The Gathering Storm, Redux - Gameplay Thread (WW2 - Early 1940)

[GoTfan]

The United Kingdom hereby severs all diplomatic ties with Germany, recalls its ambassador and orders the expulsion of the German Ambassador.

[GoTfan]

Effective immediately, the Eurasian Alliance is implementing a total embargo against the United Kingdom on all oil and petroleum products from the Middle East. This shall be effective until Britain recognizes our basic sovereignty in economic destiny and withdraws forces from our territory for a peaceful resolution. As we have attempted numerous times prior, we always seek peace first and foremost but we shall be unafraid to defend our people.

This embargo is now extended to the Alliance's reach in Europe, with our partner Romania excluding resources as well.

The United Kingdom hereby issues an embargo against the Eurasian alliance and orders the expulsion of its ambassadors. Turkish forces have killed British servicemen without a declaration of war, a violation of the Hague Convention of 1907 and potential war crime.

[GoTfan]

Treaty of Istanbul

Be it resolved,

1. The United Kingdom is to accept the recent nationalizations of oil and petroleum supplies done by the Kingdom of Iraq and Kingdom of Iran.

2. The United Kingdom shall permanently withdraw from holding military bases in the Kingdom of Iraq. Two major British military bases in the Middle East are to be upheld in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Egypt may also be admitted as a member of the Eurasian Alliance following ratification.

3. Upon the signing of this treaty, the Eurasian Alliance Oil Company shall be formally organized to oversee all relevant business operations. The Board of Directors shall consist of fifteen starting members encompassing representatives from all countries in the Eurasian Alliance, in addition to three guaranteed directors representing the United Kingdom.

4. For addressing the status of the Suez Canal, the Kingdom of Egypt agrees to never pursue nationalization.

5. In return for ongoing cooperation and friendship among the signatories, the United Kingdom shall accept observers from these states to oversee military research projects and modernization techniques.

X President Kemal Atatürk, Republic of Turkey

x Edouard Daladier, Prime Minister

x Neville Chaberlain, Prime Minister

[GoTfan]

Billy Hughes on the recent statements by the UK

The Australian government stands steadfastly in support of the recent declaration made by the Foreign Secretary. Wanton aggression cannot be allowed to go throughout this world.

[GoTfan]

The Commonwealth of Australia stands in solidarity with its European allies.

Mobilisation is hereby ordered.

[GoTfan]

Statement from Prime Minister Hughes

Soon, the Australian Parliament will vote on the issue of going to war.

I will make no attempt to introduce conscription. This was an issue that was defeated decades ago, and I respect the will of the Australian people on the matter.

[GoTfan]

Billy Hughes makes a public speech to supporters, also broadcast on radio

The terms proposed by the Mad Chancellor are unacceptable. They would seek to impose their imperial rule on lands that are no longer theirs. Our French brothers have our full support in rejection of these terms.

It is no secret that the war is not something desired by us. It was brought upon us by Mad Chancellor Hugenberg and his delusions of a German Empire. It was he who violated the peace of Europe with his horrendous atrocities committed against the Dutch and Belgian people.

A leopard cannot change its spots.

We stand with our French allies! As I speak, the Second Australian and New Zealand Army Corps is preparing for war. It is true that this will not be a short struggle, nor an easy one, but it is a necessary one. if we are to survive this storm, see our children grow, we must now take this fight to the Germans!

Some may say that we should negotiate . . . But I have to tell you that there can be no negotiation with the Devil! You cannot negotiate with a man bent on your destruction! There is no alternative open to us but to fight it out to the last!

We will go to where they live and where they slaughter, and we will destroy them!

This is the day we end their delusions of Empire!

This is the day we correct the course of human history!

This is the day that we ensure the survival of freedom and liberty across the world!

We defeated these madmen before, and we will do it again!

Soldiers of the ANZAC, my fellow defenders of freedom, go forth, and bring back the hope of humanity!

God bless you all!  God bless Australia! God bless New Zealand!

[GoTfan]

Formation of the Second Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (II ANZAC)

[Credit: Australian War Memorial]

Officer Commanding: Lieutenant-General Henry Wynter

Second-in-Command Major-General Bernard Freyberg

Chief of Staff: Brigadier Leslie Morshead

Initial Units:

1st Australian Infantry Division

2nd Australian Infantry Division

1st New Zealand Infantry Division

Motto: Shoulder To Shoulder!

[GoTfan]

The Treaty of Paris

1) Germany and the United Kingdom shall withdraw all forces from France.

2) The Saarland and The Sudetenland shall be recognized henceforth be a part of the German Reich. France will have no official position on Bohemia, and Moravia. France shall also recognize Slovakia’s independence and the legitimacy of its current government.

3) France shall provide full legal protections and equal rights for ethnic Germans living in Alsace-Lorraine.

4) France shall fully normalize trade and economic relations with Germany. Furthermore, France shall cease all participation in and cooperation with the existing British embargo and naval blockade of Germany.

5) Togo and Cameroon shall be returned to Germany.  The colonies of the French Congo, Gabon, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, and Tunisia shall also become a part of Germany.

6) A non-profit equal Franch-German board membership commission shall be established to research cures for chemical weapon induced health problems and raise money to help pay for the medical care of soldiers on both sides harmed by the use of chemical weapons in this century’s conflicts.  Furthermore, the signatories agree not to engage in aerial Chemical Warfare or terror bombing against each other should a future conflict break out between France and Germany.

7) The signatories recognize the borders described in this treaty as the final European French-German border.

8 ) France shall henceforth take a position of complete neutrality in any and all conflicts between Belgium and Germany.

9) The signatories agree to allow each other’s armed forces to withdraw to the new borders unmolested and to the release of any and all POWs, once arms forces have withdrawn. Basic rations will be supplied to aid the returning POWs.

10) Neither France nor Germany shall seek an acknowledgement of fault for the war or any reparations for causing the war.

x Alfred Hugenberg, Chancellor of the German Reich

X President of France, Philippe Pétain

This peace is a sham signed by a collaborator and traitor to the French people who stabbed his allies in the back.

[GoTfan]

This peace is a sham signed by a collaborator and traitor to the French people who stabbed his allies in the back.

We French do not want to relive the horrors of the Great War and lose yet another generation of young men. Australians are well familiar with the horrors of Passchendaele. There is likely a greater threat brewing closer to home for you, Mon ami.

At least we are not collaborators and traitors to our nation who kowtow before a foreign leader.

[GoTfan]

A Message to Australia from Prime Minister Billy Hughes

"The magnitude of the task before us cannot be stated.

Japanese forces have rolled over everything in their path to this date. The fall of Port Moresby can be seen as nothing but a failure. A war cannot be won by retreat.

We now stand at a crossroads. We can either move forward and engage the enemy, or we can, as some have suggested, agree to negotiate with him . . . but I have to tell you, there can be no negotiation with the Devil!

We will make our stand here, in this nation of ours, and with the sea surrounding us and our backs to the wall, we shall fight. It is the only way. We know that the Japanese across the water have a reputation as fearsome soldiers, but they are only human! Cut them and they bleed, same as the rest of us!

The Volunteer Defence Corps, so loyally organised by those retired servicemembers, is hereby made an official arm of the Australian Imperial Force, with General Henry Chauvel as its commander. The Corps will also be open to any man between the ages of sixteen and sixty. While you are encouraged to arm yourselves, the government will provide what it can to ensure a strong national defence.

To the women of Australia, we ask you to take to the factories to produce the tools we will need to defend ourselves against this menace. Every ship, every plane, every cannon, every rifle, every bullet we can produce will be needed in the coming battle.

To this, I also add that no member nor minister of this government shall be permitted to evaucate to New Zealand. We shall, if necessary, pick up rifles ourselves to defend this nation!

People of Australia, this is our moment! This is our time! All of our history has led us to this point! Australia will never return to the dark ages! Australia shall remain a beacon of hope in this sea of darkness! A beacon of light! A beacon of liberty!

God bless you all, and God bless Australia!

Advance Australia Fair
(with altered lyrics for war, to be played across the radio)

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair!

Should foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore,
To guard our native strand;
For loyal sons beyond the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
Advance Australia fair!