The US as an aggresive Axis power, Japan as a peaceful Allied power.

  • Customizer

    Okay, imagine if Franklin Roosevelt lost the 1933 election to a more isolationist candidate. This new guy uses similar national building project to put people to work and jump start the economy, but he also decides to build up the military in order to protect his isolationist ideals. The thinking is that if the US is militarily strong, no outside forces would dare try to impose their ideas on America. This is due in part to strong military leaders lobbying the president for larger military budgets.
    Later, when war breaks out in Europe, even though aghast at the horrible carnage there is some level of envy at how quickly the Third Reich has managed to increase their holdings. After all, the United States is great, but they could always be better, right? This, coupled with a bit of sympathy for Germany over the harsh terms of the Versailles Treaty, actually causes the openings of negotiations between the US and Germany. Of course, Germany is keen to obtain such a powerful and rich ally. They say, “Why should such a powerful nation as the US have to import and pay for things like rubber, tin and oil from the East Indies when they could go out and simply OWN them?” Of course, these actions would invariably draw attention and resources from the British Empire and perhaps make it that much harder for England itself to keep holding out. In spite of the awesome attacks by the Third Reich upon England and the ongoing U-Boat campaign against British shipping, Churchill is adamant to keeping the British Empire intact.
    Then once England is “put in it’s place” and the US has a strong position in Asia, the hated Soviet Union could be dealt with. After all, Communism must be stopped, right? The US President is starting to see the light. The US military grows.

    Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the Japanese leaders in favor of peace are much stronger willed than we remember in our history. When the Japanese Army invaded Manchuria in 1931, all of the commanding officers involved were immediately arrested and imprisoned. The Army was called back into Korea. The War Hawks clamoring for a “strong” Japan suddenly slinked back into the holes they came from, fearing for their own freedom from prison. The new peaceful Japanese Government took further steps to punish the “impudent” military by drastically cutting military budgets. These actions earned Japan great applause in the League Of Nations and made for very good relations with China, who forgave Japan the assault on Manchuria when they saw that it was an illegal move by the military without the government’s endorsement.

    In China, since the Kuomintang did not have to deal with a Japanese invasion, they were able to concentrate on hunting down and stomping out the Communists once and for all.

    Russia, realizing that there is no threat from Japan, decides to mobilize their far eastern divisions. However, with the Kuomintang’s utter defeat of the Chinese Communists, Russia now distrusts the Chinese government and decides it would be a good idea to have a few eyes along the Russo/Sino borders. Thus some of the far eastern divisions are stationed along Russia’s borders with China. Also, seeing the large US military presence just across the Bearing Straits in Alaska, and noting the somewhat more aggressive stance of the US Government in recent months, Russia stations some protection division in their far east lands just to be safe. While diplomacy with the US has dropped as of late, would the US dare to attack the great Soviet Union? Only time will tell.

    In Canada, they have also noticed the growth of the US Military machine and are aware of the negotiations between America and the Third Reich, with which they are already at war with. This has caused an increase in recruitment for Canada’s own defense. There is great worry that if the United States openly joins with the Third Reich that Canada’s own sovereignty would be threatened, never mind being able to help Britain.

    So here is the NEW world situation in June 1940. How will it play out? Does anybody think this is a playable game? Does anybody think the Allies stand a chance?
    My new setups and some pics will be in the following posts.

  • Customizer

    First, here is the new US setup. What I have tried to do here is use Germany and Japan setups as a guide for what the US setup might be if they built up their military like the Axis powers historically did. I might have over did it a little, but I think I’m pretty close to what a militarily strong, aggressive US might look like.

    Eastern United States = 1 Industrial Complex, 1 Airbase, 1 Naval Base, 3 AA guns, 6 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Tank, 2 Fighters, 1 Bomber
    Central United States = 1 Industrial Complex, 1 Airbase, 2 AA Guns, 4 Infantry, 2 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Tank, 1 Fighter, 1 Bomber
    Southwest Mexico = 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Tank
    Central America = 1 Naval Base, 1 AA Gun, 1 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter
    West Indies = 1 Airbase, 1 AA gun, 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter, 1 Tactical Bomber
    Greenland = 1 Infantry
    Western United States = 1 Industrial Complex, 1 Airbase, 1 Naval Base, 3 AA guns, 4 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Tank, 2 Fighters, 1 Bomber
    Mexico = 2 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry
    Alaska = 1 Naval Base, 1 AA gun, 2 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Tank, 1 Fighter
    Aleutian Islands = 1 Infantry
    Hawaiian Islands = 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base, 1 AA gun, 2 Infantry, 2 Fighters
    Line Islands = 1 Infantry
    Johnston Island = 1 Infantry
    Midway = 1 Airbase, 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
    Wake Island = 1 Airbase, 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
    Guam = 1 Airbase, 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
    Philippines = 1 Airbase, 1 Naval Base, 1 AA gun, 2 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Fighter, 1 Tactical Bomber
    SZ 1 = 1 Cruiser, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
    SZ 8 = 1 Destroyer
    SZ 10 = 1 Carrier w/1 fighter and 1 tactical bomber, 1 Battleship, 1 Cruiser, 2 Destroyers, 2 Transports
    SZ 26 = 1 Carrier w/1 fighter and 1 tactical bomber, 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 1 Trasnport
    SZ 35 = 1 Battleship, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
    SZ 64 = 1 Destroyer
    SZ 89 = 2 Cruisers, 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 1 Transport
    SZ 101 = 1 Carrier w/1 fighter and 1 tactical bomber, 1 Battleship, 1 Cruiser, 1 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine, 2 Transports

    US Axis 3.JPG
    US Axis 2.JPG

  • Customizer

    Now here is the setups for Japan as a peaceful Allied power, along with changes to the China setup, Russia setup and Commonwealth (Canada) setup. By the way, I am using Young Grasshopper’s Halifax Rules setup with a single UK economy and a Commonwealth nation which includes ANZAC, Canada, South Africa and SW Africa.
    I tried to make Japan’s setup as a peaceful, non-aggressive nation with a reduced military in order to show their peaceful intentions to the world and just enough to defend their own interests. The biggest change is NO Japanese units in China. In this reality, Japan did not go to war with China so they don’t occupy any Chinese territories. This of course cuts Japan’s income way down to just 15 IPCs while China gets a boost up to 23 IPCs.
    See what you think about this:
    JAPAN
    Japan = 1 Industrial Complex, 1 Airbase, 1 Naval Base, 2 AA guns, 3 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Tank, 1 Fighter, 1 Tactical Bomber, 1 Bomber
    Korea = 2 Infantry, 1 Fighter
    Okinawa = 1 Infantry
    Iwo Jima = 1 Infantry
    Formosa = 1 Airbase, 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
    Siam = 2 Infantry
    Marianas = 1 Infantry
    Marshall Islands = 1 Infantry
    Caroline Islands = 1 Airbase, 1 Naval Base, 1 Infantry, 1 Fighter
    SZ 6 = 1 Carrier w/1 fighter and 1 tactical bomber, 1 Battleship, 1 Cruiser, 1 Destroyer, 1 Transport
    SZ 19 = 1 Destroyer, 1 Submarine
    SZ 20 = 1 Cruiser, 1 Transport
    SZ 33 = 1 Destroyer
    CHINA
    Manchuria = 3 Infantry, 1 Artillery
    Jehol = 1 Infantry
    Suiyuan = 1 Infantry
    Hopei = 1 Infantry
    Shantung = 1 Infantry
    Kiangsu = 4 Infantry, 1 Artillery
    Kiangsi = 1 Infantry
    Kwangsi = 1 Infantry
    Yunnan = 2 Infantry
    Szechwan = 2 Infantry
    SOVIET UNION (Only territories listed where changes were made to original setup. The rest is like OOB setup)
    Soviet Far East = 4 Infantry, 1 AA gun
    Siberia = 2 Infantry
    Amur = 3 Infantry, 1 AA gun
    Sakha = 2 Infantry
    Buryatia = 1 Infantry
    Yakut SSR = 1 Infantry
    Timguska = 1 Infantry
    Novosibirsk = 2 Infantry
    Kazakhstan = 1 Infantry
    Volgograd = 1 Major Factory, 1 Infantry, 1 Mechanized Infantry, 1 Tank
    COMMONWEALTH (Canada) (Only territories listed where changes were made to original setup. The rest is like OOB setup)
    Western Canada = 1 Infantry
    Alberta/Saskatchewan/Manitoba = 1 Infantry
    New Brunswick/Novo Scotia = 1 Infantry, 1 Naval Base

    US Axis 1.JPG


  • That is brilliant.
    Would you swap the turn order and put the US in Japan’s 3rd place?
    Are you having any politics or playing all are at war? Will the US have to invade Brazil, if not an Ally now? That wi change things
    Other than those questions , I probably think my only observation is that Japan will need a second Carrier And 2 planes. I would also drop a couple of the US’ TTs. Make it build some, to slow things up a bit.

    Canada cannot hold, from what I am seeing. (They won’t our community happy, after all the Halifax rules you naughty man!).
    Are you going to try it with friends?


  • @wittmann:

    Canada cannot hold, from what I am seeing. (They won’t our community happy, after all the Halifax rules you naughty man!).

    Perhaps a way to strengthen Canada would be to imagine that, in the alternate timeline that knp describes, Canada’s Prime Minister is Adrien Arcand, the leader of the fascist National Unity Party of Canada.  Arcand, whose love for Britain and devotion to its King translated itself into some peculiar ideas, “wanted to build a powerful centralized Canadian Fascist state within the British Empire.”  So, in this alternate timeline, Arcand’s policy would be an interesting twist on Canada’s WWII role as a cultural bridge between the US and Britain: Arcard would approve of the US joining the Axis, so he’d offer to help persuade the beloved Mother Country (Britain) to come to its senses and negotiate peace with Hitler.

    Arcand frequently corresponded with Arnold Spencer Leese, the head of the Imperial Fascist League, and one of his dreams was something called “Dominion power” – so perhaps in this alternate timeline the Halifax Rules would involve a situation in which the Commonwealth Dominons team up to form a Commonwealth Fascist Alliance of some sort.

  • Customizer

    Hey wittmann,
    That is something I forgot to mention. I would swap the US and Japan in turn order. As for Brazil, I was toying with the idea of making them Pro-Axis. The reason being in every other game, Brazil is already a part of the US. So I’m wondering if Brazil would have been on the US side regardless of their political leanings or if they were specifically pro-Allies.
    I could go with losing a couple of US transports. Perhaps one off the east coast and one off the west coast? I got to disagree with giving Japan a second carrier. In this scenario, they just can’t afford it. They don’t have the resources.

    CWO Marc,
    Interesting bit of information. I was unaware of the fascist party in Canada, although it makes sense since it seems just about every country sprouted some sort of fascist or Nazi party back then. In fact, I was considering making this alternate US president the leader of the US Nazi party, but I couldn’t remember his name.
    So Commonwealth joining the Axis? That would be an interesting change, although I doubt the Allies would stand any chance in that case. They already have too much against them.


  • @knp7765:

    In fact, I was considering making this alternate US president the leader of the US Nazi party, but I couldn’t remember his name.

    Do you mean Fritz Kuhn, the leader of the German-American Bund?


  • As for Brazil, I was toying with the idea of making them Pro-Axis. The reason being in every other game, Brazil is already a part of the US. So I’m wondering if Brazil would have been on the US side regardless of their political leanings or if they were specifically pro-Allies.

    I,too, have no idea if it was US influenced or “Allied”.


  • @wittmann:

    As for Brazil, I was toying with the idea of making them Pro-Axis. The reason being in every other game, Brazil is already a part of the US. So I’m wondering if Brazil would have been on the US side regardless of their political leanings or if they were specifically pro-Allies. I,too, have no idea if it was US influenced or “Allied”.

    Unlike many Latin American states which joined the Allies in the days or weeks right after Pearl Harbor, Brazil stayed neutral (though on sympathetic terms with the Allies) until about the middle of 1942, as I recall, when it declared war on Germany.  I can’t remember what was the cause.  I believe it was the only Latin American country to send troops overseas to fight in WWII.


  • So, Marc, do you have any idea if it should be Allied or Axis leaning, in this game?
    Perhaps it should stay Allied, but Argentina should be made pro Axis.
    Might be fun to hot things up in South America.
    Have just looked and Argentina is 3 SZ from Gib. and does not border Brazil. Might not be as fun as I thought. Does have 4 Inf. Is still 2 moves  from SW Africa (4 SZs). One from French West Africa.


  • @wittmann:

    So, Marc, do you have any idea if it should be Allied or Axis leaning, in this game?
    Perhaps it should stay Allied, but Argentina should be made pro Axis.
    Might be fun to hot things up in South America.

    When I get home tonight, I’ll check my files for a list I once prepared of the historical pro-Axis / pro-Allied leanings of the various countries on the Global map.  I’ll see what the situation was in Latin America specifically.  From memory, I’d say Brazil should definitely be counted as pro-Allied.  I think there was one country in South America that I categorized in my list as pro-Axis; it may indeed have been Argentina, but I’ll consult my list to make sure.  One country (Bolivia, IIRC) joined the Allies at mid-war, in 1943.  A number of late-comers hopped into the Allied camp in 1945, which I think is the diplomatic equivalent of cheating (wait until victory is guaranteed for one side, then join that side just before the shooting stops), so I still classed them as neutrals in my list.  I’ll post the details here tomorrow.

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    gonna read this on the train to work tomorrow, it looks externally interesting.


  • Thanks Marc.

    YG: I agree. Is always nice to have a different set up.

  • Customizer

    KNP I really applaud this type of customization! This is in a similar vane to something I’ve been working on for ages.

    Secondly I finally got my Dad to platy Axis & Allies Revised on Labor Day after literally trying to persuade him for twenty years. I bring this up because he wants to jump straight to Global and asked if players can come up with alternative history/timeline scenarios. I grinned a wide grin and replied "oh yeah, me and a bunch of the guys I talk to on A&A.org come up with stuff all the time.

    Kudos KNP!

  • Customizer

    toblerone77,
    I’m glad you like it. What did you think about my alternate history? A couple of points may have been pure fantasy, but I think a lot of it could have been plausible if certain figures made different decisions. Particularly in Japan. A little while back, I read the book “Japan 1941: Countdown to Infamy” by Eri Hotta. It covered a lot of the events in Japan that lead up to the Pearl Harbor attack. It was amazing to me how many of the government leaders in Japan that were actually wanting more peaceful resolutions to their problems with the US. They would often get together in private meetings and agree with each other that they didn’t want war. By the way, this includes Hideki Tojo. Then when they make more public speeches, they take this hard line, Japan is invincible stance. None of them wanted to seem “weak” in front of the others or the general public. Talk about the ultimate peer pressure.

    wittmann,
    Do you have first edition or second edition Europe 40 maps? I have the second edition and Argentina does border Brazil, right between Uruguay and Paraguay. They also share sea zone 85.

    CWO Marc,
    YES! Fritz Kuhn was the one I was thinking about.


  • I have both, but was using my tired old eyes and AAA.
    Thank you for pointing out my error. Bordering each other makes it more fun if one is Allied friendly and the other Axis! Will look again later.


  • @wittmann:

    So, Marc, do you have any idea if it should be Allied or Axis leaning, in this game?
    Perhaps it should stay Allied, but Argentina should be made pro Axis.
    Might be fun to hot things up in South America.

    Here’s my assessment of where the countries of Latin America stood historically (as opposed to what the Global game map says) in relation to the Axis and the Allies, with some ideas on how this might play out in A&A terms.

    Central America
    This map territory is actually a region consisting mostly of sovereign states: Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras (a.k.a. Spanish Honduras), Nicaragua, and Costa Rica.  All of them joined the Allies in December 1941.  The region also includes two foreign-controlled territories – British Honduras (a British possession in the years 1871-1964) and the Panama Canal Zone (controlled by the United States) – which both entered the war when their respective controlling countries did. 
    Assessment: they were Allied nations from the moment when the US entered the war.

    West Indies
    This is a region comprising a  mix of sovereign states and foreign-held territories.  The sovereign states were  Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic; all three joined the Allies in December 1941.  The foreign-held territories consisted of American ones like Puerto Rico; British ones like Jamaica, the Bahamas, Trinidad, Tobago and some of the Lesser Antilles (including Barbados); French ones like Martinique and Guadeloupe; and Dutch ones like St. Martin.  All of these entered the war when their respective controlling countries did. 
    Assessment: treated as a group for the sake of simplicity, they were Allied nations from the moment when the US entered the war.

    Mexico
    Declared war on the Axis powers in May 1942 after a number of U-boat attacks on Mexican ships. 
    Assessment: became an Allied nation about half a year after the US entered the war.

    Brazil
    Declared war on the Axis powers in August 1942 after a number of U-boat attacks on Brazilian ships.  It became the only Latin American nation to send troops overseas when it contributed about two divisions to the European theatre in 1944.
    Assessment: became an Allied nation about half a year after the US entered the war.

    Bolivia
    Joined the Allies in 1943 (the only country in the world to declare war in that year), but shortly thereafter its President was overthrown and was replaced by a new President with fascist sympathies.  The country remained in the war on the Allied side, but made no military contributions.
    Assessment: for the sake of simplicity, can be considered a neutral state; it entered the war in mid-stream, on a more or less nominal basis.

    Chile
    Initially neutral due to its commercial interests with Germany, but gradually distanced itself from the Axis nations, with whom it finally broke relations in 1943.  Declared war on Japan in 1945.
    Assessment: neutral until the last year of the war.

    Ecuador
    Stayed neutral until February 1945, when it joined the Allies.
    Assessment: neutral until the last year of the war.

    Uruguay
    Neutral for much of the war.  Broke off relations with the Axis in early 1942.  Joined the Allies in February 1945.
    Assessment: neutral until the last year of the war.

    Columbia
    Although it does not appear to have ever joined the Allies in a formal sense, Columbia leaned in their direction.  It broke relations with the Axis soon after Pearl Harbor; it supplied the Allies with oil; it signed the United Nations Declaration in July 1943; and it declared a state of “belligency” against Germany in late 1943 following a U-boat attack on a Colombian ship.
    Assessment: should at the very least be considered pro-Allies, but probably not an actual Allied nation.

    Peru
    Peru did not formally declare war on the Axis powers until 1945, but it supported the Allied powers from an early date.  It broke relations with the Axis in January 1942; it allowed an American air base to operate from its territory and supplied it with aviation fuel; and its ships patroled the Panama Canal area.
    Assessment: should be considered pro-Allies.

    Venezuela
    Venezuela did not formally declare war on the Axis powers until late in the war, but it broke relations with the Axis powers soon after Pearl Harbor and it was an important source of oil for the Allies throughout the war.
    Assessment: should be considered pro-Allies.

    Argentina
    Stayed neutral for most of the war, despite being ruled by a succession of authoritarian and/or military regimes.  This was due in part to the fact that neutrality was seen as being economically advatageous (since the country could sell exports to both sides), but also due to conflicts within the Argentine government between fascists and leftist radicals. The US pressured Argentina to join the Allies, but this was offset by Argentina’s traditionally close ties with Germany, with a resulting preference for neutrality.  A small number of Argentine volunteers fought on the Allied side.  Argentina broke relations with the Axis powers in June 1943 following a coup, but only joined the Allies in March 1945.
    Assessment: neutral until the last year of the war, but politically volatile and with some potential to have tilted in either direction at an earlier date.

    Paraguay

    The country’s authoritarian government was openly sympathetic to the Axis, as was the country’s large German population.  The US tried to decrease German influence in Paraguay with financial assistance, but had only limited succes.  Paraguay did not act against German economic and diplomatic interests in the country until it joined the Allies in February 1945. 
    Assessment: should be considered pro-Axis.


  • Wow. A lot of time and effort has gone into that post. Thank you.
    Probably best to leave Brazil Allied friendly then. The US probably does not need its 3 Inf in this scenario anyway.

  • Customizer

    Hey guys. We started out this game and got through the first round tonight. Before we could start, I realized that I had to rework some of the National Objectives, then I ended up making a pretty big change with China.
    United States National Objectives:
    10 IPCs = US control of Eastern US, Central US, Western US, Mexico, SW Mexico, Central America, West Indies and Alaska.
      5 IPCs = US Control of Hawaii, Midway, Wake, Guam and Philippines.
      5 IPCs = US control of Borneo, Celebes, Java and Sumatra.
      5 IPCs = US control of Japan (Tokyo)
      5 IPCs = US control of New South Wales (Sydney)
      5 IPCs = US control of Kiangsu (Shanghai)
      5 IPCs = US control of India (Calcutta)
    Japan National Objectives:
      5 IPCs = Japanese control of all Japanese Pacific Islands
      5 IPCs = Allied control of Borneo, Celebes, Java and Sumatra
      5 IPCs = Japanese Control of Philippines and Guam
    CHINA:
      5 IPCs = (Once at war) Chinese control of all Chinese territories
    I made China an industrialized nation, but a little less than others. They start with a Major Factory in Shanghai and can produce any units they wish with the exception of capital ships (Battleships and Aircraft Carriers). All new units purchased by China must be placed at their Major Factory.
    With this rule, China is now allowed to purchase ships, including transports, and leave Chinese borders. Chinese air units can fly out over the ocean and attack Axis ships. Chinese units are allowed to enter Allied territories.
    If Shanghai is captured, the Major Factory is reduced to a Minor Factory like any other. Now Chinese production is dependent upon the Burma Road and China may only purchase infantry and artillery. China may now place those new units in any Chinese controlled territory.
    If the Burma Road is closed by Axis capture of Szechwan, Yunnan, Burma and/or India, then China can ONLY purchase infantry and place them in any Chinese controlled territory.
    If Shanghai is liberated, China can resume purchasing any units they like within the limitations of a Minor Factory (no units over 10 IPCs) and they can upgrade the Minor Factory back to a Major Factory for 10 IPCs.
    If Shanghai is captured, China will be able to collect the Burma Road National Objective (if all 4 territories of the Burma Road are held by Allies). If Shanghai is liberated, China can continue to collect the Burma Road NO. Once China regains ALL of it’s territories, the Burma Road NO will drop.
    Burma Road National Objective:
      6 IPCs = Allied Control of Szechwan, Yunnan, Burma and India. This occurs when Shanghai is captured by Axis forces and will not drop off until China captures all original territories again.
    To incorporate this change, I have added the following to China’s setup:
    Kiangsu = 1 Major Factory, 1 Air Base, 1 Naval Base, 4 Infantry, 1 Artillery, 1 Tank, 1 Fighter

    It is interesting to see China more active. Perhaps it won’t make the Allies as weak as I first thought they would be in making the US this big powerful Axis nation.


  • All makes a lot of sense. Good  thinking.
    Might be you can scrap the 10 for the US, as they will soon have conquered territories, like the Japanese would traditionally. I cannot see the US losing any of its starting 52. Otherwise it will be on a 100 within a few turns and that might prove too much.

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