Elections and other things. Poland: January 1941-July 1941

The last time we where here the war in the Balkans was continuing unabated and US forces where starting to push east in America. Will this continue long? Welcome back to my Poland AAR!

1941 is here! The new year celebrations in Poland are widespread and joyful.

The past year has been rather uneventful at home, with slow but steady development in every area being the norm. Most Poles are more than content with this arrangement

The first major development of the new year is the news that the first pilots of the Polish Air Force have completed their dive bomber training. Whilst most nations view it as an offensive tactic, Polish generals are looking eagerly to the narrow mountain passes of the Carpathians, where a single bombing run precisely targeted could stop an advance in its tracks

New tactics must be learned! Integrating our air force with our ground forces seems to be the next step forward, so its what our pilots and ground troops will learn!

New equipment is prepared and distributed as well. The firepower of the average Polish formation is increasing at a pace of knots

Focus now turns to the highly experimental new form of warfare, aerial assault.

The dream of having troops fly over the Carpathians and landing in Budapest, Pecs or even Vienna is forefront in the minds of several of our more optimistic generals

As 1941 carries on the Government, for the first time, announces its own dissolution and calls for elections.

The Social Conservative coalition of various figures, including many military elites, hold a narrow majority on their own and a significant plurality when allied with the market liberals. This causes the election to be seen largely as a foregone conclusion.

Until a shock announcement was made by President Paderwski

"Our job is Poland is as complete as we can make it, although it is not yet complete. The job of restoring self determination to our brothers in the east and west cannot be done by a regime like ours. It must be done by a new regime, free from any association with the military or the old regimes.

As such I am here to announce that we will not be standing in the coming elections, but instead will be throwing my support behind the Liberal party."

President Ignacy Jan Paderewski, Warsaw, 25 January 1941

The end result is a win for the Market Liberals with the Presidents announcement being crucial, swinging a huge amount of social conservatives over to them. Mierczslaw Michalowicz will be the new President

Whilst hardly the most inspiring figure, Michalowicz would be able to rely on the support of the now legendary Paderewski to ensure his popularity

The new Governments first act is to enlist the support of the Private sector in helping bolster the military. The famed aircraft manufacturer PZL is contracted to help improve the designs of Poland's fighter aircraft. The Airforce is once again ecstatic at this turn of events

The army too has reasons to be happy as two new armoured Divisions are to be deployed in Lwow. Whilst the civilian economy is struggling to support the manpower needed, small expansions to the army remain possible.

However our oil stockpiles are not so generous. We simply cannot support such an expansion of our air and ground forces on such meagre supplies

As such the Krakow syntetic oil refinery is to be given the lions share of resources over all other projects. Domestic oil is a certain requirement in the years to the come

Infantry doesn't need oil though, just strong men and rifles! two things that Poland has in healthy supply!

The Iranians, drunk on their victory over the Ottomans, decide that the Kurds pose a very particular kind of threat. Most of the world sees this for what it is though, a brutal land grab

New machine guns and mortars are distributed to the army

The new weapons pack a mighty punch and improve again the firepower of the average Polish unit far beyond what could have been expected even 5 years ago

The Kurds could probably use some, as casualties in their war with Iran are at well over 80 to 1.

Iranian artillery caused massive casualties amongst the lightly armed Kurds. No realistic response was forthcoming from the besieged troops

In Serbia the stalemate continues as ever. Combined Austro-Italian casualties are now reaching the million mark

Austrian soldiers are increasingly despondent at the situation. Victory is now largely seen as simply not worth the cost

And if there is a crisis of morale amongst the Austrian ranks, the Italian ranks are nearly mutinous. Most of these troops where fighting the Austrians not months ago, and now they're dying in the tens of thousands to support their aggressive war

By complete contrast Yugoslavian troops are now totally determined to win the war. Their own casualties are mounting and the national effort needed to sustain the war is monumental in scale

The Iranians capture Kurdistan after only a few weeks of fighting, a foregone conclusion to most.

The middle east would remain violent even after the war was concluded though. Kurdish partisans would see to that

New construction research is authorised. Our industrial development makes gains every year, and 1941 cannot be the one to buck the trend

New research is to be done into decryption techniques. War is coming, it cna be felt in the air. It's of immense importance to national defence that we know when and where its to arrive.

To further improve our airforce LWS, an expert in bomber design, are contracted to help refine our designs.

Combat continues in the frozen far north of Russia. No respite is given here, although the Soviets seem bizarrely unable to deal the coup-de-grace to the ailing republic

A few days after constitution day the new Paratrooper school is opened to great aplomb. A new kind of warfare awaits

Whilst they are only really present in small numbers and have a total lack of planes to actually jump from Polands Paratroopers become an instant hit in the national media. This new kind of warfare is seen as symbolic of the vast steps Poland has taken in recent years

Most of the army remains firmly ground based though. It is getting larger and larger with every year that goes by. By the next parade it'll feature over twice as many tanks

In South America the Argentines declare war on Bolivia. A massive outpouring of support meets this. Many heavily sympathise with the Bolivians, and finacial donations pile up at the Bolivian embassy in Warsaw.

They still need to figure out how to get it too Bolivia though

A breakthrough in decryption is made by Mathematicians in Krakow, a large step forward for our national defence

They turn their attention to how best to distribute and disguising our factories so that they may be better protected from air assault

In the US federal forces have captured Columbus and are pressing into Ohio toward Pennsylvania. Union fronts in the North and the South are being dented

US troops, seen here taking up positions along the Scioto River, made rapid advances through Ohio in 1941. The subsequently named 'Ohio-Pennsylvania offensive' was crucial in wearing down the resources of the Union State. This didn't stop it gleaning less attention than it's more famous counterparts in New York or Georgia though.

An overview of the front reveals how far they've come but also how far they have to go. The Atlantic coast is the last major objective.

Also look, we're making planes now!

We begin to work on Radar to help our small airforce should war come. Lord knows they'll need all the help they can get

A minister dies. A tragedy, but Poland stops for no man! we'll mourn and carry on as always. Just as he would've wanted

Federal troops get forced back to the outskirts of Columbus and the Scioto River. Maybe their offensive will be harder than expected

Our lost ministers replacement gets himself in the news with a heartfelt eulogy. The Government choses not to utilise this for their own support out of respect though

Our armies and airforce are now finally united in their methods on the battlefield. How effective will this prove if war comes?

More support! More integration! Our armies must work as one!

Summer comes along, and Austrian troops continue their fighting in the Balkans. Surely now their casualties have hit the 1 million mark. How many men does Austria have in reserve? How many will they have left should they chose to reclaim Krakow?

In the Americas US troops push forward into Ohio. The war there at least seems to be coming to a close

But at home a new golden age is being enjoyed. Will it continue for long? Come back next time to find out!