After action Report
I write this report after 35 or so of turns where I play the Central Power against Nemo’s Entente.
1914
My initial 1914 strategy was to : Hold on Serbia but use some forces to attack the southern Montenegro flank, while holding Russia on the Silesian front. In the West, try to seize as much territory with possibly destroying the BEF and once the front seems to stabilize, shift as many forces East as possible to defeat the Russians who would surely attack – as they should.
The early turns went well for the German, with successful advances in Belgium and powerfull surroundings of british and French forces. Most of the BEF was destroyed, but the French managed to stop the Germans on a line going from Abbeville to Nancy (Verdun was taken) and the front stabilised for most of 1914 and early 1915. With the reinforcements East, I managed to destroy the Russian cavalry probes into Pomerania and West Prussia, while shifting one full German Army to add on the 8th and 9th that were on the East front and stroke against Riga, successfully taking the city by Christmas 1914, and also putting a siege on Warsaw. While Warsaw still holds, the forts of Kovno and Grodno did fall despite fierce Russian fighting during the winter. In the South, the Austrian-Hungarian managed to hold Russian attacks on Premszyl and Kracow and then mounted a surprisingly successful double pincer offensive that manage to trap a full Russian army in Lemberg, who was then destroyed. The Austro-Russian fron in early 1915 is roughly on pre-war borders, while with freed forces and some German help, the Austro-Hungarians managed by early spring 1915 to flank and almost completely destroy the Serbian and Montenegrin armed forces. This is very important as the link with the Ottoman is of key importance.
Indeed, the Ottoman entry in war bought the opportunity for british offensives in Iraq and Palestine. In Iraq, history almost repeats itself as British forces, after advancing to the gates of Baghdad, had their supply lines cut by Ottoman cavalry and were surrounded and mostly destroyed (some still fight on, surrounded, near Baghdad). In Sinai and Palestine, the Ottoman was soundly beaten and nearly surrounded by daring entente raids and landings on the Mediterranean coast. Only the arrival of German General Von der Goltz and Limman Von Sanders there with reinforcements originally destined for the Caucasus offensive managed to hold a line Haifa-Jerusalem-Amman. The holy Heidjaz and Aquaba are lost to the infidels.
In eastern Anatolia, the Ottoman had to retreat and faces strong Russian attacks
Italy, outsted from Tripolitania by rebels there is soon to enter war and one wonders what 60 or so fresh Italian divisions will be able to bring to the strategic balance.
in 1914, a massive naval battle near Helgoland took place with french and british naval forces attacking the fortress island who was almost entirely annihilated and only the swift and daring attack of the Hochseeflotte, who inflicted massive damage (helped by minefields that channeled the entente fleets).
Overseas:
Togo: Togo was able to mount a successful defence of Lome for almost a month and then german forces fled in the countryside, where they managed to hold on for a few months of guerrilla fighting, but were ultimately captured by the French forces from French west Africa.
Cameroon: still holding on the coastal areas through most of 1914 and early 1915, but French incursions from French Equatorial Africa are starting.
German South-West Afrika manages to hold untouched, due to the fairly good fighting that the South African Boer rebels made in the early months of the war – and before they surrenderd. Now south African forces will surely come!
German Ost-Africa manages to hold and while its first incursion and raid to Nairobi was eventually repulsed, it also managed to repulse a british raid. Stalemate for the moment.
Tsing-Tao and the Pacific german garrisons managed to hold until now, while German East Squadron still roams the sea and caused quite a lot of damage to British and Indian shipping in the Indian ocean.
Overall the Central Powers has been lucky to seize lots of territory and destroy many Entente forces in early 1914 and did not suffer too many losses - but while the objective of 1914-1915 is to consolidate its' central strategic position, the means to actually win the war on the long run are difficult and so 1915 will be an important year to position forces able to win in the long run and perhaps make some Entente nations be completely exhausted.
I write this report after 35 or so of turns where I play the Central Power against Nemo’s Entente.
1914
My initial 1914 strategy was to : Hold on Serbia but use some forces to attack the southern Montenegro flank, while holding Russia on the Silesian front. In the West, try to seize as much territory with possibly destroying the BEF and once the front seems to stabilize, shift as many forces East as possible to defeat the Russians who would surely attack – as they should.
The early turns went well for the German, with successful advances in Belgium and powerfull surroundings of british and French forces. Most of the BEF was destroyed, but the French managed to stop the Germans on a line going from Abbeville to Nancy (Verdun was taken) and the front stabilised for most of 1914 and early 1915. With the reinforcements East, I managed to destroy the Russian cavalry probes into Pomerania and West Prussia, while shifting one full German Army to add on the 8th and 9th that were on the East front and stroke against Riga, successfully taking the city by Christmas 1914, and also putting a siege on Warsaw. While Warsaw still holds, the forts of Kovno and Grodno did fall despite fierce Russian fighting during the winter. In the South, the Austrian-Hungarian managed to hold Russian attacks on Premszyl and Kracow and then mounted a surprisingly successful double pincer offensive that manage to trap a full Russian army in Lemberg, who was then destroyed. The Austro-Russian fron in early 1915 is roughly on pre-war borders, while with freed forces and some German help, the Austro-Hungarians managed by early spring 1915 to flank and almost completely destroy the Serbian and Montenegrin armed forces. This is very important as the link with the Ottoman is of key importance.
Indeed, the Ottoman entry in war bought the opportunity for british offensives in Iraq and Palestine. In Iraq, history almost repeats itself as British forces, after advancing to the gates of Baghdad, had their supply lines cut by Ottoman cavalry and were surrounded and mostly destroyed (some still fight on, surrounded, near Baghdad). In Sinai and Palestine, the Ottoman was soundly beaten and nearly surrounded by daring entente raids and landings on the Mediterranean coast. Only the arrival of German General Von der Goltz and Limman Von Sanders there with reinforcements originally destined for the Caucasus offensive managed to hold a line Haifa-Jerusalem-Amman. The holy Heidjaz and Aquaba are lost to the infidels.
In eastern Anatolia, the Ottoman had to retreat and faces strong Russian attacks
Italy, outsted from Tripolitania by rebels there is soon to enter war and one wonders what 60 or so fresh Italian divisions will be able to bring to the strategic balance.
in 1914, a massive naval battle near Helgoland took place with french and british naval forces attacking the fortress island who was almost entirely annihilated and only the swift and daring attack of the Hochseeflotte, who inflicted massive damage (helped by minefields that channeled the entente fleets).
Overseas:
Togo: Togo was able to mount a successful defence of Lome for almost a month and then german forces fled in the countryside, where they managed to hold on for a few months of guerrilla fighting, but were ultimately captured by the French forces from French west Africa.
Cameroon: still holding on the coastal areas through most of 1914 and early 1915, but French incursions from French Equatorial Africa are starting.
German South-West Afrika manages to hold untouched, due to the fairly good fighting that the South African Boer rebels made in the early months of the war – and before they surrenderd. Now south African forces will surely come!
German Ost-Africa manages to hold and while its first incursion and raid to Nairobi was eventually repulsed, it also managed to repulse a british raid. Stalemate for the moment.
Tsing-Tao and the Pacific german garrisons managed to hold until now, while German East Squadron still roams the sea and caused quite a lot of damage to British and Indian shipping in the Indian ocean.
Overall the Central Powers has been lucky to seize lots of territory and destroy many Entente forces in early 1914 and did not suffer too many losses - but while the objective of 1914-1915 is to consolidate its' central strategic position, the means to actually win the war on the long run are difficult and so 1915 will be an important year to position forces able to win in the long run and perhaps make some Entente nations be completely exhausted.