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

I like how you think.

IronMan2055 said:

I like how you think.

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So do I. And actually, it WOULD be cool to have the AAR end close to the time of HoI3.

But I wouldn't mind it if it finished before that as we still have a couple years to go.

SuperBeaverInc. said:

I just checked, and November 19 is the 1 year anniversary of this AAR

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Indeed. I am quite proud of that, and shall mark the occasion.

That said, the first part of my Rome AAR also lasted just under a year, and had a couple more updates. Apparently I have always been this slow in updating

IronMan2055 said:

I did mention that previously

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So you did!

PrinceScamp said:

By the time it's done HoI3 will be out and it will be time to start a new one.

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I have plans for a final HoI2 AAR after this one, and I think I'll keep to that even if the third one has been released. Paradox games (with, in my opinion, the exception of HoI2) need a year to be brought up to scratch anyway.


Next update should be Wednesday, I will do my best.

Kan' Sharuminar said:

Usual story: you'll be assigned to UNIT as an advisor, if you wish one of the other positions, or to create one yourself, then do say so. The list is on the second post

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In that case.
I have been working bloody too hard and too long for the greater of the Empire! I request for a promotion to Governer-General of Singapore and the Malay States! I also wish to be the Personal Secretary of the Ministy of Silly Wanks.

PM Kan, what is the situation on the French Colonies now that their motherland has fallen?

aronnax said:

In that case.
I have been working bloody too hard and too long for the greater of the Empire! I request for a promotion to Governer-General of Singapore and the Malay States! I also wish to be the Personal Secretary of the Ministy of Silly Wanks.

PM Kan, what is the situation on the French Colonies now that their motherland has fallen?

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You know, I have a bad feeling about Singapore

Sure you dont want to be High Commisioner to Australia

sheep21 said:

You know, I have a bad feeling about Singapore

Sure you dont want to be High Commisioner to Australia

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Nah, too much cows, too dry. Plus the locals speak funny.

No need to worry about Singapore!
Its the Baston of the Empire, a crown jewel! A fortress of armour and steel.
We have those big guns pointing south to the sea for protection that is totally out of range from the north!

And besides, they dont need to be in range. The Japanese will never get through the thick forest of Malaya! Its too dense for them to move through, unless they came in on, I don't know...bikes! Now doesnt that sound ridiculous? An entire army on bikes!

aronnax said:

Nah, too much cows, too dry. Plus the locals speak funny.

No need to worry about Singapore!
Its the Baston of the Empire, a crown jewel! A fortress of armour and steel.
We have those big guns pointing south to the sea for protection that is totally out of range from the north!

And besides, they dont need to be in range. The Japanese will never get through the thick forest of Malaya! Its too dense for them to move through, unless they came in on, I don't know...bikes! Now doesnt that sound ridiculous? An entire army on bikes!

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Of course! How could I think that it would ever fall!

Good show! well, on the African front anyway, but that's the only front that really counts, in a sense.

Oh and if the position's available could I possibly be Foreign secretary? I feel I could go cap-in-hand to the Americans in a suitably pompous fashion amongst other things (talking to Commies, fobbing off the Chinese with excuses, apologising to the French etc), and judging by the fact that during my tenure as chief of staff the Benelux was invaded and is currently occupied, my military advise probably shouldn't be taken on anything... plus, Anthony Eden was Chancellor of the university I'm at at the minute, from '45-'73

What if they landed in between the city and jungle? I have no idea what Signapore is like but surely there must be some farms and stuff in between the city and jungle which would make it a bit less dense. No idea what the beaches/coast is like.

Also, how well is Sicily defended? Would it be possible, since we are bringing troops from England, to invade Sicily on the way if it is lightly or undefended?

21st - 23rd June 1940

Abridged speech of the Prime Minister of Great Britain to the Cabinet, 21st June 1940

Esteemed members of the Cabinet and representatives of the British Ministries, I come before you with dire news.

As you well know, I paid a visit to our allies in France just 14 days ago. It was there that we learned how precarious our position on the continent was, and it was from there that we set in motion our plans for that very great escape! With the fangs of the German Army at their heels, our entire Expeditionary Force - men, tanks, equipment and all - made it back to the safety of Britain.

Gentlemen, the great battles of France have ended. I have received word that their government has agreed to an armistice with Germany. France has been lost. We are, it seems, irrevocably alone.

What is to become of France is unknown for now. It is unlikely that Herr Hitler will be lenient in his terms for peace. He knows that Britain retains her fighting force. He knows that we intend to fight on…

…It is likely that he shall demand the channel ports and airbases to continue his cruel campaign against us. He may even seize the French ships that have peacefully stood down. We should be wary then, that the naval war may extend to the Atlantic even despite the brave efforts of our Royal Navy…

…We should not be too disheartened. Britain remains free! With our armies we still threaten the forces of tyranny, even if we cannot assail them directly. In time, I say! For now we continue to reorganise our strength - are forces in Britain are being redeployed, and we remain firmly in charge of the campaign in Africa. Dear members of the Cabinet, I have news that we have begun the assault on Fortress Tobruk!

…Even defeated, the French are no more destroyed than the Polish, Dutch or Belgian forces who continue to stand against Hitler’s armies. Former French military staff have withdrawn to their colonies. They have sent out just two words to the troops who, until today, battled against the oncoming storm; fight on!

Fight on gentlemen, for we are not alone. Our forces grow in number, our Dominions and colonies send aid every day, our allies - even those whose governments have surrendered - continue to wage war from across the sea. We will fight on, and we will win this war!

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Hitler at Compiegne: peace is declared

Given that a large part of his rise to power involved creating the memory that Germany had been humiliated at the end of the Great War, it was no surprise that Hitler decided to do the same to France. Using the same railway carriage, at the same location at which an armistice was signed in 1918, he simultaneously buried those memories and gratified his lust for revenge. On the 21st of June 1940, France was broken.

Prime Minister Daladier had decided that surrender was the only option long before Kan’ Sharuminar made his visit in early June - it had been the main reason he had urged the BEF to be evacuated. If he had intended the survival of Britain’s armies to deter Hitler from forcing harsh terms, he was sorely mistaken. Hitler was determined to make an example of France.

The Maginot Line was to be destroyed. Even despite the great gains of June the German army never smashed through the great barrier, and Hitler did not want to be reminded of that while he controlled French lands. Germany was to take control, as the British Prime Minister predicted, north and western France - including Paris - in order to continue the war against Britain. The remnants, based in Vichy, led by Great War hero Philippe Petain and loyal to Germany, controlled southern France and the colonies.


Vichy France

Those colonies now consisted of the main holdings in Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Madagascar, Syria and Lebanon were to gain independence, though remain allied to Vichy. Indochina, a colony in the far east, was surrendered to Japan after considerable pressure from Germany. It was officially for their war against China, though it conveniently gave the Japanese a border with British India.

There was some hope. Vichy remained at peace with Britain despite its obvious loyalty with Germany. The former French fleet remained in its possession and was not to be handed over to Germany. Vichy was, for now, a non-entity in the war.

The rumours of former French military leaders continuing to fight also proved true. Led by Charles de Gaulle, a successful, if headstrong, general, it held control of Cameron with several independent divisions. If de Gaulle could gain support in former French colonies, then he could quickly be a thorn in the side of the Vichy government.

For now the main war effort was to be carried on by Britain alone. It could not, as admitted by Prime Minister Sharuminar in his June 21st speech, hope to fight Germany directly, but instead to focus on its weaker allies. For now that ally was Italy, and the target was Tobruk…

Kan' Sharuminar said:

Next update should be Wednesday, I will do my best.

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Wee!

aronnax said:

In that case.
I have been working bloody too hard and too long for the greater of the Empire! I request for a promotion to Governer-General of Singapore and the Malay States! I also wish to be the Personal Secretary of the Ministy of Silly Wanks.

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Done.

Superbeaver may decide to have you as secretary, assuming that was a wonderfully British typo. If not, you may have that Ministry all to yourself! Which is the point, I suppose.

aronnax said:

PM Kan, what is the situation on the French Colonies now that their motherland has fallen?

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I trust that has been answered now

Peck of Arabia said:

Oh and if the position's available could I possibly be Foreign secretary? I feel I could go cap-in-hand to the Americans in a suitably pompous fashion amongst other things (talking to Commies, fobbing off the Chinese with excuses, apologising to the French etc), and judging by the fact that during my tenure as chief of staff the Benelux was invaded and is currently occupied, my military advise probably shouldn't be taken on anything... plus, Anthony Eden was Chancellor of the university I'm at at the minute, from '45-'73

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Why on earth would anyone apologise to a Frenchman? Position granted anyway, have fun travelling the world. If anyone foreign asks what your reason for visit is, slap 'em on the face with your passport and answer "Imperialism."

PrinceScamp said:

Also, how well is Sicily defended? Would it be possible, since we are bringing troops from England, to invade Sicily on the way if it is lightly or undefended?

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I don't think that's in our best interests just yet, though our next vote will be along a similar subject.

Frogs out of it already then? Rather poor showing, that.

Still though, good job we've got the channel between us and the Krauts.

What is the 1st CFC's status? Is it operational? If it is where is it? In Africa or Britain.

Bad news from across the Channel though. Not unexpected I suppose. I wonder how Hitler will react when Paris is liberated by and controlled by the 1st CFC Div.. I mean the British Goverment of course...

Now that Japan shares a border with India, the MoSW requests that we send more troops to the area to further secure it.

We are to be weary of the new Vichy France. Despite being at peace they are a puppet of Germany. Currently we border French Syria, French West Africa and various other colonies. I suggest we do not allow these lands to fall to the Germans. Especially French Syria as it is within striking distance between of the Suez and our oil supplies in Iraq.

Our armies may be tied up at the moment fighting the Italians in Libya, but I call the Parliament, the various generals, governers and advisors to put to vote on neutralising the threat in Syria either by persuading Turkey to occupy it (unlikely) or by send units from Britian to take it.

We should also dicuss about the possibility of denying the German bloc resources and colonies in the Carribean. They should be lightly defended and easy to pick off, Perhaps Canadian troops can assist us.

SuperBeaverInc. said:

Now that Japan shares a border with India, the MoSW requests that we send more troops to the area to further secure it.

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The Prime Minister has directed me to ask you for a position for Permanent Secretary within your Ministry. You know, just in case, in some weird reality, Singapore is lost to the Japanese (like that will ever happen).
And I agree with your message. Troops to be position in Burma and Malaya!

*looks extremely worried*

Have we been doing drills? no?

Well I for one welcome our new Japanese overlords

aronnax said:

The Prime Minister has directed me to ask you for a position for Permanent Secretary within your Ministry. You know, just in case, in some weird reality, Singapore is lost to the Japanese (like that will ever happen).
And I agree with your message. Troops to be position in Burma and Malaya!

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Very well, we can start you out as the Secretary of Dirty Hungarian Phrasebooks, and if you prove adept at this task, perhaps we can promote you up to Silly Walker.

Syria is now independent I thought?

PrinceScamp said:

Syria is now independent I thought?

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Only way for Kan to settle this is to post a save file!

PrinceScamp said:

Syria is now independent I thought?

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SuperBeaverInc. said:

Only way for Kan to settle this is to post a save file!

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Either way, its still allied with Vichy France and part of the German Sphere.