Archibald

2 Mar 41 Despite the attentions of two luftflotten, the London garrison stood firm and took no damage. Elswehere, His Majesty's Government were sad to learn that Rumania, our gallant ally in the last war with Germany, has joined the Axis. they have made a mistake they will come to rue.

5 Jan 41 With the Norwegian Army having fought to the death, King Haakon VII and the country's gold reserves have been removed to safety in London. Oslo has been declared an open city and awaits the Nazis. Bergen however remains in allied hands. Norway fights on! [ September 08, 2003, 07:39 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

24 Nov 40 Germany attacks Norway, but inexplicably fails to occupy Oslo. The surviving Norwegian corps moves from Bergen to Oslo, while a British corps lands in Bergen to take over the garrison there. Well Prime Minister, as we surmised, they've gone for Norway. Hmmph... Do you think they were taken in by my reviewing troops said to be bound for Gibraltar CIGS?. No Prime Minister, not for a second... Hmmph...

Bullwinkle, I think you meant Kiev rather than Kursk. As for the foreign general, this refers to a visit by De Gaulle to the ruins of Stalingrad in late 1944. On seeing the city he is reported to have said: "Quel peuple!" When his entourage agreed with this perceived assessment of the Soviets, he replied: "Mais non, je parle des Allemands. S'être rendu jusqu'ici !"

27 Oct 40 The Prime Minister reviews magnificently equipped and battle-ready British troops prior to their embarkation for Gibraltar.

29 Sep 40 United as never before, Britain is bending everything to the great task of winning this war.

1 Sep 40 The British Empire would remind it's enemies that it is not in the habit of losing its wars. [ December 21, 2003, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

18 Aug 40 A quiet summer. The bombing of Brest and the might of the Royal Navy seem to have discouraged the Axis from invading.

Zappsweden and I have been playing this and I can recommend it - the British have a real chance of slowing the Wehrmacht cookie-cutter. I really really like this scenario. [ August 31, 2003, 05:31 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

4 Aug 40 It pains the British Empire to be attacking French ports, but disabling them offers the best chance of delaying a German invasion. It will be some time before Brest is usable again, by which time Great Britain will be unassailable.

21 Jul 40 [ September 08, 2003, 03:34 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

7 Jul 40 Using the very last of her reserves France counter attacks once more. This time Hoth's panzergruppe, which has broken through south west of Paris, is knocked down from full strength to eight. The naval interdiction of Antwerp continues, while in the south the French Air Force attacks the Andrea Doria and knocks the pride of the Regia Marina from eight down to five. We do not intend to be a passive gunnery target.

23 Jun 40 He's taking no chances at all. Another quiet period while he comes up to my entrenched line of French corps running north-south through Paris from the Channel Coast to the Massif Central. Off Belgium, the French Navy batters Antwerp's port facilities down to zero. I think he plans to throw everything at Paris and try and end the Battle of France with one stroke. Let them come! France is ready! Ils ne passeront pas! [ August 29, 2003, 01:06 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

9 Jun 40 It's been a strangely quiet month for France as she readied herself for the next German assault. Once again, other than small attacks in the south, the Germans have kept their distance. The French Army used the time to consolidate the line centred on Paris. GQG assess that the Germans have decided that their "Blitzkrieg" doctrine has proved too expensive for them, and that they have changed their strategy to a more methodical and certain one based on French military doctrine. To no one's surprise, the Italians have joined the Axis cause in the hope of easy conquests. Mussolini doesn't realise what he's in for:

12 May 40 Another devastating shock to French elan. A further two French armies destroyed. With great reluctance, the abandonment of the Maginot Line is ordered and a new line formed on Paris ahead of the advancing Wehrmacht. The usual harrying of units and ports on the Channel Coast continues, but otherwise this is a quiet period of preparing for the next German onslaught.

14 Apr 40 A black week for the allies. In two crushing blows the Axis knock out a French corps and the Canadian Army: Prime Minister Mackenzie-King's mother tells him via a medium that it is the worst day in Canadian history. Mackenzie-King agrees. Unknown to his departed mother, he has just been made privy to the fact that the Wehrmacht now have six positively ID'd airfleets. Guderian's panzergruppe drives within a few hexes of Paris and the French counter attack with the support of the RAF in the hope of a second "Miracle of the Marne". With a supreme effort, Guderian's command is destroyed. There is still however a gaping hole within a few hexes of Paris ready for the next wave of Germans to pour into. The ensuing recriminations in the allied camp sees the collapse of both Chamberlain's and Daladier's governments. Paul Reynaud and Winston Churchill now lead the allied camp: The French Navy and army continue to attrite the attackers from the Channel Coast and the Maginot Line, but these are only local successes. Germany now holds the initiative in the Battle of France.

17 Mar 40 Dublin has fallen. A recce platoon of the Rocky Mountain Rangers raised the Union Flag over the GPO in a symbolic ending of the conflict. A few days later in an emotional ceremony the garrison of Dublin Castle surrendered and the first British governor for 19 years installed. Pathe News caught the lowering of the Irish tricolour on newsreel and it has played to applause throughout the Empire; especially Canada. On the western front the Germans advance into the vacant hexes south and west of Brussels and destroy an entrenched French army. It took all five Luftflotten to do it though. Undaunted the French and Canadians counter attack into Flanders and in the course of a fierce battle destroy a German Army. Elsewhere, German armies in the front line are knocked down in strength. On the North Sea Coast the French Navy keep pounding and knocking down German units. Honours are even so far... France is fighting in the spirit of 1914!: [ September 08, 2003, 08:03 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

4 Feb 1940 As I expected, he struck for the Low Countries this turn and took it without trouble. He also attacked me in the Ardennnes and knocked an army down to eight. He didn't advance troops in to the west and south of Brussels, but I declined the opportunity of advancing and losing my entrenchment values and am sitting tight and gaining strength. The French Navy break out from the Channel and begin bombarding the Wehrmacht in the Low Countries. A panzer group is knocked down to eight, while an army is knocked down to nine. My northernmost Maginot garrison also launches a spoiling attack and knocks another army down to eight. Good news in Ireland. With the destruction of the Guinness distillery by Princess Pat's Canadian Light Infantry, Irish resistance has collapsed. Unless Germany intervenes there is nothing to stop the Canadians marching in and re-imposing direct rule from Westminster. Canada is proud that she has been the first (loyal) dominion to fight and is proud to be continuing her hallowed tradition of crushing unruly Fenians. [ September 08, 2003, 08:01 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

10 Dec 39 My apologies for the delay, but the gestalt entity that is Chamberlain/Daladier/Mackenzie-King was struck down with a throat virus on Thursday morning and has only just begun to recover. Jersey John's playing a cautious Axis. He took Denmark last turn and now must be in position to launch on the Low Countries. Let him come... The pig headed Irish resistance continues. Even with the landing of the Canadian corps, the Free State Army survived at strength one at the end of this round. At least I'm inflicting enough losses for Ireland to be a net drain on the Axis economy. It'll cost him 42 MMPs to bring the Irish corps up to strength, while it's only generating 16 MMPs for the Axis war effort. Next turn should see the main war begin in the west. [ September 08, 2003, 08:01 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

12 Nov 39 He almost knocked the Danes out with the first attack, but they survived at strength 1. Encouraging to see that he used an air unit near Berlin instead of moving it within range of Brussels. That leaves him with three air units in range of the LC, including the one he's just built. The French continue to reinforce the Belgian border, while another attack on Dublin knocks it from eight down to three. The Canadian corps is now in position off Ireland to launch an amphibious landing next turn. [ September 08, 2003, 07:51 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

15 Oct 39 Despite having several corps and an air unit intact, the Poles surrendered. Curses. That means only two turns until he hits the Low Countries. Just enough time to finish off the Irish I hope. His two wolfpacks knocked HMS Royal Oak down to two, but they were destroyed in the Franco--British counter-attack that followed. This frees my fleets up for more interesting tasks. The Irish have been battered down almost to nothing. He'll have to reinforce next turn or risk losing them and freeing up my air. [ September 08, 2003, 07:48 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

17 Sep 39 He's committed totally to Poland at the moment. Thankfully the Poles got off relatively lightly and only lost one army. The remaining Poles withdraw into a tight defensive huddle around Warsaw to weather the next turn. I'm about 80% confident of Poland holding till Turn 3. A good start in the east. In the west Chamberlain, to the amazement of the rest of the world, declares war on a British dominion. The skies of Dublin are alive with Hurricanes, Swordfishes and Whitleys. After a fortnight's fierce aerial and naval bombardment the Free State's single corps is down to half strength. Off Cape Finisterre Force H led by HMS Hood runs into a U-boat ambush. In a fierce exchange the RN naval group is knocked down to 5, with it's opposing wolfpack being knocked down to 6. The question now is where's the other wolfpack? Everything quiet in France. For now. [ September 17, 2003, 06:38 PM: Message edited by: Archibald ]

If you're so determined to play the Axis then they're yours sir. 175 for the British Empire and 1,400 for the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. My e-mail is archibald@blueyonder.co.uk That pipe frightens me. It's like a painting by Magritte; both commonplace and deeply strange. The thought of playing someone who keeps a three foot long pipe in the bathroom unnerves me.

I bid 150 for the forces of decency.

But that same French cavalry couldn't break through British infantry in square later in the afternoon could they? I bid 125. Europe will prevail against your decadent American jazz culture!