I have started working on a TL in which Sweden becomes a belligerent in the Winter War.
I read somewhere that the Swedish commander of the northern army group had planned to move into Finland and take positions on Finnish soil, if the northern front seemed to collapse. But the government found out and forbade him from moving without express orders to do so.
I intended to use this as a POD, but I don't know if this was based on facts, or just speculations?
Anyone heard anything about this?
And if anyone is interested, the basic premise of the timeline;
Mayor-General Douglas, seeing the early collapse of the Salla front in December 1939, sends a quick message to HQ, and moves into Finland without waiting for confirmation. The Finns greet them warmly.
Before HQ is scrambled (possible the timely absence of the chief of staff among others) and the government made aware small units are already in Finland. The order to stop comes to late to stop the leading elements engaging the Soviets and as OTL they are pushed back.
The War is Immensely popular in the press. (Swedish victories, brother Finns, ancient Russian enemies and the communist threat etc.). And the order to pull back is not.
The Finns feels betrayed and the Soviets are angry. A quick raid on Swedish shipping is launched by the Soviet Baltic fleet before the ice makes it impossible.
Suddenly there is a popular demand for War. And the government has little choice but to become officially belligerent (no DOW is needed as Sweden is non-belligerent not neutral.)
They soon find that the Swedish army is in no state to fight at home, never mind across the Baltic. Almost all supplies are already earmarked for Finland so only a partial mobilization can be ordered.
The War goes pretty much as in OTL, with only small changes, the increased manpower and supplies are countered by the unwillingness of parts of the Swedish government to fight and increased Soviet forces.
In early spring when the allies starts pressuring for military access and the like and the Soviets launch their March offensive, the Swedish government (as in OTL) starts pressuring for peace. Equally unwilling to draw Scandinavia into a new Great War the Finnish government goes for it as well.
The Peace looks roughly the same as in OTL (Stalin doesn't want the allies in the game any more than anyone else) with only economic reparations being the cost for Sweden.
As War breaks out in Europe it looks pretty OTL except that the Swedes now have an stabbed-in-the-back myth much like the one in Germany, and the population are in uproar, blaming everything on the sitting government.
As the rest of the TL goes it looks slightly Sweden-wanky, with the Royals being star players, at least propaganda wise.
Does anyone have any thoughts about it in general? If I can get the POD to work that is?
I read somewhere that the Swedish commander of the northern army group had planned to move into Finland and take positions on Finnish soil, if the northern front seemed to collapse. But the government found out and forbade him from moving without express orders to do so.
I intended to use this as a POD, but I don't know if this was based on facts, or just speculations?
Anyone heard anything about this?
And if anyone is interested, the basic premise of the timeline;
Mayor-General Douglas, seeing the early collapse of the Salla front in December 1939, sends a quick message to HQ, and moves into Finland without waiting for confirmation. The Finns greet them warmly.
Before HQ is scrambled (possible the timely absence of the chief of staff among others) and the government made aware small units are already in Finland. The order to stop comes to late to stop the leading elements engaging the Soviets and as OTL they are pushed back.
The War is Immensely popular in the press. (Swedish victories, brother Finns, ancient Russian enemies and the communist threat etc.). And the order to pull back is not.
The Finns feels betrayed and the Soviets are angry. A quick raid on Swedish shipping is launched by the Soviet Baltic fleet before the ice makes it impossible.
Suddenly there is a popular demand for War. And the government has little choice but to become officially belligerent (no DOW is needed as Sweden is non-belligerent not neutral.)
They soon find that the Swedish army is in no state to fight at home, never mind across the Baltic. Almost all supplies are already earmarked for Finland so only a partial mobilization can be ordered.
The War goes pretty much as in OTL, with only small changes, the increased manpower and supplies are countered by the unwillingness of parts of the Swedish government to fight and increased Soviet forces.
In early spring when the allies starts pressuring for military access and the like and the Soviets launch their March offensive, the Swedish government (as in OTL) starts pressuring for peace. Equally unwilling to draw Scandinavia into a new Great War the Finnish government goes for it as well.
The Peace looks roughly the same as in OTL (Stalin doesn't want the allies in the game any more than anyone else) with only economic reparations being the cost for Sweden.
As War breaks out in Europe it looks pretty OTL except that the Swedes now have an stabbed-in-the-back myth much like the one in Germany, and the population are in uproar, blaming everything on the sitting government.
As the rest of the TL goes it looks slightly Sweden-wanky, with the Royals being star players, at least propaganda wise.
Does anyone have any thoughts about it in general? If I can get the POD to work that is?