The second Strategic Team meeting was quite tense.
Despite the fact that it started quite calmly:
'Aurora' still couldn't find her way to the topic, even though she had spent the whole evening looking at the historical material.
Meanwhile, the 2 guys unanimously came to the conclusion that they liked the historical state enough that there was no point in committing forces to change it.
However, when it came to discussing how to conduct the campaign itself... war broke out in the room
Caveman insisted on a full-scale preemptive attack, while 'Nile' wanted to limit losses - shorten the front before the war eaven started... limit our losses as much as possible - combined with cutting off enemy troops on the "Oder" river line with the help of air power.
Both sides made complex arguments that were notoriously ignored by the other side.
'Aurore' was treated politely and kindly, but as she thought about it now, realistically, she was politely ignored.
Still, She was relatively satisfied; she learned a lot of things about which the fixed on narrative materials were silent.
Our allied bloc (France and England) did not betray us, although they were very reluctant to not do so.
Historicly they did what they could ....and could only do nothing.
'Aurora' remembered yesterday's conversation:
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"Would you please explain to me why the French are doing nothing for these magic 90 days?"
Encouraged, 'Nie'l began the lecture.
"Historically, the French are convinced that Hitler will attack them first.
Therefore, before the war actually starts, you can only count on symbolism (their own army is armed with the latest generation of equipment).
And after it starts, the best you can count on is to tie up some German troops.
Germany ahead of France in mobilization
In August, when Germany was ready to attack Poland, France had only 6 divisions on the border (another 22 in the process of mobilization).
At the beginning of the conflict there were 11 French and 21 German divisions on the border, and this advantage lasted until the end of the September campaign.
Even in the event of a protracted conflict, the French would not take part in the fighting before the arrival of British troops, who mobilized even more slowly - hence the value of 90 days.
The only thing we can count on is to draw some of the German forces away from our front, and that is under great question.
Maybe the creation of some supply lines through neutral countries, but in my opinion these are dreams - it is better to think that we are fighting alone."
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Fighting alone seemed impossible.
Aggression of 2 neighbors, each stronger than us. Each enemy has more than 2 million soldiers and is capable of putting another 2 into action - our total force is less than a million.
Aviation ... Poland has 800 planes, generation behind - historically, the Germans had about 2.5k planes - the Soviets 3.3k (Soviet planes, were however technically equivalent to Polish)
Artillery is 1:4 to our disadvantage.
Tanks? 200 and 700 tankettes ....hahahah
1:14 against the Germans and 1:20 against the Soviets
And these two lunatics ... as if they knew nothing about it.
They were supposedly talking about this conflict, but you could see that they were more worried about something else.
but they wouldn't say what, even when asked directly.
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They were just beginning their 3rd meeting and both sides of the conflict began by declaring their desire to avoid another fight.
The official part of the meeting started with 'Neil'
"I propose that we assume the following scenario:
At 39 we have little influence on politics and everything is historical.
We have little influence on the selected commanders, and let's say we directly command the selected 2 divisions.
As far as aviation is concerned - we can expect no support.
We certainly have no chance to cut off the troops by air alone, he only promised us that the Germans will not get the skies exclusively for at least a month.
With these assumptions, let's consider what will happen - if we succeed, great, if not, we'll consider the variants with higher control".
The caveman materialized the map and spread it out on the table - the use of the build-in display was obviously too complicated for him....
Nil began to arrange tokens with the immortal NATO markings.
Four crosses above the square - armies.
Blue - that means ours.
7-he arranged along the border.
4-Inland had one corner trimmed with a line, which meant that these units were still mobilizing.
At the same time, the caveman placed red tokens - signifying the German armies - there were only 5 of them. 2 of them in the north, separated by a patch of the Polish coast, and 3 in the south, with a clear gap where the border bulged most towards Germany - the 'Aurora' was not used to operating on this scale - she did not have to be to see 2 pairs of pincers:
large closing from north and south biting into the country and closing this bulge with 1/5 of the total territory of the country.
Small, crushing one of the Polish armies and connecting the German enclave to the rest of the country.
this view told her far more than the movies and articles she had seen. this view gave meaning to yesterday's discussion - the strategic picture was more terrible than the sheer numbers - defending in the positions visible on the map was doomed to a quick and tragic end - there were two ways out of this situation:
1. roll back to salvage what you could from this quagmire
2. prevent the enemy from executing this strategy.
Nile' played with a token of a unit that was in a small pincer.
"Pomeranian Army, Pomeranian Army..
It would be necessary to withdraw it to the south, preferably before the war begins".
He moved his finger over the map until he came to a large river, on whose line he found a town.
"Retreat to Grudziadz."
'Aurora' counted in his head: 3...2...1.
"I disagree!"
sounded the voice of the caveman.
"It is necessary to maintain the corridor, otherwise we will lose the navy and any contact with the world!- Without this corridor we will not be able to attack East Prussia in any way!"
"man... ok...let's have a look at your East Prussia."
'Nile' said with a resigned voice and grabbed the left token.
"Modlin Army:
is 2 infantry divisions, cavalry brigade, ON brigade and bunker crews.
in the best case after a change of command at the level of the division
Can last up to a week ".
'Nile' raised right token
" Narew Army:
is 2 infantry divisions, 2 cavalry brigades + bunker crews".
At this point you cannot count on a week, too much terrain, too few men... unless we pull them back to the river line".
'Nile' sighed.
"Assuming that you are magically able to stop the German 4th Army that will be pounding at you...let it be that you are God and the Pomeranian Army along with 2 divisions will destroy it, then what will happen?"
Nile took the 4th army counter off the board.
"After 7 days max..the Prussian 3rd army will break out to our Rear."
2 mentioned Polish armies disappeared from the board.
'Army "Pomerania" will run out of ammunition ....
and the whole south will collapse."
the 'Nile' moved 2 German armies, closing the big pincer
"Pomeranian army does not matter, even if itmiraculously wins."