Maantie on Kova Kävellä: A Finland Hoi3 AAR Part 2

Published: 2017-01-31, edited: 1970-01-01

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Maantie on Kova Kävellä: A Finland Hoi3 AAR

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Game: Hearts of Iron III

Manntie on Kova Kävellä: A Finland Hoi3 AAR Part 1

Images: 21, author: TheGreatestPanini, published: 2017-01-31, edited: 1970-01-01

Our story continues with President Svinhufvud travelling to Berlin to meet with The Fuhrer. Our President is present to witness the Berlin Olympics and afterwards, begins discussing a permanent alliance with Hitler. While not set in stone, our nation begins to align itself with Germany.
The Olympic games brings pride to many in our nation. Finland would bring home 7 Golds and 19 medals in total.
In Spain, Franco's forces crush the Republicans decisively outside Madrid at Jarama. They move to secure their eastern seaboard to crush the Republicans once and for all. Foreign Minister Holsti reports that Hitler is diverting a substantial part of his industry to Franco's war effort.
A politican from the National Socialist Party of Finland (Sinimustat) comes out demanding stronger ties to the Reich as they are our "cultural and natural ally". He begins to speak all throughout Finland to gain support for his party. We have no choice but to support him, as his rallies bring in tens of thousands.
On the eastern banks of Lake Ladoga, Finnish Cavalry under the command of Major Grandell, face off against Soviet tanks. Field Marshall Mannerheim petitions for an armored corps to be made, but is shot down by parliament due to our lack of industry.
The Soviet tankers will find out that our cavalrymen are brave and relentless!
In Helsinki, a group of Socialists gather to protest the Spanish Civil War. They are quickly broken up by local police.
In just under 1 year our army has only expanded 12,000 men. This is unacceptable and Mannerheim begins plans to recruit more.
On New Year's Eve, 1936 the last of the Republican Forces surrender to Franco's Generals. Spain is once again united and Hitler flies to Burgos to congratulate Franco personally.
Among the celebratory talk, Hitler invites Franco to the Axis. Franco turns it down for now but tells Hitler he may join in the future.
In Stuttgart, a rocket test site is finished by the Nazi scientists. Among those working there, is Wernher von Braun. Von Braun is a bright young man, eager to change aeronautics as we know it.
Many rockets are constructed at the site and the idea of using them for military uses is not lost on the Reich.
A wave of industrial technology reaches Helsinki. This is a needed boost to our lacking IC.
President Svinhufvud visits some newly opened factories in Southern Finland and encourages the workers to take pride in their production.
In April 1,500 Swedish men cross the border and enlist in Mannerheim's Army. These men are assembled into their own mountain division and trained to fight the Soviets.
We begin to pump out propaganda aimed at young Swedish men, hoping they rush to join our ranks.
Mountain and Arctic equipment will be valuable, especially for our ski troops near Murmansk.
The Reich annexes Austria as they continue to trample the Treaty of Versailles. The Allies simply look on.
Our army finally numbers over 100,000 men as every border province with the Soviets is manned by at least 1 full division.
The National Socialists or Sinimustat Party reaches 31% popularity. We begin to worry as now the fascists can throw together a coalition in the next elections and oust the Conservatives.
In Tokyo, Foreign Minister of Germany Joachim von Ribbentrop signs an alliance with Japan. This welcomes them and their puppets into the Axis.
This is worrying news for the Soviets who are in danger of being encircled by hostile powers.
The Japanese invade China following their alliance with Germany. Hundreds of thousands of crack IJA infantrymen pour into Shanxi and the historical city of Beijing.
The Japanese hold a massive victory parade in Beijing before continuing their offensives.
Within a month, the Japanese have seized much of Northern China.
Shanxi loses their capital and our spies working within the Abwehr return us blueprints of German Armored Cars.
Shanxi surrenders and the Chinese Army is in a full retreat to Nanjing.
In Munich, Many world leaders meet with the Fuhrer to discuss German territorial demands. The British reluctantly agree to let Germany annex the rest of Czechoslovakia as Hitler promises it will be his last territorial demand in Europe.
Chamberlain returns to Britain promising "Peace in our time".
In Asia, the Japanese reach the outskirts of the Chinese capital and begin to bomb it. Hundreds of conscripts drop their weapons and desert upon seeing the massive amount of Japanese aircraft.
Only a few roads lead out of Nanjing as the Japanese inch closer by the minute.
Civilians who have heard of the atrocities in Beijing and Tianjin grab what belongings they can carry and try to flee south away from the advancing Japanese.
The trap slams shut and the Rape of Nanjing commences.
In Helsinki, a wave of 1938 technology arrives, keeping our men constantly superior to the Soviets.
China finally surrenders after the loss of their capital. This is the first true victory of the Axis. There will be many more to come.
Finland rides a wave of National Socialism into 1938 followed by fierce militarism. The National Socialists threaten to gain over 50% in the next election and oust President Svinhufvud. Herr Hitler offers us a Non-Aggression pact which will put us firmly in the lap of the Axis and in a position to join by 1939. The future of Finland is changing. Hakkaa Päälle!

Next chapter:

Game: Hearts of Iron III

Maantie on Kova Kävellä: A Finland Hoi3 AAR Part 3

Images: 30, author: TheGreatestPanini, published: 2017-01-31, edited: 1970-01-01

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