Objectives: Modernize Army and Air-Force. Improve Fortifications of Maginot Line. Construct more Anti-Aircraft Positions. Consolidate Navy and Forces away from Colonies. Improve Army Presence in Tunisia. Defend against projected German and Italian Attacks. Survival. Potential Problems: Superior (Numerically and Technologically) German Forces. Lack of British Support. Two-Front War (Germans and Italians). Flawed Doctrines. Reduced Industrial Capacity through Bombardment.
The first two months of 1936 saw massive changes in the military of France. Units were reformed, Generals were reassigned, and Naval and Air Units were redeployed. An order was given out to recall French troops from Indochina, and to move the Moroccan-based Army into Tunisia. A clearer picture in Europe was beginning to form as to who would most likely be the new enemy in a war that was sure to come: Germany and Italy. In light of this, the first Light Armored Division was commissioned on January 1st to help start the modernization of the French Military. Other units were also going through a slow process of upgrading their equipment, uniforms, and tactics. Technologies that would further improve the French Military were also underway. At first there was some protest to these rapid changes, even after things had settled down somewhat in mid-February. But om March 7th, Germany made a very aggressive move my reoccupying the Rhineland, quickly swaying all support behind the French Government. The decision to reorder the Armies and research modern technologies seems to have been the wise decision after all. France and the UK begin to Gear up for War. On March 9th, a brigade-attachment of Anti-Aircraft Guns started to be produced and trained. On March 13th, Basic Cavalry and Early Field Artillery were researched and scientists began to look into the fields of Basic Static AA and Semi-Motorized Cavalry. As April started, the High Command decided it would be best to consolidate all of Frances forces into France and Tunisia, so the Djibouti Army was recalled back to France, where it was merged into pre-existing units on the Maginot Line. World Events started to occur at this point, and word reached France that the Nationalists and Communists in China had agreed to return to Status Quo. This was on April 5th, and about a week later on the 14th, the new Anti-Air Gun detachment was deployed to a unit in the 3rd Army. May 4th saw Strategic Bomber Division researched and focus now began on Basic Interceptors. May 10th saw Rear Area Vehicle Repair Shops completed and Basic ATG Artillery started. This was followed by the Light Armored Division (commissioned Jan 1st) deployed to the 1st Tank Corps on the 14th, and production began work on 2 Artillery Detachments and 1 ATG Detachment. The 17th of May saw Semi-Motorized Cavalry researched and Early Tank Destroyers was begun. Striking news struck on the 16th as Italy annexed Ethiopia. Public support for the French Governments decisions reached an all time high as it became clear that Italy was pursuing an aggressive stance in World Affairs. June 1st saw an Artillery Detachment deployed to the 5th Army, while a new Infantry Division was commissioned. Public Support for the government was shown on the June 11th Elections, where the populace decided to keep the current Government instead of electing Left or Right Wing Cabinet Members. June 30th put Asia back in the spotlight, as Guangxi Clique declared WAR on Nationalist China and Xibei San Ma. Is this a look into what the future of Europe holds? July 3rd saw the 1st and 6th Armies receiving Artillery detachments while the 7th Army received an ATG Detachment. 2 new Infantry Divisions were also commissioned. French Air and Naval Units: French Ground Units: French Technology (current):
July 18th saw Spain descend into Civil War. Very alarming, since Spain shared a border with France and it was possible that the fighting could spill over into France. It only took a few days, and news of Soviet, German, and Italian Intervention, for France to decide to intervene too. As France kept an eye on the Spanish Civil War, Improved Machine Tools were completed on August 8th and Agrichemistry was started. The 19th of August saw the formation of a new Infantry Division, which was deployed to 1st Army. A month later, on September 20th, another Division was deployed to 6th Army. Two days later, a third division was added to 2nd Army. On the 14th of October, Agrichemistry was finished and Battlefleet Concentration Doctrine was started. The SCW seemed to be more of a stalemate then anything else at this point. November 4th saw Basic Interceptor completed and Basic Fighter started. The 11th saw Early Artillery Detachment deployed to 2nd Army, and AA Detachment started. The 12th beckoned the finale of research into Early Tank Destroyer and the start of research into Basic Field Artillery. The 20th, Basic AT-Artillery was completed and basic Decimetric Radar Warning Sites were begun. And on the 23rd, Basic Static Anti-Air was completed and work started on Operational Destruction Doctrine. The 27th of the month saw Nationalist China and Guangxi Clique end their war and return to Status Quo. December 7th saw another Infantry Division deployed to 8th Army and the 15th saw the Basic Anti-Air Detachment deployed to 2nd Army, with a L. Armored Division commissioned. Some Thoughts: France is being drawn towards a pressing time. Germany has reoccupied the Rhineland, despite the Versailles Treaty signed at the end of World War I. But neither France nor the UK are in any position to take action against Nazi Germany. Spurred on by this lack of action, Fascists and Nazis in Spain have risen up, sending that country into a Civil War. France will not be in a good position if Spain is conquered by the Nationalists. Nazi Germany to the East, Fascist Italy to the South East, and Nazi Spain to the South-West would not bode well for France. As such, France is rapidly trying to develop modern technologies, upgrade its preexisting units, and fortify its border with Germany and the Low Lands. If push comes to shove and war breaks out in Europe, France will be in a dire and desperate situation. The African Colonies are also in peril, especially if Spain turns Nazi, surrounding French Colonies with Italian and Spanish Troops.
New Format for this update. Tech lister first is completed -> the latter oneis started. The Years 1937 through 1938. 1937 February 9th - Basic Decimetric Radar -> Agricultural Production March 6th - Operational Destruction Doctrine -> Battlefield Interdiction Doctrine March 25th - Basic Field Artillery -> Basic Tactical Bombers April 28th - 2nd Tank Corps Formed -> 2x Serial Tanks Started May 6th - Agricultural Production -> Basic Escort Fighter May 16th - Interceptor deployed to 1st IG -> 2x Serial Anti-Air Guns June 23rd - Anti-Air to 6th Army and Army Group Center HQ June 28th - Basic Fighter -> Basic Encryption 3x Serial Fighters July 7th - Battlefield Interdiction -> Basic Motorized Division July 11th - Force Through of Defense Policy Initiative August 1st - Basic Escort Fighter -> Strafing Doctrine September 3rd - Basic Encryption -> Improved Light Tank September 7th - Battlefleet Concentration Doctirne -> Logistical Strike Doctrine September 14th - Tank Division Deployed to 2nd Tank Corps October 29th - Basic Tactical Bomber -> Advanced Machine Tools November 14th - 1st Fighter Squadron Formed December 5th - Great Peace Demonstration December 7th - Strafing Doctrine -> Advanced Construction Engineering
1938 January 9th - Basic Motorized Divisions -> Basic Infantry Division January 22nd - Logistical Strike Doctrine -> Night Strafing January 26th - Advanced Machine Tools -> Improved Computing January 27th - Tank Division Deployed to 2nd Tank Corps March 2nd - Soviet Officer Purged Begins March 4th - Advanced Construction Engineering -> Production Control March 8th - Anschluss of Austria - Gearing up for WAR - 3x Serial Fighters March 22nd - Fighter Deployed to 1st Fighter Wing March 23rd - Improved Light Tank -> Basic Medium Tank April 10th - 3x Fighter Cancelled - 3x Arm 2 Started May 5th - Fascists Outlawed in France May 14th - Basic Infantry -> Basic Mountain Division May 20th - Improved Computering -> Basic Decryption June 11th - Keep Current Government selected in Voting July 5th - Night Strafing -> Perimeter Defense Doctrine August 24th - Production Control -> Production Planning August 27th - Basic Medium Tanks -> Basic Heavy Tanks September 29th - Basic Mountain Division -> Early Hospital System October 20th - Basic Heavy Tank -> Self-Propelled Artillery October 25th - Tank Division Deployed November 8th - Basic Decryption -> Close Air Support November 16th - Perimeter Defense -> Formation Flying Doctrine December 15th - Law Policy Revised due to criticism from Opposition December 28th - Early Self-Propelled Artillery -> Basic Self-Propelled Artillery
1939 Basic Close Air Support -> Improved Fighter Formation Fighting Doctrine -> Home Defense Doctrine English 52nd Division 'Lowland' Purchased for $1200 Germany Claims Memel Early Hospital System -> Improved AT Artillery Basic SP Artillery -> Early Tank Destroyers Lowland deployed to 1st Army Basic Tank Destroyer -> Recon Skirmishing Home Defense Doctrine -> Improved Field Artillery Improved AT Artillery -> Improved Escort Fighter Great Peace Demonstration Assembly Line Experimentation -> Vehicle Assembly Line Historical Outcome - Molotove-Ribbentrop Pact Gearing Up For War Germany DOW Poland Some Thoughts Thus Far... Czechoslovakia for some reason is still in tact - either the events didn't trigger or a-historical stuff happened instead. The Sudetenland is still part of Czech. Not sure what to make of this. But now I face the decision - do I DOW Germany (I Guarantee the Independence of Poland) now, or wait for a few more technologies to be researched/upgraded (while hoping Poland is still holding on)? Or do I wait for Germany to DOW Yugoslavia or the Low Lands before taking more affirmative action? DOW GERMANY NOW? DOW GERMANY IN A FEW WEEKS, ONCE SOME TECHS HAVE BEEN RESEARCHED? DOW GERMANY ONCE THEY DOW LOW LANDS/YUGOSLAVIA?
