Post by 575 on Jun 10, 2021 18:22:45 GMT
1934
Denmark ask SAAB to present a monoplane prototype fighter preferably with retractable landinggear and armed with a 20mm autocannon within a year.
The order generate interest within the other Nordic countries Airforces and the upcoming prototype is much looked forward to. (Denmark did a the time want an aircraft with a 20mm cannon as machineguns were deemed too light armament)
A test reminiscent of the Billy Mitchell battleship bombing of 1923 is made in Køge Bay where an old Swedish coastal defence ship is rigged as a manned(skeleton of course) sailing target for aircraft bombing and dropping torpedoes – all dud warheads as the important issue is to train pilots and decide upon the major means to combat warships. The important difference to the 1923 test is that the ship is actually moving.
Aircraft of all four Nordic countries participate in the test.
Test shows that it is quite difficult to target a moving ship for aircraft. The Danish Airforce decide that a divebomber is whats needed to do the job. (Denmark did actually do the test with its Navy and Army aviators)
Swedish producer Landsverk which have been building armourd cars finish a prototype light tank L-60 with torsionbar suspension, periscopes for the crew and initially a Madsen 20mm autocannon soon changed to the Bofors 37mm infantrygun which is the mainstay Anti-Tank gun of the Nordic countries. The design is much influenced by the Reichwehr new design for a light tank which have been partially subjected to Landsverk as part of the Reichwehr design/production process. The major change is enlargement of the chassis and the use of the 20/37mm cannon in place of machineguns.
Landsverk was still in the process of building another light tank on the Vickers 6-ton light tank design but the work is only proceeding slowly and is altogether abandoned this year.
All of the Nordic countries orders a few L-60 tanks for evaluation and a manufacturing license is sold to Hungary. Ireland orders two vehicles with 20mm autocannon. (Mainly OTL except for other nordic sales)
The third heavy cruiser enters German Navy service 30. June named Admiral Graf Spee.
During a visit to Zagreb, Croatia a Croatian nationalist tries to kill King Alexander. The assassination fails and the perpetrator is apprehended. (OTL)
Denmark ask SAAB to present a monoplane prototype fighter preferably with retractable landinggear and armed with a 20mm autocannon within a year.
The order generate interest within the other Nordic countries Airforces and the upcoming prototype is much looked forward to. (Denmark did a the time want an aircraft with a 20mm cannon as machineguns were deemed too light armament)
A test reminiscent of the Billy Mitchell battleship bombing of 1923 is made in Køge Bay where an old Swedish coastal defence ship is rigged as a manned(skeleton of course) sailing target for aircraft bombing and dropping torpedoes – all dud warheads as the important issue is to train pilots and decide upon the major means to combat warships. The important difference to the 1923 test is that the ship is actually moving.
Aircraft of all four Nordic countries participate in the test.
Test shows that it is quite difficult to target a moving ship for aircraft. The Danish Airforce decide that a divebomber is whats needed to do the job. (Denmark did actually do the test with its Navy and Army aviators)
Swedish producer Landsverk which have been building armourd cars finish a prototype light tank L-60 with torsionbar suspension, periscopes for the crew and initially a Madsen 20mm autocannon soon changed to the Bofors 37mm infantrygun which is the mainstay Anti-Tank gun of the Nordic countries. The design is much influenced by the Reichwehr new design for a light tank which have been partially subjected to Landsverk as part of the Reichwehr design/production process. The major change is enlargement of the chassis and the use of the 20/37mm cannon in place of machineguns.
Landsverk was still in the process of building another light tank on the Vickers 6-ton light tank design but the work is only proceeding slowly and is altogether abandoned this year.
All of the Nordic countries orders a few L-60 tanks for evaluation and a manufacturing license is sold to Hungary. Ireland orders two vehicles with 20mm autocannon. (Mainly OTL except for other nordic sales)
The third heavy cruiser enters German Navy service 30. June named Admiral Graf Spee.
During a visit to Zagreb, Croatia a Croatian nationalist tries to kill King Alexander. The assassination fails and the perpetrator is apprehended. (OTL)
Edit:
On German initiative a meeting is held in Paris regarding the payment of reparations against which there are strong sentiments within Germany particularly within the mainly rightwing military to continue paying.
German Chancellor Crispien inform French Minister of Foreign Affairs Louis Barthou that President Wels suggest that in an effort to keep Germany democratic Government will draw up a taxation scheme for Osthilfe to shatter the rightwing of the Reichstag mostly so the strong DNVP/German National Peoples Party that had a large share of its constituency to the east of the Oder. The DNVP had already during the 1930 elections seen an exodus of members disagreeing with the hard right profile of the party as executed by Hugenberg. Wels and Crispien wieved the DNVP as ready for the death blow. President Wels state that as the US debters among these France have defaulted on their payments Germany is ceasing paying reparations.
As the Reparations are party to the Versailles Treaty Germany wants to renegotiate the Treaty as the situation has changed fundamentally now.
Germany want to attain the full sovereignty of the Rhineland which have been evacuated four years earlier and Germany having respected its demilitarized status.
In lieu of the French construction of defensive fortifications on the border with Germany the demilitarization now make little sense and a return to pre-War conditions is the logical step.
Another issue is the Versailles Treaty clauses on German rearmament – letting Germany enlarge the Army to 200,000 of which the majority enlargement will be as reserves and allowed building an Airforce and Tanks for its means of selfdefence. That will make it possible to close down the agreement with the Sovietunion on military equipment which will be of benefit to the Socialdemocratic Parties in Europe and Franco – German relations.
Germany have no aspirations of an enlargement of its Navy but is willing to enter the London Treaty possibly on terms like Italy.
Germany is willing to negotiate a limited remilitarization of the Rhineland by France allowed inspection of the areas military establishments. Limiting the remilitarization Germany is proposing it abstaining from building military airfields west of the Rhine river as well as only Infantry formations with support elements but without tanks is to be stationed on the west bank of the Rhine river.
For the moment the French Government isn't interested in a revision of the Versailles Treaty and demand resumption of Reparations payment; Barthou compose a reply to President Wels.
German Chancellor Crispien inform French Minister of Foreign Affairs Louis Barthou that President Wels suggest that in an effort to keep Germany democratic Government will draw up a taxation scheme for Osthilfe to shatter the rightwing of the Reichstag mostly so the strong DNVP/German National Peoples Party that had a large share of its constituency to the east of the Oder. The DNVP had already during the 1930 elections seen an exodus of members disagreeing with the hard right profile of the party as executed by Hugenberg. Wels and Crispien wieved the DNVP as ready for the death blow. President Wels state that as the US debters among these France have defaulted on their payments Germany is ceasing paying reparations.
As the Reparations are party to the Versailles Treaty Germany wants to renegotiate the Treaty as the situation has changed fundamentally now.
Germany want to attain the full sovereignty of the Rhineland which have been evacuated four years earlier and Germany having respected its demilitarized status.
In lieu of the French construction of defensive fortifications on the border with Germany the demilitarization now make little sense and a return to pre-War conditions is the logical step.
Another issue is the Versailles Treaty clauses on German rearmament – letting Germany enlarge the Army to 200,000 of which the majority enlargement will be as reserves and allowed building an Airforce and Tanks for its means of selfdefence. That will make it possible to close down the agreement with the Sovietunion on military equipment which will be of benefit to the Socialdemocratic Parties in Europe and Franco – German relations.
Germany have no aspirations of an enlargement of its Navy but is willing to enter the London Treaty possibly on terms like Italy.
Germany is willing to negotiate a limited remilitarization of the Rhineland by France allowed inspection of the areas military establishments. Limiting the remilitarization Germany is proposing it abstaining from building military airfields west of the Rhine river as well as only Infantry formations with support elements but without tanks is to be stationed on the west bank of the Rhine river.
For the moment the French Government isn't interested in a revision of the Versailles Treaty and demand resumption of Reparations payment; Barthou compose a reply to President Wels.
