American Front 1940

Nearly 80 years ago, the Confederate States gained it's independence, following Lee's successful invasion of Pennsylvania, and his annihilation of the Army of the Potomac at the Battle of Camp Hill in 1862. Britain and France intervened to force the U.S to sue for peace, leaving an embittered and defeated country. When the CSA negotiated to buy the provinces of Sonora and Chihuahua in 1881 from the bankrupt Empire of Mexico, the resentment in the US once again boiled over into war. An unprepared and friendless US was beaten for the second time in a generation by the combined might of Britain, France and the CSA. Determined on revenge, the USA allied itself to Imperial Germany and Austria-Hungary, building it's army, navy and industry for the day when it could gain it's vengeance.

That chance came in 1914, following the assassination of the Austrian heir to the throne. War engulfed the whole world as countries answered the calls of allies, and men mobilized in their millions. As fighting raged in Europe, Confederate, Mexican and US soldiers battled from California to Virginia, while Canadian, Commonwealth and Russian troops fought to stave off US armies invading Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. The war lasted three long years, with more than two million dead in North America alone, and millions more maimed. The Mormons revolted against the US government in Utah, while Negro revolutionaries nearly toppled the CSA when they rose up against their servitude. The war ground on until 1917, before Germany managed to beat down France and the US finally overwhelmed the CSA. With Russia also staggering, the British Commonwealth surrendered, bringing an end to the Great War.

The victorious powers imposed a harsh peace on the losers. Canada became a colony of the US, its people second-class citizens. The province of Quebec has become an independent republic, but is a US puppet in all but name. The CSA lost the states of Kentucky and Seqouyah, as well as large parts of Virginia, Arkansas, Texas and Sonora. Britain, France, Russia and the CSA were forced to pay heavy reparations to the US, vast sums designed to weaken them for generations. The Confederate Army and Navy were reduced to a fraction of their former size and power, while the Britain lost Bermuda and the Bahamas. Britain still retained much of her empire, but the struggle had left her exhausted.

In Europe, Germany reduced Belgium to the level of a vassal state, with German troops and naval units based throughout the country, and into northern France. The French have lost much of their north-eastern industrial areas, and German troops garrison Dieppe, Verdun and Belfort. In addition, the Germans took large areas of the French possessions in Africa, as well as the Belgian Congo. In eastern Europe the new countries of Finland, Poland and Kurland are German satellites. Russia emerged from the war in a state of revolution, but German-backed intervention in 1918 crushed the Bolsheviks, and now Russia is a constitutional monarchy, the power of Tsar Alexander IV a shadow of his predecessor. Spurred on by dreams of revenge, and fear of Germany, Russia then spent the next two decades frantically industrializing and rearming.

Twenty years after the German-US alliance won the Great War of 1914-17, the divergent aims of the two powers carried them along their own paths, with the result that the alliance was effectively dead. Leaving Europe and Africa to Germany, the US was content to look to it's own affairs in the Western Hemisphere, but no further abroad. While her people are proud of the victory gained in 1917, the loss of over a million men killed, and three million wounded (out of 62 million in 1914), left the country in a pacifist mood. Successive Socialist governments in the USA cut back on the Army and Navy, leaving them with outdated equipment and doctrines, and poorly trained troops. During the twenties and early thirties, with a weakened Confederacy, and no other enemies in North America, this had seemed a viable policy.

Germany's situation in the world would have been pre-eminent, if not for incompetent diplomacy and unrestrained arrogance. This resulted in Germany finding herself once again surrounded by foes, as Britain, Russia, Italy and France banded together for protection. Austria-Hungary was continually racked with ethnic revolts and rebellions, and became a deadweight around the neck of her ally. Despite her dominating position in Europe, with garrisons from Calais to Riga, the Germans found that keeping their new Empire was far more difficult than gaining it.

France and Britain rearmed during the thirties, and casting aside the thinking that had lost them the Great War, developed new operational and tactical doctrines, based on the tenets of combined arms, shock action, air power and deep penetration. These ideas were tested and developed throughout the twenties and thirties, in wars throughout the colonies, in the Mexican Civil War of 1928-31 and the Spanish Civil War of 1935-38. In the Spanish war, large contingents of British and French 'advisors and volunteers' fought alongside the Monarchist forces, leading to their eventual victory. Using this war to refine their tactics and weapons, the British and French prepared to take on their arch-enemy.

This resulted in the War of 1939. France and Britain attacked Germany in the west, while Russian armies crossed into the German satellites in Eastern Europe. The Italians in turn, launched their attacks northward into Austria. The French and British tank divisions, moving swiftly and supported by a swarm of bombers and fighters, tore through the weak points in the prepared German defences, bypassing strongpoints and plunging deep into the rear. The first French tanks made it to the Rhine within 2 weeks of the offensive starting, and a week later, French heavy artillery was bombarding the coal mines and steel foundries of the Ruhr. British troops, moving north into Belgium, took the city of Liege, and cut off the German Army Group in Flanders and northern France. Russian troops defeated the Austrian, Polish and Kurlander armies opposed to them, and overwhelmed the German units sent to stiffen the line. Within 3 months, the war was over, as Russian troops captured the passes over the Carpathians, Italian soldiers entered the Tyrol and Franco-British troops completed the destruction of the German Army Group Flandern and their envelopment of the Ruhr. Austria collapsed in ethnically motivated revolution, and Germany sued for peace.

Unfortunately for the US, in the 23 years since the end of the Great War, the CSA and British have plotted to gain their revenge, aided by developments in Europe and Asia. With Germany defeated, and the Japanese Army deeply embroiled in China, Britain is now free to attempt the liberation of Canada, and regain its pre-eminent position. The Confederates have spent the last decade building their forces, with flagrant disregard for the treaty signed in 1918. Britain has kept the warships, troops and aircraft mobilised in the war against Germany at the ready, while her dominions are again prepared to fight by her side. The Empire of Mexico has mobilized, lured by promises of land in southern California. Discontented and oppressed people in Canada, Kentucky, Utah and other occupied states have been supplied with weapons and training, ready for the war to come. Britain and the CSA are determined not to repeat the errors of the last war, and have spent the years since 1917 practicing new doctrines and weapons. These have been refined and tested in campaigns in Asia and Europe. With combat experience and a sound doctrine stressing speed and combined arms, the two allies are ready to take on their giant enemy.

Meanwhile, the US has finally taken action to ready itself for a war it now knows is inevitable. US government and industry are busy developing new tanks, planes, ships and weapons. The Army is being expanded, but still consists of masses of half-trained troops, using doctrines used to win the war of 1917. The Navy is in a similar position. Efforts have been made to smuggle weapons and advisors to the Negro underground in the CSA, but this will take time to bear fruit. And while the Quebecois owe their independence to the US, a generation of overbearing treatment from the US has killed any feelings of gratitude and left only resentment. The US cannot rely on them for aid. When war finally comes, the US may have to fight as best it can, alone, with what it already has.

War starts in May 1940, as the Confederate forces, using British and French equipment as well as their own designs, prepare to launch the first strike in the next Great American War.

Victory Conditions: There are no pre-programmed victory settings in this scenario. The game will end when one player concedes or at turn 295. If a player thinks they can win with their capital and half their industrial cities gone, then good on them.

The Allied player will start the game on a 'Marginal Defeat'. This is consistent with the Allied goals, which are to take back territory lost in the Great War. If this territory, or an area of equivalent value, is not regained, then the Allies have failed to accomplish their aim, and are defeated. This means that the Allied player will need to be more aggressive in the strategic sense, in order to win. The US player does not need to attack much in order to gain a marginal victory, but will need to do a fair amount to gain a substantial or overwhelming victory. And besides, there's no fun to be had in spending 260 or so turns, sitting on your hands.

Start. The first turn is a 'Cease Fire', which will lift on turn 2.

Icon Colours. For a detailed description, see the attached player notes. The US forces are in shades of green, the British Commonwealth in brown, the Confederates in grey and the French in blue.

Playability. The scenario will start in the last week of April 1940, the final period of peace. The first turn is a cease-fire, to allow players to make last minute adjustments. The fighting will start on turn 2.

This is best played as PBEM, though hotseat might work (if you're good mates). I haven't set the PO to play, as I believe this scenario is too complex for it to work adequately.

I hope you enjoy this scenario. If you have any comments or feedback, you can send them to me at 'tanewoodley-at-hotmail.com'.

Cheers, and good luck