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Second Great War: Difference between revisions
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During this period, fighting was constant, but large scale battles had yet to occur as neither side was able to achieve a satisfactory concentration of forces. Republican Front forces struggled to unify their militias as they overcame local resistance, while Urcean mobilization slowly increased their deployment in Dericania to a full eight corps, spread out thinly throughout the country. Large scale skirmishes occurred throughout Dericania, producing some casualties and large scale exchanges of territory due to opposing forces retreating. Republican Front forces managed their first large concentration of forces and artillery at the Battle of Marmande in early September. Marmande, a small town north of passes through the Belrac caldera, was a vital railway junction for the region north of the caldera. Derian forces won the battle, sending a combined force of Urcean [[XII Corps (Urcea)|XII Corps]] and Burgoignesc National Gendarmerie into full retreat into the caldera. The military disaster was the first major Derian victory of the war. The loss inaugurated the "Fall of Sorrows" in [[Burgundie]] with the [[Second_Great_War#Burgoignesc_weakness|beginning of the war in Alshar and Audonia]] on 28 September 1934. | During this period, fighting was constant, but large scale battles had yet to occur as neither side was able to achieve a satisfactory concentration of forces. Republican Front forces struggled to unify their militias as they overcame local resistance, while Urcean mobilization slowly increased their deployment in Dericania to a full eight corps, spread out thinly throughout the country. Large scale skirmishes occurred throughout Dericania, producing some casualties and large scale exchanges of territory due to opposing forces retreating. Republican Front forces managed their first large concentration of forces and artillery at the Battle of Marmande in early September. Marmande, a small town north of passes through the Belrac caldera, was a vital railway junction for the region north of the caldera. Derian forces won the battle, sending a combined force of Urcean [[XII Corps (Urcea)|XII Corps]] and Burgoignesc National Gendarmerie into full retreat into the caldera. The military disaster was the first major Derian victory of the war. The loss inaugurated the "Fall of Sorrows" in [[Burgundie]] with the [[Second_Great_War#Burgoignesc_weakness|beginning of the war in Alshar and Audonia]] on 28 September 1934. | ||
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 [[1st Armored Division (Urcea)|1st 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. By the end of December, Urcea's deployment in the region escalated to fifteen corps. | 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. By the end of December, Urcea's deployment in the region escalated to fifteen corps. | ||
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The ramifications for the invasion were significant. The Fanerian ambassador was personally summoned to meet with Caphirian leader [[Galdo Bertocca]] and [[Magasevetus]] on the evening of 13 October, and according to eye witnesses the ambassador was lambasted by both men for nearly four hours. While Caphiria was confident that Faneria could defeat Fiannria alone, the preemptive invasion of the Fanerians would likely have the effect of unifying, rather than further dividing, the large powers within the Holy Levantine Empire. These fears came true nearly immediately on 15 October, when Fiannrian officials submitted a request to [[Emperor of the Levantines|Emperor]] [[Brian IV of Urcea|Brian VIII]] for protection and Urcean intervention. The Emperor and Urcean leaders held an all day conference with Burgoignesc officials on 16 October and reluctantly agreed to offer the support to Fiannria, and the latter signed an agreement with Urcea and Burgundie jointly on 17 October. Fiannria refused to sign the more deeply integrated Istroya Pact, instead opting for a looser military alliance. The Tripartite Agreement would form the basis for the [[Levantia and Odoneru Treaty Association]] that would be signed in the coming years. Urcea, Burgundie, and Fiannria jointly declared war on Faneria on 17 October. Fanerian leaders expected Caphiria to honor their secret alliance, and were extremely disappointed to learn that Caphiria would not join the conflict for several months. | The ramifications for the invasion were significant. The Fanerian ambassador was personally summoned to meet with Caphirian leader [[Galdo Bertocca]] and [[Magasevetus]] on the evening of 13 October, and according to eye witnesses the ambassador was lambasted by both men for nearly four hours. While Caphiria was confident that Faneria could defeat Fiannria alone, the preemptive invasion of the Fanerians would likely have the effect of unifying, rather than further dividing, the large powers within the Holy Levantine Empire. These fears came true nearly immediately on 15 October, when Fiannrian officials submitted a request to [[Emperor of the Levantines|Emperor]] [[Brian IV of Urcea|Brian VIII]] for protection and Urcean intervention. The Emperor and Urcean leaders held an all day conference with Burgoignesc officials on 16 October and reluctantly agreed to offer the support to Fiannria, and the latter signed an agreement with Urcea and Burgundie jointly on 17 October. Fiannria refused to sign the more deeply integrated Istroya Pact, instead opting for a looser military alliance. The Tripartite Agreement would form the basis for the [[Levantia and Odoneru Treaty Association]] that would be signed in the coming years. Urcea, Burgundie, and Fiannria jointly declared war on Faneria on 17 October. Fanerian leaders expected Caphiria to honor their secret alliance, and were extremely disappointed to learn that Caphiria would not join the conflict for several months. | ||
===Divided attention=== | ===Divided attention=== | ||
Although the war had settled into static lines in [[Dericania]] by the end of December, the situation would not remain static for long. The sudden [[Second_Great_War#Caphiria_makes_its_move|entrance of Caphiria into the war]] on 17 January required a withdrawal of six of Urcea's fifteen deployed corps in Burgundie and Dericania as of the middle of January, greatly weakening the pro-Imperial forces in the region. The diversion of forces led to both conscription in Urcea as well as a shift in focus to more qualitative, rather than quantitative, military approaches for the first half of [[1935]]. The Armored Division, attached to [[XII Corps (Urcea)|XII Corps]] for defense of Burgundie, was once again shifted north to modern day northwestern Lapody, where the Derian nationalists had no real answer for its offensive and counteroffensive capabilities. | Although the war had settled into static lines in [[Dericania]] by the end of December, the situation would not remain static for long. The sudden [[Second_Great_War#Caphiria_makes_its_move|entrance of Caphiria into the war]] on 17 January required a withdrawal of six of Urcea's fifteen deployed corps in Burgundie and Dericania as of the middle of January, greatly weakening the pro-Imperial forces in the region. The diversion of forces led to both conscription in Urcea as well as a shift in focus to more qualitative, rather than quantitative, military approaches for the first half of [[1935]]. The [[1st Armored Division (Urcea)|1st Armored Division]], attached to [[XII Corps (Urcea)|XII Corps]] for defense of Burgundie, was once again shifted north to modern day northwestern Lapody, where the Derian nationalists had no real answer for its offensive and counteroffensive capabilities. | ||
The invasion of Talionia would also have unintended consequences on the eastern theater of the conflict. Urcea had been preparing a three-corps sized Oriental Expeditionary Force (OEF) at the request of [[Burgundie]] to help provide enough manpower across [[Alshar]] and [[Audonia]] in order to allow the Burgoignesc to go over into the offensive. The OEF was officially canceled on 6 February and instead slated to redeploy to Urlazio. In order to meet the needs of the Burgoignesc, however, Urcean diplomats [[Second_Great_War#Fiannria_and_Urcea_swap_places|reached a novel solution]]. Urcea induced [[Fiannria]] to deploy its garrison forces in [[Soirwind]], which were considerable, in support of Burgundie. The influx of Fiannrian manpower by March would stabilize the far eastern front. | The invasion of Talionia would also have unintended consequences on the eastern theater of the conflict. Urcea had been preparing a three-corps sized Oriental Expeditionary Force (OEF) at the request of [[Burgundie]] to help provide enough manpower across [[Alshar]] and [[Audonia]] in order to allow the Burgoignesc to go over into the offensive. The OEF was officially canceled on 6 February and instead slated to redeploy to Urlazio. In order to meet the needs of the Burgoignesc, however, Urcean diplomats [[Second_Great_War#Fiannria_and_Urcea_swap_places|reached a novel solution]]. Urcea induced [[Fiannria]] to deploy its garrison forces in [[Soirwind]], which were considerable, in support of Burgundie. The influx of Fiannrian manpower by March would stabilize the far eastern front. | ||