Sarsfield_slith -> Europe Aflame Solo Run (2/5/2021 6:40:02 PM)
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I might do a narrative rather than a map based one for this as I’m still mucking around with the screen shot uploads I think most TOAW grognards can visualise things by this stage - we'll see.. Anyway the narrative so far:Europe Aflame Solo Run 12 July 1935: Anglo-German Naval Pact allows Germany to build Aircraft Carriers of limited capacity. Italy follows suit. 3 September 1938: Winston Churchill becomes 1st Lord of the Admiralty 9 November 1938: The Führer grants the SS the right to have its own Airforce & Paras. 15 March 1939: Germany occupies Bohemia & Moravia & declares Slovakia a Protectorate 1 April 1939: Abwher break British Admiralty codes & discover plans by the Royal Navy to seize Narvik by coup de main in the event of War 10 May 1939: Winston Churchill becomes Prime Minister - he instructs his staff to prepare for War with Germany within six months! 5 June 1939: On it’s National Day Denmark declares that only Danes are welcome in Denmark as full time residents & that the National borders should be those of 1849. In effect laying claim to all of Schleswig-Holstein incl. that within the borders of the Reich. 6 June 1939: Adolf Hitler condemns Denmark's actions as 'a Hostile Act’ and breaks off diplomatic relations. German residents in Denmark are asked to leave and their is property seized - some violence ensues. Norway offers diplomatic support to Denmark but no military assistance. 22 June 1939: The German Foreign Minister Von Ribbentrop flies to Moscow to discuss the growing International Crises. He signs a Pact with Molotov & Stalin - ‘the Nazi - Soviet Pact’ - that recognises Germany’s right of self defense in regards to Denmark & Norway. In return the Soviet Union is given a Free Hand to deal with Finland. Both countries undertake to respect the Neutrality of Sweden and the Baltic States. 22 July 1939: Hitler orders the commencement of ‘Operation Weserübung’ to seize Denmark & Norway citing threats to National Security that are impossible to ignore - German ground forces cross the border into Denmark, Luftwaffe bomb Danish airfields. Danish Government appeals to the League of Nations. 24 July 1939: In Moscow the Soviet Foreign Minister Molotov announces that given the failure of the Finnish Government to engage in meaningful negotiations on the future alignment of their mutual border in Karelia that the Soviet Union has decided to advance and secure more reasonable defensive positions. Stalin personally appeals by hot line to Helsinki not to offer any meaningful resistance. The Finns call up their Reserves and the Soviets attack in strength on the central Front of the Mannerheim Line. Finns suffer heavy casualties but the Russians fail to break through. Soviet warships are spotted off Petsamo in the far north. 29 July: Britain & France break off diplomatic relations with the Third Reich & warn Berlin that any further aggression in Scandinavia could lead to War. Copenhagen is captured by German Panzer units & the Luftwaffe start to re deploy on Danish airbases. Soviets smash through Mannerheim Line and take Viipuri cutting of Finnish units. Helsinki suffers its 1st air attacks. Petsamo is cut off from the rest of Finland. 6 August: German glider borne troops land on Norwegian soil & throw a loose cordon about Kristiansand. German amphibious landings are daily expected. German Paras are dropped at Lillehammer and secure it thus cutting off Oslo from reinforcements from the North. German fleet moves into the Skagerrak & bombards Kristiansand. Russian advance in Karelia slows but Finnish II Corps is now fully cut off - Petsamo is attacked by Air & Sea. Britain ready to Declare War but the French Cabinet is divided as to the best course of action to take and advise London to show restraint. RAF bombers are moved to bases in northern Scotland. Norwegian Navy sorties from Oslo but is almost annihilated in a naval engagement with the Kriegsmarine in the Skagerrak 12 August: Germans bombard Kristiansand by land and sea. Finnish II corps fails to breakout of encirclement. Finnish Reserves are mobilised to meet attack. 19 August: Germans attack Kristiansand by Land, sea and air & capture it. German land forces are put ashore and advance on Oslo. The Royal Navy is put on a war footing and the Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow is put on 24hours notice to sail for Northern waters. 26 August: Germans attack outside Oslo by Land, sea and air but after heavy fighting the city is held by the Norwegians Russians advance further into Karelia Churchill decides to take unilateral action & orders the 51st Highland Division to occupy Narvik. Hope that is easy enough to follow and I can add more visuals as I go along.. [image]local://upfiles/59340/F671DCFB2CF04DAA876FFD7DEA0FC9D8.jpg[/image]
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