Twilight War Regions

Mohoender · #1 09-13-2009, 10:34 PM

I started with France and Belgium (on another thread) but I figured it would be nice to have every regions in a single thread. I'll start with Portugal and Spain. My daughter was caughing tonight and she woke me up at 2:00am. As I didn't feel like going back to bed I typed it.

I'll see what the next one will be.

Mohoender · #2 09-13-2009, 10:34 PM

Both Portugal and Spain hold a special position during the Twilight War as both, despite being members of NATO, don’t see any fighting near their respective soils.
Prior to the conflict, Portugal had engaged in a huge modernization of its civilian infrastructures, building highways, modernizing airports, harbors and industrial network around Lisbon and Porto. The most impressive of this achievement was open to the public only two years before the war: it is the bridge “Vasco de Gamma” that crosses the Tage River. Achieved before the universal exhibition of 1998, it was, until its destruction, the longest bridge of Europe. In addition, still turning away from its recent past, Portugal was the only member of NATO to maintain the reduction of its army. Older equipments were being stored instead of being scrapped and plans were made to rebuild the army but, in 1999, the Portuguese Armed Forces had never been so small.
Spain, for its part, had experienced civil unrest in the Basque Region since 1996 and the assassination of JosÃ© MarÃ*a Aznar LÃ³pez by the ETA. This resulted in the cancellation of the election (Felipe GonzÃ¡lez MÃ¡rquez being confirmed to office under an initiative taken by the Congreso de los Diputados) and the establishment of a state of emergency that was still in effect when the Twilight War started. The measures taken in 1996 are soon approved by the Cortes Generales and many are still in effect when the war starts over Europe. In 2000, the Spanish military had been engaged in a mild guerilla war for four years and, if the country had remained a democracy, a state of emergency is still in effect over the Basque region. In addition, the armed forces, much like the country itself, had been engaged in a huge modernization and expansion program while the Consejo de Ministros has been jointly presided by the president and the king for the last four years.
Both Portugal and Spain, active members of NATO, remain only mildly involved during the first stage of the conflict. Several units from both countries have been sent to the frontline in respect of the treaty but no strike had touched any of them. If France is hit several times France, Portugal and Spain remain outside of Moscow’s reach. Their respective industries had been turned to war production and by early 2003 both countries are essential to the NATO supply network over Europe. In addition, outside of ETA activities, both countries are surprisingly stable and the population remains highly supportive of the war effort, taking the few privations with good will.
The situation changes in mid-2003 when NATO decides upon the use of tactical nuclear weapons. In early fall both Portugal and Spain find themselves largely involved in the offensive that has been launched in Italy. Their naval forces are forming a good part of the Task Force supporting the operation and several of their best units are spearheading the attack, landing in Italy. They perform well but the loss of naval supremacy (The loss of the Principe de Asturias is a huge blow to the Spanish Navy) hamper their action and the land operation fails, essentially because of insufficient supplies. Finally both countries are subjected to several nuclear strikes in 2004.
A single missile is targeted at Portugal but the effects are devastating. A MIRV (550kt) hit the refinery located 10 km north of Porto, destroying the modern commercial harbor, the airport and damaging the northern quarters and the wealthy coastal area “da Foz”. Nevertheless, despite extended damages the city survives with the Eiffel Bridge still standing intact. Four more isolated MIRV (550kt each) hit Coimbra (and the Monte Real air base nearby), Montijo, Setubal and Sintra while the last five wreak havoc on Lisbon itself. Another missile, launched from a submarine is targeted at the Azores, hitting the islands with 4 MIRV (100kt each). These 4 MIRV are all targeted at Terceira Island and they destroy both cities along with Lajes Field (the main US air base on Portuguese soil).

As the dust settle, central government has vanished, the country has lost 40% of its population and unrest is spreading fast. Die-hard communist that have been living in Alentejo and Algarve rise up and form a number of soviets, seizing power where they can and taking control of Beja with its airbase. This is presented as a great victory by Portuguese communists but they take control of an empty shell as most aircrafts had been evacuated to Braga, BraganÃ§a and Vila Real. Soon, the communists lose control and soviets turn to marauder while chaos spread to the central region. Surviving cities and villages are raided and, often, the towns that survive still have standing medieval walls.
The RegiÃ£o Norte, which is more lightly damaged (despite almost a million casualties) and which is more densely populated takes immediate action. The local government declares independence and deploys what troops and GNR it has available. In addition, people’s militias are formed under the authority of land lords and are charged with the enforcement of daily security. Abuses are not unknown of but they remain reasonable. A month later, the new government takes control of the Baixo Vouga and DÃ£o-LafÃµes sub-regions extending its influence slightly to the south and bringing half a million more people under its protection. Porto city remains important as its wineries are turned to alcohol production and as its ancient docks are serviceable for small ships but the city lose some of its influence when the government is moved to Braga. Eight months later, in 2005, RegiÃ£o Norte joins with the Spanish region of Galicia, the new entity takes the name of “Free Republic of Galicia” and its capital is moved again, the government settling in the city of Vigo.
While Portugal is hit several times, Spain suffers an even worse fate as many of its major cities are subjected to nuclear attacks. When the strike is over 11 Spanish cities have vanished: Barcelona, CÃ¡diz, Cartagena, GijÃ³n, La CoruÃ±a, MÃ¡laga, Madrid and its surroundings, Palma, Tarragona, Valencia and Zaragoza. Central government is gone, the king has been killed and a fair part of the army is fighting abroad, leaving the local authorities with insufficient means of action. With no power supply and modern communications down, most cities turn to themselves, establishing as many independent local governments. What military units remain is mobilized and local commanders take oath to the various local authorities. Everywhere, Guardia Civil units are expanded, accepting whoever wants to enlist and soon it is difficult to distinct them from bandits and marauders.
By mid-2005, chaos has spread to most of Spain. Cities and their immediate surroundings are pretty much safe but tensions between them are slowly increasing while Guardia Civil units are often sent out on brutal raiding missions. Electricity, except for tiny local productions, is a long gone memory and no one has the means to reestablish it. On one hand, the Basque region and the western Pyreneans are now in open Civil War. On the other hand, Galicia has joined with the northern part of Portugal. This progressive decay continues into 2006 except for Catalunya. Galvanized by their nationalistic feelings, people there have managed to regain control of the region and declare independence, establishing their capital at Berga. Having a number of military units at hand, the government closes the border, seizing the province of Huesca in the process, taking control of several small river power plants that will prove instrumental in its survival. Finally, within a month of its independence the new government establishes a citizenship rule based on ethnic background. Spanish people from anywhere in Spain are immediately expelled and brought to the province borders (wild executions are not unheard of). Spanish people who can prove that they were living in the province prior to the war are allowed to stay but they are not granted full citizenship: they are not allowed to several jobs (especially administrative and power position) while factories of strategic importance belonging to non-Catalan are taken over by the provincial government. However, full citizenship is granted to people of Catalan descent. For reason of convenience the Spanish language is still tolerated but Catalan becomes the official language.

Several month later, in 2008, the situation remain that throughout the Iberian peninsula. Roving bans of Guardia Civil continue raiding most of the countryside. Electricity remains a memory almost everywhere and the surviving infrastructures are experiencing fast decay. The only exception is that of Galicia where a number of dam on the Douro River have been put back on line. Several more cities have been damaged to a large extend and they are now largely abandoned while open civil war is still taking place over the Basque region. Cities are increasingly hostile toward each other and the only authority exercising some kind of national control is the Catholic Church of Spain which constantly expends its influence under the authority of Archbishop Felipe GÃºzman who rules from Sevilla. The Holy Inquisition has been revived in Rome and a few inquisitors have been sent to Spain. On occasions, they travel from cities to cities but so far they don’t meet with a warm welcome and the Archbishop limit their action.
Catalunya is the other exception but, despite strong popular support, the government remains unable to repair the much needed infrastructures and it is currently looking for outside help. As a result, negotiations are carried out with the Franco-Belgian Union but they have yet to come to their conclusion.

Mohoender · #3 09-14-2009, 01:43 AM

When the Twilight War begins, the Kingdom of Netherlands is among the first NATO members to fully support the US decision to answer Germanyâ€™s call for help. Over the past decade, the Dutch Army slightly increased its size, mobilization procedures had been improved and within days of the German call, a Dutch Corps is assembled and sent east. In addition, several air force units are rebased to Germany.
Later, as fighting becomes increasingly bitter, the Dutch dedication to the War doesnâ€™t faint and reinforcements are constantly sent out while reserve units are created to take duties at home and behind the lines. The navy is also doing its share and while its losses during the first Atlantic Campaign had been high this doesnâ€™t result from a lack of competence but rather from outstanding behaviours.
During a single engagement the Frigate â€œJan van Brakelâ€, covering the retreat of the damaged aircraft carrier â€œNimitzâ€, faced alone one of the Slava-class cruiser of the Warsaw Pact. The engagement lasted for two hours, allowing the â€œNimitzâ€ to escape unarmed and, at the end, the Slava-class cruiser was forced to retreat with extended damages. The frigate was so crippled that she had lost half of her crew along with her Command Bridge and part of her bow. Nevertheless, some of her weapon systems were still firing at the cruiser while it was retreating before reinforcements could reach the spot. At last, most survivors were transferred on the Belgian frigate â€œWandelaarâ€ while the â€œJan van Brakelâ€ was slowly brought back to port. She was lost before she could reach Amsterdam.
When the nukes start to fall, the kingdom is among the primary targets and its major cities are all hit, sometimes repeatedly. Amsterdam, Breda, Dordrecht, Eindhoven, Haarlem, Nimegen, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht and Zaanstadt are all destroyed. The dikes have been reduced to rubble or have sustained extensive damages and the low lands are flooded. In the outcome, the level of casualties in the Netherlands is among the highest of Europe but that doesnâ€™t decide Queen Beatrix to end her engagement to NATO. The troops are maintained in place, fighting with rage whenever they are encountered.
This engagement only stops in 2005 with the French invasion of the southern part of the country. The Dutch are on their knees and what little troops are available to them cannot put up more than token resistance. Queen Beatrix asks for help and support to her NATO partner. Canada, Germany, Norway and UK answer with what little forces they have but the US joint chief of staff, despite giving its verbal support, orders two US brigades to remain where they are. Outraged one of the US commander, still obeying orders, informs the Dutch government of his instructions. The Queen and her surviving ministers, residing in England, are stunned and, on the next day, they order all Dutch units to withdraw from combat and to head back toward the country in order to face the Franco-Belgian threat. Again, US authorities donâ€™t give them a hand but the British do their best to help their return.
At last, what troops gather to the Netherlands can do very little but they are enough to attempt organizing what is left of the country. Units are taking cantonments in several of the surviving cities and they engage in security duties. Nowadays, they are still facing regular incursion by marauders but they have brought at least a limited stability. The government recently moved back to Groningen while the surviving ships are now stationed in the small harbour of Harlingen. A few oil rigs have been secured in the North Sea allowing for a trickle of oil to be produced but most of it is supplied to the few aircrafts still operating from Leeuwarden. The Dutch are still lacking in everything and electricity production is non existent but, outside of foreign marauders, the country can be considered organized, the population taking the situation with patience and some kind of philosophy.

Kellhound · #4 09-14-2009, 04:49 AM

A couple ideas for Spain.
-There are many small electricity production facilities on the many small rivers of the Pyrenees, mostly in Aragon. Some could even be expanded to supply small towns (a few already are for small hamlets), and base cantonments.
-Right wing parties would give some trouble in your scenario after their leader is killed. Maybe not civil-war-level, but high enough in the political level. It's a tradition here, for "left" and "right" (traditional meaning was lost long ago

) to be as antagonistic as possible. These will be very reactionary to a Catalan independence (possible guerrilla scenario?), and somewhat less in Galicia (they almost conder it "their turf").
Our political scene is... complicated even for us. That's why I try to ignore it

-In the target list for Spain, Tarragona was higher in the list than some of the others you mention. Then, Catalonia capital could be Berga, a classic (one of them) of the most radical nationalists.
Unless you want to leave the refineries and chemical industry intact for some dark purpose, of course.

Maybe Marc can add something more.

Your scenario leaves the Canary Islands (and the several military and naval units there) mostly intact. A temping but difficult target for Morocco and assorted pirates, and a stepping stone for trans-Atlantic travel and commerce.
The same goes for Madeira and Cabo Verde.

Mohoender · #5 09-14-2009, 06:05 AM

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