Maantie on Kova Kävellä: A Finland Hoi3 AAR Part 9

Maantie on Kova Kävellä: A Finland Hoi3 AAR Part 9
Hello and welcome back to Maantie on Kova Kävellä. In the last part, London has fallen but supplies and manpower continue to plague the Finnish Army.

In Britain, the German forces continue to push northwards. Home Guard Forces and Untested British recruits are easily swept aside by the German war machine.

In late June Rommel, the commander of the German invasion forces, lands in Dover. He is eager to visit the Front but first, goes on a highly publicized trip all over England.

Rommel stops in field hospitals to greet the wounded and makes his way to London for sightseeing, just as Hitler did in Paris a year before. He also meets with his top generals to make small adjustments to the battle plans and assess the conditions of British prisoners.

On the Finnish front, all is quiet as we consolidate our positions and send reserves north where they are gravely needed.

Our men are used to the "Stop and Go" tactics Mannerheim has employed to ensure we do not overstretch ourselves.

On the 30th of June, Hitler declares war on the Soviet Union. This comes after months of pleading from President Salmiala and his cabinet. The Fuhrer gives in but promises no major offensives until Operation Sea Lion is finished.

Along the German-Soviet border is a series of German fortifications called the "Ostwall". These positions are heavily manned by hundreds of thousands of men, guaranteeing that the Soviets cannot push into German land.

Italy is called into the war and promised all of British North Africa when the war is finished. Mussolini is glad to have earned a place at the peace conference.

News of London's fall finally reaches the Finnish troops at the front. Along with this, we hear of the German declaration of war. These two things greatly increase morale and our men are eager to attack the Reds.

A small flanking maneuver is planned to encircle Arkhangelsk. 5 divisions will be involved in the taking of the city.

The first obstacle is dislodging the Soviets in Bol'Shaya Tovra. A victory here leaves the path to Arkhangelsk almost undefended.

German loaned Anti-tank guns work very well against entrenched Soviets. High Explosive rounds can clear trenches for our brave infantry.

The Soviets break and the advance begins.

We cross the Northern Dvina River for the first time as the Soviet divisions in the south do nothing to stop our advances.

German and Finnish engineers work around the clock to construct three bridges over the Northern Dvina River. We are careful not to make them too strong in the event of a Soviet counterattack.

The Soviets in Arkhangelsk try a desperate counter attack against their soon to be captors. Reinforcements from the south will be sent to hold the Soviets in place.

We win and instantly launch our attack on the tired Russian troops. This attack was not supposed to occur for another week but the Generals see the opportunity and take it.

The Soviets are outnumbered almost 5 to 1 by our men. Our German loaned bombers begin to run devastating sorties on the city.

Over half the city has been destroyed in just the few days of fighting. The rubble makes excellent defenses for the Soviets and hand to hand fighting throughout the city is common.

The city falls on the 31st as the last of the Soviet 140th Division surrenders. We lost over 1,300 men but have taken 16,000 prisoners.

The Finnish flag is raised over Arkhangelsk!

In Britain, a Panzer Division takes Edinburgh and encircles a large portion of the British Army.

120,000 British soldiers under General Sir C. J. Mackenzie surrender to the Germans.

This is the largest single surrender in human history, as German morale reaches an all time high. It is estimated that only one-third of the British Army remains in Britain, with the rest either killed, captured or evacuated.

The northern lines begin to consolidate and dig in. It appears the Soviets are also stretched thin on this front.

Finland in August, 1941.

A small advance is planned to take place under General von Randow. He outnumbers the Soviet divisions 2 to 1 and should easily sweep them aside.

Our men are hardened veterans of the Axis and much better equipped than their Soviet foes.

The Ostwall remains in place as neither side wishes to make the first attack.

In some provinces the Germans are outnumbered 3 to 1 but the Germans are immensely superior to the Soviet troops.

The Soviets launch a few probing attacks on the German fortifications but find them to be almost unconquerable.

Von Randow's advance goes off smoothly, while in the North we are driven back by the Soviets.

We collapse part of the northern flank and will put Arkhangelsk on the front lines. The urban defenses are perfect for our men.

Soviet T-34s threaten to break our lines, but a diversionary attack is launched to slow them down.

We drive the Soviet armor behind the Dvina River.

With these positions the Soviets will never drive us out!

The rest of Scotland is taken by the Germans and 3 corps are sent to occupy Northern Ireland.

An ultimatum is issued to the Irish Free State. Either allow the National Socialists to seize power or face invasion by the Reich. The Irish refuse and the Germans invade.

The Irish Army is small and can easily be destroyed by just a few German divisions.

The front is quiet once again.

The Irish surrender in just 13 days after the SS march into Cork. Another country is added to the Axis.

The Italians and Bulgarians launch a joint invasion of Greece. Taking Greece would take put us one step closer to fully controlling the Mediterranean.

The Greeks fight like heroes but lose Athens and relocate their government to the island of Crete. Another country has fallen victim to the Axis.

Our German bought Messerschmitts are finally finished. We will now take to the skies to combat the Soviets!

The skies over Finland will be purged of the Russians.

Keiner's forces who have finally recuperated launch an attack to push up to the Dvina.

Slowly but surely, the Finnish advance continues!

November 2nd, 1941. Japanese fighters and torpedo bombers fly off their aircraft carriers and attack the U.S. Pacific Fleet stationed in Pearl Harbor.

Over 2,000 American servicemen perish in the attacks and FDR declares war on all of the Axis. A sleeping giant has been awoken. Finland has a new enemy. Hakkaa Päälle!