Storm Clouds Gathering: Poland, September 1939-April 1940

Civil Wars continue to rage around Poland, but our industry is now strong enough to allow us to pad out our divisions with more and better equipment

Our new artillery pieces, specialised for anti-tank combat, are finalised and ready for production. also notable are the significant equipment surpluses, which include the fact that the entire Polish Army has now had its artillery upgraded to the larger 100mm Haubica weapons

Upgrades are immediately thought of and funds are appropriated for their design. Polands equipment must be as good as possible!

Only a couple of days after new support weapons are designed

A licensed version of the famous American Browning Automatic Rifle the weapon was chosen for both the military qualities of the weapon and the political convience that none of Polands neighbours would benefit financially from its adaptation

In its place a new project that promises a pwerful 'computing machine' is put forward. No-one quite understands it but it promises extremely promising returns so its funded

In the light of our new anti-tank guns an dour artillery surplus we make preparations to more and different heavier weapons to our Divisions. This will empty our warehouses of weapons, but we're confident we can create enough replacements. The military is also concerned at drawing to many men into the army and away from the recruit pools for future divisions

As Bagha falls, Kurdistan continues to hold and the Iranians make strong moves into Anatolia. Is the stumbling Ottoman empire finally on its last legs?

Casualties are high for the attackers, but that matters little when the Ottomans continue to fail to quell their advances

Iranian forces where well equipped and well trained. They proved a serious foe for the Ottomans on their retreat through Anatolia

In the North, the Russians take Kazan! What was once seen as an impossibility for the inexperienced Red Army is now a reality!

In response to the new focus on artillery, new producers are contracted to make the weapons as effective as possible. Initial results show an increased focus on quality over quantity, something perfectly acceptable to the Military

Just in time to make up the deficit new production tools are sent to factories across the nation. Visible here is evidence of the large amount of equipment that needs to be upgraded or even just produced before the army is at full effectiveness

We plan to bring in new factory layouts to improve productivity as well

In the Balkans the Austrians continue to smash their armies against the Serbian defences.

Casualties continue mounting. Far too many homes in the Empire now have empty chairs at their dinner tables

The airforce is ecstatic at the development of a new aeronautical school in Lodz

A specialised fighter school is in the planning stages to work alongside the air school

The New Orleans pocket is relieved, but the overall strategic situation remains fragile for the Union State

Our first Armoured Cavalry Division is in the field!

The 7tp is a tremendous advance on the Weltkrieg era tanks operated by the Galicians. However it remains something of a novelty with an ill defined place in the artillery dominated Polish Army

The 7TP may be good, but should they be captured and turned on our forces the now have the capability to deal with them!

With the introduction of the tanks an effort is made to greater integrate them into our defensive strategies should war come. The idea of having the tanks as a mobile reserve to stop enemy breakthroughs intrigues even the most stubborn generals

A Polish newspaper speculates that the US civil war cannot continue for much longer. Despite Union dominance on the East Coast, they're so heavily outnumbered and have taken far more casualties than the Federal Government that the situation is near untenable for the rebels

In Asia the Japanese continue to embarrass themselves against the states of Central Asia

New excvation technologies are avaliable!

The Galician oil fields are becoming increasingly seen as a vital strategic asset. Our oil-hungry new armoured formations have seen to that

In its place a new tactical bomber is to be designed

Our Armoured forces are to be updated to include significant motorised formations so that they may be more self sufficient and less reliant on the infantry of other divisions

As a new fighter school is opened in Lodz Polish diplomats in Vienna make a report on the impact the Serbian war is having in Austria. Despite the high casualties its estimated that only light conscription is being enforced by the young emperor

We turn to opening a new aeronautical school in Lwow as our next project

Despite the Serbian war Austrian troops remain in the Carpathians. They look across to empty guard posts, most of our army is waiting for an attack from any possible direction

The new equipment in the army also requires some retraining take place. We can take no chances with the quality of our forces!

The South African Civil war comes to an end with the Boer aligned faction taking control

In Syria the Kurds and the Iranians have nearly cut off the Arabian parts of the Ottoman Empire from Anatolia. If it can be completed it'd be a major victory

Japan declares war on Hawaii. Whilst most people expected a quick war, the reality was quite the opposite

Our work on Mobile defence is complete!

The US Federal Government has taken most of the interior of Mississippi leaving only what has become known as 'Longs Balcony'. In the North the line along the Tennessee River is the only natural barrier between Federal Forces and Atlanta.

In Russia the new Government falls back onto Arkhangelsk with the Reds following them every step of the way. With the Spring coming soon to thaw the subarctic conditions, how long can the Whites hold out?

Our new school is completed. Our next project is a specialised Close Air Support School

The US advance on Birmingham sees them cross the Tennessee River. The Union State might be about to lose their last major urban centre before Atlanta

A minister publishes an opinion article decrying the military centric status of Government Investment. Its a democracy, so of course he is allowed

...its not like he could challenge our dominance anyway

but to help negate his complaints a massive new series of industrial areas are laid out, along with new refineries for synthetic oil

Research is completed on our new industrial layouts

New funds are allocated for the design of a wholly new anti-tank gun. No tank will be safe from our infantry!

Days later the completed designs for a modified 7TP, capable of carrying a light artillery piece in place of a turret are brought before the Ministry of Defence.

They ecstatically rearrange the Order of Battle for an Armoured Division to include it

Most of our new research now focuses on decryption and encryption. Being able to correctly know what our neighbours are planning will be a huge boon to our defensive planning

to take advantage of this we've reallocated some of our industrial capacity away from conventional artillery pieces towards infantry equipment and anti-tank guns

April turns into May, and US Federal troops make quick work of Rebel defences in the south. The Momentum is with them in their fight

In Russia the Syndicalists seem to be on the Brink of Final victory, sitting at the door to the White Government in the far north

But despite the Momentum elsewhere the Austrians remain locked in a brutal, bitter struggle against the Serbs.

But for all of this Poland's development remains fast and strong. Will the rising global tensions change this? only the future can tell