The Sound of Drums - A British Hearts of Iron II AAR

Well no one ever posts in mine :p
 
The Sound of Drums - A British Hearts of Iron AAR
Part Twelve​

October 5th 1938
The Munich Agreement


Abridged speech by the Prime Minister to the Cabinet:

First of all, I would like to apologise for my delay in returning here. Rather severe weather prevented my immediate departure from Germany, so instead I spent time discussing the recent affairs with the French Prime Minister in Paris.

These ‘recent affairs,’ as I’m sure you are all aware of and have debated to death before this session, is the conclusion of the so-called ‘Munich Agreement.’ In short, it has been agreed that Germany may absorb the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia into its domain, and that it shall do so unopposed. I have already begun to hear the first grumblings to this treaty, where the words ‘appeasement’ and ‘betrayal’ are thrown about without any real idea of how this treaty benefits us.

Czechoslovakia has suffered greatly, there is no doubt there. Europe however, has been spared. My discussions with Mr. Daladier revealed that France is very much in the same mindset as this Cabinet - our rearmament programmes have come too late to counter Germany at this time, and had Hitler forced a war we would have been in a far worse situation - at worst France, and by extension ourselves, would be forced into an uncertain conflict to protect Czechoslovakia. At best, we would be seen as directly turning our back on a country as it suffered invasion, alienating many nations we have official dealings with.

I met with Mr. Hitler, and to be frank he proved a most agreeable man. He was quite willing to discuss and agree to peace deals, territorial ambitions and the future of our nations with me. He has assured me that the Sudetenland is the limit of his ideas of a reinvigorated Germany, and that he does not wish to expand further. He has told me he does not wish to rule nor conquer anyone. He and I have signed a declaration that promises this is the end for German expansion.

I am sorry to say that I do not believe him. I would like to but for the warnings of my advisers and from what I have seen of the German Fuhrer. My opponents talk of our ‘appeasement’ of our enemies, yet they should take note that this is exactly what Mr. Hitler has done to us, and because of it he has driven himself into a corner. The British public are fearful of another war, and see his agreements as binding. If Germany should break its word, if the Fuhrer should desire to stretch his arm further, our people will take it as a grievous betrayal, and finally we might push our rearmament programmes to the extent that we in the Cabinet would wish to see.

This agreement must not be seen as a defeat, but as a delay. I hesitate to insinuate that we are trying to force a casus belli from the many official agreements, but there can be no doubt that the situation in Europe is now in Mr. Hitler’s hands. It is entirely his choice whether he wishes to risk open war with Britain and her allies, or to achieve a lasting peace on the continent for the prosperity of Germany and its people…
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Sketch of four of the officials. Daladier of France, Hitler of Germany, Sharuminar of Britain, Mussolini of Italy​
 
PrinceScamp said:
Seems like all the AARs have died off :(
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actually it seems they have the reproductive cycle of gremlins, you can kill them all but then one will be found somewhere then you just dump some water on it and a few will pop out

@Kan, no wonder the updates are taking so long with that detailed drawing, take a page out of my book and draw them in five minutes looking like something you'd find on the wall of a pyramid :p
 
I'm referring to the feet in profile while the body is straight on, I use a similar technique even if I'm not as skilled :p
 
Captain2 said:
@Kan, no wonder the updates are taking so long with that detailed drawing, take a page out of my book and draw them in five minutes looking like something you'd find on the wall of a pyramid :p
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:lol:

Pic took about an hour, I sketched it out the previous night and drew it properly at work. My only main problem is it is that Mussolini looks like Lex Luthor.

Next update Friday, would be interested in hearing opinions on these fronts:

Should we begin construction of Paratroopers?
Where should the Third Fleet be deployed?
 
I'd say no in reference to paratroopers as tanks are much more useful in terms of surrounding the enemy

send the third fleet to the Mediterranean, fight the Italians
 
Taking stock of our current preparedness for war, I must say that while I protest the Munich Agreement I do understand it. It is my private belief that the longer we delay, the greater opportunities we give to Hitler in his own rearmament scheme...his forces are still much-weakened by Versailles even if he has repudiated it. Thus giving him more time would only allow him to widen any gaps between us.

However, as I have no evidence of this which can be unimpeachably verified, it is my hope that the Nazis will not see this as simply another in a long string of concessions. If they view it as just another show of our weak will, it will only embolden them and that will sound a potential death-knell for our Empire.

OOC: Does Britain get an event for the Munich Agreement? If so, screen? Or at least the effects?
 
I'd say no to paratroopers. The third fleet would probly be best stationed at Gibralter.

Nice picture, though your character looks a bit like Gordon Freeman to me. Wish I could draw that good.
 
I'd say no to the paratroopers, first there's all the specialised research, and the specialised construction, followed by research and construction for the transport planes, which of course need protecting so that involves investing heavily in a decent air force to gain and maintain air superiority. When we finally have air superiority, where are we going to use them, really? and do we really have the necessarily fast units to make good there use, if not, then THEY need to be constructed, and quite possibly researched beforehand.

When we've finally built up the forces to support them, and found a weakness to use them to exploit, well, think of all the micromanagement!.

I suppose what I'm trying to say is I'm too lazy, to the point that even talking about them makes me a little exhausted
 
Captain2 said:
I'd say no in reference to paratroopers as tanks are much more useful in terms of surrounding the enemy
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Peck of Arabia said:
When we finally have air superiority, where are we going to use them, really? and do we really have the necessarily fast units to make good there use, if not, then THEY need to be constructed, and quite possibly researched beforehand.
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My main thoughts are that they could be used to threaten Italian possessions in the Mediterranean, or to quickly send reinforcements to our own sectors. Even being used in a limited role to distract our enemies in advance of a major offensive is an option.

As for research problems - we already have transport planes available, having developed designs for such planes in 1936. Airborne infantry can be researched in a few months.

Peck of Arabia said:
...which of course need protecting so that involves investing heavily in a decent air force to gain and maintain air superiority.
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I would trust that our well-publicised expansion of the RAF will cover this?

Captain2 said:
send the third fleet to the Mediterranean, fight the Italians
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nodikus said:
The third fleet would probly be best stationed at Gibralter.
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I think the Meditteranean is fairly well covered at the moment, and my own thoughts were to keep the fleet near Britain to conduct operations in the Atlantic. I like the idea of sending them to Gibraltar, however.

Riptide_Monzarc said:
It is my private belief that the longer we delay, the greater opportunities we give to Hitler in his own rearmament scheme...his forces are still much-weakened by Versailles even if he has repudiated it. Thus giving him more time would only allow him to widen any gaps between us.
Click to expand...

I fear that Germany has already overtaken us, and this deal has in fact benefited ourselves more, in terms of re-armament. Within a year our troops will have modern weapons, specialised brigades, proper air support and our cities will be better defended. At present we are only at half strength.

Riptide_Monzarc said:
However, as I have no evidence of this which can be unimpeachably verified, it is my hope that the Nazis will not see this as simply another in a long string of concessions. If they view it as just another show of our weak will, it will only embolden them and that will sound a potential death-knell for our Empire.
Click to expand...

I believe we will have the advantage, should Germany push for more territory after specifically agreeing not to. Such a move will mobilise our population, and put us on a proper aggressive mindset. My only fear is that, should Germany attempt such a gamble, Europe will find itself in another major war within a year.

Riptide_Monzarc said:
OOC: Does Britain get an event for the Munich Agreement? If so, screen? Or at least the effects?
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Completely forgot to take a screenie of it, so will edit it here soon. I believe all we got was the standard 'Britain gears for war' whenever Germany does something like this. Ironically, the verdict for the Munich Pact was, in-game, decided by Czechoslovakia itself.
 
I agree with sending the Third Fleet to Gibraltar. Britain is well enough defended and the ships can easily be recalled if need be.

Do we really have a particular need for Paratroopers that isn't already covered by regular infantry? For Italian possessions in the Med I think we can rely on Naval power and conventional troop landings. In Europe we would have to contend with the Luftwaffe in dropping and potentially supplying* them, so maybe we should hold off on developement for now until we have a more direct need for them.

*HoI has air-based supply doesn't it?

Edit: Really nice drawing Kan :)
 
I would not be opposed to commissioning one division of Paratroopers, if anything for experimental purposes. I even have a stellar name for them! Call them the "Special Air Service" Ingenious if I do say so myself.
I would suggest putting Lieut General Sturges, or Major Generals Urquhart* or Laycock for its command.


*Of Operation Market Garden fame.
 
I seem to have forgot the situation, so I'll suggest moving the fleet to the Pacific to be difficult.
 
The Italians have a fleet of bath tubs that only act as a mobile scrap yard. A small fleet in Egypt and some fighters to fend off the mosquito's the Italians call an air force should be sufficient to fend off their aggression, and delusions of grandeur.

As for the handling of Germany I must object to handing over the heavily fortified check boarder in a time of so much uncertainty without a fight. Austria was a minor blow since they were a bunch of Nazi sympathizers but the Sutherland's? I recommend a shipment of almost all infantry division from the motherland with enough left to garrison all eastern beach heads, and our two substansial fleets to patrol the boarder of German waters. This show of strength should deter the Nazi's from picking a fight with the two most powerful countries in the world. (Great Britain and Canada)
 
rabidveggie said:
As for the handling of Germany I must object to handing over the heavily fortified check boarder in a time of so much uncertainty without a fight. Austria was a minor blow since they were a bunch of Nazi sympathizers
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*Ahem* I protests, do you not remember the Von Trap Family? The Hiiiiiiiiills are aliiiiiiiiiive....

rabidveggie said:
This show of strength should deter the Nazi's from picking a fight with the two most powerful countries in the world. (Great Britain and Canada)
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But you atone for yourself. Though I would not say Canada is second most powerful, if you say The United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, I do agree. Our Canuck, Aussie, Kiwi, S African and Indian buddies will be our biggest, and only consistent and dependable Ally.

At the moment, I would fear the Italian Fleet more than the German one. The Italian fleet has many more surface vessels, and straddles our oil supply and route to the Far East..
 
Whoops double post
 
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