Technical and Military Notes
Luftstreitkrafte
The Imperial German Army Air Service has seen constant development. At first this might not be immediately obvious since the decade of the 1920s saw little direct German action. However, in support of her White Russian allies, at first against the Bolsheviks, then in Central Asia and latterly in the Siberian war against the FER and the Japanese, the German aviation industry has remained at the technological cutting edge.
The qualitative development has been matched over the last couple of years with a quantative development as the German Empire became drawn directly into war in the Far East. In terms of innovation and flexibility, the Luftstreitkrafte is the most advanced of the German armed services, and this has allowed it to deploy as required to other theatres in a largely successful fashion.
The manufacturers from the Great War remain largely dominant in the provision of aircraft for the Empire, successive governments having spread contracts around according to niche expertise and novel developments, as well as to proven abilities to mass produce.
Thus the names of Zeppelin-Staaken and Gotha can be found amongst the long-distance bombers, those of Halberstadt, Albatross and Fokker amongst the fighters, with Junkers, DFW, BFW, Dornier, Siemens-Schuckert &c spread amongst all varieties.
Long-distance bombers, paratroop-carrying transports and close-attack fighters are all playing a prominent role in the early months of the Second World War
British Tanks
Although the Lloyd George government of the mid 1920s did not take up the production of the Vickers heavy tank it did award repeated development contracts to the company, and by the 1929 election a new prototype was on show. This was the vehicle blown up by a bridge bomb during the tumultuous election campaign, and was the basis for the order of 30 which followed immediately afterwards.
100 of these heavy tanks are now deployed in France, and won their spurs at the Battle of Rennes, helping to defeat the German armies. However, as the Germans did in around Le Mans, there has been little chance for them to repeat these achievements
Canada
The Canadian armaments industry has remained strong and separate from that of the mother country since the end of the Great War. As part of the policy of pursuing an independent dominion policy, Canada has continued to equip its forces with ships built in its own yards (other than the battleship which was ordered from the United States), vehicles built in its own factories, and guns and aircraft developed independently by its own designers.
The Canadian Expeditionary Force thus arrived in England as a fully-equipped and unique entity, equipped with Canadian-built medium tanks, and with squadrons of the Royal Canadian Air Force flying aircraft of a design different from any Bitish squadron. The tanks proved their worth in the advance out of the Seine estuary bridgeheads, but proved unable to take Rouen before sufficient Orleanist defenders could be brought up. The RCAF won its spurs in knocking down the aircraft of the German Pas de Calais squadrons, and in keeping the bridghead secure. However, it has proven less effective against German ground forces, and was unable to prevent the fall of Caen.
The German Navy
This force currently lacks strategic direction, having no forceful figure such as Tirpitz to direct its policy. One of its most senior admirals, Raeder, was chosen to command the expeditionary force to the Far East, and though his actions as plenipotentiary in Australia have been very effective, his force is too small and too isolated to achieve much in the overall scheme of things. Its victory at the Battle of the Coral Sea was hard-won and expensive, and the remaining vessels too small a fighting force to take on either of the British or Japanese forces closing in on it. Thus, he has detached those cruisers capable of operating on their own, and retired from immediate confrontation to keep what remains of his force intact for as long as possible
There are many in the German Empire who wish that Raeder had taken a stronger force with him, but at the time of his dispatch the Admiralty were keen to avoid any repeat of TsuShima. Raeder was to try to impede Japanese moves in the North Pacific if he arrived in time, or he was to avoid battle altogether. There were concerns that had he been supplied with a significant battle line the temptation to take on the Japanese would have been overwhelming and the consequences potentially disastrous
As it is, though, Raeder's force is the German Empire's only active surface force so far in the war. Many observers look at the High Seas Fleet sitting at anchor and wish that some of it at least could be sent to aid the valianet admiral down under. Much better use of the warships could be made if they were somewhere where their numbers and their strength might actually count for something.
Despite having numerical, and possibly qualitative, parity with the RN Home Fleet at the start of the war, the High Seas Fleet has remained inactive. Its commanders have a defensive attitude, and view the strategic situation as having so far proved them right - there has been no British descent on the Bight, no British attempt to enter the Baltic, no British seaborne aerial raids against the North Sea coast. However, this recital of null victories is hardly the sort of thing to inspire the German press or the German people, and there is a rising chorus of criticism of the navy's inaction.
Only the submarine wing of the navy has had any successes in home waters, sinking a score or so of British auxiliaries, and the old battleships Centurion and Ajax. However, the u-boats are not being used strategically, the government and the Admiralty having no wish to risk provoking neutral nations by a repeat of unrestricted submarine warfare.
This complacency is the result of Germany's hegemonic position within Europe for the last dozen years. Its leaders did not feel threatened by Britain, especially with Orleanist France as an ally, and with the High Seas Fleet deemed sufficient to prevent any British aggression against Germany directly. However, British actions on the high seas are now beginning to severely impact German trade, and the affected companies are leading the calls for something to be done.
As with the army's shake-up after the reverses of high Summer, it is felt by many that the time is right to shake out the dead wood and reinvigorate the service with a new generation who have the vision of what to do in current conditions. However, unlike the army or the airforce, there are no such people of proven abilities from actions on other fronts. If the navy is to have a clean sweep of its commanders it would be bringing in untried and untested men, and hence the hesitation in high places to act too precipitatiously.
Best Regards
Grey Wolf
