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Second Great War: Difference between revisions
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In the earliest part of the war, Urcea employed the use of a full Armored Division, the innovation of [[Yonderre|Yonderian]] advisor [[Benno_de_Caryale#Deputy_Lord_Marshal|Benno de Caryale]]. The Division, where employed, was a major success, defeating both Republican Front militia as well as disorganized Republican Front tankers operating in support of infantry. After the disaster at Marmande, The Armored Division was transferred to XII Corps, though over the objections of the unit's commanders and de Caryale, it was primarily used in a defensive capacity for the remainder of 1934, a decision derided by the military historian Stephan D'Ambrosio as a "massive waste of potential...the shelving of a unit which was a potential war winner in this early stage." Despite its temporary sidelining, the Armored Division was noted by many international observers and is pointed at as a pioneer in international military doctrine. | In the earliest part of the war, Urcea employed the use of a full Armored Division, the innovation of [[Yonderre|Yonderian]] advisor [[Benno_de_Caryale#Deputy_Lord_Marshal|Benno de Caryale]]. The Division, where employed, was a major success, defeating both Republican Front militia as well as disorganized Republican Front tankers operating in support of infantry. After the disaster at Marmande, The Armored Division was transferred to XII Corps, though over the objections of the unit's commanders and de Caryale, it was primarily used in a defensive capacity for the remainder of 1934, a decision derided by the military historian Stephan D'Ambrosio as a "massive waste of potential...the shelving of a unit which was a potential war winner in this early stage." Despite its temporary sidelining, the Armored Division was noted by many international observers and is pointed at as a pioneer in international military doctrine. | ||
The war in Dericania would grind to a bloody stalemate by the end of 1934. As summer gave way to fall, both sides reached sufficient concentration of forces in central Dericania that lines of control became relatively static. Both sides also deployed significant amounts of artillery; this artillery had greater range and firepower than the antiquated cannons in common use throughout the [[First Great War]], and commanders on both sides had to adjust accordingly. Both sides were equipped with sufficient amounts of heavy artillery to prevent a major enemy offensive, with Royal and Imperial Army batteries anchoring that of the pro-Imperial forces while the Derians were equipped with state-of-the-art Caphiric heavy guns. | |||
===Northern escalation=== | ===Northern escalation=== | ||
Early fall 1934 saw the war expand, first to the detriment of allied forces with the opening of a theater in [[Alshar]] and [[Audonia]] in late September 1934. However, closer to the current theater of fighting, two major participants would enter the war. In the summer, [[Fiannria]] adopted a position characterized by historians as a "nervous neutrality", backing away from its previous support for Derian rebels while keeping Urcea, Burgundie, and the Holy Levantine Empire at arms length. Meanwhile, [[Faneria]] had been mobilizing in secret, partly using arms and supplies from [[Caphiria]] intended for the Derians. Years earlier, Caphiria and Faneria had concluded a secret alliance in the event of Fiannrian intervention in Dericania, an agreement Faneria had incorrectly read to mean a "{{wp|Blank_cheque#In_politics|blank check}}". Given Fiannria's diplomatic isolation, it believed that Imperial forces, who were also otherwise distracted, would not intervene in the event of a war between Faneria and Fiannria. Additionally, Fanerian nationalists had attributed the nation's loss in the [[Fourth Kin War]] as a unique weakness of the nation's ruling monarchy. Accordingly, by October 1934, it appeared the perfect window of opportunity had arisen. Without declaring war, on the morning of 13 October 1934, Fanerian forces crossed the border and launched a surprise invasion of Fiannria. The Fiannrians were caught completely by surprise with many of their border forces routed or encircled and subsequently captured. The "Fifth Kin War" had begun. | Early fall 1934 saw the war expand, first to the detriment of allied forces with the opening of a theater in [[Alshar]] and [[Audonia]] in late September 1934. However, closer to the current theater of fighting, two major participants would enter the war. In the summer, [[Fiannria]] adopted a position characterized by historians as a "nervous neutrality", backing away from its previous support for Derian rebels while keeping Urcea, Burgundie, and the Holy Levantine Empire at arms length. Meanwhile, [[Faneria]] had been mobilizing in secret, partly using arms and supplies from [[Caphiria]] intended for the Derians. Years earlier, Caphiria and Faneria had concluded a secret alliance in the event of Fiannrian intervention in Dericania, an agreement Faneria had incorrectly read to mean a "{{wp|Blank_cheque#In_politics|blank check}}". Given Fiannria's diplomatic isolation, it believed that Imperial forces, who were also otherwise distracted, would not intervene in the event of a war between Faneria and Fiannria. Additionally, Fanerian nationalists had attributed the nation's loss in the [[Fourth Kin War]] as a unique weakness of the nation's ruling monarchy. Accordingly, by October 1934, it appeared the perfect window of opportunity had arisen. Without declaring war, on the morning of 13 October 1934, Fanerian forces crossed the border and launched a surprise invasion of Fiannria. The Fiannrians were caught completely by surprise with many of their border forces routed or encircled and subsequently captured. The "Fifth Kin War" had begun. | ||