The Ruthenians are a beacon of tolerance, though I imagine the British could care less about that, while in America Ford and other anti-Semitic big business leaders are frothing at the mouth.
The Co-Prosperity Sphere
- Thread starter CountofDooku
- Start date
They will be one of the more tolerant and democratic Axis Central Powers members too (while their King and government Senate and such still will hold more powers than in most constitutional monarchies or normal democracies OTL), overall very different from our current White Russian Autocracy.
Chapter 192: Terror in Turkestan
Chapter 192: Terror in Turkestan:
With the attack of the Neo-Ottoman Empire on the Soviet Union, the treason of the Mohammedan Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan and the Turkish call for a united Jihad against the Allies and Soviets changed many things in the Middle East and Central Asia. Turkish imam's, diplomats and even military officers in civil traveled trough north Africa, the Arabian peninsula, Central Asia and even India to raise tensions in these regions and propagated everything fro strikes over open rebellion against the Comintern (mostly the Soviet Union) and the Allies (mainly Great Britain and Free France). Across the old Bukhara, Kiva and Kokand Khanate and the regions of Tukic, Turkmen, Kazakh, Merv and Kyrgiz tribes these agitators stirred local conflicts in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic, Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic and the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. The exact same regions that the leadership of the former Ottoman Empire and the Neo-Ottoman Empire referred to as Turkestan, Greater Ottomania, Turmenia, Osmania,Greater Turkey or Turkish Asia in their plans and propaganda. This lead to harsh Soviet treatment of any Mohammedan minorities in their state, just like they heavily oppressed and badly treated any minorities that had already joined with the Axis Central Powers in the west, like the Poles, Baltic people, White Ruthenians, Ukrainians, many Caucasian groups and others. NKVD special forces, the regulair Red Army and even armed pro-Soviet militia, irregulars and partisanes were used by the Soviet Union against these pro-Axis Central Powers rebellions in all of their terriotry and some of them even operated behind enemy lines. This backfired when the Turkish infiltrators and local imam's promised the various groups independence should they side with the Axis Central Powers and the Neo-Ottoman Empire. Clearly that were lies as the Neo-Ottomans planned to outright annex these new states and regions into a growing Neo-Ottoman Empire that would stretch from Northern and Eastern Africa all the way towards India and China. Former Mohammedan Red Army members from the Caucasus and Central Asia were quickly integrated into the Axis Central Power armies (mostly the German, Austrian-Hungarian and Neo-Ottoman ones), including Turkestan Central Asians (Turkestan Army, 34 battalions) Caucasians (11 battalions Armenians and 14 battalions Georgians), Crim Tartars (2 battalions) and Cossacks (cavalry division). Together they had within the next two years up to 427,000 soldiers, a force equivalent to 30 German divisions. A similar strategy was used in Africa, were the Germans, Italians and Austrian-Hungarians used Indian prisoners of war to form the Indische Legion (German: Indian Legion) with 4,500 captured indian Commonwealth soldiers that switched sides. More lokal supporters often included militia, gangs or just armed bandits that were often uncoordinated and fighting as partisans on their own.
While the Soviet Caucasus and Soviet Central Asia was for now the main target of the Neo-Ottoman aggression and call for Jihad it was not the only one. The Neo-Ottomans even tried to ally with Mohammedan groups in India, China and South East Asia, hoping to get them to join their fight openly or at least rebel against the European Colonial Powers there (like the Soviets, British, French, Dutch or Portuguese). Many of this Neo-Ottoman diplomats, spies and imam's traveled trough Persia and other neutral countries to get to their destinations with faked papers. Neo-Ottoman merchant ships, unable to protect themselves in the Indian Ocean against the still powerful Royal Navy even used Persian and other neutral nation flags and disguised their own ships as neutral once to bypass the Allied blockade and dominance in the region best they could. They learned to do so from the German, Austrian-Hungarian, Italian, Spanish and Fascist French ships and crews that did so before them. Some of them ought vital resources for the Axis Central Powers in their controlled regions of Africa, neutral states in Central America and south America, or even in the Japanese dominated Co-Prosperity Sphere in East Asia and South East Asia. This lead to strict control of all, even neutral ships by the British and the remaining Allies, like the United States of America and Free France. While this lead to some protests by neutral nations it also weakened the Axis Central Powers and Co-Prosperity Sphere trade among each other. Both factions in war against the Allies and the Soviets tried to compensate this strategy by taking longer, less patrolled routes, escort their trade ships or use faster blockade runners. Other strategies involved using submarines or even special build transport submarines to secretly continue their trade with each other without too much Allied knowledge and interference for the next months. The Neo-Ottomans even used some of their allies to ship supplies and weapons to Mohammedan insurgence groups in Africa, Central Asia and South East Asia in hopes to weaken the Allies and Comintern by opening up new fronts and tying down their forces there. Other Mohammedan and Jihadist groups acted on their own in local rebellions and uprisings, without direct Axis Central Power involvement, but still had the same enemies.
With the attack of the Neo-Ottoman Empire on the Soviet Union, the treason of the Mohammedan Soviet Republic of Azerbaijan and the Turkish call for a united Jihad against the Allies and Soviets changed many things in the Middle East and Central Asia. Turkish imam's, diplomats and even military officers in civil traveled trough north Africa, the Arabian peninsula, Central Asia and even India to raise tensions in these regions and propagated everything fro strikes over open rebellion against the Comintern (mostly the Soviet Union) and the Allies (mainly Great Britain and Free France). Across the old Bukhara, Kiva and Kokand Khanate and the regions of Tukic, Turkmen, Kazakh, Merv and Kyrgiz tribes these agitators stirred local conflicts in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, Kirghiz Soviet Socialist Republic, Tajik Soviet Socialist Republic, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic and the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic. The exact same regions that the leadership of the former Ottoman Empire and the Neo-Ottoman Empire referred to as Turkestan, Greater Ottomania, Turmenia, Osmania,Greater Turkey or Turkish Asia in their plans and propaganda. This lead to harsh Soviet treatment of any Mohammedan minorities in their state, just like they heavily oppressed and badly treated any minorities that had already joined with the Axis Central Powers in the west, like the Poles, Baltic people, White Ruthenians, Ukrainians, many Caucasian groups and others. NKVD special forces, the regulair Red Army and even armed pro-Soviet militia, irregulars and partisanes were used by the Soviet Union against these pro-Axis Central Powers rebellions in all of their terriotry and some of them even operated behind enemy lines. This backfired when the Turkish infiltrators and local imam's promised the various groups independence should they side with the Axis Central Powers and the Neo-Ottoman Empire. Clearly that were lies as the Neo-Ottomans planned to outright annex these new states and regions into a growing Neo-Ottoman Empire that would stretch from Northern and Eastern Africa all the way towards India and China. Former Mohammedan Red Army members from the Caucasus and Central Asia were quickly integrated into the Axis Central Power armies (mostly the German, Austrian-Hungarian and Neo-Ottoman ones), including Turkestan Central Asians (Turkestan Army, 34 battalions) Caucasians (11 battalions Armenians and 14 battalions Georgians), Crim Tartars (2 battalions) and Cossacks (cavalry division). Together they had within the next two years up to 427,000 soldiers, a force equivalent to 30 German divisions. A similar strategy was used in Africa, were the Germans, Italians and Austrian-Hungarians used Indian prisoners of war to form the Indische Legion (German: Indian Legion) with 4,500 captured indian Commonwealth soldiers that switched sides. More lokal supporters often included militia, gangs or just armed bandits that were often uncoordinated and fighting as partisans on their own.
While the Soviet Caucasus and Soviet Central Asia was for now the main target of the Neo-Ottoman aggression and call for Jihad it was not the only one. The Neo-Ottomans even tried to ally with Mohammedan groups in India, China and South East Asia, hoping to get them to join their fight openly or at least rebel against the European Colonial Powers there (like the Soviets, British, French, Dutch or Portuguese). Many of this Neo-Ottoman diplomats, spies and imam's traveled trough Persia and other neutral countries to get to their destinations with faked papers. Neo-Ottoman merchant ships, unable to protect themselves in the Indian Ocean against the still powerful Royal Navy even used Persian and other neutral nation flags and disguised their own ships as neutral once to bypass the Allied blockade and dominance in the region best they could. They learned to do so from the German, Austrian-Hungarian, Italian, Spanish and Fascist French ships and crews that did so before them. Some of them ought vital resources for the Axis Central Powers in their controlled regions of Africa, neutral states in Central America and south America, or even in the Japanese dominated Co-Prosperity Sphere in East Asia and South East Asia. This lead to strict control of all, even neutral ships by the British and the remaining Allies, like the United States of America and Free France. While this lead to some protests by neutral nations it also weakened the Axis Central Powers and Co-Prosperity Sphere trade among each other. Both factions in war against the Allies and the Soviets tried to compensate this strategy by taking longer, less patrolled routes, escort their trade ships or use faster blockade runners. Other strategies involved using submarines or even special build transport submarines to secretly continue their trade with each other without too much Allied knowledge and interference for the next months. The Neo-Ottomans even used some of their allies to ship supplies and weapons to Mohammedan insurgence groups in Africa, Central Asia and South East Asia in hopes to weaken the Allies and Comintern by opening up new fronts and tying down their forces there. Other Mohammedan and Jihadist groups acted on their own in local rebellions and uprisings, without direct Axis Central Power involvement, but still had the same enemies.
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Great update Count! I suspect the NKVD is working hard to suppress the Muslims?
Not only the NKVD, even regular forces and pro-Soviet militia.
How are the Neo-Ottomans faring so well when they barely controlled Turkey a few years ago ? And BTW, why is the Turk population following so blindly their new leaders who took power through coup, when they had been mostly satisfied with Atatürk and Inönu's internal and foreign policies, including neutrality.
Their call for Jihad doesn't get that wide of a echo, just local support here and there, not everyone of this even armed (but everything helps against the Soviet Red Army). As for the war and coup question, the Turkish got mad when the Soviets attacked and supplied the Turkish Soviet Republic. Many also believe that the military just stepped in because the Socialists and Communists did bomb up the parliament in a coup of their own. While there are still many supporters of the exile government in the Allied regions, many important positions of power are now occupied by Neo-Ottoman supporters and quiet a few (even former Attatürk supporters) aid the reconquest of lost Turkish territory in the South (Syria, Iraq and other parts of the Arabian peninsula plus Cyprus ...). Pan-Turkish organizations and propaganda support the new government. Many also believe that the peace forced on the Ottoman Empire in 1918 was unjust and at least these lost territories should be reclaimed. Still the Neo-Ottoman Empire as well as the Italians (just like OTL) and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire are the weakest Axis Central Power members, should the winning stop and there be some push-backs they would be the first to ask for a separate peace or even join the winning team quickly (see OTL Balkan Nations or Italy).
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Also the Neo-Ottomans are morons if they want to annex everything directly. Turkey is weak compared to Britain, Germany, Japan... and likely internally unstable. So assuming they actually win (possible if Germany, Japan and friends do well enough, and Soviets and Brits crumble), they'll never have the LOGISTICS to hold Persia, Caucasus, Central Asia or any African territory through brute force. Any foreign attack or rebellion would dislodge them.
On the other hand it would be feasible now to create a Pan-Islamic Caliphate Federation, through Ottoman-supported rebellions in North Africa, Sudan, Caucasus, Central Asia, (occupied) Persia and India. The Ottomans would help those nations to liberate themselves from Christian or Atheist White colonizers, and then be the leader of this superstate (because Caliph + better military, industry and economy than others who would need Turkish protection+ CP and Sphere investment). Basically a Islamic USA-like state with Turkey at center.
Basically
If they actually do what they promise (give independence and development to Muslims in Asia and Africa after helping them kick Europeans, and form a big federation of equals... with them as natural leaders) it can work. Not easily nor perfectly but it CAN work.
And they wouldn't have to physically conquer everything if rebellions are widespread enough, not to mention enough rebellions might cripple Soviets and Brits...
If they renege on promises and try to directly annex everything it will end in disaster quickly.
On the other hand it would be feasible now to create a Pan-Islamic Caliphate Federation, through Ottoman-supported rebellions in North Africa, Sudan, Caucasus, Central Asia, (occupied) Persia and India. The Ottomans would help those nations to liberate themselves from Christian or Atheist White colonizers, and then be the leader of this superstate (because Caliph + better military, industry and economy than others who would need Turkish protection+ CP and Sphere investment). Basically a Islamic USA-like state with Turkey at center.
Basically
If they actually do what they promise (give independence and development to Muslims in Asia and Africa after helping them kick Europeans, and form a big federation of equals... with them as natural leaders) it can work. Not easily nor perfectly but it CAN work.
And they wouldn't have to physically conquer everything if rebellions are widespread enough, not to mention enough rebellions might cripple Soviets and Brits...
If they renege on promises and try to directly annex everything it will end in disaster quickly.
True at least the Austrians try to cover up their plans to get their puppets and depending states to become a part of the USA in the future and play a slow long game. We will see if the New Ottomans are as wise and skilled in archiving their own dreams and truely create a new Caliphate.
Hmmm, I wonder if the Neo-Ottomans would seek the capture of Palestine and encourage Jewish immigration to build up Ottoman GDP
They will in order to stop Arab nationalism and possible revolts there.
Just like OTL for now, changes coming soone.
Chapter 193: The Co-Prosperity Sphere Armies
Chapter 193: The Co-Prosperity Sphere Armies:
At the outbreak of the Second Great War, the basic structure of the Imperial Japanese Army in 1941-1942 was as follows:
As the IJA was an infantry force the most common type of division was the infantry division. Later cavalry, armored Infantry, mechanized Infantry, tank and parachute divisions were formed. The first 18 infantry divisions were originally formed as square divisions, and after 1938, most of the remainder were formed as triangular divisions with the security divisions being binary divisions. During the course of the Second Great Was, the IJA organized Imperial Guard Divisions and over 220 infantry divisions of various types (A/Reinforced, B/Standard, C/Counter-insurgency). On 7 December the IJA had two divisions serving in Japan and 50 serving abroad, most in China. During the war another 117 were raised for foreign service and 56 were raised for national defense. These totaled 223 including the Imperial Guard. Of this total no more than 35, that was one fifth of the IJA infantry division total, fought in the Pacific theatre when the war against the allies started.
Organisation:
The Standard, or Type "B" division was organised as:
It was common for a Mountain Artillery regiment, with a total of 3400 men and 36 x Type 94 75 mm Mountain Guns, to be substituted for the Field Artillery regiment, especially for operations in rough terrain. A Reconnaissance regiment, with a mix of mounted, motorized infantry and anti-tank companies, could replace the Cavalry regiment.
The Reinforced or Type "A" division generally substituted medium artillery companies with 4 x Type 91 10 cm Howitzer or long-range Type 92 10 cm Cannon for one or more field artillery companies in the field artillery regiment. It might also have an attached medium artillery battalion with three companies each of 4 x Type 96 15 cm Howitzer or long-range Type 89 15 cm Cannon, and an attached tank regiment (battalion). Conversely, the Type "C" division would lack artillery and other supporting arms.
Brigades and equivalents:
The Japanese Imperial Army had two types of Mixed Brigades.
The IJA maintained two types of Independent Regiments, both were used to provide garrisons in occupied areas.
Detachments were particular military formations of the Imperial Japanese Army. These detachments were usually a force of infantry, artillery, armor, and other support units which were temporarily assigned for independent action and had a special mission. They were usually named after their commanders or the area in which they were to operate, and could be any size below division.
Cavalry:
Cavalry units were formed in regiments most were either operating attached to infantry divisions or directly under a brigade attached to an army prior to the formation of the IJA Cavalry Group on 21 April 1933.
Motorized and Mechanized Infantry:
To improve the mobility, supply capability and speed of their forces, the Japanese created the IJA Motorized Group with Jeeps and Tucks a regiments. This troops would later be outdated and partly replaced by he more modern IJA Mechanized Infantry regiments.
Unit 483:
Unit 483 were covert medical experiment units which conducted biological warfare research and development through human experimentation during the Second Great War. Unit 483 was responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes. Initially set up as a political and ideological section of the Kempeitai military plie of pre-Pacific War Japan, they were meant to counter the ideological or political influence of Japan's enemies, and to reinforce the ideology of military units.
Recruitment: Conscription:
Conscription of all able-bodied males aged 17 (in practice from the age of 20) to 40 was instituted in 1873 and revised in 1927. Once called up, candidates were given a medical examination and classified as one of the following:
In peace-time, Class II recruits were not recruited, but were assigned to national service. In wartime, Class II B-1 and Class II B-2 recruits were enrolled into the hoju hei-eki category, with II B-1 recruits enlisted into the first supplementary territorial army and naval volunteer reserve and II B-2 recruits enlisted into the second supplementary territorial army and naval volunteer reserve, respectively. II B-1 recruits would serve for two years and four months in the territorial army or one year in the naval volunteer reserve; II B-2 recruits would serve for 12 years and four months in the territorial army or 11 years and four months in the naval volunteer reserve. Upon reaching the age of 40 in peace-time, all soldiers in Classes I and II would be placed on the national service list and released from regular duties.
In practice, total conscription of the available population was only instituted during the Second World War. Before then, only a proportion of the secondary reserve service had been called to active duty, during the Russo-Japanese War. Class III-C recruits were automatically assigned to national service if necessary. Conscripts classified as Class IV-D were reexamined the following year; if they could not be reclassified into any of the first three classes, they were officially exempted from all military service. Sole supporters of families and criminals sentenced to over six years penal servitude were automatically listed as Class IV-D and exempted from all service. Students at certain higher secondary schools were classified as Class V-E until they had finished their studies or upon reaching the age of 27, whichever came first. Japanese students studying abroad were also classed as Class V-E until reaching the age of 37.
From December 1927, conscripts who had completed a course of study with the requisite marks at a government-run Young Men's Training Institute ("Seinen Kunrenshou"), the curriculum of which included 200 hours of military training, could have their period of active service reduced to 18 months. Normal-school graduates with the requisite marks had their active service reduced to five months. Graduates of middle and higher schools who had completed courses in military training with the requisite marks were required to serve one year for middle-school graduates or for 10 months for higher-school graduates.
Salaries, benefits and pensions:
Salaries and pensions for Imperial soldiers and sailors were very low by Western standards. On the eve of the Second World War, the yen had a value of $0.23. Officer cadets were paid a yearly salary of ¥670 ($154.10 in 1941 dollars). Second lieutenants were paid ¥850 yearly ($195.50), lieutenants ¥1020-1130 ($234.60-259.90) and captains ¥1470-1900 ($338.10-437). Majors were paid ¥2330 yearly ($535.90), lieutenant-colonels ¥3220 ($740.60) and colonels ¥4150 ($954.60). Major-generals were paid ¥5000 yearly ($1150), lieutenant-generals ¥5800 ($1334) and full generals ¥6600 ($1518).
Co-Prosperity Sphere Auxiliary units:
Co-Prosperity Sphere Auxiliary units consists of regional ethnic forces in the new member states of the Co-Prosperity Sphere forming their respective armies modeled after he IJA. Most of their trainers, Officers and Commanders remained ethnic Japanese and the locals at first weren't even allowed to rise above the rank of Shocho (Sergeant Major). As many foreign territories fell under the Japanese military occupation during the 1930s and the early 1940s, the Co-Prosperity Sphere recruited a large number of locals in those territories. These Co-Prosperity Sphere forces were used extensively as auxiliaries to police the newly liberated territories in Asia and the Pacific were they formed local militias, police and soldiers.
At the outbreak of the Second Great War, the basic structure of the Imperial Japanese Army in 1941-1942 was as follows:
- Imperial Army (~230,000-250,000 men) - Commanded by Marshal HIH Prince Kan-in-Kotohito
- General Army (総軍 Sō-gun equivalent to the Army Group) - Commanded by a Marshal or General
- Area Army (方面軍 Hōmen-gun equivalent to the Field Army) - Commanded by a General or Lieutenant-General
- Army (equivalent to the Corps)- Commanded by a Lieutenant-General
- Division (~10,000 men) - Consisted of 2 infantry brigades, 1 cavalry regiment, 1 artillery regiment, 1 engineering battalion and 1 army service corps. Commanded by a Lieutenant-General.
- Brigade (~3600 men) - Consisted of 2 regiments, each of 1800 men. Commanded by a Major-General.
- Regiment (~1800 men) - Consisted of 3 battalions, each of 600 men. Commanded by a Colonel.
- Battalion (~600 men) - Consisted of 3 companies, each of 150 men, and a machine-gun section of about 50 men. Commanded by a Lieutenant-Colonel.
- Company (~150 men) - Consisted of 3 platoons, each of 50 men. Commanded by a Captain.
- Platoon (~50 men) - Consisted of 3 sections, each of 15 men. Commanded by a Lieutenant.
- Section (~12-15 men) - Consisted of 3 teams, each of about 4 men. Led by a Corporal.
- Team (4 men) - Led by a Senior Private.
As the IJA was an infantry force the most common type of division was the infantry division. Later cavalry, armored Infantry, mechanized Infantry, tank and parachute divisions were formed. The first 18 infantry divisions were originally formed as square divisions, and after 1938, most of the remainder were formed as triangular divisions with the security divisions being binary divisions. During the course of the Second Great Was, the IJA organized Imperial Guard Divisions and over 220 infantry divisions of various types (A/Reinforced, B/Standard, C/Counter-insurgency). On 7 December the IJA had two divisions serving in Japan and 50 serving abroad, most in China. During the war another 117 were raised for foreign service and 56 were raised for national defense. These totaled 223 including the Imperial Guard. Of this total no more than 35, that was one fifth of the IJA infantry division total, fought in the Pacific theatre when the war against the allies started.
Organisation:
The Standard, or Type "B" division was organised as:
- Headquarters (200)
- Infantry brigade (5,000)
- Headquarters
- Three infantry regiments, each of:
- Headquarters
- Three infantry battalions, each of:
- Headquarters and escort
- Four infantry (rifle) companies
- Machine gun company, with 12 x heavy machine guns
- Battalion gun platoon, with 2 x 70mm Type 92 Battalion Guns
- Escort and signal companies
- Regiment gun company, with 4 x Type 41 75 mm Mountain Guns
- Regimental anti-tank gun company, with 6 x Type 94 37 mm Anti-Tank Guns or Type 1 47 mm Anti-Tank Guns
- Field artillery regiment (2,000)
- Headquarters and escort
- Three field artillery battalions, each of:
- Headquarters and transport
- Three field artillery companies, each with 4 x 75mm field guns (Type 38, Type 90 or Tyoe 95)
- Cavalry regiment (battalion) (800)
- Headquarters and escort
- Three mounted companies
- Machine gun company, with 6 x heavy machine guns
- Engineer regiment (battalion) (800)
- Four engineer companies
- Materials company
- Transport regiment (1,800)
- Up to six companies, with either carts, pack horses, or motor transport
- Divisional signals (200)
- Medical Unit (1,000)
- Up to four Field Hospitals, each of 250 personnel (1,000)
- Epidemic Prevention and Water Purification Depatment (100)
- Ordnance unit (50)
- Veterinary unit (50)
- Armored Samurai (200)
It was common for a Mountain Artillery regiment, with a total of 3400 men and 36 x Type 94 75 mm Mountain Guns, to be substituted for the Field Artillery regiment, especially for operations in rough terrain. A Reconnaissance regiment, with a mix of mounted, motorized infantry and anti-tank companies, could replace the Cavalry regiment.
The Reinforced or Type "A" division generally substituted medium artillery companies with 4 x Type 91 10 cm Howitzer or long-range Type 92 10 cm Cannon for one or more field artillery companies in the field artillery regiment. It might also have an attached medium artillery battalion with three companies each of 4 x Type 96 15 cm Howitzer or long-range Type 89 15 cm Cannon, and an attached tank regiment (battalion). Conversely, the Type "C" division would lack artillery and other supporting arms.
Brigades and equivalents:
The Japanese Imperial Army had two types of Mixed Brigades.
- The divisional Mixed Brigade was the semi-permanent detachment of a brigade from an Infantry DIvision with various Divisional support units or units attached from its Corps or Army. This provided a combined arms force of infantry, artillery, cavalry and other support units.
- The Independent Mixed Brigade was a detachment composed of various units detached from other units or independent support units formed together in a brigade. The first two Independent Mixed Brigades, formed by the Kwantung Army in the 1930s with the IJA 1st Independent Mixed Brigade and the IJA 11th Independent Mixed Brigade. Each of these brigades were organized in a unique manner and one of them, the 11th, was later formed into the IJA 26th Division. Later a series of Independent Mixed Brigades were formed for the purpose of garrisoning the large territories of China captured in the early phase of the Chinese Civil War. This variety for China was usually organized with five infantry battalions, an artillery unit, and labor troops. Later cavalry, armored Infantry, mechanized Infantry and tank divisions were heavily included in regular armies to modernize against the European Colonial Powers or the Soviet Union. In the Pacific theater they had different and more varied configurations of subordinate units. Towards the end of the Burma Campaign, some were hastily formed from line-of-communication troops, and even naval personnel and conscripted Japanese civilian workers.
- The Independent Infantry Brigade; several of these were raised as garrison units, mostly for China.
- The Amphibious Brigades were formed for use in the Pacific theater. These 5,500 man Sea-Landing Brigades, were used to conduct amphibious assaults on an island but afterwards they stayed to garrison that island.
The IJA maintained two types of Independent Regiments, both were used to provide garrisons in occupied areas.
- Independent Mixed Regiments: contained an infantry regiment with various support elements such as: an artillery, cavalry or tank company, engineers, supply and services, etc.
- Independent Regiments: the basic IJA infantry regiment with any attachments.
Detachments were particular military formations of the Imperial Japanese Army. These detachments were usually a force of infantry, artillery, armor, and other support units which were temporarily assigned for independent action and had a special mission. They were usually named after their commanders or the area in which they were to operate, and could be any size below division.
Cavalry:
Cavalry units were formed in regiments most were either operating attached to infantry divisions or directly under a brigade attached to an army prior to the formation of the IJA Cavalry Group on 21 April 1933.
Motorized and Mechanized Infantry:
To improve the mobility, supply capability and speed of their forces, the Japanese created the IJA Motorized Group with Jeeps and Tucks a regiments. This troops would later be outdated and partly replaced by he more modern IJA Mechanized Infantry regiments.
Unit 483:
Unit 483 were covert medical experiment units which conducted biological warfare research and development through human experimentation during the Second Great War. Unit 483 was responsible for some of the most notorious war crimes. Initially set up as a political and ideological section of the Kempeitai military plie of pre-Pacific War Japan, they were meant to counter the ideological or political influence of Japan's enemies, and to reinforce the ideology of military units.
Recruitment: Conscription:
Conscription of all able-bodied males aged 17 (in practice from the age of 20) to 40 was instituted in 1873 and revised in 1927. Once called up, candidates were given a medical examination and classified as one of the following:
- Class I-A: "fit for active service"
- Class II:
- B-1: "fit for active service with minor reservations"
- B-2: "fit for active service with reservations"
- Class III-C: "unfit for active service, but fit for national service"
- Class IV-D: "physically unfit; exempted from all service" (after two successive examinations) or automatically exempted from all service
- Class V-E: "fitness undetermined; examination postponed to later date"
In peace-time, Class II recruits were not recruited, but were assigned to national service. In wartime, Class II B-1 and Class II B-2 recruits were enrolled into the hoju hei-eki category, with II B-1 recruits enlisted into the first supplementary territorial army and naval volunteer reserve and II B-2 recruits enlisted into the second supplementary territorial army and naval volunteer reserve, respectively. II B-1 recruits would serve for two years and four months in the territorial army or one year in the naval volunteer reserve; II B-2 recruits would serve for 12 years and four months in the territorial army or 11 years and four months in the naval volunteer reserve. Upon reaching the age of 40 in peace-time, all soldiers in Classes I and II would be placed on the national service list and released from regular duties.
In practice, total conscription of the available population was only instituted during the Second World War. Before then, only a proportion of the secondary reserve service had been called to active duty, during the Russo-Japanese War. Class III-C recruits were automatically assigned to national service if necessary. Conscripts classified as Class IV-D were reexamined the following year; if they could not be reclassified into any of the first three classes, they were officially exempted from all military service. Sole supporters of families and criminals sentenced to over six years penal servitude were automatically listed as Class IV-D and exempted from all service. Students at certain higher secondary schools were classified as Class V-E until they had finished their studies or upon reaching the age of 27, whichever came first. Japanese students studying abroad were also classed as Class V-E until reaching the age of 37.
From December 1927, conscripts who had completed a course of study with the requisite marks at a government-run Young Men's Training Institute ("Seinen Kunrenshou"), the curriculum of which included 200 hours of military training, could have their period of active service reduced to 18 months. Normal-school graduates with the requisite marks had their active service reduced to five months. Graduates of middle and higher schools who had completed courses in military training with the requisite marks were required to serve one year for middle-school graduates or for 10 months for higher-school graduates.
Salaries, benefits and pensions:
Salaries and pensions for Imperial soldiers and sailors were very low by Western standards. On the eve of the Second World War, the yen had a value of $0.23. Officer cadets were paid a yearly salary of ¥670 ($154.10 in 1941 dollars). Second lieutenants were paid ¥850 yearly ($195.50), lieutenants ¥1020-1130 ($234.60-259.90) and captains ¥1470-1900 ($338.10-437). Majors were paid ¥2330 yearly ($535.90), lieutenant-colonels ¥3220 ($740.60) and colonels ¥4150 ($954.60). Major-generals were paid ¥5000 yearly ($1150), lieutenant-generals ¥5800 ($1334) and full generals ¥6600 ($1518).
Co-Prosperity Sphere Auxiliary units:
Co-Prosperity Sphere Auxiliary units consists of regional ethnic forces in the new member states of the Co-Prosperity Sphere forming their respective armies modeled after he IJA. Most of their trainers, Officers and Commanders remained ethnic Japanese and the locals at first weren't even allowed to rise above the rank of Shocho (Sergeant Major). As many foreign territories fell under the Japanese military occupation during the 1930s and the early 1940s, the Co-Prosperity Sphere recruited a large number of locals in those territories. These Co-Prosperity Sphere forces were used extensively as auxiliaries to police the newly liberated territories in Asia and the Pacific were they formed local militias, police and soldiers.
- Imperial Japanese Army: 1,500,000 men (later quickly rising to over 5,500,000) in 51 active divisions, the rest in training or supporting other areas, including 20 divisions defended the Chosen, Manchurian and Mengjiang northern border, due to concerns about a possible attack by the Soviet Union. The Indochina Liberation Army had 3-4 Divisions, the Philippine Liberation Army included 13 Divisions, the Burma and Malaya Campaign forces had 48 Divisions, while 23 Divisions guarded Siam/Thailand. Borneo was liberated by 12 Divisions that together with the Philippine Liberation Army continued southwards into Indonesia were two Divisions served for training of local forces and garrison only. 68 Divisions guarded the Home Islands or were trained there, including Taiwan, the Bonin Islands and Karafuto. 14 whole Divisions secured the Marshal, Caroline, Marshall and Gilbert Islands. A whole of 12-16 Divisions were used in New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, later raised to a total of 24 Divisions. All of this Divisions were organized into local Japanese Armies (the Home Island Army and the regional outer Armies (often named with the Numbers starting by one or their operational area) and their Co-Prosperity Sphere allies and auxiliary forces. They were General Armies commanded by a Marshal or General, including more local Area and Guard Armies and their Divisions.
- Imperial Chosen Army: originally only 300,000 Japanese soldiers, that were soon after the Chosen independence and membership inside the Co-Prosperity Sphere replaced by these Chosens that served inside the Imperial Japanese Army. Because of the close Soviet Union the Imperial Chosen Army was boosted to 2,000,000 soldiers (later 2,400,000 men), equipped with modern Japanese equipment and well trained. They included the Imperial Chosen Border Army with 1,200,000 soldiers stationed in fortifications along the Yalu River, Paektu Mountains and Tumen River as well as in offensive positions and the remaining Imperial Chosen Garrison and Security Army in the Chosen Provinces and the Expeditionary Forces in China.
- Imperial Manchukuo Army: originally 800.000 forces they were soon enlarged to up to 1,400,000 to surpass the original stationed Japanese forces before the northern attack against the Soviet Union Started. These forces were the combined 1st to 5th Imperial Manchukuo Armies at the Soviet Border that were split up into a smaller defensive group and a larger offensive that prepared to strike deep into the Soviet Union's Far Eastern provinces. They were supported by the White Russian Exile Army Forces (WREAF) and the Imperial Manchurian Reserve Army (6th Army) as well as the regional Provincial Armies and Garrisons together with the Expeditionary Forces in China.
- Mengjiang Khanate Army: at first only a small Japanese Garrison Division that numbered 20,000 troops it was quickly expanded and reformed. With the start of the Pacific War the Mengjiang Khanate Army (in it's majority cavalry and motorized infantry) had already fought against Chiang's United Chinese Front and the Mongolian People's Republic. Their main armies included the 1st and 2nd Mengjiang Khanate Army (10 Divisions each) along the Mongolian People's Republic border region (later also the 3rd and 4th Mengjiang Khanate Army there), the Inner Mongolian Army (known as the 3rd and later 5th Mengjiang Khanate Army) at the border towards Chiang's United Chinese Front territory in Central China as well as Mengjiang Khanate provincial guard force.
- Imperial Yankokuo Army: a force that at fist included only Japanese and former local Warlord troops, numbering to 200,000 soldiers (in the Western and Southern Border Armies, or 1st and 2nd Imperial Yankokuo Armies) together with some regional militia, garrisons and province police. Later the Imperial Yankokuo Army was expanded to nearly 1,260,000 soldiers, rivaling the powerful neighboring Imperial Chosen Army and Imperial Manchukuo Army in dominance over former Northeast China and later fighting with them and the Mengjiang Khanate Army in the Hokushin-ron campaign against the Soviet Union.
- Wang Jingwei's Hankoku National Chinese Kuomintang Army: numbered 800,000 to 1,000,000 at first but would later rise up to 4,000,000 soldiers, mostly fighting against the Chinese Untied Front, but some Hankoku National Chinese Armies and Divisions later also fought against the Allies and the Soviet Union. They were organized into 66 and later 320 Divisions with army having at least ten Divisions minimum. Their main operations included the Coastal Defence Armies, the Provincial Defence Armies and the offensive Expedition Armies that supported Wang Jingwei in the Chinese Civil War.
- Imperial Taikoku Army: on of the largest member armies of the Co-Prosperity Sphere at the outbreak of the Asian and Pacific War against the European and American Colonialist Powers with over a million members (1,200,000 in total) serving in the Taikoku Home Army (including the Coastal and Provincial Garrison Armies) as well as several Expeditionary Forces and Armies, supporting the Co-Prosperity Sphere in China, South East Asia (mostly Burma) and even the Pacific (in the Philippines, former Dutch East India and most prominent the New Guinea Campaign).
- Royal Yikoku Army: the 120,000 forces strong former warlord forces of Yunnan that joined the Co-Prosperity Sphere and helped fight the Chinese United Front during the Chinese Civil War with some Expeditionary Divisions, as well as the Allies in Burma.
- Imperial Vietnamese Army: at first only former French Colonial Auxiliaries and Police that the Japanese expanded with militia and regular soldiers to form a Imperial Vietnamese Army that soon numbered 240,000 soldiers or 24 Division. Some of them fought Communist rebels, while other supported the Co-Prosperity Sphere fight in China, Burma or India.
- Royal Cambodian Army: a only small raised Cambodian force of 5,000 soldiers that were even outnumbered by the local Japanese garrisons. But because of the danger of the Red Khmer these numbers were soon expanded to 10,000, 20,000 and later 50,000 including every tenth Cambodian citizen in their forces by then.
- Royal Laotian Army: made up mostly by formal tribal warriors and militia of the Laotian united tribes. Because of the communist danger and nearby Allied forces in Burma, their numbers grew to 13,000 Laotian soldiers inside the Laotian army. Since this was not nearly enough to secure the new Co-Prosperity Sphere member state strong outside allied forces like Japan, Taikokuo, Siam/Thailand and even Vietnamese had to intervene against former French Colonial Forces and their allied Communist Guerillias.
- Imperial Tibetan Army: the newly formed forces of the Tibetan Empire that at first had only 10,000 later 40,000 and 80,000 soldiers. They were heavily supported by Imperial Japanese Mountaineer Divisions and Regiments as well as regular, that managed to secure the Himalaya passes against the Allies. They also more offensively fought against the United Chinese Front and invaded Bhutan, Nepal and British Indian Assam and Kashmir to annex these regions for the Tibetan Empire.
- Republic Philippine Army: parts of the former Philippine Police and Army under the American Colonial Government were the core of this new Japanese equipped and trained army that soon numbered 186,000 soldiers to secure the Philippine Independence from any foreign Allied invasion.
- Royal Burma Army: at first made up from the only 12,000 and later 18,000 members of the Burmese Independence Army and British Burmese forces that switched sided, this Burma Liberation Army quickly grew to 140,000 soldiers that defender their now independent Kingdom against the Allied and Chinese forces at the northern border as well as their own coastal regions in the west and south. With ethnic minorities being supported to take up arms against the new state by the Allies like the Shan these Royal Burmese Army soon was heavily occupied fighting insurgencies as well as the Communist Party of Burma Guerillias behind the front.
- Royal Brunei Army: only 1,3000 militias and Brunei police officers and soldiers at first this force quickly expanded to 40,000 soldiers that guarded the whole island against a enemy invasion.
- Royal Celebes/Sulawesi Army: a Japanese trained force of 32,000 soldiers that guarded one of the newest Co-Prosperity Sphere member states.
- Republic Moluccan Army: the thinly spread 16,800 militias, police men and soldiers of the new state heavily relied on the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy and their ships, fighters and bombers to protect their island nation.
- Royal Bali Army: the small 1,800 soldiers numbering force that was more of a police or a militia then a regular army
- Royal Tenggara Army: the Japanese trained, equipped and supported forces that numbered 15,000 soldiers. Because of former allied soldiers that fought a guerrilla-war in the island of Timor, this small force was heavily supported by well trained Japanese Elite Divisions to secure their islands and bomb northern Australia (Darwin) from here.
- Sumatran Sultanate Army: the partly local militia, partly regular Mohammedan forces that numbered 62,000 or six Divisions. Because of the possibility of Allied invasions and the oil, petroleum and rubber coming from Sumatra, the Imperial Japanese Army and the Imperial Japanese Navy maintained the control of most coastal regions, smaller islands, coastal cities and refineries.
- Republic Javanese Sultanate Army: while labor was Java's most important resource inside the Co-Prosperity Sphere, the same was true for the number of it's soldiers. A army of 364,000 was raised and trained, some still kids and shipped to the front-lines of Burma, India or New-Guinea since none of the liberated island member states of the Co-Prosperity Sphere in former Dutch East India trusted a potential Indonesian Nationalist Army in their territory to truly secure their independence against the Allies or Americans.
- Royal Nuigini Army: created mostly out of tribal warriors and scouts, this native troops often lacked modern weapons and even full uniforms, some often only wearing trousers and hats/ helmets. They lacked a unifying language and professional training, but knew the jungles of New-Guinea like no one else. Their regional knowledge and sheer number rising from 6,800 to later 80,000 made up for the lack of centralization, training and modern equipment. In the dense jungles and mountain regions of New-Guinea and the Solomon Islands they heavily supported the fighting Imperial Japanese and other Co-Prosperity armies and navies. Often thanks to their air superiority because of new airfields and Co-Prosperity Sphere fighters and bombers.
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Later maybe, for now not so much changes compared to OTL with the exception of one more carrier and a few smaller ships lost during the Phillippenes Sea Battle. ;D
Chapter 194: Hitler's former Cabinet – A tale of Joachim von Ribbentrop
Chapter 194: Hitler's former Cabinet – A tale of Joachim von Ribbentrop:
Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (born 30 April 1893), more commonly known as Joachim von Ribbentrop, was the Foreign Minister of the Nazi regime in 1938 for a short time. Ribbentrop first came to Adolf Hitler's notice as a well-travelled businessman with more knowledge of the outside world than most senior Nazis and as an authority on world affairs. He offered his house for the secret meetings in January 1933 that resulted in Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany. He became a close confidant of Hitler, to the disgust of some party members, who thought him superficial and lacking in talent. He was appointed Ambassador to the Court of St James (for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) in 1936 and then Foreign Minister of Germany in February 1938. Before the Second Great War, he played a key role in brokering the Pact of Steel (the beginning alliance between the German Empire and the Italian Empire) and the Polish Participation (in that the Polish state ceded territory to Germany and Austria-Hungary in exchange for guarantees and protections of it's remaining territory). His disliking by many other Nazi party members saved Joachim von Ribbentrop after the military coup when the German Emperor Wilhelm II returned to power.
Joachim von Ribbentrop was quickly replaced as the German Foreign Minister by Konstantin von Neurath, because of his idea that the new German Empire should have good relationships with the Soviet Union, maybe even a non-aggression pact. This put Joachim von Ribbentrop in disfavor by the Monarchists and the majority of the new Imperial Government, his influence slowly declined as a diplomat. His failure to get the British Empire to side with the German Empire in an alliance and his four-pax to greet the English King George VI with the "German greeting", a stiff-armed Nazi salute gave von Ribbentrop the nickname “Ambassador Brickendrop” (to brick a drop). Joachim von Ribbentrop tried to get some of his influence back by having meetings with the Spanish and Italian Kings as well as Franco and Mussolini to get support for the Latin League inside the Axis Central Powers. The plan was to get more support for the Fascist Royalist and National Monarchist ideologies in the rest of the Latin world, especially in Latin America against the United States, Great Britain and Comintern influence there. Joachim von Ribbentrop's heavy opposition for the Eastern Crusade invasion of the Soviet Union nearly costed him his last remaining diplomatic influence in 1941. But then everything changed when Joachim von Ribbentrop turned his attention east and heavily supported the new Russian Empire under Tsar Vladimir with the same intentions he supported working with the Soviet Union before.
Together with Joachim von Ribbentrop the Russian Empire, the Finnish Empire, the United Baltic Duchy, the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of White Ruthenia, the Kingdom of Ukrainia, the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom/ Emirate of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Georgia held the Conference of St. Petersburg in 1942 together. This diplomatic meeting was joined by delegates from Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and even Japanese diplomats discussed the new status of the new Axis Central Power states in the east of Europe regarding each other. While they all became members of the Axis Central Powers and joined the Economic Union (EU in short), thereby fulfilling the old German dream of a Mitteleuropa (Middle Europe) dominated economic and military alliance, the conference had also other reasons. It's main intentions were to create acceptable borders in the east. Some following the old Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, others were updated to the new situation and realities. The most important outcome was the declaration of the Russian Empire as a new Tsardom, a parliamentarian monarchy that would hold elections for the Duma inside the Axis Central Powered territories soon. It also regulated the new borders of the now planned majorly ethnic Russian and religious Christian Orthodox member nation of the Axis Central Powers. Many western Russian, Caucasian, or Central Asian former Soviet Republics would become independent members of the Axis Central Powers, or annexed by other members of the Axis Central Powers or the Co-Prosperity Sphere right away, according to the plans made at the Conference of St. Petersburg under Joachim von Ribbentrop.
Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop (born 30 April 1893), more commonly known as Joachim von Ribbentrop, was the Foreign Minister of the Nazi regime in 1938 for a short time. Ribbentrop first came to Adolf Hitler's notice as a well-travelled businessman with more knowledge of the outside world than most senior Nazis and as an authority on world affairs. He offered his house for the secret meetings in January 1933 that resulted in Hitler's appointment as Chancellor of Germany. He became a close confidant of Hitler, to the disgust of some party members, who thought him superficial and lacking in talent. He was appointed Ambassador to the Court of St James (for the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland) in 1936 and then Foreign Minister of Germany in February 1938. Before the Second Great War, he played a key role in brokering the Pact of Steel (the beginning alliance between the German Empire and the Italian Empire) and the Polish Participation (in that the Polish state ceded territory to Germany and Austria-Hungary in exchange for guarantees and protections of it's remaining territory). His disliking by many other Nazi party members saved Joachim von Ribbentrop after the military coup when the German Emperor Wilhelm II returned to power.
Joachim von Ribbentrop was quickly replaced as the German Foreign Minister by Konstantin von Neurath, because of his idea that the new German Empire should have good relationships with the Soviet Union, maybe even a non-aggression pact. This put Joachim von Ribbentrop in disfavor by the Monarchists and the majority of the new Imperial Government, his influence slowly declined as a diplomat. His failure to get the British Empire to side with the German Empire in an alliance and his four-pax to greet the English King George VI with the "German greeting", a stiff-armed Nazi salute gave von Ribbentrop the nickname “Ambassador Brickendrop” (to brick a drop). Joachim von Ribbentrop tried to get some of his influence back by having meetings with the Spanish and Italian Kings as well as Franco and Mussolini to get support for the Latin League inside the Axis Central Powers. The plan was to get more support for the Fascist Royalist and National Monarchist ideologies in the rest of the Latin world, especially in Latin America against the United States, Great Britain and Comintern influence there. Joachim von Ribbentrop's heavy opposition for the Eastern Crusade invasion of the Soviet Union nearly costed him his last remaining diplomatic influence in 1941. But then everything changed when Joachim von Ribbentrop turned his attention east and heavily supported the new Russian Empire under Tsar Vladimir with the same intentions he supported working with the Soviet Union before.
Together with Joachim von Ribbentrop the Russian Empire, the Finnish Empire, the United Baltic Duchy, the Kingdom of Poland, the Kingdom of White Ruthenia, the Kingdom of Ukrainia, the Ottoman Empire, the Kingdom/ Emirate of Azerbaijan and the Kingdom of Georgia held the Conference of St. Petersburg in 1942 together. This diplomatic meeting was joined by delegates from Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire and even Japanese diplomats discussed the new status of the new Axis Central Power states in the east of Europe regarding each other. While they all became members of the Axis Central Powers and joined the Economic Union (EU in short), thereby fulfilling the old German dream of a Mitteleuropa (Middle Europe) dominated economic and military alliance, the conference had also other reasons. It's main intentions were to create acceptable borders in the east. Some following the old Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, others were updated to the new situation and realities. The most important outcome was the declaration of the Russian Empire as a new Tsardom, a parliamentarian monarchy that would hold elections for the Duma inside the Axis Central Powered territories soon. It also regulated the new borders of the now planned majorly ethnic Russian and religious Christian Orthodox member nation of the Axis Central Powers. Many western Russian, Caucasian, or Central Asian former Soviet Republics would become independent members of the Axis Central Powers, or annexed by other members of the Axis Central Powers or the Co-Prosperity Sphere right away, according to the plans made at the Conference of St. Petersburg under Joachim von Ribbentrop.
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