Vlasov's War in the East

General Vlasov was now the commander of the New Imperial Russian Army. While the allies were withdrawing they had allowed hin to recruit and train an army. However, the new Imperial Russian Army had only 6 combat trained divisions. these troops had fought as a unit against the communist. There were also another 6-9 divisions that had had some experience in fighting the communist but many more had at one time served in the Red army or were recruits to the new army.

Vlasov was running out of time the old Red Army units that had fought the Japanese were beginning to fall apart now that word od the collapse of the communist government and the Death of Stalin had reached them. He had to send some of his regulars to the East and now that the Allied Commission had granted its approval he would quickly move to recruit the 16 divisions that were needed in the east to maintain order and to roll the Japanese back.

Luckily he had the new weapons that were going to go to the Red Army to equip his new Imperiial Russian Army. That meant some of the new T-34 tanks. He was going to need luck and time to train his army to retake the lands lost to the Japanese.
 
Not weird just what is happening in the Far East now that the war with Russia is over. Russia now has to deal with the Japanese and try to regain lost territory.
 
The Arrival of reinforcements from the west improved the morale of the Far Eastern Army as did the rounding up of the commissars. A new commanding officer General Pavel Chekhov had served as an officer in the Russian Liberation army and had been a divisional and latter corp commander.

General Chekhov began to reorganize the forces disbanding 2 of the far Eastern Rifle divisions so as to bring the remaining 4 to full strength. He had brought with him 2 new tank divisions, 8 Rifle divisions and 2 cavalry divisions plus replacement equipment. Newer planes arrived. He listen to those who had fought the Japanese to get a feel for his opponent . But already he set to work on plans to take back a lot of what the Japanese had seized.
 
The commanding general in the Far East felt that it was too late in the season to launch a geral offensive against the Japanese. But he would not let them rest and dig in. Instead he launched a series of probing attacks closer to the Manchurian border and into Mongolia. He also made contact with the government of Nationalist China so as to create more pressure on the Japanese and to tie up their reserves. The Russian promised the Nationalist more arms and aid.

The Russians attacks did get the Jpanese attention. They in turn complained to the British that the Western Europeans were selling them out now that they had gotten what they had wanted. War is hell.

General Vlasov sent word that he wanted preparations for a massive offensive in the Spring of 1941 in the Far East. He would send more forces to the Far East but he wanted the Japanese out of Siberia and Vladivostok
back in Russian hands.
 
I wonder what the western powers will do? They might be more sympathetic to new Russia and China now, especially USA. I do not believe in a military intervention, but some economical pressure is possible, especially from Wahington - public opinion would love small American-Russian tsar, especially after his farher's death. Also, Britain and France might be a tiny bit worried about Japan expansion. OTOH if Japan and Russia keep each other occupied and exhausted... Paris and London might be quite happy with that. They can offer some discrete help to Russians - supplies, adivors, something like that. Not arms though - they didn't defeat Russian bear to arm it again.
 
Ah, you have discovered why the allies would allow the Imperial Russian Army to rebuild its might in the Far East. The French are fearful that japan may eventually turn its eyes to Indochina and the British are far from certain that Japan is a friend that they can trust. FDR has never liked the Japanese attempts to control China and the young Czar's connection to America has called for the US to take an ongoing look into the boys welfare.

As always comments and suggestions are welcome.
 
General Vlasov began to send futher reinforcements to the Far East as well as more replacements. It was too late in the year to launch a major offensive as winter came early to Siberia but the build up must continue for the Spring 1941 offensive.

While there were clashes between the two countries forces the Japanese had little idea as to what was going on. Russian forces in the Far East had now grown to 3 tank divisions, 6 tank Brigades, 16 Rifle Divisions, 6 Rifle Brigades, 4 artillery Brigades and 3 Cavalry Divisions. Air power also built up from 3 fighter Regiments to 9 as well as the arrival of attack aircraft and bombers.

The Russians were going to put an all out effort to crushing the Japanese.
 
As Spring came to the Far East a lot of Europe's attention was focused on the Current war in Yugoslavia and it appeared that it was about to expand as Bulgaria declared War on Yugoslavia and moved to invade Macedonia. This of Course bought in the Greeks. Bu what concerns us is what is happening in the Far east.

The Russian Military Commander appears to have been given a free hand by the allied Commission and the Imperial Russian Parialment to wage war against Japan.

Russian Forces in the Far East had now grown tremendously . The Far Eastern Command now had 4 tank divisions, 9 tank brigades, 16 Rifle Divisions, 4 cavalry divisions, 2 artillery divisons, 2 AA Divisions and nearly 1200 combat aircraft. Already the Japanese had begun to feel the presure as Russian forces pushed into Mongolia and into the Eastern Parts of Siberia. The Japanese tanks were no match for the newer T-34 tanks that were in 3 of the Tank divisions and event the BT-7 were more than a match. The Japanese Navy had the new Zero fighter plane and the Japanese Army Air Force was also beginning to receive it. And so the opening skirmishes began.
 
March 15th Russian forces continued to build up. Russian and Mongolian forces had begun to push the Japanese out of the country. In aerial combat the Russians and Japan were now constantly clashing. The Russians were slightly better off than in OTL as more of them, at least the ones that had survived, had gained combat experience flying against the western allies.

Vlasov was going to take a bid risk and send all of the best equipped armored divisions to the east. The Japanese had nothing that he could see to match the T-34.
 
General Chekhov's forces in the Far East now started to engage the Japanese. He had Under His Command 1 Tank Army, 4 Armies(Rifle), 1 Cavalry.. The Tank army and Cavalry Army together with 2 of the Infantry armies had struck western Manchuria. The Japanese were in shock at the Russian attack. Even more so when Russian Forces moved into the Pacific Maritime Province heading for Vladivostok . Atleast 5 tank Brigades were supporting the attack as well as an artillery division.

More Russian forces were heading east.
 
The Russian Tank Brigades had helped to spear head the Russian thrust to recapture the "Window on the Pacific". Most of these Brigades were equipped with the BT-7 or the newer T-60 tanks but there was 1 Brigade that had been given the T-34. Fighting was fierce and as they got closer they came under air attack by the Japanese and then had to face Japanese naval gunfire. The Russians were bringing their own heavy guns but these were the more mobile 203mm guns, which were nothing compared to the Japanese Battle ships guns of 14-16".
 
Forces were fighting their way into Russia's Window on the Pacific. There were constant clashes between the Japanese and Russian Forces. One building changed hands five times in one day as the Russians took it only to lose it to a Japanese counter-attack before they retook it and the lost it again. In a final Russian counter attack the Russians took the building as well as the ruins of several other. Two BT-7 were destroyed by Japanese AT gunfire but then a T-34 blew away the AT Gun.

The Battleship ISE engaged a Russian 203mm Gun battery and silenced it. The Russians however had scored some hits on the Japanese ship forcing it to withdraw for repairs when a float plan was hit before it could take off.
 
The Russians were conducting a full press on the Japanese. The Japanese in turn were attempting to damage the Trans-Siberian Railroad. The Russians had as a result put nearly 24,000 troops to work constantly repairing damage to it from Japanese bombing and suicide attacks.

The Russian T-34 was capable of taking out anything that the Japanese might have.
 
The Russian Imperial Ensign once again fly over the city of Vladovostok. It had been a bloody battle but the Russians now controled a city that many eperts would consider worthless an nealy 80% of it had either been destroyed or havily damaged. The Russians had forced the Japanese ground forces to withdraw to help defend Manchuria.

This had encouraged the Nationalist Chinese to also mount some attacks on the Japanese, who had weakened their forces in China to protect Manchuria. Some in the Japanese government urged an opening of Peace talks to restore tha balnce.
 
A cease fire has been ordered in the Far East as Japan and Russia are now entering into peace talks in Switzerland. The Russian government had put the brakes on continuing the war due to the cost and the continued need to rebuild the country.

It is expected that there will be promotions for the commander of the forces in the Far East and General Vlasov has now be promoted to Marshal.
 
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