World in Flames via FB - 1

Well, we are back playing WiF.  I'm trying my hand as the Soviets again, but swapping China for France to give a little bit of a different experience.  The posts will be direct copies of those that Mike makes to the Facebook World In Flames Players group.

AUSGAME2000

We wish the great creator of our endeavours, Harry, all the best and a speedy recovery.

We are back having reset the game, drawn counters and made the first appropriate DOW with GERM crossing the borders in strength, so not leaving anything to chance – with Poland first posture! The US Senate received the news whilst having their coffee and doughnuts and decided to have a meeting about the ‘European situation’ and Her Hitler after lunch – one chit added to the pool. GERM Stukas bombed the cities of Lodz and Warsaw with mixed results, so its Armies concentrated on eliminating the Polish field Armies and risking a next impulse rain or worse a 10 for Storm – the allies crossed their fingers and prayed. Japan took a land to capitalise on the clear weather and launched an attack against Wuhan, rolling top of the table, but their undisciplined troops committed atrocities which were dutifully recorded by US correspondents covering this minor war – a chit to the Japanese pool, and a raised eyebrow from the US Senate, well at least from the Republicans. Italy enjoyed the last summer of peace and drank Chianti and some excellent Sicilian Reds.

The Allied response was muted, with the French and CMWLTH response not ruffling the US Senate who nodded in approval of their DOWs – no chit lost as a rare 10 was rolled. The CMWLTH took a Naval and sent a Gort to France to start the preparations for the arrival of the BEF, not trusting Gort, Wavell arrived in Gibraltar with the rest of the Royal Navy sent out on convoy duty and patrols of the N Sea. An attempt by a long-range bomber to hunt the GERM Convs was wasted with the pilot obviously getting lost and rolling a 9. France went a combined, called out its Reserves and started to ‘dig in’ on the French Belgium border. A long-range GS and Arty inverted several GERM units as the Polish pilots decided that Poland was a lost cause and a trip to the Latvia and an internment camp was a better option than getting shot down by the Luftwaffe or a GERM or Russian POW Camp – good choice. China stepped back a hex or two, sent its warlords to the front and waited with bated breath for the bad weather.

Axis 2nd impulse, and sadly for Poland and France a 4 is rolled, clear everywhere. GERM places its reserves and continues its encirclement of Warsaw and Lodz, with two lucky 3s inverting the last two Polish Corps in both these cities. Warsaw is attacked and falls, top of the table, no loss, no inversions. Japan likewise attacked the city of Changsha on a +8, another top of the table roll and two Chinese MIL Corps perish for no loss and no inversions. This time the troops are more disciplined or have removed the foreign correspondents, and no chit for the US. Italy continues to enjoy the Chianti and excellent Sicilian Reds.

The Allies, response again remained muted, with another Naval by the CMWLTH ensuring Wavell arrives in France to keep an eye on Gort as the Royal Navy mines the Norwegian waters. An ordinary roll of 7 sees the Norwegian Govt slightly annoyed, but not enough to help the GERMs other than disbanding one of its few Army Inf Corps – why, you may well ask. Russia, seizing the opportunity while GERM is distracted, occupies the E Poland which annoys the US Senate, whilst demanding Bessarabia from the Rumanians. GERM, busy in Poland supports the handover of the territory to Stalin. China steps back a hex and double stacks its Southern line and bolsters one or two hexes of the Northern line – again praying for bad weather, as do the last defenders of Lodz.

Axis 3rd impulse, and sadly for Poland a 5 is rolled – clear except the Monsoon (Rain). This ended the session, three clear weather impulses, with no low attack rolls, and the Axis have had a dream start. Poland will fall, there will be a DOW against Netherlands – it is clear weather, still multiple impulses to go and not a single loss of any description for the Axis – it does not get much better. The only minor irritation is two chits extra in the US pool – small compensation for the Allies. A positive for the Allies, is that at least the majority of the GERM Army is still in Poland and not Belgium and France during this third clear weather impulse and the 5 weather in the Monsoon will limit the Japanese a little. Next session should be very interesting – especially if the weather gods continues to bless the Axis! One bad weather roll is all it takes – the mantra of the defender.