Sept/Oct 1939: The conflagration begins. The Poles defend by stopping the lead elements of the Wehrmacht, and the strategy is partially successful. Warsaw falls but the Germans cannot reach Lodz. The Italians peacefully reinforce their border with France. Japan attacks in northern China, successfully taking the city of Chengchow, but a few ne’er-do-wells run amok, causing outrage in the American press.
  Impulse #2: France and the CW declare war on Germany. The CW take a naval and set up with the BEF ready to land on the continent. The French take daring action, sending their SUBs into the Baltic to raid the German convoy lines there. They successfully abort 3 of the 4 CONV there, but sink none (and suffer no losses). The Soviets build up on the border of Iran, but at the cost of leaving Siberia under-defended. China snakes a DIV forward to seize Hangchow but otherwise holds the line.
  Impulse #3: The Germans declare war on Denmark for pro-Allied sentiment. Surprisingly, a CA with a DIV sneaks out and seizes Iceland. The main part of Denmark is overrun. Lodz is assaulted and taken without loss. Troops start to head west. Italy deposits corps in Libya. Japan tries to avert the obvious plan by the Soviets to invade Iran and declares war on the USSR. MARs off the coast invade Vladivostock, taking the city with loss. Japanese elements in the north take two RES and cut off a Siberian INF corps.  Japan kills the DIV in Hangchow, but again the American press is outraged about the battle. 
  Impulse #4: The Soviets oddly declare war on the Netherlands, but it appears this is a part of the nefarious Molotov-Ribbentrop II pact with Germany. Has Europe been sold out?! The French bring the Moroccan corps to southern France and the CW land Gort and a MECH in northern France. The Soviets do indeed also declare war on Iran and push to assault Tehran. The Japanese warned them that the divine wind was against them, and so it was. The +6 assault is a bloody affair, with the Soviets losing 3 units, although the defenders do all die. One lone CAV remains to take the capital before the end of the turn. Strangely, US entry is quite advanced in the Japanese pool, but Soviet aggression has pushed the European pool back to nothing. 
  Impulse #5:  The weather remains decent, but the Germans… take a naval?! They do. A raiding party slips past the pickets in the North Sea and raids the North Atlantic convoys, taking 4 CONV. A SUB also raids but finds no targets. The Baltic convoys are re-established for the Germans. The French subs there try but fail to inflict more damage. Italy quietly bides its time. Japan shifts forces in Siberia, but not a lot happens.
  Impulse #6: The Soviets shockingly invoke a part of M_R II Pact and declare war on Belgium, which causes the Belgians to align with Germany. Granthill and DeHarris are outraged. France re-arranges its line while the CW shifts to defend its convoy lines, but no naval combat actually occurs. China holds the line.
  Impulse #7: The weather turns nasty (worst possible roll) and the Germans curse their weather luck, poised at the precipice of a breakthrough… which now grinds to a halt, allowing the French to adapt to the new situation. The Germans make no attacks, just shift forces from Poland towards France. Italy loves peace. Japan also has a quiet turn.
  Impulse #8: In the bad weather, mostly nothing happens. The Soviets commit hard to the war with Japan, sending both of their HQs east along with a fair bit of their other land forces. The CW continues to work on its naval arrangements and France finalizes its front with Germany.
  Impulse #9: The turn does not end, but the weather gets worse (’12’ on the modified roll). The Germans stare glumly at the sky and their bogged down panzers. No attacks occurs, the Wehrmacht limps its forces slightly closer to the French front. Italy enjoys peace and harmony. Japan makes minor shifts. The turn then ends.
  The Axis are a bit unfortunate, with 2 PARTs appearing in China in inconvenient places.  With the war with Russia, Japanese land units are at a premium. Iran is conquered by the Soviets, Poland and Denmark are conquered by Germany.

Nov/Dec 1939: The Axis win initiative and the weather… continues to be abysmal. Nonetheless, the Italians decide that they have had enough of British posturing and aggression, and declare war on the UK (only). A bold DIV invades the undefended Port Said, scattering the British fleet there. The surprise invasion was unlucky (only the Warspite was sunk in the surprise, statistically way less than should have been lost given the 8 ships there), but the fleet had to run out of port… into the waiting Italian NAV, which proceeded to wreak havoc. In the escape, the CW lost the CV Glorious, BB Malaya, and the CA Shropshire sunk. In raiding elsewhere, the Italians took 2 CONV. The Germans decide they cannot wait, and despite the snow, attack the French line in the center. The French airforce does its job, clearing defending TAC, so the resulting attack is +4. The Germans perform well, considering (1/R) losing a valuable ARM DIV but take the hex. The Japan regroup and kill both of the PART in China and slowly look to move troops northward into Manchuria and Siberia.
  Impulse #2: The Soviets declare war on Norway, again invoking this mysterious pact. Norway gleefully joins the Axis and pledges to annex Scotland. The Soviets push their growing Siberian army towards the Manchurian border. The Chinese launch a daring +4 assault, which succeeds in the taking the hex at some cost (2/1). The CW eliminate the Italian DIV in Port Said, but the Suez Canal damage remains. The French contemplate a counter-attack, but the poor weather dissuades them of the move. Strategic bombing takes 1 BP from Nuremberg.
  Impulse #3: The weather stays poor, confounding Axis efforts. The Germans again basically launch everything they have and only manage a +6 blitz, but it is more successful, taking the Ardennes forest hex (-/B). The Italians push from Libya into Egypt. The Japanese slowly maneuver in Siberia.
  Impulse #4: The Soviets attack and kill the Japanese CAV near Chita, clearing the way to northern Manchuria along that rail line. The other line flips forwards further east. The Chinese hold the line. The CW takes a combined action and shifts a few CONV and improves convoy defense. The French adjust to cover the gap made by the German attack and they retain a solid line.
  Impulse #5: The Germans again take a naval! Again the SUBs are unsuccessful, but a raiding fleet–bolstered by some Dutch and Belgian forces, hit the Bay of Biscay. The Axis surprise the CW, sinking the Argus with all hands and taking 2 CONV. The Belgian cruiser is damaged before the Axis fleets aborts home, happy with the small win. The Italians shift forces by sealift to Libya and Egypt. The Japanese continue to do small movements to form a line in Manchuria.
  Impulse #6: The Soviets try to raid with their one remaining SUB in the Pacific before the admiral is reminded that the port is ice-in in the bad weather. So the Soviets grind forward into Manchuria instead. The CW abandon the French, completing movement of the BEF to Bayonne–far behind the lines. The French decide to fight on. The turn then ends.
  Once again, the Japanese are unfortunate, taking 2 more PARTs in China. Partisans seize Shang-hai and Hainan. Italy conquers British Somilialand. 

J/F 1940: The Axis win initiative and go first. The Germans attack in France despite yet more bad weather, taking a hex with a loss (1/B). The Wehrmacht is advancing, but the French are exacting a toll. The Italians have a brilliant opportunity in Egypt, but the +10 blitz in the desert is poorly executed and they only retreat the Brits into Alexandria. The Japanese invade and retake Hainan from the Chinese PART there.
  Impulse #2: The CW pull the BEF out of Bayonne and spread to defend their convoy line, which is now partially repaired. The French decide to pull back from the front line and do the ‘Paris huddle,’ hoping the poor weather will continue to hamper the Germans. The Soviets lurch forward another hex or two in Siberia.
  Impulse #3: The weather slightly clears (muddy in the temperate) and the Germans decide to unleash the panzers. A +12 attack north of Paris takes a hex (but fails to kill any French units…) and a +12 assault on Metz succeeds without loss. A large hole now exists in the French line! Meanwhile, in Egypt the Italians launch a daring +11 blitz in the desert, successfully flanking Wavell in Alexandria. The British in the desert are out of supply, but hold Alexandria. The Japanese suddenly start behaving oddly in Manchuria, pulling back from the line in the north with the Soviets.
  Impulse #4: The Allies have a quiet turn. The French move to defend the flanks of Paris. The CW takes a land to send units to defend Cairo now that the Italians have flanked Wavell. The Soviets oddly do not press their advantage from the Japanese moves and voluntarily (?!) abandon a RES hex. Smells like a dirty deal. The Chinese hold the line, but reinforce Si-an.
  Impulse #5: The Germans–in the snow–kill a GAR south of Paris, fully opening the southern flank of the French lines. Otherwise the turn is mostly just positioning. Italy assaults Alexandria on a +11 assault, killing two units and retreating Wavell, out of supply, to the NE. Egypt looks doomed to fall, but the CW have a TER and Div protecting Cairo. The Japanese again continue to move south, away from the Soviet front.
  Impulse #6: The Allies pass and successfully end the turn.
  A PART appears in Manchuria, occupies Mukden, and deprives the Japanese of 2 BPs. It was ‘only’ a 10% chance, but the loss is keenly felt. No other PARTs appear. Italy conquers Sudan and French Somalialand. Sure enough, the Japanese and Soviets come to peace, with the Japanese receiving Vladivostok, some RES hexes, and a liberated Iran. There are apparently provisions protecting the USSR from Axis liberation efforts through Iran, however. Why would Grabahito betray the cause?  

M/A 1940: The Axis win initiative and the weather… what?! … starts clear. The Wehrmacht rejoices. Yet the results are mixed. In a +13 blitz the Germans perform poorly (1/B), costing them a MOT. A +10 blitz further south is successful. The Germans now have 3 hexes on Paris, however. Rundstedt reorganizes the German line. Italy cleans up Wavell, eliminating the corps in an automatic attack and otherwise pushes towards Cairo.
  Impulse #2: The CW navalize and protect their convoys, which now has been repaired around Africa and includes additional convoys across the Atlantic for added resources from S. America. The French contemplate a counterattack, but the odds are poor and they elect to defend. The USSR starts pulling back themselves from Manchuria. Units appear on the border of Finland. Is there no limit to Soviet aggression?
  Impulse #3: Surprisingly, the weather remains clear. The Germans assault Paris with a PARA drop and take the city on a +16 assault. The Italians assault Cairo and take the city on a +16 attack themselves. The Japanese shift their attention to China, moving units to central and southern China. The PART in Mukden is eliminated.
  Impulse #4: The Allies are quiet. China holds the line. The CW takes a combined and uses it to reinforce Belfast. The Soviets send more units to the Polish frontier, the Romanian frontier, and the Finnish frontier. When will the Allies see who the real threat is?
  Impulse #5: The Japanese take a +12 assault in China that is a painful victory (2/1, but take a critical hex). The Chinese line in the south is now over-extended. The Germans filter forces forward into France towards the coasts, isolating the remaining French operational force south of Paris. On the combined, the navy sails out and sinks a CW cruiser at the cost of the Deutschland being damaged. Not CONV are sunk, however. The Italians push across Egypt and into Palestine.
  Impulse #6:  More the same. The French have no avenue to retake Paris and thus try to hold a line to prevent conquest. The CW shift forces back to England, essentially conceding Egypt to the Axis. The Soviets continue their slow shift of forces. China pulls back slightly in the south.
  Impulse #7: Germany takes a land and extends forces towards Brest and Bordeaux. A stockpile of French buildpoints beckon, saved to try and put DeGaulle on the production spiral. The Italians push added corps into Jordan. The Japanese use their forward position to attack, and clear a hex without loss on a +10 assault… taking Chang-Sha! Their forces are also well-behaved; all atrocities were done away from the press.
  Impulse #8: All the Allies pass except China, who pulls back to save their line. The turn, however, does not end.
  Impulse #9: The weather turns bad (wintery in the temperate), but it is enough for the Germans to seize the BPs in France. Italy activates Iraq as a minor ally. Japan pushes its army forward, stretched as it is. Germany pushes its Belgian ally to take Rhodesia. The turn then ends.
  No PARTs appear (shockingly). Italy conquers Egypt, Germany conquers Rhodesia. Germany declares a Vichy France, with the Asian, Pacific, and Equatorial areas going Free. The new capital is moved to New Caledonia.

May/June 1940: The Allies win initiative and the weather starts clear (except in the monsoon zone). China takes the initiative to pull back to a stronger mountain side running south from Si-an. The CW navalizes, including placing naval and some DIVs off the coast of the NEI. Convoys are protected. The USSR withdraws further from Siberia and piles up units in Europe from Finland to Rumania.
  Impulse #2: Japan occupies Indo-China and pushes a unit north from Hanoi. The US is upset at the action, but otherwise no one seems to care much. The Germans take a land and push units to the coasts in France. Italy takes a naval and tries to hit CW convoys, but only manages to take 1 CONV despite 4 attacks. 
  Impulse #3: The weather sadly turns rainy and gloomy…. As a result, not much happens in the rain and storms (in the temperate). The British send cruisers with DIVs to the Pacific where they threaten to invade the NEI, but poor weather prevents any action. The Soviets build up on the Finnish border, probably to oppress another poor people. Europe clearly needs a hero. China struggles to hold a line in the south and many of its units are out of supply and flipped as they try to find a defensive line.
  Impulse #4. The Iraqis march into Kuwait as Italian troops march across the Iraqi desert towards Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Germans position troops on the coasts in France and build up near the Spanish border. The Japanese push forward a key hex in China, but must flip to do so. Nonetheless, the Chinese line is in trouble as Japan is next to an undefended Chungking (but its unit is face-down).
  Impulse #5: The weather is spectacularly clear. The Brits manage to get CONV out to the new RES in S. America, bolstering their convoy routes. The Soviets shift most of the rest of their airforce to the area around Leningrad. The Chinese are mostly flipped, so they hope to go first next impulse.
  Shockingly, the turn ends at its earliest possibility. Another Chinese PART appears, but does not do any mischief. The US embargoes the Japanese. The Germans whine about the short turn.

July/August 1940: The Axis win initiative despite the hopes of the Allies. Japan starts by marching into an undefended Chungking, simultaneously seizing the Chinese oil reserves.  The news is not entirely good as a strong +9 assault on Si-an and Mao fails (2/1). The Italians take a naval and go CONV hunting plus set up with sizable fleets in the Med. The hunting goes poorly, with only 1 CONV taken across 5 opportunities. The Germans take a combined and send NAV and light forces to attack the N. Sea and the Bay of Biscay, but nothing comes of it. Strategic bombing in England goes poorly, with the Germans losing 2 FTRs despite flying at major advantage. No damage is done to the British economy.
  Impulse #2: The UK strategically bombs Germany, but fails to find their targets. Convoys are defended in force, including the Bay of Biscay, but disaster strikes. German and Italian NAV find the British there, and over 4 rounds of combat, 10 CONV are lost and 3 CW carriers are damaged. The Chinese are in panic mode, trying to reform a line. the Soviets continue their buildup. 
  Impulse #3: The Japanese attack a southern resource in China as the weather is unexpectedly clear in the monsoon zone. The attack succeeds without loss and the Japanese consolidate their position. Peacekeeping force occupy critical oil hexes in the NEI. The Germans collapse Vichy (irritating the US) and send forces into Tunisia, Algeria, and Syria. Spending 4 chit points, the Germans also send out an invasion fleet into the North Sea! A daring invasion is made into London, which succeeds after some groundstriking and air combat, on a rolled ’14’.  The citizens of London hold a parade to commemorate the event. The US, however, is positively outraged (+2 chits), although no one can understand why.
  Impulse #4: The Soviets declare war on Finland. Such unbridled aggression has not been seen for… at least a turn. The Soviets launch a clever surprise invasion into southern Finland, killing a FTR and isolating the Finn front line. The Soviets under Zhukov then blitz forward removing the front line without loss.  The CW take a land and organize a defense in England centered around Coventry, but they have not the forces at hand to repel the Germans. 
  Impulse #5: Japan activate Siam as a minor ally (no entry) and pushes units slowly forward in China. The Italians invade Cyprus and roll a corps into Syria. The Germans spend more chit points to use TRS to convoy corps into England. They attack and kill a flipped MIL in Dover without loss. The Finns counter-attack, killing a SKI unit in the far north and the INF DIV in southern Finland. German units streak across Algeria.
  Impulse #6: The USSR claims Bessarabia. The Germans accede to the Soviet demands and allow the claims of Hungary and Bulgaria next impulse. Clearly the Soviets have no limits to their thirst for power. Calls for the Germans to check the communists rise across Europe. The CW repositions naval units in the Pacific and pulls back a southern force in the UK to Portsmouth, defending a fleet in port there. A TRS sneaks out to pull a unit from Scapa Flow to reinforce central England.
  Impulse 7: The Germans activate Hungary (no US penalty) and mass for a +12 assault on Coventry. The attack is a mixed success (1/2S), killing Gort and taking the city, but their units are half-flipped with a casualty. Fortunately the move takes a RES and cuts off the another one; with the CW convoy lines in shambles, the Brits will take a production hit this turn. Germans units move towards Yugoslavia, into Hungary. The Japanese slowly move units to the front in China, and consolidate their gains. Italy picks off 2 CONV in the Indian Ocean.
  Impulse #8: The Soviets push forward and attack Mannerheim to the east of Helsinki. The Finns fight bravely, but lose the hex (2/1). Soviet casualties are mounting, but their overwhelming strength is too much for the poor Finns. The CW reposition two units into central England to hold the line there.  China hopes for the best, lacking oil and resources.
  Impulse #9: Germany activate Bulgaria as an ally, as the world starts to wake up to the Soviet threat to peace and prosperity. The US understands (no penalty). The reinforced CW line in central England prevents Germans attacks. The Italians push forces along the S. Arabian border with Iraq. Japan has a quiet turn adjusting his Chinese lines.
  Impulse #10. The Allies except for the CW pass. The CW tweaks its line and then turn sadly comes to an end. No PARTS appear. The US sends resources to Western Allies. 

Sept/Oct 1940: The Axis win initiative. The weather is partly clear (but clear in the temperate). The Germans take a combined and invade Scapa Flow, forcing the fleet there to relocate to Glasgow. Italy declares war on Saudi Arabia, taking the oil fields and successfully assaulting and capturing the capital. Italy also flips a GAR into Aden, securing the port. The Japanese take a +10 assault in China, roll poorly, but take the hex (flipped) in the central mountains. 
  Impulse #2: The UK takes a combined and reinforces Gibraltar with a GAR and GAR DIV. A unit in Plymouth moves to defend Liverpool. A bombing mission takes 1 BP from Berlin. The Chinese are in some disarray in the south, but the terrain and weather is bad. That, plus poor Japanese attacks make everything slow. The Soviets advance in Finland, using virtually all of their quality army and air force against a small neighbor. The US is mostly quiet.
  Impulse #3: The weather turns absolutely dreadful everywhere. The Finns see an opportunity and move out of Helsinki to attack a lone ART the Soviets left exposed. The attack succeeds, but it has the consequence of drawing the Finns out of the capital. The Germans in England, however, face early snows. They lose 2 FTRs in combat (with advantage in both of +2 or more) and three sets of ground strikes fail to flip even a single British unit. The Italians take a naval and hunt convoys, managing to sink 2 CONV off the coast of Gibraltar. The Japanese are mostly flipped and slowly arrange units in China.
  Impulse #4: The Chinese hold the line, the Soviets push more troops into Finland. The CW takes a naval, setting up for subsequent turns with their convoy lines. 
  Impulse #5: The weather clears–if but briefly. The Japanese take a +10 assault and clear a single Chinese unit on a RES hex. The Germans attack Liverpool at +8 and seize the city but flip. Italians shift their TRS fleet back towards the Med. The flipped German army doesn’t matter much as the turn ends early anyway.
  No PARTs appear, the US opt to start Selective Service. 

Nov/Dec 1940: The Allies win initiative and the weather turns snowy and stormy. China holds the line. The UK takes a combined, sending one fleet of cruisers to open supply to Gibraltar while another large fleet defends a new convoy line connecting Glasgow to the colonies. The USSR presses forward in Finland, cleverly using a TRS to flank the extended Finns. 
  Impulse #2: The Germans and the Italians… take navals (!). Only 2 CW convoys are lost as the Axis are unable to locate the British convoys. 3 CAs are damaged off the coast of Gibraltar, lost to NAV strikes (but with amazing defense rolls). The Germans do manage to transport over 4 new corps into the UK. The Japanese take a +8 assault on Kwei-Yang, taking the city but at a high cost (2/2). 
  Impulse #3: The weather gets worse (rolled ’10’). The Chinese hold their line, the Soviets move Vatutin into Finland. The UK reinforces its defenses in central England, anchoring its line in Manchester. 
  Impulse #4: The Germans try to ground strike despite the weather. After a promising start where 2 CW FTRs are shot down, every single ground strike (three hexes) fails. The assaults in the snow look bad as a result, and the Germans make no progress. The Italians shift a few forces around in Arabia and reorganize their fleets in the Med.
  Impulse #5: The weather clears! Huzzah say the Axis. The CW adjust their air defenses in England. The Soviets concentrate their entire air force in Finland, and China holds the line. And then, of course, the turn ends on a ‘1,’ depriving the Axis of any chance of advancing their cause. 
  Chinese Partisans appear, causing some havoc. The US has Edward Murrow reporting, but no tension is produced. 

J/F 1941: The Allies win initiative, but elect to have the Axis go first in the poor weather turn. The weather starts stormy and rainy. Germany and Italy again both take naval actions (not much to do in the storms). 2 CW cruisers are sunk off the coast of Gibraltar, which is proving to be a bit of a meat grinder for British ships. Germany also activates Rumania as an ally (no one cares). Italy takes Malta. Japan moves land forces into better position for a renewed offensive in the south.
  Impulse #2: The Soviets assault Helsinki in the snow and take the city without loss. The Finns fought well and exacted a price, but were nonetheless forced to surrender. The Chinese continue to hand on despite Japanese pressure. The CW takes a combined and defends its convoy lines, but in so doing gives the Axis a chance to initiate combat. Over several rounds of combat, the CW lose 6 of 7 CONV off the coast of Glasgow, strangling the supply lines.
  Impulse#3: The weather gets slightly better (rain in the temperate), but the Axis troops are tired of the bad weather. A daring +5 attack on Kunming fails miserably (1/-). Despite massive air power, no German ground strikes flip any CW unit (3 hexes hit again). The Germans assault Manchester anyway at +9, but cannot take the city (-/1). The Germans lines are entirely flipped. Italy takes a combined and hunts British ships, damaging a few more CAs but cannot manage to sink them.
  Impulse #4: The Allies decide to try and end the turn early. China acts, flipping a unit into Kunming to defend it, but the other Allies pass. The turn continues.
  Impulse #5: The weather remains muddy. The German army in England is disorganized and cannot attack, but the MARs from the Scapa Flow landing have been pushing south and reinforcements land when they take Inverness. Otherwise not much happens and the Japanese are quiet.
  Impulse#6: The Allies move. The Soviets have taken Finland but their forces are expended. The communists in China decide to hope for the best, knowing that a communist INF is coming, and leave Si-an partially open. Naturally, the turn ends (on a ‘1’ again). The CW shift to defend Glagow in the north from the new threat. The US are still quiet. 
  Partisans appear in China, causing more Japanese headaches. The US gift destroyers to the CW. The past three turns have been short and the Axis have made surprisingly little progress despite a promising prior summer.

Mar/April 1941: The Axis win initiative, but the weather starts muddy and rainy.  Germany starts off with a bombing campaign (that fails) but manages a decent assault (3rd time!) against Manchester, taking the city without loss. The Italians take a naval and set up fleets across the Med. Japan moves units into position, but makes no attacks in the bad weather.
  Impulse #2: The Soviets are behaving oddly, lining up units in Finland. Why? It was conquered last turn. The Chinese hold the line. The Brits run their fleet out of Glasgow and harms way.
  Impulse #3: The weather stays muddy. The Germans take a naval and go CONV hunting, but they only manage to sink 2 CONV across six sea zones. The Italians rebase aircraft around Gibralter, along with German TAC.  The Japanese continue to shuffle a few units around. What is up with the Chinese theatre?
  Impulse #4: The CW take a combined, send naval units to keep supply to Gibraltar and N. Ireland. The Axis units there find an sink the last CONV in the Faroes Gap. The Soviets continue shifting forces and aircraft into Scandinavia.
  Impulse #5: The weather miraculously clears. The Axis go on the offensive. The Japanese kill a GAR DIV behind their lines in China on a +18 assault. A joint force of German and Italian NAV find the British pickets and clear the Cape Verde Coast, putting Gibraltar out of the supply. A joint bombing campaign then surprisingly disorganizes both of the defenders on the Rock. So the Italian PARA go in… and succeed, taking Gibraltar on a rolled ’19’ on a +8 assault. The Americans are outraged, but what do they know? Gibraltar should have been Spanish anyway. The Germans attack a mountain hex in southern Scotland, taking it without loss. A +8 assault on Edinburgh, however, goes badly. The Germans take the city, but lose two INF clearing it (2/1). They do, however, capture the last oil depot the CW have in the UK, forcing the Brits to make some difficult decisions.
  The turn then ends, shifting initiative towards the Allies. No PARTs appear and the US selects escort in the US East Coast to support their flagging allies.

May/June 1941: The Allies win initiative and elect to go first. The weather starts clear. Strangely, the USSR declares war on Italy, causing outrage in the US (-4 entry chits). Britain takes a combined to strengthen Leeds and defend its rear. The mountainous city along with Glasgow are the last British cities on the island (although they hold Belfast). The Chinese start withdrawing (?!) in southern China.
  Impulse #2: The Axis attack. Germany activates Spain as an ally (+1 entry chit). A +11 attack on Leeds goes well, taking the city without loss. Hull remains along with Glasgow, but the British forces are isolated in pockets. Japan attacks Si-an at high odds (+11) but again performs poorly and failed to take the city (-/1).
  Impulse #3: The weather stays clear. More weirdness from the Soviets, moving forces into Finland and the Baltics. The CW try to hold on in Scotland. China strangely does not reinforce Si-an, perhaps hoping for reinforcements next turn? The Japanese army around it is entirely flipped.
  Impulse #4: The good weather induces the Germans to press their advantage. They and Italy declare war on Greece. A daring +11 PARA drop and invasion into Athens, however, goes awry. The Italians take it, but lose a MAR and a MAR DIV for their efforts. The Germans assault Glasgow (+11) and take it without loss, and also kill the last the CW unit in mainland England on a +15 assault. Only Northern Ireland remains, but German MAR units cross and seize Derry. The Japanese do not do much. 
  Impulse #5: The Soviets move a TRS into the Baltic with Zhukov on it. ?? There is something seriously nefarious afoot. Surely the Axis are unified partners, right? The CW run the Queens into Belfast with a Canadian INF, bolstering the city (which also has a 7-5 MECH defending). The Chinese surrender Kunming without a fight, abandoning the city.
  Impulse #6: All hell breaks loose. The Japanese declare war on Sweden, clearly a part of some treacherous deal with international communism. And here we thought that the Japanese were fascists. Germany and Italy scramble to adjust and also declare war to try and control the situation. The Axis are not prepared and can do little more than try and defend some of the outlying areas (Denmark, Narvik, etc.). Germany also has other plans, and declares war on Portugal. A DIV invade the Azores and Spanish forces assault Lisbon and a +11 and take the city. The Germans land more troops in N. Ireland and assault Belfast. The attack is brilliantly planned and badly executed. The PARA and the MAR both die horrible deaths on the +11 attack (2/1). And the Brits have reinforcements coming….
  Impulse #7: The Soviets pour into Sweden as “peacekeepers.” The Swedish iron ore is secured and units advance to the Norwegian border.  This is no small coup that seriously changes the swing of the pendulum–the Soviets simultaneously strip the Germans of their ore and add it to their own significant economy. The war broadens in a proxy conflict! The Chinese are passive. One wonders if their behavior is being coerced by the now ascendant communists there. Britain arranges to receive American oil through neutral vessels across the Atlantic.
  Impulse #8: The weathers turns dour and muddy. Germany activate Yugoslavia as an ally, a move that many see primarily as a measure of self-defense against the clear machinations of the communists and Japanese proto-commie-bougie-fascists (their phrase). Germany takes a combined and manages to get one MECH into Norway, trying to prop up their Norwegian allies. Other units in the UK head for ports. With two bad attacks, the special forces for Italy and Germany are absent from the war. Japan does little except some minor sheepish cheerleading for their new Soviet buddies.
  Impulse #9: The weather stays muddy. The Chinese continue to weirdly hang back and not reinforce Si-an. The Russian press more troops into Sweden. The CW make arrangements to refuel their fleet in Belfast and arrange reinforcement.
  Impulse #10: The Germans find a way to land 2 DIVs in Norway, desperate to control the situation. Things do not look good for the Norwegians. Italy goes hunting but fails to find any British fleets. Japan again is quiescent.
 The turn then ends. Two partisans appear in China, causing more headaches for the Japanese. The USA oddly picks resources to the USSR, but in a major public speech, Roosevelt promises that no supplies will flow to the ‘evil empire.’ The US looks also to punish Japan for their role in undermining the international order. Italy conquers Uganda and agrees to let the war with the USSR lapse, their ends having been accomplished (to secure Sweden as a minor while an active major power).

July/August 1941: The Axis win initiative, but require a reroll to secure it. The weather starts clear (except in the N. Monsoon).  The Germans take a land action and burn 4 chit points to sail out two fleets, one off the coast of Sweden, the other off of Derry. The Germans invade Sundsvall, Sweden–the attack is not guaranteed, but the Wehrmacht is up to the task, securing the port on a healthy assault roll of ’14.’ Meanwhile, a better attack is launched against Belfast (+12 assault), but the Wehrmacht lets Herr Hightler down (roll of ‘3’ causes 2 losses and fails to take the city). Rundstedt reorganizes the army in N. Ireland. A new mini-game of ‘cut the Soviets out of supply in Sweden’ occupies much of the next several impulses and turns. Italy helps out with a naval action. The Japanese assault Si-an and take the city on a +15 assault without loss. 
  Impulse 2: The CW invade the German held port in Greenland, returning the entire island to the Allied cause. The Soviets take a combined and sneak a Swedish CONV into the Baltic, which the Axis fail to find. The Soviets adjust their line in Sweden and move units to the Polish frontier.
  Impulse 3: The weather remains clear (except N. Monsoon). The Japanese attack an isolated Chinese corps in central China, eliminating it without loss on a +10 assault. The Germans assault Belfast again, this time at +11, and finally liberate the city. In an amazing feat, the Germans overrun the sizable navy that was in port and fail to capture or even destroy a single British ship. 40% of those ships should at least be sunk, but they all slipped away to Canada. Tales of British heroism in saving the fleet circulate. Italy takes a land action and invades some islands in the Indian Ocean (Seychelles). For their one air action, they port strike the Soviet TRS and damage it in port. 
  Impulse 4: The Soviets take a land action (at war with Italy) and make large moves to deploy a solid front all along the border with Germany and Rumania. The CW post a fleet off the Azores.  They search for the Blucher and find it, damaging it without loss in naval action. China holds on, huddled around Lan-Chow and Cheng-tu. 
  Impulse #5: More clear weather. The Germans take a combined and hunt Swedish CONV, finding and sinking it. In northern Sweden the rail lines heading north are cut, leaving the Soviet ‘peace-keepers’ out of supply as additional corps land in Norway and in Sundsvall. The Japanese hope for an unusual break in the weather in the N. Monsoon (but won’t get it). Italy strategically bombs the USSR. Although their bombs miss, they manage to shoot down a Soviet FTR and kill the pilot. 
  Impulse #6: The CW adjusts units in India and sends two CAs towards S. Africa. The Soviets send out a Soviet convoy this time, and Italian NAV fail to locate it. The Soviets rail units from the far east to Europe and push units forward into Poland. China defends a hedgehog style positon.
  Impulse #7: Clear weather (except N. Monsoon). The Germans and Italians declare war on Ireland and easily liberate Dublin in a +18 assault. The UK is now solidly Axis controlled. The Japanese take a land action and push forces around Chengtu, flipping into position. Italy adjusts forces, pushing garrisons into France, and searches for the  Soviet convoy providing supply, but fails to locate it. 
  Impulse #8: The Allies consolidate their lines. The Soviets take a land and, being in supply rationalize their lines in Sweden while fortifying the line in Poland. The CW consolidates its fleet in Halifax. 
  The turn then ends. No PARTs appear. The US freezes Japanese assets and also starts lend lease to the Western Allies, both of which generate tension. Things are definitely getting tense in the American Congress as concern grows with the surrender of England. 4 entry chits are added and the Allies share knowing glances. The CW capital moves to Ottawa in Canada.

Sept/Oct 1941: The Allies win initiative and the weather starts middling, with rain in the arctic and the N. Monsoon zones. The Soviets move new reinforcements to the Polish frontier and adjust Swedish defenses. The CW posts a fleet off of the Azores to try and trap a Dutch TRS there (that reinforced the Azores at the end of the last turn with a corps). China looks feeble, but several pockets of isolated units are annoying the Japanese.
  Impulse #2: The Germans and the Italians both take naval actions! Corps are relocated from the UK to Scandinavia and Italian TRS relocate to the Med where they are reorganized by Balbo. The Germans send additional air forces to Norway and Sweden and find and eliminate the CONV providing supply to the Soviets in Sweden. Japan takes a bold move and attacks Chengtu at +9, but rolls the minimum he needs to take the city (1/2S). The Japanese are well behaved and march forward. The only remaining Nationalist cities are in the far west of the nation. The Communists hold on around Lan-Chow. 
  Impulse #3: The weather worsens, turning muddy across Europe. The USSR takes a combined to again send out convoys to establish supply into Sweden. The Axis sink it. The CW are deterred by large NAV forces around the UK and choose not to engage in naval raids. 
  Impulse #4: The Germans land units and push into Sweden from both the east and the west. There is close to a solid Axis line now stretching from Olso to north of Stockholm. The Germans seize one RES in Sweden and cut off the rich iron ore deposits, currently defended by a robust and well-trained Swedish MTN corps. A corps also land in Narvik to add pressure to the northern frontier. The Japanese are giddy with their success in China and shift forces in a slow attempt to reduce the pockets. Italy takes a land and organizes forces in France and sends more air forces to Rumania. 
  Impulse #5: The weather turns clear world wide. The Soviets continue to bleed off their convoys, sending another one to establish supply The Axis fail to find it, so supply is established. In the face of larger German forces, the Soviets and Swedes alter their line, stopping an attempted flanking maneuver in central Sweden. The CW take a combined and the Chinese hold their remaining factory, but no action occurs.
  Impulse #6: With the clear weather the Germans surround the iron ore hex and ground strike the Swedes with their best Stukas… but to no effect. After calculation, the attack would be +4, which was not attractive to Rundstedt, who aborted a planned attack. The Italians take an air and strategically bomb Kivroy Rog, this time depriving the Soviets of needed resources. Italian NAV also try to sink the Swedish CONV, but fail to find them. The Japanese in the clear weather eliminate the Chiang pocket in the mountains of southern China without loss (+16 attack). 
  Impulse #7: More clear weather! The Soviets do more of the same, pushing units to the Polish frontier and holding the line against the Germans in Sweden. The CW bide their time, waiting for the Americans to do something. The Chinese just hold their position around Lan-Chow.
  Impulse #8: Two German TAC strike the Swedish mountaineers and succeed in disorganizing them. An assault follows, which at +10 liberates the vital iron ore needed for the German war machine (no loss). Italy invades Madagascar. Japan starts streaming units towards the Chinese coast and two redoubts of PARTs on Hainan and in Foochow. The Italians try and fail to sink another Soviet convoy. 
  Impulse #9:  The is still clear, but all of the Allies pass except the USSR, which uses its intermittent supply to again adjust its line in Sweden in response to German maneuvers. There is a sizable German army in Sweden now turning south now that the northern areas have been mostly cleared. The two Swedish aircraft rebase to cover Stockholm. The turn then ends.
  Despite a few rolls, no partisans appear. The US, as expected, gears up, signaling the possibility of American intervention in the war. Italy conquers Madagascar. 

Nov/Dec 1941: The Allies win initiative and weather starts out horrible, with blizzard and snow across Europe. China huddles around Lan-chow and the Soviets use the Swedish TRS to sneak Zhukov out of Sweden. Italian and German naval forces are there, but cannot find anything. The CW take a combined and move naval forces from Canada towards S. Africa.
  Impulse #2: The Japanese clear Hainan of partisans. The Germans take a combined and the Italians a naval to move forces around. Quiet impulse.
  Impulse #3: Naturally, the weather stays bad. The Soviets take a land and organize their front in the east. The Brits continue to patiently push units toward the Indian Ocean. 
  Impulse #4: The Japanese clear another hex of partisans (Foochow) and organize their fleets at the same time. Germany takes a land, slowly pushing units to the Soviet frontier and slowly moving units in Sweden in the mud and storm. The turn then ends.
  No partisans appear. The US embargoes Japan and also chooses N. Atlantic escorts; both generate tension.

J/F 1942: The Allies win initiative and force the Axis to move first. The weather continues to torture the Axis–modified ’12’–the worst possible. Blizzards everywhere. The Japanese send their fleet out across the Pacific. The Germans and Italians take navals and organize units from Sweden to the African coast.
  Impulse #2: The Soviets try to sneak out another Soviet HQ trapped in Sweden, and of course despite a major Axis naval presence in the Baltic, succeed without fanfare. Vatutin makes it to Latvia unharmed. Most of the Soviet airforce also escapes to the Motherland. The CW again push naval forces to India and now Australia. China holds around Lan-Chow.
  Impulse #3: The weather remains shockingly bad (’11’). All the Axis powers take land actions and slowly move a few units. The Germans push up in Sweden around Gothenburg and Stockholm. The Italians start to shift units on the Iranian border SE towards Kuwait after the Japanese ambassador informs them that treaty obligations prevents them from allowing access across Iran. Italians take Tanganyika. 
  Impulse #4: The Allies pass except the USA, who uses the extra impulse to take down convoys in the Pacific. The turn ends. No partisans appear. The US relocates the fleet to Pearl Harbor. 

M/A 1942: The weather improves slightly, but not by much. The Allies win initiative and go first so that the Soviets can evacuate another corps from Sweden. Once again, despite Axis presence in the Baltic, the corps makes it out unscathed. The UK takes a naval, fearing Japanese aggression, and runs from likely port strike concerns. China stands pat.
  Impulse #2: The Germans attack north of Gothenburg, but perform mediocrely, only retreating the lone defending Swedish unit. The Italians take a naval and move units to the Indian Ocean and finally find and sink the Swedish TRS, trapping one Soviet SKI and MAR unit in Sweden. Japan takes another naval, spreading out over the Pacific. 
  Impulse #3: The weather, surprisingly, clears except in the arctic. The CW complete their project of abandoning threatened ports, holding their fleet at distance from the Japanese. India is well reinforced with significant land forces. The Soviets move their rescued units to critical positions on the front and otherwise adjust a forward line on the Polish and Rumanian border. <So aggressive>
  Impulse #4: The Japanese declare war on the CW and Free French. They take a land action, seizing Trincomalee, Rabaul, Hong Kong, Suva, Singapore, Malaya, Brunei, and landing in India near Cocanda south of Calcutta. A MAR DIV lands on King’s Island north of Tasmania as well. The Germans use the opportunity to display military ineptitude, assaulting Gothenburg at +11 and failing (2/1) on a rolled ‘4.’ Italy continues to slowly push units east through Iraq and the Suez. Some shifting to build a defensive wall from Gibraltar to Scapa Flow occurs as well. In their ‘phony’ war, Italy bombs the USSR and takes one RES.
  Impulse #5: The weather stays mostly clear. The Soviets continue to adjust their line. The CW looks to mount a staunch defense in India. The US starts to move ships and units to Hawaii. 
  Impulse #6: The Japanese push reinforcements into India and creep up along the western side of Calcutta. Malaya is taken. Hobart is taken in the south. Germany attacks and kills the Swedish retreated unit without loss. Italy takes an air and moves planes across the continent.
  Impulse #7: The weather worsens. The Allies decide to pass but the turn does not end.
  Impulse #8: In the poor weather worldwide, little happens. Germany pushes a few more units around the fronts in Sweden and Poland. Italy does the same. The turn then ends.
  No partisans appear. The US passes War Appropriations. It appears that soon the world will be in flames.

May/June 1942: The Allies win initiative after demanding a reroll. They then roll the weather and, as has happened every May/June turn, it starts out muddy and rainy. The Allies celebrate their good fortune. 

…turn in progress