France Fights On (English Translation) - Thread II - To the continent!

[Wings]

November 5th, 1943

Italian campaign
Repression
Occupied Italy - The Germans asked the Duce's government for the full cooperation of the RSI services in the hunt for terrorists. For this reason, the Black Shirts launch a series of raids in La Spezia and Massa that lead to the arrest of 95 people in a few days. The investigations that followed in December and January led to dozens of other arrests in the region.
.........
North of La Spezia, the men of the Reichsführer SS and the Hermann-Göring begin operations of sweeping the countryside and searching the villages.

Siamo tutti Italiani
No man's land - In the middle of the night, Lieutenant Giorgio Zanardi crosses the Allied and enemy lines, leaving the territory of the Kingdom of the South for that of the Republic of Salo. His mission is clear: to learn how much the RSI Navy authorities would be willing to collaborate with Admiral De Courten to save what could be saved in the event of a German defeat.
Indeed, in Rome, there is a great deal of concern about what is happening on the northeastern border (whether or not it included the Provincia di Liubiana, i.e. Italian Slovenia). Who knows to what extent the ambition of the Titist Partisans, and even of the Royal Yugoslav Government, could lead them to want to recover the Italian conquests of 1941...or even worse! Even if the Allies seem accommodating at the moment, wouldn't it be better, to avoid such an outcome, to agree between Italians, certainly not of the same side, but Italians nevertheless?

Balkan campaign
Operation Derby
Balkans - The allied aircraft make a series of sorties, hitting all the concentrations of forces and other equipment parks reported by the maquisards. The goal is simple: to force the Axis troops to disperse, thus limiting their ability to react against the coming insurrection. The Bostons of the 234th Wing team up with those of the 235th Wing for a major raid on Belgrade's main railway station. For once, the objective is both distant and defended, at least on the ground - although escorted by the NA-89s of the 80th (Yugoslavian) Fighter Wing, the British lose three Bostons, victims of the Flak. Five aircraft are damaged to varying degrees. Observing the bombs that hit their capital and kill nearly a hundred civilians*, the pilots could not repress a twinge of sadness, perhaps even a few tears. They console themselves by thinking that soon they will be walking through the streets of the city.
In the night, guided by the glow of the Boston fires, the Wellingtons of the 202nd Wing complete the job, this time with few civilian casualties, as the inhabitants had fled the area.

In the Beginning was Chaos
Albania - As Gani Kryeziu's men descend into the Fierza Valley, the local warlords deliberate. They are not necessarily favorable to the cause of the... rebels (for lack of another name). Indeed, revenge is undoubtedly a noble struggle and blood calls for blood - but the Bey Kryeziu has not (yet?) passed from life to death, and the conditions in which he was wounded are unclear, to say the least. Before wanting to avenge his death, it would therefore be advisable to wait that it is real and constant (as the French doctors would say, whom Enver Hoxha likes to trust). And even then, one should not go to war against the Communists without being prepared and, above all, without being sure not to upset the Westerners in such an obscure matter.
As a result, only the Kelmendi tribe has so far responded to the call for Talion. Nothing surprising, these people no longer recognize any central authority since the Ottoman Sultan Selim II (successor of Soliman the Magnificent) in 1580! But these rough mountain people are hardly numerous - it is estimated that they do not represent more than 200 fires!
The other local leaders all agree, for various reasons, to seek the arbitration of Safet Butka, of his deputy the "general" Prenk Pervizi - and incidentally of the Westerners. A reasonable approach, but also intended to save appearances. There is no doubt that the interested parties will reserve the right to refuse the solution proposed from Tirana if they wish. And in this case, the spiral would become
uncontrollable...

German concerns
HQ of the 12. Armee, Nis - The Chief of Staff of the 12. Armee, Hermann Foertsch, is putting the finishing touches to his report in which he tries to predict the target of the next enemy offensive. An exercise made necessary - even urgent - by the resumption of the allied bombardments, but in which the 12. Armee has hardly shone until now, to say the least!
Although he does not often leave the walls of the Ottoman fortress these days, Foerstch is nonetheless a competent military man since 1913 and an officer since 1917. He was determined to ignore external political considerations or the "suggestions" of the SS and the OKW (which all too often serve as a compass for colleagues who want to cover their asses), this native of East Prussia did his job - academically but logically. Taking up point by point the very fragmentary reports of the intelligence service, comparing the available data with geography, and finally relying on the very recent history of the 1918 campaign, Foertsch finally focuses on the battle of Dobro Polje, which sealed the fate of Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary and played an important role in the end of the first world conflict. And he acquires the feeling that the Allies are going to try the Franchet d'Esperey stab again - except that this time, they could combine their efforts with those of the Soviets.
The Chief of Staff therefore sends an alarmist report to his superior, indicating "the risk of an imminent offensive which will be of heavy of consequences in Macedonia, by the valley of Vardar or the plain of Bitola".
Alexander Löhr, after having discussed it with him, considers the clues sufficiently disturbing to inform both the GA E (thus General von Weichs) and the OKW. But his messages have no effect. The Chancellery and the Supreme Guide have their eyes riveted (in order) on the Eastern Front, France, Italy and the risk of Bulgarian treason. As for von Weichs, who only has the 1. Panzer-Division in reserve, he can only pass on this warning to the XX. Armee - which has hardly any units available.
Taking his responsibilities, Löhr decides, for his part, to put Fehn's and Dietl's corps on alert, as well as the reserve units still in place in Gradsko. However, this does not change their situation very much, given the troubled context of the region and the weakness of the current workforce.

* Belgrade Central Station is located on the banks of the Sava River, in the immediate vicinity of the city center.

 

[Wings]

November 5th, 1943

Operation Span
Languedoc - In view of the turn of events, the German general staff decides to call for the 327. ID, based in the Bayonne region, to go on line. It is replaced in this sector by the 245. ID, recently arrived in Orleans. The 708. ID, recently installed in Toulouse, is also called to ensure a relief on the front when the 60. Panzergrenadier and the 11. Panzer will go to the rear for reconstitution.
On the front, it is time for a general withdrawal. The 11. Panzer is at the end of its potential and is being abused north and south of Béziers, while the 855. Grenadier Rgt of the 344. ID is forced to abandon the city in order not to suffer the fate of the two regiments of the 326. ID at Sète.
But on the American side, the fighting left its mark. The 1st Armored pays its breakthrough of the first day; the Hell on Wheels is beginning to be exhausted after two months of continuous campaigning; and the 3rd Armored, the most inexperienced, lost almost four tanks for every German armor destroyed.
In spite of everything, Béziers is officially liberated at the end of the day by the Rangers and the infantry of the CCB of the Spearhead.
.........
In the foothills of the Massif Central, things do not move much, but it is not the same in the north, in the Ardèche, where the Thunderbird and the Big Red One are still fighting against the 165. ID. Thus, facing the allied breakthrough at St André de Cruzières, the 334. ID, south of this breakthrough, is forced to extend its position towards the north to keep contact with its neighbor, forced to retreat to the next line of terrain. In doing so, it opens a door in the valley leading to Aubenas, which causes the StuG Abt 341 and the 243. ID to withdraw to the hills. These retreats could not be avoided as the Thunderbird command launches the Tancrémont armored brigade, which is, for the occasion placed under American command.

Operation Chambord
Provence - The battle for La Turbie has begun. The Germans hold on to the ground and dragged the colonials into street fighting. The MG of the 735. Grenadier Rgt are judiciously positioned and the snipers wreak havoc in the French cadre.
Master Corporal Ntia Baguidi single-handedly neutralizes two machine gun nests, then puts his wounded lieutenant on his back and returned to find three other comrades under enemy fire. After having blown and drunk a few sips of water, he sets off again under the eyes of his adjutant and his captain, and this time he brings back the weapons and the map holder of his lieutenant, while the Germans are still shooting at him. This feat earns him the Legion d'Honneur.

Redemption
Vercors - General Olléris lands with his staff at La Chapelle-en-Vercors (Drôme). The official motive is to raise the morale of the troops of the FST and to reaffirm their loyalty to the New French State.
At the beginning, the FST was supposed to be 60,000 men strong, but it never reached this figure. Before D-Day, it had about 30,000 men. During September, "forced by circumstances and in the general interest of the armed forces of the NEF" (he told the Doriot ministry), Olléris proposed to transfer some of his "most motivated" to the Tricolor Legion of General Bridoux or to the Garde Française of General Misserey, considered better prepared politically to take the offensive against the Allied armies. The proposal was eagerly accepted by both sides, as well as by Doriot himself.
However, if the documents formalizing the transfers of 12,000 men were signed in early October, these transfers were kindly accompanied by a two-week leave. However, at the end of these two weeks, most of these soldiers did not report to their new assignments. What looks like a mass desertion - in all, more than 9,000 missing out of 12,000 men - is now the business of the NEF police (whose large numbers did not improve their efficiency).
For his part, General Olléris decides, in order to show his allegiance and that of his men to the NEF, that he would tour all the "garrisons" of the FST.
The FST still has about 18,000 soldiers, divided into eight garrisons: Ariege-Pyrenees, Armorique, Auvergne, Champagne, Limousin, Morvan, Touraine and Vercors.
Each of these garrisons has to send an honorary platoon to the eight planned arms taking. Moreover, their most deserving elements will follow Olléris in his tour of France, forming a sort of honor guard.
The ceremony in La Chapelle-en-Vercors will take place on November 10th. Before that, the General grants himself a few days' leave to visit friends and family who live in the region between Valence and Grenoble, but also to pay a courtesy visit to pay a courtesy visit to the 9. Panzer SS, near Lyon. How to criticize a man who cares to cultivate Franco-German friendship even during a leave?

 

[Wings]

November 6th, 1943

Tokyo - The Greater East Asia Conference is coming to an end. The exchanges of course have been rather hollow. Japan has made to all with the greatest of conviction beautiful promises of independence and prosperity. Its partners strongly reaffirmed their support for Japan's heroic efforts in its struggle against the Colonialists. Finally, the photos are good and the press releases celebrating the diplomatic agreements are most enthusiastic. So...
Moreover, the Joint Declaration issued at the end of the Greater East Asia Conference states that:
"It is the prerequisite principle of a world at peace that every nation in the world has its own place and hopes for prosperity in a spirit of common assistance and support.
The United States of America, the British Empire, the French Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have sought their own prosperity by oppressing other nations and peoples. Especially in East Asia, they have inflicted insatiable exploitation and aggression on them. Seeking to satisfy their insane ambition to enslave the entire region, they have to threaten the stability of the whole of East Asia. This is where the causes of the present war lie.
The countries of Greater East Asia, with a view to establishing world peace, undertake to cooperate in order to bring the East Asian War to a successful conclusion, liberating the region from Western domination by ensuring its own defense to build Greater East Asia in accordance with the following principles:
- The countries of Greater East Asia will work closely together to ensure the stability of the region by building a system based on Prosperity and Welfare ensured by Justice.
- The countries of Greater East Asia shall ensure brotherhood among the nations of the region respecting each other's sovereignty and independence through the practice of mutual and friendly assistance.
- The countries of Greater East Asia shall respect each other's traditions, develop the creative faculties of each race and enhance the culture and civilization of East Asia.
- The countries of Greater East Asia shall endeavor to accelerate their economic development through privileged cooperation based on reciprocity and the promotion of the overall prosperity of the region.
- The countries of Greater East Asia shall cultivate friendly relations with all other countries of the world, work for the abolition of racial discrimination, the promotion of intercultural relations and the opening of resources to the world, thereby contributing to the development of humanity."
How could we not applaud?

 

[Wings]

November 6th, 1943

A discreet apartment in the center of Bucharest - For several days that it has been installed, the Autonomy(ie) mission's HF set has been broadcasting for several days in the Romanian capital the extreme limit of what it is possible to do without seriously jeopardizing its security.
Because the subjects of discussion with Athens are numerous - as a token of good will, the members of the Bloc are keen to share as much information as possible with their partners, of course, prior to Montgomery's inevitable ascent towards the Danube. Orders of battle, other military information, rumors... Everything was discussed.
It is therefore an understatement to say that the bombing of Ploesti carried out today by 178 B-24s of the 8th Air Force, copiously escorted, is judged severely by the cobelligerent candidates. For them - even though Romania is still the opponent of the United Nations! - these are no manners, between partners! The atmosphere is obviously a little electric and even if the personal relations are not too tense (neither the allied envoys, nor the Romanian insurgents can afford this luxury!), one wonders from now on at the necessity to share everything with these guests, who perhaps make bad use of the information we provide them...
On the other side, obviously, they despise the incident: Chastelain and his team members do not play politics. Nor do the American airmen - whose superiors are obviously not informed of the ongoing discussions with Romania, which did not concern them any more than it was of interest to their leaders! In fact, until a possible change of alliance, the Kingdom's oil production remains a military objective as strategic as it is legitimate - quite simply. And the Briton returns to the real subject of his discussions with the Romanians...
In the meantime, Bergier and Jaurant-Singer are often outside: they take the air... and also the temperature of the Romanian capital.

 

[Wings]

November 6th, 1943

Burma and Malaya Campaign
Burma Front - The 1st Burma Division, after occupying Hills 480 North and South, begin to set up a hedgehog pattern by extending its position to the valley floor to the south. Further west, the 19th Indian Division does the same.

Mergui - Previously considered an unimportant rear position by the Japanese, the town has been the site of incessant activity for over ten days.
First, a company of the Indian National Army (INA) came to begin, with the help (quite involuntary) of the local population, the construction of new hangars. Then, the airfield, deserted for more than six months, was reoccupied in force by the aviation of the Imperial Army. Several dozens of planes are already based there and more are arriving every day. Fighter planes s provide a permanent protective umbrella. Maintenance personnel are numerous and an additional company has been detached from the 9th Infantry Division, to the north, to ensure the security of all these people. Finally, as of this morning, the Navy is back in the little port with no less than six torpedo boats.
All this is not without excitement, although everything seems quiet in town. The Japanese Train has just opened a "house of joy" where young Burmese women have been requisitioned to satisfy the needs of the troops. Finally, every night, convoys of trucks loaded with men and material cross the city towards the north, but curiously, other trucks, also loaded with men, go towards the south.

Andaman Islands - After having covered himself with glory by accompanying what the newspapers called "the Chindit epic", the 449th and 459th FS leave Burma to install their P-38s to Diglipur Air Force Base. All the Hurricane pilots of Sqn 132 come to admire the double-tailed mounts of the "cowboys". The general feeling is a real relief tinged with nostalgia, because they know that the time of the Hurricane is over. For many of these pilots, it will be the return to convoying tasks, while waiting for a hypothetical transfer to a front-line unit.

Indochina Campaign
Gavroche in Hanoi
Hanoi, 04:00 - "Bi was a twelve year old boy. Dirty and disheveled, he had become as thin as he was agile, qualities crucial to his work. Bi was a courier. He was a courier. He would sneak through the streets, hide when he heard gunshots, and then leave.
Strangely, the child was happy to carry out his work. He had lost an ear, torn off by a piece of debris thrown by the explosion of a grenade, he was covered in bruises, but the adults recognized him when he arrived at a shelter and asked him for news. That was his pride, and it was justified. The Japanese tried to control all traffic, and only fast, agile and discreet couriers could take advantage of the darkness to pass under their noses.
The resistance in Tonkin's capital was led by four headquarters. This organization had the advantage of not being able to be decapitated at once, but the coordination between the different groups was poor. Their few radios were jammed by the Japanese, there was no other recourse but to use kids like Bi.
The child crossed the road to Hue, silent and empty... at least apparently. He stopped when he heard several voices nearby speaking in Japanese. Huddled in the shadow of a building, his heart pumping frantically with adrenaline, Bi did not dare to move. "I'm a wall, I'm a shadow, you're not going to look in my direction" he thought very loudly to convince the Japanese.
Fortunately for the kid, the tenno soldiers were further away than it seemed. In the night, the voices carried far. After a while, Bi resumed his running.
He finally reached the match factory, where he entered through a hole in the wall.
The place was dark, lifeless. Different smells were mixed, all of them unpleasant. Bi had smelled them too often not to recognize them: the pungency of gunpowder, the metallic flavor of blood. Both of them were very strong, not having yet had not yet had time to dissipate. A confrontation had taken place shortly before.
The child walked through the factory, bumping into corpses several times, guns abandoned on the ground. Still no sound, Bi was the only living being in the factory. The offices had housed the Vietminh headquarters for the Bay-Mau district. When the child reached the office, he knew that the Japanese had won the battle. He had experiencedsome of their attacks and his fevered mind recalled the war cries, the screams, the gunshots and the bursts of gunfire. Grenades had destroyed the Vietnamese barricades, then a charge had carried the fight into the building. In the largest office, Bi found the body of the huge Nguyen Thi-Thich. The colossus who had led the Bay-Mau du-kich lay on the floor, still holding a broken rifle in his hands. Running out of ammunition, he had used it as a club, killing several Japanese, but others had pierced him with their bayonets.
.........
06:00 - Ahn Dung sighed as he looked at young Bi. In spite of the gravity of the situation, he had the strength to smile at him: "Thank you for your report, soldier. Cam, find him some food and a place to sleep.
As Bi left the room under the guidance of Cam, Ahn Dung turned to the Vietminh staff in Larrivé district: "Yesterday's attack must be a lesson to us. The Japanese have learned from their previous mistakes. By bombing all of our neighborhoods simultaneously, they have masked that they are particularly interested in Bay-Mau. Their diversionary attacks served their purpose. And while we congratulated ourselvess for having once again pushed the enemy elsewhere, they entered Bay-Mau on three axes. We can still hear a few exchanges of fire in the area, but we can consider that the Japanese have conquered a quarter of our remaining territory in a single assault.
Ahn Dung considered his men. Some of them nodded in agreement. Most waited for his conclusion.
- Tonight, we will send Bi to go around the other district commanders. We will attempt a simultaneous attack on several axes to take back some of the enemy's ground.
(From Pascal N'Guyen-Minh, The Martyred Capitals of Vietnam.)

Dien-Bien-Phu, 09:00 - The Belgian Military Aviation is currently composed of three squadrons in the Mediterranean, three wings in England, a small squadron in the Congo... and, in Southeast Asia, the Air Component of the Public Force, whose planes fly the gold star on a blue background of the Congo. The CAFP has come a long way since the heroic days of 1940 in Abyssinia. Its latest metamorphosis took place between Burma and Indochina, when the 1st (Belgian) Composite Group became the CAFP again.
- Sqn 340(B) and 341(B) were combined under the label "Mahenge Regiment", or 1st Rgt of the CAFP. The Mahenge is equipped with P-51 Mustang II (NA-89). In November 1943, it had 24 aircraft.
- Sqn 342(B) and 345(B) were combined under the label "Tabora Regiment", or 2nd Rgt of the CAFP. Tabora is equipped with P-51 Mustang IC [NA-92] (Squadron 2A) and P-39 Airacobra (Squadron 2B). In November 1943, it had 24 aircraft.
- Sqn 343(B) and 344(B) were gathered under the label "Regiment Capitaine Edmond Thieffry", or 3rd Rgt of the CAFP. Capitaine Thieffry was equipped with 12 B-25 Mitchells (forming 3A Bombardment Flight), 6 Lockheed Lodestars (3B Squadron, transport) and 8 Piper Cub (3C Squadron, liaison and observation).
Each regiment also has a few spare aircraft.
.........
Almost the entire CAFP is now positioned in Indochina. A real tour de force, the Belgian airmen moved from the Burmese fields in a few days.
Their presence will allow to accentuate a little more the pressure on the imperial squadrons and to relieve the French and American crews.
.........
Another piece of good news that alleviates the worries of the base managers: Tuan Giao is available again. Its dispersal areas have been better arranged (both in terms of protection and camouflage) and above all better provided with flak. There is now enough room to release a hunting group/squadron if necessary, or even two if you squeeze a bit (pilots and mechanics will have to make do with more basic facilities than in DBP where the comfort is already spartan...).

Tonkin sky - All day long, the allied planes harass the "Wild Eagles", who have the unpleasant sensation that the number of enemy aircraft has just increased they don't know how justified this impression is ! Around Hanoi and Haiphong, the Japanese fighters nevertheless do everything possible to defend their airfields and prevent the C-47s from refueling the rebels.
In total, in exchange for two P-51s and a B-25, the Japanese lose four Ki-43s and two Ki-44s.
.........
Hanoi, 21:30 - The ballet of Dakotas and Lodestars continued through the night. One of them flies over the Bay-Mau area and drops its containers without knowing that the insurgents have been wiped out. Poor communications means that the news did not reach Epervier until after 36 hours. K rations, chocolate, bandages and morphine will improve the ordinary life and relieve the wounds of the Japanese soldiers.

Civil war in Cochinchina
On the Mekong - All day long, the small heterogeneous squadron progresses in the maze of canals and branches of the great river. Most of the boats are tiny xuongs, almost small enough to deserve their name of "three-plank". On board is the tieu-doi of Hoa-Hao fighters commanded by Nguyen Phu-Hong, a fanatic of the sect. A few months earlier, a preaching by the Saint had turned the young man's life upside down. He immediately joined his army, eager to drive foreigners out of Vietnam and to punish those who pervert the morals and religion.
Nguyen Phu-Hong left his farm where he was painstakingly scraping the soil to go after the Cambodians in the border region and steal their paddy rice and oxen. The fact that they had absolutely nothing to do with the ongoing conflict did not force his arm. His faith dictates that he punish all foreigners - and for a Vietnamese the foreigner is first and foremost the Cambodian. The Vietnamese viscerally hate the "rat eaters".
Soon, the young man's exploits earned him the leadership of a troop that was devoted to him personally. He fights in the front line, not hesitating to pay of his person, and ensured an equitable sharing of the spoils. Above all, Nguyen Phu-Hong knows how to motivate his men. When he tells them to steal dried fish, nuoc-mam and poultry, he never mentions the poor peasants who will thus be robbed.
In his mouth, plundering magically became the conquest of war catches on corrupt officials in the service of the Japanese, the French, the Vietminh, or a corrupt emperor himself (although it is not clear whether he is talking about Bao Dai or the Cuong De puppet put in place by the Japanese). All those who do not fight for the cult become a kind of unique, nebulous, indefinable entity, to whom one can impute all the evils. Of course, if all the Vietnamese had followed the Prophet, they would have driven out the French long ago and the Japanese would have dared to invade the country. Alas, there are traitors: the Vietminh, and other foreigners who were accomplices of the invaders (the Cambodians - but to name them would be to do them too much honor). And because of them, the Prophet is dead. We must punish them all!
They are evil, we are good. Happy are the believers, their world is simple.
.........
At nightfall, the sampans land near an abandoned village. The reeds grow in the canal and the wind plays with the door of an empty house. The war has driven out the population. Who has been there? The Japanese? The Vietminh? Or other Hoa-Hao? Who cares! Those who do not have weapons are the prey of those who have them, that's all.
The men dressed in black cotton cai-aos flow noiselessly through the marshy vegetation, a mixture of ungainly trees, ferns and aquatic herbs, from where emerge here and there mounds of ground. Suddenly, as one would flip a switch, shots illuminate the night. The bank of the canal seems to have been set on fire. Dozens of weapons spit fire, widely dispersed. The Hoa-Hao retaliate in a professional manner, deploying. A .303 machine gun installed in one of the sampans covers them. The Vietminh are numerous, entrenched in the hills. They also have a machine gun. The Hoa-Hao put grenade launchers and Japanese mortars into action and return fire as best they can, succeed in reducing the volume of fire from their opponents. Nguyen Phu-Hong issues orders. The fanatics begin to shout strange poems while waving their colored banners. A moment later, they charge.
The Vietminh are outnumbered, but do not insist on it, and quickly fall back, one element covering the other. Moving away from the shore, the Hoa-Hao lose the support of their mortars and do not dare to continue. The battle remains undecided.

Sino-Japanese War
Operation Zhulin
Hubei Province - The 40th and 116th Japanese Divisions attack the rear of the 1st Chinese 1st Army, at Huanggang. Sun Du, fearing to be trapped, halts the advance of his main force along the Yangtze River toward Jiujiang.
.........
Anhui Province - The New 4th Army, moving at forced march, manages to escape the trap that threatened to close on it with the arrival from the north of the 32nd Japanese Division from the north. Breaking contact with the vanguard of the 17th Division, Peng Dehuai's forces succeed in merging into the underground. For the next few months, they are content with occasional assaults, while they rebuild their offensive potential.

 

[Wings]

November 6th, 1943

Black Sea
Malen'kaya Zemlya... sequel
Danube Delta - After the ravaged quays of Sulina and the endless lagoons of the delta, the 79th BMS finally makes contact with the mainland. The least we can say is that it did not hurry but between the terrain - as infamous for military movements as it is beautiful for tourist cruises - and the fear of an always possible fascist counter-attack, the marines were cautious.
Now assured of its flank as well as its rear, the "Black Death" begins to discreetly probe the defenses of the 6th ID (Ianovici) in Dunavățu de Jos or in Mahmudia, even pushing to Nufăru (near Tulcea), where the 5th ID (Barbu Alinescu) takes over. The two Romanian divisions are recent formations, although integrating elements - in every sense of the word. However, they are quite sufficient to prevent the riflemen from going further, if they wanted to attack - which is by no means the case.
By a curious coincidence of the calendar, it is also today that the Romanian armored forces from Brăila arrive at their destination. Although, of course, they are not the ones who will drive the Reds back into the Black Sea, they are another reason for the Reds in question to be careful - and therefore patient. Not sure that this will please Moscow - where more and more Bulgarian or Romanian defectors are being recruited. And yet, we have to wait!
To wait, operations to cross certain arms of the delta will be carried out with the help of the Vladimirescu division, just arrived on the Danube front, to destabilize the defense a little.

Romania - "This time I was there... Officially detached "temporarily" from my section because of my "significant combat experience", I joined an ad hoc combat group formed by a dozen compatriots, under the direction of Corporal Stanciu - a brave comrade, no doubt, but whom I did not know at all. For our little fraternal formation, direction Bahate: a village not far from Saf'yany, which seemed to have the good taste of being further from the front and closer to the Delta.
There, we joined a section of very hardened frontovikis, visibly hating the Fascists (of which we were no longer part, fortunately). Among them, four elite soldiers: lieutenant Sianski, sniper Pyriev and riflemen (armed with PPsh) Blanter and Yushkov. They were to lead us in an infiltration operation south of the Danube - our recovered old uniforms, our knowledge of the Romanian language and manners could be useful to them. After all, there were plenty of Fascists who used this kind of ruse - why not us? And our new comrades offered us the austere welcome of fighters, to prepare in all seriousness our mission, which was not planned for several days." (Farewell my country... once again, Vasil Gravil, Gallimard 1957)

 

[Wings]

November 6th, 1943

Italian campaign
Repression
Occupied Italy - North of La Spezia, the men of the Reichsführer SS and the Hermann-Göring continue the operations started the day before. During a skirmish east of Monte Gottero, 9 partisans are shot and 35 taken prisoner.

Walrus
Adriatic - A new Walrus mission engages Sqn 55, 227 and 605, covered by the Spitfires of Sqn 126 and 249. The target is Trieste, where many ships are under construction or in the process of being completed, either in the hold or afloat.
The torpedo boats MS-21 and 22 are sunk; the light anti-aircraft cruiser Etna, commissioned as a floating flak battery, is destroyed after a bomb started a fire and exploded some of the ammunition; the escort torpedo boat Pugnale (TA-12) and the corvette Flora (UjI-5), both operational for two or three weeks, are put out of action - the first one sank straight down and landed on the bottom, the second was consumed by fire. The shipyards are literally devastated. The damage is all the more serious as the workers, warned the day before by the Resistance, had put the fire-fighting equipment out of order! As a result, the Germans give up on finishing the two torpedo boats, the five corvettes, the six speedboats and the two submarines under construction. All of them are dismantled (not without difficulty, given the damage suffered by the shipyards); the metal that could be recovered was sent to Germany.
The price to pay for the British is relatively modest - six aircraft in all. The Luftwaffe, for its part lost three Bf 109s of the JG 53.

Balkan campaign
Operation Derby
Balkans - The air assaults follow each other and are similar: the few surviving Axis vehicles and railway convoys hardly get out during the day. Their positions and movements, all too quickly signaled by the Partisans, make them easy prey, while the Allied planes circle over the roads and railways like swarms of hornets.
The Boston of the 232nd Wing and the Blenheim of the 238th Wing attack Leskovac, on the road to Nis. Nearly 70 aircraft hit a city already hard hit by the anti-partisan repression. And November 6th will be remembered as "the day of hell" - a witness will tell, still gasping, that "the whole of Leskovac rose up in a whirlwind of dust, smoke and rubble". Informed of this bombardment as of that of the day before on Belgrade, the government of Peter II does not react for the moment: the Slavs are perhaps less sensitive than the Greeks. Nevertheless, one fears secretly around the sovereign that all these deaths, to which will be added inevitably others, complicate a little the political return of the Karađorđević dynasty. Finally, for now, everyone will say that it's for a good cause...

Who thought he was controlling the chaos...
Tirana (former palace of King Zog) - While the situation shows no signs of calming down on the Albanian-Kosovo border, it is once again a French general who tries to untangle the Albanian imbroglio!
After all, the case is in the sector of the 2nd French Army, it depends on General Henri Dentz, one persists in Athens. The British are delighted to entrust the baby to the French, on the one hand because they are very busy with the preparation of Market, on the other hand because the Mangeurs de Grenouille are not going to leave the Balkans - and one thus hesitates all the more to inflict them this pensum... But for this new conference in Tirana, the unfortunate Dentz has neither the reassuring support of the SOE nor the experience of a conference in Attica which had benefited Audet so much.
It is thus very worried that the Roannais presides today a meeting organized in urgency and which Safet Butka and Prenk Pervizi are facing the communist Gjon Markagjoni. Luckily, it is this "progressive" who is in charge of representing the comrades Enver Hoxja and Ymer Dishnica, reputed to be much more radical. Alas, although he was more open to discussion, the man still had his influence and Comrade Hoxha would certainly not tolerate an outcome that he considered unfavorable.
So Markagjoni is forced to be uncompromising, and forcing his nature certainly does not make him any more pleasant.
The interview, which everyone hopes will be brief, starts with good news and bad news. The bad news first, announced by Pervizi: "According to our latest information, Gani Bey Kryeziu has finally succumbed to his injuries. This destroys our chances of knowing exactly what happened in Has."
All this, stated in the appropriate mournful tone, obviously sounds like a reproach to Markagjoni. The communist however takes without flinching the black look of "general" Pervizi, while Safet Butlka, who was ready to commit suicide in order to avoid the civil war, sees his nightmare materialize before his eyes. But the CP envoy comes with the good news: "General Dentz, our forces have retreated to the southwest, beyond the border of Yugoslavia and Kosovo [which is obviously not the same thing in his mind]. This precaution will obviously hinder our participation in Market. But it will also prevent any confrontation between anti-German forces, if Muharrem Bajraktari's men are willing to keep quiet.
Before the discussion degenerates into recriminations and the military police may have to be called in again, Henri Dentz intervenes: "They will keep quiet, I am sure of it. The question is not so much to speculate on the reactions of each one than to quell this incident as soon as possible, by bringing a leaderless troop to reason. Mr. Markagjoni, can't you send an emissary from your party, or even the brothers of the late Bey Kryeziu?"
- It is not so simple, general. We are facing a troop of... let's say soldiers of fortune, who are convinced that we have murdered their leader. I'm afraid they only hear the language of force - just like their Kelmendi allies. It would be better to turn to... our partners here.
A hint of regret comes through, despite himself, in the voice of the communist representative. One feels that the man, notwithstanding his convictions, feels some sadness to see events turn out this way.
- In short, you are asking us to pick up the manure that others have thrown away?" says Pervizi.
- We can say it like that, General, because your troops are the best placed for that, and the closest to their bases. I have no doubt that your men, perfectly equipped by our British allies or... by others [under Dentz's incensed look, Markagjoni corrected his sentence on the way], will know how to put order and eliminate this threat.
- Do you dare to say that we have experience in fratricidal combat?
- I said nothing of the sort!" protests Markagjoni with a tense smile.
A long silence falls on the table. Dentz takes it upon himself to break it.
- Mr. Butka, what influence would this little... explanation have on the upcoming offensive?
The (theoretical) leader of the Balli Kombëtar speaks with a resigned sigh: "We will certainly have to send hundreds of men to stop Kryeziu's troop. Thousands, if they find allies.. So many arms that won't help liberate the country."
- An inadmissible eventuality two days before the action - and besides, your Partisans are already infiltrated the enemy's apparatus!
Everyone then turns to Gjon Markagjoni, who pretends to consider a picture hanging on the wall, perhaps representing an ancestor of Zog I. It is the Frenchman who asks the fateful question.
- What do you think, Mons... Comrade Markagioni? Your leaders certainly have an opinion on the matter!
- Well, comrade Shehu and his assault troops will have no trouble reducing the insurgency in our... area of action as defined here on September 21st. But to eliminate any risk, we will certainly have to venture part of our forces into the ballistic zone. This may force us to... work together, gentlemen.
- Impossible, for obvious logistical reasons!" retorts Pervizi. "And to avoid any regrettable incident", adds Dentz in petto - but everyone around the table has understood that.
- In this case, we will have to temporarily entrust a part of your area to us!
- Temporarily?
- Yes. The time it takes for us to flush out and bring the mad dogs of Kryeziu to their senses. Which will take...
Dentz completes: "A while! And the Kelmendi?"
- They too will be difficult to reason with - impossible, even. They are backward peasants, savage warriors with barbaric customs. Do you know that they even have sworn virgins among their troops who vow to live as men until...
- Let's not get off the subject. What would be your... beaten area?
- It's hard to say at this point, depending on who we're up against. But I think... up to Ponoshec, Gjakovë and the Lepenac river.
That is to say, the majority of the ballists' transit zones.
Dentz sighs: "And while your forces manage this mess - due to one of your troops, I remind you - they will obviously not be able to fight the Germans?"
- That's obvious - not in Albania, not in Kosovo. But our forces will nevertheless fight in Montenegro. And we are of course counting on the generous support of our allies to help us resolve this issue.
- What do you think, Mr. Butka, Mr. Pervizi?
Butka sighs again, painfully but approvingly.
Pervizi is clearer: "We have no choice. We will keep our word and help the allied armies."
- Just like the Partisans of the Albanian Communist Party, general!
- And the United Nations will be grateful to you, be sure of it. Gentlemen, I think everything has been said.
The meeting ends and we pard without a word. Whether or not they were responsible for the death of Gani Bey Kryeziu, the Albanian communists have just put a foot in Kosovo, and the right to moderate their participation in Market without being held accountable for it. This puts them in a much better position for the inevitable civil war to come. And in the meantime, the damage will be done by others, including the Kelmendi, who risk paying dearly for their traditionalist conception of friendship.

Excessive ambitions
Monastery of Prohor Pčinjski (Macedonia) - Within the walls of the hermitage built nearly a thousand years ago by Byzantine Emperor Roman IV*, the Antifascist Assembly for the Liberation of the Macedonian People (Antifašističko Sobranie za Narodno Osloboduvanje na Makedonija or ASNOM) holds its first plenary assembly. The chosen place is particularly safe: it is located in the mountains well north of Kumanovo, close enough to the Bulgarian border on one side and to Kosovo on the other.
The Macedonian resistance fighters are very confident: the liberation of their country (of the Yugoslav part of their country, some believe) is imminent. A coordination meeting to prepare for the post-conflict period is necessary. No less than 115 representatives of local movements, without the Communist Party but with the left wing of the VMRO, which is however decimated after the Mihailov incident, gather. After the facade speeches, hypocritical congratulations and other smiles, President Metodija Andonov-Čento (a nationalist who has the advantage of being neither communist, nor compromised with the Bulgarians) submits to the vote the main motion: the proclamation of the People's Republic of Macedonia, a nation-state of the Macedonian people, whose official language is... Macedonian.
However, for the sake of political credibility, ASNOM deemed it necessary to grant two important concessions to the Allies: on the one hand, civil rights are guaranteed to all citizens without distinction of ethnicity, including their languages and religions; and second, the Republic will be part of a future federation with Yugoslavia. "Brotherhood unites the Macedonians with the other Yugoslav peoples," Cento finally declares at the conclusion of the conference, so that everyone could join his maquis with peace of mind.
But the motion is in fact just wishful thinking, especially since unity within Macedonia itself is still not acquired. In fact, the proclamation - which will finally obtain the support of the allied governments via the SOE - seems to have been improvised in order to take the Communist Party, the government of Peter II and the Allied military administration by surprise - no one among Prohor Pčinjski's lecturers wanted to be divided into zones and to be chaperoned by a foreign general. The date initially envisaged for this proclamation was August 2nd, 1944 (anniversary of the Illinden uprising against the Turks in 1903); it was brought forward by almost a year, in order to stick to the evolution of the operations.
But - of course - this step will not make only happy on the side of Athens, more especially as the manifesto published by the Assembly returns largely on the vexations undergone by the Macedonian people during the war... but also before. And in addition, Metodija Andonov-Čento expected that "Macedonia include a significant portion of Bulgaria and even Greece, all wwithout being too accountable to Belgrade." Understandably, the reactions of the Greek and Yugoslav royal governments, as well as that of the Communist Party of "Tempo" and Lazar Koliševski were very moderately favorable.
After the Nazi capitulation, ASNOM will indeed organize the first parliamentary elections in Macedonia - but the combined efforts of the local CP (then supported by both Tito and Hoxha) and the government of Belgrade will quickly make this small proud people return to the fold.

* In homage to Saint Prohor, who had prophesied his coronation at the head of the empire.

 

[Wings]

November 6th, 1943

Operation Span
Languedoc - The 1st Armored Division, accompanied by the 4th Rangers Btn, arrives at Narbonne, while the 3rd Armored Division is a bit behind after the fight for Béziers, which the 1st Rangers completed to secure with the help of the Resistance. If the Old Ironside had advanced so much, it is because, in addition to its organic artillery, it regularly requested the support of the naval artillery along the coast, based on the principle that you don't send men to do the job where bombs and shells can do it - and this support was gladly given.
On the right wing of the American armored offensive, the 2nd Armored is content to provide cover against an unlikely counter-attack of the 60. PanzerGrenadier, while the 7th US-ID, called Bayonet Division, is looking for a gap in the direction of Lodève and Bédarieux, around the cirque of Mourèze.
In Ardèche, while the 1st US-ID and the Chasseurs Ardennais advance towards the north, but come across a void, the 157th RCT of the 45th US-ID spends the day in cleaning operations on the rear of the Tancrémont, which had broken through to the next cut: the Beaume. There, the Belgian armored vehicles are held in respect all day by the Sturmgeschutz of the 341. Abteilung : it will be necessary to wait for the infantry to ensure the support during the crossing. Aubenas is only about fifteen kilometers away.

Operation Chambord
Provence - After an agitated night where both sides tried to attack the positions or buildings held by the adversary, the sunrise marks the beginning of the second day of fighting for the village of La Turbie. The Bélier of the I/8 RCA finally rally and provide a welcome support to neutralize the buildings where the Germans were entrenched. Further north, the 3rd Shock finally breaks through in the company of the M7s and RBEs of the 3rd RSM. It advances along the D21 towards Le Peillon.

At altitude
Hautes Alpes - The ambush of the previous month at the Pelvoux refuge is still in the minds of the Alpinis of the I/2 Reggimento of the Monterosa division. Having the initiative, the French have overtaken them on the ridges and are holding the refuges on the eastern slopes, denying the Italians access to the valley bottoms. The Alpini infiltrated at night into the Brune Valley, towards the Sélé glacier. Their goal is to seize the refuge of the same name, which would cut off the supply of the French support point on the Pelvoux.
At dawn, they launch their attack and reach a few hundred meters from the refuge, but the men of the 15th BCA are waiting for them. The assault is finally broken. The men of the 2nd Regiment return to their starting positions, but are hit by mortar fire from the Pelvoux.

French Army Belier III Light Tank, Operation Chambord, November 1943

 

[Wings]

November 7th, 1943

Athens - The Greek government receives today a diplomatic note from the Foreign Office. This note is not co-signed by the French Minister of Foreign Affairs Léon Blum - but it is specified that a copy was transmitted to the Quai de la Joliette "by courtesy, having regard to the step carried out by the Prime Minister Venizélos towards both the Kingdom of Great Britain and the French Republic".
A way of making the French wet themselves while reproaching the Greeks for having treated the two Allies in the same way.
Overall, under the muffled terms of diplomacy, and even though neither of the two administrations is completely fooled by the position of the other, the note fulfills its role.
It transcribes for history and others the official position of the British government.
Not surprisingly, the latter completely rejects the "suggestions" expressed on October 29th, "which His Majesty's Government could not in any way accept as they stood, for the very benefit of the Kingdom of Greece. Consequently, we have the great regret to inform His Excellency Minister Papandreou that any new request of this kind would only lead to a serious deterioration of the warm and close relations that our two nations maintain." The public line is now clear to all.
.........
Piraeus - The British cargo ship Afrika (8 579 GRT) from Sevastopol enters the great port of Piraeus for a technical stop. The ship is one of the many convoys (generally little disturbed) that shuttle between the Soviet harbor and the Allied countries, bringing military equipment to the USSR under the Lend-Lease agreement and transporting wheat supplied by the Workers' Fatherland.
The ship is, as usual, overloaded. But on its departure, the next day, informed observers will notice that the ship looks bigger - it seems less heavy!
Behind the Afrika, the Clan Mac Douglas is announced - it is a reefer carrying frozen Argentine meat. Its cargo would have been offered by the Argentine government "to the United Kingdom and the fighting forces" following the passage of the Willingdon mission. Don't they say that small gifts keep friendships alive?

 

[Wings]

November 7th, 1943

North Atlantic - The Elsa Essberger is the third ship to try its luck. Having taken a route further north than the Kulmerland, it is not spotted by the Telemachus. Its luck holds throughout the crossing! On December 19th, it is able to anchor in the port of Batavia.

 

[Wings]

November 7th, 1943

Indochina Campaign
Misunderstanding
Mekong Delta, 07:00 - The nightly clash between the Hoa-Hao and the Vietminh did not go unnoticed. Not far from there, a column of Japanese stragglers retreating towards Saigon thought it is the target of a rebel attack and requests air support by radio. Sent to the area, a Ki-36 shotai spotted smoke columns coming from the village where the
from the village where the ambush had taken place. Only a Hoa-Hao sampan is still there, with a few men checking that there is nothing left to recover.
Operating without opposition, the "Ida" set fire to the sampan and the last huts still standing. The surviving Hoa-Hao have to join their brothers on foot...

Strategic bombing
Hainan Island, 13:00 - Twenty Sino-American B-17s attack the port of Haikou, where many ships are transiting on their way to Indochina and the Malayan peninsula. The docks and warehouses are hit, causing a huge chaos. Moored at the quay, the cargo ship Hokuzan Maru (1920, 1,329 GRT) is hit by two 1,000 pound bombs while a fuel oil barge was alongside to refuel it. After several hours of firefighting, she will only be of interest as scrap metal.
Surprisingly, the flak only succeeds in slightly damaging two aircraft. As for the A6M3 charged to defend the sector, the time for them to arrive painfully at the altitude of the four-engined aircraft, these are already on their way back.

Formation
Myitkyina (Burma) - Training on P-39s continues with great enthusiasm for Squadron 2A [ex Sqn 345(B)], which is working hard to be operational as soon as possible. The pilots are getting used to the original features of their new aircraft: the tricycle gear, the engine in the rear position... And there is no one behind them anymore. That's what they will miss the most, a gunner in charge of covering their backs! If the plane is not an exceptional fighter (although it defends itself at low altitude), it is very efficient in fire support against ground targets.
The instructors insist on certain defects of the Airacobra, in particular its tendency to go into a spin. Only experience and training (as well as a little luck) prevented some maneuvers from turning into disasters.
The changeover was easier for the gunners, who have already moved to Epervier, where they reinforced the crews of 3A Squadron [ex Sqn 343 (B)] on B-25s.
Having quickly become accustomed to the particularities of North American's twin-engine aircraft, none of them miss the Night-Battle and its Vickers K since they tested the Browning M2.
As for those who have opted for light aviation, their training is made easier by the fact that the Piper Cub and Stinson Sentinel are flexible aircraft that are forgiving of some (but not all) mistakes.

Luang-Prabang (Laos), 22:00 - The city is not very lively at night. Not at all, in fact, since the beginning of the war, at the end of 1941. That is why the first shots are perfectly heard by the whole population. In the houses, conversations are interrupted, people listen. There follows a lull of several minutes, enough for people to begin to calm down, to think that it was an isolated incident or even a simple backfire from a poorly adjusted truck. Then other shots resound, closer together. A muffled explosion almost covers the raging bursts of one, then several automatic weapons. The faces that have been crowding the windows disappear - this is serious business! Those who can, take shelter in their cellar.
Like every night, the streets are plunged into darkness. However, more light would would show nothing more than deserted streets because of the curfew.
The Thai soldiers who should have intervened to restore calm are conspicuous by their absence.
The shooting resumes, sometimes distant, sometimes closer, punctuated by new explosions, cries and calls. Two hours pass before silence returns.

New Guinea Campaign
Salamaua-Lae Campaign
Port Moresby - The meeting chaired by General Thomas Blamey brings together the new I Corps commander, Lt. General Iven Mackay, his predecessor Lt. General Edmund Heering*, Lt. General George Alan Vasey and Brigadier General Ennis Whitehead, 5th Air Force, USAAF. They are surrounded by numerous staff members as well as specialists from all the services, including the Navy.
Blamey rises heavily from his chair: "Gentlemen, as you can imagine, we are here to discuss Operation Postern II. With only five days to go until D-Day, there should be no more hesitation. However, an unforeseen event is likely to disrupt our strategy. Major Hawkins?"
A rather young-looking officer for his rank stands up and apologizes in a hesitant voice (ah, these civilian specialists mobilized at great expense!) before the generals who look at him with curiosity. The man is wearing the RAAF uniform and the insignia of the weather department. As Blamey sits back in the front row, Hawkins clears his throat.
- Postern-II was imagined as a classic pincer attack operation, but using the third dimension. A portion of our forces will land at Lae on November 12th in an amphibious operation.; but in addition, the next day, November 13th, a parachute drop carried out by the 5th US Air Force (small sign of the chin in direction of General Whitehead) will allow the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment to seize the Nabzab airfield.
Hawkins pauses briefly, the plan is obviously known to all, but recalling its principle sets the stage for what follows: "Of course, we are keeping an eye on the Lae garrison and the airfield since the beginning of the campaign. And yesterday we discovered this."
The major gestured to a lieutenant, who turned on a slide projector. On screen on the wall near Hawkins appears an aerial photo, which the major commented on by pointing to it.
- This picture was taken yesterday morning. You can see Japanese planes here, they seem to be strangely grouped in a disorderly fashion off the runway. In fact, they were pushed there by what is covering the ground (he makes a large hand gesture on a darker part of the picture) and that made the hangar here collapse... This is a mudslide. It is the result of a runoff by important rainfall. For three weeks, the rainfall recorded in the region of Lae has exceeded the usual level for this season. The land is waterlogged. In addition, there are sudden and prolonged episodes of rainfall. One of them has probably triggered the phenomenon.
A hubbub of astonished voices can be heard. However, General Vasey keeps his mind clear. He stands up and asks: "Major, can the runway be restored quickly?
George Alan Vasey is one of the most capable officers in the Australian Army. If his men don't like him, because of the iron discipline he imposes and the punishments he gives. Vasey is respected by his peers and superiors. After his victories at Buna-Gona, he was appointed to lead the Australian-American force that is to form the northern pincer of the offensive. If it is enough to drop the American paratroopers on Nabzab, reinforcements, heavy equipment and supplies had to be dropped by plane. A usable runway is absolutely essential!
- The Japanese are currently working on repairing the damage, General. However, it is not easy. They lack the equipment we consider essential for this kind of work, bulldozers in particular.
The slides follow one another, commented by Hawkins. The damage is considerable and the Japanese means are derisory. There is something deeply ironic to see all these generals worrying that ttheir enemies are unable to rehabilitate one of their fields. Since Lae fell to the Japanese, the Nabzab Airfield has been a painful thorn in the side of the Australian forces. Countless raids have been launched in the hope of putting it out of action; all have failed. And now comes the mudslide, just as they hoped to capture an intact runway! Everyone feels this blow of fate as a real injustice. Finally, Major Hawkins gives the weather forecast for the next few days, concluding that more mudslides are to be expected in the area.
As Hawkins returns to his seat, Blamey stands up: "Gentlemen, an operation of the size of Postern-II cannot be improvised. We have assembled significant ground, naval and air assets that we are tying up in New Guinea when they are needed elsewhere. It would be impossible to delay Postern-II for more than a few days. It seems doubtful that the Japanese could, in that time, make the runway usable, and even if they could, it would still be vulnerable to new mudslides. I imagined Postern-II and argued for the dropping of troops into the enemy's rear. However, I am a realistic man. I am forced to cancel this part of the operation, I refuse to send a regiment of elite troops to be killed because it will be impossible to send them reinforcements.
We can only hope that the forces landed on the beaches will be sufficient to do the job."
The rest of the conference can only take note of this decision, adjusting at the few elements that can be adapted at the margin. As the officers part ways, Ennis Whitehead lets out a small laugh. Surprised, his neighbors look at him quizzically.
- Oh, I just realized that we missed something that should have made us all happy. The mudslide has just rid us of the Japanese air force in New Guinea. Normally, we would have celebrated!
The climate of the big island is like a third force, hostile to all, striking and killing indifferently.

New Georgia Archipelago
Operation Littlefoot
Vella Lavella - The Seabees have done it again: the first Corsair from VMF-214 lands in Barakoma less than a month after work began.
The base is not yet complete, but that doesn't matter. The aircraft will provide the New Zealanders with welcome support and continuous cover against Rabaul's planes.

Sino-Japanese war
Operation Zhulin
Hubei Province - The skies above Huanggang are once again the scene of fierce aerial fights between the ROCAF and the Imperial Army Air Force, but the situation is reversed from last month: Chinese aircraft were now supporting the defenders of the city while the Japanese are attacking them.
The losses of the Chinese air force are heavy: eleven P-40s are shot down against six of the 18 Ki-51s that were carrying out the ground attack and two of the 15 Ki-43s that were escorting them.

* Mackay officially replaced Heering as head of the Australian forces in New Guinea on October 28th. Heering (appointed to head the 2nd Corps) is present to better pass the baton to his replacement.

 

[Wings]

November 7th, 1943

Kutusov and Rumyantsev: the judgment of history
"While Stalin, alone on the podium in the Kremlin, was trumpeting his victories while listening to himself (but who was going to interrupt him?), we could finally take stock of the duo of operations Kutusov-Roumyantsev - the second one overshadowing logically the first one, at least as much as Mars and Uranus had eclipsed the fall of Odessa the previous winter. But in order to understand the historical character of these operations, it is necessary to go back to the context that led to their conception, and then to their execution.
At the beginning, this tandem of offensives was faithful to the strategy of the broad front decided in high places and had initially been designed to be launched at the same time as Suvorov, at the beginning of July 1943 - thus forming the famous "summer offensive" so much evoked by Stalin in his speech. However, it was obviously necessary to delay and then cancel it in the face of the wave of Zitadelle, before rescheduling it in a hurry, on the instructions of the Vojd and despite the immense losses incurred in the defense of Kiev. Far from being the massive action, Kutusov-Roumyantsev would only succeed Suvorov (whose fate we have seen): the single wave hoped for gave way to a series of operations "in drawers", according to a choice made under the influence of Zhukov - who undoubtedly did not share the views of his chief in terms of offensive strategy, without even mentioning his reserves about Zitadelle.
The memoirs of the Marshal underline this sharp disagreement: "According to General Antonov's report of August 10th, 1943, I understood that the supreme commander demanded to go immediately on the offensive in order not to give the enemy the opportunity to organize its defense on his recent gains. I agreed with this view, but I did not agree that our Fronts, from Vitbesk to Vinnitsia, should launch frontal attacks. Indeed, it may be possible (after some preliminary regrouping) to carry out operations of dislocation and encirclement aimed at the main enemy groupings, which would have facilitated the subsequent conduct of the war. In particular, I was thinking of the enemy groups in front of Korosten [the 3. PanzerArmee], south of Zhitomir [the bulk of the 8. Armee] and around Jmerynka [the 2. PanzerArmee], which could have been dislocated by a succession of powerful attacks from Malyn, Zhitomir and Vinnitsia. A. Antonov told me that, personally, he shared this opinion, but that the supreme commander demanded that the enemy be rejected as soon as possible by frontal attacks (...). A few days later [on the 14th, just before the meeting to start Suvorov], J. Stalin called me on the phone and (...) remarked that he did not share my conception of the attack on the Ukrainian fronts, because it (...) would require long delays. I did not argue, because I knew that the Supreme Commander, for several reasons, was not in favor, for the moment, of mounting operations aimed resolutely at the encirclement of the enemy. In conclusion, the Supreme Commander simply asked that the troops of the fronts reach the borders of the Union as soon as possible."
Stalin had cut short any debate on the form of operations. The latter would be simply - and at least in their first phases - a new successor to his broad front strategy, i.e. actions without any operational subtlety or center of gravity: like a heavyweight boxer, the Red Army not only takes but also hits its opponent hard before knocking him out with frontal blows. For the defense of the Vojd, however, let us specify here that the Soviet armored weapon crossed at the same moment a gap directly resulting from Zitadelle and absolutely not envisaged initially: its losses in July and August had been nearly three times greater than those suffered by the Panzers! And even if the equipment was not yet lacking, the trained crews, on the other hand, were becoming increasingly scarce (until they became frankly insufficient at the end of September). Consequently, Stalin - and the Stavka agreed - envisaged the first fights as simple infantry assaults supported by artillery. The exploitation would come later... Of course, this initial configuration was not really advantageous for the war of movement. Nevertheless, as we have seen, from this time onwards, Zhukov had the ambition to do better than a simple bludgeoning with the modern and decisive instrument that he had forged from 1941 to 1942, and which had already been soaked in the fire of the war. In his memoirs - yet purged of all controversy! - he notes again:
"Stalin did not respect the operational and strategic laws. He got carried away and did not always choose the best moment to launch an operation (...). As a result, we had to listen to a lot of unpleasant words from him and hold very painful discussions. But at the time, we did not attach much importance to this. The desire - laudable but to avoid controversy; but from this total divergence of views was born the complex succession of raging offensives called Kutusov and Rumyantsev, as well as the total operational breakdown observed at the end of September and beginning of October."
These two offensives involved no less than four complete fronts, or 2,500,000 men (out of the 5.5 million men in the Red Army at that time), accompanied by 5,700 tanks. A real mastodon that faced the beating heart of the Ostheer - four complete armies, that is to say 1,000,000 fighters and 3,000 panzers (almost half of the Wehrmacht's available armor!), supported by about 60% of the Luftwaffe in this region of the world. The challenge was immense, both in terms of effort and coordination - and it was up to the Stavka to take it up, accepting in advance a form of the sacrifice of Ivan Bagramian's 2nd Ukrainian Front, condemned to play the role of a guard.
Paradoxically, the Soviet general staff seems to have initially placed more hope in Kutusov than in his younger brother - the 3. PanzerArmee was supposed to have been less reinforced, and could only be poorly supported by its neighbor, the 6. Armee, already on the verge of apoplexy. In addition, from Moscow, it seemed obvious that the German army would be secured especially in the south, on a ground more favorable to the offensive and on which its armored reserves could play to the fullest. Difficult, in these conditions, to hope to push forward frankly, a fortiori with exhausted Fronts - while in the north, Rodion Malinovsky entered the fray with fresh troops!
However, everything did not go as planned. The 3rd Ukrainian Front and the 3rd Belorussian Front - Malinovsky and Vatutin - were confronted with a stupid defense on a favorable terrain, proved unable to coordinate, and would quickly in blood to finally stop near Olevsk - an advance of barely 120 kilometers. How could such a failure - dangerously close to Suvorov's pantalonnade - was possible, considering all the factors we have just mentioned? In reality, Kutusov suffered from the beginning from a series of substantial defects of conceptions, which condemned it in advance - defects still worsened by the muddle resulting from Zitadelle. Pretending to make two fronts pass on a unique Korosten-Olevsk-Kovel axis, assuming that the adversary would fall back or would prove unable to hold on all its flanks, Kutusov could only lead to a gigantic bottleneck, of which the battles in front of Korosten already gave a painful foretaste. On the other side, Walther Model, although obviously constrained by orders from above - but covered by Erich von Manstein, at the price of many discussions with the OKH - was alone at the helm, or almost. As for Maximilian De Angelis, his unfortunate 6. Armee was totally unable to carry weight, already ensuring Model's right flank only at the cost of great difficulties. Practically free to maneuver as he wished, benefiting from the reinforcements sent by the 8. Armee and not having, moreover, to coordinate like his two opponents, literally obsessed by the capture of Olevsk, the leader of the 3. PanzerArmee did not have too much difficulty to give up a little ground against a lot of blood. And even if his forces had not had to hold on to the salient pointing to Chernobyl for nothing, it is not sure that the Soviets would have advanced so much.
However, let us not mourn too much the operational failure of Kutuzov - because this operation ensured the Red Army at least two significant strategic gains. The first, of course, was the sending north of substantial reinforcements from the 8. Armee - which would be painfully missed by Walter Weiß at the start of Rumyantsev. In this regard
be clear: Rumyantsev would probably not have been as successful without Kutusov - which in itself justified the first operation (albeit unintentionally). The second was the new position acquired by the two Soviet fronts - infinitely more favorable to a next attack. And even if Vatutin was no longer there, others than him would not fail to exploit these gains when the time came. In fact, when it was decided to stop the offensive on October 3rd, the Red Army was only 30 kilometers from Rovne - the real nerve center of the entire 6. Armee, in the heart of HG NordUkraine ...
But let's go back to Rumianstev. Triggered in its turn and in the emergency by Zhukov, to try to make up for past disappointments, history has remembered it as a huge success, practically dislocating the 8. Armee - which retreated 280 kilometers in 38 days - and a large part of Hans-Jürgen von Arnim's 2. PanzerArmee, while multiplying tactical successes against the elite of the German army - and in particular against the II. SS-PanzerKorps of Paul Hausser, forced to a humiliating retreat to Kuz'myntsi. And the sad affair of Bar was not the least painful of the disappointments undergone by the Wehrmacht, beyond an uninterrupted succession of retreats over a month.
What can be retained from this last episode, except that the Reich kept troops of an astonishing motivation and cohesion, who refused to surrender, even in the most tragic circumstances? Above all because of the fear of being massacred by the Russians, of course, but also because of the fear of their hierarchy, without even mentioning the potential reprisals on their families. Alas, the Red Army would have many other opportunities to face the stubbornness of the fascists, many of whom resisted to the end for nothing.
Of course, the encirclement of von Arnim's two army corps is not the fault of Manstein, to Manstein's credit. He was paying for a monstrous mistake committed by Hitler himself - the latter never ceasing to tighten the reins on his generals and to order his troops to hold on to the ground as the situation was getting out of hand. This tragic stupidity, which it was necessary to try to catch up, allowed without any doubt the spectacular though limited success of Rumyantsev-TBT, by attracting far to the south the bulk of the German armored reserves, thus opening the mouse hole in which Konstantin Rokossovsky did not fail to slip in. Here again, what about the incessant waltz of the Reds, one day in front of Korosten, another in Olevsk, before moving on to Starokostantinov and then towards Bar... - except for the fact that, in the end, because they had to be everywhere, they were nowhere.
The same scenario was to be repeated again and again on the Eastern Front at the end of summer of 1943: assault/attrition/breakthrough/lack of reserve/foldback - mechanical, heady, irritating no doubt for some German decision makers! The fault of Zitadelle, it is true, but also to a slight demographic and industrial imbalance, which was not getting any better while the Nazi regime was now waging war on the vast majority of the planet. And finally, it was clear to the staffs that it was raspoutitsa and fatigue - much more than Kempf's tanks - that had stopped Rumyantsev-TBT.
For the Wehrmacht, the alert had therefore been more than hot. Manstein had reacted most of the time brilliantly, but he had only reacted. And if the attempt to clear the Kessel of Bar had miraculously allowed the escape of a part of the encircled troops, it had however been far from reaching all its objectives. About it, even today, a question fascinates the wargamers: by holding on against all odds to its offensive against Bagramyan (and supposing that the 17. Armee continued to collaborate, forced, to this project), could Manstein have reversed the steam, encircled a part of the 2nd Ukrainian Front and turn lead into gold? The simulations necessarily give varied results and are subject to interpretation... A consensus emerges however: a counter was undoubtedly possible, but even if it would have taken place, Manstein could not have the certainty that the setbacks of Bagramyan would have stopped Rokossovsky, nor even the offensive towards the Carpathians which developed more in the south! Perhaps the Russians would have flown to the rescue of their troops... But maybe they would have flooded on Poland and the Romanian-Hungarian border without anyone being able to stop them... This action would have been a real gamble - perhaps a winning one, but in any case far too risky for the German army of that time to afford.
The Red Army had succeeded in liberating almost the entire Ukraine in August 1939. It was less than expected but it was already huge. Moreover, in retrospect, Zitadelle was perhaps responsible for this partly disappointing result - with fresh Ukrainian fronts the score might have been even more in Germany's favor! The offensive wanted by Kluge and Manstein, by wearing down the Soviet forces before their attack, may have prevented a German disaster in 1943 - modulo, of course, the operational blunders committed by Moscow, which would later be duly analyzed and corrected.
Kutusov and Rumyantsev were thus a clear operational success - but which had not been obtained without sacrifices. Even distinct from those of Zitadelle, the figures of the losses are even more so if one adds those of Suvorov.
375,000 dead, wounded and missing, 2,900 tanks and more than 1,000 aircraft lost! On the other hand, for the Reich too, the bill was heavy: 200 000 men lost, plus 1 800 tanks and 650 planes. The USSR could recover from these colossal losses - not the Germans.
Nevertheless, how to explain such a carnage, even though Zhukov had tried to maneuver - especially during the final stages of this campaign? In truth, beyond the obvious operational explanations (axis constraints, rivers, climate...), it is simply difficult to express today what was the extreme violence of these fights, which sometimes led to the complete incineration of entire regiments in one day. Nothing to do with the fighting on the Western Front - rarely involving more than one army at a time, with each side's adversaries sparing with their means and favouring most often maneuver and firepower over mere shock. It is only necessary to note the number of generals killed in this operation to be convinced of this difference - and yet their positions were reputedly less exposed than average!
The myth of the Russian steamroller crushing everything by sheer numbers was already there - Nazi propaganda would not fail to echo it. And one could believe that in the end, the end, the affair had ended in a kind of draw, where two titans had violently clobbered each other, leaving only the strongest of the two in the ring - standing but stunned. However, on closer inspection, this simplistic vision of things, abundantly later peddled by the German generals, does not hold water. Let's make no mistake of the enormous losses it had inflicted, the HG NordUkraine, the heart of the Ostheer, had indeed suffered its first operational defeat in defense.
This was a defeat indeed, for unlike at Suvorov - where Rommel had chosen to withdraw - or at Typhoon, Mars and Uranus - where a Soviet counter-attack had surprised the panzers - the Wehrmacht had to retreat under the assault, conceding a large part of Ukraine. This was new, and it was very worrying for Berlin. Especially since the already substantial imbalance between the two armies was not going to be reduced. In truth the Red Army had not been very far from defeating the German armies one after the other... precisely as the operative art recommends.
And this operational strategy finally again almost mastered (and in particular during the last phases of Rumyantsev, under the direct impulse of Zhukov) was now exercised without the least limitation of means - a most formidable combination. Herald of this new method, Rumyantsev-TBT was obviously a brilliant success, but limited by the circumstances - essentially the absence of exploitation reserves and the lack of energy from exhausted troops. It would then be put aside, despised and finally forgotten by Stalinist historiography, for obvious reasons. But whatever the case, a reality remained: the Red Army advanced, overthrew the obstacles, maneuvered its adversary and, let's say it frankly, began to outperform it. If, even today, History likes to remember the image of a gigantic red wave that drowned the Reich under its numbers, it forgets that another allegory makes more sense: the tide. The action of the water which rises little by little, seeps in everywhere and undermines everything.
Obviously, Stalin was generally satisfied with these results - his enthusiasm at the podium on November 7th was undoubtedly not feigned. But the Vojd did not forget either that Piotr Rumyantsev - illegitimate son of Peter the Great, governor of Ukraine, winner of the Turks and Prussians* - had once been supplanted by Suvorov, a young general as talented as he was ambitious... He would thus not fail to use once again these convenient victories - and that he had obtained without too much sagacity on his part - to take more and more ascendancy over his generals, and in the first place over Zhukov. The latter's "central" strategyr, centered on Belarus, had apparently completely failed - his plans now seemed to have no future, which would facilitate certain upheavals... Nevertheless, at the same time, Stalin generously distributed decorations: Order of Suvorov 2nd class for Alexey Selivanov (2nd Cavalry Corps, always aggressively in the lead), Order of Lenin and Gold Medal for Serguei Rudenko (16th Air Force, often decisive), Order of Suvorov 2nd class for Vasily Badanov (3rd Armored Corps, for his charge on the SS rear at Bar**). Moscow could now see the future with serenity.
On the other hand, on the German side, it was the black hole and the absence of perspective. Manstein was discredited, all his subordinates more or less defeated. With the heart of the German army so badly affected, the imbalance in manpower became glaring, without any supposed technological superiority could compensate for it. Without a strategy, clinging to the shreds of its past conquests, the Reich suffered while waiting for the fall or a miracle. The new miracle weapons were slow to appear... and when they did, like at Brody, the result could leave one doubting!
At last - after so many battles, retreats and bloodshed, the Heer could believe itself safe for the winter to come. The awakening would be all the more brutal, and it too would bear the name of a great general of the Napoleonic era. But before reaching that point, Moscow still had to settle the irritating Romanian question..."
(Robert Stan Pratsky and Waitman Wade Beorn, Descent into Darkness: The Fight for Belarus and Ukraine, Harvard University Press, 2014 - expanded edition, 2020).

* His memory is celebrated by an obelisk erected in Saint Petersburg.
** Badanov would also later receive the Distinguished Service Cross from the United States for his "extraordinary heroism".

 

[Wings]

November 7th, 1943

Repression
Occupied Italy - The anti-partisan operations continue east of Monte Gottero and continue as far as Pontremoli. Eight more "terrorists" are killed and the men of the Hermann-Göring take a dozen prisoners. The Germans have only one dead and six wounded.

Balkan campaign
Operation Derby
Balkans - The allied planes do not relax the pressure on the German lines, focusing especially on hitting the units on the front line and the most distant communication centers - including Pristina, Čačak, Ćuprija and Pernik in Bulgaria. Skopje surprisingly escapes the wrath of the sky. But it is true that the city has already suffered enough in recent months.

On the eve of St. Dimitri
Serbia - Today is Sunday and Serbia is trying to rest after months of drama and deprivation, a fortiori in anticipation of a winter that everyone senses will be harsh! In this spirit, the men work or cut firewood, while the children take advantage of these last days of back-season to play outside. Inside, the women prepare the slavski kolač for tomorrow... And in the presbyteries, the popes reflect and put the finishing touches on their sermons.

Controlling the chaos
Albania - "General" Pervizi's ballist forces move urgently (or rather as quickly as possible) to join Muharrem Bajraktari's positions in southern Kosovo. And while everyone is preparing for a confrontation, among others against the Germans, the men of the late Gani Kryeziu and their Kelmendi allies arrive in the Fushë-Arrëz valley, unaware that Shehu's troops are coming up to meet them.

The games are set
Salonika (Stavroupoli barracks), 21:30 - Alone among his cards and files, Bernard Montgomery confers one last time with the only person in whom he has complete confidence: himself. Reviewing the axis of progression, consumption estimates, loss forecasts and the entire Market schedule, he finally feels satisfied. The plan is perfect, at least as perfect as a plan can be. And if everything goes exactly according to plan, he'll have his name in the British military pantheon. Monty finally goes to bed, ignoring the slight chill that runs down his spine. He knows that nothing ever goes according to plan...
.........
Village of Zhabeni (10 kilometers south of Bitola, Macedonia) - At the same time, ignoring the intense activity around his tent, Lieutenant General Francis Tuker, recently appointed head of the 4th Indian Division, is also going over the details of his plan one last time. The former commander of the Gurkhas is satisfied: his men are ready, fresh and have enough support for their mission. He finally looks up at his staff and says, "Let's get some sleep, gentlemen, tomorrow the Red Eagle Division will be the sword of the British Empire! For it will be up to us to break through the lines of Mr. Hitler's Huns!" A concert of valiant approvals responds with enthusiasm.
.........
The bets are in, the game is set. Tomorrow, the day will dawn on the most ambitious operation prepared by the Allies in the Balkans.

 

[Wings]

November 7th, 1943

Operation Span
Languedoc - The Americans continue to exploit their breakthrough. Thus, the CCA of the 1st Armored arrives in sight of Port la Nouvelle. In this sector, the infantrymen of the 344. ID are either crushed by naval artillery, overwhelmed by the armored assault or turned by the 4th Rangers, which takes more than 150 prisoners in its progression along the coast. The CCB takes the road to Lézignan, at the foot of the Fontfroide massif - but its progress is slowed down by the ambushes and traps that the panzergrenadiers have left behind, not to mention the 503 sPz Abt's Tigers, who do not lose an opportunity to ambush. However, the latter have become cautious: they only engage the Americans at 2,000 meters, which reduces their percentage of hits!
The slowing down of the Old Ironside allows the 3rd Armored but also the 2nd, well covered by the 18th Artillery Group, to catch up with it in the plain.
The return of the Hell on Wheels is allowed by the "technical" stall of the Feldhernhalle, which abandoned the surroundings of the cirque of Mourèze for the next line of defence just downstream from Lodève and Bédarieux. This movement allows the 32nd RCT (7th US-ID) to leave its reserve position to move in with the 53rd RCT (same division), which moves to the Faugères sector.
Towards the northern end of the American front, the pairing of the 157th RCT and the Tancrémont brigade advances to the next cut-off point, the La Baume river. Contrary to the previous compartment of terrain, the Montreal squeeze, dominated by the plateau of Gras Chauzon, is very favorable to the defender. Thus, facing the 205. Grenadier Rgt of the 165. ID, reinforced by the assault guns of the Abteilung 341, going through in force is problematic. It is thus decided to wait for the following day and the arrival of different supports.
During this time, the Chasseurs Ardennais and the 1st US-ID spend the day cleaning the hills up to the Rhône.

Operation Chambord
Provence - At daybreak, the 60th EB (Heavy) intervenes on Mount Agel. This bombardment disorganizes the German position to the point that the defenders do not see the threat to their rear. Indeed, the 3rd Shock and the 3rd RSM advance almost 5 kilometers and reach Peille. The grenadiers eventually send reinforcements into this sector to block the Col de la Madone de Gorbio, but the damage is done: the riflemen are now on the slopes of Mount Agel.

At high altitude
Hautes Alpes - After the failure of the previous day, the Italians try again to attack the Pelvoux refuge. This attack is in fact a cover for two other operations. From the west, the 1st Regiment sends two companies to the Jouffrey Valley.
The objective is to reach the Font Turbat refuge to attempt the passage to the Col Turbat, between the Olan and the aiguille d'Olan. The second movement is on the back of the Pelvoux; the goal is to pass by the black glacier between the pic Sans nom and the pic Coolidge peak to try to take the Sélé huts from above.
But the 15th BCA, with its high mountain companies, organized a watch on the summits. The Italian movements are spotted and the battalion first calls in the air force, then the artillery. This takes the form of a section of 160 mm mortars which arrive during the day at the Chapelle en Valgaudémar and the chalet of Gioberney, to support the men and the sections of machine guns sent to the highlands in an emergency.
Knowing that they have been spotted, machine-gunned twice by fighters and subjected to heavy artillery fire, the Italians give up their attempt at the end of the day. However, the Alpini maintained a presence in these valleys, waiting for the right opportunity.

Franco-German friendship... and interested
Cantonments of the 9 SS Panzer, near Lyon - Honoring his October promise, General Olléris, although he is, it seems, on leave, comes to lunch with General Bittrich. On this occasion, he wishes to honor his division, which is being reconstituted after its battles against the Russians and before those against the French and the Americans, by organizing a parade of the Honor Section of the Territorial Security Force of the New French State (the Germans did not fail to mock this French attempt to imitate the Germanic language by sowing their words with capital letters). The so-called Section d'Honneur is equipped with the most advanced French equipment or more exactly, the NEF equipment, that is to say, the best that was done in 1940. This is enough to convince General Bittrich and the German officials who were watching the show that sooner or later, these damn Frenchmen will eventually listen to reason in front of the superiority of the German Reich.
It is perhaps this breath of optimism that makes the SS neglect the curiosity of a De Lagarde, who does not miss a single model of German armor, or of a Temporal, whose eyes are always on the move and who always seems to be doing accounts.

 

[demolitiondan]

A big Stalin's speech is missing, if I am right

 

[John Farson]

November 5th, 1943

Tokyo - Stiff as a board, his moustache bristling, Prime Minister Hideki Tojo clears his throat before delivering the opening speech of the Greater East Asia Conference that he had long been calling for. Greater East Asia and its Co-Prosperity Sphere are formed around Japan, the territories conquered by the imperial armed forces and the countries to which the Empire had given back their freedom confiscated by the Western colonialists. In order to organize the development of these countries, Tojo had created the previous year a specific ministry, entrusted to Kazuo Aoki, who officially presides over the conference. The Japanese Prime Minister glances through one of the large windows of the conference room towards the morning sun that is beginning to rise in the sky and allows himself a naively satisfied thought: "Our Empire of the Rising Sun has never been so well named". The room falls silent.
...

As he descends the few steps, Hideki Tojo is thinking. Of China. Of Malaysia. Of American (and even Chinese, the fact was hidden to the people, but he does not ignore it) bombers who dared to bloody the cities of the Japanese archipelago. To the guerrillas in Indonesia, Indochina and the Philippines, which are all thorns in the imperial side. To the Navy and the Army which cannot get along. To the sad lackeys on whom Japanese diplomacy is obliged to rely on in order not to lose the fruits of the conquests of the past years. Does Hideki Tojo, Prime Minister of the Empire of Japan, fear for a moment that all this will not have a happy ending?

* Shigemitsu has replaced Masayuki, who had the crazy idea of trying at all costs and through all official and unofficial channels to get a separate peace signed between Germany and the USSR. Did he really think that an ally of Japan needed this kind of assistance to triumph over its enemies?
** This was the last official act of the prince. Indeed, the Thai Parliament decided a few days later to replace him in the Regency by Pridi Banomyong, a long-time pro-ally.
*** It is amusing to note that the language spoken at this international conference between the countries of Greater East Asia is English...
**** Or Autonomous Federation of Mongolia, not to be confused with Mongolia, a faithful ally of the USSR.

This whole passage describes the FFO "Greater East Asia Conference" as nothing more than a sad little farce, even more so than the OTL one, as Japan's lack of success in Burma has resulted in the absence of the "State of Burma" from this conference, and with the Japanese being nowhere near India and being driven futher away from there bit by bit, Bose and his movement are also little more than a joke. As for Chen Gongbo, after what happened to Wang, I imagine the poor bastard is living under constant fear of assassination, in addition to the constant, depressing awareness that he's nothing more than a political prop who can be replaced at a moment's notice... Of course, all the other "independent" participants at the conference bar Thailand are NEF-level puppet regimes that would crumble in 5 minutes without the Japanese military propping them up, and Thailand has just recently done a runner on Japan, even if everyone involved is too polite to say so publically (what Tojo et al. would be saying behind closed doors is another thing entirely...). And unlike Germany with Italy, Japan is too overstretched and engaged in Malaya and Indochina to do anything about it without weakening their own defensive lines.

I also like how Tojo, after buying into his own propaganda and hype, experiences a moment or two of clarity whereupon he understands how increasingly screwed Japan is in this whole mess. As for the Philippines and how the Japanese are only really in control of the coasts and the main cities, I imagine Mindanao to be the biggest such example, with the island being like Corsica in Asterix in Corsica writ large, with the Japanese only really holding the biggest cities and towns on the coast, while the interior is effectively Moro country, with said Moros being also augmented by several thousand 1941 US Marines and soldiers...

 

[demolitiondan]

Prince Demchugdongrub, the (theoretical) ruler of Mengchuko**** and zealous servant of the pan-Mongolian cause, should have come but cancelled at the last moment. It is said that the war against the Chinese servants of the Colonialists requires all the attention of the prince, anxious to preserve the ancestral glory of his Manchu dynasty, as well as the interests of his position as "prefect of the Right Bank" in the purest style of Imperial China... After all, was he not elevated to the dignity of Jinong of Wude by the emperor Pu-Yi himself?
In reality, the presence of this principal would have made Chen Gongbo lose face, because the Autonomous Federation of Mongolia is (theoretically) vassal of China.

I wrote a detailled stuff about him in Annex - this sentence, my first contribution.

 

[Wings]

A big Stalin's speech is missing, if I am right

Yes. Chose to skip it as it didn't really add anything.

 

[Wings]

November 8th, 1943

Mimoyecques - Second visit of the Allies, this time by the British of the 2nd Bomber Group, more indifferent to the atmospheric conditions, and attacking lower under the cloudy layer, coming out only at the last moment for the aiming. Only one B-25 of Sqn 226 is shot down (twelve other aircraft were damaged), for a poor result : the hill and its installations are solid, and would require heavier bombs. But for the moment we cannot clear the situation on the Argos side, whose members are overwhelmed by messages from the Resistance networks.

 

[Wings]

November 8th, 1943

Monaco - Lieutenant Colonel Paul de Viéville is a brilliant cavalry officer. Veteran of half a dozen campaigns, former instructor at Saint-Cyr (where, as a student, he had met Philippe de Hauteclocque, today general), he finished the first French Campaign as commander - albeit on an interim basis - of the 4th Cuirassiers when he was only a captain, for lack of valid officers of a higher rank! He has strong nerves since he was able to be liaison officer to General Patton from his arrival in NAF until the "affair of the slap". And today, it is "his" 6th RCA which has just taken...finally, to free Monaco!
However, this evening, he is disappointed. The day had its share of joyful celebrations with jubilant Monegasques, but he should have started to wonder when, having just reported to his hierarchy the capture and securing of the Rock, he had been announced that a certain "commandant Giraudet, from the Special Services" would arrive during the day to take care of "the political transition in the Principality". Viéville understands better why General Pelle was not opposed to the idea of the 6th RCA setting up its HQ in the luxurious Monaco. And that's how tonight, while we are fighting towards Menton, a few kilometres from there, he finds himself at the Princely Palace, with this "commandant Giraudet", the Minister of State Roblot (the equivalent of the Monegasque Prime Minister, but he is French), Prince Louis II himself, mayor Aureglia and French Consul Creyssel.
Creyssel is a former minister of Laval!
Viéville had been General Catroux's orderly for a year, at the beginning of the 1930s: he knows a lot about negotiations, b but this time he feels a bit overwhelmed. The reports that he received from the SR of the Army Corps presented Monaco as a principality whose sovereign had collaborated with the Enemy, Roblot as a known traitor and Creyssel as a former minister of Laval and former president of a collaborating political party. And here he is listening to Louis de Monaco present himself as more Gaullist than the General himself!
- My devoted Minister of State, Mr. Roblot, and I have long been proud to be at your side!" dares to affirm the prince without blushing.
Viéville imagines how his former instructor at the time of the promotion of the Remembrance at Saint-Cyr (none other than the President of the Council, Charles de Gaulle) would have reacted to this tirade of the Prince of Monaco. He smiles and, in his mind, escapes for a few seconds from this interminable meeting marking the return of France to Monaco. The presence of Creyssel is also surprising - and one even asked Viéville to ensure his protection! But the lieutenant-colonel, like a good soldier, carried out his orders. The coups d'éclat will be for the battlefields to come, not for the salons of Monaco.
.........
"Paul Creyssel, PSF deputy of the Loire since 1932 and minister of the NEF, had been named consul of France in Monaco by the Matignon regime. After Viéville's men had saved him from abduction and summary execution before New Year's Eve 1943, he asked to be arrested and to join the ranks of the imprisoned collaborators. Duly judged, he was sentenced to eight years in prison, twenty years of national indignity and life ineligibility for further political office for life. A lawyer, he ended his career at the Casablanca bar.
As for "commandant" Giraudet, it seems that he was a runaway priest or a monk. His name was known to the police in Metropolitan France, because he had kidnapped the wife and little girl of his landlord before going underground! The men of Viéville could see that he seemed to be more and more delighted with his talks at the Palace, while the Prince locked himself up more and more in his apartments. Fortunately for the lieutenant-colonel, the war resumed soon enough to free him and his men from their unusual missions on the Rock." (A. Tyler, La Tragi-Comédie monégasque, 1940-1945, Tallandier)