Part 118: Hearts of Iron II: Chapter 16 - Into the Balkans: Mar - Jun 1940

March 1940 - June 1940: Into the Balkans

March starts with an order from High Command to issue brand new submachine guns and semi-automatic rifles to all infantry divisions after fighting against superior Union divisions proved the effectiveness of these weapons.


The snow and rain begins to clear up in mid-March and a general advance is ordered. German troops push into Romania and Serbia, succeeding in taking some provinces and being pushed back in others.



Reinforcements arrive in Don-Volga to help hold the line against the Union push up towards Crimea.


Pecs falls into Austrian hands after bitter fighting as Union-occupied Hungary is liberated piece by piece.


Battles erupt in Szeged and Debrechen as German troops advance into the provinces and are thrown back by Union counter-attacks time and again.


The new equipment ordered in March finally begins to arrive in the Balkans in April and is put to good use.


Szeged and Debrechen are taken once more and an attack towards Novi Sad ordered to secure the German flank and prevent another counter-attack. The attack succeeds and the Union forces retreat.



Meanwhile, the weather continues to be dismal in France, stalling the planned offensives.


Things have taken a desperate turn in Africa as Ljansitar has pushed back the defenders of Kongo to the capital of Cabinda. After a desperate fight, the capital falls and with it, all of German Kongo.



More ill news from Africa arrive in May as Waldemar learns that the Arabs have taken Suez, wiping out most of the Egyptian divisions in the area in the process. Cairo stands wide open.


A Lombard expeditionary force is quickly mustered and sent to Egypt to push back the Arabs and retake Suez.


The slow push in the Balkans continues. The Union appears to have mobilized its reserves on this front and progress is slow and fraught with setbacks, but nonetheless all formely Austrian territory has been retaken, and Sarajevo and Belgrade are within striking distance.


The Scandinavians, meanwhile, continue their penchant for incomprehensible naval operations by taking Diego Garcia Island in the Indian Ocean and Vanua Levu in the Pacific.



Things are static in France, but the weather has cleared up at last, and combat operations are finally planned for June 2nd.


The Union seems to be fighting delaying tactics in the Balkans, allowing Germany to take a province only to counterattack and retake it. Nonetheless, real progress is being made and Serbia-Croatia is expected to be in Austrian hands before autumn.


Meanwhile, Romania is crawling with communist troops, the Union clearly having recognized the threat against their capital and reacted accordingly. Little progress can be expected on this front as the priority is instead to hold on to what has already been taken.


The Caucasus front is a mess, and more troops are urgently needed if the Union is to be kept from annexing Don-Volga and Crimea.


The situation in Africa is a mess. Kongo is gone, Friland is collapsing and Egypt is overextended. Urgent action is needed to prevent the League and Comintern from completely taking over the continent.


In Asia, the Japanese have taken a bridgehead in South Korea and are now attacking the country from two fronts - it is unlikely that Korea can hold out much longer.


Finally, the war in America is going from bad to worse. America is on the retreat and unless they can rally, Mazula will be standing in Boston before long.