Deutsch and Dutch

[Dillon1102]

As German foot soldiers marched into the Netherlands a long procession of German workers followed. The workers began to build and fix power plants, schools, and municipal buildings. The Dutch were quite welcoming to the Germans, as having no government to support them. The border towns were subjugated the fastest while coastal ones took time to reach. Naval ships would sail to Amsterdam where the German flag would be raised on top of the capital building.

[Evangeline Anovilis]

A communique would be handed to Berlin.

 

"The government in Berlin has 24 hours to leave the Netherlands, lest France will defend the Dutch sovereignity with force. The Germans have overran Belgium once, we will not allow them to overrun the Netherlands now.

 

Signed,

Pierre Laval, Ministre des Affaires étrangéres"

 

Confidential

 

As the note was delivered, the army would start its mobilisation to be deployed at the Franco-German border. Hundreds of thousands of Frenchmen would be called to arms, as the nation prepared to once more stand up against the German menace. Like two decades ago, they would defend la France in the trenches, shedding the blood of their enemies and themselves in a heroic defense of the Fatherland and the noble values of the Liberty and Freedom.

 

Additionally a note would be handed to Vienna, for consultations on the matter.

[Centurius]

"Russia remembers too well the last time Germans invaded the Low Countries. We support and join in on the French demands"

[Dillon1102]

Reply to Russia,

 

"Germany has never invaded The Netherlands and we do not ever plan on it. All we are doing is simply reinstating law and order and providing protection. We don't understand why you, Russia, are so keen on starting another war."

[PresidentDavid]

"The Kingdom of Ireland stands sternly by the Republic of France in asserting the sovereignty of the Netherlands. I hope that Berlin takes a step back from this miscalculation."

-His Majesty High King Aaron, Protector of Ireland

 

 

Classified

 

A cable would be made from Dublin to Paris that a portion of the Royal Navy was going to be dispatched just south of the English channel to be used in a supportive role for the French Republic if the worst came to happen. Twenty-thousand Irish Marines were called to base and readied for deployment in Cork if it was necessary. The Irish government requested to send five-thousand Irish Marines to Calais for "military training exercises". 

[Dillon1102]

Public reply

 

 

"Germany is quite confused at the statement poised by France. We cannot impede the soveriegnity of the Dutch, which we are not, yet they can impede the soveriegnity of Africans?"

 

Private

 

The amount of troops inside of the Netherlands would lessen, albeit not completely leave.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Dillon1102

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"We reiterate our demands for immediate withdrawal."

-Pierre Laval

[Dillon1102]

"Why do you evade the question? Why can France annex Africa but we cannot care for our Dutch brethren? That is puzzling to us and to see three members of the international community support the nonsense. We will not be the first to strike but when you do we hope the world sees how big of hypocrites you are."

[Evangeline Anovilis]

As a reply the following document would publicly be sent to Berlin.
 

Following steadfast refusal of Germany to respect her western border and the territorial sovereignity of the Netherlands, France sees herself forced to respond with the last resort at her disposal, which is the declaration of a state of war between the nations of Germany and France. We hereby inform the government of the Kaiser in Berlin that France will see herself as at war with Germany, until such a time that a satisfactory peace agreement is reached.

 

Signed,

Albert François Lebrun, President de la République française

 

[hr]

 

Confidential

 

 

Maurice Gamelin had been notified only a few hours ago of the German invasion of the Netherlands. Now, he already was in his office, going through the war plans. The mobilisation had already been enacted, extenting the partial mobilisation of French forces following the recent spatr with Italy with a general mobilisation of all French forces. As commander in chief of all French forces, Gamelin was the man responsible for directing the war effort from the Grand Quartiér Général (GQG) and while some saw him as too methodical and predictable, he was seen as a capable enough man to organise the war effort.

 

In the last war, France had lost millions, but so had Germany. And unlike the Germans, France had still won the war, without having to pay reparations or concede any territory. While it did not invite to too much optimism, the French Army was in a decent state, the German army... one would wonder about that. Gamelin secretly hoped, once the French pushed into the Saarland, the Germans would make a run for it. Most likely the cabinet hoped for it too. But betting on that would be foolish and France had no men to spare to die in the trenches. Still, the victory would not be with idling, but it would lie with the initiative. France had to march forward, fetch the laurels of victory from the bayonets of the dead Germans.

 

While the reserves still formed in the rear, the French Army thus was authorised to strike the Germans hard.

 

[hr]

 

Confidential

 

Under the command of Henri Giraud, the VII. Armée started to advance from its positions in Alsace. While some units stayed behind to cover the flank against possible German counter-attacks, the idea was to advance in force, to not give away initiative, to destroy the Germans as they were encountered.

 

The around 180,000 soldiers under Giraud's command were less than euphoric about the whole matter. Fresh were the memories of Verdun, when they died in the hundreds of thousands, shot, blasted away by artillery or killed by disease. But still, the République called, and it was their duty to fight for her and if it so be, die for her. For this, they wore the brown uniform of a French soldier. With support from a good few hundred guns, which would be towed by Citroën lorries and half-tracks, or Lorraine artillery tractors for good mobility, and accompanied by about 800 Somua S-35 cavalry tanks, they crossed the border into the Saarland and the German lands west of the Rhine.

 

The first elements to cross into German territory would be reconaissance units of the cavalry, equipped with lightly armed, but quick Panhard armoured cars. These units were simply tasked to advance a good few kilometres before the army, to not cause much of a fuss and to engage in offensive actions only cautiously, as they were first and foremost the reconaissance, followed by those units with greater strength.

 

Which were better equipped infantry units of the VII. Armée, using the bulk of the French Army's motorised vehicles and cavalry tanks, to advance quickly and without great issues. Their orders were to follow the reconaissance, to attack any spotted units and to advance deep, until they reached the Rhine. These units, commanded by Philippe de Hautecloque would attack units encountered by the Panhards, though, even these would only stay for as long, as was needed to either defeat the obstacle, or for the follow on regular infantry on foot with the heavier artillery to arrive and attack the enemy, freeing up the more mobile forces to start advancing around the enemy hardpoints.

 

Assisting this would be escadrilles of Dewoitine D.520s and Potez 631s, which patrolled the area for enemy aircraft, watched the ground, and in the case of the Potez', also would attack enemy ground targets, carrying quite a few 50 kg bombs. Though, the primary target for the Potez 631 would still not be units, but simply the railway bridges leading over the Rhine, the easiest route the Germans had to bring in reinforcements.

 

French motorcycle troops on the advance

 

Edit: Now with music!

Edited September 17, 2014 by Evangeline Anovilis

[Uberstein]

The Austro-Hungarian Empire supports it's ally, and condemns the unwarranted German expansion into the Netherlands.

[Centurius]

 

In support of our friends in France and to contain the threat of a new German Empire making its way through Europe the Tsardom of Russia hereby declares itself to be in a state of war with the Third German Empire.

 

---

 

The first true foreign war since the Great War would be one where Russia showed its strength. As Russia did not yet have permission to cross either Polish or Austrian territory a message would be transmitted to Austro-Hungary requesting permission to move through its territory to strike at the heart of the new reich. In line with this a full Corps and the 76th Air Assault Division were prepared and moved through Ukraine to be able to quickly strike once permission was granted. On the sea Russian submarines would be given permission to attack German shipping in the Baltic and to de facto establish a blockade. Finally the Imperial Russian Air Force was ordered to commence a campaign that would show the resolve of the Tsardom. Operating from bases in the far west of the Tsardom 50 Tu-1s escorted by 100 MiG-11s went into the air headed for Rostock. The Okhrana had already established this to be an important part and home to a significant military industry. As soon as the aircraft came over the city the Tu-1s would begin dropping a total of 150,000 kg of conventional munitions over port facilities and suspected weapons factories. While this bombing run occured the MiG-11s would engage any defending aircraft that might attempt to stop the bomber force. Upon completing the run the aircraft would disappear again as fast as they had appeared as they headed back to their bases to refuel and rearm.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Centurius

[Dillon1102]

"Germany requests the terms of surrender from the nation of France."

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"The French Republic is willing to conclude an armistice with the Third German Empire on the condition, that Germany promises to respect the territorial sovereignity of her neighbours, German troops will leave the Netherlands immediatly, and the German Empire will demilitarise the entire left side of the Rhine, as well as a zone of 50 km extenting to the east of the Rhine. Should Germany want to accept these terms, we invite the Germans to send a representative to meet with us, in order to conclude the armistice."

-Pierre Laval, Ministre des Affaires étrangéres

[Dillon1102]

"The terms are agreed with but we see no need to send a representative into your country."

[Evangeline Anovilis]

"Well, someone will have to sign..."

-Pierre Laval, Ministre des Affaires étrangéres

[Hereno]

[b][Private][/b]

 

Umar would note the powerlessness of the German Empire to exert itself even in its own back yard, as well as the willingness of the Russians to go to war over matters that do not concern them.

 

"Europeans are stupid..." he thought to himself, smoking some hash and being doubly baked by the warm Egyptian sun.

[Dillon1102]

A diplomat would arrive in France. After signing the armistice he would return to his hotel and hang himself.

[Fizzydog]

"Again the German people have been betrayed by the cowardly old guard aristocracy. It is time they rise to the call of the New Right."

- Count Ciano, Italian Foreign Minister and Head of State

Edited September 18, 2014 by Fizzydog

[PresidentDavid]

A diplomat would arrive in France. After signing the armistice he would return to his hotel and hang himself.

 

OOC: You asked me before why I don't like you sometimes - well that's why. 

 

IC:

 

"The Irish Kingdom is relieved to see conflict was averted between the French allies and the Germans. The Royal Government applauds Germany for avoiding a pointless war."

-Hand of The High King

[Evangeline Anovilis]

 

The French soldiers involved in the operations against Germany were completely surprised by what a walk in the park this war with Germany was, after the gruelling four years in the trenches that were the last war against the German menace. The signing of the armistice was fast and most units did not even reach their first objective. But that was not too important, given the sheer euphoria of having beaten the Germans once again without a casualty, though one tank broke down, after having been driven off the road into a ditch. For the time being, until the final peace settlements was signed, the soldiers started occupying the outlined demilitarised zone left of the Rhine, and on their hours off they would frequent the inns and taverns of their enemy.

 

[hr]

 

Meanwhile a final peace treaty would be prepared, which would be presented to the German government. It pretty much reaffirmed the clauses of respecting their western border, leaving the Netherlands and demilitarisation of the Rhineland (map of Rhineland), as well as a 50 km zone East of the Rhine. This zone would have people of the French military intelligence operating in it, to see to it that Germany observed the terms. An additional clause would be added to the treaty, prohibiting Germany from ever allying the Italian state without French approval.

 

Also, the corpse of a hanged German that had been found would be returned to the Germans. Apparantly, it was suicide.