World in Flames March April 1941: The Soviet Union Declares War!

March–April 1941 begins with a recap of winter fighting: the Commonwealth briefly seized Liège before a German counterattack destroyed British armor, Japan landed in Borneo and tightened the noose near Chongqing, and German subs sank British convoys. In politics, the Commonwealth wins the bid and successfully allies with the Spanish Republic, shifting Iberia toward the Allies; the political turn then ends immediately. Clear weather follows, and the Commonwealth brings Spain into the war, strikes and overruns out-of-supply Italians in southern France, and fights in North Africa. The Soviets launch surprise wars, attacking Romania, Germany, Finland, and Japan, scoring breakthroughs in East Prussia, pushing into Finland, and overrunning Japanese positions in Manchuria. Germany struggles to break the French line and fights in Yugoslavia, while Japan shores up Manchuria and captures Kunming, closing the Burma Road and raising US entry against Japan. 00:00 Recap Winter Fronts 01:30 Japan Expands in Asia 02:52 Political Bids Setup 04:56 Britain Allies Spain 10:29 Politics Ends Early 12:48 Reinforcements Arrive 16:35 Initiative and Weather 17:33 Spain Joins the War 23:06 Allied Land Moves 30:21 Desert Battles and Overruns 34:47 Stalin Declares War Everywhere 40:20 Soviet Surprise Offensives 49:20 Axis Scrambles Response 52:59 Metz Air Strike Plan 57:52 Mountain Assault Breakthrough 01:01:05 Italy Races Belgrade 01:02:12 Japan Scrambles Manchuria 01:07:49 Kunming Blitz And Burma Road 01:12:09 Allied Naval Shuffles 01:18:20 Soviet Push East Prussia 01:26:03 Axis Second Impulse Choices 01:31:53 Kunming Falls US Entry 01:38:40 Metz Gamble Air Battle 01:46:48 Wrap Up Next Session