A Shift in Priorities

[nerdknight01]

¡ WOW ! Rast, you are a genious, good work.
About the next sea battle, i wonder how the news report that fight, maybe in Germany in some radio stations have some elementary form of "live narration of the battle", in USA how much time need to pass for knowing the battle, 12 hours, one day. One fact is truth when the brithish defeat be knowling for the common people in américa i wonder how feeling and process that defeat, will see the brithish like martyr, and if that sucess increases the hate and paranoia agains the germans. When the news of the defeat comes to the Churchi´s ears what be his reaction, drink like mad, blame to the admirals, or made his testament justified his actions and attacking the germans. And for last, one question Rast, how advanced are the photo industry, like for example, in newspapers the photos are in black and white or are in color. Thanks and good luck.

[Kitiem3000]

I think some live action is a great idea! Not sure when it was first introduced. They had minute to minute coverage when WW2 came around, but I don't know if they actually broadcast live battles. I think the limits of the technology guaranteed the broadcasting area stayed stationary. They could install one on a ship, but it would take time to install I think.
For the German navy there's very little upside to have live reporting unless they are sure of a victory or need the population riled up. Neither applies.

[rast]

I don’t need a general staff, I will accomplish everything with my aide-de-camp alone!
(Wilhelm II.)

Riding on a tank was an exhilarant experience for Generalleutnant Erwin Rommel. This was certainly better than walking – at least as long as nobody was shooting...

His group of stragglers and liberated prisoners of war had become witnesses of a battle between tanks. Those attacking in direction of Grimsby had been hit in flank and rear by other ones coming from direction of Sheffield. The latter had displayed a red torch crossed by a red shovel and a red quill, which was, Rommel had learned, the traditional logo of the British socialists.
In short: The socialist tanks had won. – And the commander of the red tank battalion, a certain Lieutenant-Colonel Montgomery, had offered Rommel a lift to Grimsby.

So, he now was riding towards Grimsby, sitting on a socialist tank. He hoped that most of his division had rallied at Grimsby; and he hoped that his men would recognise him in time – before they opened fire on the tank.

No, they didn’t! A detonation sprang up besides the tank. Rommel cursed and jumped off, landing in some kind of bosquet, losing skin and collecting some bruises.
Limping, he scurried towards the source of the anti-tank shots, shouting loudly: “Nicht schießen! Freund!” (Don’t shoot! Friend!).
This resulted in a machine gun opening fire on him, forcing him into a ditch. Crawling along the ditch and repeating his message, he solicited that someone started throwing hand grenades at him.
So, at least he was close now.
Repeating his message in Württembergian and Bavarian tongue (and cursing loudly), he finally got a positive response.
“I glaub‘ ‘s isch de General. Seid a mal schtat!“ (I believe it’s the General. Be quiet, please!)

Half an hour later, Rommel was at his divisional HQ, issuing orders. His Ia (first general staff officer), Lieutenant-Colonel Wilhelm Ritter von Thoma, had already rallied the division and put everybody on trucks, passenger cars and motorcycles – anticipating that his commander would want to go on the offensive again after the Churchillian tank attack had faltered.

Two hours later, at Sleaford, Rommel met General Fuller, the commander of the socialist armour.
“So,” Fuller greeted him, “you’re the chap who spoiled the UKAC’s armoured thrust by attacking into their assembly area. – Your men gave them a hard time; about half of their strength was lost due to your division's assault on their rail heads.”
Rommel was glad that his division had been reinforced by English speaking soldiers; without an interpreter, he hardly could have hoped to converse with Fuller.

Rommel and Fuller agreed that speed was essential. The enemy was off balance. One more vigorous push should throw him into dissolution.
Rommel’s men would become tank riders and accompany the bold stroke on London. Some captured Churchillian armoured personnel carriers would accommodate Rommel’s HQ, which would travel together with Fuller’s HQ.

There hardly was any resistance. In the villages and towns, people stood and gaped. Rommel was amazed by the number of Chuchillian airfields they overran. Why hadn’t they made use of their air superiority? Strange people these Englishmen…

Driving through Cambridge, the Loyal Armour came upon the deserted headquarters of the UKAC. Inhabitants of the town said the Churchillians had fled hours ago, many of them throwing away their uniforms and changing to civilian attire.

There was a short controversy at dusk. Fuller wanted to stop and bivouac. Rommel thought this was nonsense, why waste time with sleeping. Had the tanks enough fuel to reach London? – Yes, they had. – Then one should go on. Finally, Fuller relented. With reduced speed, the Loyal Armour and 3rd German Mountain Division clanked on towards the British capital.

[paulo]

Simply amazing

[trekchu]

Now it's Rommel allright. Mountaineers + Panzers = win.

[Peabody-Martini]

Is the Lt. Col. Montgomery that helped Rommel the same Montgomery from OTL who would eventually beat Rommel at Alamein?

[rast]

Originally Posted by Peabody-Martini

Is the Lt. Col. Montgomery that helped Rommel the same Montgomery from OTL who would eventually beat Rommel at Alamein?

The very same, Bernhard Montgomery.

[Kitiem3000]

Churchillians throwing away their uniforms and changing to civilian attire. The lead in to guerilla warfare or are they just checking out?

[stjernkjempe]

Originally Posted by Kitiem3000

Churchillians throwing away their uniforms and changing to civilian attire. The lead in to guerilla warfare or are they just checking out?

Checking out and going home, if all hope is forlorn there is nothing to lose in deserting as you might avoid getting killed over nothing in the end. The defeat has to be obvious for the Churcilians by now and the mad hunt to find someone to blame it all on in hope of forgiveness by the red parliament should be at foot in London.

[Expat]

Wow, only hours left before they reach London! I would expect the East Enders to start getting active at this point.

Some royalist pragmatist will be making a decision now for Edward's future. Churchill might be a little deluded at this point, but we should at least be hearing Edward's decision soon. Abdication or is it off to Canada?

Hopefully other pragmatic actions occur before it's too late; a subordinate of Churchill's or someone higher up at the Admiralty reading the writing on the wall and recalling the Home Fleet before too more pointless blood is spilled.

I really hope Churchill makes it to Canada. I hope he goes on a goodwill tour of the US. I hope he gets a nice parade demonstration at Quantico. I hope while he's there, the Scottish colonel's story breaks. We haven't really talked about the fact that Canada may seem like a safe haven, but that's only if the truth never comes out.

[Whumbly]

Originally Posted by rast

The very same, Bernhard Montgomery.

rast you seemed to have delevoped an timeline that is ozing irony like maple syrup from a maple tree.

[rast]

Flash News

Manchester Guardian, special edition, mid-morning, June 1st, 1931

Loyalist armour enters London. East London Militia marches on Parliament and Whitehall. King Edward VIII abdicates. Insurrectionist leader Winston Churchill flees to Portsmouth.

[wietze]

Originally Posted by Whumbly

rast you seemed to have delevoped an timeline that is ozing irony like maple syrup from a maple tree.

lol don't even bring an ironymeter close to this timeline, they spontaneously implode

[Peabody-Martini]

This likely means that the naval engagement will be taking place after the fall of London, serving no other purpose securing than bragging rights for the participants. Hell of a way for a Admiral to prove he's not a wimp, not so good however for the future of the royal navy.

[Jotun]

Not to mention the tens of thousands of lives at stake in both fleets. Should the engagement really come to pass I guess it will go down in TTL's annals as one of THE most senseless military clashes in history. All for the large egos of a few little men...

[wietze]

if everyone obeys that admiral, could see quite a few not obeying orders.
Maybe the admiral gets swimming lessons?

[zeppelin247]

this is amazing but now will the socialists after having got so much help from Germany and having the Conservatives backed and supplied by the Americans will they join in on the war against America and help the Europeans finally give the Americans a big enough defeat to make peace

[C.Cain]

Better sink the renegade fleet now; lest they manage to get to Canada where they might join up with the remnants of the US navy.

[wietze]

I really doubt if they would do that, churchill may have sold his soul to the american devil, but i doubt if many men are willing to do that.

Remember this was a civil war, the people siding with the renegades did this because it was for the good of the country.

And totally abandoning britain after the defeat would make them traitors to that cause, just not sure how many men will be prepared to go that far.
Even on the fleet it won't be that many. And after defeat the admirals have far less control over their men. So i expect the same pattern as on the the land, acting in such a way that they can hope for the mercy of the socialist govt.
Running off with the ships or scuttling them will mean either death by torpedo (the fleet will never make it to canada) or death by firing squad. Then hoping for mercy is a much better bet.

[C.Cain]

Originally Posted by wietze

I really doubt if they would do that, churchill may have sold his soul to the american devil, but i doubt if many men are willing to do that.

Remember this was a civil war, the people siding with the renegades did this because it was for the good of the country.

And totally abandoning britain after the defeat would make them traitors to that cause, just not sure how many men will be prepared to go that far.
Even on the fleet it won't be that many. And after defeat the admirals have far less control over their men. So i expect the same pattern as on the the land, acting in such a way that they can hope for the mercy of the socialist govt.
Running off with the ships or scuttling them will mean either death by torpedo (the fleet will never make it to canada) or death by firing squad. Then hoping for mercy is a much better bet.

That so? What about the Free French in OTL WWII, then? The French people who joined them fought for the good of their country too, did they not? Did the Free French also become traitors to that cause just because they did not stay behind in France?

Also: the renegade fleet is not going to 'abandon' Britain. They will valiantly 'redeploy' to Canada in order to 'regroup'. Thus they may return with their American allies sometime in the future so that they may 'liberate' the UK from the dastardly socialists.

And I rather doubt that the German subs are able to sink a significant portion of the fleet should they decide to 'redeploy'.