Here is an outstanding report of our tester Sharon/Calinda,
who is in command of the French SOE Testing-forces. I hope when reading it, you have as much fun as the SOE-team had:
Sharon's / Calinda`s SOE Testing Results
World War II
Storm Over Europe
1939, week 36
A Narrative French Assessment
GERMANY
The following is a report pertaining to the military campaigns initiated by Germany against the various states of Europe during the course of World War II.
GROUND OPERATIONS
vs. POLAND
OPERATION FALL WEISS
(POLISH SEPTEMBER CAMPAIGN)
Germany initiated its ground-based military offensives against Poland with their signature Blitzkrieg Tactics (a technology which it had already mastered). In a word, the Nazi war machine completely decimated the defending Polish military.
As it advanced into Polish territory, Germany successfully dropped Paratroopers into newly-occupied strategic enemy positions and proceeded to capture several artillery units near the Polish city Krakow after heavy war-fighting. The assault near the Polish capitol Warsaw was especially brutal as the Nazis did not hesitate to throw every available unit towards the Polish units positioned to defend the outskirts of the capitol to halt any German advance. However, Chojnice, Poznan, Kalisz, and Krakow fell to the initial German invasion and remained occupied thereafter. Germany suffered very minimal casualties so the war to annex Poland was well worth the fight. Though Poland appears to be thoroughly decimated I salute the brave Polish military and the courageous resistance of the strong Polish people.
vs. FRANCE
The German ground forces really didnt attempt to seriously advance against France (us) but instead appeared to make Poland their entire focal point. However, Germany forces did manage to destroy several units defending the roads to Mulhouse and Strasbourg. French intelligence reports indicate that Germany may have been attempting to carve a swath of destruction along the roads to allow the invasion of northeastern France, particularly the aforementioned cities.
NAVAL OPERATIONS
vs. POLAND
Germany opened up its naval military offensives against Poland with swift and decisive military action. Firstly, the German navy destroyed all (7) Polish ships stationed off the coast of Danzig, and amazingly suffering absolutely no naval loses during the conflict.
vs. FRANCE
Next the German navy destroyed 2 French ships stationed next to the French coastal city Brest.
vs. BRITAIN
The German naval operations against Britain were not spectacular at all. Indeed, Germany seemed reluctant to attack British naval forces because German air offensives against the Royal Navy was so ineffective. Germanys navy seemed to withdraw from near British territory.
AIR OPERATIONS
vs. POLAND
German air units were the first components used by Germany. They constantly pounded Poland with aerial bombings and paving the way for Germanys ground force to easily seize Polish cities and territory but they were completely ineffective against the British navy.
vs. FRANCE
The German navy did not engage France during this phase of the war.
vs. BRITAIN
Germanys navy seemed reluctant to engage the Royal Navy but they did destroy several Polish ships near Danzig.
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ITALY
AIR OPERATIONS
vs. FRANCE
The Italian air campaign against France initiated when Italy unsuccessfully launched aerial bombings against French vessels patrolling the outskirts of Marseilles. After their initial failure Italy finally launched successful aerial bombings against Lyon and injured some units but caused no major damage.
vs. BRITAIN
Italy started its air campaign against Britain by successfully bombing Alexandria in Egypt injuring some British units but causing no major damage.
NAVAL OPERATIONS
vs. FRANCE
Italian naval operations began when Italy bombarded French ground forces near Marseilles and eventually destroyed all 5 French naval unit adjacent to Nice with naval bombardment and direct naval attacks.
vs. BRITAIN
During every naval engagement against Britain the Italian navy was gradually being destroyed.
vs. POLAND
Italys naval did not engage the Polish naval forces.
GROUND OPERATIONS
vs. FRANCE
Italian ground forces engaged French position from Turino attempting to break my line of defense near Lyon and continued to press their ground attacks by advancing from Tripoli and attacking French forces garrisoned inside Medenine.
vs. BRITAIN
Italian ground forces first attacked British forces in Mersa Matrua from Bardia and lost 1 land unit.
vs. POLAND
Italian ground forces did not attack Polish units during this phase of the war but did position their troops for an impending assault on Poland.
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ROMANIA
GROUND OPERATIONS
vs. POLAND
The Romanian attacked Cernauti located near the Russian border and positioned ground forces to assault Stanislowow as well.
Afterwards, Turkey and Finland signed a trade embargo against us (France) as Finland appeared to be massing its forces for an assault on western Russia, particularly Poravjavi, Aaun, and Petrozavodskus. I still dont understand why they (Finland) withdrew their forces away from their border with Leninggrad if an impending attack on Russia is what they were truly planning. Afterwards, Belgium, Norway, Hungary and Bulgaria signed a trade embargo against us. Hungary moved it military forces near Lwow, Poland and rendezvoused with German forces already approaching Lwow to decide what further atrocities they could commit against our strong ally and firm friends in Poland. Then Turkey and Norway signed a Mutual Protection Pact (damn, I had planned to eventually attack Norway for its arrogant temerity in signing a trade embargo against us but I didnt want to drag Turkey into the war allied with the Axis Powers). The Norwegian naval forces patrolled their naval territorial boundaries passing through Swedish naval territory in the process. Afterwards, Canada mobilized its navy and suddenly my good friend Ignacy Moscicki of Poland (looking completely unshaken by the events that recently transpired in Poland) contacted me wishing to trade territory maps. I gladly accepted and by doing so reassured him that Germany would pay for its atrocities which in turn re-affirmed our mutually beneficial friendship. Afterwards, we entered into diplomatic negotiations and I offered him Incense, Spices, and Wine. The deal fell through after he offered me his world map (of their changed borders) and 710 gold (lump sum). However, I felt so unnerved by the fact Poland would most probably be wholly destroyed (next turn) if Russia decided to declare war on them that I offered him and the rest of the Polish people my last sources of Diamonds and Olive Oil and he in return offered me a lump sum of 168 gold (lump sum) and 48 gold (per turn). After a second deal in which I offered him Coal, Iron, Wood, Ball Bearing, and Rubber for 79 gold (per turn) and 8 gold (lump sum) I told him thanks and farewell thinking to myself I would never see him alive again after next turn (week 37, 1939).
Initiating their counter-offensive Poland wisely chose not to enter into an all-out ground war with Germany but instead opted to fight a limited war to push the occupying German forces out of their remaining territory. Their effort was brave but to no avail! Poland was systematically slaughtering itself, losing more units during their counter-offensive than they had lost in the course of defending their territory ab initio . However, the Polish navy did manage to sink some German ships while their ground forces re-captured some of their lost airfields. Afterwards, the United States and Denmark signed a Mutual Protection Pact and Denmark requested an audience with me. I accepted their envoy and Christian X asked me to sign a Mutual Protection Pact and Right Of Passage with him. I agreed and offered him Wine, Rubber, Wood, and Iron for which he offered me his world map and 710 gold (lump sum). Afterwards, we briefly discussed the aggression of Germany and decided it was in both nations best interest for Denmark to sign a Military Alliance against Germany. He accepted for 70 gold. Now Denmark was at war with Germany. Denmarks navy destroyed several German naval mines around Copenhagen, Helsingborg, Malmö, and Odense. Then Belgium and Spain signed a Mutual Protection Pact and I was contacted by Britain. Winston Churchill offered to trade world maps and I hurriedly accepted. Afterwards, I offered him Rubber and Wine for his territory map, 1000 gold (lump sum), the 9th Air Army Force, and 6 gold (per turn).
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BRITAIN
AIR OPERATIONS
BATTLE OF BRITAIN
vs. GERMANY
Britain started its air campaign against Germany by unsuccessfully bombing Stuttgart during which the RAF lost 3 aircraft. They followed up their air offensives by attempting to bomb Bremen during which they lost 2 more aircraft and managed to lose an additional 2 more aircraft trying to bomb Köln and further lost 1 additional air unit attacking German naval forces adjacent Plymouth.
NAVAL OPERATIONS
vs. SPAIN
Then Britain suddenly declared war on Spain and Belgium declared war on Britain. During the course of the war the British Royal Navy destroyed 6 Spanish ships near Malaga and 2 Spanish ships near Cadiz but Britain lost 1 ship during the campaign.
vs. GERMANY
The British navy destroyed 8 German ships near Amsterdam but lost 2 ships to a generic land mine near Emden.
vs. ITALY
The Royal Navy destroyed all 5 Italian vessels near Mersa Matrua., 1 vessel near Malta, 4 near Gibraltar, 4 near Madenine, 3 near Siracusa, and 1 near Palermo. However, Britain lost 1 vessel off the coast of Gibraltar.
GROUND OPERATIONS
vs. ITALY
The British ground war started and stopped in North Africa where British ground forces destroyed 1 Italian tank unit garrisoned inside Bardia yet Britain lost 1 of its ground unit near Mersa Matrua.
Afterwards, the United States (still neutral) mobilized their armed forces and Russia requested an audience with me and offered their maps. I accepted their offer and we discussed his anxiety over a possible German invasion of eastern Russia since the Nazis had already captures 4 eastern Polish cities and were pressing Warsaw with overwhelming military force. In conclusion, we both decided that nothing but the unity of Russia, France, Britain and the rest of the free world could stop the rampaging German advance. I offered Stalin Rubber and Wine and he offered me a Military Alliance against Germany, his Territory Map, 30 gold (lump sum) and Tobacco. Russia honored our agreement and declared war on Germany. Poland was pleased by the Franco-Russian agreement and Hungary, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania mobilized their military forces.
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RUSSIA
AIR OPERATIONS
vs. FINLAND
Russian air operations focused against Finland were not spectacular at all but the did manage injure some units.
GROUND OPERATIONS
vs. FINLAND
Russia began their ground operations by engaging Finnish troops near the Aaunus and Porajavi borders resulting in Finlands lost of 4 land units.
NAVAL OPERATIONS
vs. FINLAND
Russian naval operations begin when their navy destroyed 3 Finnish ships near Helsinki while Russia lost 1 ship during the conflict. However, Russia destroyed all 12 ships near Constantia as more Russian naval units advanced from Leningrad and conducted naval bombardment against Finnish artillery positions near the Leningrad border. Also, Russia lost 1 additional ship near Varna, Bulgaria and placed Constantia under naval blockade and constant naval bombardment.
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Finally, it was Frances turn to counter-attack. I kicked the war production into the highest possible gear through mobilization but the following cities lost all production because of the war: Algiers, Casablanca, Marakech, and Agedir (this seemed rather strange giving the fact that we were didnt spark this war and we were simply defending ourselves). However, before I had a chance to launch my offensives Denmark declared war on the Italians and suddenly my Foreign advisor contacted me with saying that Spain had attacked our brothers in Britain. Accordingly and with no hesitation I declared war on Spain while Poland and Canada also declared war on Spain. Afterwards, the Unites States declared war on Germany and then Hungary, Bulgaria, Finland, and Romania declared war on the Denmark.
Next: The French counter-attack and the fate of Poland.
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SUMMATION OF THE CONFLICT
Germany
Cities Lost: None
Units Lost: Land units, 9 Ships, and Naval Mines
Cities captured: Chojnice, Poznan, Kalisz, and Krakow.
Units Captured: Artillery
Summation - The Nazi war machine implemented its offensive campaigns with brutal efficiency. From my perspective, they seem to initially possess enough military power to occupy most of Europe. After aerial bombings softened up several Polish units the ground forces, especially the Tanks and Infantry units move well together with effective coordination to capture enemy artillery units and occupy Polish cities. German naval forces were also implemented effectively as they managed to destroy all Polish ships near Danzig and 2 French ships near Brest. Overall I think Germany did exceptionally well during this first phase of this conflict. Their military suffered minimal causalities and their strategy of dropping their paratrooper forces into recently occupied Polish territory demonstrates and highlights how effective their war plans were implemented.
Poland
Cities Lost: Chojnice, Poznan, Kalisz, and Krakow.
Units Lost: Land units and 7 ships
Cities captured: None
Units Captured: None
Summation - Poland was almost completely overrun by the Blitzkrieg Tactics of Germany. Almost all their ground forces in their eastern territory fell before the sheer military force of the Germans allowing the Nazis to seize control of several Polish artillery units. Based on events that have transpired, it is my prediction that Poland will not be around much longer if their counter-offensive is any indication of their war-fighting capability.
Britain
Cities Lost: None
Units Lost: 7 aircraft, 3 ships, 1 land unit
Cities captured: None
Units Captured: None
Summation - The most powerful navy in the game is undoubtedly the British Royal Navy. Their naval components destroyed more naval units than any of the other nations naval forces combined. The Royal Navy kicked the collective naval @$$E$ of Italy, Germany, and Spain single-handedly and lost only 3 ships for their efforts. However, the Royal Air Force did not fare well at all. In the first phase of the conflict the RAF lost 7 aircraft immediately and most of their bombing runs missed their marks. At this point, I refuse to surmise about the fighting capability of the British army but they did manage to destroy an Italian tank unit garrisoned inside of Bardia but then that same unit was destroyed afterwards by the Italians.
Finland
Cities Lost: None
Units Lost: 4 land units and 3 ships
Cities captured: None
Units Captured: None
Summation -
Russia
Cities Lost: None
Units Lost: 2 ships
Cities captured: None
Units Captured: None
Summation - Russia demonstrated only its naval war-fighting capability but I am eager to see the performances of its ground forces and air units.
Italy
Cities Lost: None
Units Lost: Land units and ships
Cities captured: None
Units Captured: None
Summation - The Italian armed forces have not yet demonstrated an effective military capability. Indeed, their naval is being gradually destructed by Britain and their ground forces were unable to penetrate into France while their air force seemed inactive (perhaps they were on Air Superiority missions).
France
Cities Lost: None
Units Lost: Land units and ships
Cities captured: None
Units Captured: None
Summation - Non-applicable (for now).
Spain
Cities Lost: None
Units Lost: 8 ships
Cities captured: None
Units Captured: None
Summation - The Spanish military has not yet demonstrated its capability but its naval components did destroy some British ships.
Romania
Cities Lost: None
Units Lost: 12 ships
Cities captured: None
Units Captured: None
Summation - Romanias military has not demonstrated its capability but I believe Poland will be overrun by German forces before Romania can occupy any of its cities.
Highly detailed, wide span of events, and fun to read 
