Part I: The Calm before the Storm The year is 1936, and the great nation of Japan is about to shake the world to it's very foundations. The nation has adapted significantly to western influence and taken it’s rightful place on the world stage. Some, still do not think we belong. Japan was late in coming into the Age of Imperialism, but that does not mean that we can not share in it's bounties. The country is overcrowded, with limited resources, and little food. New possessions awarded to Japan after The Great War are of little value other than for military purposes for future defense. The future of the country will depend heavily on the next decade. But first things first….. Because of the past alliance with the UK, Japan has built an impressive navy that would put fear into the hearts of a coalition of enemies. The Navy will be the branch of military service that the nation will ride to victory on. Expanding the fleet to meet future demands will be problematic at first. Our industry is already strained enough, and it will be some time before we can increase this. Already lined up for production are 1 CV and several CVL's (6) as well as a half dozen CA's. To make room for the needs of the army, all contracts for building destroyers have been cancelled. Two infantry divisions will take their spot at the front of the queue. The air force will have to make due with what they have for now. Research has grown by leaps and bounds recently and many important technologies are ahead of their time. As such all research will be directed towards significant technologies necessary for the future defense of our troops. Industry, agriculture, and supply production are the most dire needs, but also upgrades to small arms and doctrines. The biggest thing holding the nation back right now is raw materials. There simply is not enough to go around. Forced to look elsewhere for our needs, we find ourselves in sort of conundrum. By using the industry to produce Supplies for trade, there is less to build the defenses we need. Alas, we need oil and rare materials badly. The US is an appetizing thought, but it is decided to trade for these with the Soviet Union. Fuel and supplies, for oil and rare materials. Relations with China had been steadily decreasing lately, and as the year began to progress, it was decided by the IGHQ to begin a complete restructuring of the armed forces in preparation for a possible Chinese attack on Manchukuo. A Defense force was left to guard the Soviet boarder, while all remaining Divisions reported to Southern Manchuria. Six Corps would begin to dig into defensive position inside Manchukuo, while another four assembled inside the Home Islands and on Formosa. The Navy was split into four major squadrons, for the time being. Two carrier, and two battleship squadrons. This was deemed sufficient for the time being, as the only major threat against us does not have much of a fleet. May brought news of Ethiopia’s surrender to Italy, effectively becoming their puppet. Not long after we learned that Spain had erupted into civil war. Most devastating, were the numerous scandals and assassinations involving officials, creating civil unrest and further damaging industrial output. Early into 1937 we received word that Japan‘s technology could now support Marines. Two divisions were ordered of the specialized infantry units immediately. Their value will be enormous if they can perform as well as some think they can. But as it turns out, they will not be available in time. The Chinese boarder incidents can no longer be contained. Troops began moving into forward positions in June with orders to stand ready to attack.
Part II: Opening Moves On July 1st 1937, the Imperial Palace began to receive reports of an incident along the Shanxi boarder at the Marco Polo Bridge. The incident immediately got out of hand and War was declared against both Nationalist and Communist China. The South Manchuria Theater was tasked with conducting the war with the First and Second armies in Manchuria, including 26 Divisions, and the Third Army, including 12 Divisions in Japan, ready for deployment wherever needed. The ammunition had been passed out, the planes gassed and ready, and the fleet had it's orders......... The first shock of the war came only an hour after it started. Shanxi was annexed by Nationalist China. Not a completely unexpected turn of event's, but what was unexpected was the complete dissolution of all Shanxi units. This left the entire boarder undefended. Two Chinese Militia divisions replaced the 20 or so Shanxi divisions along the boarder. Japanese troops pushed across the boarder without opposition, and captured Beijing quickly. The Calvary forces (four divisions) made the furthest advances, moving three to four provinces south before meeting Chinese resistance. Off the coast near Shanghai, two carrier, and one battleship fleet patrolled the waters in hopes of sinking enemy merchant shipping. It was wholly unexpected that the Chinese fleet would sortie to engage the IJN. When they did it cost them the entire fleet. In the resulting battle two light cruisers and a MTB were sunk by carrier planes from the Akagi, and Hosho. Damaged the Chinese fleet returned to port only to find carrier planes from Kaga and Akagi already attacking the port. The remaining 6 Chinese light cruisers were sunk in port. With the Chinese fleet neutralized it was time to make an amphibious landing near Shanghai. Three Corps (12 divisions) were loaded into three transport fleets, and sent to the proposed landing site. Each Corps had a different province as its landing zone. The first two landing would be made on either side of Shanghai, with the third pushing into the city directly. Resistance was light, with the garrison quickly retreating, only to find itself cutoff, and forced to surrender. Within a week of the start of the war, a firm beachhead had been established, and forces were pushing as far as possible before the Chinese could bring up reinforcements.
Part III: The Offensive Continues China’s unexpected opening moves gave my armies an overwhelming edge to begin the war, but it would eventually come to and end. Resistance would begin to stiffen by the end of July as China brought reinforcements to the front, and adapted to the Shanghai landings. This “Southern Front” would meet the stiffest resistance, but also to the northwest as my forces arrived along Communist China’s boarder. Delay’s along this are created a bottleneck effect preventing my forces to spread out along the front. As a result, the northeast area was spread to thin to effectively link up the north and south fronts to begin a push westward. The Shanghai Landing had done the most damage, creating a large bubble in central China. An additional Corps (4 divisions) had been landed and sent south of the capital of Nanking with orders to support attacks from units to the north. Nanking was surrounded on three sides, but defense was very stiff. It would occupy the duties of over 50,000 troops for the next few weeks. Further South, Large gains were being made against little opposition. With a new Corps ready for deployment in Japan, it was decided to turn completly westward and land the new troops along the Guanxi Clique boarder. Chinese opposition was begining to stiffen and more unit were needed to keep the offensive rolling.
