Hoi 4 Chapter 6

Chapter 6 - May 1940:

President Dunaden steps up to the podium set on the front terrace of the White House. The streets of Dover are crowded with people, all there to listen to Dunaden's speech. He clears his throat, testing the mic.

"This morning, at approximately 2 AM eastern time, our allies the Teutons were unjustly and shamelessly attacked by the fascist government of Arabia. Shortly after, the Lotharingian government also declared war against our friends."

He pauses for a few seconds. The audience is silent.

"It takes little imagination to see how this attack threatens not only democracy in Europe, but also our very way of life. After many, many years of peace between the Anglo Alliance and Lotharingia, the American nation cannot stand by and allow the tyrants of fascism to do as they please in Europe. I regret that the US is at war."

Congress agrees to war with the Covenant of Steel by a majority. And the US is not alone. They call to their side Canada, Antillen, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, the United States of Central America, Terres du Nord, and Great Britain.

Just as the US declares war, Peru joins the Covenant and, a few hours later, Colombia does as well. This war is no longer centered around Europe, the US has enemies to the south. Not even 24 hours after, Andalusia joins too.

1st and 2nd armies of the Atlantic Forces are sent to Ireland to prepare to aid the Teutons. The former expeditionary forces in Asia are reformed as 3rd Army, and it is sent with the newly formed 4th Army to prepare for the invasion of South America in Panama.

The Grand Fleet is sent to Ireland to rebase. The Pacific Iron Fleet is diverted from Europe to gain control of the seas around South America. Within hours of war, the Battle for the Channel begins, and the British fleet collides with the Lotharingian. Fortunately, the British have always ruled the oceans, and their impressive force of 18 battleships easily overcome the Lotharingian forces.

That is, until the backup arrives. Dozens of enemy heavy cruisers and battleships arrive, and suddenly the battle is not as much in Britain's favor. Over 50 Lotharingian ships are sunk, but not without bringing over 40 British ships with them. As the enemy begins to retreat, the American Grand Fleet arrives, helping to bring down nearly all of the remaining enemy battleships.

Not even a week after the war began, Venezuela declares itself aligned with the Covenant of Steal. Now the US is at war with 3 nations to the south.

The Battle for the Channel is more than just naval. Thousands and thousands of planes meet for combat in the airs above the waters, and hundreds of planes are shot down. The Covenant has the upperhand, fielding over 4000 planes against the 2500 Anglo ones over the Channel. In Iberia, there is a frustrating lack of runways, just three, with a total capacity of 1000 planes. This is nowhere near as many as Dunaden would like to use, and many of those slots are taken but allied airplanes.

The push in Iberia is so furious, that the Teutonic capital of Perpignan falls by July. 2nd Army lands in Bilbao, the new capital, on the 9th and are sent to stop the Covenant push into Iberia.

Most of 1st lands soon after, although a few transports are caught up in the Channel, where the battle continues. Now, it is only in Anglo favor. Since May, the Lotharingian Navy has been reduced to 9 ships, while its European allies' navies total 20 ships.

In the midst of all the chaos, the Lotharingian supported fascist party of the North German Federation attempts a coup of the government, seizing large parts of it, but ultimately failing. They declare the start of the Fourth Reich (what happened to 1 through 3?) and, after taking control of the north part of the country, declares a civil war.

It does not last long, and the Fourth Reich falls quickly before the NGF forces.

In Iberia, the situation stabilizes as the US troops arrive on the front. Several Teutonic divisions are cut off and encircled, and a plan is drawn up to push the front back in order to rescue them. It is put in place in late July.

Just days later, all the cut off Teutons surrender to the enemy. As casualties reach staggeringly high, the offensive is stopped, and the troops begin digging in.

In South America, the invasion begins. The first phase is a small push in Colombia to expand the front. 3rd and 4th armies carry out the plan.

Bogota proves to be a tough nut to crack, and several weeks of combat stop the American troops in their tracks.

In another part of the world, Delhi's elected and beloved president Durga Kunwar seems determined to unite India. He invades Gujarat. in September.

As October begins, Bogota falls, and the situation looks good in South America. Colombia barely hangs on as several marine divisions land in Ecuador.

Colombia capitulates in December, as the last of its government flees to Peru.