Seeing
how the Depression is spreading from country to country independent of what
actions they take (except for the USSR, that is more or less self-sufficient in
anything) Mussolini decides to make Italy self-sufficient to as high degree as possible.
As industry takes years to develop (and Italy lacks the money to do so anyway),
a program to find and exploit as yet undiscovered mineral resources in 1) Italy
and its possession, but also 2) Anywhere else they are to be had, begins.
At the
same time, Italy is also to gain additional territories that might aid her
quest for self-sufficiency.
The National Hydrocarbons Board (Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi = ENI) is
established, including all phases of the
oil cycle through four operating branches : Agip Mineraria (exploration), Agip
(distribution), Snam (transport) and Anic (refining). Though Agip Mineraria is
supposed to mainly concentrate on finding oil in northern Italy, in the Po
basin, it also branches out, not only into the colonies, but also foreign
countries, mainly in the middle east. The expertise of foreign oil companies is
also enlisted, and they are promised very beneficial conditions to work under.
(ENI was in OTL only organized in 1953, after significant oil and gas fields had
been discovered in Italy, and in the prewar years, as far as was possible, no
foreign oil companies were allowed in).
ENI
managed to gain a concession for the whole of the al-Hasa province of Saudi
Arabia. The agreement sees a lump sum in gold go to the Saudi king each year
until oil is struck, and then also a determined sum per ton of oil produced as
no known oil reserves are in the area, the agreement is rather favorable for
the Italians. (this in OTL went to Standard Oil Company of California, but only
after oil was discovered in nearby Bahrein in May 1932).
1932 June
After
years of mutual hostility, a series of skirmishes in the Chacho region,
disputed by Bolivia and Paraguay, begin.
1932 - July
War
finally breaks out between Paraguay and Bolivia. It is called the Gran Chaco
War.
1932 September
The
Paraguayans successfully complete the first campaign of the Chaco War, taking
Boqueron. After this, the war turns pretty static in the southern part of the
Chaco (where all the fighting is going on) for the next 5 months, with
reoccurring Bolivian counter-attacks trying to break the Paraguayans.
1932 December
Paraguayan
forces defeat a Bolivian offensive, the first of the so-called Nanawa I
campagin.
1933 January
Italy and
Yemen sign a treaty of mutual cooperation on military and economic matters. The
Italians are contracted to organize and train three battalions of troops along
modern lines. They are generously equipped with machine guns and
transportation. At the same time, Italy is contracted to provide Yemen with an
air force of some 30 planes (this is a re-vitalization of Italo-Yemeni
cooperation during the 1920s).
1933 February
Another
Bolivian offensive in the Nanawa I campaign is defeated by Paraguayan troops in
the Chaco War.
1933 March
Seeing an
opportunity, Italy sends observers to the Chacho region, to observe the war
between Paraguay and Bolivia, and see whether there is anything to be learnt.
1933 June
Italy
sends a military mission to Paraguay, and after a short time request the three
things the Paraguayans need most: 50 planes to drive the Bolivians from the sky
(they are secretly smuggled through the League of Nations embargo), money to
keep the nation going, but most of all trucks and gasoline, to keep the
Paraguayan offensive going.
1933 July
The
Nanawa II campaign ends in total failure for the Bolivians in the Chaco War, as
their continuous frontal attacks are beaten back with heavy losses.
1933 December
After
noticing some gaps in the Bolivian lines, Paraguayan troops manage to surround
two divisions of the Bolivian army and defeat them. This signifies the
beginning of the Paraguayan advance into Bolivia.
1934 February
A border
skirmish erupts into an actual war Yemen and Saudi Arabia over the Najran
oasis. Aided by the Italian air force and Italian-trained troops, the Saudis
are defeated, and the oasis taken (the war happened in reality, save for the
occupation of the Najran oasis. That one was taken by Saudi Arabia, the last gain
in an expansion that had started in 1903)
Under the
terms of the Yemenite-Italian treaty, Italy declares war on Saudi Arabia.
1934 March
Yemenite
troops and their Italian auxiliaries invade the Asir region, to which Yemen
lays claim.
Italian
marines land at Dhahran in the eastern al Hasa province of Saudi Arabia. The
drilling wells there are quickly secured.
1934 April
Another
Saudi army is defeated, partially through strafing attacks and bombings by the
Italian air force. The rest of Asir is occupied by the Yemeni troops.
1934 May
With the
Yemenites nearing Mecca save for the Italian oil concession, the only source
of foreign currency - the Saudis give in. By the end of the month, a peace
treaty is signed, giving the Asir region to Yemen (roughly doubling its size)
and the al Hasa region to Italy. Italy is to pay to the Saudi king a yearly sum
equivalent to the revenues lost with the two provinces.
In the
Chaco War, the Bolivians manage to surround most of one Paraguayan division. Though
most of its men fight their way out, this begins a time of stiffening Bolivian
resistance. So far, the Paraguayan advance has taken them some 300 kilometers
NW, bagging them most of the Chaco.
1934 July
Italy and
Qatar sign a treaty outlining their common border. A like treaty is signed with
the United Arab Emirates. British worry about Italian designs on her
protectorates subsides somewhat.
In the
Chaco War, the Paraguayan advance is finally stopped at Picuiba.
1934 September
Nuclear
Physicist Enrico Fermi with a determined team of some 25 talented students
discovers fission and splits the atom while systematically bombarding element
after element with the newly discovered neutrons. After Mussolini is told about
it, a media blackout is enacted for 6 months, while the consequences are
explored, and additional research is done. When Fermi discovers, that slowing
neutrons by passing them through a light-element "moderator" such as
paraffin increases their effectiveness, allowing the release of nuclear energy
in a reactor with the use of very little fuel, vast resources are made
available to Fermi and his team. (In OTL, Fermis team missed the first
discovery by the thickness of the sheet of foil in which they wrapped their
uranium sample; the foil blocked the fission fragments that their instruments
would otherwise have recorded. I have, by the way, been unable to find the date
in 1934 this happened, so I have, out of nowhere, chosen September)
1934 November
Paraguayan
troops again gain the initiative when they surround the Bolivian Reserve Corps
at El Carmen. The Paraguayan advance resumes, and is by now heavily helped in
sustaining it by the Italian deliveries of trucks and airplanes.
Italian troops provoke a border incident over Valval, on the Ethiopian
side of the Ethiopian-Somaliland border. Over the next few months, the incident
is kept hot, in preparation for a full-scale Italian invasion of Ethiopia. The
League of Nations puts an arms embargo on both countries, but given that
Ethiopia is by far the weakest, it only serves to help Italy keep her weak.
As Paraguayan troops seize the only source of water in the region, the
Bolivian Cavaly Corps is forced to retreat, losing one third of its number to
thirst in the process.
1935 January
The Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie appeals to League of Nations for
intervention.
Mussolini and Pierre Laval, the French Prime minister make an
agreement, by which Italian rights in the Addis Abeba Djibouti railroad (the
only major link for Ethiopia to the outside world) are increased, thereby
increasing the Italian interests in Ethiopia. It is in violation of the 1906
Anglo-French agreement excluding Italy from Ethiopia
The Paraguayan troops advance into Bolivia proper.
1935 - February
Italy sends large forces to Eritrea and Somaliland in anticipation of
the coming invasion of Ethiopia. The Stresa Front of European powers only
protests mildly. The US doesnt even comment.
1935 March
News of some of Enrico Fermis discoveries last year are published. His
discovery of Fission is kept secret, though. At the same time, work on plans
for a test-reactor begin.
1935 April
Paraguayan troops cross the Rio Parapiti. They are able to throw back
savage Bolivian counter-attacks, but instead of going west (they are now in the
Andean foothills) instead fortify in that direction, and head north, towards
the province of Santa Cruz, the major agricultural province of Bolivia. Though
Bolivian generals advocate to create a third field army (the first two having
been crushed by the Paraguayans), the general feeling is that the battle is
lost (the Paraguayans were actually thrown back across the Rio Parapiti, and
thus never continued to Santa Cruz, though that was the aim of some).
The Italian advisors have in the course of the war learned valuable
lessons, most of all the value of coordination between ground and air forces,
supply and need for mobility.
1935 May
Italy forms its first two motorized divisions, to supplement the 3
celere divisions formed in 1930.
Paraguayan forces, in a surprise offensive, break the Bolivian
frontline, and manage to occupy the Bolivian oil fields, one of the major
generators of state revenue. With this, the Bolivian morale is broken. Though
new people have come to since the old Bolivian president was arrested and
deposed in 1934, they have too little to work with to turn the tide. Bolivia
sues for peace.
1935 - June
Anthony Eden, British minister for League Affairs tries to negotiate
with Mussolini but fails
Paraguay and Bolivia sign a peace treaty. Paraguay is granted not only
the entire Chaco, but also the province of Santa Cruz. This effectively adds
170% to Paraguays area and 40% to her population. In return, the Paraguayan
troops evacuate the Bolivian oil fields.
1935 August
Paraguay and Italy sign a treaty on friendship and economic
cooperation.
1935 - October
Italy invades Ethiopia - army led by Badoglio. Officially, Italian
goals are not just confined to territorial claims. Italy also wishes to bring
civilization to Ethiopia, abolish slavery among others.
The League of Nations brands Italy the aggressor. An ad hoc committee
decides on taking the five following modest proposals:
1)
that the arms embargo against Ethiopia be lifted and that one be placed
upon Italy,
2)
that all loans of credit to Italy be prohibited,
3)
that an embargo be placed on all goods from Italy,
4)
that embargoes should be placed upon certain goods going to Italy, and
5)
that economic support would be given to states adversely affected by
the sanctions.
However, these measures fail to be effective in stopping Italy for
several key reasons. First of all, several member states, including Austria,
Hungary, and Albania, refuse to comply with the League ordinances. Secondly,
three of Italys main trading partners, the United States, Germany, and
Switzerland, undermine the League efforts by continuing trade with Italy. Plus,
the League announces that the sanctions will be placed in effect beginning on
November 18, 1935, which gives the Italians plenty of foreknowledge and a
considerable amount of time to amass goods which are to be sanctioned later.
1935 - November
The League of Nations sanctions go into effect.
Funds for nuclear research are cut to concentrate all resources on the war
in Ethiopia.
1935 - December
A secret agreement has been hammered out by Pierre Laval, the French
prime minister, and Samuel Hoare, the British foreign secretary, that will
essentially give large tracts of Ethiopia to Italy, and more or less put the
rest of the country under an Italian protectorate. It is, however, revealed to
the press, and the public outcry makes any compromise over Ethiopia impossible.
There is now only the option for Ethiopian victory or defeat. And a victory
looks like a no-go.
Great Britain concentrates naval forces at Alexandria. They are not
used actively though, and Italy still has access to its forces in Eastern
Africa through the Suez Canal.
1936 January
With the Italian drive in the north stalled, Marshal Rodolfo Graziani
decides to give the Ethiopians other things to worry about, and invades
Ethiopia from the south. When an Ethiopian army moves against him, it
outflanked, outrun and outmaneuvered by the mobile Italian columns, and is
practically massacred. By the end of the month, the Italians are at Neghelli in
southern Ethiopia.
Trying to get back funding for his research that was just starting to
take off, Enrico Fermi mentions the possibility of using fission for a bomb of
unprecedented magnitude. Funds are immediately made available again, and are in
fact doubled over.
1936 February
The Italians reopen hostilities in the northern Ethiopian theatre. In
succession, three Ethiopian armies are defeated, though it at times is a very
close thing, the Italians several times being caught off guard by Ethiopian
surprise attacks. In the end, Italian air-power and poison gas prove to turn
the odds.
The last attempt at consoling Italy through compromise failed, the
League of Nations, with France and Great Britain as the leaders, push through
oil and coal sanctions against Italy. Member states are required to not sell
such commodities to Italy, but no sanctions against nations that break the
embargo are determined. While League states mostly (again, Hungary, Albania, Austria
and a few others are the exception) join the sanctions, Italy is till able to
survive thanks to supplies of coal from Germany and oil from the US, both
countries not members of the League (in our timeline, the League could not
agree on sanctions, primarily because it was realized that Germany and the US
would not join. Especially the US under FDR refused the idea, as it controlled
50% world oil trade).
While the sanctions are in essence ineffectual, Italy still has a rude
awakening to its dependency on foreign sources of resources. Only two years
prior, war could have ensued with Germany over Austria, and the US as a
supplier is threatened by the fact that the Royal Navy is in between it and
Italy. Consequently, the strive to make Italy more independent of foreign
deliveries is intensified. Investments especially go to the expansion of coal
production in Sardinia and the search for oil in Libya, where it is suspected
to be. Investments in the low-grade Albanian oil fields and in search for
chromium and other resources in Albania is also increased dramatically. Foreign
oil companies are enlisted to hunt for oil in joint ventures with AGIP, the
Italian oil firm. (coal was known to exist in Sardinia, and oil strongly
suspected in Libya. Nothing of this art happened until 1939. I have given Italy
a head start of 3 years. In the case of Libya, nothing of the sort described
above ever happened. Though smallscale drilling took place during the 30s,
nothing of real size developed until the mid-50s).
Italy begins to build or acquire a small fleet of oil tankers for the
ENI (in reality Italy was pretty short of tankers during WWII).
A military coup in Paraguay brings the more fascist-inclined elements
of the Partido Colorado to power. By initially receiving Italian economic aid,
later, during WWII, keeping a low profile, they manage to stay in power for
longer than any previous Paraguayan government.
1936 March
Throwing his last army in the north at the Italians, Emperor Haile
Selassie is again defeated in a close battle. The only organized forces left in
the field are now the forces facing Graziani in the south.
A military coup brings a new government into power in Bolivia. Bent
on making good the bad things that have
happened to Bolivia over the last few years, they are surprised by an Italian
offer of aid.
At the same time, Italian envoys are contacting the Argentine
government with a view to support a re-entry into power of Chilean general
Carlos Ibαρez del Campo, former president of Chile, who has sought refuge in
Argentina after being ousted in 1932. The Argentineans agree to let Italian aid
pass through Argentina for him, as well as to lend some help in tying down
Chilean forces.
1936 April
Throwing his forces at the fortified line the Ethiopians are holding in
the Ogaden province, the Italians under Graziani in a 10-day battle manage to
break the opposing troops. The last organized Ethiopian army has now been
crushed.
The infant Italian nuclear program is strictly separated in three:
theoretical, reactor and bomb. Those included in the two last are sworn to
strict silence.
The building of a research center in the Northern Italian Alps begins.
Along with it is build a dam to provide the center with electrical energy for
its experiments. While theoretical research is till what takes up most time,
more and more is also poured into work on nuclear reactors and the nuclear
bomb.
1936 May
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie leaves Ethiopia. Later in the month,
Italian troops enter Addis Abeba, the Ethiopian capital. The total death toll
of the Italian forces has been 1.600 askaris and 3.000 Italians. Heavy use of
air power and chemical weapons have allowed for a comparatively easy victory.
Italian prospector teams, heavily escorted by Askaris and regular
Italian soldiers, are immediately dispatched into all four corners of the newly
acquired colony, to look for any natural resources, that might be worth mining.
Already known are coal, gold, salt and copper, and heavy investment into their
mining begins right away.
1936 June
Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie brings the case of his country before
the Laegue of Nations, but to no avail. By the end of the month, the League
sanctions have been lifted, as they were not doing any good anyway.
Ethiopia is declared an Italian colony, combined with Eritrea and
Italian Somaliland into the AOI, and King Vittorio Emmanuel is crowned as
Ethiopian emperor.
Argentina and Bolivia mobilize their armies. They are concentrated at
the Chilean border.
As a consequence, Chile also mobilizes, and concentrates its forces
opposite the Argentine and Bolivian forces.
At the same time, general Carlos Ibαρez del Campo secretly enters Chile
to contact his supporters among the fascists in country.
1936 July
Nationalist officers revolt first in Spanish Morocco, later all over
Spain. In many places in mainland Spain, the revolt misfires, though, and soon
the nationalists are in dire straits, as their main force is in Africa, with
the Mediterranean and the loyal Republican navy in between them and their
compatriots in mainland Spain. The rescue comes in the form of a number of
Italian transport planes, that are sent to Spanish Morocco, and begins ferrying
the nationalists over to Spain. On their way. Three of the planes crash,
though, two of them in French Algeria, and the discovery of Italian involvement
in the civil war causes an uproar across the world. Over the next half year,
arms shipments from Italy to the Nationalist double over several times.
Italian rule in Ethiopia is shaken violently, when a number of
chieftains, that had earlier accepted Italian rule band together and launch an
attack on Addis Abeba. Though the attack is beaten back, it signals the
beginning of a year-long guerilla-war, that the Italians answer with an
immediate program of reciprocal attacks.
With most forces out of the capital, a coup supported by the fascist
parties in Chile is launched. Though it is initially successful, the labor
unions and socialist parties oppose it violently. As army units align
themselves with different sides, the coup soon degenerates into a civil war.
Support for the junta is filtered through from Bolivia and Argentina.
1936 August
The Spanish Nationalists on Mallorca, heavily threatened by a
Republican landing, appeal for help from Italy. The situation seems lost, as
the Republican force is 4 times larger than the Nationalist one, but small
amounts of men and weapons arriving hurriedly are enough to turn the tide (this
happened in actuality, the most famous Italian involved being Arconovaldo
Bonaccorsi, better known a Conte Rossi, the red count).
With fortune turning against the Chilean junta, Bolivia decides to reap
the fruits of its efforts, and sends its army into the arid northern provinces
of Chile, officially to help the junta against communist forces, but actually
to regain the provinces it lost in the War of the Pacific some 50 years ago
(and in the process also reap the provinces Peru lost to Chile in the same
war).
This makes the government forces send precious troops northwards, and
brings about a somewhat slower decline of junta fortune.
1936 September
The Republicans re-embark from Mallorca, and head back for mainland
Spain. Over time the Italians now present in Majorca turn it more or less into
an Italian protectorate on the model of Fiume in the early 1920s.
Italy and Yemen renew their 10-year treaty of friendship and
cooperation for another 10 years. Included are clauses, that will see Italy
sending a military mission to equip and train the Yemenite army. With new
emphasis placed on the Italian-Yemeni relations, Italy hopes to pressure Great
Britain, as both shores of the Red Sea are now either controlled or influenced
by Italy.
Argentina, seeing the success the Bolivians are having in grabbing
territory in the Chilean north, sends its own troops across the border into
sparsely inhabited southern Chile, officially to restore order.
1936 November
Talks are held between Italy and Nationalist Spain of sending Italian
officers and specialists to help form two mixed Italian/Spanish brigades, with
the Spaniards providing the rank-and-file and some officers. It is determined
to go forward with the plan. About 3.500 men are agreed to go to Spain.
After defeating the Chilean navy in a naval battle, Argentinean troops
(both ground- and seaborne) occupy the coastal cities of Puerto Montt and
Valdivia, thereby cutting off the southern, sparsely inhabited third of Chile.
At the same time, Argentinean troops cross the border into central Chile,
advancing on Santiago, where junta troops welcome them. In the north, Bolivian
and Chilean troops bring each others to a standstill north of the port of
Antofagasta.
1936 - December
Having
made up his mind, that larger numbers mean larger honor, Mussolini increases
the number of Italians to be sent to Spain greatly, and begins forming entire
wholly Italian divisions next to the promised mixed brigades. Large-scale
transfer of Italian volunteer units, complete with weapons and officers, start.
Previous to this time, about 1.500 Italians have already entered Spain, but
over the next three months (to and including February 1937), this number will
grow by app. 20.000 men from the Italian army and 27.000 from the Blackshirts.
These are mostly formed into three black-shirt and one army division. In the
mixed brigades the Falangists (the Spanish fascist party) 10.000 in all -
make up the rank-and file and some of the officers. Connections are being made
for future use. At the same time, a system of rotation of officers from the
Italian armed forces into the volunteer formations in Spain is also instituted.
Together with a large corps of observers and analysts, this is designed to use
the Spanish Civil War to weed out those officers not suited for modern warfare.
At the same time, it is seen as a good way to weed out the
carreer/bureucrat officers who have only reached their rank thanks to
connections. In the end one of the first that go is Badoglio.
Argentinean troops land in the back of Chilean lines north of the port
of Antofagasta, bringing their defense to collapse. The Bolivians take the city
soon thereafter. This pretty much ends the Bolivian campaign.
1937 January
Resisting German pressure, Mussolini makes a stand on behalf of the
Italian Jews. Italy will not enact laws patterned after the German Nuremberg
Laws, and will not throw out Jewish members of the Fascist party. This is not
out of any love for the Jews as such, but more because of a sense of loyalty to
some of the old-time Jewish Fascists, and because he sees an advantage in
keeping his options open vis-a-vis the Palestine question. Hitler, seeing it as
a minor point compared with the gain he can get out of finally breaking the
Italian/British/French front around Germany (it already began to crack with the
British/French mishandling of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia) gives in.
Though the point will be pushed over the following years, Italy stands fast.
(This, of course, in reality ended in Italy enacting exactly the kind of racial
laws described. With larger Italian interest in the Middle East, I have let the
Palestine-, and thus also Jewish, problem become so important to Mussolini,
that he doesnt give in to German pressure. As events in 1939, when Hitler
signed a non-aggression and cooperation
pact with Stalin shows, Hitler also was not unknown to compromise wildly to
attain his aims. As will later be shown, this has some interesting
consequences).
1937 February
An assassination attempt on Rodolfo Graziani, the Italian viceroy in the
AOI fails.
In negotiations between Italy and the ultra-nationalist proto-fascist
Jewish organization Betar, an agreement is stamped out, that will see
Betar-members receiving military training in Italian camps. It is made clear to
the Betarists, that Italy in the years to come will cooperate closely with
antisemitic Germany and maybe also the Arabs in the Middle East, but made clear
that both are only as long as it serves Italian interests.
The Betarists, having nowhere else to go for military training and
needing it to protect themselves in the ongoing Arab revolt in Palestine,
agree. In additional protocols, Italy agrees to help Jews wanting to leave
Germany finding a home. (In OTL, Betar cadres DID receive training in Italy,
but cooperation between Italy and the
Betar pretty much seized after Italy and Germany began working together in the
Spanish Civil War, and Italy expelled Jewish members of the fascist party as a
concession to Germany. I have let Italy play the Betar card longer. It would
later go on to become the Stern Gang, notorious for its terrorist acts against
the British, and even rumored to have offered cooperation against Britain to
the Germans in 1941)
1937 March
Fighting in the 2nd Pacific War between Chile, Bolivia and
Argentina pretty much reaches a standstill. In the north, logistics trouble
prevent the Bolivians from advancing further than the port city of Antofagasta.
In the south, the Argentineans are in firm control of the southern third of the
country, that is sparsely inhabited mainly by Indians. While fighting is
continuing in the central third of the country, the Chilean government is
firmly entrenched against further advances by the junta and Argentinean troops,
that control roughly one fourth of the central third of Chile, where fighting
still rages. It is here that the remainder of the war is played out.
1937 April
The Italian nuclear research facility north of Bergamo in the Alps is
finished. The staff makes up several hundred men, to which comes a guard
complement of an additional several hundred men.
1937 May
On finding hard facts of participation of the Ethiopian Coptic Church
in the assassination attempt on him, as well as many other attacks on Italians,
Graziani gives the order for a massacre of 449 monks and laymen at Debra
Libanos, Ethiopia's holiest monastery. The result is a disaster, as it only
gives the Ethiopian guerillas more support, and subsequently leads to a violent
uprising in Gojjam province.
1937 September
ENI strikes oil in the al-Hasa province of Saudi Arabia. The building
of a pipeline to the coast, and facilities to load it unto tankers there
immediately begin. By the end of the year, 40.000 tons of crude have been
produced. (In OTL this happened in
March 1938, but I have moved it back 6 months as the Italians also got
their concession 6 months earlier in the TL than in OTL).
The building of refineries in Italy for its processing immediately
begin. A small refinery also begins building in Saudi Arabia.
1937 November
A state commission begins to buy amounts of pure graphite and uranium
abroad, in anticipation for the building of the first Italian nuclear reactor.
At the same time, money is poured into establishing an industry producing the
same in Italy.
1938 February
The duke of Aosta is made the new vice-roy of the AOI, with Ugo
Cavallero as his operational commander. The campaign against the Ethiopian
guerillas is intensified after a period of slacking of the Italian
anti-guerilla effort, among others to the initiative the guerillas have had
since the beginning of the uprising in Gojjam province. Substantial
reinforcements are sent to the AOI.
1938 - April
In preparation for its program of Demographic Colonization, the
building of some 2.000 farms, that in all are to make up homes for some 20.000
settlers, are built in Libya.
The Italian army begins a program to update the artillery. Initial
plans to build new artillery pieces are shelved, as a study shows that with new
carriages, ammunition, propellants and sights, the old artillery can serve
quite well for another 10 years at least (this study WAS done, but apparently
buried by Ansaldo, one of the big Italian armaments firms, as there was more
profit in building new artillery).
1938 May
Italian control of Gojjam province in the AOI has again been restored,
at least of the roads and towns. While the guerillas have lost a lot of men,
they remain in being, though.
Italian diplomats, hearing of the imminent arrests of the Iron Guard
leadership through one of their agents, manage to smuggle out Corneliu Zelea
Codreanu and 15 of his companions. Though the Romanian government is protesting
violently, there really isnt much they can do.
1938 June
The Italians manage to flush out and crush the main concentrations of
Ethiopian partisans in the Ankober region north of Addis Abeba, among others
bagging several of the leaders of the July 1936 attack on Addis Abeba. (this
did not happen in reality. The guerillas were surrounded, but in late June,
seasonal rains intervened, and when the campaign was restarted later in the
year the gurillas got through the Italian ring thrown around them).
1938 July
Plans for the first Italian nuclear reactor are finished. Its
construction in the Alps begins right away.
Lise Meitner, Austrian-German nuclear physicist of Jewish origin, flees
from Germany across the border to Italy (in reality, she went to Sweden).
A seize fire is finally agreed upon in the 2nd Pacific War,
after it has lasted 2 years and brought enormous destruction to the Chilean
heartland. Over the course of the war, the junta has lost considerably in
power, and is now only propped up by Argentinean troops. Consequently, the
Argentineans dont see any reason to stay in the war. Peace negotiations begin.
1938 August
Not believing their
luck, Italian prospectors strike oil in Libya. Investigations of the viability
of production on a larger scale starts right away (In real life, exploration
for oil did not begin until after 1955. Oil was not discovered until 1959, and
exports only started in 1961. In the following, I let the Italians need only
two years to find oil (they have all the resources of the entire state as
backing, as well as enlisted help from foreign companies), but give them the
same two years to ready facilities before exports can begin).
The expansion of the
infrastructure in Libya, in preparation of the oil boom, that is coming,
begins. Harbors are extended, roads and railroads built, and oil refineries in
Libya start building, too.
The first sustained
nuclear reaction takes place at the Italian nuclear research facility north of
Bergamo. Experiments with reactor design begin, and substantial amounts of
heavy water are ordered from Norway. Research into ways to provide the
plutonium or U-235 to build a bomb from also takes its start.
Lise Meitner is
included in the theoretical part of the Italian nuclear program. Development of
the reactor and bomb are still kept secret from her.
1938 September
A peace treaty
finally ends the 2nd Pacific War. Chile retains her heartland, but
loses 61% of her territory (including most of the rich copper and nitrate
deposits, that go to Bolivia) and 12% of her population (not counting the war
losses). The provinces of Tarapaca and Antofagasta go to Bolivia, the provinces
of Magellanes, Aysen, Chiloe, Lanquihue and Osorno to Argentina.
1938 - October
In the first of a
series of mass-emigrations, Italy launches its program of Demographic
Colonization, and a convoy with some 20.000 settlers is sent to Libya. It is
the plan, that some 100.000 impoverished peasants will be settled in Libya over
the following 5 years, in batches of 20.000 a year. By the end of the period
Libya will be home to approximately 230.000 Italians, making up some 22 % of
the population.
In the AOI, another
series of operations to pacify Gojjam province begins.
Told of recent
German success in fission of the atom by Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann through
a letter to Lise Meitner by the two German scientists, who dont know what they
have done, the Italians decide to go public with the fact, that Enrico Fermi
already managed this in 1934. Out of safety considerations, it is decided to
put the date it happened in 1937, though, and the results obtained since then
are severely doctored. In the end, it takes three months before they are ready
to go public.
1938 December
The first tanker
with Saudi crude oil sails from its terminal in Ras Tanura for Italy. So far,
this year the Saudi concession has produced 600.000 tons of oil. While about
half covers the entire Italian domestic need for oil, thus freeing up
considerable amounts of foreign
exchange that would otherwise have been used to purchase oil abroad, the
remaining 300.000 tons are partially used to build up strategic reserves for
the armed forces, partially sold on to earn additional hard currency.
Physicist Enrico
Fermi goes to Sweden to receive the Nobel Prize for his work in Nuclear
Physics. He is denied to have his family accompany him, and returns later in
the month. (In reality, Fermi took with him his family, and after he received
the price went to the US. This because of two reasons, the official being that
his Jewish wife was suffering because of the anti-semitic laws Italy had
enacted some years back, the not-so-official being that he could not obtain
funds for his research in Italy. He was instrumental in the later success of
the Manhattan Project, the US/British construction of the A-bomb. In this
timeline, I have removed both obstacles to Fermi staying in Italy).
1939 January
Libya is divided into two parts. One, the fertile regions to the north
including 550.000 km2 with 770.000 inhabitants, of whom 95.000 Europeans (12 %
- mainly Italians) and 30.000 Jews, is included directly as a part of Italy the
same way the coastal Algerian provinces are departements of France.
The rest, 1.210.000 km2 with only 50.000 mainly Moslem inhabitants,
makes out a military district separate from Italy (this happened in reality).
1939 - February
The Success of Enrico Fermi in splitting the atom is made public.
The building of a second and third nuclear reactor, using other designs
than the first begin.
After the logic the weapons to those who use them, a naval air arm is
created, equipped with torpedo bombers. The first three torpedo bomber
squadrons start .
1939 March
Czechoslovakia seizes to exist. Germany occupies the remaining part of
Czechia and puts it under military occupation, Hungary annexes the
Carpatho-Ukraine, and Slovakia declares its independence.
In the Soviet union, the army is one year into its expansion program,
and contains 120 infantry and 16 cavalry divisions.
Libyan
Jews are granted Italian citizenship, thus further increasing the percentage of
Europeans (this is based on the French policy in Algeria).
Conflict
between the duke of Aosta, the viceroy of the AOI, and the military commander
Ugo Cavallero leads to a falling out. During the subsequent investigations,
Cavallero convinces the Duce to transfer complete control of military
operations to himself (the duke of Aosta had earlier had the final say), while
the duke remains as a figurehead only. Subsequently, Cavallero institutes a
policy not unlike the one used against the Senussi in Libya during the 1920s.
The guerillas themselves are mercilessly hunted down by mobile columns
supported by air-cover, while the local population is rounded up ad confined to
special settlements. The insurrectionary territory is then occupied piece by
piece, and the now evacuated land can be parcelled out in a way as advantageous
as possible to future Italian settlers . (in reality the duke of Aosta won out
in this contest, mostly because of Cavalleros inability to pacify the country.
I gave him more success and gave him another year or two to prove himself and
the old, well-proven techniques).
1939 April
Italy invades Albania. The Albanian crown is given to the Italian king.
Exploitation of the small Albanian oil reserves begin immediately, as does the
search for other natural resources. Chromium is a prime target, and it is soon
found.
The German military government, that has governed Czechia until this
month is abolished. The protectorate of Bohemia-Moravia is instituted.
1939 May
Italy converts three infantry divisions to motorized divisions. At the
same time, a third armored division and a second armored corps are set up. (In
OTL, the first three were the 9th, 10th and 52nd
Infantry Divisions, that were only converted to lorried (ie: semi-motorized
divisions), though. The third armored division was formed around here, but the
second armored corps was in OTL really a lorried corps for the three
above-mentioned divisions).
Italy begins laying the first tracks on the trans-Libyan railway, going
from the border with Tunisia in the west to the border with Egypt in the east.
Intended to supplement the Via Balbo, the road running about the same course,
it will take several years to complete.
Italy and Germany sign the Pact of Steel
1939 June
The program of Demographic colonization of the colonies is expanded
to also include the AOI. Over the next 5 years, in an ambitious scheme to turn
the Italian colonies indeed Italian, some 400.000 Italian settlers, who
signed up for resettlement will be settled in Libya and the AOI. While some
200.000 will be settles in Libya, another 200.000 will go to the AOI. (In
reality, some 40.000 families volunteered for resettlement. As the group of
20.000 settled in reality in Libya in 1938 included 1850 families, I have
assumed 10 to be the family size, and simply multiplied 40.000 with 10).
The region of Hatay is transferred from French-controlled Syria to
Turkey to ensure the Allied-friendly stance of the Turkish government.
An Italian Indian Ocean squadron, made up of some 4 cruisers, is
created and based in Mogadischu.
1939 August
Germany and the Soviet Union sign a non-aggression pact, with secret
clauses, that divide eastern Europe up into interest spheres.
Italy sets up its first dedicated torpedo bomber unit. License
production of torpedoes under a Norwegian design begins (this did not take
place in OTL. Italy DID produce some torpedoes under a Norwegian design and
fairly good ones at that but let the license expire without having it
extended. As a consequence, Italy entered WWII with a shortage of torpedoes,
and had to import them from Germany. Torpedo-bomber units were also only set up
AFTER Italy entered WWII).
The buildup of the Italian special forces also begins.
In the first positive result of the hunt for hydrocarbons on the soil
of Italy proper, prospectors hit a large natural gas field at Caviaga near Lodi
in the Po region (this event in actuality happened 5 years later, in 1944, but
given greater emphasis on drilling, that in OTL only came about in 1945, I have
pushed it back somewhat).
1939 September
Germany and Slovakia attack Poland. Great Britain and France in turn
declare war on Germany. Within the first week it is clear which way the
fighting will be decided Poland is clearly losing, and losing fast. The
Polish troops desperately try to retreat first behind the Vistula river, later
into a bridgehead to be formed in SE-Poland, but to no avail. They are crushed
within the month.
By mid-month, the Soviet Union joins in, and invades Poland from the
east, occupying roughly half of Poland.
The UK, seeing Italy as a pro-German country, that might any day join
in on the German side, seizes all sales of coal in exchange for currency. From
now on, all coal deliveries are to be paid in war materials. These, however,
are sorely needed by a rearming Italy herself. So Italy is in trouble.
Germany offers supplies of a like size as the ones that formerly came
from the UK, and is willing to accept payment in agricultural products, of
which Italy has enough. The capacity of the railroads between Germany and Italy
is thought to be far too small to maintain the pre-war import levels. The
solution to the problem is found, though: the coal is sent through Rotterdam
and Antwerp in neutral Belgium and the Netherlands, then sailed on Italian
(also neutral) colliers to Italy.
1939 October
By early October, the final remnants of Polish resistance are crushed.
About 80.000 Poles have made it abroad. Over the next 9 months, 40.000 of these
make it out to France from Romania and Hungary to fight another day. They are
assisted herein by Hungarian and Romanian authorities, not too keen on the
ever-increasing power of Germany.
The USSR forces the three Baltic countries into accepting agreements,
whereby 10.000s of Soviet troops are based in each of them.
Italy begins construction of a number of bunker-installations for POL,
both in Italy, Libya and Ethiopia.
Another batch of 20.000 Italian settlers leave Italy for Libya and
their new homes.
Italy begins building a facility to test different methods of separating
plutonium and U-235 from the enriched fuel rods it begins receiving from the
three reactors that are now online.
1939 November
The USSR attacks Finland
.the Winter War begins.
The Italian economy is put under central leadership, as during WWI
(Italy is just not at war yet). A Lengthy inquiry is held about ways to
increase efficiency in the armaments industry.
Deliberations about how to protect Italian trade, clearly threatened by
the British blockade of German coal shipments leads Italy to start the
conversion of the liner Roma into the carrier Aquila. Conversion of the
liner Augustus into the auxiliary carrier Sparviero starts at the same time
(in reality Italy tried to convert these two liners, but conversion of the
Roma didnt begin until June 1941, and of the Augustus even later).
Volunteers start gathering in Italy to go to Finland and help the Finns
fighting the invading Red Army. The first contingent leaves at the end of the
month (In reality 5.000 volunteers gathered, but were denied passports by the
Italian government to not offend Germany).
In Germany, Fuhrer directive 8, outlining the general plan for the
coming offensive into France, Belgium and the Netherlands is put out. It calls
for three army groups, named A, B and C. C is tied down opposite the Maginot
Line in the south, while A is placed in the center, opposite Belgium, and B
opposite the Netherlands. The main thrust of the attack will be behind B, but
can be switched to A if opportunities arise.
1939 December
An Italian volunteer Brigade is set up in Finland, and starts training.
Soon some of the veterans of the Spanish Civil War are separated into a special
battalion. These enter the frontline by late December.
Further finds are made of natural gas at Caviaga near Lodi in Italy.
The Italian concession in Saudi Arabia has increased production to
around 1.000.000 tons. With the increased availability of oil, allocations to
the strategic reserve in case Italy is forced into the war are increased, but
still the earnings of hard currency rise, as sales to Germany and the prices
taken for it rises. They are to a large degree used to buy machinery to expand
the Italian arms industry, but also as a tool to pressure Germany into selling
equipment it would otherwise not sell, like radar for the Italian fleet.
In Italian-Japanese negotiations, Japan agrees to receive some 100.000
German (now including Austria, the Sudetenland and the Wartheland) Jews, who
will be transferred from Germany by rail to Italian harbors, and from there on
Italian and Japanese ships to Manchuria, where they will be settled.
At the same time, Italy promised to settle some 150.000 German Jews in
the Italian colonies AOI over the next 5 years.
1940 January
The effort to settle Italians in the colonies begins to pay off. In
Libya, Italian citizens make up some 160.000 of 840.000 (19%), in the AOI
225.000 of 7.600.000 (3%). Over the next year, the Italians will begin sending
some 50.000 Jewish refugees from Germany and Poland to be settled in Libya, and
another 50.000 to Ethiopia.
After some deliberation, partially due to worry about flaws in the plan
outlined in Fuhrer Directive 8, partially because of fears that part of the
plan fell into allied hands, when a liaison plane had to make and emergency
landing outside Germany, Hitler decides to stay with the original plan. (In
reality, due to the above reasons and Mansteins convincing, his plan was
instead put through, based in Fuhrer Directive 10, that appeared on 29 January
1940. This called for the main thrust in the Ardennes and was, as was seen in
our timeline, hugely successful).
1940 February
The Italian Volunteer Brigade in Finland ends its training, and is put
into the line next to the Swedish Volunteer Brigade, freeing up Finnish troops
for the Karelian Isthmus. A Hungarian volunteer Battalion is attached to
the Italian Brigade (the history of the Italian brigade is modelled on that of
the Swedish).
The USA inducts its first National Guard division into federal service.
1940 March
The Winter War comes to an end, with Finland losing large tracts of
land, where one in ten of the Finnish population used to live.
Rashid Ali, anti-British and fiercely Arab Nationalist becomes prime
minister in Iraq.
In Italy, physicist Otto Frisch determines roughly the vicinity in
which the critical mass of Uranium 235 will be (in OTL, at the time he was in
Great Britain. With both Fermi and Fritsch (the only physicists initially to
guess rightly about the magnitude of the critical mass of Uranium) located in
Italy, I give the Italians a more pronounced head start. Among the Allies,
Fermi and Fritsch were the ones to find the correct magnitude, in Germany
Walther Heisenberg guessed at 2 ton, essentially eliminating any serious German
research. Fritsch calculated that 1 or 2 pounds would do the trick. The actual
amount was 16 pounds).
The Japanese establish a Chinese puppet government under Wang Ching-Wei
in their zone of occupation.
1940 April
Germany attacks and
occupies Denmark and Norway. British, French and Polish forces are landed in
north Norway, and go on to fight alongside the remaining Norwegian forces.
Italian observers
are attached to the German forces poised for the attack on France, both to the
army and air force. They will put the lessons learned in their observations to
good use later.
The first
facility for research into separation of Plutonium and U235 from the used
fuel-rods from the Italian nuclear reactors goes online.
1940 May
On 10 May,
Luxembourg, Belgium and the Netherlands are invaded by Germany. Initially with
the main thrust with Army Group B, the reserves are sent in where opportunity
for large gains arise. By the end of the month, the Germans have encircled the
Belgian army, the French 1st and 9th armies, and large
parts of the British Expeditionary Force in central Belgium. Most of the
reserve RAF planes and additional British and Canadian divisions are sent to
France (in reality, the BEF and French forces managed to retreat to Dunquerque,
from where 330.000 of them were evacuated. Additional British and Canadian
divisions were sent, but not the reserve RAF planes. Actual losses (other than
POWs) are far heavier than in OTL. This scenario is taken from Command Magazine
issue 42).
In Norway, the
fighting rages on, but it is more and more obvious, that it is a losing battle.
Options to get out are sought.
The Soviet Army
reaches a strength of 160 infantry and 25 cavalry divisions. During the last 14
months, 40 infantry and 10 cavalry divisions have been formed.
1940 June
It is finally acknowledged, that the battle is lost in Norway, and the
remaining Polish, British and French troops are evacuated.
In western Europe, the Germans finish crushing the pocked in central
Belgium, and advance across the Belgian/French border. The Allies briefly try
to stand on the Somme/Aisne line, but are thrown back. Additional British
territorial divisions are sent to France, but end up just covering the
evacuation, when they are isolated in Brittany by a German thrust. By the end
of the month the rest of the BEF has been evacuated. Of 400.000 men committed,
250.000 have been lost. Fighter command is reduced to less than 200 planes. The
French are still fighting, however. Yet. (this is also from the previously
mentioned copy of Command).
In the Baltic countries, the Soviet infiltration is finally brought to
its conclusion: the governments of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are forced to
resign.
At the same time, the Soviet Union invades and takes away from Romania
the provinces of Bessarabia and northern Bukovina.
Italy begins building its fourth and fifth nuclear reactors, both being
test-beds for power-generation.
1940 July
Early in
the month, France finally sues for peace. An armistice is signed, severely reducing
the strength of the French army, both at home and in the colonies. Most of the
French navy is to be confined to harbors, where they are to be temporarily
rendered useless as war vessels. In Great Britain, Charles deGaulle wows to
continue the fight against Germany, and maneuvering between pro-government and
pro-deGaulle groups begins in the colonies. Late in the month, marshal Petain
is granted dictatorial powers by parliament, that subsequently dissolves
itself. (I have pushed all this back 2 weeks due to the longer Battle for
France).
Out of fears for French vessels falling into German hands, the British
launch Operation Catapult, taking control over all vessels they can at all.
While they manage to seize all French vessels in British ports with little loss
on both sides, the action goes totally awry at Mers-el-Kebir, where 1300
Frenchmen lose their lives as they refuse British conditions. At Alexandria,
the French through a ruse of making as if they are scuttling their ships at sea
manage to get out of the harbor. They subsequently make full speed for home
waters, but end up having to go into internment at Taranto, as Force H, the
British naval force that attacked Mers-el-Kebir, blocks the way to France
itself. One Battleship, four Cruisers, and a number of smaller ships thus go
into internment (the French actually began building up steam to run out of
Alexandria, but were convinced not to by the British)
Given the French resistance to British attacks, France is allowed to
maintain a sizeable fleet of lesser vessels (cruisers and down) for the
protection of the colonies.
Given the successfully concluded campaign in western Europe, Germany
begins a program of de-mobilization. 35 infantry divisions are slated for
disbandment, though initially only 17 are actually disbanded. The rest are
relieved of 60% of their personnel. The future strength of the wartime German
army is to be 120 divisions.
At the same time, having to face the hard realities of the lacking
quality of its armor, Germany ends production of the PzII, and starts upgrading
the armor of the PzIII and PzIV.
With no immediate threat around, Germany also strikes a deal with
Italy, that will see 250 Pz III and IV tanks of the old types (by now seen as
under-armored) sent to Italy, as well as license production of the same tanks
start in Italy. At the same time, a share of the French tanks captured during
the German campaign in W-Europe are agreed to go to Italy.
Re-equipment with the German tanks of the Littorio and Ariete
divisions, based in Italy, begins. Likewise, the Centauro is re-equipped with
the French tanks as an inter-mediate solution. Until the license production
gets running, M.13/40s and attached self-propelled guns are to fill the gap. In
return for the tanks, Italy acts as a transfer haven for oil and other needs to
Germany.
Seeing the impressive results of the German paratroopers, Italy begins
forming its own first airborne division.
In Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, mock plebiscites are held, that end
in petitions for admission as Soviet Republics to the USSR. The wishes are
granted.
Oil
exports begin from Libya to Italy. So far, it is only raw oil, but the first
refineries begin going online in Libya in the fall. The oil produced is
partially used to fill stocks in case of war, partially to substitute oil
imported from the US, partially to export. Hard currency earnings sky-rocket,
as there are enough buyers out there.
The Battle of Britain begins, with the RAF royally outnumbered. (though
this is the case, the Luftwaffe is also somewhat weaker than in OTL due to the
harder fighting in France. The Battle of Britain is thus a watered-down version
of the one we saw in OTL).
The British start pulling home units from the colonies to defend
against the awaited German invasion, among others the 7th Armored
Division and 6th Infantry Division in Egypt. The British presence in
the Middle East in general, and Egypt in particular is thus severely weakened,
but in fact barely gets below the number 10.000 that are allowed in the canal
zone as stipulated in the 1936 Anglo-British treaty.
Italy
signs an agreement with Iraq, that will see Italian military advisors attached
to the Iraqi army to help improve its efficiency, and help in its expansion.
Other than training, Italy will also provide large amounts of equipment, that
will aid in the expansion from 4 infantry divisions and one mechanized brigade
to 6 infantry and 1 mechanized division. A like expansion of the Iraqi Air
Force from 60 to 150 planes will also be facilitated by Italian training
personnel and equipment shipments. For the time being, a considerable number of
Italian aircrew will also be assigned to the Iraqi Air Force. In all, the
Italian mission in the end amounts to over thousand men. Since Iraq has no control
over its own production of oil (it is in the hand of European-controlled oil
companies), payment is extended in hard currency.
1940 August
Having come to the conclusion that a confrontation with the USSR is
inevitable, Hitler revises his vision of the size of the German army. Instead
of 120 divisions, it is to be 180. The expansion starts immediately (I moved
this event one month, as Hitler was more busy with France in this timeline).
Under the impression of the severity of the losses in France and the
upcoming expansion of the armed forces it is decided to switch Germany to a
full war economy (this only happened in 1943-44 in OTL).
Vichy France signs the Matsuoka-Henry pact, by which Japan is given
transit and basing rights in French Indochina. In Italy, Mussolini sees an
opportunity.
Italian and German arbitration leads to the award of northern
Transylvania to Hungary.
The first Italian jet plane flies only the second to do so in the
entire world. It is put through extensive tests, but deemed to slow, too heavy,
and abandoned (this was the Caproni Campini CC.2 jet plane).
1940 September
Pro-deGaulle-people take over power from people loyal to Vichy in
Cameroun, Chad and Moyen Congo, but like attempts are foiled by intervention by
a government-loyal battalion in Oubangi-Chari, and never gets off the ground in
Gabon. The arrival of a squadron of 3 cruiser and 3 destroyers, that undetected
has passed Gibraltar further serves to strengthen pro-Vichy sentiment in parts
of French Equatorial Africa. DeGaulle begins drawing all the troops he can
towards the two provinces outside his control. (In reality, the battalion in
Oubangi-Chari was persuaded not to interfere by pro-deGaullists, the officers
being repatriated to France, and the squadron was intercepted by the British
vessels on their way to attack Dakar. Here, I have let the French leave a
little earlier, as they didnt have to haggle with the Germans over being
allowed to free vessels for employment).
A British-de Gaullist attempt at taking over Senegal and the port of
Dakar in W-Africa in the same way as the central-African colonies fail, when
French troops resist. Later, the harsh restrictions on the size of the French
troops allowed in the colonies are lifted somewhat, and a Vichy French buildup
starts.
Italy, Japan and Germany sign the tripartite pact.
Bulgaria is awarded the southern Dobrogea, formerly a region of
Romania.
In Romania the king is exiled, and a conglomerate of the army
(represented by Ion Antonescu as its commander and now president of Romania)
and the Iron Guard (the Romanian fascist party) come into power. The Iron Guard
diaspora returns from Italy.
The USA starts a
program of rapid induction of National Guard divisions into federal service.
From now until March 1941, 17 National Guard divisions will be inducted.
Under the
Destroyers for bases program, the US transfers 50 destroyers to the British
Commonwealth (6 will go to Canada, the rest will join the British fleet) over
the next two months.
The German invasion
of Great Britain (Operation Sealion) is postponed to 1941.
In German-French
negotiations, it is determined, that France will in the island of Madagascar
provide the territory for the initial settling of 500.000 European Jews over
the following two years that will, at some later to be determined time, be
followed by another 3.000.000. The transfer of these will all be financed by
the Jewish community themselves. In exchange, Germany will release the hundreds
of thousands of POWs it has taken earlier in the year (this in OTL remained
solely a project, to help Germany get rid of the Jewish minorities by now under
its control. When emigration proved an impossibility due to the war, the
Germans finally switched to total physical extermination. In this timeline,
Italy is left as a hole through which to funnel the Jews, and the Final
Solution is, as a consequence, avoided).
1940 October
With pro-deGaulle French troops having been almost completely withdrawn
from northern Chad, motorized Italian columns suddenly cross the border between
Tchad and Libya, and in quick succession throw out the few left-over exile
French garrisons in the northern half of Tchad, including the Tibesti and Borku
regions in northern Tchad, variously citing Ottoman Turkish control previous to
the Italian occupation of Libya in 1912, French neglect to ratify the 1935
border treaty determining the border between Libya and Tchad, and French
failure to maintain control over the area as justification. By the end of the
month, the entire northern half of the colony is in Italian possession. Though
it arouses an uproar in France and its colonies, the pro-Vichy forces are fast
to see an opportunity when it presents itself to them, and without OK΄ing the
Italian move begins ferrying in its own troops via Italian airbases, using
Italian transport planes. (no, nothing like this happened in OTL)
Further south, the deGaullist attack on Gabon begins.
German troops enter Romania to act as a training mission for the
Romanian army.
The expansion of the mobile (armored and motorized) divisions of the
German army commences. They are to total 30 by the time the reorganization is
finished, including 10 new armored divisions.
In German-Italian negotiations, Italy agrees to provide transports for
the transfer of the above-mentioned 500.000 Jews to Madagascar as well as the
building materials needed for their housing. Some healthy profits are made in
the process. Their transport will take some 6 months from February 1941 on.
Some 20.000 new agricultural settlers leave Italy for Libya.
1940 November
Gabon is finally taken over by de-Gaullist forces after heavy fighting
for Libreville, with the Vichy naval squadron evacuating most of the pro-Vichy
troops that remain to the Ivory Coast. To the north, in Chad, the situation is
the reverse, though, with Vichy troops driving out the deGaullists in Chad.
(only the land defeat in Gabon happened in OTL)
Hungary, Romania and Slovakia join the tripartite pact.
Italy and Persia sign an agreement on cooperation in military mattes.
Much like the agreement with Iraq, a training mission and armaments shipments
are provided by Italy. Pre-war agreements between the CKD works of Czechia for
the delivery of 200 Pz35s (as they are now called by the Germans) are turned
around, so Germany instead delivers its remaining Pz35 and Pz38s, as they
anyway are seen as gross under-gunned and armored by Germany. Italy lends a
hand in up-gunning and armoring them.
Italy
buys the German aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, on which contruction has been
suspended in April. It is renamed Falco. It is towed to Italian waters.
Copper
begins to be mined in the AOI.
1940 December
Under heavy British pressure, Rashid Ali resigns from his post of Iraqi
prime minister. A like-minded pan-Arab and anti-Brit gets the post, though, and
the Italian military mission is allowed to stay. It is, in fact, enlarged.
German/Italian/Yugoslav negotiations begin on Yugoslavia joining the
Tripartite Pact.
In Spanish-German negotiations, Spain refuses to join the war on the
German side. Spanish-German relations sour somewhat.
The German troops in Romania are reinforced by an additional armored
division.
A secret agreement is reached between Vichy France and Great Britain,
to maintain the status quo reached in the French colonies. At the same time,
the dismissal of the Vichy French foreign ministry Laval, who is pro-German
cools the Vichy French-German relations considerably (this happened in
reality).
1941 January
Spain occupies the international
zone at Tangier, on the African side of the Gibraltar Strait.
After months of
rising tension, the Iron Guard attempt a coup in Romania. Lacking backing in
the army, however, they are crushed. A good deal of the Guardists, including
their leadership, and again with Italian help, manage to flee to Bulgaria, and
from there to Italy.
In preparation of
the launching of the Italian carriers, the naval air arm is expanded to also
include dive bombers and fighters, to operate from the carriers. Also added to
this are the reconnaissance planes aboard the larger ships of the navy.
In
Italo-French negotiations, Italy agrees to withdraw from northern Chad. In
return, Italy receives transit rights in Tunisia, as well as the right to base
some 6.000 troops and 180 planes there until the end of the European war.
1941 February
Production
of PzIII and IV tanks begin in Italy. Combined, 60 of them will be produced a
month from now on.
After
someone in the general staff has had a bright idea, distribution of the
hundreds of small, machine-gun-armed CV35 tankettes to the infantry divisions
begin. Though they made a joke of themselves as tanks in tank vs. tank battles,
they are perfect as moving, armored machine gun nests to support the infantry
when attacking.
Having
decided upon plutonium as the metal to be used in future Italian nuclear
weapons, the construction of the first facility to separate it from the used
fuel rods begins. At the same time, the first three industrial-sized
(non-experimental) reactors begin construction.
1941 March
Yugoslavia finally
signs the Tripartite pact. Almost immediately, a coup, engineered by British
agents is launched by Serbs in the Royal Yugoslav Air Force, and brings a new
government into power. Prince regent Paul, by accident in Zagreb with his
family, is urged by the leader of the Croatian Peasant Party to organise
resistance and mobilise the army units in Zagreb to fight the coup. Soon
Yugoslavia is divided in two, with Slovenia, the Banovina of Croatia and some
small areas of Bosnia under Paul, and the rest of Yugoslavia under the newly
proclaimed King Peter. Paul is denounced as wanting to split off Croatia and
Slovenia from Yugoslavia. Though people of all nationalities fight on both
sides (Paul is a Serb after all, and the junta still in name calls itself
Yugoslav), the fighting quickly degenerates into Serbs&Allies against
Croats&Allies.
Using the turmoil,
Italy sends in its Ustase allies, that stir up trouble in Herzegovina and
Dalmatia, and Albanian agents, that do the same in the Kosovo and Macedonia.
The ethnic dimension of the civil war, and the severity of the fighting,
including atrocities, is thus strengthened. (this coup, and the attempt of
convincing Paul to fight the coup-master happened, but Paul chose to go to
Belgrade and surrender, as that was where his family was).
In Italy
the formation of a 4th armored division begins on the basis of the 3rd
Celere division. Its place in the celere corps is taken by one of the motorized
divisions.
Japan agrees
to provide advisors and trainers to help the fledgling Italian naval air arm,
especially the carrier arm, into being. Somewhat more secretly, they begin an
exchange of information on the vulnerabilities of the Anglo-Saxon navies. Over
time, they will decide that quick, pre-emptive strikes on major concentrations
of enemy vessels shortly after the declarations of war is the most probable way
to bring about the desired result of destroying your opponent without having to
meet him on equal terms. Over time, the Italian plans for an attack on
Alexandria, and the Japanese plans for an attack on Pearl Harbor will develop
out of this.
France
begins building a trans-Saharan railway, using forced labor.
1941 April
In Yugoslavia, the
situation intensifies. Massacres by some gangs of Serb ultra-nationalists, and
like massacres by the Ustase makes it impossible for the moment to come to an
agreement between the opposing sides in the civil war. At the same time, the
junta makes gains in spite of its commitments to the borders towards Bulgaria,
Albania and Hungary. By the end of the month, the old Austro-Hungarian Military
Border Area (S-Slavonia) and large parts of Dalmatia have been occupied, and
Paul asks for Italian help. Far from just sending supplies, Italian
volunteers start streaming over the border.
Eager to
populate its colonies with European people, and knowing the German desire to
get rid of the Jewish minorities under its control, Italy offers to take and
settle another 500.000 Jews over the following 2 years. They are to primarily
be settled in the AOI. Germany agrees to the request. (this has no base in
reality other than the German desire to get rid of its Jews and the Italian to
Europeanize its colonies. When WWII came in the way of the forcible expulsion
of Jews from Germany and German-occupied territories, the Jews were, beginning
in January 1942, subject to the Endlosung).
At the
same time, Japan, out of similar motives, asks to be allowed 600.000 Jews.
These will subsequently be settled in Manchuria, and will be transported there
aboard Italian vessels. (only thing I
have to base this on is reading about it in one book. It may very well be just
rumor).
Operation
Rheinubung, the German plan to send a battlegroup of 4 battleships (the
Bismarck and Tirpitz through the Denmark Strait around Iceland, Scharnhorst and
Gneisenau from Brest in France) into the northern Atlantic to attack British
convoys is postponed to the late summer, as the crew of the Tirpitz is still
training, and the Scharnhorst is undergoing repairs. In a modified strike, the
battleship Bismarck will instead be teamed up with the heavy cruiser Prinz
Eugen, and those two will be sent into the north Atlantic on their own.
1941 May
As the Yugoslav advance continues in spite of Italian volunteers, the
junta gains in self-confidence. At Zadar, Yugoslav troops fire upon a group of
Italian volunteers crossing the border at Zadar. It soon degenerates into
outright fighting between the Italian garrison and the Yugoslavs. When Paul at
the same time thinks his cause lost, with the option of choosing foreign
(Italian) or domestic (Serbian) domination, and he opens negotiations with the
junta, the Italians act fast. The pretext for invasion is there, after all, and
the Italians seize it. By mid-month, Ustasi declare the independence of Croatia
in Zagreb, backed by Ustasi troops and Italian volunteers. They call in
Italians troops to restore security. The next day, Italian troops roll across
the former Italo-Yugoslav border, backed by underground Ustasi cells and
Italian volunteers. At the same time, large parts of the Paulist Croatian
troops go over to the new Croatian government, seeing themselves victims of
treason after Pauls negotiations with the junta. By the end of the month, the
Italians are preparing for an offensive across the line of control the
Croatians still hold.
Italy is soon followed in its invasion by Hungary and Bulgaria, who
claim that Yugoslavia has stopped to exist with the declaration of independence
of Croatia, and therefore invade to safeguard national interests. (this was
indeed the Hungarian pretext for invading in April 1941 in OTL).
For the
moment, German troops only watch.
In the
Atlantic, a modified Operation Rheinubung begins. Bismarck and Prinz Eugen
steam north around Iceland, but are spotted by Coastal Command, and a squadron
consisting of the Battleship Prince of Wales, the Battlecruiser Hood, the heavy
cruisers Suffolk and Norfolk and 6 destroyers pursue. When within range, the
two capital ships make for the Bismarck, but in the ensuing fight, the Hood is
sunk very quickly. Prince of Wales turns, but is pursued by the German
squadron. Though the Prince of Wales is joined by both heavy cruisers, the
throw-weight of the German vessels is simply greater, and the ensuing battle is
a like defeat. The Prince of Wales is reduced to a burning hulk. Though damaged
and followed close by the remaining heavy cruisers, they eventually make it
back to Norway, and from there to the German wharves. (in reality, the two
German vessels did not pursue the Prince of Wales, but went south, where
Bismarck was eventually sunk. This other outcome was debated in the German
naval upper command, but turned down. In this TL, the additional loss of the
Prince of Wales, and the non-loss of the Bismarck tilts the balance of naval
forces back to what we had in OTL a bit. So far, due to the lack of losses in
the Mediterranean, the British have had a better time, navally speaking, than
in OTL)
1941 June
The
Italian surge resumes, as the armored and celere corps force a breakthrough,
smash two Yugoslav cavalry divisions, and head for Belgrade through Slavonia.
Having learned from Spain, attacks in the mountainous regions are kept rather
limited. Hungary takes the opportunity to cross the Danube and send its Mobile
corps into the Banat. Soon Belgrade is threatened from both sides. Simultaneous
Bulgarian and Italian pushes from Bulgaria and Albania into Macedonia do the
trick, the Yugoslav army disintegrates, and Yugoslavia sues for peace. When the
peace treaty is eventually signed,
-
Germany
gets northern and eastern Slovenia
-
Italy
gets western and southern Slovenia, parts of Dalmatia and the Bay of Kotor
-
Albania
receives the Kosovo.
-
Hungary
gets the Baranya and Batchka
-
Bulgaria
receives most of Macedonia, not including the Albanian and Serbian areas to the
north and north-east, but is prevented from taking parts of Serbia in addition.
-
Most
notably, though, the banovina of Croatia attains its independence in a slightly
expanded form, as a kingdom under an Italian prince.
Most of
Bosnia remains with rump-Yugoslavia, that also still includes Serbia,
Montenegro and parts of the Banat and Macedonia. Italy outdoes itself in
drawing her new borders so as to get in possession of as large numbers of the
Yugoslav mines as possible. Thus the Celje brown coal area (production 1,7 mio.
t/year), the Trepca Lead and Zinc mines (0,8 million t/year of ore), the
Dalmatian Bauxite mines (0,2 mio t/year) and the Kosovan/Macedonian Chrome mines
(70.000 t/year).
Finally
ending the war, the Italian army demobilizes and settles down, beginning to put
lessons learned to good use, especially in the mobile troops and the logistical
services. (I have more or less taken the actual border changes of April 1941 as
a basis, but have let Serbia and Montenegro remain united as there is no
German-Italian babbling over spheres of interest. I have also reduced Bulgarian
gains in favor of Serbia and Albania, and have let the whole of Kosovo go to
Albania. The most important change, however, is that I have let large parts of
Bosnia and Herzegovina remain with Serbia).
Early in
the month, Germany attacks the Soviet Union along with the armies of Finland,
Slovakia, Hungary and Romania. Fighting is heavy, but progress swift. By the
end of the month, German troops have reached Yelnya, and large groups of Soviet
forces have been surrounded around Minsk and Smolensk.
Recruitment
offices are opened in Spain, to recruit men for a volunteer division, that will
fight alongside the Germans in the USSR. The number of volunteers far exceeds
the requirement, but for the moment, only volunteers enough for one division
are sent to Germany for training. (This also happened in reality).
The same
happens in Italy, where the goal is a corps (the CTV) of three divisions.
Especially many blackshirts, veterans of Ethiopia, Yugoslavia and Spain,
volunteer. They leave for Germany the same month (in reality, Italy sent a
corps of 3 regular divisions to the USSR, but I thought, given the example of
the Spanish Civil War where volunteers for 2-3 divisions came forth to fight
the communists, that at least as many would turn out to fight the communists in
their home country
especially with some government pressure behind it).
In Vichy
France, recruitment offices have a hard time finding enough men, but in the end
they manage to gather enough men for a division, though it takes them some
months, and the division only reaches the front in November 1941. (In OTL this
did happen, though only enough volunteers for a regiment was found, the number
reaching 13.400 at the highest, of whom at the most 6.400 were accepted. These
did not have the backing of the Vichy government, though. In this timeline, it
has).
1941 July
The
German advance slackening a bit after the initial large gains, Germany and its
allies occupy large tracts of the Ukraine west of the Dnjepr River, and areas
to the north and east of Belorussia.
The new
state of Serbia renews the treaty of 11 July 1938, that had originally been
signed by Turkey and Yugoslavia, but with a timetable changed a bit, pushed 2
years. According to it, Turkey will over the next 6 years (1941-47) accept
40.000 Muslim families (officially Turks, but in reality Albanians and moslem
Gypsies) from Serbia, in return of which the Serbian government will pay Turkey
a sum of 500 Turkish pounds for each family. Though the main concentration of
Albanians, the Kosovo province, is now Albanian territory, deportations from
S-Serbia and Montenegro begin right away. (This agreement WAS made, but WWII
intervened to make its realization impractical. Given that now a Serb
nationalist government radicalized by the war is in power, It seems logical
that the agreement would be renewed. The Italian use of Albanian guerillas in
the Kosovo would have reinforced this trend).
The 1st
and 2nd Celere divisions begin the transformation into motorized
divisions. The Celere corps transforms into the 3rd Armored Corps.
Italian mobile forces now all in all on paper consist of 4 armored and 7
motorized divisions, with 3 armored and 6 motorized in 3 type corps, and one
each independent.
In secret
negotiations, Germany and Italy agree to Italy entering the war in late
October. Partial mobilization, more intensive training and completion of the
new mechanized units begin right away. Preparations are made to ship 1st
and 2nd Mechanized corps to Libya, and the two existing airborne
divisions begin preparations for an attack on Malta.
The first
three non-experimental Italian nuclear reactors go online (they are still
smaller than the US ones in OTL, though).
The
Peruvian-Equadorian war is fought in the space of 3 weeks, in which the
Peruvians use both armor and airborne troops (yes, this happened).
1941 August
Having
reached a line roughly from Leningrad to Bryansk, the German troops turn south,
to surround the million-strong Soviet concentration around Kiev. In the
meantime, the LOCs are brought into better condition throughout the as yet
conquered territory. Especially the restructuring of the railroad net takes up
time.
The
Spanish division (now known as the 250th Infantry Division of the
German army, but more popularly as the Blue Division) entrains for the front.
By the end of the month it enters combat)
The three
Italian volunteer divisions are formed, one being an armored division. The
tanks have been donated for it from the forming 4th armored division
in Italy, not unlike when the Swedish volunteer brigade in Finland brought with
it its weapons. Other vehicles and most personal equipment is German, through,
as the divisions are part of the German army. They are assigned the numbers 251
and 252 in the infantry division numbering scheme, and number 21 in the armored
division numbering scheme. More popularly, though, they take their names from
blackshirt divisions in the Spanish Civil War, and are known as the Fiamme Nere
(Black Flames), Frecce Nere (Black Arrows) and
the Dio Lo Vuolo (God Wills It) divisions respectively, in unison referred
to as the black divisions, or the Black Corps. Like the Spanish division, they
leave for the front and enter combat by the end of the month. Once arrived
there, the Dio Lo Vuolo is detached from the corps, and is instead put under
the command of Panzergroup 1 in the Ukraine. The Italian corps is instead
joined by the Spanish Blue Division, and immediately thrown into the line to
help crush the surrounded Soviet forces around Kiev.
Two
alpini divisions, the 2nd and 3rd, are sent to the AOI,
officially to help fight the Ethiopian guerillas, but in reality to strengthen
the Italian position there.
1941 September
The large
mass of surrounded Soviet troops around Kiev is finally eliminated by the
beginning of the month. The assault on the Crimea peninsula begins, as does the
attack on Moscow, that has been suspended for some time in favor of the attack
on the troops around Kiev. A period of reorganization takes place first, before
the attack resumes. Then, twin pincer movements slice into the Soviet lines,
creating two large groups of surrounded soviet troops at Bryansk and Vyasma.
The
fighting on the eastern front has taken its toll, though. The Germans alone
have suffered over 500.000 casualties by now, and pressure is thus brought to
bear upon the German allies. The Balkans allies are already fully engaged, and
in the end the only contributions come from Spain and Italy, who both agree to
contribute volunteers for one more division each, the Italian division being
named the Penne Nere (Black Feathers) Division, also of Spanish Civil War fame.
By now
the Italian volunteer corps has taken over 80.000 prisoners. Seeing the plight
of the Soviet POWs in German camps, and initially out of the line eliminating
the surrounded Soviets, the Italian commanders refuse to hand them over to the
Germans. Heavy pressure is brought to bear from the Italian government, and the
POWs are sent to Italian-sponsored camps in Hungary instead. Some refuse to
leave, and instead offer their services to the Italians. The first Soviet
volunteer units in the CTV is formed a cavalry regiment attached to the
corps, and an infantry regiment attached to the Fiamme Nere division.
Stockpiling of captured Soviet equipment for eventual additional units is also
begun.
Thus
strengthened, the corps is moved north, to take part in the German offensive
towards Moscow. Initially it is kept in reserve, though. The Dio Lo Vuolo
armored division joins Panzergroup 2. Later, the CTV is put into the line to
help crush the Soviet troops at Bryansk, one of the two encirclements in the initial
offensive.
The
Italian aircraft carrier Aquila puts to sea. It will finish its trials by
early 1942.
To
further advance training and equipment of the new mechanized units, Germany and
Italy postpone the Italian entry into the war to mid-November instead. It is
decided to couple the Italian entry with the execution of operation Rheinubung,
the sortie of the four German battleships Bismarck, Tirpitz, Scharnhorst and
Gneisenau, so as to draw away British naval elements from the Mediterranean.
The Italian
1st and 2nd Mechanized corps begin moving to Libya.
The
Italian separation plant goes online.
1941 October
In the
south, the Crimean peninsula is occupied. In the middle of the Eastern Front,
the CTV takes part as one of the pincers in the surrounding of the city of
Tula, from where the last fortified line in front of Moscow is rolled up. The
CTV creates a bridgehead over the Oka River at Kaschira. Frantic Soviet
counterattacks fail to thrown them back before the mud period begins.
Croatia
and Serbia sign a treaty not unlike that which brought about the Turkish-Greek
exchange of populations in the early 1920s, whereby 300.000 Turks and 1.300.000
Greeks were resettled. By it, about 500.000 Croats and some 100.000 Muslims
will leave Serbia for Croatia, while some 700.000 Serbs will go the other way.
At the same time Slovenes start trickling in over the borders from the German-
and Italian-annexed regions of that country, and Serbs and Croats come from
Italian-annexed Dalmatia. (nothing in actual history supports this but logic,
the Serb-Turkish treaty regarding the Kosovar Albanians, and the Turkish-Greek
parallel).
Croatia
sends volunteers for a division to Germany. It will eventually join the CTV.
(in reality, only a regiment was formed, but Croatia was also tied up in a
full-blown civil war at that time).
Stalin
asks Great Britain and its dominions for help in the form of ground troops.
This is to happen in the form of either an amphibious invasion of Europe, or
alternatively in the form of a force of 25 divisions deployed in the USSR
itself. As it is too late in the year to conduct any invasion of France, a
settlement is reached, by which GB and its dominions will send an expeditionary
force of 10 divisions (2 armored and 8 infantry) to the USSR, and will begin
planning for an invasion in 1942. (I have been unable to find the date for
Stalins request for help, but it did take place. When he had later recovered
somewhat from his initial panic, he let the request slip into oblivion, and
never repeated it. Given the faster advance of the Axis powers, it would only
be logical, that he might maintain his request. At the same time, 25 divisions
would be a far too large force for the Brits to send abroad at this
time
probably even the 10 divisions would be too much, but I leave that open
for debate).
British
intelligence picks up the Italian build-up, and counter-measures are
immediately set in motion. An Australian and an Indian division, that have been
laying idle are sent to Egypt, and an Indian division is made ready to go to
Iraq to secure the Basra area.
1941 November
On the
Eastern Front, the period of the autumn mud has been used to reorganize and
bring up reinforcements. The additional Spanish and Italian volunteer divisions
enter the frontline, along with a French division. With officers supplied by
Italy, and to a lesser extent Spain, an army command encompassing all the
Spanish, French and Italian volunteer divisions is formed, including in all 6
infantry divisions in 2 corps. The Italian armored division is part of
Panzergroup 2, poised for the encirclement of Moscow, acting as the southern
pincer.
On 15
November, the final effort kicks off, with spectacular initial results. The
Soviets have exhausted themselves in continuous counterattacks, and initial
progress is swift. When the CTV reaches the Moskwa river, three things combine
to make the following a real test, though: a river, the last defensive line
before Moscow, and a number of Siberian infantry divisions, husbanded until now
for use in the coming winter offensive, but rather thrown into the fray now.
The ensuing battle is fierce, and lasts for the rest of the month.
The
British bring in another Australian and a New Zealand division to Egypt.
Under
different guises, most of the Italian merchant fleet is brought back to Italian
or friendly waters in preparations for the Italian entry into the war. Very few
ships dont make it.
In the
Atlantic, the German battleships Bismarck and Tirpitz sortie from Norway in
early November, heading for the British convoys in the Atlantic. They manage to
get into the North Atlantic and past Iceland without being spotted, much like
Gneisenau and Scharnhorst did in early 1941. Once news is received of this in
Germany, these two also sortie from Brest during nighttime. As soon as this is
detected, the British Home Fleet immediately sorties, consisting of 2
battleships, an aircraft carrier, 5 cruisers and 6 destroyers, to keep the two
forces apart. Force H (1 battleship, 1 carrier, 1 cruiser and 6 destroyers) is
also sent north from Gibraltar. Other vessels are also drawn in from all over
to find the German vessels. A few days later, the British effort is dealt a
severe blow, when the a German submarine on its way from France to patrol in
the Atlantic has the chance of a lifetime. It encounters the battleship Renown
and the aircraft carrier Ark Royal as they are steaming straight ahead at full
speed without escorts, trying to reach the Gneisenau and Scharnhorst. It seizes
the moment and puts four torpedoes into the two vessels, thereby disabling them
enough to put another spread into them. Within two days, both have sunk. Thus
the southern British pincer is smashed, and the German vessels manage to meet
up and hide themselves in the vast expanses of the Atlantic. (this was
partially modeled on the original plan for Operation Rheinubung, partially on
Operation Berlin and partially on the actual happenings in Operation
Rheinubung).
Just as
Force H has left Gibraltar, the Italians enter the war with multi-pronged
attacks. Having had time to plan for it since early summer, the results are
spectacular. Only a few minutes after the declaration of war by Italy on Great
Britain has been delivered, Italian forces strike at everything within reach.
In the
western Mediterranean, most of the large vessels of the Italian navy steam out
to raid Gibraltar. It is subjected to a veritable deluge of shells from the
heavy cannon of more than twenty ships, including 4 battleships, and little is
left standing above ground. Though the underground installations to a large
degree remain intact, Gibraltar will not function as a base for the Royal navy
for some weeks. With the bombardment over, a squadron comprising one of the
Littorio-class battleships and the three heavy cruisers of the Trento Class
steam into the Atlantic after having been re-stocked with ammunition and fuel.
They are out to raid Allied merchantmen in the northern Atlantic in parallel
with the German raiding group.
In the
central Mediterranean, a violent aerial attack by some 600 planes, among other
by the specialized Italian torpedo bombers on the cruiser squadron of the Royal
navy in La Valetta harbor, is immediately followed up with the landing of the
two Italian airborne divisions. While the elements of the Italian navy not
engaged against Gibraltar stay off-shore, bombarding the fortifications and the
British vessels in the harbor, the airborne forces are followed by another two
air-landed divisions, after which two further infantry divisions , tanks and
heavy artillery go ashore on the southern side of Malta. Within a week, Malta
is in Italian hands.
In the
eastern Mediterranean, three Italian cargo vessels full of cement sink
themselves in the middle of the Suez canal, thus bottling up the British Mediterranean
fleet in the Mediterranean, and preventing it from getting any reinforcements
except through the straits of Gibraltar. Also, to prevent the Royal navy from
interfering at Malta, a combined effort is conducted against the Royal Navy
vessels in Alexandria harbor by all forces the Italians have handy. In the wee
hours before the declaration of war is actually delivered, Italian frogmen from
the 10th Light Flotilla sneak in under the British defenses, and
place their mines under two British battleships and one aircraft carrier laying
in the harbor, setting the timers for detonation right after the declaration of
war is going to be delivered. Even before they go off, but after the war has
actually started, several waves of Italian torpedo, dive and level bombers make
an all-out effort against the naval vessels anchored there. In addition,
Italian fighters make strafing runs on the British air bases in the vicinity.
Egyptian AA emplacements remain suspiciously silent, and the result is a
massacre. Other than the aircraft carrier and the two battle ships sunk in the
harbor, Italian torpedo and dive bombers manage to sink another battleship and
four cruisers, along with damaging another two cruisers and several destroyers.
Due to the moment of surprise and the lack of Egyptian AA fire, the Italian
losses are rather light (some 20 planes), and other than those, the Italians
only lose the six frogmen, that planted the charges. (I have made this up as a
mix of Pearl Harbor and the actual Italian attack on Alexandria harbor in
December 1941, when two battleships and, in the absence of an aircraft carrier,
a large tanker, were mined).
At the
same time, the two Italian mechanized corps in Libya, with another infantry
corps in reserve, rush over the
Italo-Egyptian border and head for the Nile. On the way, they run into, and
mostly surround and defeat the British corps stationed around Mersa Matruh,
containing four Allied (two British armored and one each Australian and Indian
infantry) divisions, very much aided by both the moment of surprise and the
aerial superiority, but also suffering quite a few losses in the process. About
two brigades worth of the two armored divisions manage to escape.
By the
end of the month, they reach El Alamein, where another concentration of allied
divisions (one each Indian, New Zealand, Australian and British infantry and
one British armored) meets them, while assorted brigades remain in the Delta.
At the same time, the British are trying to disarm the Egyptian army. The
result is an immediate rebellion by the Egyptians.
In the
AOI, the Italians also erupt in a flurry of activity. Two main attacks are
executed at the very beginning of the war: British Somaliland is occupied, with
the capture of several battalions of British troops, and Italian forces push into Kenya, where they occupy large
tracts of the north, and occupy the towns of Moyale, Mandera and Wajir, pushing
back the two British colonial divisions in the area. At the same time, mobile
Italian forces, formed into an ad-hoc mechanized brigade supported by mobile
bande of indigenous troops push along the coast and reach Malindi, directly
threatening Mombasa.
The
Indian Ocean Squadron (a number of merchant cruisers protected by 4 regular
cruisers) head into the Indian Ocean to wreak havoc on the unescorted Allied
merchantmen prowling the seas there. Over the next couple of months, they will
sink an atrocious number of vessels before the convoy system is instituted.
The first
batch of Italian submarines slip through the straits of Gibraltar, after which
they will operate in the southern Atlantic from bases in German-occupied
France. Within the next 2 months, the number of Italian submarines there will
include 40 boats, almost one third of the entire Italian submarine fleet. The
operational area they are assigned lies in the S-Atlantic. (this was what
happened in OTL, just on a larger scale).
Drawing
on their contacts among radical Jewish and Arab circles in Palestine, the
Italians begin to drop in weapons and explosives by air. At the same time, an
aerial bridge is established between Rhodes and Iraq, bringing in personnel to
stiffen Iraqi resolve in anticipation of a coming British landing at Basra. By
the end of the month, some 2400 men have been ferried in.
In the
Middle East, Yemen declares its neutrality under strong British pressure. Saudi
Arabia, through still retaining grievances against Italy, also declares its
neutrality, but lets tribal groups raid into the al Hasa province.
1941 December
Having
escaped the pursuing British vessels, the German battle-group refuels at sea,
and begins preying on transatlantic shipping. As the USA is attacked by Japan,
and Germany declares war on her, too, it is able to wreak havoc on shipping off
the eastern US coast. Together with the beginning of Operation Paukenschlag,
the concentration of German submarines in the same waters, they begin a virtual
massacre of Allied shipping.
In the
Mediterranean, the Italian fleet gathers and steams to the east, on the hunt
for the remaining British vessels in Egypt. As Force H at Gibraltar (not to say
Gibraltar itself) has pretty much been obliterated, Italy is left rather
unprotected. Not really having anywhere to go, and also relying on the guns of
the battleships sunk in Alexandria harbor, that are still working, the Royal
Navy gives battle just off the harbor. With numbers to their advantage, and
torpedo-bombers there to mess up the British formation, the Royal Navy is
defeated, losing in the process another battleship, 5 cruisers and 9 destroyers,
while the remaining vessels go to Cyprus. The Italians, themselves losing a
battleship to a submarine (it grounds itself rather than sink the Italian
battlewaggons were some tough bastards to sink), 3 cruisers and 7 destroyers,
partially remain in the area to pound the British in Alexandria into
submission, partially go home to protect the home waters.
At the
exact same time as the battle is going on, the Italians resume their advance in
the Western Desert again after only a short pause. Instead of merely consisting
in a repetition of the cross-border offensice, it is this time combined with a
combined air/sea-borne assault behind the Allied lines.
Though
the position at el Alamein as such is seen as an Allied advantage, as it is so
narrow between the sea and the Qattara depression as to prevent any outflanking
movements, the Italians now manage to turn this advantage against the Allies
themselves. Fresh from the Battle for Malta, an airborne division is dropped
in, and when an additional infantry division supported by marines and heavily
reinforces with armor, self-propelled guns and AT-guns goes ashore, they set up
a blocking position in the back of the Allied lines. With Italians in front and
back, the sea to the north and the depression to the south, the Allied troops
now have only two options: fight through the blocking position or abandon most
heavy equipment, going through the depression. While they initially try the
former option, continuous attacks by the mechanized Italian forces to the west,
and coastal bombardment by Italian vessels returning from the Battle of
Alexandria make it an impossibility, and they opt for the latter. Many of them
are overrun, when the two Italian mechanized corps exploit towards the Delta,
though. In all, the Italians take some 60.000 prisoners. In record time, the
Italians are at it, but instead of
charging the Allied forces digging into the delta, they cross the Nile south of
Cairo with the help of both Egyptian rebels and Italian paratroopers of the
second division, establish a bridgehead and throw a number of bridges across
the river.
In the
AOI, occupation of British Somaliland is finished. To the south, the Italians
take Mombasa, when a roving column of tanks and motorized infantry threatens to
cut off the British forces in the town. The Brits instead move inland, to hold
out in the highlands. At the same time, the Italians straighten out their
frontline, now established from Lake Rudolf in the north along the beginning
highlands to Mombasa. A British division begins to arrive in Tanzania through
Dar es Salaam. A South African division also begins to be transferred from
Great Britain.
In Iraq,
the British land an Indian Brigade at Basra, to protect the vital basing area
from Axis attacks, and provide an alternative port of supply after the loss of
most of northern Egypt. It is quickly followed by two more brigades, but they
are violently opposed by the Iraqi division based in southern Iraq, soon joined
by two more from the Baghdad area along with the Mechanized division (Actually
only a reinforced brigade, but still
). Another division is left west of
Baghdad, both to secure the capital from attacks from Jordan, but also to
reduce the British base at Habbaniyah. This falls at the end of the month after
heavy fighting, particularly in the air. Another division is left in the north,
to watch the Kurds. To this is added an Italian brigade, peopled by the men
brought in since last month and equipped with equipment from stores already
there. The British (or
.Indians) are held, and even thrown back to the suburbs
of Basra itself in the beginning, thus losing their air field outside Basra.
Then another, this time British division is landed.
The
Italian possession of al Hasa is occupied by British troops.
By the
beginning of December, the Siberians finally break. At the same time,
Panzergroup 3 from the north has had an easier time to break through: Moscow is
now surrounded! Instead of being given the honor of taking Moscow, the
Italian-French-Spanish army is sent east, towards Gorki, to guard against
soviet counter-attacks. Spending the rest of the month there, it is subject to
vicious attacks by the Soviets. The Dio lu Vuolo armored division is taken into
reserve, to recuperate.
Japan
attacks the US Pacific fleet at Pearl Harbor. Catching only one carrier group
in the harbor, that of the Enterprise, the Japanese, attacking in three waves,
manage to sink or destroy the aircraft carrier Enterprise, the Battleships
California, West Virginia, Nevada, Arizona and Oklahoma, the heavy cruisers
Chester and Northhampton, the light cruisers Raleigh, Helena and St. Louis and
the destroyers Cassin, Downes and Shaw. In addition, a number of ships are also
damaged in varying degrees, and over 200 US planes are destroyed, not counting
those that are lost as the Enterprise sinks. Shoreside facilities, especially
oil bunkers, are hard hit, and the Battleship Nevada is sunk in the harbor
channel, blocking all access to it. (in this I have let the Enterprise carrier
group of 1 carrier, 3 heavy cruisers and 9 destroyers reach Pearl Harbor on 6
December as it was planned to do, have let the Japanese had some luck with
their midget submarines (one missed the light cruiser St Louis), and have let
the Japanese sink the Nevada in the harbor entrance as it nearly was. As a
consequence of the added forces in the harbor, I have let the Japanese launch a
3rd attack).
At the
same time, attacks are launched at Malaya, Sarawak and the Philippines.
The heart
is ripped out of the British Far Eastern Fleet, when a battleship and a heavy
cruiser are sunk investigating the reported Japanese landings in Malaya.
USA
begins to increase the Lend-Lease aid to both the western allies and the USSR.
While the navy is not yet ready for large-scale operations (the continuous
outpouring of aircraft carriers will only begin in about 6 months), the army is
already ready for overseas action. It consists at this time of 30 infantry
divisions (of which 3 in the Pacific 2 on Hawaii and one on the Philippines),
5 armored and 2 cavalry divisions. It pledges to send 5 infantry divisions and
1 armored division to the USSR.
1942 January
An
Italian mechanized corps is sent crashing through the still weak Allied lines
around their bridgehead across the Nile. It races to the Suez canal, to stop
British attempts at removing the three blocking ships, reaches it at Suez, and
then races north to stop any attempts at withdrawal of the Allied troops in the
delta. At the same time, another infantry corps is brought up to help hold the
Allied troops there, and secure against any pushes down the Nile from British
troops in the river valley. In the delta, fierce fighting begins between
Italians and Egyptians on the one side, and the Allies on the other. Mainly,
the Italians are content in having the Allied troops bottled up there, though.
In Iraq,
further fighting around Basra proves inconclusive, though the Allies briefly
push the Iraqis back. The Iraqi side is, however, joined by an expeditionary
force of some 100 planes (among which a number of SM79 torpedo and SM82 level
bombers), that immediately begins attacking Basra harbor and the shipping going
to it, thus trying to cut off the supply of the Allies. One bombing run is also
made against the refineries on Bahrein island.
In the
AOI things settle down, as both sides dig in. Some Italian forces are
transferred north, though, where another offensive is planned for February.
In the
North Atlantic, a joint action between submarines and the German battlegroup
against a convoy gives spectacular results. After first blasting most of the
escorts of one of the UK-bound convoys out of the water, they go on to sink
ship after ship of the now dispersing convoy, sinking some 26 of them in the
process. When the same tactic is used on another convoy late in the month, a
destroyer escort manages to put a torpedo in the Bismarck. Though it is
subsequently sunk, along with another 31 merchantmen, it is decided to break
off the raid and return to Brest to repair damage sustained so far.
The
fighting in the Soviet Union degenerates into a slugfest. The Axis forces have
spent their strength and can not continue the offensive, but while the Soviets
do manage to make some gains with their winter counter-offensive, especially
south of Moscow, much of the Soviet strength dissipates around Moscow. Thus,
the only actual gains are in SW Russia and the Ukraine, where among others
Rostov is recaptured. (By this time, I am letting the Germans reach the low
they reached in OTL, as the hard fighting around Moscow has produced such
additional losses in men and materiel. In contrast to OTL, the Germans have
switched to a total mobilization of their economy, and are thus able to make
better up for the losses, and at the same time, the Soviets are deprived of the
Moscow basin as a source of industrial products and recruits).
The
Germans begin to discover, that the problem they are facing is not, as in
France, the lacking quality of their equipment, and not their tactics for sure,
but the enormous cost in manpower, that is draining the German forces of blood
as the fighting continues.
Advance
missions begin arriving in Northern Russia, to make arrangements for the
arrival of the first 5 western allied divisions.
The
Japanese enter Burma, drive the British out of Malaya (though they have not
taken Singapore yet), land in the
Netherlands East Indies, where they occupy Celebes, Borneo and Amboina. In the
Philippines, the Americans are confined to the Bataan peninsula.
Iraq
unilaterally renounces the treaty that has outlines British-Iraqi relations
during the 1930s. The same does Egypt.
1942 February
The
Battle for the Nile reaches its highest, when Italian troops with the help of
Egyptian rebels take Alexandria and Cairo, and the Allied forces try a break-out
timed with a relieving attack across the Sinai Peninsula by the forces in
Palestine. Some 40.000 Allied troops make it out across the canal, but another
10.000 are taken prisoner, when they surrender the Delta to the Italians. The
entire Lower Egypt is now in Italian hands along with the Suez Canal. The
Italians immediately begin removing the Italian blocking ships in the canal, as
well as some the British have left behind. The rebuilding the harbor of
Alexandria to actually be able to supply the troops and prisoners they have
there also begins right away.
In Iraq,
the Allies in a surprise move break out of Basra, crush most of one Iraqi
division, and throws the remainder back to Ur.
The CTV
is brought out of the line, and begins reorganizing and taking in replacements.
By now the flow of volunteers has decreased to a trickle, and many of the
Italian replacements are actually ordered to the USSR. The Croatian division is
put into the army, and the volunteer units of Soviet nationals are expanded. A
whole Russian infantry division, 2 cavalry regiments of Cossacks, 2 regimens of
Ukrainians and 1 regiment each of Georgians, Armenians and Central Asians are
in existence. All along the front in the USSR, the fighting decreases in
intensity. The strength of both sides is exhausted.
The
carrier Sparviero puts to sea.
The
Japanese take Singapore, along with more than 100.000 prisoners. In the
Netherlands East Indies, in a series of 4 separate naval battles, most of the
naval strength of ABDA command is sunk, and Sumatra, Bali and Timor are
occupied. By the end of the month, Japanese troops also land on Java. Darwin in
Australia is bombed.
The last
remnants of the Soviet counter-offensive peter out. In the following months,
troops are pulled from all areas of the USSR to make good the losses and build
up a central reserve. Industrial production begins to pick up after the
disruptions caused by the transfer of much of the industry from the western
Soviet republics. (A central reserve Is created, but far from so strong as in
OTL. The USSR is deprived of the pool of manpower, that lies in the Moscow
region, now in German hands. During 1942 in OTL, it would produce 47 infantry
divisions, during 1943 22. And that is not counting the replacements it
provided. The considerable industrial potential in this area is also no longer
available to the USSR)
The first
allied divisions arrive in Arkhangelsk.
While
returning to the naval base at Brest in France after its spectacular raid, the
German raiding battle group is informed by German aerial reconnaissance of a
large convoy sailing south from Great Britain. Though it is escorted by two
light cruiser and 7 destroyers, the 100 transports in it is too fat a booty to
pass by, and it is decided to attack it in spite of the standing order to avoid
contact with escorts. The attack as such is a spectacular victory again, as
both cruisers and 3 destroyers are blown out of the water along with some 47
merchantmen (a number falling victim to submarines and German torpedo bombers,
though). Only after the massacre begins does it become apparent, that the
convoy also includes a sizeable number of troop carriers. In fact, the whole
convoy is bound for Iraq, carrying supplies, an armored division and corps
troops to help beat the Iraqis soundly. The convoy-battle is it is marred by
the fact that both Gneisenau and Tirpitz receive torpedo hits from the
destroyers, in addition to the damage received during the gun-battle. And the
light mood is even more brought down, when the British submarine screen in
front of Brest finally is able to show some results: of a spread of 4 torpedoes
directed at the Tirpitz, 3 hit, and she is only able to limp into port at much
reduced speed and with several thousand tons of water in her.
After the
twin disasters in Singapore and Egypt (not to mention the string of defeats in
the NEI), the government of Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill loses out in a
vote of no confidence. In his place, former foreign minister Halifax is
appointed. The situation looks bleak: Great Britain has lost Mombasa,
Alexandria and Singapore, is fighting desperately in Kenya, Iraq and the
Netherlands East Indies, and its allies are under heavy attack. Much of the US
Pacific fleet has been sunk, the Philippines are about to fall, and the USSR
looks as if it could crumble soon, too. The only bright spots are, that the US
has just entered the fight, and that the USSR is still standing.
1942 March
March is
a pretty silent month on all Italian fronts. Apart from the Nile River Valley,
where the Italians push south, about 50 kilometers beyond Asyut and capture the
oasises of Farafra and Bahariya, the Egyptian front is rather silent, as both
sides lick their wounds and probe each others advanced positions in the Sinai
Peninsula. Behind the fronts, the guerilla attacks by both Jewish and Arab
partisans pick up, though. In Iraq, the frontier also stays pretty stable, as
the British build their dumps and airfields and the Iraqis lick their wounds
from the beating they received in February.
In the
AOI, however, the Italians begin their third offensive, this time into the
Sudan. In the initial operation, the Italians take Kassala, almost on the
border, and from there continue on north, towards Port Sudan, and west, towards
Khartoum.
Java is
occupied by the Japanese, and the allied forces in the Netherlands East Indies
capitulate, in all almost 100.000 men.
The
relocation of some 112.000 ethnic Japanese from the American west coast begins.
In Italy,
a new natural gas field is found at Ripalta.
1942 April
Actions
resume all over the Middle East, beginning with a British push against the
Iraqis to keep them off balance, then followed with a move into Iran
coordinated with a like Soviet entering from the north, to secure Iranian oil
as well as the country as a transit route for supplies to the USSR.
During
the last two months, the Allies have brought in two US divisions, along with
the remnants of the British armored division that the German naval battle group
intercepted, thus bringing the total to three infantry and about half an
armored division. While these succeed spectacularly and throw back the Iraqis
to an Najaf, some 150 kilometers south of Baghdad, the Iraqis are able to build
a new line here, using the division freed up from western Iraq as a beginning
Italian offensive across the Sinai peninsula draws away any Allied troops that
might have interfered there. In the Sinai, the two Italian mechanized corps
(now somewhat built up in strength again) come crashing out of the Sinai
peninsula, one taking the coastal road via Gaza, Jaffa and Tel Aviv to Haifa,
the other following a somewhat more inland route, going north around the Dead
Sea towards Amman. With most armor and heavy equipment lost in the Western
Desert or the delta, there really is not much the Allies can do, and they
suffer accordingly. While some 30.000 troops manage to get to Cyprus and an
uncertain future, the remaining forces have to go into a very harsh internment
in French-controlled Syria. The Frenchmen have not forgotten Mers-el-Kebir.
As soon
as the Allies in Trans-Jordan are beaten, a mechanized unit of around brigade
size is also sent into Iraq, to help hold the line.
In Iran,
the picture is a very mixed one. The Italians have persuaded the Iranians to concentrate
much of their military strength, including their armored division (equipped
with up-gunned and armored Pz35s) and a brigade of Germans and Italians in
Arabistan, the region in the SW corner of the country where all the oil fields
are located, and thus manage to hold the Allied troops on the western side of
the Shatt al Arab, though they further can cross into Iran. Even there, they
are held on the Karun river, though. In the north, the Soviets manage to occupy
large tracts of Azerbaijan and Iranian Turkmenistan before they are held (this
is, of course, all fiction. I have let the Iranians give a better account of
themselves, as they have had two years to retrain and equip, the forces the
Allies are able to throw at them are smaller than the ones in OTL, and
prospects for resistance are much better with Allies right on her doorstep,
instead of 1200 kilometers away).
In Egypt,
the Italians take the Dakhla and Kharga oasiss, and pursue the British, now
withdrawing to the Egyptian-Sudanese border to build a new defensive line at
Wadi Halfa. Further south, the continuing Italian offensive into the Sudan
makes this British attempt futile, as the entire region between Khartoum and
Atbara is occupied by the Italians, severing the main supply channel that the
Nile is. As mobile Italian columns at the same time push into the Darfur
region, only the steppe regions of central Sudan into the Kordofan are open for
escape. The evacuation of the northern part of
Sudan is ordered.
British
naval forces of the reconstituted Force H at Gibraltar conduct a raid at the
Italian mainland, bombing Genoa from the two carriers accompanying the force.
Though damage is rather light, the loss in prestige is great (it can roughly be
compared to what the Doolittle Raid had on the Japanese), especially as only
some destroyers manage to respond to the attack. As British submarines from
Gibraltar have begun to inflict higher and higher losses on the Italian convoys
going to Libya and Egypt over the last months, the Italians begin taking a
decided interest in Gibraltar. The Germans are soon brought into the matter.
In the
Indian Ocean, the British have gathered a new Far Eastern fleet after the heart
was ripped out of the old one with the loss of a battleship and a heavy cruiser
in December 1941. The new fleet is divided into two groups, Force A (fast) of 2
aircraft carriers, 1 battleship, 2 heavy cruisers, 2 light cruisers and 6
destroyers, and Force B (slower) of 1 light carrier, 4 battleships, 3 light
cruisers and 8 destroyers. Two British heavy cruisers are already caught and
sunk a few days before the Kido Butai and Force A make contact, but the slight
delay does nothing to give Force A any more luck. Within hours, both carriers,
the battleship and some auxiliaries are sunk. After that, the main strength of
the British Far Eastern fleet once again destroyed, the Kido Butai returns to
home waters. The remnants of the British fleet retreats to Durban in south
Africa, as Mombasa is now occupied by the Italians. (The setting of these
happenings are actual, though the Japanese in OTL hit upon force B, not A.
Given what has changed in this TL so far, I though it would be OK to let the
most probable outcome happen, and let Force A find the Kido Butai, and have let
them suffer accordingly).
While the
Japanese successes have been spectacular, April 1942 also brings the Doolittle
raid, where the US flies off a number of bombers from a carrier in the pacific,
who then bomb several Japanese cities before continuing on to China and the USSR.
Though actual damage is light, Japanese attention is now firmly turned towards
the east, where the US fleet is to be drawn out into a final fight, after which
the Japanese will work their way towards Hawaii. Planning for the battle of
Midway begins. (this did happen).
From
Italy arrive an Alpine Corps of 3 divisions, and the 3rd Mechanized
corps to the Soviet Union. This is joined by one of the corps of the CSIR, that
is now transferred to Italian control. The other corps is for the time being
kept under German control. The new Italian army (entitled the 8th
army) is put into the line in W Ukraine/S Russia.
Also, the
first allied divisions (two corps of 5 US and 2 British divisions) are put into
the line on the N Russian front, after a few months of retraining for fighting
under Russian conditions.
1942 May
With the
British Far Eastern Fleet suddenly pretty much destroyed, and the Japanese and
Italians on the verge of entering it in force (the Italians this month manage
to clear the Suez Canal, though British mining of the southern entrance ties
them up another couple of weeks), the prospect of having to ferry an increased
number of convoys the entire way around Africa to Iran to get to the Soviet
Union suddenly does not look so tempting as before the invasion of Iran was
launched. With the troops already engaged and Iran already invaded, it is
decided to go on, though. Another US infantry division is landed in Iraq, and
finally the effort pays off: as Iran has withdrawn a number of troops from the
south to stop the Soviet onslaught in the north, the Allies make a major break
in the Iranian frontline, occupying the entire northern half of Arabistan,
including the oil fields around Ahvaz. At the same time, the Soviets inch
forward somewhat more, taking the towns of Resh and Gorgan on the SW and SE end
of the Caspian Sea, respectively, as well as taking control of the region to
the immediate south of Lake Urmia, including the city of Mahabad.
In Iraq,
the Italians introduce the remainder of a mechanized corps, but thanks to
supply problems (primarily a lack of enough trucks), they cant get offensive in
any way yet. The Allies push further north, to the vicinity of Karbala, some 80
kilometers south of Baghdad.
In Egypt,
Alexandria harbor is back in operation at almost 100% capacity again. Further
south, the Royal Navy evacuates Port Sudan by sea, as a new defensive line is
being erected in central Sudan.
Meanwhile,
in Kenya, the Allies go over to the offensive for the first time, as they in
concentric attacks force the Italians out of Mombasa, and back across the Tana
River.
At the
same time, an Italian naval squadron consisting of a battleship, a handful of
cruisers and some minor vessels (above all else mine sweepers) enters the Red
Sea with the express purpose of removing the mine barrage built by the British
across the Bab el Mandeb Strait and the coastal batteries protecting it. They
are at it right away.
Italy
fields its first operational squadron of the Piaggio P108B heavy bomber (In
reality this only happened in June).
After a
tactical victory (but without any large losses inflicted on the allies) in the
battle of the Coral Sea, the Japanese landing at Port Moresby is postponed. The
Japanese lose one light carrier, the Americans one fleet carrier. In
preparation for the expected victory at the coming battle of Midway and the
tasks projected thereafter, Japanese troops (3 divisions and other minor units)
are ordered to train for amphibious landing. The target will be Hawaii. (Both
things happened in reality, but the latter was of course made moot when 4
Japanese carriers sank at Midway).
1942 June
As the
Italians have gotten their supply situation somewhat under control (partially
by getting in supplies through Lebanon and Syria), they launch a
counter-offensive in Iraq, and an armored battle develops, as British, American
and Italian armor collides at Ctesiphon. With the Italians coming out on top,
they push SE along the Tigris, then cross the river at Kut, and fan out into
the Jezirah (the region between the Eufrat and Tigris rivers). A brigade-size
mechanized force reinforced with Iraqi infantry is at the same time sent
further SE along the Tigris to Amarah, thus threatening the Allied troops in
Iran somewhat. In Iran, the Iranian/German/Italian troops are kept supplied by
air, and though they have to give some ground, losing Khoramshar, they still
retain possession of Abadan and Bandar Shapur. In the north, the Soviets occupy
the remainder of the Persian Caspian Seafront, and push towards Tehran and
Hamadan. They are kept from nearing the Iraqi oilfields, though.
In
central Sudan, both sides dig in along the frontline and let each other more or
less in peace. In fact this state of things will continue for several months,
as both sides are hampered by inadequate supply lines, for the Allies
especially caused by the thorough demolition and mining of Mombasa harbor. At
the same time increasing supply enables the Italians to also stem further
Allied advances in Kenya. Especially the opening of the Red Sea to Italian
shipping helps to alleviate earlier lackings. British support to Ethiopian
guerillas is beginning to hurt somewhat, though, even though the Italian system
of Strategic Villages helps to stem it somewhat.
Italy and
Germany begin to exert pressure on Spain to allow Axis troops to traverse her
in order to get at Gibraltar. The rebuilding and expansion of the Spanish
communications network, that has been going on since late 1938 under Italian
supervision is stepped up.
At the
battle of Midway, the US Navy suffers a devastating defeat, in which it loses
two of its precious few remaining carriers as well as a good number of
escorting vessels. The Japanese subsequently occupy Midway. The US Pacific
Fleet now only has one operational fleet carrier, the Saratoga. The decoding
effort that let the Americans know the Japanese plans is now seen as having
lead them into a Japanese-laid trap. (In the actual battle of Midway, 4
Japanese carriers were lost in exchange for one American. 3 Japanese carriers
were lost in an initial attack by 3 squadrons of US dive bombers while the
Japanese were gearing up for their own attack on the American carriers, and
thus had fully fueled and armed planes all over their flight decks. I have let
Chikamura 5, a Japanese reconnaissance plane that historically flew right over
the US fleet, that was shielded by cloud cover, spot the fleet, and the
Japanese subsequently launch a devastating attack. No Japanese carrier is
sunk).
Later in
the month, a Japanese landing force takes Port Moresby in the second attempt.
Thereby, the Japanese now have a major base on the southern side of New Guinea,
and Australia is much more open to Japanese attack. Also, the occupation of
Burma is finished. The latter prompts the Indian Congress Party under Mahatma
Gandhi to start the Quit India campaign, designed as to make the British
evacuate India, that would then be free to make peace with Japan on equal
terms. Originally planned to be peaceful, the leadership of the Congress Party is
arrested by the British, and many Indians instead turn to violence.
German
submarines land two groups of four saboteurs each on the US mainland, one in
Florida and one on Long Island. They break up into two-man teams, and make
their way inland. Three groups establish themselves in New York, one in
Chicago. They are the first of a number, that are to be sent into the US. (This
happened in reality).
In
US-British relations, the US finally faces that 1942 will not see an invasion
in France. Instead, the British convince them to lend their strength to an
invasion of French North Africa in November, code-named Operation Torch.
1942 - July
With the
introduction of the second Italian mechanized corps into Iraq, the Italians
manage to turn the Allied southern flank, going around it in the Al Hijarah
desert south of the Euphrates. Cutting off a US division in the process, the
corps suddenly appears outside Basra, and forces the evacuation of Arabistan
and large tracts of Iraq by the Allies to prevent any more troops from being
cut off. A new round of Italian air raids on Basra Harbor begins. In northern
Iran, the Soviets manage to take both Teheran and Hamadan, before the pressure
begins slackening, as the Axis summer offensive in the USSR begins and leaves an
express demand for Soviet reserves to stem it. Many Soviet units are withdrawn.
In the
Pacific, a Japanese naval force attacks Fiji and Samoa, bombing all signs of
allied presence seen. It does not, however, try to land any troops.
Allied
forces land on Madagascar, quickly taking Diego Suarez, but having difficulties
crushing continued French resistance in the central and southern parts of the
island.
In the
USSR, Leningrad falls. (I have taken the time the Germans took to conquer 90%
of Stalingrad (3 months) and subtracted 1 month, as the Soviets in Stalingrad
DID get reinforcements. Crude, but I do not
know how else to predict the time it would have taken. Budapest, also
without reinforcements, also took 2 months to take in 1944/45). Further south,
Germany and her allies, among them the CSIR, complete the first step of the
summer offensive: the entire Don bend, and the city of Voronezh are occupied.
The Soviets, having learned from the disaster last year, retreat and mostly
avoid being surrounded in large numbers. Only at the northern end do the
Germans manage to surround some 50.000 Soviet troops. (this is more or less
taken from the actual happenings of the German summer offensive).
The German sabotage campaign
finally gets off to a start, as the two German teams begin going after their
targets. While the first attack, one upon the Niagara power plants, is
cancelled due to heavy guarding, the American Aluminum Co of America in
Massena, New York, and Pennsylvania Salt Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania are
both attacked. While the planted explosives at both targets go off, the team in
Pennsylvania is spotted, and three of the four are shot while trying to escape.
A fourth man does make it, but decides to lay low after that. (in reality one
of the 8 German saboteurs went to the FBI and betrayed the whole mission. In
this TL, I have let the greater Axis victories make him change his mind and go
along. He is on the team that is spotted and almost wiped out).
1942 August
Allied
troops in Iraq withdraw into a defensive perimeter centered on Basra, as more
Italian troops move in, supplied through Palestine, Lebanon and Syria. With the
Regia Marina on the footsteps of the Indian Ocean and the Soviets looking to
maybe losing their hold on the Caspian, the mission the western Allies have in
Iraq also begins to look meaningless. As the western Allies are also already
hard pressed securing supplies for the Soviets and the presence of their
expeditionary corps in the USSR, consideration is given to withdraw from Iraq.
Another
devastating blow hits the USA. The remaining German sabotage team (a third one
has landed in the meantime, but has not been activated yet) goes on with its
list of targets, and bombs the main supplying water pipes of New York City. In
itself, it is only of nuisance value, but coupled with the attack that happens
two days later, it is devastating:
The Italian special forces launch their first trans-oceanic raid, upon New York Harbor. One mini submarine is sent into the harbor, where it places its load of 8 100kg explosive devices and 20 2kg limpets on various ships and harbor installations. Unbeknownst to them, one of the ships they mine is a fully loaded munitions ship, tied up between two others, with a munitions train nearby on the railroad tracks. When the mines blow, the resulting explosion is terrifying: 5000 tons of explosives go off in a chain reaction, flattening much of Jersey City, Bayonne and Staten Island, blowing the Statue of Liberty straight into the water and wreaking havoc on much of the rest of New York City. The following firestorm only increases the damage, as the water pipes have been blown. Traffic on New York harbor is reduced severely for a long time. Losses are way into the tens of thousands, and the US is in shock. It is only made worse when it is revealed who did the attack. The justification for a Presidential decree on a par with the one that forced the relocation of the Japanese-Americans at hand, it is quickly signed. Monitoring of the German-American community is increased heavily, also. Though the other sabotage group and a third group, inserted in August, goes on to blow up some bridges on the Chesapeake & Ohio Rail Road, a few of the locks on the Ohio River and some of the pipelines running from the Mexican gulf north, they are then arrested, and the whole supporting network is blown. By the time the frenzy of round-ups of German nationals is over, the number of interned and relocated Germans has risen from the initial 10.000 to a little over 300.000 (the entire population of Germans in the US). Around 90.000 Italian nationals are also interned. While additional German teams land and do some damage later (mostly on the railroad systems, but also on the Big Inch and Little Inch pipelines), they never attain the impact of the first three teams. (the attack is a blend of the actual target list of the German saboteurs, Italian plans for a December 1943 attack on New York, and what almost happened when the ammunitions ship El Estero caught fire in April 1943. Alarmists predicted up to 1 million killed and half the NY skyline, incl. the Empire State Building, in ruins. In OTL, around 10.000 Germans WERE interned, along with 10.000 Japanese (the others were only relocated) and 3.000 Italians. I have increased the number of Germans and Italians due to the sabotage and larger German and Italians gains).
To draw
off German attention from the Eastern Front, Canadian troops supported by
British commandos conduct a raid on the town of Dieppe, suffering heavy losses
in the process. Some 3,000 of the original force of 6.000 either die or are
taken prisoner.
On the
Eastern Front, Axis forces stream in two directions: towards Stalingrad, and
south, towards the Caucasus mountains. By the end of the month, these have been
reached, and Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe has been climbed by
German mountain troops. Stalingrad has been reached, but not yet entered, and
on the Black Sea coast, the 47th Soviet army has been caught with
its back to the sea between Novorossijsk and Tuapse by elements of the 8th
Italian army. Some units have also infiltrated across the Caucasus mountains,
slipping just across the border into Georgia. At the same time, as now all the
conditions set by the Finns for a Finnish offensive outside Finlands 1939
borders (and Karelia) have been met, the Finns launch a limited offensive in
Northern Karelia towards Kandalaksha, thus threatening to cut off supplies
streaming in from the western Allies through Murmansk. Though the offensive in
itself is a failure, it demonstrates the danger, the Soviets are in.
Another
10 Italian submarines are dispatched to the Atlantic Ocean, to reinforce the 40
already based there. Over half of the Italian submarine fleet is now outside
the Mediterranean.
With
heavy Axis pressure, and under the impression of the string of defeats, that
has hit the Allies over the last 3 years that has culminated during the last 6
months, Franco finally agrees to let Italian troops go through Spain on their
way to Gibraltar in exchange for substantial supplies of fuel, food and metals
and the protectorate over Morocco, that France is currently holding. France is
not told about this, though
.
Japanese
forces take Palmyra and Johnston atolls. Both are immediately turned into
airbases, and used for surveillance and interdiction of allied shipping to
Australia and New Zealand. Preparations for the attack on Hawaii begin. It will
take place in October 1942 (these things only happened in the Japanese plans,
thanks to the Japanese defeat at the Battle of Midway, that now has been won by
Japan. Let me mention, that The attack on Hawaii is not the same as The
attack on Oahu (and thereby Pearl Harbor). That one was only to follow in
March 1943).
The
industry of the USA starts remedying the lack of naval air cover somewhat.
During August, the first 4 escort carriers are commissioned. It will take until
December, before the first actual carrier is commissioned, though, 9 escort
carriers having been so by that time. Until then, the US navy is down to 3
fleet carriers from 7 at the beginning of the war, and commitments to the
Atlantic have also to be observed. It is decided to husband the remaining
carriers until a sufficiently strong carrier group can be provided for the
fleet to sortie and join battle with the Japanese. Until then, it is hoped the
submarines might get in some lucky hits, but in this respect they sorely
disappoint. As it turns out, US torpedoes are defective (they were in reality).
Until a sufficiently strong task force can be assembled, it is decided to
relocate the main base of the Pacific Fleet to the US west coast. Only
cruisers, destroyers, submarines and the like are left at Pearl Harbor, plus
the odd battleship raised from the harbor bottom. The garrison in the Hawaiian
islands is strengthened, though, including the air element.
A small
group of 12 Japanese submarines make their way to join German and Italian
compatriots in France. For a period of 4 months, they are trained in the art of
submarine warfare by now perfected by the Germans and Italians. In December,
they will be exchanged for another like group, and both will be employed in the
upcoming attack on Hawaii.
1942 September
A new
Italian/Iraqi push in Iraq ends the deliberations about the future of the
Allied foothold here. They evacuate their troops from Basra, but not before
blowing up anything that might at some future date be of use to the Axis. At
the same time, the oil refineries at Abadan, and the oil fields there are also
bombarded, though not so thoroughly destroyed as the areas under Allied
control. In the last stages of the evacuation, that brings the Allied troops to
India, Kenya and even SE Iran, Italian and Iraqi troops enter Basra and manage
to take a few prisoners, but not many. In front of them lies a huge task in
rebuilding southern Iran and Iraq.
The
Italian 4th Armored Division is taken apart, as its subordinate
units, along with some smaller, non-divisional ones, are used on the one hand
to bring the two mechanized corps in the Middle East up to strength, and on the
other to help end formation of the M Armored Division forming on the basis of
the ad-hoc mechanized brigade in the AOI.
On the
Eastern Front, Stalingrad is entered, and German units are fighting their way
through the city. On the Black sea side of the front, both the Soviet 18th
and 56th Armies are trapped with their back against the sea by
Italian infantry and mechanized units, while German and Italian units stream
over the Caucasus into Georgia. As they enter Armenia, the Soviet defense
stiffens, though, and increasing transportation problems also make themselves
felt. The rebuilding of the first harbors taken on the eastern Black Sea coast
begins.
With the
build-up for an Italian invasion of Cyprus clearly seen, and low on almost all
kinds of supplies to wage a successful defense, the British garrison of the
island resort to ask for Turkish protection. Turkish troops arrive, declare it
a trust territory, and intern the British troops under very favorable
conditions.
1942 October
With the
withdrawal of the Allies in Iraq, one of the Italian Mechanized corps is
withdrawn to Egypt to reduce the strain on the supply system. Both corps begin
to re-equip and receive reinforcements. With the extended battles in Iraq, both
corps have been reduced to reinforced division-size, though the remaining part
of the corps by now consists of hardened veterans. The corps left in Iraq acts
as a guarantee for the safety of the entire region around Basra, including
Arabistan in Iran. In the north, an Italian infantry division is placed to help
protect the oil fields at Mosul.
In Kenya
the final moves to prepare for the coming Allied offensive, that is designed to
throw the Italians out of Kenya and create footholds in southern Somaliland and
Ethiopia are made.
The
Italians start bringing in supplies and specialists to the air fields, that
have been build in Spain for the coming operation towards Gibraltar.
The
Allies land troops at the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas. Troops penetrating from
India at the same time occupy most of Iranian Baluchistan.
The
Japanese invade Hawaii. With the largest Japanese fleet ever mustered, among
others including 7 fleet and 3 light aircraft carriers, the Japanese appear off
the Hawaiian islands. The Americans immediately throw wave after wave of
aircraft upon the Japanese ships, but the Japanese have learned from Midway,
and no measure is left untried to keep the American planes from the carriers.
It can not hold the Japanese from suffering severe losses in carrier air-crew,
but when it is all over, while some of the Japanese carriers have been severely
hit only one is sunk, and the Americans have suffered horrendous aerial losses
in the process. When the Japanese land, the Americans are surprised, however.
Instead of taking on Oahu with the naval base of Pearl Harbor, they land on the
Big Island, Hawaii itself. After it has been secured, the ground troops begin
to build the vast airfields and supply depots, that will allow them to blockade
Oahu until the final push is put through. At the same time, the heavy units of
the Japanese navy pound anything of worth on Oahu to rubble. Any ship in sight,
that does not escape, is sunk. Thereafter the major units leave, only leaving
the garrison on Hawaii, a vast number of planes based there, and a devastated
Oahu.
With the
Japanese invasion of Hawaii, for the Allies Operation Torch suddenly stands in
question. Should the effort be switched to re-take Hawaii instead?? As Great
Britain under Chamberlain is about spent, and slowly beginning to look for a
way out, and as all preparations have already been made for Torch and none for
Hawaii, it is decided to go on with Torch after all. US elections are next
month, and Roosevelt needs a victory to show off (speculation, utter speculation.
The date of Torch in OTL DID depend on the elections in the USA, and were
pushed some 2 weeks).
On the
Eastern front, the front remains more or less stable everywhere except in
Stalingrad. From both sides, supplies and reinforcements are thrown into the
fight in Stalingrad, where the Soviets seem to be fighting a losing battle, as
the Germans edge forward slowly. By the end of the month, 90% of the city is in
the hands of the Germans (this was how it happened in OTL). At the same time, a
German/Italian aerial effort to interdict Soviet trade (by far most important
being oil brought from Azerbaijan) via the Caspian Sea begins, soon bagging
large amounts of shipping and beginning to disrupt the Soviet oil supply. With
mobile operations seizing, most armored and motorized divisions are drawn out
of the line to recuperate.
1942 November
Allied
Operation Torch takes place. The Axis has not discovered the Allied invasion
fleet on its way to North Africa to set Operation Torch in motion, and is thus
unfavorably surprised, when they learn of Allied landings at Algiers and Oran
in Algeria, and at Safi, Casablanca and Mehdia in Morocco.
As the
Italian navy and air force are already poised for the attack (Italian planes
have already arrived at some of their designated bases in Spain), it is decided
to go on with the attack the Italian navy sails out in force. Franco is
pressing for more time to make up his mind (with the new situation and all),
but Italian planes launch from Spanish bases anyway.
Soon Force
H (2 carriers, 1 battle cruiser, 2 heavy and 4 light cruisers and 17
destroyers), covering the landings in Algeria, comes under heavy attack from
some 500 planes from Italian carriers and bases in southern Spain, Mallorca,
Sardinia and Tunisia. With Force H heavily outnumbered (against the Italian 4
battleships, 2 carriers, 12 cruisers and 35 destroyers) from the outset, and
adding losses suffered to aerial attack, the Italians win the ensuing battle
rather easily. Adding to the sum is also, that much of the Allied firepower is
centered on the Italian battleships, that prove to be exceptionally resistant
to torpedo attack. In the end, the British lose some 15 vessels, including 1
carrier, 1 battle-cruiser, 2 heavy and 2 light cruiser before it is over. Even
after detaching the ships too damaged to go on (the Italians lose 3 cruisers
and 5 destroyers), the Italian navy is able to go on and devastate the forces
at Algiers, sinking 1 more escort carrier, 2 cruisers, 6 destroyers and some
smaller craft, while trapping some 20.000 troops (14.000 Americans and 6.000
British) ashore and forcing the evacuation of the bridgehead the British have
gained at Oran. Italian losses are 1 cruiser and 3 destroyers.
The
Spanish, already involved by the Italian attack from its bases, finally give
the go for operations from its bases. Negotiations with the French, duly
impressed with the defeat of the two landings in Algeria, quickly produce
agreement over cooperation in fighting the Allies in Morocco. A French squadron
of 1 battleship, 3 cruisers and 8 destroyers is attached to the Italian fleet,
and in Morocco, a joint staff is set up. Already, some 5.000 Italian troops
have entered Algeria to help when the bridgehead at Algiers was defeated.
Now the 4
French divisions in Morocco are further strengthened by the 2 divisions Spain
has based in Spanish Morocco (advancing south to lay pressure on the northern
US bridgehead and relieve pressure on Rabat) and an Italian division flown in,
reinforced with Italian paratroopers.
Further,
a composite force of the Italian 1st Mechanized corps from Egypt and
the 4th Armored Division from Italy, that has been cannibalized to
flesh out the corps, is sent to Morocco through Oran along with two infantry
divisions. Thus reinforced, the French just barely manage to hold on to the
stretch of coast between Casblanca and Rabat, and from there, together with the
Spaniards further north, to contain the US bridgehead around Mehdia. Vicious
street fighting takes place in both Rabat and Casablanca.
In Spain,
the Italians bring in their heavy artillery, and begin pounding away on the
defenses of Gibraltar. Continuous air-cover is provided for the troops in
Morocco, and attacks are also constantly flown on Allied shipping. At the same
time, a German corps of one motorized and one armored division is sent into
northern Spain to guard against any Allied attempts at landing in Spain. In the
south, some 20.000 Italian troops, mostly Alpini and special forces, go ashore
to prepare for the invasion.
Further
apart in Kenya, the Allies launch the other prong of their pincer movement,
designed in the end (maybe in a year) to drive the Italians from Africa. With
in all 5 divisions concentrated in Kenya (two east African, one south African,
one British and one US infantry divisions, as well as assorted brigades, among
others two armored), the Allies splinter the Italian frontline and drive north,
towards Kismayu. In the meantime, holding attacks in the Sudan, where two west
African and one British infantry divisions and assorted French, Belgian and
Sudanese brigades operate, are ko-ordinated with an Ethiopian uprising in the
Sidamo region. By the end of the month, Juba River in Italian Somaliland has
been reached, and Kismayu taken. At the same time, small incursions are made
into Ethiopia in the Boran region at Mega.
Iranian
troops, after heavy infusions of supplies and equipment from Iraq, manage to
re-take Hamadan from the Soviets. In a limited operation, the Italians at the
same time re-take Mahabad in Iranian Kurdistan. To the east, Allied troops
after defeating the Iranian brigade there take the city of Kerman. After that,
operations die down for the winter.
American
heavy bombers based in Nigeria fly their first mission against the Italian
refineries in Libya, at Bengazi and Tripoli. While the one at Bengazi is hard
hit, the one in Tripoli escapes undamaged. US losses are rather light.
Having
prepared the conquest of Hawaii thoroughly, the Japanese now turn to the one
other major goal before offensive operations will be suspended: India. Aiming
to both cut supplies to Chiang-Kai Chek and remove India as a credible basing
area for Allied attacks on the Japanese sphere, by mid-month, the rainy season
having ended, the Japanese launch a four-pronged attack:
-
One
regiment attacks Fort Hertz, to capture the airstrip there, the western end of
the Hump, the air route to China.
-
One
reinforced division attacks Imphal, thus penetrating into India proper. One
regiment is sent north from Mogaung/Myitkyina across the Patkai hills into the
Brahmaputra valley.
-
One
division from Akyab and Rangoon in Japanese-occupied Burma mounts a short-range
amphibious assault against Cox's Bazaar and Chittagong.
-
One
division from Singapore with lots of carrier support attacks Ceylon.
Both the northern Japanese arms fail. In both places, supply problems
and enemy resistance stall the attacks. The attempt to send in INA (Indian
National Army) raiding parties also largely ends in failure. In Tripura and the
Arakan, the Japanese landing is far more successful, however, and the Allies
abandon India east of the Ganges delta. Even further south, the Japanese
division lands on Ceylon after a thorough softening-up by carrier-aircraft,
among others the Italian carrier earlier sent to Japanese-controlled waters.
The allied planes available are swept from the skies, albeit at a cost of
planes to the Japanese. Fighting rages on, though supplies to the Allies in the
island are interrupted by incessant Japanese air attacks.
On the
Eastern front, the Soviets try a weak counter-offensive into the back of the
forces fighting against them in Stalingrad. Though the attacks comes as a
surprise, and throws back the units posted to the front there some 20
kilometers, the strength of the attack soon dissipates. Germany finally reached
the Volga river all through Stalingrad. Fully exhausted, the frontlines settle
down for the winter. The Soviets still are in control of large parts of Georgia
and Armenia, the whole of Daghestan and Azerbaijan, and most of northern and
central Iran. They dig in for the inevitable German summer offensive, that they
fully expect. Though the Soviets are still in control of the oil fields in
Azerbaijan, they are unable to make much use of the oil produced, as the axis
airforces and vessels in the Caspian sink most of the vessels, that try to get
through with fuel.
Consequentially,
the USSR gets more and more dependent on western Allied help. Already equipment
reaches the Red Army in enormous quantities to make good the loss of the industrial
areas of Leningrad, Moscow and the Ukraine, and the ground force commitment is
by now expanded to 25 divisions, 20 US and 5 British, concentrated in two
armies located in northern Russia, about on height with Leningrad. While the
industries evacuated from Moscow (they are not that many) are now about
reaching peak performance, more help is still needed, and the USSR extracts
enormous promises of support from the US and GB. The US at the same time
promises another 10 divisions for an offensive in the early summer, but the
Soviet reply is a bit un-enthusiastic. Without oil, no continuation of the war
effort is possible, and stocks are projected to run out about mid-summer.
Secretly
Soviet envoys are sent to seek out possible Axis demands in a separate peace.
The first approach is made towards the Italians, seen as the less involved in
the invasion of the USSR.
Italian
frogmen launch twin attacks at the Allies, to make sure they know they are
immune to attacks nowhere: While one team manages to blow the locks of the
Panama Canal at Gatun, thus rendering it unusable for a long time, another team
penetrates the British base at Freetown in Sierra Leone and sinks a cruiser and
two merchantmen.
In Egypt,
the two refineries at Suez come back in production thanks to massive assistance
by German technicians, who have been promised to be able to buy some half the
production of 1.000.000 tons yearly. Middle Eastern oil (apart from Libyan) is
finally beginning to matter in Axis logistics outside Iraq, where the Khanaqin
refinery has been functioning all the time, but only barely being able to meet
local needs.
In US
domestic politics, the beginning disaster with the evacuation of the two
easternmost landings lead to a severe Democratic defeat in congressional elections.
An not only that: the number of isolationists in Congress even increases (in
reality, the Democrats lost some 47 House and 7 Senate seats. For future use, I
have increased this defeat, as the US after all had Midway and el Alamein to
show as Allied victories in reality. In spite of this, in reality the number of
isolationist in congress only decreased from 115 to 110. I have increased this
number).
1942 December
As the
battle in Morocco continues, the mobile Italian troops arrive. Though the Allies
have in the meantime put the troops evacuated from Algiers and Oran ashore in
Morocco, few reinforcements will be forthcoming. Allied commitments, to India,
Kenya, Australia and the USSR, are simply too great. They did not exactly
expect this kind of opposition. Still, the Allies manage to take Casablanca.
After that, the fighting just drags on, with the Allies edging around Rabat to
encircle if fully, and the Italians
getting into position while letting their air cover hold the Allies down.
In Spain,
bombardment of Gibraltar intensifies, only interrupted by an Allied naval raid
designed to silence some of the siege artillery. Though a number of them are,
losses to the Allied squadron are also heavy, with tens of German and Italian
submarines concentrated in the waters west of the Strait of Gibraltar, and
Italian torpedo bombers all around. By the end of the month, The Rock falls.
At the
same time, forces are flown in to garrison the Canaryan islands and protect the
airfields located there, that help intercepting Allied convoys.
In the
AOI, the Italians launch their counter-attack. Though the Allies push on to
Mogadiscio, Allied attention is soon fixed on the danger developing from the
north. Experience from the last Italian invasion from there has taught the
Allies to station more troops in northern Kenya. The east African division and
one armored brigade stationed there prove too little, though, when a corps
consisting of an infantry and the M Armored Division breaks through their
lines, and quickly head south in a replay of earlier operations. With mobile
bands of native troops and the armored division to exploit, the Allied forces
are pushed aside, and the Italians by the end of the month again reach the sea
by Lamu, taking the city in hard fighting with the remaining east African
division. Remaining in the Kenya/Somaliland borderlands are the three white
divisions of the theatre, severely reduced in their mobility by constant
Italian strafing attacks, that have little opposition as Allied air bases in
Kenya have been overrun by the Italians. Soon, another two Eritrean divisions
stream into the newly-occupied territories to strengthen the Italian lines.
The
French and Spanish volunteer divisions on the Eastern Front are released, and
sent west to join in the campaign against the western Allies in Morocco.
The
mainland part of the Spanish colony of Spanish Guinea is occupied by deGaullist
troops.
The
battle in Ceylon is finally decided in favor of the Japanese, when Trincomalee
is taken early in the month. Follow-on troops reinforce the division already
there to the extent that Colombo is soon taken, also, and the Allied evacuate
the island. The Japanese carriers retire to replenish their air groups, by now
quite weak due to losses at Hawaii and Ceylon.
The US
commissions its first actual aircraft carrier during the war so far.
The first
group of Japanese submariners re-trained in new tactics in France returns to
Japan. After a month of rest and refit, they are sent out to patrol the waters
around Hawaii and familiarize themselves with them in anticipation of the
attack on Oahu in March.
With an
overall disastrous year of war behind them, the British government under Halifax convinces the American under
Roosevelt, weakened by recent elections, to put out feelers towards Italy and
sound out the possibilities of reaching a separate peace treaty between the
Allies and her.
1943 January
An
Italian/Spanish/French offensive forces the Allies to evacuate their bridgehead
north of Rabat, supported by heavy Italian air attacks. The toll is high,
though
..about 400 planes have been lost in the campaign so far, and many
pilots with them. Luckily, the loss of the northern bridgehead to the Allies
also includes the air bases at Port Lyautey, and Italian hold on the air is
strengthened.
In the
AOI, about 35.000 Allied troops escape out of the encirclement on the AOI/Kenya
border, partially by sea, partially through the still strengthening Italian
lines during a counter-attack. Another 15.000 go into captivity, though.
In the
Middle East, Palestine is rocked by violent Jewish-Arab riots, that are only
barely controlled by the few Italian troops in the region. In response, the
Italians begin setting up a corps of Arab Christian troops.
Italian
P108 heavy bombers begin bombing Allied installations in Bahrein and Qatar.
Italy
sends a message to the western Allies affirming her loyalty towards the other
Axis partners.
1943 February
In
Morocco, the Axis forces edge forward and take Fedala. At the same time, the
Allies, however, reach inland to the Atlas Mountains, cutting off Marrakech
from the rest of the Axis forces except for a roundabout way south of the Atlas
Mountain Range. At the same time, however, the Italians begin a series of
bombing runs of Casablanca harbor with their Piaggio P108 level bombers,
destroying much of it.
In the
AOI, the Italians again push south, re-occupying Mombasa. At the same time,
irregular bande begin getting the better of the Ethiopian guerillas in Sidamo,
as much of their strength has already been tapped in previous rebellions.
Still, a simmering guerilla war continues all over the Amhara-inhabited regions
of Ethiopia.
The
Allied troops in Iran are stopped in front of Yazd, as Italian Alpini and
Iranian troops give their best to keep them out of central Iran. Supply
difficulties (the Allied troops are at the end of a 600-kilometer long line of
supply) also chip in.
Allied
troops move into the French colonies along the Guinea coast (Ivory Coast, Togo
And Dahomey) and central Africa (Oubangi-Chari and Chad).
The USSR,
through its embassy in Sweden, contacts the Axis powers to see what their terms
would be in case of peace negotiations between the two parties.
The
pipeline from the Iraqi oilfields at Mosul are repaired. Oil exports to Europe
begin.
French
resistance in Madagascar finally comes to an end.
The first
experimental US Nuclear reactor goes online (in OTL it went online in December,
but I have removed Fermi and a few other nuclear scientists from the equation,
so have pushed this back 3 months).
1943 March
With
altogether 6 new divisions having been introduced by the Axis over the last
month and a half (2 Italian, 2 Spanish and 2 French), the Axis forces are by
now strong enough to make another major offensive effort, this time inland,
though, towards Marrakech. Though the Axis forces manage to punch through to
Marrakech, the second objective of Safi is not even closely reached,
though.
Mobile
Italian columns again move into northern Chad, to back up the French troops
fighting against Allied incursions there, both from Nigeria and the Sudan.
The
Japanese attack on Oahu is finally launched. Preceded by round-the-clock
bombings by the Japanese planes based on Hawaii, that keep the Oahuans from
discovering the approaching invasion force, the carrier planes then take over
when their range allows it. Spotting the approach by radar, the US navy in San
Diego is alarmed, and sorties immediately. In the meantime, the aerial
bombardment is augmented by naval bombardment, when most of the Japanese navies
batteships and cruisers arrive to pound the coastal defenses and air fields.
When the invasion force itself finally arrives, a landing beach has more or
less been cleared, and the three divisions earmarked for the invasion go
ashore. While the fight rages ashore, the two fleets clash. The planes on Oahu
already out of the equation, the Hawaii-based Japanese planes, again augmented
by planes flown in via Palmyra and Johnston atolls, are free to engage the
oncoming US planes. While the first day of fighting is more or less a draw,
with heavy losses in planes on both sides, the second day sees a defeat of the
US forces, not unlike Midway. While able to keep the main concentration of
aircraft carriers just to the south of Hawaii, and thus leaning upon its AA
defenses and able to beach damaged ships there, the Japanese destroyer screen
in cooperation with carrier- and Hawaii-based planes butcher wave after wave of
incoming US planes.
The
death-knell comes when a group of Japanese destroyers and cruisers race in from
the north, protected by darkness and the heavy losses of airplanes, and catches
the US carrier group in the morning. In the ensuing battle, another two escort
carriers go down, while the losses in destroyers and cruisers are fairly evenly
matched. Then the engagement is broken off. All the Americans can show for
their losses is, except for the sunk Japanese destroyers and cruisers, one
Japanese fleet carrier.
Over the
following weeks, the Japanese manage to expand the bridgehead somewhat, but it
is kept under continuous fire from well-entrenched US forces.
Adolf
Hitler, the German Fuhrer, dies when his plane explodes in mid-air. At the same
time, the military clique behind the bomb, that blew up the plane launches a
coup. Though it has some success in France, and has the support of some of the
east front commanders, it all crumbles when the Guard Battalion in Berlin
refuses to aid the conspirators. Goring, the designated successor, quickly
seizes the moment, rushes one of Hitler΄s doubles to the microphone, and lets
him broadcast a quick speech, where he assures the German public and the armed
forces, that he is wounded, but not dead.
In
Berlin, all is over within a day, and after that the conspirators in France and
the east give in. At a convenient moment late in the month, it is made public,
that Adolf Hitler has died of wounds received during the attempt on his life.
Goring is in power (I have modelled this on the coup attempt in July 1944, on the
fact that Goring was the designated successor to Hitler and is more secure in
his place thanks to no Dunkirk, little Battle of Britain, no Stalingrad and
total war economy, and on the fact that Hitler had three doubles, one of whom
was even able to make small speeches without being spotted as a double).
With the
above, the persecution of the Jews, several hundreds of thousands have already
died in the overcrowded ghettos and labor camps, eases somewhat. To secure his
power, Goring also makes sure no power-centers develop outside the ones he is
in control of much like Mussolini. The SS is deprived of much of its power.
German
bombers start an offensive against Soviet industrial targets, primarily the
tank works in Gorkii, oil refineries in Saratov and Synthetic rubber plants in
Yaroslavl. Only when they late in the month switch to the Soviet
hydro-electrical power stations, that power the remaining industry west of the
Urals do they attain actual results (thus did happen in reality (minus the
hydro-electrical targeting), but during the summer of 1943).
In India,
the Great Bengal Famine moves into its second phase, where starvation is at its
most intense. In the Indian press, it is blamed both on the local, Indian,
government and on the British. Animosity against the latter reaches an all-time
high.
As the
power struggles surrounding the death of Hitler are going on, no progress
beyond the establishment of diplomatic channels to negotiate through are being
made in the Axis-Soviet peace talks.
1943 April
In
Morocco, an Allied push north brings them past Fedala, but they are tied down
in costly fighting short of Rabat.
In the
AOI, both parties are again back in the positions they occupied in early 1942,
and again they dig in.
An
attempted Allied landing at Dakar is thrown back, among others with the help of
a mixed force of Italian and German planes, that have only arrived last month
to help protect the base. Subsequently, French troops move into the Gambia.
Allied
troops take Yazd in Iran. At the end of along and tenuous supply line, they
cant do much with it, though.
Looking
for reinforcements to send to the front in Morocco, where fighting remains a
stalemate, Italy begins withdrawing mobile troops from both the Middle East and
Iraq. From Iraq is withdrawn a motorised division, while the 8th
Army in the USSR has to give up one armored and a motorized division. Given
that the country they will be campaigning in over the summer is not very well
suited to armor and motorized troops anyway, they are replaced by two infantry
divisions, as is the division transferred from Iraq.
On the
Eastern Front, German troops in a limited offensive take Astrakhan. The Soviet
Caspian Sea Flotilla withdraws to Krasnovodsk in Turkmenistan.
On Oahu,
the US troops are driven from Pearl Harbor. They retreat to the mountainous
interior of the island.
With
Japanese naval forces concentrated in the Pacific, an Allied naval raid upon
Colombo and Trincomalee is launched from Durban. It sinks 80.000 tons of
shipping before being driven back by Japanese air attacks.
The
Japanese begin dropping in teams of ILA (Indian Liberation Army) soldiers into
southern and eastern India. They are to foment trouble, spread propaganda in
favor of Indian independence, and commit sabotage. Although a fair amount of
them eventually desert to the British, somewhat more than half carry out their
missions. They revive the bombing campaigns that the Quit India movement the
previous year ended with.
With
Goring solidly in power in Germany, secret Axis-Soviet peace talks are begun.
Not really needing the racial empire Hitler and the entire Racial wing of the
NSDAP wants, he is more content just removing the USSR from proximity to
Germany, and leaving a juicy swathe of territory in between for Germany to
exploit.
An
explanation for the peace-loving nature of Goring is also the continuous stream
of reports flowing in from the GESTAPO and SD, that speak of the continuing
un-popularity of the war and the rising death-count.
1943 May
In increasingly
hard fighting, the Allies take Rabat in Morocco, but not before the harbor area
has been thoroughly demolished by the withdrawing Axis. By the end of the
month, both parties settle in in their new-found positions to replace their
losses.
In the
Axis-Soviet peace negotiations, the parties, having shed away the initial
unreasonable term-suggestions (the reestablishment of the borders as of 1941 by
the Soviets, and the Arkhangelsk-Astrakhan line by the Germans), the parties go
into the phase where the actual outlining of the demands begin. The Italian
representatives are just there to get what they can out of the deal. No
representatives from the smaller Axis nations are present.
Even as
the frontline is far to the east of it, the Soviets still try to press for a
new border running along the Dvina and Dnjeps rivers, thus leaving both the
pre-Caucasus, Estonia and eastern Ukraine, not to speak of the entirety of
Russia within the USSR.
In the
USA, a summer of intense racial rioting begins in almost all major cities.
These accompanied by a string of like riots and firefights in military bases
all over the country, in Australia and the UK. While the former have their
roots mostly in anger over the shortage of housing and promotions, the riots
themselves are an adding factor to a feeling, that portrays the Negros as
un-patriotic, and thus only lead to increasing tension. In most places, the
military has to be called in to control things, but they can only control the
bigger riots. Across the country, hundreds of small incidents lead to
casualties, and by the end of the year several hundred Negros are dead.
Resentment
is brewing in the entire Middle East over the apparent Italian favoring of the
Christian Arabs. Both Iraqis and Egyptians begin voicing demands for Italian
withdrawal.
1943 June
With both
sides in Morocco exhausted, but the Italians able to thrown a new ad-hoc
mechanized corps (the 4th) into the fray, they are able to draw the
remaining, thoroughly exhausted troops with them in a counter-offensive, that
throws the Allies out of Rabat, and all the way back through Fedala to the
outskirts of Casablanca, that, along with its harbor, is put under continuous
artillery bombardment.
The Axis
summer-offensive kicks off in the USSR. Essentially a two-step effort, the
first simply continues the push south of last year, with Axis forces quickly
pushing over the Caucasus mountains into Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. With
their position on the western part of the front, the Italians are able to use
their Alpini troops extensively in the zone of operations allotted to them on
the southern side of the Kura River and west of Tbilisi. By the end of the
month, most of Georgia is in Axis hands. With a secondary German offensive from
the Stalingrad-area up the Volga threatening Saratov, and German armored
formations fanning out in the lowlands of Azerbaijan, and facing for Baku more
or less unhindered (resistance pretty much collapses), the Soviets finally give
in.
By the
end of the month, a peace is signed secret with the following terms:
-
Fighting
is to end by July 5
-
Military
observers (some 3.000 on each side) to be exchanged and stationed within 200
kilometers on each side of the front.
-
Western
Allied troops in the USSR are either have left the country by July 10, or have
been interned, subsequently used for rebuilding the war-damaged lands. Only to
be repatriated in case the war between the Axis and Allies ends.
-
By
July 15, both sides forces are to have withdrawn 15 kilometers from the
frontline as they lie by July 5.
Soviet
territory to be handed back to the USSR is divided into 6 regions, centered on
Leningrad, Moscow, Voronezh, Stalingrad, Grosnij and Astrakhan. For each region
the Axis evacuates, the USSR is to demobilize some 1,5 million members of the
armed forces and destroy their weaponry, all to be supervised by the German
military observers. By the end of the demobilization, the Soviets will be
allowed armed forces of some 800.000 men. A similar phased withdrawal of Axis
forces from the USSR takes place at the same time, with allowance made for
garrison of the new territories and the fact that the Axis is still embroiled
in a major war, though.
-
By the
end of July, the Soviets are to have evacuated Iran, while the Axis evacuates
the Astrakhan area
-
By the
end of August, the Soviets are to have evacuated Armenia and Azerbaijan, while
the Axis evacuates the southern region around Grosnij.
-
By the
end of September, the Soviets are to have evacuated Iran, while the Axis
evacuates the region around Stalingrad.
-
By the
end of October, the region around Voronezh is to be evacuated
-
By the
end of November, the region around Leningrad is to be evacuated
-
By the
end of December, the region around Moscow is to be evacuated.
The
regions thus handed over to the Axis, save for the region around Pskov in
western Russia and the Kuban region, are all in non-Russian republics, and are
divided up as follows:
-
Finland,
on top of the regions she had to cede in 1940, receives Karelia
-
Romania,
on top of the regions she had to cede in 1940, receives Transnistria.
-
Italy
receives an occupation zone, that includes Armenia as well as the portions of
Georgia and Azerbaijan south of the Kura river and Adjaristan with the port of
Batumi. To this comes Iran.
-
Germany
receives the rest: the three Baltic states, Belorussia, the Ukraine minus
Transnistria, the Kuban and Pskov regions, and the remainder of Georgia and
Azerbaijan.
One
further demand of the peace treaty is, that the USSR never again maintain naval
units in the Baltic Sea. She is allowed 3 years to finish those vessels
building in Leningrad and tow them to any other Soviet harbors. With this,
Soviet access to the oceans available to her navy are confined to the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans.
A new
round of anti-Jewish rioting being among the Moslem Arabs of Palestine. As a
first, the Christians remain aloof from the carnage.
An
Italian-German agreement is signed, that over the next 6 months lets the German
minority in the north, roughly 250.000, choose between Italian and German
citizenship. Choosing the latter means relocation to Germany. 200.000 choose
this option.
The
Italians begin assembling their first nuclear weapon (it took the US one year
to one and a half to have 3 bombs ready from the time they started their first
industrial nuclear reactor. I have let the Italians take two years to make one
in this TL. After this, the Italians are able to make one each 2 months)
The new
leader of Germany, Hermann Goring, is made aware of the existence of a German nuclear program. Seeing that it
promises to increase the hitting power of his Luftwaffe, he agrees to make
considerable funds available for research.
A coup
brings pro-fascist General Pedro P. Ramirez, the minister for war, to power in
Argentina.
1943 July
In the
USSR, the first sign the western Allied expeditionary force sees of the
Axis-Soviet peace treaty is a sudden stop in arrival of supplies. Only when the
troops are notified a few days later, that they have 5 days to pack up and get
out of the USSR do they hear of the treaty. Not wasting any time, they stream
north, towards Murmans and Arkhangelsk as quickly as possible, but even so, the
majority of the troops are still strung out along the rail lines when August 10
arrives, with large contingents at the ports and still at the front, and only
some ten thousands evacuated. As nothing else has been expected, the Soviets
have used the last two weeks to concentrate troops along with them, and now
begin the mission of disarming and interning them. Though some let themselves
be disarmed, the vast majority resists, and in some places Soviet units join
forces with them, some out of a desire to keep fighting, others just to try to
get out with them.
Anyway,
the majority of the armed forces remain loyal, and in any case the NKVD units
quickly dispose of many of those who express doubts about the actions of
Stalin. The Allied forces along the rail lines to Arkhangelsk are crushed
pretty easily, with the surrounding landscape in Soviet hands, but the Allies
manage to hold on somewhat longer to the line running through Karelia before
that is cut, too.
With the
lines gone, the Allied troops still left at the front, some 400.000, have to
surrender, and are interned. Along the lines, another 80.000 have been
eliminated.
That
leaves some 270.000 around Murmansk and Arkhangelsk, about two thirds of those
at the former. At both ports, some 40.000 Soviet soldiers end up siding with
the Allies. Neither the Soviets nor the Germans are about to let them escape,
though, and the troops from both sides that have now for two years faced each
other along the Fenno-Soviet border are turned around and sent towards
Murmansk. At the same time, many of the Soviet troops withdrawn from the front
according to the peace treaty are sent north to Murmansk and Arkhangelsk. Both
bridgeheads manage to hold against continuous Soviet attacks (event he Soviet
soldiers loyal to Stalin are not that keen on eliminating the former Allies),
but by the end of the month the Allied fleets sent north have managed to
evacuate some 120.000 men (including civilians) from Arkhangelsk, partially to
Murmansk, partially all the way to Great Britain. Though they enlist also the
greater part of the Soviet Northern Fleet as well as the Soviet merchantmen in
the area, losses in ships are heavy, though. While Soviet air attacks are
ineffectual, German aerial and submarine attacks are a continuous strain upon
the convoys leaving Soviet harbors. Leaving all equipment behind, the Allies
surrender Arkhangelsk by the end of the month. Still at Murmansk are now some
200.000 western troops an another 60.000 Soviets who have crossed the lines. To
these comes vast numbers of civilians who want out.
In
Africa, bitter fighting develops around the port of Conakry in French Guinea.
In Chad, Italian and British troops clash in the region of Ouadai in E-central
Chad. In Kenya, the Italians beat back Allied probing attacks towards Bura.
Rioting
in Palestine spreads to first Iraq, then Egypt, Trans-Jordan, Syria and
Lebanon. In all places, it begins as anti-Jewish riots, but soon take on an
anti-Christian flavor.
In Italy,
a new gas field is found at Cortemaggiore in the Po region.
Italy
detonates its first nuclear weapon in a secret test in the Libyan desert.
German and Japanese dignitaries are invited and are, frankly, astonished. To
keep utmost secrecy, they are thereafter placed in house arrest, and prevented
from radioing or telegraphing any account home of the happenings.
Italy,
Germany and Japan, in a common appeal sent through the global press, call for
an end to the senseless bloodshed, and a beginning of peace negotiations. As
the Allies have so far managed to stop the Axis surge forward, and as the
development of the nuclear weapon is now progressing satisfactorily, they neglect
to reply, though.
The
communist parties are outlawed all over in the Allied countries.
1943 August
The other
bridgehead in the USSR is eliminated. Fighting in the USSR goes on for another
few months, though, until the NKVD has
hunted down the stragglers and Soviet rebels.
With the
full consequences of the USSRs exit from the war now being somewhat clear, the
remaining allies see their options severely limited. With the loss of over half
a million troops in just two months a severe manpower shortage is already
hitting the Allies though they have not even begun making headway against the
Axis. Great Britain cant take more, and is already in the ropes. The US, under
pressure at home to at least end the European part of the war, gives in, and
negotiations are opened through the channels earlier used to contact the
Italians.
Italy
begins setting up Christian militias among the Christians of Iraq, Trans-Jordan
and Egypt, too. They are armed primarily to be able to defend themselves, and
in some regions are concentrated in special quarters and villages.
With the
Axis dignitaries released and, accompanied by Italian guards and scientific
personnel, sent back to their home countries (in the case of the Japanese
through the USSR), the other Axis leaders are made aware of the Italian
possession of nuclear weapons. They are also informed about what actions the
Italians will take with this new weapon, and invited to take part.
Consequently, the next day another Axis announcement is made through the
international press: as a warning to the Allied peoples, should they allow
their leaders to press on with the war, they are free to assemble the following
day on the coastal areas south of New York at around 9 pm.
At the
specified day and time, an Italian construction, placed on the seabed some 10
kilometers from the nearest coast, rises to the surface, and explodes, creating
a column of smoke, water-vapor and fire several miles high. Both the millions
of civilians gathered to see the spectacle and the Alied governments get
something to think about.
With the
end of fighting in the East, Germany re-deploys large parts of the Luftwaffe to
the west, where hey are joined by an Italian aerial corps, including the entire
Italian heavy bomber arm. Thus gathered, the Axis begins a new bomber offensive
against English targets, partially to avenge the growing Allied air attacks
upon Germany (that are now also opposed by larger numbers of German fighters,
and thus suffering increasing losses), partially to drive the British out of
the war. Avoiding the mistakes made in 1940, the Axis forces initially go
solely after the radar sites and air bases in southern England.
1943 September
Seeming
unable to build their own functioning heavy bomber, Germany buys from Italy the
rights to license-production of the P108 bomber.
Low-level
Axis-Allied negotiations begin.
With the
arming of the Christians and the engagement of Italian troops, the rioting in
the Italian-controlled areas die down somewhat. They spread to Iran, though, where
resentment against the Christian and
Jewish minorities have been building all through the 1930s.
The first
really modern Italian-designed tank enters production the Carro Armato Celere
Sahariano
The
western Allies begin organizing various armies of liberation from the 140.000
men (soldiers and civilians) that they evacuated along with their own soldiers
from northern Russia. Soon, they find out that it is quite hard to satisfy the
desires of all, though.
In
Bolivia, the fascist-oriented MNR (Movimienta Nacionalista Revolucionario)
gains power through a military coup. Supported by Argentina and Paraguay, the
new government manages to stay in power and crush several counter-coups (a coup
supported by the MNR, initially fascist-oriented, did take place in 1943 in
OTL. The resulting government lasted until 1946, when overthrown in a violent
revolution).
1943 October
Axis-Allied
negotiations outline a plan for a cease-fire, to go into effect on November 1,
1943. Peace negotiations are to take place in Geneva.
The
independence of Armenia, including the entirety of the Italian occupation zone
in the Trans-Caucasus, is declared.
The Great
Bengal Famine is slowly waning, but fatalities begin to reach their highest, as
epidemics ravage the weakened peasants. The outcry in the Indian press only
serves to facilitate a British crack-down on it, further alienating large
segments of the Indian populace. The number of IJA guerillas rises above
20.000.
1943 November
Peace
negotiations begin in Geneva. At it quickly become apparent, Germany has
attained almost all its goals, but is out for more. Both Italy and Japan mostly
covet the colonies of those countries already beaten (France and the
Netherlands), and so it is, that the negotiations mostly will outline how Axis
withdrawal is coupled with the carving up of the conquered powers΄ colonies.
Even Great Britain and the US cant escape making concessions, though. Already
in November, the situation in Europe is agreed on: the Allies will OK the
settlement reached with the USSR. Germany will get back Eupen-Malmedy from
Belgium and Alsace-Lorraine from France. Spain annexes Gibraltar, but Great
Britain leases it as a naval base for all time for a set weight in gold coins
(not much unlike the Cuban-US agreement on Guantanamo Bay). The region is
allowed wide autonomy, maintains its own police force paid from the proceeds
from the British lease, and Spanish troops are not allowed in. A like solution
is found for Malta, that is ceded to Italy, though the period the British lease
the base is only until 2000.
Italy,
Germany and Slovakia begin demobilizing their forces returning from the USSR.
Italy leaves one corps of its expeditionary army in its zone of occupation in
the USSR, while another one is moved into Iran. The remaining corps goes home.
Rioting
takes a new turn for the worse in the Middle East. Noting the relative calmness
of the Shiite Arabs in S-Iraq, the Italians also begin arming them.
With
funds switched from the war effort, Italy begins expanding its production
capacity for nuclear weapons.
1943 December
Agreement
is reached on the future status of Egypt and the Philippines: Egypt gains full
authority over the Sudan, but the British keep full basing rights around the
Suez canal. Great Britain also retains permission to man further military
installations in Egypt should she (GB go to war). Italy is made protector of
the Egyptian (and Sudanese) Christians. British troops in the Canal zone are
not to exceed 20.000 (numbers doubled from the 1936 Anglo-Egyptian treaty), and
are to be evacuated by 1956.
The
Philippines are, as planned, to attain independence by 1946. The country is,
however, to be de-militarized.
In the
AOI, Great Britain cedes British Somaliland to Italy. Cyprus is to be handed
over to Greece, while Great Britain retains its bases on the island.
The Axis
evacuation of the USSR is ended. Likewise, Soviet demobilization has also come
to and end, and both parties now begin rebuilding and structuring the regions
under their control. An unexpected result of the stepped Axis withdrawal is,
that some 800.000 inhabitants of the regions that have been evacuated have
followed the retreating Axis troops. These are now housed under miserable
conditions in special, provisional barracks-towns, where thousands die of cold
or desease in the winter.
Iran,
Armenia and Italy sign a treaty, that will see the Armenian population of Iran,
suffering under heavy discrimination since the early 1930s, re-settled in
Armenia. All will be financed by Italy. In all, the treaty will see 170.000
Armenians re-settled in Armenia, and it is slated to be ended within two years.
1944 January
The
mandate over Palestine and Trans-Jordan is transferred to Italy, but with the
restriction that Italy is only allowed to maintain troops equivalent to those
the British can base in the Canal Zone. Promptly, the limit on those is raised
to some 50.000 in light of the insurrection going on in Palestine. Great
Britain acknowledges the Iraqi renouncement of the Iraqi-British treaty, but
maintains its rights to air bases at Habbaniya and Basra. At no one time may
the British troops in the region constitute more than 5.000 men, though.
In Asia,
it is agreed, that Burma and Ceylon will be evacuated by the Japanese, as will
the British colonies in Malaya, including Singapore. The protectorates that
make out the majority of Malaya will come under Japanese protection, however.
Similarly, the entirety of Sarawak (including Brunei) is ceded to Japan. Hong
Kong is given back to Great Britain.
With the
major stumbling blocks out of the way, the time has now come to carve up the
colonial empire of France. As the Allies are now giving away something that is
not theirs, it goes surprisingly quickly. After much international pressure,
the French protectorate over Tunisia go to Italy, while the French furiously
deny to give up the entire protectorate over Morocco to Spain. Instead a
compromise is ironed out, that sees Mauritania transferred to Spanish control,
as well as border corrections both in the north and south of the sultanate.
Spain thus receives a land link between the Rio de Oro colony and the Ifni
enclave. The territories in 1911 taken from Gabon and added to Kamerun are also
added to the Spanish Rio Muni colony. Finally the Tanger zone is awarded to
Spain. The Spanish are far from satisfied, though, and border incidents with
France and French Morocco become a common occurrence in the years to follow.
Border
revisions at the same time lets Italy annex vast tracts of the central Sahara.
These include the provinces of Sahara and Touggourt from Algeria, Gao from
French Sudan (Mali), Gourι, N΄Guigni and Zinder from Niger and
Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti from Chad. Safe for some of the Gao province of Mali and
the Touggourt province of Algeria, all is barren wasteland more or less, and
except for on a map, it is not a net loss to France.
Italy
also gains three other territories from France: Madagascar, French Somaliland,
and Syria (including Lebanon).
Germany
manages to regain two of its former colonies, namely Kamerun within its
pre-1911 borders, and Tanganyika (from Great Britain). As before, Zanzibar is
not included in this. In Asia, Japan takes over French Indochina.
Finally,
Japan takes the major islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali and the remainder of
Borneo, leaving a vastly reduced Netherlands East Indies.
Thus the
peace treaty is signed. A stepped plan of withdrawal, not unlike the one that
just last month ended Axis occupation of the USSR, is included in the treaty.
Celebrations
of the end of the war among the Algerian population quickly turns into
nationalist demonstrations for Algerian independence. When French police open
fire on a demonstration in Setif, killing some 22, the response is immediate: a
widespread rebellion erupts, including massacres of French settlers and
officials, bombings and mock firefights. The response is foreseeable: the
French settlers and colonial gendarmerie, even the French army and navy respond
in kind. When it has all finally ended, the casualties reach into the thousands
(this was what happened in Algeria in May 1945. Numbers for the death alone
range from 1.500 to 15.000)
1944 February
The
Italians begin evacuating Algeria, the Sudan and southern Egypt. A rapid
de-mobilization also begins.
Germany
begins evacuating France and Norway. With the German pull-out, tensions
immediately begin building between those who wen abroad and fought with the
Allies and the resistance fighters on the one hand, and those who collaborated
and the returning eastern front-volunteers.
The
British evacuate Madagascar and hand over administration to Italy. French
citizens are repatriated.
Taking
stock of the situation, Italy now is in possession of a vast colonial empire
stretching in a crescent from Libya via Palestine and the AOI to Madgascar. For
the first time, Italy now also has become a major Indian Ocean power, with the
naval base at Diego Suarez. For the time being, Madagascar is under British
occupation, though, and other things have higher priority. Also, most of the territories
acquired by the Italians are rather poor, and require considerable investments
in infrastructure and administration.
Among
others, the situation in the Middle East is threatening to get out of hand.
Though Italy still has troops in Iraq (a division in the south), Iraq has been
busy funneling armaments and money to the Moslem Arab forces in Palestine, and
is increasingly doing so to Arab factions in Lebanon, Jordan and Syria, also.
To this end, links have been established with certain circles in Egypt and
Saudi-Arabia, with a view to drive the Italians and Jews from the Middle East
at the same time. Later even Jordan is brought into the scheme.
Official
Italian protests fail to make any impression on the Iraqis, and the British are
pushing for an Italian withdrawal from Iraq. This begins by the end of the
month.
Meanwhile,
Turco-Greek relations sour, when it becomes apparent, that Turkey is far from
willing to withdraw from Cyprus. Appeals to Great Britain help nothing, as the
Commonwealth forces interned by the Turks have already been given free, as have
the British basing areas. As the peace treaties after WWII did not specify
anything about the execution of the clauses in case third-parties intervene,
Great Britain basically just says tough and leans back. Turkey is far too
good an ally in the region (in fact the only one remaining) to offend, and
tension along the Turco-Armenian and Turco-Italian border in the eastern part
of the country are sure to insure she stays that. British arms exports to
Turkey from the vast stocks accumulated during WWII begin.
In the
Middle East, Italy sees an opportunity. Just before WWII, France transferred
the region of Hatay from Syria to Turkey. Citing violation of the original
League of Nations charter, under which the mandate over Syria was given to
France, Italy now disputes the transfer, and demands Turkey hand back the
region. At the same time, Armenia disputes the post-WWI Soviet-Turkish
outlining of the Armeno-Turkish border, as Armenia was never consulted about
this, and large tracts of Armenian lands thus given away. To Armenians, the
boundaries established by the Treaty of Sevres (including large tracts of
eastern Anatolia) are the legal borders. Needless to say, border incidents
begin right away, and Italy begins funneling arms over the Turkish border to
would-be Turkish rebels and into Cyprus to Greek rebels. Negotiations with
Greece about a common stance also start.
Allied
troops evacuate Iran.
1944 March
Italy
evacuates northern Egypt.
Germany
begins evacuating Belgium.
With
Syria now in Italians hands, Iran and Italy sign another treaty about
relocation of Christian minorities. This time, it is the Assyrians who, like
the Armenians in Iran, have been suffering under heavy discrimination since the
early 1930s, that are re-settled. The destination of the some 140.000 Assyrians
will not be Armenia, but rather the Jazira region of Syria, vastly
under-developed. At the same time, the influx of Christians will help the
Italians to hold the Moslems of Syria under control. The outcry resulting in
the Middle East from this action, and especially the subsequent carving-up of
Syria, that sees the coastal areas detached to form a separate Alewite
republic, the southern areas of Djebel Druz and Hawran detached to form a
separate Druze republic, and the Jezira region in the NE detached to form a
separate Kurdish-Assyrian republic, all with their own militias is enormous.
Riots are wide-spread, and only increase with the rumor, that Palestine is to
be made into a Jewish republic. The Jews naturally do nothing to battle this
rumor, and soon Jewish-Moslem fighting reaches a high. Iraq, Egypt and
Saudi-Arabia increase the amount of volunteers sent in to fight in the
Italian-controlled regions. With the limitations placed on Italian troops in
Palestine and Trans-Jordan, the Italians see themselves at a disadvantage, as
even the level of troops permitted to them is not reached after extensive
demobilization, and the transfer of troops to the Turkish border. In all, Italy
has 4 divisions in the Middle East: two on the Turkish border (one in the east,
one in the west), one in the Lebanon-Damascus area, and one in the
Palestine-Trans-Jordan area. To this comes a corps of three divisions in Iran,
with one in Azerbaijan, one in Teheran and one in Arabistan.
The
Italian withdrawal from Iraq is declared finished, but Italian troops,
strengthened by Assyrian levies, still occupy the region west of the Zab River,
including Mosul. Here are concentrated most of Iraqs some 150.000 Christians,
and the remainder of the population is Kurdish. This is kept as a bargaining
chip to stop Iraqi meddling in the Italian-controlled areas of the Middle East.
At the same time, the Italian forces in Arabistan in Iran begin funneling weapons
across the border to the Shiites of southern Iraq, always discontent with the
ruling Sunni minority in Baghdad.
The
various territories taken from French West and North Africa are officially
incorporated into Italy. Tunisia remains a separate protectorate, while the
others (Sahara and Touggourt provinces of Algeria, Borkou-Ennedi-Tibesti
province of Chad, Agadez, Gourι, N'Guigni and Zinder provinces of Niger and Gao
province formerly of French Sudan (Mali)) are simply included in the military
governorate, that is the southern 2/3 of Libya. In all, the incorporated
territories include 3.500.000 square kilometers, but only some 1 million
inhabitants. The Italians begin to enlarge the infrastructure in the annexed
areas, in the beginning centering on simply constructing roads to tie it all
together. They center on a 6 initial main lines:
1)
Benghazi-Kufra
Oasis-Fort Largeau,
2)
Tripoli-Murzuq-Bilma-Nguigmi,
3)
Gabes-Touggourt-Fort
Flatters-Tamanrasset- Bourem-Timbuktu + a sideline from Bourem-Gao,
4)
Tripoli-Ghadames-Tamanrasset,
5)
Tripoli-Sebha
Oasis- Ghat-Tamanrasset,
6)
Tamanrasset-Agades-Zinder-N΄guigmi
In
addition, rail lines Tripoli-Gabes-Sfax-Tunis and Sfax-Gafsa-Tozeur-El
Oued-Touggourt begin construction.
The
Italian-Agreement on settling some 200.000 Jews from the German-controlled
areas of Europe in the Italian colonies is changed somewhat. With the transfer
of Madagascar from France to Italy, Italy takes on the former French
responsibilities, and even expands on them somewhat. To the 700.000 Jews
already settled in Italian possessions (200.000 in the old colonies, and
500.000 on Madagascar) will, over the next 10 years, come another 6 million,
who will be re-settled mostly in the AOI and Libya, but also partially (to the
tune of half a million) in Italian Syria. The costs of this re-settlement are
borne partially by the Jews themselves, partially by Germany. Before being
settled, they are housed for about 6 months in transfer camps, where they learn
farming and a minimum of Italian. Italian classes continue after their
settlement.
German
demobilization begins and is rapidly carried to its end, as the strain upon the
German economy is too great. Even in military dictatorships, people rather want
consumer goods than parades.
British
elections (the current parliament has sat since 1935) bring a land-slide
victory for the Labor Party, as people are tired of Conservative-led
governments that have been in power since 1931. In the years that follow, the
new Labor government resorts to a policy of nationalizing most of the heavy
industry, the railroads and the utilities, and building a vast welfare state to
combat economic recession.
1944 April
With
fighting in Italian Syria, as it is now called, ever increasing, it is decided
to try out a new technique in the fight: pure and simple demographic relocation
of the population base supporting the insurrection. In the AOI, where the
tactic has been tried on a small scale, it has shown moderate results, but it
is expected that, done on a large scale, results will also be better. Thus, the
militias are given a free hand to thrown out the Moslem villages from the
newly-created autonomous entities, and a similar free hand is given to the Jews
in Palestine. Only times the Italian troops intervene is when fighting between the
militias themselves (especially the Christian and Druze and Christian and
Jewish militias) threaten. The result is an immediate flow of refugees to the
south and east from the new territories. In retaliation, the Moslems begin a
like policy towards the religious minorities in the south and east. With
Italian forces spread out everywhere, they soon manage to create entire
Liberated Areas in Jordan and the Sinai and Syrian deserts. Italy sends a
corps of two divisions to Italian Syria, but as one division immediately goes
north to the Turkish frontier, the difference is not much felt.
With
in-fighting in Italian Syria, tension also grows with the Turks, who refuse to
consider any withdrawal from Cyprus, citing the British breach of a
British-Turk treaty in 1914, by which Great Britain just took Cyprus and made
it a crown colony. Turkey is, simply, just restoring things to normal. Border
incidents fire up along almost the entire Anatolian border of Turkey, as
Italian-paid Turkish rebels also make incursions along the Iraqi and Iranian
borders. When the Armenian army (5 infantry divisions) mobilizes, so does the
Turkish. 1st Army with 6 infantry, 1 cavalry and 1 armored division
in NW Turkey, 2nd Army with 3 infantry divisions in central Turkey
(one other is in Cyprus), acting as reserve, and 3rd Army with 8
infantry and 4 cavalry divisions in Turkish Armenia and Kurdistan. Soon 2nd
Army moves to Kurdistan, where it takes over two corps with 4 infantry
divisions and 3 cavalry divisions, to let 3rd Army keep an eye on
Armenia. Turkish forces are thus aligned with
-
1st
Army (1 armor, 1 cavalry, 6 infantry divisions) watching Greece and Bulgaria
-
2nd
Army (7 infantry and 3 cavalry divisions) watching Syria and Iraq
-
3rd
Army (4 infantry and 1 cavalry division) watching Armenia.
Turkey,
Iraq, Egypt and Saudi Arabia conclude a treaty of military and economic
cooperation and non-agression, and call for the evacuation of all foreign
troops from the Middle East.
Italy
halts its demobilization.
British
and US arms exports to Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia begin increasing
exponentially. At the same time, a British-Egyptian operation re-opens the old
training camps for Ethiopian guerillas in the Sudan, and arms also begin
flowing into Ethiopia that way
Save for a
few bases (primarily naval), that will take longer to evacuate, the Germans
finish evacuating France and Norway. Rioting and shoot-outs between former
resistance fighters and returning eastern front volunteers is widespread.
Evacuation of the Netherlands begins.
The
transfer of Jews from the German-occupied territories to Madagascar resumes.
Before Italy entered the war, in all 500.000 had been settled there.
With WWII
over, Germany again opens up for Jewish emigration from the lands it controls,
with the Jews themselves financing the whole thing according to German law.
There are millions willing to emigrate, but only few countries want to take
them. In fact, about the only countries willing to take large numbers of them
are South Africa, Japan and Italy, the USSR now also having barred the
immigration of Jews, and some pogrom-like purges being carried out. Small
numbers also enter most other countries, but those are so small amounts, that
they don΄t really matter.
In the
US, the Democratic party begins pushing through a number of measures intended
to diminish social differences all over the country, and various measures to
begin removing segregation. While the former is resisted by the Republicans,
the southern, conservative, Democrats resist the latter even more wildly.
Discontent is brewing in the Democrat party.
Japan
begins a campaign against the nationalist Chinese. The goal is to occupy the
Peking-Wuhan railroad and thus connect Japanese Indochina with the areas
occupied in western China. At the same time between one half and one million
Nationalist Chinese troops will be cut off in SE-China. Among the troop engaged
(500.000 men in all) are two of Japans four armored divisions.
1944 May
Turco-Greek
negotiations fail. Greece mobilizes its troops, fielding in all three army
corps, totaling 9 infantry divisions, another 2 independent infantry, one
cavalry and one armored division. Only shipping places limits on how many can
be ferried over to Turkey, and this the Italians are all too happy to provide.
Italy and Greece sign a treaty of mutual cooperation in economic and military
matters, and common Italian-Greek naval maneuvers take place. The treaty is
soon expanded to also include Armenia, that has all its 5 infantry divisions
lined up along the border, with the Italian occupation corps of three divisions
in its rear. Feelers are extended towards Bulgaria, also, but she prefers to
sit this one out and see where to throw in her lot. At the same time, the Turks
begin funneling weapons through the Turkish minority to Albania, where a
low-level guerilla has been brewing for the last 2 years, primarily in the
southern regions. Several cross-border incursions take place by both sides.
By now,
the population in Italian Syria has begun dividing up along confessional lines,
with most of the Christians now residing in Italian-controlled regions, the
Italian troops having confined themselves to the coastal areas and a swathe
along the Italo-Turkish border. From Jordan, roughly 100.000 Christians have
fled to Palestine, from where some 400.000 Moslems have been driven out.
Another 200.000 Christians have been driven out of Syria, to Assyria and
Lebanon, while some 300.000 Sunnis have gone the other way, from Lebanon,
Assyria and Alauite. Moslem troops are driven from the city of Hama, occupied
by them some 2 months ago. The only major towns in Moslem hands are now Homs
and Damascus
Iraq and
Egypt mobilize, fielding respectively 5 infantry and one mechanized, and 4
infantry and one mechanized division. With Italy in its rear, Egypt keeps most
of her forces in the Western Desert, though.
Italy
sends another corps of two divisions to Italian Syria.
By the
end of the month, after having kept the peace for more than half a year since
their armies returned home, Hungary and Romania go to war again, but this time
against each other. Border skirmishes have, as already during WWII, taken place
rather often, but by now the Romanians have decided to even the score and take
back the parts of Transsylvania that the Hungarians got by the 2nd
Vienna Award in 1940. This decision has been reached, as Hungarian arms
production since late 1943 has been ever-increasing, helped by
license-agreements with German and Italian firms, while indigenous Romanian
production is only slowly starting up. They simply have to act before the
Hungarian divisions, heretofore worse off in terms of equipment in comparison
with their Romanian counterparts, begin making up for this lack. As is, Romania
has numbers on its side, and she sends three armies into Hungary, once each
towards Klausenburg and Arad in Trasnssylvania and Szeged in the Banat.
Germany
ends evacuation from Belgium.
In the
Soviet army, the first units of heavy JS1 tanks are introduced. They are kept
secret from the Germans.
The
Italians begin mining copper in Albania, that is turning out to be quite rich
in minerals. Including the Kosovo, it now produces not only copper, but also
lead, chrome, zinc, oil and bitumen.
The
post-war depression is beginning to be felt across the globe. With employees in
armaments factories beginning to be fired in record numbers all over and men
returning form the service, unemployment rates skyrocket in most countries.
Especially the US is hit hard, as it was already beginning to slump back into a
depression of its own when WWII came and saved her. Some powers come out better
off than others, though. Especially Germany and Japan have gained large tracts
of land, that can now be exploited to help get over the crisis. Italy gets over
it primarily with colonizing ventures financed by oil sales, and the revenues
from the relocation of the European Jewry.
Japanese
forces take Luoyang in China, the first larger Chinese city taken in the
offensive that started last month.
1944 June
Events in
the Middle East finally explode, when Greece uses a minor encounter between the
Greek and Turkish fleets resulting in the loss of a Greek torpedo boat to
declare war on Turkey. Soon, Italy and Armenia declare war under the recently
signed Armeno-Greek-Italian treaty, and Italy also declares war on Iraq, citing
numerous engagements with Iraqi-sponsored volunteer-units over the last months.
For the time being, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are left out, though. Italian forces
in and around the Middle East include a corps of 3 infantry divisions in
Armenia, another one with three infantry divisions in Iran (one in Azerbaijan,
one at Teheran and one in Arabistan), and three corps with 8 infantry divisions
in Italian Syria (one in Palestine, two in Lebanon and western Syria, three
opposite Turkey in the Latakia-Antakya-Aleppo region in NW Syria, one along the
border in N-Syria, and one in the Jazira/Mosul region.
The
Italians begin the campaign by driving the Moslems from the town of Homs,
occupied some 3 months ago by them. In the north, the opening is not as
favorable for the Italians, as the Turks launch twin attacks at Aleppo and
Mosul, sending a corps of 2 infantry and 1 cavalry division against each, while
2 infantry divisions are left holding Alexandretta/Iskenderun, and 1 infantry
and 1 cavalry division screen the entire region between the eastern and western
theatres. As the Italians are overpowered, they are pushed back across the
frontier in both places, at Mosul also coming under attack from two Iraqi
divisions. There, they retreat into Syria. At Aleppo, they are only forced back
to the city, relinquishing control of the railroads meeting north of there. As
a small consolation, Italian troops flood into Hatay, and soon take Antioch.
All along
the Syrian/Egyptian border, Egyptian troops stage incidents and border raids,
though they refrain from any large-scale attacks, fearing the Italian troops
massing in Libya.
In Iraq,
one division is sent over the border, up the Euphrates to cut off the Italian
division retreating from Mosul, and threatening the forces at Aleppo from the
rear. The Iraqi mechanized brigade at the same time heads west, to Palestine
and Damascus, accompanied by several brigade-sized gatherings of volunteers. In
the south, the Iraqis place two divisions to guard Basra against incursions
from the Italian troops in Arabistan.
In Iran,
the Shah asks the Italians, who have so far not made any moves to evacuate his
country formally to leave. The Italian division at Teheran is instructed to
please leave through Azerbaijan, and as quickly as possible evacuate Arabistan,
as more combat in that region is not good for Iranian foreign revenue earnings.
The division around Teheran begins moving towards Tabriz. Iranian pressure for
the Italians to evacuate only intensifies when Italian troops later that month
move through Iran to attack Turkey.
In NE
Anatolia, the Turks initially hold with their 3 infantry and 1 cavalry
divisions (1 infantry division is protecting the Van and Hakkari regions
further south), but are outlfanked when the Italian occupation corps from
Armenia moves through far northern Iranian Azerbaijan, south around Mount
Ararat, and into Turkey. The Turks begin falling back towards Erzurum.
Turkey
begins forming additional militia divisions.
As the
Romanians make progress against the Hungarians in Transsylvania, and take
Klausenburg, the southern invading army is held short of Szeged. Also,
Hungarian possession of more modern fighters begins to tip the scale in the air
somewhat, especially as also some 5th-Generation Italian
fighter-planes begin to appear.
Germany
ends evacuation from the Netherlands.
Italian
oil production in the al-Hasa colony begins anew.
With the
occupier gone, the Flemish and Valloon nationalists are freer to question the
existence of a Belgium, that houses two peoples. Mass rallies by nationalists
often degenerate into riots, and shootings happen often. German and French
meddling in Belgian affairs and support for the nationalists soon brings like
British support for the government.
In the
US, troubles are beginning. With fewer jobs to go around for an expanded pool
of employees, US cities are rocked by a series of riots of Whites against
Negroes much more destructive than the ones seen the year before. At the same
time, especially the south sees a wave of lynchings of returning Negro
servicemen. Politically also, southern discontent with the policies of
Roosevelt boil over. It all begins in Texas, when the United States Supreme
Court in its Smith v. Allwright decision, strikes down the Texas law barring
blacks from the Democratic primary. It later spreads, and southern Democrats
break away from the party all over the south, to instead form into the States
Rights Party. (I took the actual Texas Regulars, and expanded their existence
to most of the south).
Yemen
renounces all its treaties with Italy over the Italian treatment of Moslem
Arabs in Syria.
1944 July
Greece
finally enters the war in force, when two corps-size landings take place in NW
and SW Anatolia, at Galipolli and Marmaris. The Greeks are confined in their
beachheads by Turkish counter-attacks, though, the only thing hindering in
driving the Greeks off being Greek/Italian naval gunfire.
Meanwhile,
Palestine erupts in fighting and expulsions again, as Iraqi troops reach the
Jordan River, and help the Moslem irregulars and the Arab Legion throw out all
Italian-sponsored militia from the eastern bank save for the Druze in Djebel
Druze. Jordan declares its independence and joins the anti-Italian alliance. The
Negev desert comes under Moslem control, among others with the help of some
groupings of Egyptian battalions, and arms begin flowing in freely from Egypt.
Italy condemns the intervention of Egyptian troops, and demands they withdraw.
The Egyptians play dumb for the moment.
In the
Syrian theatre, two Italian corps (one mechanized, one infantry) land, but are
not committed initially. At the same time, Italian troops are stalled short of
Alexandretta by fierce Turkish opposition in the Syrian Gate. Further east, the
Turks and their Moslem Arab auxiliaries take Aleppo and thus finish the
encirclement of the Italian divisions furthest east, when Turkish and Iraqi
troops meet up on the Euphrates, and essentially occupy all of north-central
Syria. Iraqi troops also take Mosul, and the division is confined to defending
the Jazira region.
It is
helped in this, though, when the Turks have to pull out troops also from this
theatre to help stop the Italians coming from Iran.
In a
surprise move, 2nd-line Armenian troops flush into NE-Iranian
Azerbaijan, occupying the towns of Khwoy and Tabriz, thus freeing up the two
Italian divisions now concentrated here to invade Turkey, and push the Turkish
division here back to Bitlis, taking Van in the process.
Further
north, Armenian/Italian troops push to the vicinnity of Erzurum, but are unable
to take it.
With many
troops from the Albanian garrison sent to the Middle East, the moment seems
just right for the Albanian guerillas, that have maintained a low-level
guerilla war since 1942. Consequently, backed by Albanian bands trained by the
Bulgarian army, that has for the last three years skirmished from time to time
with the Italian army along the Bulgarian/Italian border over some areas
Bulgaria feels cheated of (primarily Ohrid), they launch their rebellion, that
succeeds out of proportion to all plans. Within the month, large parts of
southern Kosovo, the parts of western Macedonia added to Albania in 1941, and
southern Albania are in rebel hands, with Prizren, Kukes, Berat, Pristina,
Ohrid, Korce and Gjirokaster in their possession. In the mixed Catholic/Moslem
areas of northern Albania, the rebellion is a miserable failure, though, and
Italian troop concentrations also hold coastal southern Albania, including
Valona, and northern Kosovo including Mitrovica, against rebel onslaughts.
By the
end of the month, the Italians put a division ashore in the colony of al-Hasa.
In the 3rd
Balkans War, The Romanians commit their armored and cavalry corps in an
operation towards Oradea/Grosswardein to threaten the Hungarian flank and make
the Hungarians withdraw from Transsilvania. Against it, the Hungarians throw
their own armored corps. In the ensuing battle, the Romanians are defeated by a
combination of superior Hungarian armor and handling of same, as well as
superior air power. By the time the Romanians have stopped the ensuing
Hungarian counter-offensive, Hungary is in possession of the northern part of
the Banat, including the town of Temesvar.
Germany
begins deporting some 150.000 Poles out of the region around the city of Zamosc
in the eastern part of pre-war Poland. In their place will be settled some
50.000 Germans, the first large-scale re-settlement effort of the ethnic
Germans evacuated from the east. The main city in the region, renamed
Adolfsmark, is called Adolfsburg, both in reverence to the late German leader.
The Germans resettled here have until now partially lived in tents, partially
in barracks, but are suddenly handed vast farms to till. Though the deportation
of the Poles raises an uproar in the international press it after all again
has access to Germany now the war has ended the Germans go on with the
project (this happened in reality in 1942-44, but I have let the SS have a bit
less drive, as the Jewish Problem has been partially solved by emigration,
and thus has given the SS a bit less justification for expansion).
A
diplomatic shouting-match develops, when the new British government is refused
access to the results of research into nuclear weapons so far. The British
withdraw from the project.
In the
US, a wave of lynchings of returning black servicemen go over especially the
southern states, but it is not only confined to there (In reality, the number
of lynchings decreased after WWII. Given that in this timeline the US is not a
victor, and is not on the verge of a 30-year economic expansion, I have let
racial and political trouble me MUCH more prevalent).
In India,
the Indian guerilla war, that has been simmering ever since the Japanese
stopped overt supply to the guerillas, receives new life as the Indian fleet
mutinies and demands a quick independence of India. When Indian troops are
ordered in to restore order, many refuse, and several thousands desert to the
guerillas. (the mutiny happened in reality in 1946)
Italy
opens a string of recruitment offices across Europe, that aim to recruit
settlers for Italian Libya and the AOI. With economic depression getting
deeper, as trade barriers are erected between the various blocks (The Americas,
Free Europe, French Empire, Third Reich, Italian Empire, Soviet Union and Asian
Co-prosperity Zone), and with immigration to most American countries limited
due to their own troubles, the number of would-be settlers sky-rocket, and
reaches an average of 350.000 each year (including Italians) over the remainder
of the 1940s. Especially the parts of Eastern Europe under German domination
prove to be fertile recruiting grounds.
1944 August
The war
takes a definite turn for the better for Italy, when a row of moves turn the
stakes on almost all fronts.
In the
west, the Greek armored and cavalry division is put ashore along with an
infantry corps at Enez, and thereafter quickly push east towards Istanbul, thus
severing the Gallipoli peninsula, and cutting off the Turkish troops fighting
the Greek bridgehead there. By the end of the month, the Turks entrapped there
have to surrender. Sweeping of the Turkish mine fields, that have so far
blocked the Dardanelles begins immediately.
In the
Syrian theatre, the Italians breach the Turkish line in the Syrian Gate, and
take Alexandretta, pushing further north to threaten Adana and the region of
Little Armenia.
Further
east, the stakes are turned definitely on the Turks, when the two corps arrived
last month are thrown into a counter-attack, that surrounds two Turkish
divisions in Aleppo and crushes a Turkish cavalry division trying to
counter-attack. Subsequently, the Italians race north, take Gaziantep and
Maras, and head for Malatya and Elazig.
The back
of the Turkish front is secured, when the Italians, citing the Egyptian
intervention in Palestine/Syria, send an army of three corps across the
Egyptian border, smash the two Egyptian corps based at Matruh and seize
Alexandria by combined ground, amphibious and aerial attack. At the same time,
light Italian columns seize all the oases in the western Desert, as well as the
Darfur and northeastern regions of the Sudan and, between Asyut and Ed Damer on
the Nile reach the river in many places. As Italian columns at the same time
push into the Sudan in three columns, towards Malakal, Khartoum and Post Sudan,
and with the new British labor government unwilling to actually go to war
again, a compromise is hammered out, that sees the Italians settle down where
they are, the Egyptians declaring themselves neutral, and the British also
occupy the Sinai peninsula, with the task of creating a buffer there. As the
British in this way get control over both sides of the canal, they are happy.
Further
north, while the Italian troops at Bitlis and in the Jazira perform holding
actions, another offensive move in the north also topples Turkish defenses.
With heavy aerial attacks having softened up the Turks, an Armeno-Italian force
of 6 division overwhelms Turkish defenses, takes Erzurum, and quickly moves
west towards Erzincan, together with the forces racing up from Aleppo
threatening to cut off all Turkish troops in eastern Anatolia.
In
Palestine, a Moslem advance towards Jerusalem is beaten back across the River
Jordan, and a new wave of expulsions of Moslem Arabs begins, as many aided the
invading troops.
During
the month, another mechanized corps is landed in Palestine.
Kurdish
guerillas begin being a real thorn in the eye of the Turks.
Bringing
superior numbers in infantry to bear, the Romanians manage to stem the
Hungarian advance. While both parties dig in along the line
Temesvar-Clausenburg, both refuse to give in, though.
With the
moment of surprise lost to the Albanian rebels, the Italians are able to land
additional troops (a corps of two divisions), and to begin driving the rebels
back into the mountains. An early victory comes south of Pec, where the
Italians catch Albanian rebels in the open and smash them, taking the illusion
that they can stand up to the Italians in open battle away from them.
Germany
begins the resettlement of the Southern Tyrolers to the Crimean peninsula.
1944 September
A
combined Italian/Greek squadron finally forces its way through the Dardanelles,
and begins bombarding anything of worth in sight, severing connection between
the Turkish troops in Thrace and the rest of Turkey. A corps of two divisions
is landed between Canakkale and Biga, thus occupying the southern side of the
Dardanelles.
In the
Syrian theatre, Italian forces get out of the narrow confines of the coastal
plain besides the Gavur mountains, and fan out on the plain of Adana. Further
south, the Arabs make incursions into Palestine and southern Lebanon again,
getting dangerously close to Haifa and Tyre.
Further
north, the Italians occupy the Malatya/Elazig region, and thus also the
communications lines to SE Anatolia, cutting connection between Turkey and the
forces there. On the other hand, Turkish guerillas begin operating for real in
the Italian/Armenian rear.
As
Italian/Armenian forces further north take Erzincan at the same time, the whole
of eastern Anatolia is either under Italian control, or threatens to go that
way. Some 5 Turkish divisions are encircled there.
In Syria
proper, Italian/militia columns also push down the Euphrates, towards the
encircled troops in the Jazira, who on their side try moving west to meet them.
.
Another
infantry corps is put ashore in Italian Syria.
An
Italian-sponsored Shia uprising in southern Iraq takes place. Though the two
Iraqi divisions stationed in S-Iraq lose several thousand men to desertion
(most of them Shiites), they remain organized, and secure the Basra area and
the communications lines from there to Baghdad.
Resuming
their offensive on the southern end of the front, the Hungarians push up the
Maros river valley into southern Transsilvania and, aided by Hungarian
partisans, manage to take the city of Sibiu and seal the Red Tower pass through
the Carpathian Mountains. As Romanian troops further north see themselves under
threat of being cut off by a Hungarian push to the north, they begin to fall
back.
Germany
sends a direct ultimatum to Hungary not to go across the Carpathian mountains.
Along with it goes a German offer of mediation, that is refused, however.
Rather than make the Romanians happy, as it protects the core of Romania from
attack, the ultimatum proves to be an insult to them. For once, it implies the
Hungarians can even get that far, and to that comes that the Hungarians
apparently are even allowed to get that far for Germany.
A major
anti-partisan drive in Albania brings Prizren, Mitrovica and Berat back on
Italian hands, confining the Albanian partisans to the mountains in southern
Kosovo, western Macedonia, and south-central Albania. At the same time, the Italians
also begin establishing detention camps for the population of rebel-infested
areas.
With the
worlds attention firmly directed towards the Middle East, and without really
having to make sure not to offend anyone, the USSR annexes Tannu Tuva, a Soviet
protectorate since WWI. At the same time, the Soviets also send more troops
into the Sinkiang province of China. The nationalist Chinese protest
vehemently, but are in no position to intervene. Both as a result of the Soviet
move, and because of American and British pressure (most supplies reaching them
after all comes from them via India and Burma), Chiang breaks off all
connections with the Soviets. Consequently these only have one client in China.
The communists have the Soviets as their only source of supplies, so not a word
is heard from them.
1944 October
In
Thrace, the Greek and Turkish armored divisions clash, initially giving the
Greeks a severe beating at the hands of the newly supplied British armor. After
being thrown back some 20 kilometers, the Turks, having outrun their infantry,
run into a Greek AT-line, and suffer large losses in armor. After that, the
front settles down. Further south, the Greeks finally break out of their
bridgehead at Marmaris and head north, taking Aydin by the end of the month,
threatening Izmir.
Further
east, the Italians land a corps of three divisions at Antalya, the old
battleground from the post-WWI years. The Turks, caught off-guard without much
in troops to resist the landing, withdraw inland.
Similarly,
the Italian troops on the Plain of Adana are reinforced by an armored brigade,
and rout the Turkish militia thrown in their way before taking Adana. They are
stopped short of the Cilician Gate, though. In the remainder of Anatolia,
things are settling down as the Italians and Armenians consolidate their
conquests and fight Turkish attacks that try to penetrating the
ever-strengthening ring around the Turkish forces in SE Anatolia. The only way
out is to Iraq.
At the
same time, to fight the increasing Turkish guerilla in their rear that
contributed so much to the Greek defeat in the 1920-1922 Greek-Turkish war, the
Italians and Armenians start Denying the water to the fish, simply dumping
large numbers of civilian Turks on the Turkish side of the front, primarily
from the Kars, Ardahan and Van areas. Divided into large groups of some 5.000
each, they are driven across the front in broad daylight, by the end of the
month making up some 300.000, that will put a severe strain on the Turks in the
approaching winter. In their place are settled Armenians once deported from the
same areas by the Turks around 1920, and Russian refugees resettled in Armenia.
In
Italian Syria, things are looking better, too. With another corps brought in
during the month (the last to be sent to Italian Syria), the Moslems are again
thrown out of Palestine and Lebanon, accompanied by several hundreds of
thousands of civilians driven out by the militias. Further north, the
Italian/Militia columns punch through to the encircled troops in the Jazira.
Armenia
annexes the Kars and Ardahan areas, and begins mapping out claims to real
estate held by those Armenians who were driven from the area by the Turkish
government in the early 1920s.
As
Ukrainians forced into the Romanian army stage a revolt and desert in record
numbers, the Hungarians use the suddenly appeared weak spot in the Romanian
from to great effect: an offensive into northern Transsilbania leads to the
total expulsion of the Romanians. Combat now consists of raids by Romanian border
troops, and increasingly harsh fighting in the mountains.
In
Albania, both Gjirokaster, Korce and Ohrid are taken back from the rebels. At
the same time, the number of Albanians held in detention camps reaches some
300.000
Italy
offers to re-settle the Soviet emigres, that are still residing in Great
Britain after having been evacuated from northern Russia. Over the next 6
months, some 50.000 take the offer, and end up mostly in Ethiopia or Italian
Syria.
Spanish
dissatisfaction with the territories that were added to Spanish Morocco after
WWII leads to several border crossings by Spanish units, and resulting
skirmishes. Franco-Spanish relations sour.
1944 - November
November
sees the ever-tightening of the noose around the Turks in preparation for the
winter. With the increasing number of troops to cover with the same number of
regular divisions, the Turks are increasingly forced to depend on militia
divisions. While their willingness to hold out leaves nothing to crave, they
simply are not as effective as the former divisions, and the Italian alliance
is able to make gains almost everywhere. In Thrace, aided by several Italian
armored battalions, the Greeks are able to push the Turks back to Istanbul,
leaving some 3 Turkish divisions encircled around Edirne/Adrianopel by the
Bulgarian border. The Greek troops south of the Dardanelles at the same time
are able to fight back determined Turkish counter-attacks.
At Izmir,
the Turks have to withdraw from the city, when they are threatened by Greek attacks
from the south and naval landings in their back. Izmir/Smyrna is once again in
Greek hands.
While the
Italians remain rather inactive at Antalya, being content to tie down Turkish
troops, those on the plain of Adana make one final push before they end the
campaigning this year: aided by two Alpini divisions, they occupy the Kilikian
Gate, and on the other side of the Taurus mountains seize enough territory to
make for a viable staging point of next years offensive against Konya, Kayseri
and, eventually, Ankara. Further north, Italian troops stay on the S-side of
the Taurus mountains, being content with capturing the railroad hub between
Malatya and Sivas, while planning to use it to stockpile for the attack planned
to take the latter city next year. In the meantime the expulsions of civilian
Turks continue. By the end of the month, some 800.000 more have been driven
across the frontier.
In SE
Anatolia, Diyarbakir and Mardin are taken, thus confining the Turkish troops
there to the Hakkari region, or driving them into Iraq. Everywhere they go,
they are already preceded by Italian-armed Kurdish guerillas, that spring up
everywhere, as winter weather makes operations by the Turkish and Iraqi armies
in the mountainous region difficult.
In an
all-out offensive all along the Palestinian border, Italian troops and militia
cross the River Jordan. Though they are driven back across the river in some
places, they generally are able to thrown out the Sunni troops from the Jordan
Valley. , and in the north take Amman after some heavy house-to-house fighting
with the Arab Legion. Iraqi troops, on the contrary, offer surprising little
resistance.
Like
operations to the north manage to encircle Damaskus on three sides, and a
merciless pounding of the city by heavy artillery begins.
With the
Shiite uprising in southern Iraq and that of the Kurds spreading in the
northern regions, the Iraqis see themselves more and more under pressure. As
the Kurds take Arbil and Sulaymaniyah in the north, an Najaf and Karbala falls to
the Shiites, and the Iraqi government begins pulling back troops from Italian
Syria, and even transfers one of the divisions from southern Iraq to the
Baghdad region.
The
Romanians remove all Ukrainians from the armed forces and instead concentrate
them in labor battalions. While preparations for a winter offensive across the
Red Tower pass begin, the Hungarians throw another attack the Romanians, this
time clearing them from the Banate and taking the town of Resita. At the same
time the Hungarian bomber force, after attempting a bombing offensive against
Bukarest, concedes defeat and stops it.
Italy
annexes the Hatay area of Turkey back to Italian Syria.
The
anti-partisan war in Albania goes into a new phase. As the lowland areas and
bigger towns are now taken back from the partisans, the Italians concentrate on
creating a cordon along the Italian/Bulgarian border to intercept armaments
shipments from Bulgaria, and the rounding up of the population supporting the
rebels. Until now, these have simply been confined to the camps, but there are
some deliberations about following the Serbian model from some years back, and
simply begin to deport them to Turkey. By now, some 450.000 have been detained.
In Italy
proper, the government begins a program to increase the spread of private
motorcar ownership. This is another component in a plan to use the Italian gas
and Libyan oil production to build up first a national chemical industry, then
on its shoulders a national automotive industry.
After
ever-escalating incidents over the last 10 months, Belgium erupts in a
three-way civil war, as Flemish and Valloon nationalists, and the government
supported by the former resistance battle each other. The armed forces, that
have been trying to integrate the diverse elements of the three factions,
dissolve as its men leave, taking with them their equipment. At the same time,
weapons begin pouring in over the border from France, Germany and Great
Britain, each backing their faction.
The
number of guerillas in India reaches some 20.000. As these are mostly Hindu and
concentrated in Hindu areas, the British begin a policy of using mostly Moslem
units against them. As a result, inter-religious resentment only further
builds, as does the verbal war between the Congress Party and the Moslem
League.
The
presidential elections take place in the US. During the campaign the
isolationist Republicans have revealed the Magic program, that included the
breaking of numerous foreign codes immediately before and during WWII, and accused
Roosevelt of knowing of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor beforehand, thus
trying to trick the US into joining WWII. Though the Democrats cling to him,
given not only this accusation, but also the defeat IN the war, and the
subsequent beginning recession, Roosevelt is thrown out of the White House with
the lowest percentage-wise vote attained by a Democrat since reconstruction
ended. A contributing factor is also, that large groups of Democrats on both
wings of the political spectrum have split off and instead voted for own
candidates.
With
Roosevelt and the clique around him refusing to give in to the demands from
southern Democrats to stop the emancipation of the Negroes, most southern party
organizations have banded together to form the States Rights Party. They
capture the vote in 8 states in the south, including Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee. The only states
they dont win in the south is Virginia, North Carolina and Missouri, and there
only because the party machines remains loyal to Roosevelt.
In
addition to this, the US left has also pulled together. With the Farmer-Labor
party of Minnesota, the American Labor Party of New York and the Socialist
Party merging and sucking many Democrats to them, they field a candidate under
the Farmer-Labor Party that manages to gain some 1.1 million votes, though he
only catches few electoral votes.
So
instead the US ends up with republican president Douglas McArthur and a
republican Congress. The isolationist character of the latter is not to the
presidents liking, though. He aims for a more expansionist policy, based on
three pillars in the first phase:
-
Expel
foreign influence from the Americas
-
Return
to Asian politics to force back Japan.
-
Stir
up trouble in Europe to keep Italy and Germany occupied
1944 December
While
fighting dies down pretty much everywhere, Greek troops make one more gain,
rounding up the region in their hands around Smyrna. There, Manisa and Akhisar
are taken. Otherwise, the only thing that happens in the western theatre is,
that the Greeks take up the Italian/Armenian policy of Demographic Warfare,
and begin deporting Turks by the thousands from the territories under their
control. By the end of the month, the number of refugees from Greek-occupied
lands (including those that left voluntary before they arrived) has reached
some 500.000.
In the
Eastern Theatre, the Italians and Armenians drive some 400.000 across the
front.
Otherwise,
the Italian troops and their allies remain rather inactive on the ground, only
moving into the region of Hakkari as the Turks are forced out by Kurdish
guerillas. These also take the town of Altin, only some 50 kilometers north of
Kirkuk.
In the
air, the Italians begin a campaign against the larger Turkish cities, sending
in their force of heavy bombers, that has by now grown to some 500.
A first
batch of some 30.000 Albanians leave Albania aboard Italian merchantmen. They
are eventually put ashore in Italian-held country.
The
Romanians launch their counter-offensive against the Red Tower Pass, including
a drop by its airborne regiment behind Hungarian lines. Though the Romanians
manage to get to the other side of the pass, the paratroopers are wiped out,
and then the Hungarians hit them with a counter-attack of their own, using both
all armor available and the Hungarian paratrooper regiment, that is dropped as
a blocking force in the pass. Large numbers of Romanians are taken prisoner,
while the remainder of the attacking force makes it back across the mountains,
abandoning all heavy equipment.
The
Italian stockpile of nuclear weapons reaches 15.
Against
the only partially-formed Belgian government army, the Valloon and Flemish
veterans from the Eastern Front show themselves to be more than a match,
especially with large supplies of French, respectively German armaments. During
the month, the Flemings manage to take Liege, thus opening a route from Germany
to their liberated areas in the Flemish northern parts of Belgium. At the same
time, the Valloons take Dinant, the first larger town to come in their
possession, and the advance in the direction of Namur.
The
Japanese end Operation Ichi-Go, their 1944 Chinese offensive. It is a total
success, as the goal of making ground-bound traffic between Japanese Indochina
and Manchuria possible. At the same time, some 500.000 Chinese Nationalists are
cut off in Fukien, Kiangsi and Guangdong provinces.
1945 - January
With the
Turkish troops in northern Thrace, though supplies somewhat by sea from Turkey,
about to crack, Bulgaria decides to join the war. She sends in two armies of in
all 8 infantry, 2 cavalry and 1 armored division, and envelops
Edirne/Adrianopel from three sides, while the Greeks cover the fourth side.
In the
Syrian theatre, the Italians take Damascus. Mobile Italian columns begin to
move along the Amman-Baghdad highway towards Baghdad.
In Iraq,
the Kurds begin going over to conventional warfare and move away from the
guerilla tactics employed until now, creeping nearer Mosul. At the same time,
Italian troops take Mosul and move across the Tigris.
In
southern Iraq, the Shiite rebels inflict a decisive defeat on the Iraqis,
forcing them to pull out the remaining division in the region.
Another
German offer to mediate in the 3rd Balkans War is refused by
Hungary. Fighting shows little sign of resuming, though.
Some
300.000 Albanians and 300.000 Turks are driven across the frontlines.
By the
end of the month, the Iraqis sue for peace.
Having
broken the Belgian government lines, the Flemish Nationalists occupy the entire
Limburg province, and large parts of Antwert province, bringing Leuven/Louwain
into their possession and threatening both Bussels and Antwerp. Government
control is now confined to western and parts of central Belgium, with the line
of control running roughly along the Sambre and Meuse Rivers to Liege, from
there to Louvain/Leuven, and then in an almost straight line to the North.
1945 February
After
Greek troops take Adrianopel/Edirne before the eyes of the Bulgarians, Turkey
also finally gives in under the double strain of having to fight a war and care
for millions of refugees. Peace negotiations begin.
Tunisia
is formally annexed by Italy, joined with Libya, and loses its protectorate
status.
Small-scale
border incidents occur on the Franco-Italian border in Algeria and French Sudan
(Mali).
1945 March
A new
Romanian offensive brings the southern quarter of the Banat into Romanian
hands, as the Hungarians manage to stop them just north of Anina.
After a staged
plebiscite, Sinkiang is annexed by the USSR as the Uighur SSR. Border
skirmishing begins on the Mongolian-Manchukuan border, both the USSR and Japan
using proxy forces.
In
another surprise move, Flemish nationalists seize the Flemish town of Ghent to
the west of Antwerp and, after government forces are pulled from the frontline,
in an all-out offensive take Antwerp. The city is promptly declared the capital
of an independent Flanders. Throwing all forces against them, the Belgians
manage to stabilize the frontier again and crush the nationalists in Ghent.
In the
southern part of the country, the Valloons take advantage of the Belgian
weakness, and take Namur and Charleroi.
Italy
begins building factories for processing the Phosphate produced in Italian
Libya (formerly Tunisia) to fertilizers instead of shipping it all to Italy. At
the same time, it also helps to attract Italian workers to the colonies, as
industry springs up. Arab workers are strictly barred from gaining work in
Italian factories.
Border
incidents on the border between Spanish and French Morocco
Most
major powers (Japan is not a signatory, and the USSR is not invited), and a lot
of smaller ones, sign a treaty on the prevention of use of nuclear weapons. All
parties agree to not use them unless attacked with them.
1945 April
A peace
treaty is signed, ending the Middle Eastern War. Almost no borders of the
belligerents are left unchanged. Turkey is essentially confined to the
territory under Turkish control at the signing of the treaty, while the
territories occupied by the Greeks are annexed to Greece. As a reward for her
joining the war, the Dodekanese Islands are handed back to her by the Italians,
as is Cyprus. An exodus of the Turkish population begins from the island.
Egypt
proper loses large stretches of territory, but quite little of her population.
With the entire Western Desert goes the oases located here, but only some
hundred thousand people. Worse is the loss of Aswan and Quena provinces, with
the dam located there, that helps control the flow of the Nile somewhat. About
1,4 million people live here. The worst is reserved for the Sudan section of
Egypt, however. There, the Northern, Kassala, Equatoria and parts of the Upper
Nile provinces are carved off. In all, from its pre-war 3,5 million square
kilometers with some 26,5 million inhabitants, Egypt (incl Sudan) loses some
1,75 million square kilometers with 4,8 million inhabitants. To this comes,
that Sudanese army troops after a coup take control over the remaining part of
the Sudan, that is now separated from Egypt by Italian territory, thus adding a
loss of another 1,35 million square kilometers with some 5,2 million
inhabitants. The new state of the Sudan, surrounded as it is by European
colonies (Italy to the north, east and south, France to the west), thereafter
takes on a strictly neutral policy.
With
parts of the Nile Valley now in Italian hands, they begin to actively encourage
the emigration of Moslem peasants to Egypt, and a like immigration of Coptic
peasants the other way.
The
Hungarians again expel the Romanians from the Banat.
All Jews
living in the colonies are automatically granted Italian citizenship. The same
applies to all Christian subjects in Libya and Syria. So far, it is withheld
from the Christians in the AOI, chiefly because the Amhara, the main Christian
people there, are fiercely anti-Italian.
1945 May
An
Italian offer of mediation in the 3rd Balkans war is accepted by
Hungary, but refused by Romania. Refused arms deliveries by a Germany that
tries to stay impartial, and seeing Italian deliveries to Hungary rising again,
Romania begins importing British and US armaments.
With most
of the Sahara now in Italian hands, the 20 year old plans of Hermann Sorgel to
irrigate the desert with water from the Congo basin, as well as a host of other
plans to make use of the desert begin to draw attention. Especially the Qattara
depression in what was formerly Egypt draws attention, with a plan to dig a
canal from the Mediterranean, through which seawater would flow into the
depression. The current thus created would be exploited to generate vast
amounts of electric energy, which could be used for various energy-heavy
industries. In addition, the seawater flowing in would bring with it a host of
minerals, that could be used to build a chemical industry upon.
The idea
to build a major industrial area in Africa, with its accompanying hordes of
Italian workers sounds rather appealing, and survey crews are immediately sent
to the area.
All over
the newly acquired areas (both the former French and former Egyptian lands),
Italian expeditions begin to count an measure everything that can be counted
and measured. There are hopes of maybe finding the equivalent of the Libyan oil
fields in the new areas.
Under an
agreement with Italy, a confederation of the 6 Tuareg kingdoms in the western
Sahara is created and given considerable autonomy, as long as the Italians
retain all rights to resources found in the soil and recognize Italian
authority. For the time being, the territory allocated to the federation lies
exclusively in the former French areas of Libya.
With the
wars finally at an end, Italy begins a mechanization program, that will see the
creation of a further 2 armored divisions (the 5th and 6th),
and the motorization of another 8 divisions, so the total reaches 6 and 15,
respectively. Other parts of the modernization process include the abolition of
the type mechanized corps, and the
forming of a 3rd Airborne Division.
The
Japanese launch their second annual offensive in China, this time designed to
throw the nationalists out of Yunnan and Kweichow, thus cutting off the Ledo
road and the main artery through which aid is flowing to the Nationalists from
Great Britain and the US through India. At the same time covert Japanese aid
for the Indian guerillas and a beginning Burmese guerilla movement is
increased.
Germany
signs a treaty on economic cooperation with Finland.
1945 June
Turkey
and Italy sign a treaty along the lines of the former Turco-Yugoslav treaty of
1938 on population transfers. According to it, Turkey, in dire needs for cash
after the war and the loss of large tracts of land, agrees to resettle some
40.000 Albanian families in Turkey in return for a sum of 500 Turkish pounds per
family, in all 20 million Turkish pounds. The families are on purpose picked by
the Italians among the largest ones, and in the end some 420.000 Albanians, all
of them Moslems, are resettled to Turkey. In their place Italian settlers are
brought in, and by agreements with Bulgaria and Greece, the Vlach (a
Latin-speaking people) minorities there are to a large extend resettled in the
newly vacant lands in especially the Kosovo and southern Albania.
With the
3rd Balkans War showing no sign of ending, Romania signs a treaty on
trade with Great Britain.. Several agreements on arms supplies are also signed.
As now
solution to the war in the Balkans is offering itself, Italy begins to activate
the community of Iron Guardists that has existed in Italy since the 1938
crack-down by the Romanian government. Couriers are sent in by various ways to
contact the underground Legionary Movement. At the same time, armaments sales
to Hungary are doubled over.
Some 18
months after Italy gained the territory, she begins developing Diego Suarez on
the northern tip of Madagascar into a major naval base.
The
Matruh and Alexandria provinces of Egypt, taken from Egypt in April, are joined
with Italy, of which it becomes a separate region like Tunisia, Cyrenaica and
Tripolitania.
The
southern part of the Western Desert, along with the Northern Province taken
from the Sudan is joined with the Libyan Military Governorate (LMG), that also
include all the other Saharan territories. The three other Sudanese provinces
are joined with the AOI. The Aswan and Qena provinces in the Nile Valley are
merged to form a Coptic homeland.
Thus
arranged, the Italian colonies include:
-
Libya
(part of Italy): 895.000 km2 with 5.080.000 inhabitants
-
Egypt
(Coptic): 2.500 km2 with 1.400.000 inhabitants
-
LMG:
5.605.000 km2 with 1.685.000 inhabitants
-
AOI:
2.720.000 km2 with 15.240.000 inhabitants
-
Italian
Syria:
-
Madagascar:
590.000 km2 with 5.400.000 inhabitants (of whom 600.000 Jews).
Spain
begins funneling aid to Moroccan nationalists, and in secret begins training
about 100 nationalist cadres.
Japanese
troops take the first goals of their offensive in China, Chihkiang in Hunan
province and Nantan in Guangxi province, thus opening up the road to Kweiyang,
the capital of Kweichow province. At the same time the column going north from
Japanese Indochina Kienshin in Yunnan province.
In the
Malay protectorates, a rebellion against the Japanese led mainly by the Chinese
in the area breaks out.
Soviet
envoys make the Panchen Lama, the secular head of Tibet, an offer he cant
refuse: Soviet advisors to train the Tibetan army, arms shipments, and
protection against any incursion by foreign troops, Chinese, Japanese or other.
A token force of some 1.000 Soviet soldiers is sent in to train and advise the
Tibetan army.
1945 July
With
Transsilvania and the Banat occupied by Hungary, she spells out her demands for
a peace treaty: the territories north of the Maros River, including the
railroad between Deva and Targul Mures, the town of Arad and the northern part
of the Banat including the town of Timisoara. This roughly adds up to half the
Transsilvanian lands still belonging to Romania, and the Romanians refuse to
even consider the terms. With two major wars in 4 years, and the current
defeats weighing in, the Romanian population is far from happy, though, and
unrest has begun brewing a long time ago. The Iron Guardists now chip in, and
begin creating unrest of their own. They especially make headway among the
enlisted men in the army.
With
Romania tilting more and more in the direction of Great Britain and Hungary
more and more in the direction of Italy, Germany sees a need to end the 3rd
Balkans War, mobilizes 25 divisions and begins moving forces into Slovakia and
the Ukraine.
With a
Belgium bitterly in need of cash to pay for the warfare against the
nationalists that have taken over the eastern part of the country, her
government tries all countries friendly to her. With the US withdrawing from
the world again, Great Britain in the grip of the post-war depression and need
to focus resources on rebuilding her cities, Belgium is far from getting the
amounts of money she needs.
Then,
however, the Belgian government is approached by an Italian government
representative with an offer: Italy will buy the provinces of Equateur and
Haute-Zaire in the Belgian Congo from Belgium, paying her in oil or armaments.
As the two provinces, accounting for roughly 910.000 square kilometers (around
40% of the Congo) with 3,9 of the 11 million inhabitants of the Congo possess preciously
little of the riches in the colony (except the gold mines in the Haute-Zaire
province), the Belgians agree. Shipments of oil and armaments begin late in the
month.
What the
Belgians dont realize is, that the Italians are not speculating on immediate
rewards, but are rather out to secure control of the lands for one of the giant
projects, that are still in the planning stage, and that will transform large
parts of the Sahara into
In a
sudden Chinese counter-offensive, the Chinese thoroughly defeat the two
Japanese columns pushing north against Kwiyang and Kunming, respectively. The
Chinese have been husbanding a force of some 20 divisions armed and trained by
the US and Great Britain, and now decided to use them. Though the Japanese
manage to inflict a good deal of casualties in return, they lose some 40.000
men of their own. By the end of the month, the battle is still continuing.
1945 August
Germany
presents an ultimatum to Hungary and Romania: end the fighting and find a
solution by the end of the month, or face a German invasion. As further
mobilizations are bringing the German forces up to a strength of 50 divisions,
both powers are forced to give in. Essentially presented with a peace
formulated by Germany, they sign it by the end of the month. According to it
Hungary gains Arad, Temesvar and the northern part of the Banat. In
Transylvania, that was the region fought over, nothing changes. Though the
Hungarians feel somewhat cheated of the fruits of their victories, they after
all have gained territory, and settle down to exploit it. The Romanians on the
other hand are fuming, and mobs take to the streets to beat up any Germans they
encounter. The German minority in Bukovina and the remaining parts of the Banat
and Transsilvania are especially targeted, and they have to suffer dearly. As
an uproar in the German press forces the Romanian army to step in, the anger is
instead projected onto the government. Also blamed for the defeats, and aided
by soldiers that desert in their thousands, it soon degenerates into a
nationwide rebellion.
The
Belgian government has managed, with combined Italian/British supplies, to stem
the tide. The front now settles down along the line
Antwerp-Bruxelles-Charleroi, with the former and latter both in rebel hands. As
the rebels have expended their initial strength, they also need a pause in the
fighting.
French-Italian
and German-Italian relations cool considerably, as Italian help for the Belgian
government against the Belgian rebels becomes rather obvious.
The US
Pacific fleet returns in force to Hawaii.
The
Japanese government protests against this act of provocation and sends the Kido
Butai to patrol in the central Pacific to piss off the territory against the
returning Americans. At the same time, a partial mobilization is declared, and
additional forces sent to China.
The
American Pacific Fleet sorties in kind.
In China,
the Japanese bring in two armored divisions and manage to surround and defeat a
grouping of 3 new-type Chinese divisions in Kweichow, thus bringing the Chinese
counter-offensive to a halt there. In Yunnan, the Japanese retreat to Mengtsz,
where they dig in.
Japanese
forces are too exhausted to continue the offensive right away.
Seeing
Japanese weakness, the Soviets start a string of border-skirmishes to test
Japanese resolve. At the same time the Chinese communists are encouraged to go
over to the offensive with their new main-force, an army of 9 divisions
equipped and trained by the Soviet Union.
To stir
up even more trouble, the communist parties in India, the Japanese East Indies
and Malaya are ordered to go over to guerilla warfare, alternatively to join
guerilla movements already in the field and try to take them over. Through the
recently arrived Soviet military mission in Tibet, arms soon begin to flow to
guerillas in India and Burma.
1945 September
As a
rebellion by the Ukrainians in the labor battalions of the army and in the
newly acquired territories in the east add to the problems of the Romanian
government (the Ukrainians even take Odessa), its supporters begin to desert
her as fast as they can. By mid-month even the army deserts her, and a junta of
various political parties of the center and right gains power. With the Iron
Guard part of it, the foreign leadership is flown in. In vicious infighting,
they soon manage to maneuver themselves to the forefront, and in the end are in
control of the government. A quick purge of the armed forces removes any of the
higher officers that took part in the 1941 crushing of the Iron Guard coup
attempt, or anyone who would like to re-do it.
Border
incidents are stepped up along the Italo-French border in Africa.
The
Algerian nationalist outfit OS (Organisation Secrete) contacts Italy for aid.
It is already receiving aid from Egypt and Iraq, but Italy is both better off
and controls land in Tunisia that may be used for bases. Though the final goal
of the OS and its allies is also to drive the Italians from Africa, these see
an opportunity when it presents itself to them. Connections are made. (in
reality the OS came about in response to the earlier mentioned French crackdown
on Algerians in May 1945. It built up strength without much outside help during
the latter half of the 40s, but was crushed shortly before it was to launch its
campaign when the French made a lucky arrest.
It comes
to a minor naval clash between Japanese and US scouting vessels in the Pacific
mid-way between Midway and Wake islands. Only one vessel, a Japanese destroyer,
sinks, but several more, including a US cruiser, are damaged. After that, both
fleets are called back by their respective governments, while both demand
reparations from the other.
Chinese
communists invade Shanxi province in China with their main force, inflicting a
small, but important defeat upon the Japanese. Able to bring in superior air
power, the Japanese manage to cut off supply to a large extent, and the
offensive is stalled.
1945 - October
The USA
explodes its first nuclear weapon.
The newly
humbled Romanian army is sent into the eastern territories to crush the
Ukrainian uprising. At the same time Romania sends envoys to Germany professing
her friendly standing.
Iraq and
Egypt sign a mutual defense treaty.
The
Japanese army resumes its offensive in China. Strengthened now by 3 armored
divisions, two re-equipped with German armor, they are able to surround and
crush another corps of 4 Chinese new-type divisions, and again advance into
Kweichow province. For the time being, the push into Yunnan is not resumed.
The US
signs a defense treaty with Australia and New Zealand.
1945 - November
The
Romanians take Mogilev, Balta and Tiraspol in Transnistria.
Spain and
Italy sign a mutual treaty on cooperation in military and economic matters.
Included is a secret clause on military cooperation in case of any of the
parties coming to war with France.
Following
the experience with amphibious landings on Malta, in Turkey and elsewhere, and
building upon Japanese, British and American experiences with the same, Italy
establishes its own Marine Corps. This includes the Italian marine regiment,
already consisting of 6 battalions, that begins enlarging to division-size.
Added are also the three assault and landing divisions created for the invasion
of Malta, and with the 12th Division of the navy, formed already in
1941 specially to provide support for amphibious landings.
The
Japanese take Kweiyang and occupy central and western Kwichow province, but
then ground to a halt. The remainder of the offensive is called off
1945 December
Fighting
between demoralized Romanian units and Ukrainian rebels begin in the suburbs of
Odessa. Vicious street-fighting will last for several months before the rebels
are crushed.
Iraq,
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates
form the Arab League. The UK secretly funnels money to it through its
protectorates in the Gulf.
Germany
and Denmark sign a treaty on economic cooperation. Danish assistance in the
exploitation of the protectorates in the east is assured.
Great
Britain begins sending thousands of orphans to Australia, to strengthen the
White race against the Yellow peril. They are placed in colonies controlled by
various religious institutions and churches (this did take place, though few
were actually orphans. Instead, they were children of poor parents, who had had
to give them up, but who were told they were orphans. In all, during the 20
years the policy was maintained, some 10.000 children were sent. With the
Japanese victorious, Id guess there would be even more impetus for the move).
Italy,
Spain and Romania sign a mutual defense and non-aggression pact. It is soon
known as the Latin Axis.
1946 January
The
transfer to Italy of the Russian and
other ex-Soviet that retreated with the Germans from regions now again under
Soviet control comes to an end. Of the total 1,3 million, some 700.000 have
already bee re-settled in Italian Syria (400.000) or Armenia (300.000), while
some 100.000 have been resettled in Libya and the AOI, respectively. The
remaining 400.000 will be settled next year, half going to Libya, half to the
AOI. Given the short time to do so, conditions have been far from ideal, but
the refugees make do with what they are given. Still in its start-up phase, the
re-settlement of the European Jewry also progresses. So far 800.000 have been
relocated, 100.000 to Libya, 500.000 to Syria and 200.000 to the AOI.
The
Whitening of the African colonies thus progresses, the Europeans making up
some 850.000 or 15,4% of the 5.530.000 Libyans. Berbers make up another 335.000
or 6%. In the AOI, Europeans make up some 905.000 or 6,3% of the 14.335.000
inhabitants.
Egypt and
Syria sign a treaty with the USSR, that over the next 5 years will see
considerable amounts of Soviet weaponry go to the Middle East. This is both to
keep the Soviet arms industry running (limits have been imposed on the Red
Army) and to earn foreign currency.
With the
Indian guerilla war brewing on, the number of guerillas (including local
militia) has now reached some 80.000 men. These are, however, divided up into
four groups:
1)
Moslem
groups, in the weakest position, as they are outnumbered, and the British as of
late have begun to look more and more willing on Moslem complaints. They are
operating mainly in Punjab and Bengal. Moslems are dissuaded from joining by
the Moslem League. Some 10.000 guerillas.
2)
Sikh
groups, concentrated totally in the Punjab and supported by the Akali Dal. Some
10.000 guerillas.
3)
Congress-sponsored
groups, by far the strongest. These are concentrated mainly in three areas:
S-India, the central Ganges Valley and the Punjab. Pretty much listening to the
Congress Party, lately some signs of inter-religious conflict has begun to
show, and some Moslem members have begun to defect to the Moslem groups. Some
60.000 guerillas.
4)
The
communist-led groups. Only having sprung up over the last half year, they
already operate in a large area in east-central India, and receive weapons from
Tibet. Some 10.000 Guerillas.
Violent
religious riots occur in the Punjab, Bengal and Bihar.
Strain is
beginning to show in Japan, where the population and many politicians and
officers cannot see the need for the continuing war in China now that most
economic needs are met by the newly seized territories in SE Asia. That the
going begins to get tougher, and two major powers are pouring in supplies for
the two Chinese factions does not help either, as does rising tension in the
former Netherlands East Indies.
Japan and
Thailand sign a set of treaties on military and economic cooperation.
1946 March
The first
step is taken in the Italian plan to irrigate the Sahara, though a small one
with limited goals and an assured economic benefit in it: They begin digging a
canal from the Mediterranean to the Qattara depression. Building of the power
generating stations along the canal and the industries that are to benefit from
it also begins.
A new
round of border-skirmishes erupt in Africa between French and Italian forces,
this time on the border between the LMG and the French Sudan and Niger.
Initially only a dispute over grazing rights with the Tuareg, it soon draws in
regular troops from both sides.
With the
spring, France and Germany send in units of volunteers to help their favored
factions in the Belgian civil war. These, essentially veterans from WWII unable
to adapt to civilian life, again tip the balance, and soon the Belgian
government is again pressed back.
With what
is seen as British delaying of the granting of independence (but is really just
failure to find common ground among the parties) and the strains of
anti-guerilla warfare, the majority of the Hindu part of the Indian army
mutinies and demands immediate independence. While the majority of the rebels
are contained in their barracks, some of them disarmed, in many places in the
Ganges river valley the mutineers join with riotous civilians. When strained
British and Moslem troops are ordered to fire into the crows, it only serves to
rise tension further. By the end of the month, much of the central Ganges valley
is in turmoil.
Japan
begins to send in weapons to the Burmese and Indian guerillas, to put pressure
upon the British and make them shut off supplies to the nationalist Chinese.
1946 April
The
Tuareg federation is further enlarged with areas in the SW part of the original
Italian Libya, including the town of Ghat.
Essentially
under duress by the Italian government (Italy threatens to cut off Egypt from
its Water supply once the planned Aswan Dam is finished), the Italian and
Egyptian governments sign a treaty, that from mid-1947 will see a full 25% of
the population of the Italian North-African territories relocated by January
1952 in the Nile Valley, with an indemnity paid for each family to the Egyptian
government. In return Italy agrees to divide up the flow of the Nile according
to beneficiaries, and guarantee a minimum water supply. The treaty includes a
sharing agreement of water between Egypt, Italy and the Sudan. In addition,
Italy agrees to provide the resettled Arabs with electricity and fertilizers,
all from the Dam, as well as farming tools. The latter is also a plus to the
Italian industry, that is to supply the tools, better irrigation techniques and
electrical grid. Building it begins right away.
Moroccan
nationalists trained in Spain begin a protracted campaign of assassinations and
bombings.
In India,
further desertions by Hindu troops as the violence spreads makes the British
disarm a good deal of the still loyal troops, and instead depend on British,
Punjabi, Sikh, Gurkha and Pushtun troops. In response to attacks by Hindu mobs
upon the Sikh population in the Punjab, the Akali Dal, the party of the Sikhs,
deserts the Congress government in that province, and forms one with the Muslim
League instead.
Attempts
to console the Congress party, and through it the Hindus, fail, when the party
refuses negotiations until the Hindu troops are rearmed.
In
response to this, the British put forth a division plan for India, by which
Sindh, the border provinces, Baluchistan, the Punjab and Bengal will be
combined to form a Moslem state of its own, in which the Sikhs will get a
considerable amount of autonomy.
The 1946
Japanese offensive in China is launched, the goal essentially to shore up
shortfalls in last years gains, and to cut off the Nationalist government in
the Red Basin. First phase of the offensive will see a push by two columns
towards Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, and the subsequent occupation
of the province. The second phase will see a general advance into Hupeh and
Hunan provinces to seal the entrance to the Red Basin.
Initial
Japanese gains are big, and the Japanese forces stream towards Kunming. Taking
advantage of the mountainous terrain south of the city, the now revitalized and
expanded regular division (35 in all, of whom only 15 are in Yunnan, the
remainder in the north to watch the communists and protect the Red Basin),
trained and equipped by British and American advisors ambush the southern
column, however, and inflict great losses on them.
At the
same time, the Japanese launch a second Three All campaing (Kill all, Burn
All, Destroy All) to get at the communist partisans in the north, who have been
growing somewhat stronger over the past 2 years.
1946 May
A major
rebellion breaks out against the Germans in the western Ukraine, centered on
the autonomous German enclave in Volhynia, where thousands of Ukrainians have
been driven out to make place for German settlers.
Italy
launches the first in a series of three purpose-build aircraft carriers, that
along with their task forces are to be used to project power into the southern
Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
Italy
signs trade agreements with Argentina, Brazil and Chile.
In
Yunnan, the Japanese manage with the help of superior air-power and armor to
defeat the Chinese and throw them out of Kunming. Losses in the southern column
are appalling, though, and the Japanese temporarily end their offensive.
Taking
advantage of Chinese Nationalist pre-occupation with the Japanese, the Soviets
have talked the Panchen Lama (the secular head of Tibet) into an offensive grab
to re-occupy ancient Tibetan provinces long since taken from her by China.
Tibetan
troops heavily supported by Soviet advisors and specialists (especially pilots,
mechanics and drivers) move into the Chinese provinces of Qinghai and Sechuan
and some adjoining areas of Gansu and Yunnan provinces, driving out the two
warlords who have established themselves there (the Muslim warlord Ma Bufang in
Qinghai, and the warlord Liu Wenhui from western Sechuan (eastern Kham).
Extensively using troops from Tibet itself as well as Sinkiang and Mongolia,
the warlords are quickly defeated, and the areas included into Tibet as the
provinces of Amdo (Qinghai and parts of Gansu) and Kham (far northern Yunnan and
western Sechuan, merged with the remainder of Kham that is already part of
Tibet). Thus the old borders of Tibet are re-established.
Though
Chinese reaction is volatile, the Tibetan and Soviet replies are essentially
Tough.
Also,
though both the UK and the US protest at the Tibetan/Soviet occupation, none of
them are really in a position to do anything. The British are tied down by
rebellion in India, and the Americans have no forces in the theater. Ties are
forged with anti-Soviet elements in Tibet, though.
Looking
for a way out of the mess in India, Great Britain offers a new partitioning
agreement designed to console the Congress, and at the same time give the
Moslem League all Moslem-dominated areas. Unfortunately this means, that
eastern Punjab and western Bengal are now taken from the territory to be given
to the Moslems, and it is the turn of the Moslem League to break off
negotiations, citing that they have already accepted the former proposal. At
the same time, a vicious campaign of religious riots break out not only in the
two contested provinces, but also in the upper Ganges Valley. By the end of the
month, the number of refugees has risen to 4 million. At the same time, the
unrest brings the number of guerillas (including deserted soldiers from the
Indian army) to an all-time high. 150.000 men (guerillas and milita) are now in
the woods, divided as follows:
1)
25.000
Moslem guerillas
2)
15.000
Sikhs
3)
95.000
Hindus
4)
15.000
Communists
1946 June
The
building of a high dam across the Nile at Aswan, some 6 kilometers up-river
from the old British-built dam begins. Slated to be completed in 10 years, it
will both provide protection from flooding further down the river and generate
enormous amounts of electrical energy.
Large-scale
Italian maneuvers in the eastern Mediterranean see, among others, amphibious
landings supported by carrier-borne aircraft practiced both in Syria and Libya.
The
Japanese occupy the remainder of Yunnan province, driving several tens of
thousands of nationalist troops into Burma. By this action, the Japanese have
also effectively cut off western help by way of the Ledo road from the
nationalists. Instead, what comes now is brought in by air. In the north, the
Three All campaign has practically brought guerilla warfare to an all-time
low.
Seeing
the rising number of British casualties in India, voices become higher and
higher in the Labor government to just quit and let the Indians sort out the
mess themselves. To minimize British commitments, it is decided to make partial
agreements with all parties about the regions not in doubt.
The US
gains a naval base at Rabaul in the Bismarck Archipelago from the Australians.
The Netherlands join the US-Australian-New Zealand defense treaty, but only
with its East Indian colonies.
Portugal
joins the Latin Axis.
1946 September
After the
French make a lucky series of arrests in Morocco (that has not been able to
stop the growth of the nationalist guerilla), they find out about the Spanish
connection. The diplomatic uproar is immediate, and France begins to mobilize
its troops along the Franco-Spanish border. The French fleet sails out and
demonstrates off the Spanish coast.
Germany
signs a treaty on economic cooperation with Argentina.
Great
Britain strikes a deal with the Burmese nationalists, that will grant Burma
independence from January 1947. A like deal is struck towards independence of
Ceylon, that will only gain it by January 1948, however, so the British have a
secure base to withdraw from. With the seeming impossibility to fin a solution
in India, it is also considered to begin a stepped withdrawal from the southern
parts of India, that have been reasonably peaceful. Withdrawal from the
uncontested province of Sindh is also considered.
With the
troops rearranged for the second phase of the Japanese offensive in China, the
Japanese army in several columns takes to the offensive into Hunan and Hupeh
provinces. Almost immediately confronted by the remaining 20 divisions of the
nationalist main force, the Japanese are again embroiled in costly fighting. At
the same time, the nationalist artillery-park is also committed, along with a
sizeable number of AT-guns brought in over the last year, which blunts the
effectiveness of the Japanese armored forces.
1946 October
The third
major project of the first phase of the Italian effort to make the Sahara bloom
begins. It consists of a more then 300 kilometers long canal from Jonglei to
Malakal, both cities on the Nile in southern Sudan. The canal is designed to
lead most of the waters of the Nile around the Sudd wetlands, thus saving the
large amounts of water that evaporates there. This is then free to flow down
the Nile, to help fill the reservoir behind the dam at Aswan
French
airplanes bombard several suspected training camps for Moroccan guerillas in
Spanish Morocco. The bombardments are accompanied by cross-border raids by the
Foreign Legion.
At the
same time, they remove the Moroccan sultan, who has supported the guerillas,
from the throne and deport him to Gabon. In his place the Berber Pacha of
Marrakech, El-Glaoui, is motioned toward the throne, but Arab outcry at this is
violent. In the end refraining from putting the Pacha on the throne to console
some, a harsh clamp-down by French troops, aided by armed French colonists
escalated the situation further (this, in OTL, only happened in 1951-53. I have
speeded things up somewhat).
In India
a vicious series of massacres and riots begin in eastern Punjab and western
Bengal, primarily conducted by Moslems to drive out the Hindus living there. To
the 4 million refugees that have already taken to the roads are now added more
millions. As Indian troops prove more and more unreliable, the British decide
to use wholly British units along with the police to try and quell the
disturbances. Given their widespread nature, it is impossible, though.
The
Japanese offensive in Chinas grounds to a halt faced with tough Chinese
resistance, and is suspended due to the late time in the year. At home, the
peace-factions decide to give the military another chance, as supplies to the
nationalists have been cut off.
Germany
signs a treaty on economic cooperation with Hungary.
1946 November
The OS
kick-starts its rebellion in Algeria, primarily attacking French civilians and
police posts, the latter to obtain weapons. Main concentrations of guerilla
activity is in the Aures mountains and Kabylia. The French immediately blame
this on the Spaniards, also, and start a new round of cross-border incursions
into Spanish Morocco. Skirmishing along the Franco-Spanish border also begins.
The 1st
Italian carrier task force comprising one of the new carriers and one of the
two old ones is sent to the Indian Ocean, where it is based out of Diego
Suarez.
In a
final bid to bring the Congress party back to the negotiation table, she is
offered immediate sovereignity for the Congress over the southern two thirds of
Madras Presidency. To console the Moslems, the same is offered to them for
Sindh province. In both cases, the British will retain free access to the LOCs.
Both parties accept, and again end up at the negotiating table.
In the
US, congressional elections return slightly more Democrats, but also a host of
people from the States Rights Party. Even some Socialists, because of the
economic downturn, get into Congress. Needless to say, the Republicans are not
amused.
Argentina,
Paraguay and Bolivia all join the Latin Axis, giving it a Latin American
extension.
1946 December
In part
because of the winter, in part because of German strength, the German army is
able to declare the Ukrainian rebellion in Volhynia crushed.
Of the
same reason (winter weather), fighting dies down somewhat in the Maghreb.
Italy
signs a treaty on economic cooperation with Hungary
In India,
Congress walks out of negotiations for the last time, when the Moslem League
after agreeing to exempt Delhi from their claim on the whole of Punjab refuses
to also give up Calcutta.
In
response, the British announce a plan of stepped withdrawal over the next 4
months, where control over the territories evacuated is given to the civil
servants in place. Troops from the areas given over to local control are
released from their allegiance to the British crown the second their home
territories are given over. The indigenous parties will then have to come to
terms about the eventual division of the lands.
In the
first phase of the withdrawal, all British officers and cadres are withdrawn
from the Indian units on immediate notice, to be concentrated into new British
units to keep the peace in the still-occupied territories. In addition, by the
end of the month, all troops in Assam have been withdrawn to Bengal, and the
Central Agency has been vacated and the troops there transferred to the Ganges
valley. Troops from the southern two thirds of Madras Presidency are partially
sent to Ceylon, partially to Bengal.
At the
same time, all princely states are released from their allegiance to Great
Britain (and thus to any of the successor-states that comes out of the fight
between Congress and the Moslem League). To make independence viable for at
least a few of them, the British cede the territory between the Godavari and
Kistna rivers (including Masulipatnam harbor) to Hyderabad, and part of the
Malabar coast, including the harbors of Kundapotr and Mangalore to Mysore.
Japan
begins to re-arrange the administration of the provinces conquered in recent
years in S-China. So far, they have not been given to the Chinese puppet
government erected in 1940 under Wang Ching-Wei, but have rather been kept
under military control. Now, the Kwangtung, Hunan, Kiangsi, Fukien and Chekiang
provinces are instead included in a separate military government with capital
in Hankow. At the same time, Yunnan, Kweichow and Kwangsi are grouped in a
separate military governorate centered on Nanning.
The US
signs a series of treaties on economic cooperation to the exclusion of
non-American nations with most countries around the Caraibian Sea. Needless to
say no non-American nations are amused, especially Great Britain makes noises.
1947 January
With the
beginning resettlement of Arabs from Libya, the Whitening of the African
colonies progresses, the Europeans making up some 1.410.000 or 25,0% of the
5.630.000 Libyans. Berbers make up another 340.000 or 6,0%. In the AOI,
Europeans make up some 1.320.000 or 8,9% of the 14.880.000 inhabitants.
Following
a series of bombings in major cities in Morocco and Algeria, the French send
their fleet to bombard the Spanish port city of Melilla in Spanish Morocco.
Spain
mobilizes.
France
mobilizes.
Italy
begins a partial mobilization. While two armies, in all 20 divisions, begin
maneuvers in N-Italy. At the same time, three corps are sent to Libya, one to
keep an eye on Egypt, two to augment the one already in Tunisia.
Germany
signs treaties on economic cooperation with Romania and Bulgaria.
Great
Britain evacuates the Central and Bombay provinces in India. Save for the
princely states, the Ganges Valley and the disputed territories, all of the
Hindu part of India is now evacuated.
Burma
gains independence. At the same time, a confederation of the Shan, Kachin and
Karen tribes refuses to be included in Burma, as minority rights are not
guaranteed. Burmese troops begin to mobilize (in OTL, the confederation agreed
to be included, after airy promises were made. In the end they were never kept,
though, and to this day guerilla wars springing from this fact continue).
1947 February
After
French cross-border raids have caused several hundred casualties, the Spaniards
decide to respond in kind: while Spanish bombers attack Rabat and Port Lyautey,
Spanish raids happen all along the border in Morocco. Fighting soon escalates
to the point where there is talk of an actual war. Only with the crossing of
one of the Spanish groups into the departement of Oran, in the part of Algeria
that is directly a part of metropolitan France does it become one officially,
also. With, as they see it, an invasion of Metropolitan France, war is
declared, and two corps of French troops move into Spanish Morocco. The French
fleet leaves port, and bombards Barcelona.
At the
same time, French troops also occupy Ifni, the Spanish port in southern
Morocco, and puts troops ashore in Spanish Guinea, occupying the colony
practically without a fight.
Italy
protests wildly, and sends a mechanized army of three corps to Libya. The
airborne and marine corps are placed on alert. Three Brigade-sized mechanized
units are sent to augment the forces guarding the southern LMG border with the
French possessions.
With no
small amount of help from the Italians, Germany explodes its first nuclear
weapon over the Black Sea.
Punjab
and the North-West Province is evacuated by the British. British troops now
only remain in Bengal and Sindh.
With the
Punjab evacuated, the Sikhs and Moslems have had to come to terms, and the
Sikhs are granted a large degree of autonomy in eastern Punjab. At the same
time, the evacuation of the Punjab also releases the vast majority of Sikh and
Moslem troops of the former Indian army. The result is an upsurge in the number
of refugees, that are driven from the Punjab. By now, some 25 million have left
their homes, and more are to follow. Troops mobilize on both sides, trying to
cope with the sudden withdrawal of all the British officers.
The US
and Mexico sign a mutual defense and non-aggression pact. All other American
nations are invited, too, and over time most become signatories.
1947 March
French
troops occupy the entire southern and eastern part of Spanish Morocco, only
leaving a pocket around Ceuta and Tanger in Spanish hands, reinforced to some
degree by nighttime transfer of troops from Spain. With the French fleet
off-shore, bombarding the harbour, and two French corps moving in, it is only a
matter of time before also this pocket falls, though. Then Italy declares war.
From day
one the Italian air force, for the first time employing its new jet fighters,
launches an all-out attack on the French air force within its reach. At the
same time the Italian heavy bomber arm, by now increased to a strength of 400
planes, begins a highly successful bombing campaign against the French
industry. As the works turning out military equipment are highly concentrated,
finding the targets is little of a problem. The only larger problem is posed by
the French AA-rockets that, though still experimental, are employed against the
Italian bomber forces. They appear in too small numbers to matter, though.
With most
of the Italian fleet staying in the western Mediterranean in the triangle between
Barcelona, Marseille and Sardinia the French Mediterranean Fleet, still
weakened from the losses incurred during WWII, is for the time being kept away
until it can gather its forces from around the world. The actual fighting is
initiated by the Italian Marine Corps, that goes ashore on Corsica to create
bridgeheads for the following infantry, that begins the process of reducing
French opposition on the island.
In
Algeria, the French have in place two corps at the border, another corps on
anti-partisan duties (from which it is immediately freed up, though, and the
two corps engaged against Spanish Morocco. Against the two corps facing them,
the Italians throw three of their own, and they go for a classic envelopment:
the northern corps goes along the coast for Philippeville, one keeps the French
engaged in the middle, and the southern corps strikes via Tebessa and
Constantine for Philippeville also, calculating with the encirclement of a
corps equivalent. Three years of French preparations against just this Italian
attack have shown some results, though, and the Italians are seriously slowed
down and take losses reducing the French fortifications and minefields,
especially in the coastal region.
In
Metropolitan France, the Italians are also held in the beginning in the
mountain passes of the Alpes, but the Italians have thought of this: while
three divisions of the Marines go ashore along the Riviera, two divisions of
the Airborne corps land in different places in Savoy, both places producing
breakthroughs as the French try to cope with the threats to their rear. Out of
the passes, Italian superiority in armor (and overall better equipment as the
French are still rearming from the disarmament of WWII) begins to show. By the
end of the month, they are on their way to Lyon, Grenoble and Marseilles.
Further
west, the French repulse an attack by Spanish forces even worse off in terms of
armaments than they all along the Pyrenees with atrocious casualties, as the
Spaniards are unable to even get past the mountain passes.
In the
colonies, two French make-shift colonial divisions occupy the Niger bend.
Further east, an Italian brigade pushes into the Kanem region of Tchad, routs
the regiment garrisoning the colony, and occupies Fort Lamy. In the Indian
Ocean, the Comoro and Reunion are occupied by Italians, as the carrier task
force comes out from Diego Suarez.
Italy
mobilizes another 20 divisions.
The
British evacuate Sindh and Bengal in India, and thus only remain in Ceylon. On
the mainland, fighting between the Pakistani and Indian armies begin. Given
beginning incursions by Pashtun tribesmen and the remoteness of Indian troops,
the Maharaja of Kashmir appeals to Tibet for military aid. Given sparse roads
between the two countries, Soviet transports are used to fly in several
thousand Tibetan troops, intermingled with a good deal of Mongol and Uighur
men.
Burma
sends the first units into the tribal areas to probe the resistance of the
tribal confederation. The quickness with which these are defeated shows without
doubt, that the Burmese need more help subduing them. To this end, treaties are
signed with the British and Americans for arms deliveries and the sending of
teams of military advisors, and it is sought to enlist the 60.000 nationalist
Chinese soldiers, who crossed into Burma from Yunnan when that province was
occupied by the Japanese.
1947 April
The month
begins with the surrender of the Spanish troops in Spanish Morocco. Thus freed
up, the entire French fleet is sent to give battle to the Italian Mediterranean
fleet. Lacking aircraft carriers, and with much air power tied up at home in
France by the invading Italians, the French go for a close fight, sneaking in
under the cover of darkness. In the resulting battle the Italians suffer heavily,
but thanks to the ability of the Italian battleships to sustain damage and keep
floating, and the aerial superiority they enjoy, it ends in a French defeat,
with the remaining vessels departing out of the Mediterranean to the Atlantic
bases.
On the
ground in Metropolitan France, the French army launches twin counter-attacks
against the Italian troops approaching Lyon and Marseilles, to safeguard the
LOC down the Rhone. In effect all available armor is poured into the
counter-attack at Lyons, and at first it is successful. Superior Italian armor,
and the ever-present Italian Air Force turn the table on the French in the end,
however. In the south, around Marseilles, the French counter-attack is equally
defeated, bringing with it the loss of Toulon, Marseille and the entire Rhone
valley. By the end of the month, the Italians are approaching Toulouse, Dijon
and Clermont-Ferrand, but meeting stiff resistance all over, that is slowing
them down. To avoid being tied down unnecessarily, the Italians generally avoid
the Massif Central. Meanwhile, the French are building another line along the
Loire, the Loire-Saone canal and the Saone river.
On
Corsica, regular French forces give up resistance.
In
Algeria, the Italian encircling maneuver is concluded with the occupation of
Philippeville and Constantine. Thanks to determined French resistance, only
about one division is encircled, with the remainder of its corps suffering
serious casualties. As a consolation,
the Italians are now out of the fortified belt along the border, but in
return two French corps, freed up from the campaign in Spanish Morocco are
arriving at the frontline. To get another punch in before these arrive in
force, the offensive in two parallel thrusts is carried on to the west, with
the aim of occupying the rest of the Constantine Departement.
In the
LMG, the French finish occupying the Niger bend. Two brigades worth are
transferred east, to take on the two Italian brigades preparing to advance from
Zinder into Niger.
In French
Equatorial Africa (FEA), the Italian brigade occupies the Baguirmi region,
while Sudanese troops move into the Ouadai region. Further south, Italian
troops cross into the colony from the south, taking both Bangui and Ft. Sibut.
Small-scale skirmishing also happens further south.
In the
Pacific, the Italian carrier task force from Madagascar appears off New
Caledonia and after a thorough bombardment lands two regiments of troops in
Noumea. They begin moving inland.
With
France focusing all energies on the war with Italy, the Belgian government
throws its entire force against the Valloon nationalists, breaking their lines
and taking both Charleroi and Namur.
Germany
launches its first purpose-built ocean-going aircraft carrier, the Adolf
Hitler. It has been built with a considerable amount of help from the Japanese
and Italians, and crews are training in Italy.
The
Soviet-supported Chinese Communists launch a second conventional offensive into
the Japanese-controlled Hopeh province, but have a hard time finding any aid. The
Japanese 3-all campaign has essentially beaten every shred of will to resist
out of the Chinese peasantry. Instead, to flush out any left wannabe-rebels,
the Japanese withdraw in the face of the Chinese, let them outrun their
supplies again, then attack. Doing so, they are in for a surprise, though, as
the Soviets have chosen this year for a test of their Josef Stalin-type tanks.
Even with their tanks shot into pieces, the Japanese still manage to come out
on top, as the Chinese are unable to move after running out of gas. Intensive
air attacks on the reinforcements also help a great deal. By the end of the
month, the Japanese are on the offensive again.
1947 May
As
Italian forces launch a fresh offensive against the entrenched French troops in
the Bourgogne, including drops behind French lines involving two parachute
divisions, the French lines crack, and motorised Italian troops fan out in the
Champagne and Orleanais, reaching to the suburbs of Paris by the end of the
month. In the process, some 400.000 Frenchmen are taken POW, while another
100.000 cross into Switzerland and internment.
The
French forces in Algeria are similarly defeated, the Italians surrounding
another French corps and occupying Bougie and the rest of the Constanine
departement. Further advances brings the rest of Kabylia under Italian control,
after which a wide flanking maneuver is set in motion south of the Massif
d΄Ouarsenis, designed to cut off the Algier departement and surround most of
the French troops in North Africa here.
Lacking
any appreciable motorization or AT-weapons, the French Senegalese troops trying
to move into the LMG from the Niger colony are soundly defeated by roving
columns of Italian mechanized troops and constant aerial attack. A number of
troops are forced to cross into Nigeria, where they are interned, while the
rest flee west. By the end of the month, the Italians have occupied the Niger
Valley between Nigeria and Gao.
Further
east, Italian troops occupy the remaining parts of Chad and Oubangi-Chari not
yet in their hands. At the same time, the Italian carrier task forces, having
returned from the Pacific, puts troops ashore in Pointe Noire and Libreville.
Also here, French resistance is crushed by7 the end of the month.
A
communist-led rebellion breaks out in Paris, soon joined by many who are
opposed to the French brand of authoritarian leadership. Though it spreads to a
few other cities in France, primarily in the industrial north, French police
and troops manage to control it somewhat, though.
Great
Britain, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium and Canada sign the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization (NATO), a defensive alliance against the fascist regimes on
the European mainland. Sweden, Finland and Portugal are invited too, but
refrain from joining. In both the Netherlands and Norway the decision produces
a series of riots by indigenous fascists and E-front veterans that are
suppressed by the Police. Though the US is a signatory, Congress refuses to
ratify the treaty, citing earlier European debacles. Though Turkey wants to be
a signatory, too, she is deemed too far in the Axis sphere of influence to save
in any case.
With the
2nd failure of the Chinese Communists to go over to the offensive
having failed, the Soviet Union approaches the Chinese Nationalists and offer
military aid to replace that which formerly came from British India. The offer
is, however, dependent on Nationalist recognition of the merger of Sinkiang
into the USSR, and of the independence of Tibet. Deliberations begin.
The Japanese
launch their third annual offensive, this year into the heartland of
nationalist-controlled China: the Red Basin. The attack is mounted straight at
Chungking, the capital of nationalist China, from the Kweichow Plateau to the
south. While some nationalist troops resist to the last man, many have had
their morale brought to such lows, that they desert in droves. Still, the
Japanese are held in many places
just not all.
Japan
creates the South-Chinese confederation, made up of 6 member states, all constructed to comprise the areas in which
one of the S-Chinese languages are spoken. Thus, there is a state for those
that speak Xiang (Hunanese), Gan (Kiangsinese), Wu (in Chekiang and Shanghai),
Min (in Fujian) and Yue (Cantonese). Along with the formation of the state,
that achieves protectorate status under Japan, there goes the construction of
separate dictionaries and scriptures for each, so as to set them apart from the
Mandarin dialects spoken to the north of the Yellow River. At the same time, the
three provinces further to the east (Yunnan, Kweichow and Kwangsi) are grouped
together in a separate military governorate. The island of Hainan is annexed by
Japan.
In India,
Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated by fanatical Hindus.
1947 June
Under the
double strain of having to fight the Popular Front-regime rebelling in Paris
and the Italians in the south, France sues for an armistice. A three-week
armistice, in which peace negotiations are to take place is granted by the
Italians, and the opposing forces hunker down and dig in. While peace
negotiations begin, French troops are drawn from the lines and sent to control
what is commonly known as the 2nd Paris Commune (especially among
the communists and those listening in to propaganda broadcasts from the USSR),
while the rebellion in the other cities is crushed methodically. Though no
small amount of troops refuse to fire on what they see as civilians (though
armed), the severe measures with which these are dealt assures the loyalty of
the majority.
Belgium,
that now has more or less defeated one of her foes, the Valloons in the south,
immediately offers to supply the rebels across the border with weapons and
advisors, in a sort of payback for the French support for the Valloons.
Secretly, the Italians funnel increased amounts of arms to the Belgians to keep
the French occupied. In response, the Germans double military aid for the
Flemish rebels in Belgium over, and send in thousands of volunteers from the
German armed forces.
Likewise,
to not let France fall into the western camp, Germany begins supplying her with
large amounts of weapons to suppress the rebels. In the international press,
NATO, and foremost of all Great Britain, is accused of supplying the rebels
(which they are).
The
civilian Japanese government presents Nationalist China with a proposal:
-
Japanese
military and economic aid for the Nationalists against the Communists
-
Japan
evacuates the territories south of Manchukuo and the Mongol state of Mengjiang,
and north of the Yantze
-
In
return, China acknowledges Japanese control of Manchukuo, Mengjiang, the South
China Confederation and the military area declared in Yunnan, Kweichow and
Guizhou.
Inclined
to throw the Japanese delegates from an airplane at 12.000 feet, the Chinese
leader takes his time to consider what to do. In the end the desperate
situation, with the Japanese entering the Red Basin, forces him to accept the
offer. An immediate seize-fire is ordered, bringing about a violent reply from
the Japanese generals, sensing victory is slipping from them. While a direct
order from the Emperor brings most into line, and the Kempei Tai (the military
police) arrest a number of others, some try to go on with the offensive on
their own. Deprived of supplies, they are brought into line, though.
With
Soviet-backed Tibetan troops squaring off against the Pakistanis (Moslem India
is now so entitled, meaning Land of the Pure), the USSR begins supplying the
Hindustani forces with arms. Seeing the USSR moving in, Japan and Great Britain
soon find themselves in the peculiar position of working together to prop up
Hindia. The USA instead chooses to back Pakistan, whose leadership has spoken
out in decidedly more anti-socialist terms than the Hindian leadership. The USA
is supported in this by the efforts of Arab League.
A
US-backed coup-attempt in Bolivia is narrowly defeated, when members of the
Italian military mission to the country and the soldiers they are training
storm the HQ of the coup.
Germany
launches its first missile-equipped submarine. So far, it is only armed with
conventional and chemical warheads, but work is underway on nuclear warheads,
also.
1947 July
As the
armistice come to an end with the Paris Commune still in existence and the
rebels in the north still in the field, the French government is forced to give
in to practically all demands. The peace treaty thus includes the following
territorial concessions:
In
Europe:
-
The
departements of Savoie, Haute Savoie, Alpes Maritimes and Corse to Italy along
with all rights to Monaco
-
The
departement of Pyrenees Orient to Spain along with French rights in Andorra.
In
Africa:
-
The
provinces of Louga and St. Louis from Senegal and the province of Oyem from
Gabon to Spain
-
The
remainder of French Equatorial Africa, Morocco and Algeria to Italy
In the
Pacific
-
New
Caledonia to Italy
In
addition, France has to evacuate the occupied Spanish positions.
In
Belgium, the government forces reach Bastogne near the Luxembourg border, thus
finally crushing the Valloon nationalists. All forces are concentrated against
the Flemings in the north now.
On the
10-year anniversary of the beginning of the 2nd Sino-Japanese War,
the peace treaty is signed. China acknowledges the existence of Meijiang,
Manchukuo, the South China Confederation and the Southwest Military Area
(Yunnan, Kweichow and Guangxi). Japan begins a stepped withdrawal of its troops from the region north of the
Yellow River, nationalist troops moving in in their place. After negotiations,
some parts of Kiangsu and Anhvei north of the river are traded for other
regions further west, and south of the river.
Shanghai
and parts of Kiangsu and Anhvei provinces north of the Yangtze are joined to
the South China Confederation.
1947 August
Faced
with increasing civilian unrest, Mussolini declares all Italian claims met and
forsakes for all future the option of aggressive war. Demobilization begins.
In
Africa, the rearrangement of the newly acquired territories begins. For the
time being, Morocco and the former Metropolitan departements of Algeria are
combined under one authority, the Algerian Military Government, or AMG. Not
unlike the LMG in structure, it is only an intermediate solution. The Saharan
territories of Algeria are included in the LMG, while the former French
Equatorial Africa is simply renamed Italian Equatorial Africa (IEA), to which
is added the formerly Belgian provinces in the northern Congo. To console the
Germans a bit, the province of Logone Occidental, formerly of Chad, is given
with its 200.000 inhabitants to Germany.
Ouadai
and Salamat provinces, with in all some 500.000 inhabitants, are given to the
Sudan partially because they are only a drag on Italian resources, partially to
make the Sudanese even more happy not to oppose the Italians.
Outrage
over the Spanish acquisition of additional territory in Morocco, and Italians
failure to begin evacuation brings about several tumultuous demonstration by
the OS and Moroccan nationalists. Most of the Moroccan and Algerian populace
remains disinterested as long as they can earn a living, though.
1947 September
Italian
military police cracks down on all known nationalists in Morocco and Algeria.
Instead of incarcerating them, as they expect, they are simply pushed over the
border into Egypt. They are the first from the Maghreb in a long line that,
under the Italo-Egyptian transfer agreement, are re-settled there.
At the
same time, the answer to the question of what is to become of Morocco and
Algeria is answered. While Algeria is annexed directly to Italian Libya,
Morocco is divided up into three parts:
-
the
province of Oujda is annexed by Italian Libya
-
the
province of Tafilelt is annexed by the LMG
-
the
provinces under Spanish control are spawned off into a separate protectorate
(Spanish Morocco, no less)
-
the
provinces of Draa, Marrakech and Atlas Central in southern and central Morocco
are joined to form the Sultanate of Marrakech
-
the
remainder remains under the name of Morocco as an Italian protectorate
At the
same time negotiations with the Berbers in Algeria begin, to establish two more
Berber protectorates, one in Kabylia in central Algeria and one in the Aures
mountains in eastern Algeria. With the populations of these two mountainous
areas made content, the best guerilla-areas of Algeria are eliminated, and the
Italians wont have to post guards there anymore.
The
southern part of the Western Desert is transferred from the LMG to Libya also,
along with the former Algerian provinces of Touggourt from the LMG and Ghardaia
from the trust territories taken over from France.
1947 October
The 2nd
Italian purpose-built aircraft carrier is launched.
A vast
program of geological surveying of the central part of the Oubangi-Chari colony
in the IEA begins.
The
members of the Latin Axis pass a resolution, that open up for intervention by
other member states in case of violent upheaval in another member state. The
example of Bolivia some months back is a prime example.
1947 November
After
thorough negotiations, two autonomous entities for the Berbers are created in
Algeria, one centered on Kabylia, one on the Aures mountains. In all some
60.000 square kilometers are spawned off with in all 2.130.000 inhabitants.
For the
first time in years, Chinese nationalist troops reach the Yellow Sea.
The US
and France sign a mutual treaty of defense and non-aggression. In a secret
treaty, the US agree to let France turn Liberia into a protectorate in return
for basing rights in French Polynesia and at Conakry in French Guinea.
Germany
lays claims to those parts of Antarctica between 25 degrees western and 25
degrees eastern longitude. Though a dispute over the rights to the Antarctic
peninsula has for 5 years been going on between Argentina and Great Britain,
the claim of Germany suddenly focuses the interest of everybody on the
continent.
1947 December
Portugal
begins its own program of state-sponsored colonization of two of its colonies
in Africa, namely Angola and Mocambique.
Nationalist
Chinese troops re-enter Peking, that is again made the Chinese capital.
1948 January
The
settling of Europeans in the colonies continues. By now, they make up some
3.005.000, or 21,2% of the 14.135.000 inhabitants of Italian Libya. In the AOI,
they make up 1.540.000 or 10,1% of the 15.240.000 inhabitants.
1948 February
A program
of geological survey of the newly acquired N-African territories begin. At the
same time industries to process the natural resources of the area begin
building, to provide work for the surge of immigrants.
San
Marino, for years led by fascists itself, petitions to be annexed by Italy. The
request is granted.
Argentina
opens 4 bases in the Antarctic, spread over the Antarctic Peninsula and the
islands in its vicinity.
1948 March
The final
dam holding back the Mediterranean from flowing into the Qattara Depression is
blown. The power plants and industry build along the channel begin operating
almost immediately, and exports of fertilizers to Egypt begins, as does the
resettlement of Arabs there. As the number resettled has already reached some
700.000, deliveries are also sorely needed.
The first
German base in the Antarctic is established at the foot of the Wohltat
Mountains.
1948 April
In secret
negotiations between the Democrat and States Rights Party leaderships, it is
discussed to field a common candidate for the presidential elections later this
year, with a view to reuniting the two parties later. With the Democrats jammed
between the Farmer-Laborites on the left and the States Rights Party on the
right, they fail to give the necessary concessions, though, and the parties end
up fielding separate candidates.
At the
same time, the Farmer-Laborites begin a campaign in the south, seeking to
educate the Negroes and make them sign up for the coming election. The south is
enraged, and over the following half year, quite a few instances of violence
erupts, leading to some deaths and a good deal of destruction.
Italy
transfers the oldest of its two remaining converted carriers to the Argentinean
navy, along with 4 older destroyers. At the same time, 6 other older destroyers
and a light cruiser are transferred to the fledgling Bolivian navy, still in
its infancy despite 10 years as a coastal power.
1948 May
An
infrastructure project, designed to link Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia more
closely to each others, and paid by Italy, is begun. It includes both road-,
rail- and air-links between the three countries.
Germany
launches its first inter-continental rocket. Its payload is still too small to
transport any nuclear weapons, but the looming threat is not lost upon anyone.
Nationalist
China, re-equipped to a certain degree with Japanese weapons over the last
year, launches its first major effort against the communists to the north. For
the time being, it consists only in damming in the communists, secure the hold
over the N-Chinese areas vacated last year by the Japanese, and seize some
areas in the Yellow River Valley.
1948 June
The first
US B-36 inter-continental bombers are delivered to their squadrons. Though they
are unarmed and only intended for training and crew conversion, they are
bandied about much to the media, showing off the new deterrence against any
would-be attack. Late in the month, one of the new plane drops 72.000 pounds
of bombs in a show-off test. The world is dutifully impressed, especially when
considering the bomber armed with nuclear weapons.
The Latin
Axis begin joint naval maneuvers in the southern Atlantic.
The first
German carrier task force sorties into the Atlantic.
1948 August
Socialist
forces in Burma secure power over the country. Subsequently, given animosity
towards the former colonial power England, Burma signs a treaty on economic
cooperation with the USSR.
In South
Africa, the National Party comes into power following elections. Over the
following 2 years Apartheid laws, dividing up the country along racial lines,
are enacted (as they were in reality).
1948 September
Pakistan
gains the first major naval vessels from the USA, among them 2 escort carriers
brought out from the US naval reserve. These are instrumental in helping the
Pakistanis fight back the Hindian navy, that has by now almost severed the
connection between the two halves of Pakistan.
The speed
of the German naval build-up picks up pace as the last economic troubles are
overcome. In this month only, two carriers and three cruisers are launched.
1948 October
A US
naval squadron visits Manila. Though the government there, independent and
neutralized after WWII, does everything to console the Japanese, the outcry in
the Japanese press is loud, and quite a bit of American property is destroyed
in the following riots.
Fighting
in India reaches an impasse. All sides are tired of the current fighting (so
far, losses amount to some 12 million people, both due to fighting and
subsequent deportations). As a consequence, all parties agree to a cease fire
and peace conference sponsored by Switzerland and the ailing League of Nations.
Some twelve thousand Swiss soldiers are sent to the Indian sub-continent to
keep a watch on the warring factions.
1948 November
In US
presidential and congressional elections, the republicans are able to point
towards improved external security and a beginning economic recovery, so they
dont end up losing altogether. Instead, the presidential election is tied, with
the States Rights Party holding the number of elector votes to sway the
election (the Socialists, while somewhat humbled by combined
Republican/Democrat/
States
Rights accusations of communism, have retained their electoral votes in
Minnesota and some mid-western states, but have lost New York). In the end,
MacArthur is re-elected as president in return for hefty concessions to the
States Rights Party in the form of state autonomy.
1949 January
With 1,5
million Arabs having been re-settled from Libya to Egypt, the population
balance is beginning to tip. Europeans now number 3.550.000, constituting 31,6%
of the population. Berbers, most now concentrated in their own autonomous
states, number 465.000 or 4,1%. In the AOI, Europeans make up 1.765.000 or
11,3% of the 15.600.000 inhabitants.
The US
begins backing nationalist Chinese troops caught in Burma, partially to make
the country swear off its alignment with the USSR. To do so, the US secures
bases in the Bengal part of Pakistan, already thoroughly pro-American thanks to
the huge amounts of aid received from there.
1949 March
Outraged
over the resettlement of Arabs from the Maghreb and the corruption of the
current regimen, but until just recently unable to secure support from the
Muslim Brotherhood, a group of Egyptian army officers, among them Gamal Abdel
Nasser, stage a coup in Egypt, toppling the Egyptian king. Iraq and most of the
other Arab states distance themselves from the coup (after all, they are threatened
by the exact same thing happening).
After
prolonged negotiations, the parties to the Indian civil war reach a peace
agreement. While a rabble of minor states are recognized as independent
(Baluchistan, Kashmir, Nepal, Sikkim, Bhutan, Meghalaya, Tripura, Mizoram,
Manipur, Nagaland, Mysore and Hyderabad), Pakistan and India finally agree on
the borders. While the majority of Bengal and Punjab remain under Pakistan,
some areas (most notably the region around New Delhi) are given to Hindia. To
construct a buffer state between Pakistan and the new Hindian capital, the
Sikhs are given an independent state in central Punjab, named Khalistan.
Finally, the NW Frontier Province (wholly populated by Pushtuns) is given to
Afghanistan, that in return cedes its southern, Baluchi, areas to Baluchistan.
To remove
possible future conflict material, any remaining religious minorities are
exchanged over the following 2 years.
British
elections return a Labor government with a weakened majority to power.
1949 April
The new
Egyptian regime has to realize, that it cant go back on the deal about
resettlement to Egypt of Arabs from the Maghreb, as the Italians threaten
invasion and, following completion of the dam at Aswan next year, a stop to the
flow of the Nile. Resettlement efforts continue.
In the
US, the FBI begins a probe into accusations of the Democratic party being
infiltrated by Communists.
The US
lays down the super-carrier United States, displacing 65.000 tons.
The US
also joins NATO, thus boosting its importance vastly. Germany begins scrambling
to create a response.
1949 May
Japan
begins supporting various ethnic guerilla movements in Burma, foremost among
them the Shan, from Japanese Indochina and the Yunnanese military governorate.
Pakistan
and the USA sign a defense treaty.
The
Italian navy lays down a policy of at all times to deploy one carrier in the
Sout Atlantic and two in the Indian Ocean. As the 6th carrier is
soon to be launched, three can be kept home for repairs and patrols in the Mediterranean.
1949 June
The first
major industry in the territories newly acquired from France a steel-work
begins operating in Colomb Bechar, the center of a region containing vast
amounts of natural resources. At the same time, it provides work for some of
the thousands of settlers streaming to Libya. From there, expansion of the
industries is fast.
1949 August
With
promises of Laos and the Shan states of Burma, Thailand is brought into the
Japanese support-program for ethnic guerillas in Burma.
US
nuclear-armed B-36 bombers become operational from Hawaii and Maine (towards
Japan and Germany/Italy, respectively). Bases are building in Alaska, also
(towards the USSR).
1949 - September
Denmark,
Sweden, Finland, Germany and Hungary sign a defensive treaty, the Helsinki Pact
(OK, so I modelled this on the Warsaw Pact). Given their protectorate status,
all the E-European protectorates of Germany are covered by the pact also.
Chile and
the USSR sign a treaty on military cooperation.
1949 October
A series
of sabotage attempts at the construction site of the dam at Aswan are foiled.
Traces lead back to Egypt, but the Italians choose to not get agitated.
Thailand
and Japan sign a new military treaty, that gives Japan a number of bases all over
the country. In return, Laos is transferred to Thai control from Japanese
Indochina and Yunnan from Japanese military control. Both are annexed by
Thailand within short notice. By that time, some 5 of its 10 million
inhabitants have been driven out by the Japanese, leaving a tribal/non-Chinese
majority. A like process is underway in the other two Japanese military
protectorates, Kweichow and Kwangsi, where some 25 million people live.
1950 January
The
settlement of Europeans in Libya further increases their share of the
population: the 4.100.000 constitute 38,7% of the population. The 470.000
Berbers make up another 4,4%. In the AOI, Europeans make up 1.990.000 or 12,5%
of the 15.920.000 inhabitants.
1950 February
The
number of Japanese settlers overseas reaches some 6 million, primarily in
Manchukuo, but with large concentrations in Korea and the South China
Confederation also.
1950 March
Germany
secures bases in Greenland and the Faeroes from Denmark. Basically, she takes
over the US bases established during WWII, and within days German troops are in
place. Construction of submarine pens begin at Grψnnedal, while air bases come
into operation at Thule, Sdr. Strψmfjord, Marrak and Julianehaab. At the same
time, the Danish government reasserts its claims to Iceland, and refutes the
Icelandic declaration of independence as illegal (which it is).
The US
reacts violently. The independence of Iceland is guaranteed, and the US navy is
deployed around Greenland to patrol an exclusion zone around the island, within
which no German vessels are allowed. Only after a German submarine surfaces off
the eastern US seaboard and fires a rocket that lands in the Pacific off the
western US seaboard are the parties brought to the negotiation table. In the end,
the Germans promise not to base any nuclear weapons on Greenland. But the
German bases stay. (yes, somewhat a replay of the Cuba affair).
1950 April
To help
protect communications with its S-American allies, Italy begins building a new
class of 4 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
Italy and
Japan sign a treaty that give Japan Italian help in developing its own nuclear
weapons.
1950 June
The
Germans now continually deploy three carrier task forces into the north
Atlantic.
Germany
and Japan sign a treaty of defense and military cooperation. It is obvious to
everyone, that it is aimed at the US.
1950 September
For the
first time ever, the USA imports more oil than it exports (that actually took
place in 1948, but given the slower US economy, I have give it 2 more years).
Moslem
Arab guerillas based in Egypt begin a low-level war against the Italians.
The
members of the Latin Axis decide to augment the military pact with an economic
side, removing tariffs between the countries.
1950 October
The first
phase of the Aswan Dam across the Nile is completed. Water begins building up
behind the dam (I used the time it originally took the Soviets and Egyptians to
come this far, and applied it to the Italians also).
Italy
forms its second actual Marine Division, adding it to the Marine Corps
(containing one other marine and three assault and landing divisions). Marine
regiments are moved to bases in New Caledonia, Mogadishu and Casablanca.
1950 November
Italy
begins building a dam across the Ubangi River in the Congo basin.
General
civil war breaks out in Burma, as most of the ethnic minorities try to gain
independence, while Burmese nationalists, Stalinists and Trotskists oppose both
them and the US- and Pakistani-supported Chinese guerilla.
1950 December
Bulgaria
and Serbia join the Helsinki Pact.
Turkey
joins NATO.
1951 January
In the
AOI, Europeans make up 2.220.000 or 13,6% of the 16.290.000 inhabitants. In
Libya, Europeans make up 4.760.000 or 47,3% of the population. Berbers make up
another 475.000 or 4,7%.
1951 June
A new
army joins the many that are already fighting for power in Burma: a
Pakistani-supported Moslem Arakanese guerilla. Given the preoccupation of most
parties with the central regions, they are soon in control of most of the
Arakan.
1951 July
It comes
to a firefight in the Antarctic, when Argentinean troops repel a British
attempt to replace Argentinean national markers with British ones, as has been
the habit over the last many years. These are there to stake national claims.
1951 August
The USSR
detonates its first nuclear weapon.
Using a
nebulous passage in the Soviet-Axis peace treaty, Germany demands the USSR
disband its nuclear program and destroy all the nukes in its inventory. If she
refuses to comply, Germany will do the disbanding. A one-month deadline is
given.
Germany
mobilizes
The USSR
mobilizes
Finland
mobilizes
1951 September
As the
deadline expires without any Soviet compliance, the Luftwaffe launches
long-range bombing attacks at all identifiable nuclear research facilities as
well as some sites where long-range bombers and rockets are suspected to be
based. As a result, the USSR launches a full-scale attack on the German
protectorates in E-Europe, having doubled over its strength several times
thanks to a mobilization system that maintains large cadres of units that are
filled up with reservists. This offensive is supported by large-scale
insurrection launched by communist cadres left over in the protectorates from WWII.
Especially great is the Soviet advance in the Trans-Caucasus and into the
Ukraine.
As
Germany did the initial attacks from the air, Italy for the time being stalls
German demands for her to declare war on the USSR under the terms of the Pact
of Steel.
Italy
mobilizes its European forces along with Romania and Japan.
1951 October
As the
Soviet invasion is further augmented by the heavy JS-type tanks that have so
far been kept secret from the Germans, the picture looks increasingly bleak.
Research into new weaponry for the army has been lagging behind as the major
economic aid packages have been going into the nuclear program, the navy and
the air force. This comes back to haunt the Germans now, as the Soviets reach
the Dnjepr, helped by the indigenous guerillas. In the south, the Caucasus is
crossed, and Soviet forces stream into Azerbaijan, cutting off the Germans off
from the oil wells there. Though the Germans smash the Soviet Black Sea Fleet
and begin a campaign of bombing against strategic targets in the USSR (that is
largely ineffectual, as the Soviets have learned from the last war), the Soviet
offensive is not stopped by this, but rather by logistical problems. German
tactical aviation takes a toll.
Germany
threatens the use of nuclear weapons, but the threat only brings Soviet
counter-threats. As the Soviets at the same time test-fire a missile from
central Russia, that lands in the Arctic, the Germans are now no more able to
feel safe from Soviet attacks behind their thousands of jet fighters.
1951 November
As the
land fronts remain pretty inactive (even the guerillas dig in for the winter),
German naval and aerial forces destroy the Soviet naval bases in the Arctic.
1951 December
The USSR
sends two simultaneous thrusts westwards, one into Finland and another into the
Baltic countries, aimed at E-Prussia. Still, the only answer the Germans can
find to the new heavy Soviet armor is their tactical air force. Everywhere,
indigenous guerillas take to the forests. The German air force sweeps the
Soviet one from the skies.
The US
navy sends a strong task force, containing several carriers, into the Arctic,
to act as a counter to total German domination here. US forces go ashore in
Spitsbergen and northern Norway.
Norway,
the US, Great Britain and the Netherlands mobilize.
So do
Denmark and Sweden. Both of the latter two underline, that their obligations
towards Germany only include mutual defense against attack, though, not joining
an attack on a third party.
The
German high seas fleet sorties in strength, and submarine patrols are doubled
over several times.
The
remaining dam over the Vittorio Emanuele Canal between Malakal and Jonglei in
the Sudan is blown. Additional water now reaches the building reservoir behind
the dam at Aswan.
1952 January
The
Germans finally find the ultimate answer to the Soviet thrusts: massive attacks
on the supply columns feeding the Soviet armor. In this they are greatly aided
by a new weapon, N-stoff, not dissimilar in characteristics to the US napalm
(this was developed in WWII, but apparently not used operationally), and by new
night-fighting tactics for the army, using infra-red devices. Soviet thrusts
lose pace rapidly.
German
airborne forces seize Iceland on behalf of Denmark (that Denmark has not asked
for German intervention is conveniently forgotten), and immediately begins
building naval and air bases to cut the US Navy of from the Arctic waters. The
US issues an ultimatum, expiring at the end of the month, for Germany to evacuate her troops and
submit to international arbitration in the German-Soviet dispute. Germany
refuses to comply.
US
nuclear-armed bombers are readied for sortie. Some short-range (in comparison
to the B36) bombers are also armed with nuclear warheads and stationed in Great
Britain.
In the
AOI, Europeans make up 2.455.000 or 14,7% of the 16.665.000 inhabitants. In
Libya, Europeans make up 5.930.000 or 59,1% of the population. Berbers make up
another 485.000 or 4,8%.
France
mobilizes.
As a
result, so do Spain and Portugal.
Italy
mobilizes its forces in Africa, fielding 5 settler divisions in the AOI and 12
in Libya. Italy also warns all powers to respect her neutrality.
Romania
and Hungary mobilize because of the Soviet advance.
Italy
calls for confinement of the conflict to the European continent, and for the
powers to submit to neutral arbitration. No one heeds the calls.
Sweden
declares its neutrality over German protests. So does Denmark. The latter
country does not protest that German troops have assumed Danish
responsibilities in Iceland. In fact, the Danish government refuses to even
acknowledge there is a war going on.
1952 February
The
Soviet winter offensive comes to a halt in the Baltic countries, but still
retains some momentum in Finland, where the entire Karelian Isthmus is soon in
Soviet hands.
The USA,
following German failure to re-evacuate Iceland, declares war and launches an
invasion of their own (it is impossible for the Germans to defend all places at
once), throwing three Marine divisions ashore. While fighting is hard and
losses are heavy, both at the hands of the German troops in the island and the
German submarines off-shore, the Americans soon establish a bridgehead. By the
end of the month, the German forces are confined to a large pocket in the
western half of the island.
Great
Britain declares war on Germany.
German
Ballistic missiles and jet-bombers start pounding Great Britain.
A new
German invention, stealth-bombers, begin to pound the eastern US seaboard,
trying to cut off the connection between the US and Great Britain. Linked with
guided cruise missiles, they also inflict severe losses on the US fleet
beleaguering Iceland, and the German forces there manage to hold out.
Allied
air forces begin bombing German cities from bases in Great Britain and Norway.
They are countered by virtual barrages of German guided missiles, and heavy
losses are suffered.
1952 March
On the
Eastern Front, the front reaches a stand-still.
British
troops from Kenya and Uganda stream into the German colonies in Tanganyika and
Kamerun.
Italy
protests violently over the spreading of fighting to Africa, and warns that she
will know how to safeguard her own interests.
1952 April
After
bringing the Soviets to a standstill, portions of the Luftwaffe switch from
tactical to strategic bombing, and begin leveling Soviet cities.
The
Hungarian and Romanian armies are brought to the front in the Ukraine.
The
Allied bombing offensive has to be stopped thanks to incurred losses. Sufficient
planes also have to be kept in existence to make the nuclear threat believable.
The
German colonies in Africa are fully occupied.
1952 May
Having used the winter to build enough reserves
for the spring offensive, the Germans smash through the Soviet front. In quick
succession, the Soviet forces are thrown out of the Baltic countries. Soviet
counter-attacks are again and again hampered by German domination of the sky
and incessant N-stoff attacks on its supply
columns and force-concentrations.
Failing on the battlefield, the Soviets look
for another way to hurt the Germans. And they look towards the oil. Having
taken away the oil fields in Azerbaijan and the pre-Caucasus, the only two
major sources left to the Germans are the fields in Galicia/Romania, and
imports from Italy. While they cant do much about the Italians, it is decided
to nuke the Romanian oil fields. At the same time, a suggestion is sent to the
NATO countries, that maybe they should think about cutting off Germany from
Italian oil supplies.
1952 June
As German forces near Leningrad, and forces
begin building up for a simultaneous thrust into the Soviet-occupied parts of
the Ukraine, Soviet planes from the pre-Caucasus drop a total of 4 nuclear
bombs on the Romaian oil fields around Ploesti. 8 others are lost in crashing
aircraft, as the Germans have built up AA-defenses in the region considerably.
Still, about 80% of Romanian oil production is stopped. Galician and Hungarian
production continues, though.
This is not the total result, though. The use
of nuclear weapons produces a chain reaction, as German bombers deploy nuclear
weapons over 12 Soviet cities, leveling their centers and killing some 3
million civilians in the process. When NATO bombers act on their threat to retaliate
against the Germans should they use nukes, the repercussions are less, as
German AA defenses are tremendous, but nevertheless, 3 German cities are nuked,
in the process killing some 1,2 million civilians. As the Germans retaliate,
another 6 nukes are deployed over British cities, killing some 2,1 million
civilians.
At the same time, Italy is presented with an
ultimatum: stop exports of oil to Germany, or face NATO action to do the same
thing. A deadline is set for the first day of the next month. Italy flatly
rejects it.
1952 July
With the German nuclear attacks on Soviet
cities, the Soviets begin to retaliate. Given extensive German AA-belts on the
way to Germany proper, most attacks end up hitting quarters in non-German towns
in Poland, the Ukraine, Romania, Hungary and, once in a while, in eastern
Prussia.
German thrusts into the Ukraine encounter
Soviet troops in a state of disintegration. Faced with an initially successful,
now losing war, and Soviet cities being leveled in their rear, the soldiers
begin to mutiny and either go home or desert to the German side. As a result,
German progress is rapid, and they are across the Don by the end of the month.
As a NATO-fleet enters the Mediterranean to cut
off Libyan oil from being exported to Germany, they are met with an Italian
ultimatum that they dont cross a line running from the Balearic islands to
Algiers. As they cross the line, the NATO task force is wiped out in a nuclear
attack followed up by conventional torpedo bombers.
Thus
begins World War Three.