Posts made by General Haig

“Lili Marlene” I loved that scene.        You might be a WWII Junkie if your favorite game of all is AHs “Anzio” the full campaign or get all goose-bumpy at the thought of playing the full “Europa” series.

Don’t lose your interest for we also are getting fewer and will go the way of the veterans. Gaming carries on remembering those that sacrificed to allow us to be here today at this moment.

I love house rules they add a little flair to the game. But, I am hesitant to adopt ideas that take the current combat  system in more of a tactical direction. Historically aircraft were the real sub hunters and really increased their success rate with the use of radar. DDs usually are reactive to a subs presense when the sub attacks something. Now the DD is a sub hunter. Per your example 5 SS vs. 1 DD & 5 bombers, those subs out by themselves instead of acting as fodder for my battle fleet are either threatening something or trying to draw your eyes away by sacrificing themselves. The use of needing a DD present might abstractly represent radar tech for those aircraft. Radar + aircraft = Big problems for subs. If I put 5 SS out by themselves within range of aircraft and DDs I hope it is deliberate on my part to draw your priorities for those 5 bmbs away from what I am worried about other than a dumb placement. War is hell. After the first shot is fired most battle plans can be thrown away and then you place your trust in morale,training and initiative.

1. End the racism side of National Socialism and and act like a liberator in the Soviet Union. A lot of people didn’t like being under the yoke of Stalin and the Soviet Union.    2. A very high priority given to getting winter gear now to the troops.  3. The  no retreat order was wrong the line needed to be pulled back and settled in for some winter quarters. Winter offences take a toll on your troops and equipment. Only in hindsight do we now know that the no retreat order worked but I feel that still they should have put the troops in a position of staying warm,refitting,defending and making plans for the '42 drive on Moscow or the Caucasus. You really need to end this war in the east this '42 year so you can turn your attention to the defense of the Third Reich. America is coming. I don’t think the Germans realized what America’s production was really capable of, it boggles the mind.  4. Do not declare war on the U.S. Plan for a war but make them declare it. Make sure that U.S. flagged ships are off limits that will be the catylist for the U.S. to declare war. i.e. WWI.

There was a time when I was growing up (50s-60s-70s) that we were surrounded by survivors of WWII,civilian and military. Books,movies and television were all there reminding us of the past sacrifices made to bring us to where we are today. I had a great interest in history,I loved to read. Then in 1969 I discovered AH/SPI which just expanded my horizons. WWII was a pivotal moment on this planet towards a better world to live in peace and someday maybe make war obsolete. Many sacrifices were made for the good of many. WWII is important to remember for all the lessons learned. Political-talk and appeasement just create more suffering in the end.The U.S. is the leader of the free world for the free world needs one. We took on that responsibility during WWII and to my knowledge have not resigned from that obligation. WWII taught that war is sometimes a necessary evil that one sometimes must decide to go to earlier rather than later if one wants less suffering. Global peace needs a leader that will not shirk from war. Pre-WWII had no leader.WWII taught that the free world needs a good leader. A leader must be able to climb out of the trenches and advance forward without looking back for he knows that the others are following and if not he will go on alone because the free world needs him to for future generations. Everyone should be a WWII Junkie so that we can understand how why we might have to decide to go to war now while the enemy is at weakest. The U.S. is the worlds leader for peace and WWII taught that the free world needs one that will be willing to take up arms sooner rather than later.

From a historical viewpoint I think it would have been more of a disaster that they already had encountered by having to delay the invasion of the Soviet Union. (i.e. Yugoslavia, Greece) Germany can not allow her self a added distraction of major resources in her drive on Moscow. In game terms which this topic is about 8 inf is not to be taken lightly. One is going to take losses. I would plan in my mind to expect at least 3. The soonest I see is 2 armor on game turn 2 for the German. Now all of this is starting to detract me from my main goal Moscow. I also have opened a whole bunch of flanks in my defence of Europe proper. Such as Spain. I think one might obtain the same effects for forcing the Soviets to have to expand their defensive line is to think along the lines of a Sealion type operation. Put a major IC in Romania and build either a throw away fleet of TT just to get some troops across or a little more planning of little naval defence so that one may continue reinforcing that drive. The invasion of the Soviet Union was historicaly delayed do to the Balkan affair and alot of thoughts have been put into what if. Game wise I am hesitant to open the can of worms that would be mine on top of all my other defensive issues of the Third Reich at this early stage of the game. Moscow first and then deal with the rest of world.

Denmark for the U.S. then Germany for the British on their turn. Remember tho if you are using U.S. TT that you load on your turn and disembark on your next turn.

Workers of the Soviet Union = slaves      Stalin feared Germany.      Nazi Germany = slave state.  Both nations wanted to enslave the world.  Gets me thinking do I want to be enslaved or part of a colonial racist world?

Now that the dust appears to have settled I will slip in to respond. Food?: I was already familiar with German cuisine as I came from a family with a German heritage. (4th generation). Usually just had a hamburger and fries. Experiences? It was the experience of a lifetime to have been a member of the 2nd cavalry charged with the mission of patrolling and guarding a section of the free world. On a side note last time I knew anything after basic training we all were now soldiers America’s fighting man. It doesn’t matter what other functions you perform you are still a soldier. And another side note civilians lose wars not the American military.

Atlantropa

I assume the Russian sub did his surprise attack. No German DDs were present.

Yes,armored reconnaissance specialist was my MOS. Bamberg,Germany.    Scouts out.

F trp. 2/2 ACR 11D10 June 71-June 74