A Devastating Alternate Second World War

June 08, 2010

Shattered World - Micro-Segment 56.1.1

Shattered World - Micro-Segment 56.1.1

The Two Open Doors

November 19th 1949


November 19th, 1949

At 4:01 AM local time, on the morning, of the 19th, the government of Free France declares war upon the European Axis Powers and re-joins the Alliance for Democracy. At precisely the same time the government of Portugal, under the cynical and self-interested rule of Salazar, surrenders to the Alliance for Democracy and declares war upon the European Axis Powers. It is a diplomatic coup for the Ages, an Alliance masterstroke. Two open doors now sit on the western flank of the Axis.

D-Day 1

In Portugal, intensive air strikes on German coastal missile and gun batteries, massive bombing of German logistics, and chaos caused by the Portuguese defection, combine to allow largely unopposed U.S. landings. Under a massive screen of U.S. carrier aircraft, U.S. forces come ashore at two locations at around 6:30 AM, met with handshakes from local officials who have recieved orders from Lisbon to welcome them. In the north, two U.S. army divisions, and an accompanying battalion of British marines, stride onto the beaches at Figueira da Foz. To the south, two additional U.S. army divisions and a battalion of Canadian infantry come ashore 50 kilometers southeast of Lisbon and, with massive air power and naval fire support, sweep aside a rear echelon German infantry unit that happened to be in the area, taking many prisoners.
In Lisbon and other major cities, German infantry and pro-German fascist elements are clashing with Portuguese police, soldiers, and an assortment of anarchists and communists eager to help get rid of the Germans. The scene in most large Portuguese cities is one of chaos, gunfire, smoke, and confusion. Though caught off guard by the Portuguesse defection, the German command in the region is beginning to react in a coordinated fashion by around noon.
First, there is the matter of crushing Salazar's "treacherous" regime in Lisbon(though Salazar himself is safely hidden away until "things settle down"). Then, there is the matter of slowing down the Americans as much as possible while reinforcements can be brought in. By the early afternoon hours, the two real combat-ready German mechanized divisions in Portugal are preparing to move from inland bases and towards the U.S. beach heads.
In the meantime, with the Luftwaffe largely driven out of Ibera by the relentless American air campaign, German strategic rocket forces in western and southern Spain come into action. By the late afternoon, around half a dozen sarin and conventional ballistic missiles have struck each American beachhead, causing moderate disruption but minimal real delays in the U.S. landing operations. Another dozen sarin-tipped missiles hit the Canaries causing mild damage, though one particularly "lucky" strike lands amidst a busy fuel depot, killing hundred's of laborers and soldiers who not been wearing their protective gear.(leading later to multiple court martials)


"D-Day 2" (later called 'Easy Day' in the U.S.)

In Free France, several American divisions pour ashore at that nation's Atlantic ports, greeted by cheering crowds of French colonials and expatriots. Axis reconaisance aircraft note the massive disembarkment, and notify an Axis High Command which has little power to do anything about it at the moment. The Luftwaffe is simply stretched too thin and cannot send any assets to disrupt the American operations. The one immediate effect of these landings is to give even more grim determination to the Axis efforts in Libya - they must now take Egypt or face an inevitable squeeze on two fronts.



Meanwhile; in Free-French Syria Arab nationalist elements, who have been carefully preparing for several years, see an oppurtunity they cannot afford to miss. Within hours of Free France's sudden re-entry into the war, nationalist militias begin mobilizing while an unusual burst of radio communications begins broadcasting in code from Syria to Turkey.


TO BE CONTINUED...






11 comments:

Olefin said...

Let me say this - lvoe the update! Very realistic, written well and not one thing about it that needs to be changed (except a couple of spelling errors but big deal). Terrific to finally see an update even a short one.

Just one question - are the US divisions infantry alone or did they land with amphib tanks like the US did on D-Day? That would mean the biggest tank they landed was a Sherman - I dont think they ever managed to make any tank bigger float but I may be wrong.

Bobby said...

Thanks ;)

As for the initial landings, its army divisions with a decent number of specialized Shermans in support. Plus massive naval fire support and air power. (not to mention the SBC sitting back at the Canaries waiting for a German target...)

Bobby said...

army infantry divisions I should have said, with moderate specialized Sherman support

The heavier armor won't be far behind, given they have pretty secure beach heads

lordroel said...

Another great piece of work Bobby, even if it is only a Micro-Segment.

Anonymous said...

WOOHOO! Glad your not dead Bobby!

Great update, good to see nothing needs to be changed.

Keep 'em coming please!

CJ said...

Actually, the British did test a duplex drive Centurion post-war in OTL, and continued experiments into the 1960s. But beyond the fact that they tested the thing, I've never been able to track down any hard details about it. Though I do have a picture of it.

gszczepa said...

Great! I'm waiting impatiently for another part:)

Olefin said...

Sounds like the Free French forces in Syria may have a bad day coming - and the British are totally committed right now in Egypt - - if they have to pull men out to stop a thrust into Syria they are gonna lose Cairo for sure

Olefin said...

By the way I am not meaning Cairo would be taken by Gustov - the only thing holding Egypt right now are the British units deployed there - if they have to go to Syria or Lebanon then Egypt may be back in play again - and that would be very bad news for any attempt by the British to save the troops in Benghazi - i.e. they have to choose to try to restore order again in Egypt but doing so costs them any ability to resupply Benghazi

Unknown said...

Swell update, I am on the edge of my seat! With Allied forces on mainland Europe, what surprises does Germany have in store...

canada said...

hey man great work so far i have been catching up on all the back issues of your story through the past couple weeks. can't wait to see what happens next