World in Flames Solo Play Jul/August 1936

Welcome to another episode of our World in Flames 5th Edition with Days of Decision 3rd Edition playthrough. In this session, we dive into the political landscape of July-August 1936, exploring the calm before the storm of WWII. No war has broken out yet, and players are engaged in meticulous planning and strategizing. We see Germany's reoccupation of the Rhineland, political turmoil in Spain, and bids from France, the Commonwealth, Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union for political influence. France quietly deepens its involvement in Spain, while the Commonwealth signs an economic agreement with Spain. Germany, Italy, and the Soviet Union also make their moves on the international political stage. We analyze the economic strategies, troop placements, and the ever-growing tension between the democracies and fascists. This episode is a deep dive into the political chess game preceding the full outbreak of WWII. Stay tuned as we navigate through the intricacies of this historically rich and complex wargame. See you next time at the war table! 00:00 Introduction and Setup 00:57 Political Maneuvering in Spain 02:40 France's Covert Operations 04:48 Commonwealth's Economic Agreement 08:19 Germany's Strategic Moves 10:13 Italy's Quiet Consolidation 11:44 Soviet and Japanese Actions 14:26 Axis Initiative and Reinforcements 16:31 Japan's Strategic Decisions 19:16 Tensions in Europe: Germany's Moves 19:51 Rome's Strategic Needs 20:10 Spain's Uncertain Future 21:16 Quiet Turns and Minor Movements 25:52 Production and Economic Strains 33:28 Political Maneuvering and Future Plans