In America, President "Pacifist" Roosevelt announces that the United States must be ready for war. With Germany. Suckers!
Also, they start sending war materiel to their non-allies because they're certainly not at war! Although the shipments to each country differ a little, they always add six IC to a recipient nation. By the nature of this mod, that increases the effective IC of recipients by about 10, a very significant amount. Of course it will not change the eventual outcome: total domination by the friendly Japanese.
In Europe, Italy proves its regional dominance by... being actually less effective than BULGARIA. Damn it, Italy.
Twelve days later Rudolph Hess flies to Britain to negotiate peace. Coincidence?
On May 28, a Non-Aggression Pact with the Soviet Union comes to an end. Surely nothing relevant will come of this!
Japanese decryption technology, although naturally superior to similar technologies of her neighbors, is given a day off in preparation of the imminent continuation of peace. A shakeup in the intelligence ministry resolves the issue. It turns out the Soviets have more than 80 divisions along the front against 54 Manchu and Japanese, possibly enough to briefly slow an advance.
War? Between the Germans and the Soviets? SHOCK!
The Soviets elect to move all their factories into central Siberia, a canny decision that saves them from the Germans and absolutely does not give any strategic power to the Japanese army. None at all.
Curiously and awesomely, the Manchurians are fielding 1941 infantry, a fact that will be of substantial value. For peacetime.
Elsewhere, grand cataclysm is avoided when Ecuador folds to Peruvian territorial demands.
Two new Type VII battleships are added to Yamamoto's Second Fleet near the end of July, substantially increasing its fighting ability and making it more than the match of any other nation's fleets.
By August first, German soldiers have crossed the Dneipr and are on the outskirts of Kiev. With the Soviets heavily committed, the Japanese foreign office proposes to demand the northern half of Sakhalin island on the theory that no such reasonable demand could be refused on pain of war. The Soviets refuse. Then war.
The general staff, prepared for this eventuality, have drafted a proposal to cut the Soviets in half by driving north to the Arctic Sea. With armies spread out along the captured territory to hold the line, everything east of it will suffer for lack of supplies while more Japanese forces advance to generous accept the surrendering Russian troops.
Elsewhere, more typical engagement along the borders will be the rule. Eliminating Mongolia and Tannu Tuva will be the first priorities, as will sweeping through Outer Manchuria to bypass the river and terrain barriers and bring more Manchurian forces into action.
In response to increased Japanese... internationalism, the Americans cut off all trade agreements between Japan and themselves. Then they cut off all trade agreements between Japan and practically every other country with oil. Somehow. MAGIC.
Vladivostok having fallen to Japanese forces just a week into the war, Russian subs wisely choose to escape the city... right into the guns of Yamamoto's fleet. Because of heavy rain and darkness, they escape with only moderate damage to the well-known port that lots of people have heard of before, Tetyukhe.
Persia becomes democratic. Oh, and jumps in bed with Britain. Oh, and gives a corridor to the Soviets. Everybody at the foreign office has a hearty laugh until they realize it's not just an April Fool's Day joke, and also that it's not April and Imperial Japan doesn't observe April Fool's Day anyhow.
Tetyukhe's strategic importance declines when it falls to advancing Japanese troops. So the subs again emerge, showing their damage from last round. A couple are sunk, but the rest mysteriously disappear. GHOST SUBS
Meanwhile, fire control computers are upgraded aboard numerous ships, including the superheavy Battleships. They are now more deadly. Because they needed it.
Mongolian diplomats are soundly beaten on September 15, the Japanese foreign office's friendly way of reminding them that they are an inferior people now incorporated into the Japanese Empire. The Mongolians cheer to learn of it perhaps.
The Germans, who at this point have had three months since the war started, are pretty much right where they were in August. The British, interestingly, have invaded Finland. Because they don't have enough to do on their own doorstep.
The Soviets counter-attack for the first time against Japanese forces. Seriously. Seven weeks and they've never once taken the initiative. They try it here, and it goes so well they withdraw a few hours later.
Five days after Mongolia falls, Tannu Tuva does as well. Its "diplomats" are invited for tea with the Emperor, which they possibly do not realize is also a pet name for Tojo's favorite spiked club.
Three corps of marines had been sitting in Tokyo since the war started, so they were loaded up and used for some harassment landings. They are left to wander around for a few months, proving the brilliant leadership of the Soviets, then taken back home to defend the Home Islands.
Mongolia proves to be useful for something as a significant pocket is formed inside its former borders. Twenty or so Soviet divisions are gradually captured and made to do silly dances.
The Germans cross the Dneipr again. Five days later, Britain annexes Finland, freeing up some number of Soviet divisions. With the stellar performance thus far from the Germans, their cause looks somewhat endangered.
Siam knows the score (Japan 8, World 1) and proposes a military alliance. It is accepted. Later Siam does some accepting itself in response to a Japanese proposal nobody remembers making. It becomes a puppet of Japan (though which nation truly is not?) and receives Cambodia. All this political dealing changes: NOTHING. Yet.
Oh, I see. It's "patriotic" to hate Asians now. Real cool, Russia. Racists.
Oh, I see. It's "keen" to join Free France now. Real cool, French Guyana. Cowards.
Requisitions come back for jackets or something because it's a little chilly up this far north in November. First and Twenty-Ninth Armies are told to quit being such wimps and tough it out. Unfortunately, projections on when First Army will finish its march and thus sunder the Soviet state put it in mid-February.
December 7, 1941: A date that includes Hirohito having scrambled eggs for breakfast. Nothing else of importance happens. So here's a look at the front.
1942 dawns with a slider move toward Standing Army and the appointing of Tojo Hideki, who favors tactical bombers, to the position of Chief of the Air Force. Because he wasn't doing enough before.