Awakening the Bear: A Hearts of Iron III Semper FI - ICE - USSR AAR Music Selection List - for further enjoyment of this AAR: Georges Bizet, Carmen Opera Comique Giuseppe Verdi, Requiem for Soloists Luigi Cherubini, Requiem No 1 Le Memoirie Boris Aleksandrov, Sacred War Edward Elgar, The Black Knight Johannes Brahms, Ein Deutsches Requiem Vasily Agapkin, A Slavonic Maids Farewell [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3XywSEhJ1mI[/YOUTUBE] Part 1: In Soviet Russia, only the strong survive. My name is Josef Stalin and this is my story. The USSR is a blossoming country. We are the largest in the world. Our economy is flourishing and our military technology is improving. The influence of Communism is spreading beyond our borders. The year is 1936, however, and there are many changes that need to take place. First, I am relocating the Military, sending more troops to the North on the Finnish Border while reorganizing my armies in the West. The flame of Fascism has lit up Europe and will not be able to exist with Communism. This I am sure of and will have to watch my neighbors closely. The Far East is an inhospitable land and I see no threat in its expanses. The goals of my planned expansions lie in Poland, the Baltic Region, and in Finland. The Russian Empire needs to expand, of course, and spread the Peoples Revolution to the rest of Europe! But things are in a sorry state, the military is disorganized and there are many enemies of the state in the Great Patriotic Army. Using the NKVD, I systematically eliminated those Officers who did not support Communism, replacing them with men true to the cause and reorganizing the armed forces to better deal with threats. Technologically, my country is in a good spot. The Air Force is a little behind, as are general tactics and the Navy is non-existent, but who needs a Navy when you control half of the continent? My goals here are quite simply - build up the Air Force and Army Technologies, equip my troops with the best weapons possible and increase their organization and morale. Dual Command was implemented to further eliminate the threat of spies in the Russian Army, and to ensure that all orders were done for the good of Russia and Communism. At the same time, my very successful spy network in Japan was seeing major improvements as one of my Spies came into contact with the Japanese Inner Circle, all the while undetected. The Asian Imperialists certainly had a thing or two to learn. The outbreak of the Spanish Civil War created an interesting situation. The Fascists had risen up and it was the Peoples duty to fight them! I quickly sent what little aid I could, recognizing the Fascist Threat that the rest of Europe could not, and in response, the Republicans entrusted me with securing their $4500 worth of Gold to prevent it from falling into Fascist Hands. Sadly, at the time of this writing in 1937, the Republicans and Comrades are not faring well in their overwhelming fight against the Fascists. My positive outlook was not shared amongst my officer corps. No, far from it really. There were growing rumors of dissent amongst the officers of rank in the Great Patriotic Army. This I can not stand. For Russia to become a military might to challenge the rest of Europe the Office Corps must be on board! With great determination, I started a great Officer Purge, eliminating those who spoke out against Russia and the Communist Party. Only true Comrades would be given command of any men! I also reinstated Dual Command System to further eliminate such words and thoughts of dissent. Not exactly how I wanted to start the year of 1937 but what choice did I have?
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_A7Hu0uKNw[/YOUTUBE] Part 2: In Soviet Russia, we help you! 1938 War in the West, War in the East! The Japanese excursion into China was starting to gain steam and this greatly worried me. It is no secret that the Imperialistic Japanese were very friendly with their Fascist counterparts in Europe. Their godlike worship of their Emperor was also counter to everything that my Comrades and I stand for. But what can one do in face of such opposition? The only thing feasible to do was to aid the Chinese by sending Supplies to them, to reinforce their units with. However, despite dispatching some 10,000 units of supplies to them, their weak armies collapsed under the Japanese Aggression and the foreign minister brought to my ears the demise of the Chinese Factions with the annexation of Nationalist China. This victory went straight to the heads of the Japanese. Is it any surprise that these Japanese Warmongels then incurred into Soviet territory? The surprise attack around the disputed Lake Khasan region initially pushed back my Soviet forces, but sending reinforcements to the region soon forced the Japanese back. While outright war was not declared - our two countries have a long history of border disputes, after all - tensions were starting to rise. It was quite possible that further infractions could result in all out war. Not only was the Chinese capitulation a blow this year, but word reached my ears shortly afterwards of the Republican Spains own demise at the hands of the Nationalists. War in the East and West, great Fascist victories in the East and West! This was not looking good at all and could certainly not bode well for the future. At least I get to keep their gold!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S81wGZVPnZo[/YOUTUBE] Part 3: In Soviet Russia, the Pact signs you! 1939 The year of 1939 held a lot of promise. Soviet Technologies were rapidly advancing across all fronts (excluding the defunct Navy) including the research into the field of Rockets. Tanks and Anti-Armor technologies were also pushed forward with all skill devoted to these important technologies. The weapons showcased in the Spanish Civil War pointed to a future of warfare that has not been seen before and I understand the need to keep with the modern times. Too often has Russia been left behind the rest of the world, but no more! Amid the growing tensions of 1938, some backroom deals were occurring. It is no secret that Germany will once again be a major player in Europe. Already they have annexed Austria and Czechoslovakia through bloodless wars and ultimatums. They will surely look to Poland next and seek to expand their spheres of influence. But I too have grand ideas of spreading Soviet spheres of Influence through out Eastern Europe too. In July, my diplomat to Germany signed the Molotove-Ribbentrop Pact that partitioned Eastern Poland to Soviet Control (and some 13 million peoples) while also handing over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as Soviet spheres of Influence. In September, of 1939, Soviet Forces poured over the Polish border while Germans attacked from the West. The Poles, as secretly agreed with them, did not fire a shot at Soviet Forces which overwhelmed the few instances of resistance they did put up. The German Assault did receive bullets from the Poles, but a few dead Nazis would only put a smile on my face. Amid all of these tensions and conflict in Eastern Europe, the situation in the Far East nearly spilled over into outright war with the Japanese. A series of events occurred which, if not for the turmoil in the Eastern Europe, would easily have turned into war. All over a place called Khalkhin Gol in Mongolia. The conduct of the Japanese was quite upsetting and War would have been declared - and almost was at two different periods - if not for the backroom dealing taking place in Europe. Fortunately for the Japanese, War was averted for now. Relations with the Japanese were at an all time low but yet again Soviet forces displayed their superiority over Japanese forces. I am convinced that war with the Japanese will eventually come between our peoples. I can only hope that things in Europe have settled enough for me to be able to devote the might of the Soviet Peoples against the Japanese, liberate the Chinese from their rule, and wipe the Japanese off the face of the world for good! See Attachment for Readable size. For me, things were feeling like they were spiraling out of control however. Near war with Japan only to have outright war with Finland at the end of the year! The Germans had agreed that Finland would become one of my Spheres of Influence however the Finnish peoples did not agree lightly with this idea! They refused to cede land and give me the Ports I demanded so war was declared in the cold month of December!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JO5-hM6xKt4[/YOUTUBE] Part 4: In Soviet Russia, we kill you! 1940 The refusal by Findland did not come as a surprise. The pesky skiers from this cold region have always been known to be a hardy, resilient folk (probably because their winters are similar to those experienced in Siberia) who would not go down quietly. At least, that is what they would like you to think. Preparation for this war had been going on for a while, but a few unexpected factors hindered the initial assault into Finland. First, apart from the extreme North and South of the country, the eastern border of Finland is mostly impassable due to the ruggedness of the heavily forested terrain. This had not been taken into account prior to hostilities, and a week or two was lost while troops in unmovable situations probed the Finnish defenses and finally found a place to cross. These crossings merely served as a slight distraction as the main breakthrough took place in the South, with Soviet Tanks rolling through Finnish Forests and racing in all directions into Finland. Finnish soldiers could not deal with these tanks and were soon in full retreat across the board. Several Finnish Divisions were also surrounded and wiped out in a show of might by Soviet Forces, even under new leadership since the Great Officer Purge! However, all of this was for naught, as in March hostilities ceased with the Finns ceded land in the South while retaining the rest of their country. The only bright side during this conflict occurred in February, when a German-Soviet Commercial was signed that increased the Soviet (and German) economies through various trade agreements. The Irony of this agreement did not surpass my mind - both our countries are gearing up for the coming war that threatens to sweep across Europe. Over the last few years I have learned that Communism and Fascism can not coexist and as the Germans slowly spread out to the West, they will surely turn Eastwards eventually - most likely with the aid of their Japanese friends. (OOC: This was unknown to me. It took me until April to conquer all of Finland, while the event trigged in March. 'Peace' was the only option despite controlling all of their VPs so i was forced to go with the Historical Outcome in this event. It did give my 2nd Tank Army some experienced, along with some of my Infantry and Mountain Units. I have two pre-existing Mountain Armies, which anywhere else would be useful. However, no where in the planned conflict zone with Germany are their Mountains - let along Hills - to use them in! The Hungarian border is the only place where I can see Hills and Mountains and they have joined the Axis, so if all goes according to plan, I will eventually be able to use my Mountain Troops! Fighting in Forest against Finnish Infantry they did not fare too well!). Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania all capitulated to my demands in June, having witness the might of the Soviet Army sweeping across Finland. They surely saw the futility in trying to resist or put up an armed resistance so their territories were quickly ceded to the Soviet Union. This was a morale booster for myself and my Comrades after the fiasco in Finland. Romania also ceded Bessarabia provinces to me under pressure as well, pushing their borders back a few provinces. Soviet forces quickly moved in to secure these new positions, while all along the new German-Soviet Border, the Molotov Line was fortified. War was certainly coming East in the next year or two and there is no time like the present to prepare!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQEjwKs_hpg[/YOUTUBE] Part 5: In Soviet Russia, the bear wakes you! The year is now 1941. Russia has come along way over the last 4 years under my guidance. The military has been modernized with the latest in technology - some 1 Million Men stand ready on the borders to defend this great nation. Borders have been expanded hundreds of miles into the West, with several ports now able to access the Baltic Sea. War in the Far East has been averted several times as the cesspool of warring factions have set the area on fire. The Economy is a world leader in exports and imports, with Russian Trade flourishing. Everything is looking good! The Germans, always conniving, signed a Border Agreement and another Economic Agreement with my country. Even so, an arms race was clearly starting to blossom between are two countries, especially with the War in France. In March, I signed a Lend-Lease Agreement with the USA to further boost the economy while in April it was decided to Fortify the Stalin Line. Conflict, of the bloody kind, was certainly a possibility with the Germans and I need to secure my holdings in the West. At the same time, the Japanese - already bloodied twice by my Comrades stationed in the Far East - agreed to a Neutrality Pact. This last thing, in April, was a very wise decision. In May, under growing tensions and the annexation of France (resulting in the new Fascist Vichy France) I gave the order to Mobilize the Great Patriotic Army. This was a wise decision as War broke out close to my extended borders, the Axis invading Yugoslavia! Not only that, but a few days later they even had the pertenance to declare war on ME! After all I had done for them, the Nazi Bastards in Germany tried to stab ME in the back! Their Allies in Finland, escaping annexation by default, also joined in on this war, their Armies reinforced by German Troops that had been spotted moving into the area recently. Comrades, it is time for the Great Soviet Socialist Republics of Russia to go to war!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-FKE2w5PdY[/YOUTUBE] Part 6: In Soviet Russia, the Army is you! At this moment I, Joseph Stalin of the Soviet Union, would like to take this time to review the current force distribution of the Great Patriotic Army. I would also like to review the world Alliances, which can be broken down into three general groupings. The two major groupings mainly consist are the Allies and the Axis. Most countries fall in either of these Alliances. The Comintern, on the other hand, is the smallest of the Alliances but possibly the most powerful. The countries of the Axis Alliance include a few Far Eastern Nations. The Axis is responsible for all current hostilities. Next, I would like to present to you the Theatre Layout of the Great Patriotic Army. This image shows the names of each Theatre and the approximate distribution of men in each Theatre. These numbers are by no means official or static as each new units adds some 3000 more men or so. For a closer, more detailed look at each Theatre, I have had my Generals prepare the following three maps, detailing to a greater extent the composition of each Theatre. In anticipation of Hostilities with enemy forces to the South and West of Russia, I saw it wise to draw up a tentative defensive line, using natural geography to aid in the Defense. The first two key points of defense are large Rivers, River Defense Line South and North, where the most upgraded units of the Russian Army are assembling. In the middle of them is the Marsh Line Central, which covers the middle ground around the great marsh in the area. Of course, the best made plan is the first to alter.
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVhnSC_u3i4[/YOUTUBE] Part 7: In Soviet Russia, the plane flies you! Technology. Research. These things are important, Comrade. They enable us to defeat our enemies, to advance the nation, to be more effective. Soviet technology has been proceeding at full steam. There are many great advancements I would like to share with you but the most important are the ones used by the Great Patriotic Army. Spies in Europe have allowed me to understand the basics of weapon technologies and my Soviet Researchers have made great strides in advancing the arms. First, I would like to present to you the Soviet Airforce. As you can see, some truly impressive planes fly in the skies over the Soviet Union. Now that I have wet your appetite, Comrade, I would like to present to you the Armored forces of the Great Patriotic Army! The Medium Tanks are the pinnacle of Soviet Research - no other Tank like it exists in the world! I am quite eager to see their performance in battle and, Comrade, as you know, that shall be happening any day now! The T-34/85 is a very advanced design of Tank. It will take researchers almost another two years before they think industrial capabilities and technologies will allow them to further advance the make of the tank. In the mean time they will devote time to improving the Heavy Tank and Tank Destroyer basics, along with making further improvements across all fronts. Comrade, now that I've updated you on the disposition of the Great Patriotic Army and its wide array of advanced technologies, it is time to head to the War Room and discuss strategies and Plans of Attack and Defense on the Western Front!
[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myg8Q0r8JnQ[/YOUTUBE] Part 8: In Soviet Russia, the War plans you! Comrades, it is time to plan the future of the World! These following two images show planned Soviet Offenses into German territory, with objectives marked when appropriate. The first image is of the Western Theatre with planned offenses around the Memel region. Forces stationed on the Molotov Line are already under attack but are more numerous then their German counterparts and should be able to launch an attack. Tanks stationed on the River Defense Line North will also move in to attack. The second image shows parts of the Southern and Western Theatres, the defensive lines, and arrows marking the planned movements of the forces. You can also see the large central Marsh that was a linchpin in the Defensive Plans of the Soviet Union. Onward, Comrades, onwards!
After much deliberation, some tactical errors (and a slight lack of understanding on some changes to the game) my campaign is close to failure. I was doing fine - even reached Warsaw and Krakow - before the might of the combined (deep breath): German, Italian, Slovakian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Croatian and...there is a 7th country, cant think of its name right now...well, they all proved too much. Combined with my units in the North losing all their organization for some reason. I did puppet Finland but the troops from that theatre could not do anything against the approaching germans due to too broad a front. The UK has tried to land in the Balkans twice now (they control africa) but got wiped out both times, which is not good news. SO I think my USSaaR is officially over However, I have updated to the most complete and current version of the game and mod, so shall be starting a new AAR, most likely as the USSR to try and learn from my mistakes.
