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Nazi Germany continues to stir concerns across Europe after taking power in 1933. This
time, the concern is aroused over the remilitarization of the Rhineland. The Rhineland
had been off limits to German forces under the Treaty of Versailles and was occupied by
the French from 1920 to 1925 to ensure reparations. The move signals a growing confidence in Germany's strength to defy the victorious powers of WWI and right perceived wrongs.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972231
For the Netherlands, it also expands the border frontage the German military has and
provides a direct route to the nations capital with a first strike operation.
In response, Queen Wilhelmina convinces, some would say cajoles, the Dutch parliament
to approve the expansion of the Royal Dutch Navy and Airforce with production of a new
cutting edge light cruiser and more squadrons of fighter planes. The expense of which
is to be offset by increased taxes in both the Netherlands and the Dutch East Indies.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972279
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972307
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972326
March 28, 1936
Italy establishes a puppet government to administer occupied territory in Abyssinia as
its forces push south from their coastal position.
April 6, 1936
The French government decides to not press Germany over the Rhineland issue after much debate. Concerns are ultimately brushed aside with faith in France's vast and well
equipped military and the impenetrable Maginot Line of defenses. Nobody wants another
war and the region is German after all.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972347
April 8, 1936
Spain teeters on the brink of civil war as Leftist political forces consolidate power
within the governing coalition and Rightist Nationalists are rumored to be planning a
coup with support of top military generals.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972369
April 12, 1936
Germany issues orders for general mobilization of all military forces. The open flexing
of military resurgence in violation of the Treaty of Versailles is a brazen mocking of
France's hesitancy to stand up to the Rhineland re-militarization.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972384
April 13, 1936
France quickly issues orders for the general mobilization of its forces to match Germany.
Reluctant to go to war they may be, but unprepared for it they will not.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972405
Dutch armed forces are ordered to expand with the recruitment of new infantry divisions.
Orders to mobilize to full combat readiness are not issued however.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972418
April 23, 1936
Bolivia's government is overthrown by a military coup with officers seeking to bring
social and economic betterment to the country.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2683972438
Bolivia's quick collapse into military governance seems to have been a signal for Spain's
own civil war to kick off. Nationalist politicians declare themselves the rightful
government of Spain, accompanied by the support of a sizable chunk of the military.
The Leftist Republican government moves to resist this treasonous act with the remaining
loyalist forces of the Spanish military.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904257
Internationally, the conflict is viewed as a clash between the extremes of Communism and
Fascism with the potential to draw in other players of similar ideological bend.
May 3, 1936
Japan establishes a buffer state in Inner Mongolia to strengthen its position on the
mainland.
May 4, 1936
Queen Wilhelmina's pressuring for more preparation for conflict sees the Dutch parliament
approve a partial mobilization order.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904303
While all parties of the Dutch government agree that the Netherlands could not go up
against a major power without the support of another great power, the Queen believes
that a well armed and capable force is a better deterrent than doing nothing which is
what the governing ministers are often all to wont to do in order to cut expenses.
While the Queen is expected to support the suggestions of the governing ministers, the
reality is that neither the Queen nor the ministers can operate without the support
of the other and the Queen is strong-willed and tactfully forceful in her views. She
is business savvy and much loved by the Dutch people for overcoming the nation's past
industrial shortcomings and for maintaining neutrality during WWI when the ministers
wanted to bow to Entente pressures and join the fight against Germany.
May 7, 1936
The Spanish Nationalists seize complete control of Morocco, completing their control of
the Straits of Gibraltar. They also declare that any ships suspected of delivering
supplies to the Republican forces will be sunk.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904329
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904348
May 16, 1936
Nazi Germany, the resurging and fascist power, declares it has no interest in the
struggle of fellow fascists in Spain. Is it possible that Germany is actually trying
to assure France that they do not war despite their aggressive posturing? Certainly, a
fascist ally on France's south border would be a great boon in a war and serve as a
powerful piece of leverage in future assertive actions on the continent.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904383
May 17, 1936
Italy declares its support of Nationalist Spanish forces. What Italy hopes to gain is
unclear, but an allied Spain could surely be of use in several scenarios as Mussolini
continues his ambition of a new Roman Empire.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904405
Portugal ends its acknowledgement of the Republican led Spanish government. Instead they throw their support behind the Nationalist forces of Franco.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904424
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904456
May 19, 1936
With Germany signalling a lack of interest in conflict, the Dutch parliament scales
back military readiness from partial mobilization to a "stand by" stance. Further
expansion of the army is also halted.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904472
June 5, 1936
Italy begins sending arms to support the Spanish Nationalists.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2684904496
I am concerned about your economy. I thought your properties in the Pacific theater would give you a good supply of oil at least plus a decent cashflow from the traditional robust Dutch trade economy. Can you hold up with negative steel and coal income? Oddly enough, you have good production of steel and you have decent manpower in your two cities so at least you can get a few boots on the ground before the shooting starts. I hope you dig some deep trenches and build some forts before 1939. It is possible that Germany might bypass your nation when invading France. I have seen it happen. But events might trigger them to invade your nation at some point despite all.
That light cruiser plus the fighter squadron with the fancy new models and ample clothing you are making should worry Germany and Japan. Your troops will be warm during wartime unlike the German high command which puts a low priority on winter clothing. Hopefully that light cruiser can help you sink the German navy and then go around to Southeast Asia to slow down Japan's expansion once they get going.
Can you show some of your rich Pacific holdings? I have never played as the Netherlands. Maybe you can use prospecting to build up a good flow of resources. There must be ample untapped oil reserves on those islands in Indonesia.
The Pacific colonies will be featured more as things move forward. I also have a couple regions in the Caribbean but I dont know how much of a role those will be able to play.
Germany declares its support of Italy's colonial expansion in Abyssinia. Murmurs and
insinuations that Germany is supporting Franco's Nationalist forces in Spain through
Italy begin to circulate international circles.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2688152826
July 18, 1936
Greek Nationalist forces led by Ioannis Metaxas succeed in their coup in Greece. They are
strongly opposed to communism and are pro-German in their leanings. While they had the
support of King George II of Greece, he remains pro-British. The Greek people turn from
dislike of their king to open hatred for this betrayal of the people and democracy.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2688152854
July 21, 1936
France decides to remain neutral in the Spanish Civil War in solidarity with Germany's
neutrality. They close the French-Spanish border and refuse to send aid in response to
the Republican pleas for military support.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2688152880
July 23, 1936
The Dutch parliament succeeds in further reducing military expansion by ending the production of fighter planes. "If Germany does not seek war, and France does not seek war, what need have we to fear war, stuck as we are between the two of them?" Questions Dutch Prime Minister Hendrikus Colijn.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2688152906
July 27, 1936
The Soviet Union extends military aid to Spanish Republican forces in exchange for gold.
There involvement, even if only for hard cash assets, cements the belief that the
government coalition was taken over by communist sympathizers and gives credence to
the justifications for conflict given by the Nationalists.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2688153056
Further extending their pleas for aid, the Spanish Republicans beseech the Netherlands for
financial aid but are rejected due to the now open ties to communism, the lack of
support from any other power in Europe, and the fear of drawing the ire of either France or Germany by taking a side.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2688153081
August 14, 1936
Facing increasing pressure from the strengthening Nationalist forces, Republican Spain
declares it will sink any shipping sending aid to the treasonous Nationalist forces.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2688153117
Are you making forts and trenches? A lot of those will help keep Germany out if there is a war. Unless you are already accepted defeat will be certain, and therefore you will switch to a Pacific based nation if Germany grabs your Netherlands homeland. Then it would make sense to make the ships which can scoot over to Indonesia with all your paintings, wine and gold in the holds before Germany starts their big war.
The way I am structuring this campaign is by having two differing political factions within the government; pro-military preparedness and anti-militarization. The Queen is (and was) a believer in a capable military to deter invasion while historically the elected politicians of government were against the costs as it increased budgets and required higher taxes which hurt them in elections. Both sides believed fighting a great power on their own was not possible, but differed on whether the military was a deterrent or a liability. So in my campaign, the Queen wants more ships, planes, soldiers and will try to use world events to encourage producing more. The parliament is against military build up and will use world events to argue scaling back recruitment and production (i will not disband forces as a scaling down measure in game for gameplay reasons unless getting rid of really outdated forces).
While I could pump out soldiers (not recruiting any at the current posted point in time), huge ships and planes from turn 1 and build defensive structures everywhere, it would be a very gamey action and I want this to feel more realistic (within game terms), like a nation struggling to navigate a dangerous time in the world and reacting to that world. Rather than blindly prepare for war because it is a war game, I want there to be justification for the actions I take. It will make for a more interesting story, but rest assured, I will be in wars because this is a war game after all.
Franco rides victoriously into Madrid as Nationalist forces seize the capital and link
their coastal and inland territories. With control of the nation's capital, Franco now
possesses a key instrument in legitimizing his claim to being the true government of
Spain.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2690945874
October 11, 1936
With Italian aid continuing to pour into Nationalist hands, Franco's forces solidify
control over all of western and central Spain. Republican forces now cling to control
over the border with France and a stretch of the Mediterranean coast.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2691004960
October 16, 1936
Japan's Mongol puppet state declares war on a neighboring Chinese warlord. Japan
ends its affiliation in order to stay out of the seemingly unexpected conflict.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2690945896
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2690945942
October 23, 1936
The Dutch shipyard in Rotterdam completes construction of the commissioned new light
cruiser. However, no new warships are to follow since no conflict that could affect
the Netherlands is looming.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2690945958
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2690945973
November 1, 1936
Germany and Japan sign the Anti-Comintern Pact. The treaty commits both nations to
countering the spread of communism and, aside from putting pressure on the Soviet Union from both Eastern and Western extremes, serves to strengthen ties between the two countries and could form the basis of a proper military alliance in the future.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2690945998
In light of this increased cooperation, Germany acknowledges the Japanese puppet state of Manchukuo.
November 8, 1936
The former Japanese puppet state in Mongolia is defeated and annexed into the Shanxi Warlord's domains.
December 24, 1936
Hitler and Mussolini announce the Rome-Berlin Axis as both nations agree to increase
their cooperation and come closer to a formal military alliance between the two
fascist powers.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2690946054
January 31, 1937
A Fascist faction within the new Bolivian Military Junta rises to prominence and
begins to pursue closer ties with Germany.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2690946081
Internationally insignificant, Bolivia's slide into fascism nonetheless adds to global
concerns at the rapid rise of such extreme political forces around the world in recent
years. Could such radicals take over in more powerful democratic nations, and could their growing presence lead to new wars to fuel the fascist need to expand its own greatness?
February 28, 1937
Franco declares final and total victory over the communist Republican sham government. Surviving political members and known sympathizers are rounded up and jailed. While the nation is still divided, everyone is happy the conflict has ended and rebuilding and healing can begin.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2690946112
The Dutch parliament officially recognizes Franco's government as the legitimate
representation of Spain. Outside of Italy and Portugal, no other nations seem keen
to acknowledge the new fascist regime.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695472956
With the fascist forces winning in Spain and bringing the conflict in Europe to a close, the Netherlands lowers taxes and begins anti-corruption investigations to ensure the large revenue stream was appropriately managed to ensure the Dutch were best secured if France and Germany had come to blows over Spain's future.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695473017
May 9, 1937
Japan and China fall into a state of war after a confusing clash at the Marco Polo Bridge
escalates into a full on battle between Chinese Nationalist forces and Japanese soldiers
in Manchukuo.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695473047
May 12, 1937
The conflict between China and Japan raises concerns over the security of Dutch colonies
in the Far East. At the Queen's behest, recruitment of local soldiers begins in order to
better man and patrol the extensive coasts and islands of the Dutch East Indies.
Production of destroyers also begins in the shipyards of the East Indies colony in order
to patrol local waters.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695473095
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695473166
Meanwhile, back in Europe, construction of two new warships begins. A battlecruiser and
a heavy destroyer, both of the latest design, that are destined for the Far East upon
completion to strengthen the presence of the Dutch Navy and further patrol colonial
waters and ensure communication and supply lines.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695473133
May 16, 1937
Several Chinese warlords pledge support of the Chinese Nationalists in order to fight off
the coming Japanese invasion. More warlords will continue to pledge support in the coming months as the conflict threatens their holdings or they realize the true danger of a
Japanese victory over piecemeal opposition.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695473213
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695473283
The Soviet Union also severs diplomatic communications with Japan. The coming conflict
offers an opportunity for the Soviets to weaken the threat of Japan attacking from the
east in coordination with Germany attacking them simultaneously in the west.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695473253
June 6, 1937
Dutch soldiers from the Netherlands gather to embark on a mission to secure colonial
resupply points along the way to the Dutch East Indies. Several African regions once
controlled by Spain have broken off after the Nationalists declared victory in the
Spanish Civil War. Spain considers them provinces in rebellion and no other nation
recognizes their legitimacy.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2695473308
At the Queen's urging, parliament has approved taking action to seize these regions with
the intend of providing a refueling point for the warships that will be heading around
Africa and on to the Pacific.
Here is a new documentary which is partly about Japan vs Dutch East Indies. Apparently the Dutch had 85,000 personnel in their army in Indonesia and 389 aircraft (mostly obsolete older models unfortunately). They bombed Japanese ships in the video that were supporting the SNLF invasion of the British part of Borneo. There were Dutch troops there too. Maybe this video will give you hope that you can whip the Japanese and soak up some of their territory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhQrv82HHn8
The Dutch parliament officially declares war on the newly independent Spanish colonies and Dutch troops begin to land on the beaches.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698172956
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698172911
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698172994
July 2, 1937
The Spanish government asserts its claims over the captured regions and orders the Dutch military to vacate immediately. Dutch Parliament tells troops to comply with the Spanish
demands.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698173030
July 4, 1937
After appealing to the Dutch people at the outrageousness of the Spanish demands, the
insult to Dutch independence and the spinelessness of Dutch parliament, Queen Wilhelmina, backed by growing protests in the streets, forces parliament to declare war on the Spanish state and order the withdrawing troops to instead secure the regions, by force
if necessary.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698173062
In an impassioned broadcast that afternoon, the Queen brought word to her people that they were in a state of war with Spain and the people rejoiced. "Who is Spain to tell our
soldiers were to go? Who is Spain to demand lands they could not hold but that we have
taken by our own endeavors? We gave Franco the honor of being acknowledged as rightful leader of Spain after he led the country into civil war with his petty dreams of
dictatorship. For that honor, this is how we are repaid! In Franco's delusion he seems
to believe that Spain still owns the Netherlands and that we did not win our independence
in the Eighty Years War from Spanish depravity and oppression. Let us remind Mr. Franco
of these facts and let Spain bow in deference to Dutch claims!"
The first blows of this war are traded at sea, where the Dutch naval escort fires upon a patrolling Spanish destroyer off the Canary Islands.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698173091
July 6, 1937
With the Netherlands now at war with another European power, the military is ordered to
expand with all possible speed. General mobilization is ordered and new divisions of
recruits begin training for combat operations.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698173229
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698173179
Construction of heavy bombers also begins in the Netherlands to strengthen the reach of
the Royal Dutch Air force. The ability to hit Spanish cities at distance will likely be
instrumental in breaking the will of the Spanish populace to support this war. If Franco
faces the threat of a new civil war while also fighting a foreign enemy, he should
buckle to Dutch demands in order to retain his power.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698173142
July 9, 1937
Dutch troops retake control of West Africa and begin to mobilize towards the Canary
Islands and Morocco.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2698173268
You have a lot of experience from your Mexico campaign in beefing up a small army into a world class military. Looks like your economy is doing well with mostly positives except supplies cause of the naval combat, and steel is needed for your new ships. This campaign is really heating up. Maybe the Netherlands will be the big aggressor that snowballs your little war into a general worldwide brawl.
The Spanish Navy sallies out of port to protect the Strait of Gibraltar. With the Dutch
fleet outgunned, Admiral Conrad Helfrich orders a tactical withdrawal back down the coast. Operation Stingray, the landing in Morocco, is put on hold until local sea superiority
can be established.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484498
The remainder of the Dutch blue water Navy in the Netherlands is ordered to make way to
rendezvous with Admiral Helfrich in order to balance the odds against the Spanish Navy.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484544
July 22, 1937
Admiral Helfrich takes his fleet north to the coast of Galicia after the support fleet
is engaged by the local Spanish naval contingent. With the entirety of the Royal Dutch
Navy off the coast of northern Spain, Operation Stingray is scrapped.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484577
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484606
July 28, 1937
Admiral Helfrich takes command of the combined Dutch fleets in the Battle of Costa Del
Marisco as Spain also brings additional ships to bear in the fight.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484645
August 1, 1937
A squadron of Dutch submarines is dispatched to the Basque Coast to spy on Spanish
coastal defenses near the French border.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484670
August 11, 1937
Portugal grants port access to the Dutch Navy. Portugal claims it is doing so out of a
neutral stance and that Spain could request, and would be granted, port access as well.
Secretly however, Queen Wilhelmina has negotiated Portuguese permission to refuel in
their nearby ports in exchange for control over their claim on Spanish Galicia once
the region is secured.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484699
Despite winning the Battle of Costa Del Marisco, Admiral Helfrich had reported the fleet
no longer had the fuel necessary to conduct a naval landing into northern Spain, Operation Bobcat. A return to the Netherlands to facilitate the refueling would require too much time and would squander the opportunity now won, necessitating the use of Portuguese port facilities.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484724
September 3, 1937
The refueling in Portugal had taken longer than desired, but the combined Dutch fleet
at last returns to the Spanish coast to reengage the Spanish Navy at the Second
Battle of Costa Del Marisco.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484754
September 12, 1937
Admiral Helfrich reports a second victory over the Spanish Navy and that Dutch troops are
beginning to be ferried to shore, Operation Bobcat is a go! The rallying Spanish Navy
has been detected preparing to try and disrupt these landings and so Helfrich himself is
taking half the Dutch Navy north to intercept them and buy time for the landings to be completed.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2702484783