The Sound of Drums - A British Hearts of Iron AAR
Part Twenty-Three
30th October - 1st December 1939
A Month of War
That Germany could cross the Channel was not unexpected. That it could actually threaten the British air and navy was. Now all effort went into learning about this new German fighter - it was the Messerschmitt Bf 109, and it was the equal to the Supermarine Spitfire.
There was only one option - action on the continent. Fuelled by Raisin Bran MP, who was demanding more of a focus on France, as well as the completion of the No.3 British Fighter Wing, it was decided to give the BEF some more support from above. These three new Spitfire squadrons, as well as the 1st Tactical Group made their way to Lille to join the Strategic Bomber Command Wing. Recently beaten in combat, its commander Sheep21 was delighted to finally receive some proper support at last.
The BEF themselves were not ignored on the ground either, as Australian Forces arrived to strengthen the first line. They themselves were not deployed alone, as the first British Motorised Division was activated in Amiens. It was the first BEF reserve unit, able to quickly move to any front-line position that may fall under threat.
Yet Hitler seemed to be ignoring the possibility to attack while Allied forces were still technically mobilising. The dangers of attacking during the winter months were apparently enough to deter a German offensive. That was no excuse for the Soviet Union.
Announcement from the Soviet Ministry of Information, 17th November 1939
Comrades!
Our great nation has fallen under the long-feared attack by our enemies in Finland! Long have they conspired with our enemies in Britain and France, looking greedily towards the riches of our glorious city of Leningrad. Without warning or declaration, they have struck at the village of Mainila, slaughtering its noble defenders with no mercy.
Comrades of the Fatherland, they have signed their own death warrant! Swiftly we shall strike back at the invader…
[Speech continues for several pages]
Map and selected quotes from the Ministry of Information at the onset of the ‘Winter War’
In Britain, Prime Minister Kan’ Sharuminar quickly denounced the Soviet-Finnish War, believing it to be a work of Russian aggression. All trade dealings with the Soviet Union were officially cancelled, and in a gesture similar to what had been offered to Nationalist China, it was stated that all Finnish trade offers would be taken seriously, if not outright accepted. He was not the only national leader who supported Finland’s role, with most worldwide opinion decidedly against the Soviet invasion. However it was only Sweden who took something of an active role in its protests, actually sending aid and even volunteer forces to assist neighbouring Finland.
As the Finnish and Russian forces actively clashed in the region of Joensuu, it was little wonder that foreign press were observing that the ‘war’ between Germany and the Allies was not achieving much in the way of actual fighting. Already the term ‘Phoney War’ was beginning to enter familiar use in Britain - her own forces were still being moved to France or being readied for a potential intervention in Norway. As far as the Cabinet were concerned such a pause was welcome, it was up to France or Germany to commence the land war.
But that was not to say the RAF couldn’t use some action! Now established in their lent bases in Lille, the Spitfire squadrons began a series of incursions into Germany in the last week of November. British Air Command had been spooked by surprise Luftwaffe attacks on Royal Navy ships in the North Sea, and were keen to see the Messerschmitt threat contained in Germany.
Frustratingly the initial raid proved of little worth, with German forces unwilling to meet the British planes in battle. They needed more of an incentive for battle than simply seeing enemy fighters patrolling overhead - that incentive became the French. Between the 28th and 30th of November, French bombers protected by British fighters attacked the industrial regions of Essen. On their final run they were finally intercepted by the BF 109’s, allowing for a proper comparison of the opposing fighters.
Airbattle over Essen
It became clear from the start that the German Messerschmitts were the more solid craft, easily absorbing or outright repelling attacks from Spitfire pilots. The initial engagement saw a horrific slaughter of the British aircraft - losses that would force a retreat from any other airforce.
The RAF were not just any other airforce. The Dowding-Portal Fighter Doctrine had forced into British pilots a sense of determination and skill that their German opposition simply lacked. Suddenly German losses were mounting under a determined counter-offensive in the skies, with the British easily scattering and picking off the Messerschmitt planes. It was a lack of fuel and ammunition that forced the battle to come to a stalemate, but it was unlikely that any German pilot present would admit he would have had the courage to continue the battle, if given the option. The No.3 British Fighter Wing on the other hand, returned to Lille feeling triumphant, though with far less planes than that they had set out with…
Point taken. Back to Europe!
