2025: The Great Struggle (OOC) (Open)

[Shohun]

This is just my two cents here, but I was wondering why people were putting their history as "same as IRL." This isn't possible since 2023 and 2024 have not happened yet IRL. So unless these nations are exactly the same as in 2022, then how is "same as IRL" an option?

[Chewion]

This is just my two cents here, but I was wondering why people were putting their history as "same as IRL." This isn't possible since 2023 and 2024 have not happened yet IRL. So unless these nations are exactly the same as in 2022, then how is "same as IRL" an option?

Actually, a very good point especially if anyone has elections etc. Please at least mention any election results in history if you say nothing has changed.

[Attack Helicopter]

This is just my two cents here, but I was wondering why people were putting their history as "same as IRL." This isn't possible since 2023 and 2024 have not happened yet IRL. So unless these nations are exactly the same as in 2022, then how is "same as IRL" an option?

Actually, a very good point especially if anyone has elections etc. Please at least mention any election results in history if you say nothing has changed.

But what about my nation (North Korea), where pretty much every election is rigged to give the current leader 100% of the votes.

[Shohun]

Actually, a very good point especially if anyone has elections etc. Please at least mention any election results in history if you say nothing has changed.

But what about my nation (North Korea), where pretty much every election is rigged to give the current leader 100% of the votes.

I feel like things are still happening. It gives context and shows a level of effort. The South Korea app gives you quite a bit to respond to.

[Chewion]

Actually, a very good point especially if anyone has elections etc. Please at least mention any election results in history if you say nothing has changed.

But what about my nation (North Korea), where pretty much every election is rigged to give the current leader 100% of the votes.

Yeah you and Belarus can just say that the regime is still in power but with the South Korean application there might be some things that occurred in the 2020s

[Chewion]

NS Name: Arvenia
RP Name: Republic of Korea (대한민국/Daehan Minguk)
Capital: Seoul
Territory: South Korea
Population: 51,339,378
Official Language: Korean
Recognized Language: English
Flag: Taegukgi
National Anthem: "The Patriotic Song" (애국가/Aegukga)

Head of State: President Cho Dae-jung
HoS Picture: Seen to the right
Head of Government: Vice President Moon Suk-jung
HoG Picture: Seen to the left
Legislature Name: National Assembly (국회/Gughoe)
Legislative Houses: House of Councillors (참의원/Chamui-won) and House of Representatives (민의원/Minui-won)
Party in Power: National Republican Party (국민공화당/Gugmingonghwadang)

GDP (PPP): $2.759 trillion
GDP (Nominal): $2.217 trillion
Currency: South Korean won (₩)

Military Information: The South Korean military is still the same as IRL, except the ROK Marine Corps was officially made an independent branch through constitutional amendment in 2024. The military currently houses 3,300,000 troops (550,000 active troops and 2,750,000 reserve troops).

Alliances: South Korea has maintained a Mutual Defense Treaty with the US since 1953.

History Changes (Subject to review and approval by OP and Co-OP): Relations between South Korea and Japan has remained sour since the 20th century. Comfort women, the Yasukuni Shrine, the Liancourt Rocks and the raising of the Rising Sun Flag at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. These are the issues that would enable further tensions between both countries. In 2021, the diplomatic fallout came full ahead with the rise of a new nationalist movement in South Korea called Hyeongje (형제), which advocated for full retaliation against the Japanese for their historical and present atrocities against Koreans, as well as both support for Korean reunification and opposition to communism. By 2022, the movement became very popular among both South Koreans and Zainichi Koreans, thus making its opponent, the Juche movement, less popular outside of North Korea.

During the 2021 South Korean presidential election, a new party called the National Republican Party (국민공화당/Gugmingonghwadang) emerged and started to gain support due to its participation in the Hyeongje movement. Its founder and presidential candidate, Cho Dae-jung, promoted Korean reunification, economic stability, Christian values, national unity, Korean-American military cooperation and, most importantly, opposition to "Japanese imperialism". Standing in opposition to the Democratic Party of Korea, the People Power Party, the Justice Party and the People Party, the National Republican Party gains the upper hand due to the ongoing disputes between South Korea and Japan, as well as having reminded South Koreans of Japanese war crimes. The party also proceeded to paint both Japan and its people in a negative light, describing the Japanese as a "barbaric race" and accusing them of cooperating with the North Korean government. Once the election ended, the party won and Cho Dae-jung became President of South Korea. Afterwards, the new government implemented many policies, especially anti-Japanese ones. These policies include banning Japanese entertainment (J-Pop, J-Drama, anime, manga, etc), expelling Japanese people from South Korea, cracking down on the yakuza and restricting imports from Japan. Other policies include stronger cooperation between South Korea and the US, crackdown on anti-American sentiment, promotion of Western values and eventual reunification under Seoul. The anti-Japanese sentiment later escalated when the new government banned South Koreans from visiting Japan, ordered all Japanese companies to leave South Korea for good and nullified the "Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea" (한일기본조약/Hanil Gibon Joyak). Later, the government began deporting all the chinilpa, Koreans who collaborated with Japan before and during WW2, to Japan. The government also expanded the term to include any South Korean who is fond of Japanese culture, owns Japanese products and/or has a relationship with a Japanese person. As a result, any form of pro-Japanese sentiment is punishable by either prison, death or outright deportation to Japan. These anti-Japanese policies formed the "Anti-Japanese Civil Act of 2022" (반일민법/Ban-il Minbeob), which the National Republican Party implemented upon coming to power. At the same time, relations soured between North Korea and South Korea after the former began feeling threatened by the Hyeongje movement, which was now in control of the latter. Meanwhile, the NRP is now exerting influence over Mindan, a pro-ROK group based in Japan.

In 2024, many constitutional amendments were made, the most prominent of which saw the position of Prime Minister (국무총리/Gungmuchongni) being replaced with that of Vice President (부통령/Butonglyeong) and the President being allowed to have two terms in office. Other amendments include the National Assembly (국회/Gughoe) becoming bicameral again and the President being allowed to dissolve it. The ROK Marine Corps became an independent branch of the South Korean military, while the Homeland Security Agency (국토안보부/Gugtoanbobu) was formed to deal with both domestic intelligence and national security. These amendments turned South Korea into the "Seventh Republic" (제7공화국/Jechil Gonghwaguk).

The year is now 2025 and President Cho Dae-jung has plans for his people. It is not sure how the future would look like, but the Hyeongje movement promises that "everything will be alright".

Do not remove - Alpha777

Looks good but I want to be clear that kicking out the Japanese like that is likely to hurt your economy etc.

[Shohun]

I'm hoping Israel could get a few neighbors, but if not, I might change to an Asian nation. The political environment there is rather interesting with the SK situation.

[Great United States]

Alright,since some of you said I should put some stuff in my app,here is the updated one

Nationstates Name:Great United States
Nation Name:Federative Republic of Brazil
Capital:Brasilia
Territory:IRL brazil
Population:212 Mil.
Official Language:Portugese
Recognized Languages:Portuguese,Spanish
Flag:IRL Brazil flag
National Anthem (optional):

Head of State:Jair Bolsonaro
HoS Picture:(couldn't find a picture of him by himself)
Head of Government:
HoG Picture (If different from HoS):
Legislature Name:National Congress
Party in Power (If bicameral note who controls each):National Progress Party

GDP (PPP):$3.585 trillion
GDP (Nominal):$16,763
Currency:Real R$

Military Information (If different from irl you must indicate that here):the only major difference is that its a little bigger with more modern equipment,Establishing its own Marine Corps

Alliances (If different from IRL):

History Changes (Subject to review and approval by OP and Co-OP):the 2024 elections are won again by Bolsonaro,the Amazon forest is guarded by the Military to prevent further deforestation,however,interference in colombia increases,with a small Military force being sent to a border town in 2023 July 5,with the parliamentary elections being won by the Order and unity Party in 2024


Do not remove - Alpha777

[Arvenia]

NS Name: Arvenia
RP Name: Republic of Korea (대한민국/Daehan Minguk)
Capital: Seoul
Territory: South Korea
Population: 51,339,378
Official Language: Korean
Recognized Language: English
Flag: Taegukgi
National Anthem: "The Patriotic Song" (애국가/Aegukga)

Head of State: President Cho Dae-jung
HoS Picture: Seen to the right
Head of Government: Vice President Moon Suk-jung
HoG Picture: Seen to the left
Legislature Name: National Assembly (국회/Gughoe)
Legislative Houses: House of Councillors (참의원/Chamui-won) and House of Representatives (민의원/Minui-won)
Party in Power: National Republican Party (국민공화당/Gugmingonghwadang)

GDP (PPP): $2.759 trillion
GDP (Nominal): $2.217 trillion
Currency: South Korean won (₩)

Military Information: The South Korean military is still the same as IRL, except the ROK Marine Corps was officially made an independent branch through constitutional amendment in 2024. The military currently houses 3,300,000 troops (550,000 active troops and 2,750,000 reserve troops).

Alliances: South Korea has maintained a Mutual Defense Treaty with the US since 1953.

History Changes (Subject to review and approval by OP and Co-OP): Relations between South Korea and Japan has remained sour since the 20th century. Comfort women, the Yasukuni Shrine, the Liancourt Rocks and the raising of the Rising Sun Flag at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. These are the issues that would enable further tensions between both countries. In 2021, the diplomatic fallout came full ahead with the rise of a new nationalist movement in South Korea called Hyeongje (형제), which advocated for full retaliation against the Japanese for their historical and present atrocities against Koreans, as well as both support for Korean reunification and opposition to communism. By 2022, the movement became very popular among both South Koreans and Zainichi Koreans, thus making its opponent, the Juche movement, less popular outside of North Korea.

During the 2021 South Korean presidential election, a new party called the National Republican Party (국민공화당/Gugmingonghwadang) emerged and started to gain support due to its participation in the Hyeongje movement. Its founder and presidential candidate, Cho Dae-jung, promoted Korean reunification, economic stability, Christian values, national unity, Korean-American military cooperation and, most importantly, opposition to "Japanese imperialism". Standing in opposition to the Democratic Party of Korea, the People Power Party, the Justice Party and the People Party, the National Republican Party gains the upper hand due to the ongoing disputes between South Korea and Japan, as well as having reminded South Koreans of Japanese war crimes. The party also proceeded to paint both Japan and its people in a negative light, describing the Japanese as a "barbaric race" and accusing them of cooperating with the North Korean government. Once the election ended, the party won and Cho Dae-jung became President of South Korea. Afterwards, the new government implemented many policies, especially anti-Japanese ones. These policies include banning Japanese entertainment (J-Pop, J-Drama, anime, manga, etc), expelling Japanese people from South Korea, cracking down on the yakuza and restricting imports from Japan. Other policies include stronger cooperation between South Korea and the US, crackdown on anti-American sentiment, promotion of Western values and eventual reunification under Seoul. The anti-Japanese sentiment later escalated when the new government banned South Koreans from visiting Japan, ordered all Japanese companies to leave South Korea for good and nullified the "Treaty on Basic Relations between Japan and the Republic of Korea" (한일기본조약/Hanil Gibon Joyak). Later, the government began deporting all the chinilpa, Koreans who collaborated with Japan before and during WW2, to Japan. The government also expanded the term to include any South Korean who is fond of Japanese culture, owns Japanese products and/or has a relationship with a Japanese person. As a result, any form of pro-Japanese sentiment is punishable by either prison, death or outright deportation to Japan. These anti-Japanese policies formed the "Anti-Japanese Civil Act of 2022" (반일민법/Ban-il Minbeob), which the National Republican Party implemented upon coming to power. At the same time, relations soured between North Korea and South Korea after the former began feeling threatened by the Hyeongje movement, which was now in control of the latter. Meanwhile, the NRP is now exerting influence over Mindan, a pro-ROK group based in Japan.

In 2024, many constitutional amendments were made, the most prominent of which saw the position of Prime Minister (국무총리/Gungmuchongni) being replaced with that of Vice President (부통령/Butonglyeong) and the President being allowed to have two terms in office. Other amendments include the National Assembly (국회/Gughoe) becoming bicameral again and the President being allowed to dissolve it. The ROK Marine Corps became an independent branch of the South Korean military, while the Homeland Security Agency (국토안보부/Gugtoanbobu) was formed to deal with both domestic intelligence and national security. These amendments turned South Korea into the "Seventh Republic" (제7공화국/Jechil Gonghwaguk).

The year is now 2025 and President Cho Dae-jung has plans for his people. It is not sure how the future would look like, but the Hyeongje movement promises that "everything will be alright".

Do not remove - Alpha777

Looks good but I want to be clear that kicking out the Japanese like that is likely to hurt your economy etc.

We'll see.

[NewLakotah]

But what about my nation (North Korea), where pretty much every election is rigged to give the current leader 100% of the votes.

I feel like things are still happening. It gives context and shows a level of effort. The South Korea app gives you quite a bit to respond to.

We should hopefully get some Middle East/Central Asian apps. But Asia is getting a bit busier atm.

Looks good but I want to be clear that kicking out the Japanese like that is likely to hurt your economy etc.

We'll see.

Its not really a "We'll see" thing though... I mean, yeah you can try and offset it as much as possible. But the ongoing boycott has already affected the South Korean economy. Outright evicting all Japanese businesses would set off a pretty dramatic trade war into an even higher gear and probably cause quite a bit of panic from foreign investors.

Either way, it will make for some fun intrigue in Asia.

[Hypron]

Hmm, so, now not only do I have to worry about:

-Unknown Style of China
-North Korea being North Korea

I must also tag on:

-Unknown Style of China
-Anti-Japanese South Korea

Fun times all around, I suppose. Well, looks like I got typing to do.

[Mifan]

Tag

[Chewion]

We could really use a China lol

[Mifan]

We could really use a China lol

Well wasn't my plan originally but welp.

Nationstates Name: Mifan
Nation Name: People's Republic of China

[Great Britain and Galactic Commonwealth]

Is France Open For Reservation?

[Great Britain and Galactic Commonwealth]

Nationstates Name: Great Britain & Galactic Commonwealth
Nation Name: Republique La France

[Deblar]

Nationstates Name: Deblar
Nation Name: Republic of Jamaica
Capital: Kingston
Territory: island of Jamaica
Population: 2,958,692
Official Language: English
Recognized Languages: Jamaican Patois
Flag:

National Anthem (optional):

Head of State: President Horace Dalley
HoS Picture:

Head of Government: Prime Minister Mark Golding
HoG Picture :

Legislature Name: Parliament of Jamaica
Party in Power: People's National Party controls both houses of parliament, plus both the Prime Ministership and the Presidency

GDP (PPP): $27.643 billion
GDP (Nominal): 16.398 billion
Currency: Jamaican dollar

Military Information (If different from irl you must indicate that here):
same as irl

Alliances:
OACPS | CARICOM | WCO | CDB | UNECLAC | FAO | G-15 | G-33 | G-77 |IDB | IAEA | IBRD | ICAO | IRCRCM | IFAD | IFC | IFRC | IHO | ILO | IMF | ITU | Intelsat | INTERPOL | IOC | IOM | ISO | SELA | NAM | OAS | OPANAL | OPCW | UN | UNCTAD | UNESCO | UNIDO | UPU | WHO | WIPO | WTO
*pulled out of Commonwealth

History Changes (Subject to review and approval by OP and Co-OP):
In 2021, when Barbados declared itself a republic, many in Jamaica felt that they should do the same. Republican sentiment had been present in Jamaica for decades prior, but no real action was taken upon it. That was, until 2022, when Prime Minster Andrew Holness declared that Jamaica would seek to become a republic. Throughout the process, he began to sharply criticize the United Kingdom for actions partaken while Jamaica was under colonial rule (especially maintaining the slave trade), which led to Jamaica-UK relations to begin to sour considerably. A rhetoric that reprimanded Britain for colonial era atrocities began to sweep Jamaican politics, pouring more gas onto the growing fire.

In April 2023, a referendum was held on whether or not to become a republic, with 57% voting yes and 43% voting no, with a turnout of 56%. Simultaneously, snap elections had been called for the government in response to the referendum. Andrew Holness decided against running for reelection, and the social democratic People's National Party's nominee for Prime Minster, Mark Golding, would win with a rather narrow margin of 54% percent of the vote. The PNP would also win rather slim majorities in both houses of Parliament. Their nominee for President, a largely ceremonial position that replaced the recently abolished Governor-General, Horace Dalley, would also win his election by a slim margin. The transition to a republic was finalized by the Republic of Jamaica Act, which passed unanimously in Parliament.

One of Golding's first acts as Prime Minister was declaring Jamaica's intent to leave the Commonwealth of Nations, saying "We no longer wish to wish to remain part of the shell of the British Empire". The declaration came as a surprise to many, but the Commonwealth eventually went along with it, and the process of Jamaica's withdrawal began. On December 31, 2024, Jamaica had officially seized to be a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Meanwhile, it began to grow closer to other powers such as the United States and the European Union, as well as the People's Republic of China to an extent.

As the young republic moves into the new year, it is hoped that Jamaica can prosper after earning true freedom at last. But as the world begins to turn to a geopolitical landscape eerily reminiscent of the Cold War, will that be obtainable?

Do not remove - Alpha777

[Chewion]

Is France Open For Reservation?

Yep! Noting your reservation and China’s!

[Great Britain and Galactic Commonwealth]

Nationstates Name: Great Britain and Galactic Commonwealth
Nation Name: Republiqué La Francé
Capital: Paris
Territory:

European France (not including overseas territories)

Population: 68.15 Million (Population Of Metropolitan France)
Official Language: Francais
Recognized Languages: Francais
Flag:

National Anthem (optional): La Marseillaise

Head of State: His Excellency, Monsieur La Président Du Republiqué, Emmanuel Macron
HoS Picture:

Head of Government: His Excellency, Prémier Jean Castex
HoG Picture (If different from HoS):

Legislature Name: Parliament. Senate (Upper House), National Assembly (Lower House)
Party in Power: La République En Marche!

GDP (PPP): $3.980 trillion USD
GDP (Nominal): $5.603 trillion USD
Currency: Euro

Military Information (If different from IRL you must indicate that here): Not much except that this France has a large defence budget and is currently in the phase of rearmament.

Alliances (If different from IRL): Same as IRL.

History Changes (Subject to review and approval by OP and Co-OP): N/A

Do not remove - Alpha777

[NewLakotah]

Nationstates Name: Great Britain and Galactic Commonwealth
Nation Name: Republiqué La Francé
Capital: Paris
Territory:

(Image)
European France (not including overseas territories)

Population: 68.15 Million (Population Of Metropolitan France)
Official Language: Francais
Recognized Languages: Francais
Flag:

(Image)

National Anthem (optional): La Marseillaise

Head of State: His Excellency, Monsieur La Président Du Republiqué, Emmanuel Macron
HoS Picture:

(Image)

Head of Government: His Excellency, Prémier Jean Castex
HoG Picture (If different from HoS):

(Image)

Legislature Name: Parliament. Senate (Upper House), National Assembly (Lower House)
Party in Power: La République En Marche!

GDP (PPP): $2.980 trillion USD
GDP (Nominal): $4.603 trillion USD
Currency: Euro

Military Information (If different from IRL you must indicate that here): Not much except that France has a large defence budget and is currently in the phase of rearmament.

Alliances (If different from IRL): Same as IRL.

History Changes (Subject to review and approval by OP and Co-OP): It's going to be a long one folks.

June 6th, 1940

1100 At the ministry of war, in Paris’ Rue Saint-Dominique, the council of ministers has its hands full with maps and dispatches all describing the same tragedy. The Allies overwhelmed on a tactical standpoint, are also outnumbered since the fighting in May, which saw the encirclement and destruction of a large portion of the French armies and British Expeditionary Force – and the German offensive resumed the day before. How to stop the armies of Von Bock (Army Group B) who attack the Somme and the Ailette? The Weygand line is breaking under the assault of the Panzers.

Paul Reynaud, President du Conseil since the end of March, but also minister of War, knows it: the collapse of the front is now a matter of days, possibly hours [1]. His undersecretary to War, the man who imagined the role of armoured divisions in modern warfare, can now see the scenario he had dreamt of, but it is his country that was falling victim to it: “Our forces were behaving heroically, but they were outnumbered (…) I couldn’t explain to the President du Conseil that we had nothing to oppose the German Panzers.”

Brigadier-General (temporarily) Charles de Gaulle had been a member of government for a mere few hours when the ministerial shuffle occurred. Just like him, many ministers would never accept to concede defeat against Nazi Germany, starting with Reynaud himself – but De Gaulle knew that others always considered this war a major mistake. First among them, was Marshal Petain, vice-president of the Conseil.

“If our greatest fears about the current battle were to become true, asked De Gaulle, don’t you think, Monsieur le president du Conseil, that the presence of Marshal Petain’s presence amidst the government would disturb the establishment of measures for the salvation of the nation?”

“It is true that the Marshal has always criticized the war and that a military defeat would offer him the possibility of giving his opinions on French politics. But I’d rather have him in [the government] than out.” Reynaud answers.

1155 In his office at the Ministry of War, Lt.col. De Villelume, who learned the opposition of De Gaulle to Petain’s presence in the new government, scribbles a few notes to answer to… whom it may concern. Villelume, a military advisor to the ministry of foreign affairs, and liaison officer to High Command since the start of the conflict, had been promoted a few hours earlier to deputy-secretary to the War Council. Council where he would reunite with the new Brigadier-General (temporary, as he was nominated during wartime) De Gaulle, whom he knew only too well…However after a few knocks on his office door, someone enters without being given invited to do so!

General De Gaulle, after the usual military salutes, declares to Villelume that he is “delighted to have a man of such talent under [his] orders.”

Even though he knew what to expect, the pill is hard to swallow for the officer, who answers in an icy tone: “You are mistaken, sir Undersecretary. I am not under your orders. If needed, the President du Conseil will confirm this to you at the end of the day. I will let you leave to the Quai d’Orsay for the meeting later.”

The general stares daggers at him. If he knew that his first steps in politics would be difficult, in such a dramatic setting, he didn’t think he to have to battle so quickly!

Dryly, he replies: “France is living hours much too dark for us to give much importance to protocol.” Without even giving time for Villelume to open his mouth, De Gaulle turns his heels and walks out of the office of this old acquaintance who resembles an antagonist with each passing hour…

……

Old acquaintance indeed: they met for the first time at Ingolstadt’s Fort IX in 1916. The cavalryman, a survivor of the glorious charge of the Gironde squadron, though he knew well the infantryman made prisoner at Douaumont, and even shared with him the anecdote about the sabre [2]. De Villelume had managed to escape a short while after De Gaulle’s arrival, he didn’t have time to form an opinion on he who was two years his senior. They did have a common friend, Tuchashevsky, De Gaulle’s cellmate and great friend of Villelume’s, who fell victim to Stalin’s purges in the 1930s.

It is only at the beginning of 1940 that the two main military advisors of Reynaud crossed paths again. In this month of June 1940, De Gaulle wants to continue the fight, while Villelume thinks that the war has gone too badly to be won, and wishes for fighting to stop as soon as possible. And neither of them wants to back down. It is true that the Auvergnat aristocrat had always been right with his analysis of the international situation!

France should’ve distanced itself from the western alliances, who had brought her only complications and had allowed the USSR to position itself as the kingmaker of Europe…and divide Poland with Germany. In Spring 1939, he informed Daladier that the army wouldn’t be ready in time to support Poland. In 1940, he opposed the Dyle-Breda plan of Daladier and Gamelin. At the same time, he encouraged to take advantage of the winter to bomb the railroads and train stations of Germany in order to disrupt the Wehrmacht’s movements – but the GQG and government had stayed idle the entire winter. He was also partisan of a wider intervention in Norway and Finland to cripple the German economy and had been enraged to see that Gamelin didn’t care about these “side theatres”. It was him that, in early May, Reynaud had charged to draft an accusation manifesto against Gamelin in the goal of replacing him – but the start of the German offensive had stopped these plans.

However, Villelume did share with De Gaulle the desire to give the government and the populace a warrior spirit. But it’s the way of doing so that caused a rift between the two men. In January, Reynaud had asked for his opinion on a note given by Col. De Gaulle encouraging to attack the Siegfried line. His answer: “Even if we managed to open a gap in the enemy’s defences, what would be the point? In a rural battle, our lesser numbers would lead us to a bitter defeat!” But he did feel that Reynaud had given in to De Gaulle’s influence. It is his help he sought when writing his inauguration speech in Spring.

On March 26th, in Leca’s (cabinet director of Reynaud) office, the opposition between the two men became vocal. Villelume tells: “The Colonel De Gaulle made a long presentation about the possibility of winning the war militarily. He deplores that we did not enter Belgium, even against the Belgians’ will. According to him, the German army isn’t stronger than the French, and their air forces are equal…I am astonished. I thought him much more intelligent and informed. I do not even think to interrupt his monologue. I just refute everything in a few strict words when he finishes talking.”

On this June 6th, Villelume, still annoyed, rings Paul Baudouin, Undersecretary to the Ministry of Foreign affairs and close friend to Reynaud, also an opponent to the continuation of the war proned by Mandel and Margerie. They agree to talk about it following the afternoon meeting at the Quai d’Orsay. Baudouin advises Villelume to invent any pretext to talk to the Countess de Portes, official mistress of the President du Conseil, who apparently has much influence over him. Maybe she can convince Reynaud to dismiss the arrogant colonel.

1500 The government convenes for the usual “family photo”. It is taken, not at the Hotel Matignon, but on the steps of the Escalier d’Honneur of the Quai d’Orsay (Reynaud is also Minister of Foreign Affairs). Even with the unknowns of the military situation, a few bottles of Champagne are opened and Paul Reynaud is given the best wishes of Helene de Portes, his official mistress for a few months now. He decided to divorce for him to marry the beautiful Helene as soon as the law will allow him to do so. When the young woman leaves Matignon, Reynaud offers her his car, but Lt.Col. De Villelume offers to accompany her personally. “It is very nice of you, Mr.Villelume observes Reynaud but remember, we have work to do.”

“I shall drive her myself.” Villelume answers. “I won’t be long.”

According to Reynaud’s memoirs, Villelume apparently mentioned to Helene de Portes that he wished to “talk about the personalities of certain members of the new cabinet, and a certain arrogant colonel, to be more precise…”

As Charles de Gaulle would note to some of his collaborators, including Geoffroy Chodron de Courcel, Paul de Villelume was a brilliant man, but with a complete bias against him. Indeed, he had waged a silent war against his ideas and the pursuit of hostilities with Reynaud.

1600 Villelume’s car races along the Quai d’Orsay and speeds through the Pont de l’Alma. While crossing, still at high speeds, the Place de l’Alma, towards the Avenue George V, the driver loses control of the vehicle for an unknown reason. After the war, some eyewitnesses would claim that a mysterious Mercedes, appearing from the Avenue Montaigne, had slammed into her rear before disappearing on the Pont de l’Alma…Whatever the reasons, the automobile violently runs into a lamppost and wedges on its side. Help arrives very quickly, and the two people inside, covered in blood, are raced to the Hotel-Dieu Hospital. It is there that they realize that Helene de Portes had died on the spot, instantly.

It is 1625. Today, certain historians consider that the “Pont de l’Alma incident” had massive consequences despite its allure, and that at this moment, France’s destiny shifted.

1700 Reynaud, warned, rushes to the Hotel-Dieu, along with his cabinet director, Dominique Leca. In front of his mistress’ corpse, he completely breaks down in tears. “I cannot continue Dominique, I will resign…”

“Don’t, mister President du Conseil! France needs you ! ” Leca pleads while pointing (not without hypocrisy) to the dead woman. “Think of her! She loved you, she was passionate about the affairs of the State, she wouldn’t have wanted you to abandon your task!”

The argument seems to work on Reynaud, who goes silent and thinks, silently, for a few minutes. It is then that De Villelume appears. He is only lightly injured and bears on his head a large bandage that gives him a ridiculous aura. “Mister president…” he stutters. “I am so sorry, I…”

Reynaud stops and rages at the man, in tears: “How dare you…You were driving…it’s your fault! Get out of my sight, I do not wish to see you again! Never!”

2000 After a discussion with Dominique Leca, Reynaud decides to give De Villelume’s post to Roland de Margerie, responsible of his diplomatic cabinet at the time. “The next few days would see Reynaud impacted but “liberated” (according to De Gaulle), give Roland de Margerie a way to gain growing influence, to the point of becoming a second President du Conseil, to the great disappointment of the defeatist faction.” (De Gaulle t.II, Le Combattant, 1984, J.Lacouture).

We have recently learnt, thanks to the memoirs of admiral Philippe de Gaulle, how hard the general had been stunned at the sudden removal of Paul de Villelume from the political scene, and of the one he called Reynaud’s “mégerie”, considering her opposition of the fighting faction. “This event, he’d told his son, was for me a sign of the providence. France’s destiny wasn’t going to let itself go with the sirens of despair.”



At this moment, Reynaud considers the possibility of the creation of a “Brittany Redoubt” in case the situation worsens. However, although Marshal Weygand just created the 10th Military Region, under general Guitry’s command, which encompasses all of Brittany, it is without any hope of success.

This story is repeated by anti-Gaullist factions as a way of proving De Gaulle’s arrogance. As he just arrived in captivity, he had asked to be given his officer’s sabre, an honour only given to those that had displayed extreme bravery at the moment of their capture. After examination of the Oflag’s records, this request was denied.

After his dismissal by Paul Reynaud, Paul de Villelume would stay in France and would offer his services to Pierre Laval in October of 1940. He would be named Ambassador to France in Germany. In 1944, he tried to escape to Spain, but failed and was imprisoned. Sentenced to death for collaborating with the enemy, he refused to ask for the president’s pardon. Indeed, Paul Reynaud had then become president of the Republic, and he still carried with him the grief of the countess’ death.

June 6th, 1940
Northern France

On the ground, the last French hopes were dissipating.
In Alsace and along the Maginot Line, which was supposed to bear the brunt of the German attack, everything is calm, with much of the fighting occurring to the west.
On the Somme, Hoth's XV. AK (mot.) (5. and 7. PzD, 2. ID mot) continues its progression southeast of Abbeville, despite a counter-attack by the 7e Regiment Cuirasse. Rommel's 7. PzD reaches the Hornoy Heights by nightfall. Around Abbeville, French units of the 9th CA (10th Army), flanked by the Panzers to their right and attacked by the German infantry, have to withdraw to the Bresle river. The XIV and XVI. AK (mot), grouped in a single PanzerGruppe under Kleist's authority, continue the offensive.
South of Amiens, Von Wietersheim's XIV. AK (mot) (9th and 10th PzD, SS Totenkopf) attacks the lines of the 10th CA (9th Army). He forces the remains of the 16th DI to retreat alongside the 24th DI, but it fails to breakthrough.
South of Péronne, the concentration of tanks of Hoeppner's XVI. AK (mot) (3. and 4. PzD, 13. ID mot and SS-Verfügungs [1]) was spotted by French reconnaissance and
bombers of the Air Force made three attempts to disrupt their preparation, without success. On the flip side of the coin, a counter-attack of the 1st DCR failed, crushed under the dive bombers. The assaults of the XVI. AK (mot) was renewed and soon the Germans controlled a vast pocket from Harbonnières to Ham, passing through Roye. General Frère had to order the withdrawal of the VIIth Army on a line going from Davenescourt to Ribecourt.
On the Ailette front, the German attacks continued, and French losses were very heavy. At night, General Touchon withdrew the units of his VIth Army on the Aisne.
All these orders to withdraw gave rise to violent explanations between Weygand, who had ordered a defence "without a spirit of retreat", and his subordinates (Georges, Besson, Frère...) who had to prove to him, with maps, the consequences of these orders and the need to change them. It is true that the French forces resisted magnificently for two days and inflicted very heavy losses on their opponents. But most of the units that suffered the shock of the enemy offensive are almost annihilated (5th DIC, 3rd DLC, 19th ID). The others are now forced to retreat to unprepared positions on terrain less suitable for defence. Moreover, a breach was opened in the heart of the Xth Army, between the 9th CA which retreated to the Bresle and the 10th CA which resisted south of Amiens. The catastrophe, all too predictable since the defeat of May, is imminent.
Meanwhile, a second PanzerGruppe starts to organize itself under Guderian. It is composed of the XXXIX AK (mot) (1. and 2. PzD, 29. ID mot) and the XLI. AK (mot) (6. and 8. PzD, 20. Mot ID).

Future SS-Division Das Reich

June 6th, 1940

Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean Sea - While Italy hasn't entered the war, following long-drawn out plans, the Regia Marina undertakes the installation of 213 defensive mine barrages, totalling 9,808 devices, in various strategic locations: coasts close to the border with border with France, the Elbe-Piombino area, the Sardinian and Sicilian coasts, the Libyan coast, etc.
In the Dodecanese, the installed mine barrages protect the islands of Leros (Lero), Astypalea (Stampalia) and naturally Rhodes (Rodi).
These barrages are of two types: 107 anti-ship (AN, mines set at a depth of 4 meters) and 106 anti-submarine (AS, mines at a depth of 8 meters or more).
By the time commercial sailors and fishermen understand the need for accurate navigation, these barrages caused friendly losses, notably, as early as June 9, the small cargo ship Angiulin (873 GRT) near Cape Granitola (Sicily) and the following day the sailing ship Danilo B. (102 GRT) northwest of Capri.


June 6th, 1940

Kiel - After careful preparation, auxiliary cruiser Thor (Captain Kähler) sets sail to scour the trade routes of the South Atlantic. First of all, it has to make a port call in Bergen to be firstly camouflaged as a Soviet cargo ship.



June 7th, 1940

Paris - While the Parisian press, from Populaire on the left to the newspaper Le Jour on the right, also including L'Aube and Le Matin, warmly welcomed the appointment of De Gaulle to the government, the latter formed his own cabinet. He consulted with Roland de Margerie, and immediately notes the resolute strength of his hardliner convictions. The General then met with Reynaud, who instructed him to take a message to Churchill to request the large-scale involvement of the RAF in the Battle of France. Before going to London, the new Under-Secretary of State for War has to consult Pétain and Weygand.


June 7th, 1940

Red Sea - Italian Minelayer Ostia and destroyer Pantera finish the laying of eight defensive mine barrages in front of the Massaouah accesses (four AN and four AS) and two in front of the Assab accesses (AN), respectively. These ten fields total 1,120 pieces.


June 7th, 1940

Northern France - On the Somme, a breakthrough is achieved. The front of the Xth Army is definitively punched through: the French and British units of the 9th CA that survived the first two days, grouped in defensive holdouts in each village, fight fiercely on the Bresle river, assaulted by the five infantry divisions of the German II. AK. However, they were already bypassed and the armoured divisions of Hoth's XV. AK (mot), exploiting the 25 km gap (between Hornoy and Conty) which separates the 9th and 10th Corps, charges towards the Seine and Rouen. After having dispersed the 17th DLI surprised disembarking from its trains, the lead units of the 7th. PzD reach Formerie and Forges-les-Eaux. In the evening, the 9th CA receives the order to withdraw behind the Seine. This movement should require four stages for the infantrymen, covered by the 2nd and 5th DLC.
The units of the 10th CA (16th and 24th ID) continue to repel the assaults of the XIV. AK (mot), but, due to the risks linked to the German breakthrough on their left, they receive during the night of the 7th to the 8th, orders to withdraw in several stages to the positions of the Parisian defence, on the Oise river. This retreat was facilitated by the withdrawal of the XIV. AK (mot). Indeed, after the failure of its attempts to breakthrough and its heavy losses, it is is redeployed to support the XVI. AK (mot).
Throughout the day, the enemy reinforces its troops on the northern bank of the Aisne opposite the VIth Army.

June 8th, 1940

Montry (French High Command) - De Gaulle, who could not see Pétain at the Invalides (probably because the old man preferred to avoid a meeting that would be unpleasant for him), goes to Montry to talk with General Weygand. The exchange between the two men men is very heated. The Army Chief of Staff paints a grim picture of the situation: "The men are literally exhausted, they fight by day, march by night and fall asleep on their new positions. We have no reserves left. The only thing that could save us would be the enemy being even more tired and being forced to stop for lack of breath." But he obviously doesn't believe that. Similarly, he describes as "childish" any withdrawal plan to North Africa and his close collaborators did not say much else.
"The head of the French army was a desperate man," wrote De Gaulle. "I judged, not without certain sadness, that it was necessary to draw all the consequences without delay."

Paris - On his return to the capital, De Gaulle goes to Matignon without delay. Paul Reynaud, who had attended the funeral of Hélène de Portes that morning, is very depressed. De Gaulle urges him to replace Weygand and proposes General Huntziger to take over his duties. Reynaud hesitates:
"You are asking me to appoint a man who was one of the main generals defeated during the German attack of May 13...".
- "This is true, but he is far from bearing all the responsibility for the disaster. At least he still resources and energy, whereas Weygand is out of breath."
Finally, under the influence of Margerie, who was present during the exchange, Reynaud accepts the idea that Weygand might have to be replaced soon.
- "In the meantime," De Gaulle asks, "please accept to assemble all that remains of our armored units, Reserve Armored Divisions and Light Mechanized Divisions, into a single corps. Separated, they are powerless. United and commanded by a capable leader, they can still do something."
- "But which leader?" asks Reynaud, disillusioned.
- "General Delestraint. I had already made this proposal to Weygand on the 2nd, but he didn't take it into account. If you do not wish to dismiss Weygand right away, at least appoint Delestraint."
Margerie agrees and Reynaud accepts this proposal.
In practice, the Delestraint Group would only comprise the remnants of the 2nd and 4th DCR (on June 8th, these divisions were no longer on the Somme, but had been at Marseille-en-Beauvaisis for several days in order to recover and replenish), as well as some CACCs (Compagnies Autonomes de Chars de Combat / Autonomous Companies of Combat Tanks). The reconstituted DLMs, whose remnants are sometimes grouped into Groupements Cuirassés (such as GC Buisson), will have to continue to independently cover the retreat.

June 8th, 1940

Northern France - While the French political equilibrium silently shifts, the fighting continues without respite. Facing the Germans on all fronts, the French troops fight desperately, but after the success of the German encirclement maneuver in May, they are too few in number, desperately too few. The withdrawal movements intensify, under aerial bombardments that are no longer met with any coherent opposition. Some units already find the bridges prematurely cut in front of them when they reach the water lines they are supposed to defend.

Normandy - The Xth French Army is cut in two by the German offensive. The 9th CA is vulnerable to encirclement. The 17th DLI and the 3rd DLC operate a fighting retreat, trying to delay Rommel in his march on Rouen.
Just back from England, General de La Laurencie is given the mission to defend the Basse-Seine passages in cooperation with the Duffour Group (3rd Region). But he only has very limited means at his disposal for this task: the 3rd Corps which is in the process of being replenished, and two light divisions in transit.

Ile-de-France - The 25th CA, comprised of fresh units that had not had time to deploy to the Somme, ensures the north-east defence of Paris by positioning itself around Beauvais.
Several fresh divisions are put at the disposal of the governor of Paris, General Héring. The 57th ID is deployed between the Ourcq canal and the Nonnette river in order to gather the retreating divisions of the VIIth Army.
The 84th ID, having just arrived from North Africa, settle on the Seine, but its lines stretch over 90 km, from Vernon to Chantilly, and it can hardly do anything but guard the passageways. At 1300 hours, the car of its commander, General Ardant du Picq, is machine-gunned by an airplane as he was returning from an inspection.
At General Héring's headquarters, preparations are made for an all-out resistance with limited means. They plan the destruction of the bridges of Paris, the tunnels of the subway, the sewers...
Since May 10th, the "Chauvineau Line", a modest line of light fortifications supposed to protect Paris, has been slightly reinforced. Old naval cannons have been installed, many anti-tank ditches have been dug, minefields were set up, and flooding was carried out. Thousands of workers (French, Colonials and Spaniards) work tirelessly in the Ile-de-France forests to build up barricades in order to block the panzers. The forts of the Paris belt were finally equipped with defenders and artillery.
Finally, the hunt for snipers and hidden units was on. One man, one gun! Two thousand five hundred men were removed from their special assignment in the administration and transferred to home defence positions. Five thousand territorial guards, most of them veterans of the Great War, donned their uniforms again to participate in the defense of the capital. The police and the republican guard have been provided with aging Gras rifles to counter an improbable paratrooper attack.

Aisne - The Germans launch the dreaded attack against the VIth Army. Despite a desperate defence, the superior numbers and disproportionate means allow the Germans to cross the Aisne and establish a large bridgehead around Soissons. Several French counter-attacks fail to dislodge the Germans or throw them north of the river.

June 9th, 1940

London - At dawn, General de Gaulle leaves Le Bourget for London, where he meets Winston Churchill in the late morning. The Prime Minister refuses to deploy new RAF units in France, explaining that their units in France, explaining that their usefulness and efficiency for the defense of Great Britain were far greater than any that could result of their use in France in the present confusion. At the end of the interview, General Edward Spears (present as a representative of the British General Staff to the French forces) reports that De Gaulle told Churchill: "You are right."
In the early afternoon, the French delegation met Anthony Eden (then Minister of War) once again, and Jean Monnet, who chaired the Franco-British Joint Commission for the purchase of war material. With the rapidly deteriorating military situation at home, De Gaulle was urgently recalled to Paris, where where his plane landed at the end of the day at Le Bourget in the middle of bomb craters.

Paris - Paul Reynaud and his advisors note that the German victory on the continent appeared to be inevitable. Supported by Margerie, De Gaulle pleads for a withdrawal to North Africa. Dominique Leca firmly supports them. Reynaud is then convinced to opt for what his chief of staff describes as the "Dutch solution". The troops that would not be
to be evacuated would have to fight in Metropolitan France to the limit of their capabilities, following which they would surrender. "However," warned De Gaulle, "you must know, Mr. President of the Council, that this solution will be will certainly meet with hostility from some people. Alas! Alas! At the forefront of these men, there will be the head of our Army, General Weygand!"
With that, Reynaud signs a document drawn up at his request by De Gaulle. It defines the new national defense strategy of the government (it is interesting to note that this document was ready the day before, but, still recovering from the sudden death of Hélène de Portes, Reynaud had postponed the signature to today).
The document reads:
I) In the event that the battle currently underway does not stop the German advance, it is to be expected that the enemy forces, after having crossed the Basse Seine and occupied Paris, will seek to achieve the complete disorganization of the national resistance, either by flanking our forces in the east, or by advancing rapidly in the direction of the ports of the Atlantic.
In any case, the will of the Government is to continue the fight on the metropolitan territory and possibly in North Africa, then in the rest of the Empire, in order to gain the time
the rest of the Empire, so as to as much time as necessary for external help to enable us to regain the initiative.
a) Without prejudice to the intermediate ramps or positions that the command would deem appropriate for use for the regrouping of the forces, the first national position to be considered and to be prepared in the rear of the battlefield has, as its front line, the line defined as as follows: the course of the Couesnon, the Ernée, the Mayenne, the Loire downstream from Tours, the Cher, Canal du Berry, course of the Loire downstream of Digoin, Canal du Centre, course of the Doubs.
b) in the rear will be prepared :
- a 2nd resistance position covering the west and southwest of France, marked by the Charente, the upper Vienne, the Puy de Dôme chain, the Madeleine mountains, Lyon,
the Rhône river and connected with the 1st position by a feeder following the course of the Creuse river
- a Brittany redoubt marked out by the course of the Couesnon, the outskirts of Rennes and the course of the Vilaine river.
- a southwestern redoubt whose front will be marked by the Canal du Midi, from Bordeaux to Narbonne.
(...)
II) Experience has shown that it was very uncertain, given the means available to the enemy and the way in which he uses them, to hope to establish in time a coherent resistance
on a given area of land if it was not organized and occupied in advance by units other than those who have to fight in front.
As a result:
1) the organization of the terrain and the resistance positions defined above, and in particular the preparation of the destructions, will be undertaken immediately.
2) the units necessary to ensure the security of the first position will be put in in place immediately.
The overall plan of the work to be carried out will be decided immediately by the Under-Secretary of State for National Defense and War.
The designation of the units to be put in place will also be made by him by means of levies on the units being formed in the interior.
The carrying out of these works is the responsibility of the regional commanders concerned, who have not only their own resources but also the largest possible quantity of manpower to be provided by other departments (Interior, Labor, Colonies) according to estimates to be established by the under-secretary of State for Defense and War.
(...)
III) According to the organization foreseen above for the defense in depth of the territory, the personnel (mobilized, special assignments, manpower, etc.) and the industrial
industrial resources of all kinds contributing to national defense, in particular in the Paris area, will be urgently withdrawn behind the general line of Rennes, Angers, Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon.
All the necessary arbitrations between the ministerial departments concerned are the responsibility of the under-secretary of state for national defense and war.
(...)
IV) The withdrawal of the administrations and the possible displacement of the government will be carried out by echelon.
The day before, this last paragraph ended with "it being understood that, in the limit, the seat of the French government could be established in the region of Quimper" but this line is deleted.
To organize the last defence, it is decided that the political and military authorities will withdraw towards the south and, initially, on the Loire (at Tours).

June 9th, 1940

Strait of Sicily - During the night of June 8th to June 9th, minelayers Scilla and Buccari begin to lay offensive minefields between the island of Pantelleria and Sicily, on the Banco Avventura, which is less than 100 metres deep. Considering the number of available mines, they will respectively lay, in three sorties, the last of which took place during the 11th to 12th of June, minefields 1 AN, 2 AN, 1 AS and 1 AN bis, 2 AN bis, and 1 AS bis: for a total of 1,919 mines.
Their first victim is... Italian: during the day of the 9th of June, the small cargo ship Avvenire (957 GRT) hits a mine on the 1 AN field and sinks.

June 9th, 1940

Normandy - The 7. PzD reaches Elbeuf during the night. Shortly after, the 5. PzD reaches the suburbs of Rouen. But all the bridges of the Seine river are blown up before the first German tanks, the ferries are sunk and the engineers have to start working. The British scuttle several ships in port, including Belgian steamer Liège.
The German thrust was so fast that some French units are still occupying their positions on the Bresle river: the 9th CA and the 51st British Highland Division are isolated and form a pocket around Saint-Valéry-en-Caux. Their only way out is to embark at Le Havre, Fécamp or Dieppe.
South of the Seine, Generals Duffour and La Laurencie try to set up a thin curtain of troops. Amongst the few units that managed to escape the encirclement, the Beauman and Evans divisions cross the river and move to the Louviers sector where they join the 237th DLI, still in the process of beind deployed. Meanwhile, the 3rd DLC, admirably commanded by General Petiet, regroups some distance from the Seine to counter-attack a German crossing.
The infantrymen who had survived Dunkirk are regrouped within the 5th CA. General René Altmayer and Lieutenant-Colonel Clogenson redouble their efforts to rearm these units and to deploy them on the Seine before the Germans manage to cross the river.

Paris (Chauvineau Line) - The remnants of the 25th CA gradually retreat to the Oise along the Thérain valley. The VIIth Army manages to disengage its units sent west of the Oise and to withdraw them along the river, between the confluence of the Nonette and Compiègne.

Aisne & Champagne - It's now the turn of the entire eastern part of the front on the Aisne, from the Ailette to the Meuse, to be set ablaze: Army Group A under von Rundstedt goes on the offensive.
In the west, the German breakthrough at Soissons forced the left wing of the VIth Army to retreat on the Ourcq river. This river is reached at the end of the day by the enemy between La Ferté-Milon and Fère-en-Tardenois.
Further east, the IVth Army resists most of the assaults around Rethel, defended by the 2nd DI, which has just relieved the left of the 14th DI of General de Lattre de Tassigny (who has brilliantly repulsed the enemy for several days). The Germans only succeeded in creating pockets, but the position of the IVth Army is made difficult by the retreat of units belonging to the VIth Army
On the front of the IInd Army, the German attack comes up against very weakened units (some divisions are missing a third of their theoretical strength) by the constant fighting and bombings that had hit this supposedly "stabilized" front for more than three weeks. However, the fighting is so brutal that, although the enemy wins some local successes (in particular against the 36th ID and the 1st DIC), the enemy does not breakthrough. Vigorous counter-attacks even allow to hope for a swift recovery of the situation.


July 10th, 1940

Paris, 1130 - General Maxime Weygand meets Paul Reynaud, President of the Council, at his request, at the Ministry of War. To the great annoyance of the Chief of Staff, the latter was flanked by de Gaulle, Secretary of State for War, and Roland de Margerie, military advisor. Weygand hands Reynaud a note in which he pleads for an armistice as soon as possible. In response, De Gaulle explains the "Dutch solution". Weygand pounces.
- Abandonning the metropolitan territory would be childish, dangerously childish! Do you realize that you would thus leave the Communists complete freedom? De Gaulle, you are a soldier, I don't understand why you would accept such foolishness. This solution is in reality a ploy to make the Army carry, through the inevitable surrender of the units remaining in Metropolitan France, the responsibility for the mistakes of the political chiefs! As Chief of Staff, I demand an armistice!
- The question here is not who bears what responsibility," Margerie cuts him off. "General, we need to know if you will carry out the orders of the governmental powers of the republic, even if they are contrary to the note you have just given us and to your personal opinion!
- I am a soldier. I will carry out any order that is in keeping with the honor of the Army," Weygand replies evasively. "But that is not the point! It is the politicians who started this war, it is now up to them to put an end to it!"
The differences of opinion between him and his counterparts appear to be final. Reynaud decides a short break in the meeting, during which he consults Leca and, by telephone, Georges Mandel. Then he returnes to the conference room and, without even sitting down, he decides: "General Weygand, I regret to inform you that I must withdraw your appointment as Chief of Staff of the Armies." Weygand, pale, says: "You've gone completely mad!" and leaves without adding a word. Reynaud slowly sat down and sighed: "Well, De Gaulle, that's done... Would you like to contact Huntziger and ask him to accept the job, if you will..."
- I will go to his HQ myself, Monsieur le Président du Conseil. But before that, one more word: We must appoint General de Lattre, who has just distinguished himself in the defense of Rethel, at the head of the entrenched camp of Paris.
- Oh, no! Defending Paris under the present conditions would cause a considerable number of civilian casualties. Paris does not have its own defense, we must give it the status of an open city.
Reynaud would remain adamant on this point. In the interest of maintaining order and protecting the population, General Dentz, governor of the city of Paris, will order all public services to remain on the premises.


Arcis-sur-Aube (HQ of General Huntziger's GA 4), 1400 - De Gaulle announces to Huntziger that Weygand has been dismissed and offers him to take over Weygand's post. Huntziger is so surprised that he phones Reynaud to get confirmation of what the Under-Secretary of State for War had just announced to him. The obvious emotion of the President of the Council convinces him to accept, but he asks to meet Reynaud to make his nomination official.

Invalides (Paris), 1700 - In the afternoon, Weygand, appalled, goes to the Invalides. There he meets with Pétain: "Mr. Marshal, we must act. Only you can put an end to this madness!" Pétain, very unhappy, immediately tries to contact the ministers on whom he knew he could count, such as Chautempsor Ibarnegaray. But these bilateral discussions did not produce an immediate plan of action, especially as everyone is more preoccupied by leaving the capital.
Convinced that Georges will succeed Weygand, Pétain manages to telephone him to make sure that he refuses the nomination, and he gets angry at Georges' denials, who does not understand a single thing! He then decides to telephone Reynaud himself to demand a Council of Ministers (he has the right to do so, as Vice-President of the Council). To his great fury, the only person he gets on the phone is Margerie, who very politely explains that it was impossible to hold a Council that evening: "You understand, Monsieur le Maréchal, President Lebrun left Paris at about 6:00 p.m., he has to settle close to Tours, and I do not know exactly where." (This is false, Margerie knows that Lebrun is going to Cangé).
"Tomorrow, then!" requests Pétain. "I'm afraid that's also impossible, remember that we have to receive Mr. Churchill and several of his ministers for an Inter-Allied Council, which obviously cannot be postponed. I think that a Council of Ministers can be organized on the 12th, probably in the evening." Disgusted, Pétain
hangs up without further comment.

Invalides (Paris), 1745 - Still reeling from his eviction in the morning by the President of the Council and his exchange with Marshal Pétain having yielded nothing conclusive,
General Weygand comes face to face with deputy Henri de Kerillis, a cavalryman who had become an aviator during the Great War. One of the staunchest anti-Munichois, he is in favor of the continuation of the struggle. Foch's former deputy decides to take out his frustration on him.
- I hear a lot of bad things about you, mon p'tit Kerillis!
- I also hear a lot of bad things about you, General. They tell me that you want to ask for an armistice.
- What the fuck do you want us to do?
- We promised the English not to ask for an armistice without them. A promise is a promise.
- Your English are fucked. They've got ten days tops, my friend.
- Well, if they've got only ten days, let's hold on for another ten days, general. But after all, you don't know shit, and it's defeatism to say that our last ally, who represents our last hope, is finished!
- You should be shot for talking like that! Weygand is fuming.
- You wouldn't be able to command the firing squad! I hope that your replacement will do better than you. I have few doubts about that.
Mortified that the whole of Paris is already aware of his ousting and by the Parthian shot which finished his pride as a soldier, General Weygand climbed into his car without saying a word to anyone, and made his way to the GQG, where he has to give way to his successor, whose identity he still does not know.

Paris/Washington, DC 2100/1600 - While Huntziger is taking up his new post, Reynaud telegraphs Roosevelt to ask him to "throw the weight of American power in order to save France, the advanced sentinel of democracy."
Roosevelt, very moved, confided to his collaborators: "I had no idea that the French situation was so dire. When I read the first lines, I feared that Reynaud would announce a surrender! But the worst is avoided, France fights on." The American President, however, would only to reply to Reynaud that the United States would send more weapons to France and to England, but that they were not prepared to go to war.

I want to continue forward but this is the maximum that I can post writing further would require another post cause this s*ithole only allows 60,000 characters. Should I continue?

Do not remove - Alpha777

As quite fascinating as it is... only stuff post-2000 truly applies to the RP as that is the only time frame that can change... You are more than welcome to write as much as you want to but as far as being accepted, only post-2000 information will be assessed as the divergence point is anything after 2000, minus the things that are mentioned in the OP specifically, which cannot be changed.

[Attack Helicopter]

Nationstates Name: Attack Helicopter
Nation Name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea)
Capital: Pyongyang
Territory: North Korea
Population: 26,000,000
Official Language: Korean
Recognized Languages: None
Flag: Ramhongsaek Konghwagukgi
National Anthem: Patriotic Song/Aegukka

Head of State and Government: Kim Jong-un
HoSaG Picture: You know what he looks like.
Legislature Name: Supreme People's Assembly
Party in Power: Workers' Party of Korea

GDP (PPP): 40,000,000,000
GDP (Nominal): 30,000,000,000
Currency: Korean People's Won

Military Information (If different from irl you must indicate that here): Kind of similar to reality. There is five branches of the Korean People's Army: the KPA Ground Force, KPA Naval Force, KPA Air and Anti-Air Force, KPA Strategic Rocket Force, and KPA Special Operation Force. Korea has a [url]lot[/url] more soldiers than before, due to government policies about food and water. However, some problems about the KPA from 2020 are still unsolved.

The KPA Ground Force has adopted the T-14 Armata as one of its tanks, and has "made" an anti-aircraft tank, a ZU-23-2 turret on a T-72 chassis. This tank is known as the Eeo Sildeu (Air Shield). Also, the KPA Ground Force has purchased newer arms from mainly China but also Russia.

The KPA Naval Force only bought not-so-many new frigates from China.

The KPA Air and Anti Air Force also adopted the Eeo Sildeu, and that's it. However, they strive to make an indigenous aircraft.

Meanwhile, the KPA Strategic Rocket Force continue to boast and adapt new missiles and nuclear weapons. However, due to suspicion of using fake equipment, they barely even got an effective design (according to the outside world).

Alliances (If different from IRL): Extremely similar to reality.

History Changes (Subject to review and approval by OP and Co-OP): First of all, there is more relations between the North and South, mainly due to the South's anti-Japanese policies. Korean reunification is still being attempted by both sides, but to no avail, mainly because of how distinct the two countries are, and the Hyeongje movement.

During 2020 and 2021, North Korean history follows the real world.

Meanwhile, in 2022, the world is threatened by evidence showing an actual nuclear test caused by the North Koreans (which was actually multiple powerful but non-nuclear bombs exploding at once in the same place). Nevertheless, North Korea is faced with more sanctions due to this. Therefore, a law was signed in December forcing the population to conserve food and water, and mandating that a portion of the North Korean government's money go to buying food and freshwater from China and some of Russia. Also, the Russian government lent some farms in Siberia to North Korea to grow food, and reserved few giant and known freshwater reserves for them, too.

In 2023, this allowed them to greatly increase their military men and population, as before, there were food shortages that took the lives of many. In addition, the government repealed the food conservation act, but still mandated that water be conserved, due to remaining clean water shortages (in the country). A controversial move to study how to clone humans (that failed, significantly) was revealed, despite its secrecy. This led to more sanctions, but Kim stopped the program, executing innocent scientists and program officials while he himself ordered it.

Some stuff happened in 2024, including the development of the Eeo Sildeu and the blueprints being laid out and carried out for an unnamed indigenous jet. Also, the government no longer insisted civilians to house protraits of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il (but still make civilians praise them, and recommended the portrait hanging). Most people still decided to keep their portraits. Finally, a North Korean state-owned company revealed a phone (an old I-phone) that is expected to be rolled out state-wide soon. However, due to low money, many will most likely keep their own cell phones.

In January of 2025, the 9th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea rolled out, and Kim Jong-un promised to make the country "strong, physically and mentally, healthy, and dedicated to the reunification of Korea and the Korean people themselves", making him win (or rig) 100% of the votes.


Do not remove - Alpha777

[/quote]

[Hypron]

Nationstates Name: United Kingdom of Hypron
Nation Name: Nippon-koku
Capital: Tōkyō-to
Territory: Modern-Day Japanese borders
Population: 124,761,403
Official Language: Japanese
Recognized Languages: N/A
Flag:

National Anthem (optional): Kimigayo

Head of State: Emperor Naruhito
HoS Picture:

Head of Government: Prime Minister Taro Kono (Jiyū-Minshutō-Shikōkai)
HoG Picture (If different from HoS):

Legislature Name: National Diet of Japan
Party in Power (If bicameral note who controls each): Both houses (Councillors and Representatives) are controlled by the Jiyū-Minshutō-Kōmeitō coalition.

GDP (PPP): $6.594 trillion USD
GDP (Nominal): $5.015 trillion USD
Currency: Japanese Yen

Military Information (If different from irl you must indicate that here): The JSDF has been dramatically expanded in the late 2010s, mainly focusing on extra offensive capabilities, such as upgrades to F-15J fighters to carry newly purchased smart bombs, purchase of 36 F-15EJ (F-15E made for Japan, similar to the F-15K) strike planes capable of carrying cruise missiles, expansion of the size of the JGSDF from 150k active to 250k active, and a rapid expansion of the JMSDF anti-ballistic missile capabilities by modernizing the Kongo and Atago class destroyers to carry the SM-6 Anti-Ballistic Missile, and by building the SM-6 into the 4 Maya class destroyers weapons suite.

Alliances (If different from IRL):

History Changes (Subject to review and approval by OP and Co-OP): Japan in the last decade and a half has had its ups and downs, that’s for certain. The early part of the decade was one of Japan’s greatest time periods post-WWII. With a two-thirds majority in the Diet after the 2013 legislative elections, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe began pushing his platform ahead at a rapid pace. In 2014, he secured the votes needed to reform Article 9 via Article 96, omitting: “In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be sustained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.” As well, he made a revision to Article 96 (after compromising with Komeito to get the needed votes) with the new version stating “Amendments to this Constitution shall be initiated by a member of either the House of Representatives or House of Councillors and resolved by the Diet through a concurring vote of a majority of all the members of both Houses, and shall thereupon be submitted to the people for ratification, which shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all valid votes cast in a popular election conducted as provided by law.”

With these constitutional reforms passed, Japan in the late 2010s underwent a period of mass militarization. During this period, Japan went about expanding the JGSDF from 150,000 to 250,000 active duty soldiers, purchasing new offensive gear for the JGSDF and the JASDF, and commissioning the first naval vessels capable of firing Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles, in the form of the 4 Maya-class destroyers. This rapid expansion came at the cost of worried neighbours, something which the ruling Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai faction has utterly ignored.

This alienation with Japan’s neighbours all came to a head after the Rising Sun Flag was flown during the Tokyo Olympics. South Korean-Japanese Relations (what little there were) practically shattered, and with the rise of the Hyeongje movement in South Korea, a countermovement appeared in Japan soon after, with the ultranationalist Nippon Kaigi gaining immense popularity and practically taking over the Seiwa Seisaku Kenkyūkai.

This was bad enough for the Liberal Democratic Party, but with their botched handling of the COVID Pandemic under the Suga Administration (which would be stabilised under Kono), and the election of a member of the more moderate Shikōkai faction, Taro Kono, rather than the Kenkyūkai backed Sanae Takaichi, the party began to grow more and more divided, with the Kenkyūkai absorbing the much smaller Shisuikai and the Shikōkai combining with the Kōchikai and the Heisei Kenkyūkai, putting the ultraconservative and ultranationalists against the moderates.

2023-2025 was marked by a time of almost no legislation passing through the Diet and a rapid decline of the power of the LDP, with the only thing passing through was a ban on all items and media that can be associated with South Korea, and even this was a highly contested debate, with the Moderates wanting to limit the bans in an attempt to leave a door open to repair relations. Worryingly, they’re have been rumours that the moderates are planning to break off from the LDP and form a new party with Komeito and Kokumin Minshu-tō. In response to this, talks have begun between the Kenkyūkai and the Nippon Ishin no Kai (which has also been infiltrated by the Nippon Kaigi) to form their own party. A shift in Japanese politics is coming with the 2025 General Elections in March, as parties plan to shift and the dominant force is looking to finally kick the bucket. How this all turns out remains to be seen.


Do not remove - Alpha777

[Great Britain and Galactic Commonwealth]

Nationstates Name: Great Britain and Galactic Commonwealth
Nation Name: Republiqué La Francé
Capital: Paris
Territory:

(Image)
European France (not including overseas territories)

Population: 68.15 Million (Population Of Metropolitan France)
Official Language: Francais
Recognized Languages: Francais
Flag:

(Image)

National Anthem (optional): La Marseillaise

Head of State: His Excellency, Monsieur La Président Du Republiqué, Emmanuel Macron
HoS Picture:

(Image)

Head of Government: His Excellency, Prémier Jean Castex
HoG Picture (If different from HoS):

(Image)

Legislature Name: Parliament. Senate (Upper House), National Assembly (Lower House)
Party in Power: La République En Marche!

GDP (PPP): $2.980 trillion USD
GDP (Nominal): $4.603 trillion USD
Currency: Euro

Military Information (If different from IRL you must indicate that here): Not much except that France has a large defence budget and is currently in the phase of rearmament.

Alliances (If different from IRL): Same as IRL.

History Changes (Subject to review and approval by OP and Co-OP): It's going to be a long one folks.

June 6th, 1940

1100 At the ministry of war, in Paris’ Rue Saint-Dominique, the council of ministers has its hands full with maps and dispatches all describing the same tragedy. The Allies overwhelmed on a tactical standpoint, are also outnumbered since the fighting in May, which saw the encirclement and destruction of a large portion of the French armies and British Expeditionary Force – and the German offensive resumed the day before. How to stop the armies of Von Bock (Army Group B) who attack the Somme and the Ailette? The Weygand line is breaking under the assault of the Panzers.

Paul Reynaud, President du Conseil since the end of March, but also minister of War, knows it: the collapse of the front is now a matter of days, possibly hours [1]. His undersecretary to War, the man who imagined the role of armoured divisions in modern warfare, can now see the scenario he had dreamt of, but it is his country that was falling victim to it: “Our forces were behaving heroically, but they were outnumbered (…) I couldn’t explain to the President du Conseil that we had nothing to oppose the German Panzers.”

Brigadier-General (temporarily) Charles de Gaulle had been a member of government for a mere few hours when the ministerial shuffle occurred. Just like him, many ministers would never accept to concede defeat against Nazi Germany, starting with Reynaud himself – but De Gaulle knew that others always considered this war a major mistake. First among them, was Marshal Petain, vice-president of the Conseil.

“If our greatest fears about the current battle were to become true, asked De Gaulle, don’t you think, Monsieur le president du Conseil, that the presence of Marshal Petain’s presence amidst the government would disturb the establishment of measures for the salvation of the nation?”

“It is true that the Marshal has always criticized the war and that a military defeat would offer him the possibility of giving his opinions on French politics. But I’d rather have him in [the government] than out.” Reynaud answers.

1155 In his office at the Ministry of War, Lt.col. De Villelume, who learned the opposition of De Gaulle to Petain’s presence in the new government, scribbles a few notes to answer to… whom it may concern. Villelume, a military advisor to the ministry of foreign affairs, and liaison officer to High Command since the start of the conflict, had been promoted a few hours earlier to deputy-secretary to the War Council. Council where he would reunite with the new Brigadier-General (temporary, as he was nominated during wartime) De Gaulle, whom he knew only too well…However after a few knocks on his office door, someone enters without being given invited to do so!

General De Gaulle, after the usual military salutes, declares to Villelume that he is “delighted to have a man of such talent under [his] orders.”

Even though he knew what to expect, the pill is hard to swallow for the officer, who answers in an icy tone: “You are mistaken, sir Undersecretary. I am not under your orders. If needed, the President du Conseil will confirm this to you at the end of the day. I will let you leave to the Quai d’Orsay for the meeting later.”

The general stares daggers at him. If he knew that his first steps in politics would be difficult, in such a dramatic setting, he didn’t think he to have to battle so quickly!

Dryly, he replies: “France is living hours much too dark for us to give much importance to protocol.” Without even giving time for Villelume to open his mouth, De Gaulle turns his heels and walks out of the office of this old acquaintance who resembles an antagonist with each passing hour…

……

Old acquaintance indeed: they met for the first time at Ingolstadt’s Fort IX in 1916. The cavalryman, a survivor of the glorious charge of the Gironde squadron, though he knew well the infantryman made prisoner at Douaumont, and even shared with him the anecdote about the sabre [2]. De Villelume had managed to escape a short while after De Gaulle’s arrival, he didn’t have time to form an opinion on he who was two years his senior. They did have a common friend, Tuchashevsky, De Gaulle’s cellmate and great friend of Villelume’s, who fell victim to Stalin’s purges in the 1930s.

It is only at the beginning of 1940 that the two main military advisors of Reynaud crossed paths again. In this month of June 1940, De Gaulle wants to continue the fight, while Villelume thinks that the war has gone too badly to be won, and wishes for fighting to stop as soon as possible. And neither of them wants to back down. It is true that the Auvergnat aristocrat had always been right with his analysis of the international situation!

France should’ve distanced itself from the western alliances, who had brought her only complications and had allowed the USSR to position itself as the kingmaker of Europe…and divide Poland with Germany. In Spring 1939, he informed Daladier that the army wouldn’t be ready in time to support Poland. In 1940, he opposed the Dyle-Breda plan of Daladier and Gamelin. At the same time, he encouraged to take advantage of the winter to bomb the railroads and train stations of Germany in order to disrupt the Wehrmacht’s movements – but the GQG and government had stayed idle the entire winter. He was also partisan of a wider intervention in Norway and Finland to cripple the German economy and had been enraged to see that Gamelin didn’t care about these “side theatres”. It was him that, in early May, Reynaud had charged to draft an accusation manifesto against Gamelin in the goal of replacing him – but the start of the German offensive had stopped these plans.

However, Villelume did share with De Gaulle the desire to give the government and the populace a warrior spirit. But it’s the way of doing so that caused a rift between the two men. In January, Reynaud had asked for his opinion on a note given by Col. De Gaulle encouraging to attack the Siegfried line. His answer: “Even if we managed to open a gap in the enemy’s defences, what would be the point? In a rural battle, our lesser numbers would lead us to a bitter defeat!” But he did feel that Reynaud had given in to De Gaulle’s influence. It is his help he sought when writing his inauguration speech in Spring.

On March 26th, in Leca’s (cabinet director of Reynaud) office, the opposition between the two men became vocal. Villelume tells: “The Colonel De Gaulle made a long presentation about the possibility of winning the war militarily. He deplores that we did not enter Belgium, even against the Belgians’ will. According to him, the German army isn’t stronger than the French, and their air forces are equal…I am astonished. I thought him much more intelligent and informed. I do not even think to interrupt his monologue. I just refute everything in a few strict words when he finishes talking.”

On this June 6th, Villelume, still annoyed, rings Paul Baudouin, Undersecretary to the Ministry of Foreign affairs and close friend to Reynaud, also an opponent to the continuation of the war proned by Mandel and Margerie. They agree to talk about it following the afternoon meeting at the Quai d’Orsay. Baudouin advises Villelume to invent any pretext to talk to the Countess de Portes, official mistress of the President du Conseil, who apparently has much influence over him. Maybe she can convince Reynaud to dismiss the arrogant colonel.

1500 The government convenes for the usual “family photo”. It is taken, not at the Hotel Matignon, but on the steps of the Escalier d’Honneur of the Quai d’Orsay (Reynaud is also Minister of Foreign Affairs). Even with the unknowns of the military situation, a few bottles of Champagne are opened and Paul Reynaud is given the best wishes of Helene de Portes, his official mistress for a few months now. He decided to divorce for him to marry the beautiful Helene as soon as the law will allow him to do so. When the young woman leaves Matignon, Reynaud offers her his car, but Lt.Col. De Villelume offers to accompany her personally. “It is very nice of you, Mr.Villelume observes Reynaud but remember, we have work to do.”

“I shall drive her myself.” Villelume answers. “I won’t be long.”

According to Reynaud’s memoirs, Villelume apparently mentioned to Helene de Portes that he wished to “talk about the personalities of certain members of the new cabinet, and a certain arrogant colonel, to be more precise…”

As Charles de Gaulle would note to some of his collaborators, including Geoffroy Chodron de Courcel, Paul de Villelume was a brilliant man, but with a complete bias against him. Indeed, he had waged a silent war against his ideas and the pursuit of hostilities with Reynaud.

1600 Villelume’s car races along the Quai d’Orsay and speeds through the Pont de l’Alma. While crossing, still at high speeds, the Place de l’Alma, towards the Avenue George V, the driver loses control of the vehicle for an unknown reason. After the war, some eyewitnesses would claim that a mysterious Mercedes, appearing from the Avenue Montaigne, had slammed into her rear before disappearing on the Pont de l’Alma…Whatever the reasons, the automobile violently runs into a lamppost and wedges on its side. Help arrives very quickly, and the two people inside, covered in blood, are raced to the Hotel-Dieu Hospital. It is there that they realize that Helene de Portes had died on the spot, instantly.

It is 1625. Today, certain historians consider that the “Pont de l’Alma incident” had massive consequences despite its allure, and that at this moment, France’s destiny shifted.

1700 Reynaud, warned, rushes to the Hotel-Dieu, along with his cabinet director, Dominique Leca. In front of his mistress’ corpse, he completely breaks down in tears. “I cannot continue Dominique, I will resign…”

“Don’t, mister President du Conseil! France needs you ! ” Leca pleads while pointing (not without hypocrisy) to the dead woman. “Think of her! She loved you, she was passionate about the affairs of the State, she wouldn’t have wanted you to abandon your task!”

The argument seems to work on Reynaud, who goes silent and thinks, silently, for a few minutes. It is then that De Villelume appears. He is only lightly injured and bears on his head a large bandage that gives him a ridiculous aura. “Mister president…” he stutters. “I am so sorry, I…”

Reynaud stops and rages at the man, in tears: “How dare you…You were driving…it’s your fault! Get out of my sight, I do not wish to see you again! Never!”

2000 After a discussion with Dominique Leca, Reynaud decides to give De Villelume’s post to Roland de Margerie, responsible of his diplomatic cabinet at the time. “The next few days would see Reynaud impacted but “liberated” (according to De Gaulle), give Roland de Margerie a way to gain growing influence, to the point of becoming a second President du Conseil, to the great disappointment of the defeatist faction.” (De Gaulle t.II, Le Combattant, 1984, J.Lacouture).

We have recently learnt, thanks to the memoirs of admiral Philippe de Gaulle, how hard the general had been stunned at the sudden removal of Paul de Villelume from the political scene, and of the one he called Reynaud’s “mégerie”, considering her opposition of the fighting faction. “This event, he’d told his son, was for me a sign of the providence. France’s destiny wasn’t going to let itself go with the sirens of despair.”



At this moment, Reynaud considers the possibility of the creation of a “Brittany Redoubt” in case the situation worsens. However, although Marshal Weygand just created the 10th Military Region, under general Guitry’s command, which encompasses all of Brittany, it is without any hope of success.

This story is repeated by anti-Gaullist factions as a way of proving De Gaulle’s arrogance. As he just arrived in captivity, he had asked to be given his officer’s sabre, an honour only given to those that had displayed extreme bravery at the moment of their capture. After examination of the Oflag’s records, this request was denied.

After his dismissal by Paul Reynaud, Paul de Villelume would stay in France and would offer his services to Pierre Laval in October of 1940. He would be named Ambassador to France in Germany. In 1944, he tried to escape to Spain, but failed and was imprisoned. Sentenced to death for collaborating with the enemy, he refused to ask for the president’s pardon. Indeed, Paul Reynaud had then become president of the Republic, and he still carried with him the grief of the countess’ death.

June 6th, 1940
Northern France

On the ground, the last French hopes were dissipating.
In Alsace and along the Maginot Line, which was supposed to bear the brunt of the German attack, everything is calm, with much of the fighting occurring to the west.
On the Somme, Hoth's XV. AK (mot.) (5. and 7. PzD, 2. ID mot) continues its progression southeast of Abbeville, despite a counter-attack by the 7e Regiment Cuirasse. Rommel's 7. PzD reaches the Hornoy Heights by nightfall. Around Abbeville, French units of the 9th CA (10th Army), flanked by the Panzers to their right and attacked by the German infantry, have to withdraw to the Bresle river. The XIV and XVI. AK (mot), grouped in a single PanzerGruppe under Kleist's authority, continue the offensive.
South of Amiens, Von Wietersheim's XIV. AK (mot) (9th and 10th PzD, SS Totenkopf) attacks the lines of the 10th CA (9th Army). He forces the remains of the 16th DI to retreat alongside the 24th DI, but it fails to breakthrough.
South of Péronne, the concentration of tanks of Hoeppner's XVI. AK (mot) (3. and 4. PzD, 13. ID mot and SS-Verfügungs [1]) was spotted by French reconnaissance and
bombers of the Air Force made three attempts to disrupt their preparation, without success. On the flip side of the coin, a counter-attack of the 1st DCR failed, crushed under the dive bombers. The assaults of the XVI. AK (mot) was renewed and soon the Germans controlled a vast pocket from Harbonnières to Ham, passing through Roye. General Frère had to order the withdrawal of the VIIth Army on a line going from Davenescourt to Ribecourt.
On the Ailette front, the German attacks continued, and French losses were very heavy. At night, General Touchon withdrew the units of his VIth Army on the Aisne.
All these orders to withdraw gave rise to violent explanations between Weygand, who had ordered a defence "without a spirit of retreat", and his subordinates (Georges, Besson, Frère...) who had to prove to him, with maps, the consequences of these orders and the need to change them. It is true that the French forces resisted magnificently for two days and inflicted very heavy losses on their opponents. But most of the units that suffered the shock of the enemy offensive are almost annihilated (5th DIC, 3rd DLC, 19th ID). The others are now forced to retreat to unprepared positions on terrain less suitable for defence. Moreover, a breach was opened in the heart of the Xth Army, between the 9th CA which retreated to the Bresle and the 10th CA which resisted south of Amiens. The catastrophe, all too predictable since the defeat of May, is imminent.
Meanwhile, a second PanzerGruppe starts to organize itself under Guderian. It is composed of the XXXIX AK (mot) (1. and 2. PzD, 29. ID mot) and the XLI. AK (mot) (6. and 8. PzD, 20. Mot ID).

Future SS-Division Das Reich

June 6th, 1940

Mediterranean, Adriatic and Aegean Sea - While Italy hasn't entered the war, following long-drawn out plans, the Regia Marina undertakes the installation of 213 defensive mine barrages, totalling 9,808 devices, in various strategic locations: coasts close to the border with border with France, the Elbe-Piombino area, the Sardinian and Sicilian coasts, the Libyan coast, etc.
In the Dodecanese, the installed mine barrages protect the islands of Leros (Lero), Astypalea (Stampalia) and naturally Rhodes (Rodi).
These barrages are of two types: 107 anti-ship (AN, mines set at a depth of 4 meters) and 106 anti-submarine (AS, mines at a depth of 8 meters or more).
By the time commercial sailors and fishermen understand the need for accurate navigation, these barrages caused friendly losses, notably, as early as June 9, the small cargo ship Angiulin (873 GRT) near Cape Granitola (Sicily) and the following day the sailing ship Danilo B. (102 GRT) northwest of Capri.


June 6th, 1940

Kiel - After careful preparation, auxiliary cruiser Thor (Captain Kähler) sets sail to scour the trade routes of the South Atlantic. First of all, it has to make a port call in Bergen to be firstly camouflaged as a Soviet cargo ship.



June 7th, 1940

Paris - While the Parisian press, from Populaire on the left to the newspaper Le Jour on the right, also including L'Aube and Le Matin, warmly welcomed the appointment of De Gaulle to the government, the latter formed his own cabinet. He consulted with Roland de Margerie, and immediately notes the resolute strength of his hardliner convictions. The General then met with Reynaud, who instructed him to take a message to Churchill to request the large-scale involvement of the RAF in the Battle of France. Before going to London, the new Under-Secretary of State for War has to consult Pétain and Weygand.


June 7th, 1940

Red Sea - Italian Minelayer Ostia and destroyer Pantera finish the laying of eight defensive mine barrages in front of the Massaouah accesses (four AN and four AS) and two in front of the Assab accesses (AN), respectively. These ten fields total 1,120 pieces.


June 7th, 1940

Northern France - On the Somme, a breakthrough is achieved. The front of the Xth Army is definitively punched through: the French and British units of the 9th CA that survived the first two days, grouped in defensive holdouts in each village, fight fiercely on the Bresle river, assaulted by the five infantry divisions of the German II. AK. However, they were already bypassed and the armoured divisions of Hoth's XV. AK (mot), exploiting the 25 km gap (between Hornoy and Conty) which separates the 9th and 10th Corps, charges towards the Seine and Rouen. After having dispersed the 17th DLI surprised disembarking from its trains, the lead units of the 7th. PzD reach Formerie and Forges-les-Eaux. In the evening, the 9th CA receives the order to withdraw behind the Seine. This movement should require four stages for the infantrymen, covered by the 2nd and 5th DLC.
The units of the 10th CA (16th and 24th ID) continue to repel the assaults of the XIV. AK (mot), but, due to the risks linked to the German breakthrough on their left, they receive during the night of the 7th to the 8th, orders to withdraw in several stages to the positions of the Parisian defence, on the Oise river. This retreat was facilitated by the withdrawal of the XIV. AK (mot). Indeed, after the failure of its attempts to breakthrough and its heavy losses, it is is redeployed to support the XVI. AK (mot).
Throughout the day, the enemy reinforces its troops on the northern bank of the Aisne opposite the VIth Army.

June 8th, 1940

Montry (French High Command) - De Gaulle, who could not see Pétain at the Invalides (probably because the old man preferred to avoid a meeting that would be unpleasant for him), goes to Montry to talk with General Weygand. The exchange between the two men men is very heated. The Army Chief of Staff paints a grim picture of the situation: "The men are literally exhausted, they fight by day, march by night and fall asleep on their new positions. We have no reserves left. The only thing that could save us would be the enemy being even more tired and being forced to stop for lack of breath." But he obviously doesn't believe that. Similarly, he describes as "childish" any withdrawal plan to North Africa and his close collaborators did not say much else.
"The head of the French army was a desperate man," wrote De Gaulle. "I judged, not without certain sadness, that it was necessary to draw all the consequences without delay."

Paris - On his return to the capital, De Gaulle goes to Matignon without delay. Paul Reynaud, who had attended the funeral of Hélène de Portes that morning, is very depressed. De Gaulle urges him to replace Weygand and proposes General Huntziger to take over his duties. Reynaud hesitates:
"You are asking me to appoint a man who was one of the main generals defeated during the German attack of May 13...".
- "This is true, but he is far from bearing all the responsibility for the disaster. At least he still resources and energy, whereas Weygand is out of breath."
Finally, under the influence of Margerie, who was present during the exchange, Reynaud accepts the idea that Weygand might have to be replaced soon.
- "In the meantime," De Gaulle asks, "please accept to assemble all that remains of our armored units, Reserve Armored Divisions and Light Mechanized Divisions, into a single corps. Separated, they are powerless. United and commanded by a capable leader, they can still do something."
- "But which leader?" asks Reynaud, disillusioned.
- "General Delestraint. I had already made this proposal to Weygand on the 2nd, but he didn't take it into account. If you do not wish to dismiss Weygand right away, at least appoint Delestraint."
Margerie agrees and Reynaud accepts this proposal.
In practice, the Delestraint Group would only comprise the remnants of the 2nd and 4th DCR (on June 8th, these divisions were no longer on the Somme, but had been at Marseille-en-Beauvaisis for several days in order to recover and replenish), as well as some CACCs (Compagnies Autonomes de Chars de Combat / Autonomous Companies of Combat Tanks). The reconstituted DLMs, whose remnants are sometimes grouped into Groupements Cuirassés (such as GC Buisson), will have to continue to independently cover the retreat.

June 8th, 1940

Northern France - While the French political equilibrium silently shifts, the fighting continues without respite. Facing the Germans on all fronts, the French troops fight desperately, but after the success of the German encirclement maneuver in May, they are too few in number, desperately too few. The withdrawal movements intensify, under aerial bombardments that are no longer met with any coherent opposition. Some units already find the bridges prematurely cut in front of them when they reach the water lines they are supposed to defend.

Normandy - The Xth French Army is cut in two by the German offensive. The 9th CA is vulnerable to encirclement. The 17th DLI and the 3rd DLC operate a fighting retreat, trying to delay Rommel in his march on Rouen.
Just back from England, General de La Laurencie is given the mission to defend the Basse-Seine passages in cooperation with the Duffour Group (3rd Region). But he only has very limited means at his disposal for this task: the 3rd Corps which is in the process of being replenished, and two light divisions in transit.

Ile-de-France - The 25th CA, comprised of fresh units that had not had time to deploy to the Somme, ensures the north-east defence of Paris by positioning itself around Beauvais.
Several fresh divisions are put at the disposal of the governor of Paris, General Héring. The 57th ID is deployed between the Ourcq canal and the Nonnette river in order to gather the retreating divisions of the VIIth Army.
The 84th ID, having just arrived from North Africa, settle on the Seine, but its lines stretch over 90 km, from Vernon to Chantilly, and it can hardly do anything but guard the passageways. At 1300 hours, the car of its commander, General Ardant du Picq, is machine-gunned by an airplane as he was returning from an inspection.
At General Héring's headquarters, preparations are made for an all-out resistance with limited means. They plan the destruction of the bridges of Paris, the tunnels of the subway, the sewers...
Since May 10th, the "Chauvineau Line", a modest line of light fortifications supposed to protect Paris, has been slightly reinforced. Old naval cannons have been installed, many anti-tank ditches have been dug, minefields were set up, and flooding was carried out. Thousands of workers (French, Colonials and Spaniards) work tirelessly in the Ile-de-France forests to build up barricades in order to block the panzers. The forts of the Paris belt were finally equipped with defenders and artillery.
Finally, the hunt for snipers and hidden units was on. One man, one gun! Two thousand five hundred men were removed from their special assignment in the administration and transferred to home defence positions. Five thousand territorial guards, most of them veterans of the Great War, donned their uniforms again to participate in the defense of the capital. The police and the republican guard have been provided with aging Gras rifles to counter an improbable paratrooper attack.

Aisne - The Germans launch the dreaded attack against the VIth Army. Despite a desperate defence, the superior numbers and disproportionate means allow the Germans to cross the Aisne and establish a large bridgehead around Soissons. Several French counter-attacks fail to dislodge the Germans or throw them north of the river.

June 9th, 1940

London - At dawn, General de Gaulle leaves Le Bourget for London, where he meets Winston Churchill in the late morning. The Prime Minister refuses to deploy new RAF units in France, explaining that their units in France, explaining that their usefulness and efficiency for the defense of Great Britain were far greater than any that could result of their use in France in the present confusion. At the end of the interview, General Edward Spears (present as a representative of the British General Staff to the French forces) reports that De Gaulle told Churchill: "You are right."
In the early afternoon, the French delegation met Anthony Eden (then Minister of War) once again, and Jean Monnet, who chaired the Franco-British Joint Commission for the purchase of war material. With the rapidly deteriorating military situation at home, De Gaulle was urgently recalled to Paris, where where his plane landed at the end of the day at Le Bourget in the middle of bomb craters.

Paris - Paul Reynaud and his advisors note that the German victory on the continent appeared to be inevitable. Supported by Margerie, De Gaulle pleads for a withdrawal to North Africa. Dominique Leca firmly supports them. Reynaud is then convinced to opt for what his chief of staff describes as the "Dutch solution". The troops that would not be
to be evacuated would have to fight in Metropolitan France to the limit of their capabilities, following which they would surrender. "However," warned De Gaulle, "you must know, Mr. President of the Council, that this solution will be will certainly meet with hostility from some people. Alas! Alas! At the forefront of these men, there will be the head of our Army, General Weygand!"
With that, Reynaud signs a document drawn up at his request by De Gaulle. It defines the new national defense strategy of the government (it is interesting to note that this document was ready the day before, but, still recovering from the sudden death of Hélène de Portes, Reynaud had postponed the signature to today).
The document reads:
I) In the event that the battle currently underway does not stop the German advance, it is to be expected that the enemy forces, after having crossed the Basse Seine and occupied Paris, will seek to achieve the complete disorganization of the national resistance, either by flanking our forces in the east, or by advancing rapidly in the direction of the ports of the Atlantic.
In any case, the will of the Government is to continue the fight on the metropolitan territory and possibly in North Africa, then in the rest of the Empire, in order to gain the time
the rest of the Empire, so as to as much time as necessary for external help to enable us to regain the initiative.
a) Without prejudice to the intermediate ramps or positions that the command would deem appropriate for use for the regrouping of the forces, the first national position to be considered and to be prepared in the rear of the battlefield has, as its front line, the line defined as as follows: the course of the Couesnon, the Ernée, the Mayenne, the Loire downstream from Tours, the Cher, Canal du Berry, course of the Loire downstream of Digoin, Canal du Centre, course of the Doubs.
b) in the rear will be prepared :
- a 2nd resistance position covering the west and southwest of France, marked by the Charente, the upper Vienne, the Puy de Dôme chain, the Madeleine mountains, Lyon,
the Rhône river and connected with the 1st position by a feeder following the course of the Creuse river
- a Brittany redoubt marked out by the course of the Couesnon, the outskirts of Rennes and the course of the Vilaine river.
- a southwestern redoubt whose front will be marked by the Canal du Midi, from Bordeaux to Narbonne.
(...)
II) Experience has shown that it was very uncertain, given the means available to the enemy and the way in which he uses them, to hope to establish in time a coherent resistance
on a given area of land if it was not organized and occupied in advance by units other than those who have to fight in front.
As a result:
1) the organization of the terrain and the resistance positions defined above, and in particular the preparation of the destructions, will be undertaken immediately.
2) the units necessary to ensure the security of the first position will be put in in place immediately.
The overall plan of the work to be carried out will be decided immediately by the Under-Secretary of State for National Defense and War.
The designation of the units to be put in place will also be made by him by means of levies on the units being formed in the interior.
The carrying out of these works is the responsibility of the regional commanders concerned, who have not only their own resources but also the largest possible quantity of manpower to be provided by other departments (Interior, Labor, Colonies) according to estimates to be established by the under-secretary of State for Defense and War.
(...)
III) According to the organization foreseen above for the defense in depth of the territory, the personnel (mobilized, special assignments, manpower, etc.) and the industrial
industrial resources of all kinds contributing to national defense, in particular in the Paris area, will be urgently withdrawn behind the general line of Rennes, Angers, Clermont-Ferrand, Lyon.
All the necessary arbitrations between the ministerial departments concerned are the responsibility of the under-secretary of state for national defense and war.
(...)
IV) The withdrawal of the administrations and the possible displacement of the government will be carried out by echelon.
The day before, this last paragraph ended with "it being understood that, in the limit, the seat of the French government could be established in the region of Quimper" but this line is deleted.
To organize the last defence, it is decided that the political and military authorities will withdraw towards the south and, initially, on the Loire (at Tours).

June 9th, 1940

Strait of Sicily - During the night of June 8th to June 9th, minelayers Scilla and Buccari begin to lay offensive minefields between the island of Pantelleria and Sicily, on the Banco Avventura, which is less than 100 metres deep. Considering the number of available mines, they will respectively lay, in three sorties, the last of which took place during the 11th to 12th of June, minefields 1 AN, 2 AN, 1 AS and 1 AN bis, 2 AN bis, and 1 AS bis: for a total of 1,919 mines.
Their first victim is... Italian: during the day of the 9th of June, the small cargo ship Avvenire (957 GRT) hits a mine on the 1 AN field and sinks.

June 9th, 1940

Normandy - The 7. PzD reaches Elbeuf during the night. Shortly after, the 5. PzD reaches the suburbs of Rouen. But all the bridges of the Seine river are blown up before the first German tanks, the ferries are sunk and the engineers have to start working. The British scuttle several ships in port, including Belgian steamer Liège.
The German thrust was so fast that some French units are still occupying their positions on the Bresle river: the 9th CA and the 51st British Highland Division are isolated and form a pocket around Saint-Valéry-en-Caux. Their only way out is to embark at Le Havre, Fécamp or Dieppe.
South of the Seine, Generals Duffour and La Laurencie try to set up a thin curtain of troops. Amongst the few units that managed to escape the encirclement, the Beauman and Evans divisions cross the river and move to the Louviers sector where they join the 237th DLI, still in the process of beind deployed. Meanwhile, the 3rd DLC, admirably commanded by General Petiet, regroups some distance from the Seine to counter-attack a German crossing.
The infantrymen who had survived Dunkirk are regrouped within the 5th CA. General René Altmayer and Lieutenant-Colonel Clogenson redouble their efforts to rearm these units and to deploy them on the Seine before the Germans manage to cross the river.

Paris (Chauvineau Line) - The remnants of the 25th CA gradually retreat to the Oise along the Thérain valley. The VIIth Army manages to disengage its units sent west of the Oise and to withdraw them along the river, between the confluence of the Nonette and Compiègne.

Aisne & Champagne - It's now the turn of the entire eastern part of the front on the Aisne, from the Ailette to the Meuse, to be set ablaze: Army Group A under von Rundstedt goes on the offensive.
In the west, the German breakthrough at Soissons forced the left wing of the VIth Army to retreat on the Ourcq river. This river is reached at the end of the day by the enemy between La Ferté-Milon and Fère-en-Tardenois.
Further east, the IVth Army resists most of the assaults around Rethel, defended by the 2nd DI, which has just relieved the left of the 14th DI of General de Lattre de Tassigny (who has brilliantly repulsed the enemy for several days). The Germans only succeeded in creating pockets, but the position of the IVth Army is made difficult by the retreat of units belonging to the VIth Army
On the front of the IInd Army, the German attack comes up against very weakened units (some divisions are missing a third of their theoretical strength) by the constant fighting and bombings that had hit this supposedly "stabilized" front for more than three weeks. However, the fighting is so brutal that, although the enemy wins some local successes (in particular against the 36th ID and the 1st DIC), the enemy does not breakthrough. Vigorous counter-attacks even allow to hope for a swift recovery of the situation.


July 10th, 1940

Paris, 1130 - General Maxime Weygand meets Paul Reynaud, President of the Council, at his request, at the Ministry of War. To the great annoyance of the Chief of Staff, the latter was flanked by de Gaulle, Secretary of State for War, and Roland de Margerie, military advisor. Weygand hands Reynaud a note in which he pleads for an armistice as soon as possible. In response, De Gaulle explains the "Dutch solution". Weygand pounces.
- Abandonning the metropolitan territory would be childish, dangerously childish! Do you realize that you would thus leave the Communists complete freedom? De Gaulle, you are a soldier, I don't understand why you would accept such foolishness. This solution is in reality a ploy to make the Army carry, through the inevitable surrender of the units remaining in Metropolitan France, the responsibility for the mistakes of the political chiefs! As Chief of Staff, I demand an armistice!
- The question here is not who bears what responsibility," Margerie cuts him off. "General, we need to know if you will carry out the orders of the governmental powers of the republic, even if they are contrary to the note you have just given us and to your personal opinion!
- I am a soldier. I will carry out any order that is in keeping with the honor of the Army," Weygand replies evasively. "But that is not the point! It is the politicians who started this war, it is now up to them to put an end to it!"
The differences of opinion between him and his counterparts appear to be final. Reynaud decides a short break in the meeting, during which he consults Leca and, by telephone, Georges Mandel. Then he returnes to the conference room and, without even sitting down, he decides: "General Weygand, I regret to inform you that I must withdraw your appointment as Chief of Staff of the Armies." Weygand, pale, says: "You've gone completely mad!" and leaves without adding a word. Reynaud slowly sat down and sighed: "Well, De Gaulle, that's done... Would you like to contact Huntziger and ask him to accept the job, if you will..."
- I will go to his HQ myself, Monsieur le Président du Conseil. But before that, one more word: We must appoint General de Lattre, who has just distinguished himself in the defense of Rethel, at the head of the entrenched camp of Paris.
- Oh, no! Defending Paris under the present conditions would cause a considerable number of civilian casualties. Paris does not have its own defense, we must give it the status of an open city.
Reynaud would remain adamant on this point. In the interest of maintaining order and protecting the population, General Dentz, governor of the city of Paris, will order all public services to remain on the premises.


Arcis-sur-Aube (HQ of General Huntziger's GA 4), 1400 - De Gaulle announces to Huntziger that Weygand has been dismissed and offers him to take over Weygand's post. Huntziger is so surprised that he phones Reynaud to get confirmation of what the Under-Secretary of State for War had just announced to him. The obvious emotion of the President of the Council convinces him to accept, but he asks to meet Reynaud to make his nomination official.

Invalides (Paris), 1700 - In the afternoon, Weygand, appalled, goes to the Invalides. There he meets with Pétain: "Mr. Marshal, we must act. Only you can put an end to this madness!" Pétain, very unhappy, immediately tries to contact the ministers on whom he knew he could count, such as Chautempsor Ibarnegaray. But these bilateral discussions did not produce an immediate plan of action, especially as everyone is more preoccupied by leaving the capital.
Convinced that Georges will succeed Weygand, Pétain manages to telephone him to make sure that he refuses the nomination, and he gets angry at Georges' denials, who does not understand a single thing! He then decides to telephone Reynaud himself to demand a Council of Ministers (he has the right to do so, as Vice-President of the Council). To his great fury, the only person he gets on the phone is Margerie, who very politely explains that it was impossible to hold a Council that evening: "You understand, Monsieur le Maréchal, President Lebrun left Paris at about 6:00 p.m., he has to settle close to Tours, and I do not know exactly where." (This is false, Margerie knows that Lebrun is going to Cangé).
"Tomorrow, then!" requests Pétain. "I'm afraid that's also impossible, remember that we have to receive Mr. Churchill and several of his ministers for an Inter-Allied Council, which obviously cannot be postponed. I think that a Council of Ministers can be organized on the 12th, probably in the evening." Disgusted, Pétain
hangs up without further comment.

Invalides (Paris), 1745 - Still reeling from his eviction in the morning by the President of the Council and his exchange with Marshal Pétain having yielded nothing conclusive,
General Weygand comes face to face with deputy Henri de Kerillis, a cavalryman who had become an aviator during the Great War. One of the staunchest anti-Munichois, he is in favor of the continuation of the struggle. Foch's former deputy decides to take out his frustration on him.
- I hear a lot of bad things about you, mon p'tit Kerillis!
- I also hear a lot of bad things about you, General. They tell me that you want to ask for an armistice.
- What the fuck do you want us to do?
- We promised the English not to ask for an armistice without them. A promise is a promise.
- Your English are fucked. They've got ten days tops, my friend.
- Well, if they've got only ten days, let's hold on for another ten days, general. But after all, you don't know shit, and it's defeatism to say that our last ally, who represents our last hope, is finished!
- You should be shot for talking like that! Weygand is fuming.
- You wouldn't be able to command the firing squad! I hope that your replacement will do better than you. I have few doubts about that.
Mortified that the whole of Paris is already aware of his ousting and by the Parthian shot which finished his pride as a soldier, General Weygand climbed into his car without saying a word to anyone, and made his way to the GQG, where he has to give way to his successor, whose identity he still does not know.

Paris/Washington, DC 2100/1600 - While Huntziger is taking up his new post, Reynaud telegraphs Roosevelt to ask him to "throw the weight of American power in order to save France, the advanced sentinel of democracy."
Roosevelt, very moved, confided to his collaborators: "I had no idea that the French situation was so dire. When I read the first lines, I feared that Reynaud would announce a surrender! But the worst is avoided, France fights on." The American President, however, would only to reply to Reynaud that the United States would send more weapons to France and to England, but that they were not prepared to go to war.

I want to continue forward but this is the maximum that I can post writing further would require another post cause this s*ithole only allows 60,000 characters. Should I continue?

Do not remove - Alpha777

As quite fascinating as it is... only stuff post-2000 truly applies to the RP as that is the only time frame that can change... You are more than welcome to write as much as you want to but as far as being accepted, only post-2000 information will be assessed as the divergence point is anything after 2000, minus the things that are mentioned in the OP specifically, which cannot be changed.

Got it. I'll edit it I don't want any changes then.

[Monsone]

Nationstates Name: Monsone
Nation Name: Argentina

[Great United States]

so is my app gonna get accepted or what