forced to surrender. On June 27, the barges (called Plåtniklasar/Tin Nicholases by the Swedish soldiers) are used for the first time, as two Home Guard regiments and one Amphibious Corps regiment are shipped into the newly taken city. The newly reinforced armies move southward to take the cities of Brahe and Kokkola, and a smaller force is sent eastward to capture Kajana.
Last edited:
I just realized that I forgot posting this article:
Attack on Mers-el-Kébir:
On May 27 1942, British Admiral Sir James Frownes Somerville delivers an ultimatum to French Navy Minister Admiral François Darlan, demanding him to either remove his fleet to neutral waters, or to surrender them to the Royal Navy. The British government fears that the fleet would become a part of the German Reichsmarine, and is confident to prevent that by any means necessary. Admiral Darlan declines the ultimatum, and his fleet (consisting of the strongest French ships) is attacked by a Royal Navy task force off the port town Mers-el-Kébir in French Algeria.
Fairey Albacore biplane torpedo bombers are dispatched from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, and escorted by Fairey Fulmar fighter aircraft, allowing them to drop magnetic mines in the route of the French ships. They are intercepted by French Curtiss H-75 fighters, which, although unable to hit any Fairey Albacores, manage to shoot down 7 Fairy Fulmar fighters, killing each of their crews.
The British ships open fire, but they asre forced to alter their course in order to avoid fire from French coastal forts. French battleships Bretagne and Strasbourg are seriously damaged and run aground by their crews. Provence, Dunkerque and five destroyers manage to escape, but upon making for the open seas, they come under attack by the Fairey Albacores. It has little effect and after a one more failed attack by the bombers, the battleships and the destroyers reach the southern French port of Nice.
Fairey Albacores raid Mers El-Kebir once more, and hit a magazine aboard Bretagne, resulting into a huge explosion, destroying Bretagne and seriously damaging Strasbourg. Strasbourg is repaired, and as the British end their warfare, it sails to Nice.
In Alexandria, the French fleet under command of Admiral René-Emile Godfroy is offered similar demands by Admiral Cunningham, and after negotiations Admiral Godfroy agrees to stay in the port until the end of the war.
German forces hurry unto the port of Nice to capture the French fleet, but all ships of military value are scuttled before their arrival, including Bretagne, Strasbourg, Provence and Dunkerque.
Thousands of French sailors have died as a result to the British attacks, severely restraining Anglo-French relations and making a huge portion of the French population lean towards Germany and the pro-German government in France.
I will try to finish one or more articles today.
Oh and a happy new year to all of you!
Attack on Mers-el-Kébir:
On May 27 1942, British Admiral Sir James Frownes Somerville delivers an ultimatum to French Navy Minister Admiral François Darlan, demanding him to either remove his fleet to neutral waters, or to surrender them to the Royal Navy. The British government fears that the fleet would become a part of the German Reichsmarine, and is confident to prevent that by any means necessary. Admiral Darlan declines the ultimatum, and his fleet (consisting of the strongest French ships) is attacked by a Royal Navy task force off the port town Mers-el-Kébir in French Algeria.
Fairey Albacore biplane torpedo bombers are dispatched from the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, and escorted by Fairey Fulmar fighter aircraft, allowing them to drop magnetic mines in the route of the French ships. They are intercepted by French Curtiss H-75 fighters, which, although unable to hit any Fairey Albacores, manage to shoot down 7 Fairy Fulmar fighters, killing each of their crews.
The British ships open fire, but they asre forced to alter their course in order to avoid fire from French coastal forts. French battleships Bretagne and Strasbourg are seriously damaged and run aground by their crews. Provence, Dunkerque and five destroyers manage to escape, but upon making for the open seas, they come under attack by the Fairey Albacores. It has little effect and after a one more failed attack by the bombers, the battleships and the destroyers reach the southern French port of Nice.
Fairey Albacores raid Mers El-Kebir once more, and hit a magazine aboard Bretagne, resulting into a huge explosion, destroying Bretagne and seriously damaging Strasbourg. Strasbourg is repaired, and as the British end their warfare, it sails to Nice.
In Alexandria, the French fleet under command of Admiral René-Emile Godfroy is offered similar demands by Admiral Cunningham, and after negotiations Admiral Godfroy agrees to stay in the port until the end of the war.
German forces hurry unto the port of Nice to capture the French fleet, but all ships of military value are scuttled before their arrival, including Bretagne, Strasbourg, Provence and Dunkerque.
Thousands of French sailors have died as a result to the British attacks, severely restraining Anglo-French relations and making a huge portion of the French population lean towards Germany and the pro-German government in France.
I will try to finish one or more articles today.
Oh and a happy new year to all of you!
Last edited:
Thai Ultimatum:
On June 29 1942, Thai Prime Minister Major General Plaek Pibulsonggram delivers an ultimatum to the Goveror-General of French Indochina, Jean Decoux, demanding the cessation of the territories that Thailand had lost during King Chulalongkorn. Decoux, although an opposer of the appeasement policy, realizes that the Thai Army is way superior to the French colonial forces, that the French Navy is too weak to support them and that Japan would likely choose Thailand’s side. Afraid to lose the colony to its Asian neighbors, Decoux agrees to grant Thailand control over the disputed territories in Laos and Cambodia on June 30, in exchange for the Thai territorial guarantee of the rest of the colony.
On June 29 1942, Thai Prime Minister Major General Plaek Pibulsonggram delivers an ultimatum to the Goveror-General of French Indochina, Jean Decoux, demanding the cessation of the territories that Thailand had lost during King Chulalongkorn. Decoux, although an opposer of the appeasement policy, realizes that the Thai Army is way superior to the French colonial forces, that the French Navy is too weak to support them and that Japan would likely choose Thailand’s side. Afraid to lose the colony to its Asian neighbors, Decoux agrees to grant Thailand control over the disputed territories in Laos and Cambodia on June 30, in exchange for the Thai territorial guarantee of the rest of the colony.
Treaty of Madrid:
On June 20 1942, Reichspräsident Julius Curtius, Reichskanzler Konstantin von Neurath, Iberian President Niceto Alcalá-Zamora and Iberian Prime Minister Lluís Companys i Jover meet in Madrid. In a treaty signed there, Gibraltar is officially handed over to Iberia although the Reichsmarine is guaranteed the right to enter the port at any time. Also agreed is that Germany will fully support Iberia's claims on French Morocco during post-war treaties. Gibraltar is annexed into the republic of Castille, and the Iberian government immediately begins promoting the use of Castillian and demoting the use of English.
Indian Invasion of British Burma:
On June 29 1942, the Indian People's Republic launches a massive invasion of British Burma. The Indian Red Army (which has been reorganized into 2 armies each consisting of approximately 650,000 men each) is deployed along the border: the First Army under K.M. Cariappa in the north; the Second Army under K.S. Thimayya in the south. The armies make quick advances, overwhelming the inferior British Indian Army and taking the towns of Bhamo, Shwebo and Magwe, on July 1, 3 and 4 respectively. Slowly but surely, the British Empire is collapsing, which greatly concerns Prime Minister Clement Attlee.
On June 20 1942, Reichspräsident Julius Curtius, Reichskanzler Konstantin von Neurath, Iberian President Niceto Alcalá-Zamora and Iberian Prime Minister Lluís Companys i Jover meet in Madrid. In a treaty signed there, Gibraltar is officially handed over to Iberia although the Reichsmarine is guaranteed the right to enter the port at any time. Also agreed is that Germany will fully support Iberia's claims on French Morocco during post-war treaties. Gibraltar is annexed into the republic of Castille, and the Iberian government immediately begins promoting the use of Castillian and demoting the use of English.
Indian Invasion of British Burma:
On June 29 1942, the Indian People's Republic launches a massive invasion of British Burma. The Indian Red Army (which has been reorganized into 2 armies each consisting of approximately 650,000 men each) is deployed along the border: the First Army under K.M. Cariappa in the north; the Second Army under K.S. Thimayya in the south. The armies make quick advances, overwhelming the inferior British Indian Army and taking the towns of Bhamo, Shwebo and Magwe, on July 1, 3 and 4 respectively. Slowly but surely, the British Empire is collapsing, which greatly concerns Prime Minister Clement Attlee.
The Battle of Kajana:
On June 29, two Swedish infantry regiments arrive in Kajana. They quickly overwhelm the single regiment of the Finnish Home Guard stationed there, and by the next day have captured the city and its surroundings. They move on southward to capture the sparsely populated forests to the southwest.
The Capture of Brahe:
On July 1, the main Swedish force (now consisting of six infantry regiments and two regiments of armour) marches into Brahe, and there are street fights with both the Finnish garrison and some of the citizens. By July 4 these fights have died down, and the Swedish troops proclaim the city taken.
The Battle of Kokkola:
On July 6, the Swedish troops approach Kokkola. Here however, there are four main Finnish regiments stationed, and they lure the Swedish armies into battle. The battle is won by the Swedish, but not without heavy casualties. On July 8, two days after the battle, the Volunteer Legion Österbotten (Österbottens Frivilliglegion) is formed, and many of the largely Swedish-speaking inhabitants of the city join. They are sent to Sweden for training.
Landings in Österbotten:
By July 7, the Archipelago Fleet (Skärgårdsflottan) have captured some of the islands in the Åland Sea, and initially makes plans to land troops in Finland Proper. However, the Swedish high command is unsure about mines along the coast, and so they instead decide upon a landing site more to the north, between Vasa and Björneborg. The troops are moved north along with that part of the fleet which isn't protecting the Ålands from the Finnish Coastal Fleet (read: as few vedettes and patrol boats as are needed to provide the necessary cover for the transports). On July 12, the landings are made on both sides of the city of Kaskö, and within two days the city is taken. The troops now stand by until additional regiments are landed.
On June 29, two Swedish infantry regiments arrive in Kajana. They quickly overwhelm the single regiment of the Finnish Home Guard stationed there, and by the next day have captured the city and its surroundings. They move on southward to capture the sparsely populated forests to the southwest.
The Capture of Brahe:
On July 1, the main Swedish force (now consisting of six infantry regiments and two regiments of armour) marches into Brahe, and there are street fights with both the Finnish garrison and some of the citizens. By July 4 these fights have died down, and the Swedish troops proclaim the city taken.
The Battle of Kokkola:
On July 6, the Swedish troops approach Kokkola. Here however, there are four main Finnish regiments stationed, and they lure the Swedish armies into battle. The battle is won by the Swedish, but not without heavy casualties. On July 8, two days after the battle, the Volunteer Legion Österbotten (Österbottens Frivilliglegion) is formed, and many of the largely Swedish-speaking inhabitants of the city join. They are sent to Sweden for training.
Landings in Österbotten:
By July 7, the Archipelago Fleet (Skärgårdsflottan) have captured some of the islands in the Åland Sea, and initially makes plans to land troops in Finland Proper. However, the Swedish high command is unsure about mines along the coast, and so they instead decide upon a landing site more to the north, between Vasa and Björneborg. The troops are moved north along with that part of the fleet which isn't protecting the Ålands from the Finnish Coastal Fleet (read: as few vedettes and patrol boats as are needed to provide the necessary cover for the transports). On July 12, the landings are made on both sides of the city of Kaskö, and within two days the city is taken. The troops now stand by until additional regiments are landed.
Last edited:
I am sorry but this is just far too one sided for my liking I mean its like the pact of blood is more just having to march into any territory they want than truly have to fight for them
I know it seems like a very one-sided war, but this is really how the war would have gone. The two most powerful (militarily) states in otl WWII (Germany and the Soviet Union) are fighting with many allies against the British empire which is past it's prime, and a few other small states. France fell as in otl, I'm not an expert on india but what happened there seems plausible, as do all the other battles. The war really would have been this one-sided, what will be interesting is the German-Soviet split after the dust has settled. On a side not, why has no otl alliance system ever had as cool a name as "The Pact of Blood?"
Scipio
Scipio
Ares96 said:
and
Ares96 said:
Ahem. What of the Finnish Coastal Fleet, the coastal fortifications and the minefields that would be blocking the approaches? I believe the Finnish defenses around Tornio would be weak due to the war against the Soviets, but the Finnish HQ would have to be terminally incompetent or fast asleep to allow anything like this to happen.
But if you are just running a simple, unrealistic Sweden-wank here, I'll withdraw my objection and bother you no more.
Did I say the landings were going to succeed? They have only just opened the beachheads, anything could happen. The Finnish are tied up fighting both in the north and (most of all) fighting the Soviets in Karelia. As for the mines, they were largely removed by minesweeper groups. And it's not meant as a Sweden-wank; as you say the Finnish are exhausted after the Winter War, and the Soviets are tying up most of their army in the east.
I am questioning that such beachheads could be opened up in such a short time from the beginning of the operation. The Turku Archipelago is a maze of hundreds of islands, and the Finnish Navy would have a plethora of chances to tie up or ambush the Swedish elements going through it using approaches they have limited information about. Historically, this is where the majority of the Coastal Fleet operated anyway, so the Russian threat would not affect the naval effort as much as the ground troops or the air force. About the mines: if the Finnish fleet had any time to prepare for the Swedish attack, the amount of mines they would have laid would be very tough to clear in a matter of weeks, even if you knew where they were. All the while minesweepers would be sitting under the threat of Finnish coastal batteries.
They would have had time to build those minefields, too, because IOTL the Finnish Navy started building protective minefields from since the beginning of the European war. Also, presumably, the Swedish had to mobilize at some point, and especially during that time these efforts would have concentrated on the western coast.
As the Swedish High Command, I would have never greenlighted landings in Finland Proper, or the Ålands operation. Rather, I would have planned landings somewhere more north, maybe on the level of Vaasa where the resistance would be lighter. More northern landings would also make it easier to link up with the troops moving south from Oulu.
Eventually, though, the Soviets are going to break the Finnish front east and then the nation is screwed. The Red Army would always beat the Swedish to Helsinki. At that point, expect the Finns to fall over themselves to surrender to the Swedish army, if only to avoid capture by the Soviets. Think Germany 1945. The Ålands would fall to Swedish after that by default, as would the remnants of the Finnish fleet - the part that is not scuttled.
Makes sense. Your ideas are better than mine any day, and since it ends up as a Swedish victory anyway, I'm going with them instead. Except, of course, for taking Åland, which is one of the main elements I planned.
Last edited:
Thank you for your help, DrakonFin.
I realized that the war is perhaps a bit one-sided, despite Scipio's perfect explanation for it. Here is something to make up for it.
South West Africa Command:
In the middle of June 1942, the British Commonwealth creates the so-called South West Africa Command (SWAC), a combined command under General George Giffard, consisting of a collection of various British, Australian, Canadian and South African divisions.
Free Union Retreat:
Exhausted Free Union troops of the Terceira Divisão de Infantaria Expedicionária of General Eurico Gaspar Dutra are defeated in the town of Ourjo in Southwest Africa on June 26 1942, after a longduring swing deep into South African territory. Lacking supplies to continue the campaign, they are forced to slowly retreat back into Angola while the current warplans are modified back in Rio de Janeiro and Luanda. This is great news for the population of the British Isles, which hope for this to be a turning point of the war. The morale of Great Britain is greatly increased, even though the country is already in a bad shape and more than likely unable to win the war in Europe.
Meanwhile, British and Free Union troops are still on guard along the Zambezi River, upgrading their defense systems and fighting minor skirmishes against each other from time to time.
I realized that the war is perhaps a bit one-sided, despite Scipio's perfect explanation for it. Here is something to make up for it.
South West Africa Command:
In the middle of June 1942, the British Commonwealth creates the so-called South West Africa Command (SWAC), a combined command under General George Giffard, consisting of a collection of various British, Australian, Canadian and South African divisions.
Free Union Retreat:
Exhausted Free Union troops of the Terceira Divisão de Infantaria Expedicionária of General Eurico Gaspar Dutra are defeated in the town of Ourjo in Southwest Africa on June 26 1942, after a longduring swing deep into South African territory. Lacking supplies to continue the campaign, they are forced to slowly retreat back into Angola while the current warplans are modified back in Rio de Janeiro and Luanda. This is great news for the population of the British Isles, which hope for this to be a turning point of the war. The morale of Great Britain is greatly increased, even though the country is already in a bad shape and more than likely unable to win the war in Europe.
Meanwhile, British and Free Union troops are still on guard along the Zambezi River, upgrading their defense systems and fighting minor skirmishes against each other from time to time.