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{{wip}}{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict    = Gozar War
| width       = 
| partof      = Volatile Century
| image       = [[File:Centurion tanks and infantry of the Gloucestershire Regiment advancing to attack Hill 327 in Korea, March 1951. BF454.jpg|300px]]
| caption     = Razarian troops and tanks advance towards Ceresnian positions in March 1958
| date        = February 20 1958 - December 22 1959 ({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=02|day1=20|year1=1958|month2=12|day2=22|year2=1959}})
| place       = 
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| map_size    = 
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| map_label   = 
| territory   = 
| result      = Treaty of the Winter Solstice
*{{wp|Uti possidetis|Territorial changes based on control lines at end of war}}
*Razarian defeat
| status      = 
| combatants_header = 
| combatant1  = '''{{flag|Razaria}}'''<br>Supported by:<br>{{flag|Luziyca}}<br>{{flag|Akai}}<br>{{flag|Xiaodong}}
| combatant2  = '''{{flagicon|People's Republic of Ceresnia}} [[People's Republic of Ceresnia|Ceresnia]]'''<br>'''{{flag|Sataria}}'''<br>Exiled Razarian left-revolutionaries
----
{{flag|Slovunia}} (???-???)<br>[[File:Salv.png|22px|border]] [[Salvationism|Salvationist forces]]
*Exiled Ceresnian Salvationists
| combatant3  = 
| commander1  = {{flagicon|Razaria}} [[Svetoslav Jastrebović]]
| commander2  = {{flagicon|People's Republic of Ceresnia}} [[Eduard Kazukov]]
----
{{flagicon|Slovunia}} [[Mirŭsłāv Bazilajev]]
| commander3  = 
| units1      = 
| units2      = 
| units3      = 
| strength1   = {{flagicon|Razaria}} 245,000
| strength2   = {{flagicon|People's Republic of Ceresnia}} 225,000
----
{{flagicon|Slovunia}} 205,000
| strength3   = 
| casualties1 = Razarian estimates:<br>125,000 killed<br>142,000 wounded
| casualties2 = Ceresnian estimates:<br>102,000 killed<br>102,000 wounded
----
Slovunian estimates:<br>34,000 killed<br>97,000 wounded
| casualties3 = 200,000-700,000 civilian deaths from various causes
| notes       = 
| campaignbox = 
}}
The '''Gozar War''' ({{wp|Serbo-Croatian|Razarian}}: Ⰳⱁⰸⰰⱃⱄⰽⰻ ⱃⰰⱅ ''Gozarski rat'', [[Ceresnian language|Ceresnian]]: ''Гозарская война'', [[Sloviac language|Sloviac]]: ''Вала Гоза́рска/Vała Gozārska''), also and commonly known in Razaria as the '''Fatherland Defense War''' ({{wp|Serbo-Croatian|Razarian}}: ''Otadžbine odbrane rat''), and also the '''West Borean War''' ([[Sloviac language|Sloviac]]: ''Вала Сла́въборӣйска/Vała Słāvŭboryjska''), was a {{wp|war}} in [[West Borea]] fought between [[Razaria]] and the {{wp|socialist state}}s [[Sataria]] and [[People's Republic of Ceresnia|Ceresnia]] as well as [[Slovunia]] from 1958 to 1959. Initiated by a Razarian invasion of Ceresnia and Sataria, it developed into a full-scale regional conflict that involved Slovunia as well due to territorial disputes. To contain the power and influence of {{wp|revolutionary socialism}} in West Borea represented by the two socialist states in the area, Razaria received support from several countries. The war concluded with an {{wp|armistice}} in October 1959 followed by a peace treaty where it was agreed that territorial changes were made based on the actual control lines held by each combatant's military.

Since the end of the [[Razarian Civil War]], the new Razarian government, reactionary in ideology, saw the continued activity of former communists and syndicalists on the Razarian-Ceresnian and Razarian-Satarian borders, as well as the governments of the socialist states which harboured them, as increasingly serious threats to its own integrity and position. Motivated by both immediate security concerns and also to an extent {{wp|irredentism}}, on February 20 1958 Razaria began an invasion of Ceresnia ostensibly to 'destroy strongholds of revolutionary banditry', followed by a synchronized offensive into Sataria as the latter came to Ceresnia's aid. While Razarian forces made significant gains initially, increasingly tough resistance eventually bogged down and pushed back the offensive and a war of attrition was fought around the area of the [[Gozar Mountains]]. Razarian efforts were further hampered after invading Slovunia in May 1958 causing it to fight a {{wp|Two-front war|three-front war}}. The allied forces pushed into Razaria in early 1959, but were repelled by a series of counterattacks that turned the war stagnant again, save for campaigns in northeastern Razaria in the summer of 1959. With heavy stress placed on the industries, militaries and populations of the belligerents, fighting terminated in October and negotiations began in November, ending the war.

The aftermath of the peace agreement led to a sophisticated redrawing of national borders based on lines of control of the last minutes of the war. While Razaria made some territorial gains, including Razarian-majority areas in Slovunia, this came at the price of other border territories occupied by Ceresnian and Satarian forces. Razaria is regarded to have failed to accomplish its strategic objectives for the war, and the ensuing tense atmosphere in the region was a key driver in various {{wp|isolationist}} policies taken by the Razarian government post-war. The war was costly for other combatants as well, however, and had prolonged economic and political effects on the region. It is estimated that between 400,000 and 1,200,000 in total were killed, and around 400,000 wounded, during the war.
==Background and prelude==
{{main|Razarian Civil War}}
The [[Razarian Civil War]] ended in January 1957 when the nationalist Assembly of Patriotic Forces gained undisputed control over the entirety of the nation. A government headed by the influential [[Svetoslav Jastrebović]] as President was established, and reconstruction efforts began in earnest. However, Jastrebović and the APF's leading Fatherland Party, which had became the dominant political party of Razaria in the new government, were constantly wary and suspicious of the two socialist states [[People's Republic of Ceresnia|Ceresnia]] and [[Sataria]] whom during the Civil War actively aided and assisted leftist forces, and from whose territory leftist {{wp|guerrilla}} groups continued to operate. As the rebuilding of the battered nation continued, the hard-gained peace was constantly harassed by remnants of various communist and syndicalist armed groups, who launched several raids into Razaria from bases in Ceresnia and Sataria in 1957. In response Razarian troops attempted to attack and destroy guerrilla camps, resulting in border skirmishes with the Ceresnian and Satarian militaries. One particularly notable skirmish took place in August 1957 near the village of Venec in Ceresnia where 26 Razarians and 20 Ceresnians were killed.

Since the Jastrebović government's inauguration neither of the socialist states had any formal relations with Razaria, instead recognizing a socialist government-in-exile, and viewed the new Razarian state with increasing hostility. These violent clashes caused relations to drop to another low. The Razarian government became worried and concerned about the possibility of an invasion, and as a measure built up its military. With aid from [[Tuthina]], [[Akai]] and [[Luziyca]] (who had decided to support the new government due to a shared hostility against leftist states in the region), Razaria amassed modern arms including {{wp|small arm}}s, {{wp|tank}}s, {{wp|artillery}} and also continued to build its industry. Meanwhile in winter 1957 border clashes continued and also becoming an issue were border disputes with Slovunia.

Jastrebović decided that sooner or later a war was inevitable for true regional stability to arrive; either Razaria defeat the leftists, or Ceresnia and Sataria crush the nascent nationalist regime. Plans were made for a pre-emptive invasion of Ceresnia, which the Razarian leadership regarded as an easier target due to that most of its urban centers were close to the border and thus able to be quickly seized. The Razarians planned for a push through the [[Varsha Gap]] with newly-acquired armour that would decimate Ceresnia and force its capitulation after which Sataria may be forced to negotiate. There was however growing overconfidence in the upgraded Razarian army and also impatience as relations continued to deteriorate, thus not only was the invasion scheduled before Razaria could truly complete economic or military recovery, but plans were revised to include a simultaneous attack on Sataria that would supposedly easily disorient the two socialist states. Many even became confident in the ability to quickly wage war on Slovunia and 'rectify' border disputes shortly after the hypothetical victory against the leftist states.

Alarmed by the growing flow of foreign aid into the Razarian nationalist government and degenerating relations, the two socialist states also made preparations for war.
==Course of the war==
===Initial Razarian offensive (February-April 1958)===
[[File:Tanks are shown reducing an enemy position.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Razarian armour consisting of Luziycan {{wp|M4 Sherman|B5 Contos}} tanks advance in Ceresnia.]]
On February 20, Razarian troops shelled the Ceresnian border intensely with {{wp|heavy artillery}}, especially positions along the [[Krabna River]], before launching a {{wp|feint|diversionary attack}} aimed at crossing the Krabna. Several bridgeheads were seized easily and the Razarian {{wp|light infantry|4th Rifles Division}} crossed the Krabna, capturing several towns to establish a {{wp|Salient (military)|protrusion}} that would attract the majority of Ceresnian defences. On February 22, 85,000 troops, along with 300 tanks and 1,000 other vehicles, began an advancement into southern Ceresnia through the Varsha Gap, crushing the unprepared defences and opening a pathway to the whole region east of the Krabna. This was supported by the Razarian {{wp|air force}} which complemented armour and infantry in combat.

Razaria initially claimed it was attacking encampments of leftist guerrillas; on February 24 an official declaration of war on Ceresnia was issued which cited the continuous threat Ceresnia and its socialist ideology posed to Razaria as a ground for the invasion. Attacks were also made on Nemskov although Razarian forces failed to take the city. By March 7 the Razarians reached Kotlovsko in southwestern [[Trafov Banate|Trafov Province]]. Another diversion was attempted in the direction of [[Redarian Banate|Redarian]] as well as towards [[Trafov]] itself although secretly Razarians had reallocated forces for a fording of the Krabna. About 14,000 troops crossed the Krabna on March 18-19 and with the 4th Rifles captured [[Gralov]]. More were to enter and by early April a combined force of 100,000 from two directions was set on Trafov.
[[File:Uništena nemačka kolona u Bulevaru Revolucije 1944.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Remains of Razarian military equipment after the Battle of Trafov.]]
On March 7 Razaria invaded Sataria as well, again without prior warning and under claims of fighting terrorists. About 60,000 were part of the initial invasion which took Satarian troops by surprise and quickly gains were made. Resistance on the western section of the front toughened but on March 19 [[Vrhovine]] was captured and the Satarians retreated across the [[Sinav River]]. Sataria exercised a {{wp|scorched earth}} policy destroying all infrastructure in the captured regions and leaving no bridgeheads for Razarians to cross the Sinav with.

The [[Battle of Trafov]] began on April 4 with the start of the offensive on Trafov. The mass of Razarian troops was confronted by a quickly-mustered force of Ceresnian conscripts, who despite initial retreats and Razarian {{wp|air superiority}} were able to stall the Razarians through {{wp|urban warfare}} and {{wp|anti-tank weapon}}s in neighbourhoods and suburbs only dozens of kilometers away from downtown Trafov. Control of Trafov's airspace was also wrestled from the Razarians after intense air battles. Not prepared to deal with such a situation, after taking heavy losses in attempts to break through Ceresnian lines and another offensive onto the poorly defended Razarian flank, the Razarian troops retreated on orders of commander [[Bojan Miran]] and by May 1 Trafov was declared safe. This marked a turn in the war and the beginning of the first stalemate.
===Stalemate and escalation in Slovunia (May-October 1958)===
[[File:The German Advance on Stalingrad September 1942 HU5163.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Razarian tanks in western Slovunia.]]
The frontline, after several Ceresnian counterattacks, was pushed back to 50 kilometers east of Kotlovsko, where a stalemate persisted for months without significant action. Fighting was sporadic and indecisive, with the Razarians entrenched and fortified, inflicting heavy casualties on initial Ceresnian attacks forcing them to halt their advances. Another turn was taken in the war when it spread to Slovunia, dragged into the war after the [[Kučin Incident]] on June 17 1958, a large-scale clash between mistaken border patrols, which was used by the Razarian state as justification for war against Slovunia. On June 20 Razarian troops advanced across the Slovunian border; it was estimated 45,000 were part of the initial attack. 

However, opening this new front proved to be a strategic mistake, as it siphoned away efforts and resources for the standoff in Ceresnia and Sataria, and prevented any decisive force from being gathered to turn the stalemate in those areas later on. Despite observing some initial success, the Razarians were bogged down by Slovunian {{wp|guerrilla}}s who put up fierce resistance and the advance was halted. By the time the partisan war in western Slovunia had mostly finished with the destruction of the local resistance but at costs to the Razarians as well, the Slovunian regular army had renewed its defences. The Razarian offensive in September made only small gains, and with a Slovunian counterattack in order the Razarians fortified their positions.

In Sataria, several futile attempts to cross the Sinav river by the Razarian troops took place. Local partisan resistance also toughened, prompting numerous cases of punitive action against Satarian civilians.
===Autumn and Winter Offensives (October 1958-March 1959)===
In mid-October, replenished and reinforced, the Razarian forces in Ceresnia launched a new offensive aiming to approach Trafov, Kopanovo and also destroy the assembled Ceresnian forces. This Autumn Offensive consisted of three broad prongs, through the northern Gozar, on the west of the Krabna, and on the east of the Krabna. It was also accompanied by air strikes on Ceresnian cities and industry. Using {{wp|deep operation}}, Razarian forces punctured Ceresnian defences before overwhelming them with reserves and armour, although this came at heavy cost at the Battle of Grodsk and also the Battle of Sedovne, where the Ceresnians mustered an effective defence. At the Battle of Brezovica, the Razarians gained great success, crushing and scattering a cluster of around 40,000 Ceresnian troops. However, ultimately the offensive fell short of attaining its goals. The Battle of Kopanovo saw the Razarians utterly repelled, and partisan {{wp|sabotage}} had crippled the logistics of the Razarian military which was overly dependent on foreign-provided technology. The Razarians lacked the strength to advance further as winter set in.
[[File:Ucraina 1944.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Ceresnian troops and tanks during the Winter Offensive near Gralov with civilians of a liberated village.]]
Utilizing a reserve far from exhausted, the Ceresnians began a Winter Offensive in late December against speculations that winter will continue as a stalemate, coordinated with a Satarian counterattack. In a matter of a month all Razarian gains of the Autumn Offensive were reversed and Satarians had successfully recaptured territory across the Sinav. The Ceresnian advance was unchecked, and Razarian defences failed to effectively respond. Most devastating was the {{wp|encirclement}} of 70,000 Razarian troops in Gralov in mid-January, as the route of retreat was cut off by Ceresnian armour; a siege continued into February when the Razarians escaped the encirclement but with heavy losses and left behind large amounts of {{wp|Materiel|heavy equipment}}. The remaining Razarian military in Ceresnia retreated or collapsed quickly. Bojan Miran was {{wp|Execution|executed}} for {{wp|incompetence}} following the catastrophe.

The Winter Offensive continued, exploiting the continuous {{wp|rout}} of the Razarians, the Ceresnian forces captured a large area of the Gozar in Razaria after the 12-day [[Battle of the Gozar]], forming a salient into Razaria itself, and the stage of the war where Razaria was in increasing peril had came. Ceresnian air forces also began {{wp|strategic bombing}} of Razarian cities in January.

In Sataria, the Razarians experienced less heavy losses, but were still pushed back overall; the damage on morale news of the rout on the Ceresnian front made the Razarians vulnerable when large numbers of Satarian troops crossed the Sinav in January. Retreating chaotically, the Razarian troops were unable to hold their positions and thus the Satarians advanced into Razaria itself, entering Radomir on the [[Brzota river]] on 3 March. An offensive by Slovunians also reversed many Razarian gains in territory as well. In February Slovunians made significant advances into the eastern frontier provinces in the northern and southern directions, reaching Palca and Vrabovac on the [[Medovo river]] on 16 March. Immense pressure was felt by the Razarian military which had approached total collapse, but was prevented by an effective regrouping on the various fronts under [[Bojan Gorović]]'s command.
===Razarian defense (March-October 1959)===
[[File:Andrey Yeremenko 4.jpg|100px|left|thumb|Bojan Gorović in May 1959.]]
Gorović restored the front first in eastern Razaria in late March, through counterattacks on the Slovunian army halting their offensive, before launching a full-scaled counteroffensive with the little tanks the eastern front had and repelling the Slovunians from the Medovo in April. The counterattack halted when encountering stiff resistance in Slovunian-occupied regions however. Gorović did not occupy himself with command of this theatre for any longer due to more pressing concerns from the north and west.
[[File:Soviet troops and T-34 tanks counterattacking Kursk Voronezh Front July 1943.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Ceresnian troops and tanks advance in the April offensive.]]
The Ceresnian forces began advancing down from the Gozars in April, the situation quickly became serious when the major city of [[Viskovar]] on the [[Zavena river]] was captured on April 10. Razarian lines continued to be overwhelmed until a successful defence at the [[Battle of Rostislav]] from 16 to 22 April, where Ceresnian offensive finally stopped after sustaining heavy losses and was followed by a large counterattack reversing much of the gains of the offensive. About 40,000 Ceresnian troops were killed or captured after the campaign and any prospects of a new offensive to decisively defeat Razaria was lost. Upon hearing of news of victory at Rostislav, major Razarian cities such as [[Čirograd]] began celebrations. Gorović's troops, fatigued after the campaign's end, did not attack the Ceresnian salient in the Gozar. Finally the western front was stabilized for the Razarians after the Satarians were pushed back from the Brzota in late April. Strategic bombing of Ceresnia and Sataria began in earnest at this time.

From May to mid-June the lines stalled and the war of attrition resumed. Minor gains were made by small Razarian attacks on the western front. However, on June 18, the Ceresnians began their own armoured offensive through the Varsha Gap, a force comprising 32,000 troops and 400 tanks - over half of the entire Ceresnian tank inventory, and mainly composed of {{wp|medium tank}}s - which surprised the Razarian defences and took northeastern Razaria by storm. The Ceresnians had even reached the east bank of the Jadar, and captured [[Vlasanje]]. The [[Battle of Gomjenica]] in July saw one of the first large-scaled tank confrontations in modern warfare, involving 300 tanks from both Razarian and Ceresnian forces, ending inconclusively. The Ceresnian offensive was finally defeated at the [[Battle of Hranković]] in late July, followed by a Razarian counteroffensive which recaptured a small amount of territory. Ceresnian positions had been fortified rendering attempts to recapture all of the northeast infeasible.
[[File:Deportacije Slovencev iz Skopic pri Krškem.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Razarians being deported from a town in Slovunian-occupied territory.]]
Starting on June 20 Slovunia and Razaria secretly negotiated ceasefires, which began as agreed on June 29. This served as cover for the beginning of {{wp|ethnic cleansing}} in Slovunian-occupied Razaria; Bazilajev, unconvinced that the war will end in Razarian defeat, decided to make the most of existing gains by preparing them for [[Sloviacization]]. Thousands of Razarians were deported from occupied Razaria; in response [[Sloviacs|ethnic Sloviacs]] were expelled from the occupied parts of Lasia. Atrocities against recalcitrant locals occurred on both sides of the control lines; 2,400~7,200 Sloviacs were violently put to death in the [[Lubasa massacre]] from 20 to 23 August, while 1,400~6,800 Razarians were killed in the [[Netav massacre]] by Slovunian troops. The ceasefire was broken on September 5 when Razarian troops seized two villages in occupied Razaria but no large-scale fighting resumed.
[[File:49th Army troops storming Mogilev June 1944.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Razarian troops storm [[St. Lutoslav]] in September 1959.]]
Convinced that an attack threatening or even successfully capturing a major Razarian city with both economic and historic significance, Ceresnia initiated an offensive, Operation Mudslide, on August 23 over the Jadar with a mechanized force aiming to seize [[Džojigrad]] and possibly [[Sovanović]]. They were halted at another large tank battle of the war at [[Battle of Rumenica|Rumenica]], only 25 kilometers north of Džojigrad, from August 28 to 30, and forced to retreat after a Razarian attack on their flank. By September 3 all gains of Operation Mudslide were reversed. Razaria started Operation Lutoslav on September 10, an offensive comprising 75,000 troops which by September 25 recovered all of northeastern Razaria. Simultaneously, an attack from the Gozars took Razarian troops by surprise, but it was repelled. Razarian troops briefly retook Sokolovo (now Šeregovo) after a counterattack, but retreated. By this point in time both sides were too exhausted to continue significant combat operations, having sustained heavy losses in the combat of summer, while {{wp|war-weariness}} rose in both belligerent countries. Nevertheless another smaller offensive was made on the western front, recapturing territory from Sataria, alongside small advances across the pre-war Ceresnian border.

==Conclusion and aftermath==
An {{wp|armistice}} between the combatants were agreed over cable which came into effect in October 7, just as the last Razarian offensive had concluded. Although fighting had stopped, suspicion and antagonism hampered any real moves at negotiating a proper peace. Rumors that Razarian and Ceresnian forces were preparing for new attacks would only further alienate efforts at ending the war. The ambience of the area remained tense despite the absence of any incidents of shelling or shootouts. By November, the international community became worried by the possibility of war resuming, and thus pressed the West Borean governments to enter proper negotiations. While talks were first proposed to be held in [[Luziyca]], the Ceresnian and Satarian governments objected due to Luziycan support of Razaria during the war, and eventually the venue was agreed on [[Žašales]], [[Aucuria]] instead.

Negotiations began on November 19, however progress was difficult due to mutually conflicting agendas and hostility. Razaria intended to stall the consolidation of peace while maintaining the ceasefire such that it could recuperate, to reclaim territory lost to Slovunia, and perhaps even start another offensive, after which it could use to its advantage in negotiations. The Slovunian goal was to annex areas with a [[Sloviacs|Sloviac]] majority whilst at the same time only giving as little land as possible to Razaria and eventually, plans were made and finally realized to deport a large portion of the Razarian minority into areas directly at the border in order to lessen Slovunian territorial losses. Little advancements towards the consensus were made; the talks stalled, paused and resumed constantly.

Recognizing that resuming the war will result in a swift Razarian collapse as it ran low on manpower, equipment, supplies and morale, the Razarian attitude at the negotiations rapidly changed in December, pushing for the immediate establishment of peace with minimal losses to itself. Poised to launch a joint offensive if the negotiations failed and the ceasefire was broken, Ceresnia and Sataria pressured Razaria into accepting some concessions with this as a token. Eventually the parties agreed to territorial changes based on {{wp|uti possidetis}} with no further repercussions for any combatant. There was a proposal to coerce Razaria into paying reparations but was dropped.
[[File:General Clark signs the Korean Armistice Agreement.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Razarian military officers sign the peace agreement on December 22.]]
While most of the borders were redrawn based on actual control lines of combatant militaries at the end of the war, in Slovunia revisions were made such that Razaria annexed areas where there was a significant Razarian population, and vice versa with Slovunia. The Slovunian govenment influenced this by ordering the deportation of more than 150,000 Razarians into regions which were closer to the border to lose less land.

On December 22 the peace treaty was signed in Žašales, officially concluding the war. All combatants proclaimed that it was a victory for themselves: Razaria claimed that it had 'preserved national integrity' through destroying revolutionary terrorism and fighting off communist aggression, Ceresnia and Sataria claimed that they had 'repelled the fascist invasion' and Slovunia justified victory based on its territorial gains of Sloviac-majority areas, and success in repelling the Razarian invasion. Celebrations were held widely in all countries as the {{wp|winter solstice}} had just passed along with the arrival of various [[Lutheran Catholicism|Catholic]], [[Sviatism|Sviatist]], [[Tastanism|Tastanic]] and [[Koshchunism|Koshchunist]] religious festivals.
===Territorial changes===
The Slovunian-Razarian border had changed according to the ethnic majorities of the Sloviac and Razarian peoples of each side, though it has been manipulated on the Slovunian side. The Slovunian provinces of Lescraine and Muria were greatly expanded with the inclusion of Slovunian-inhabited and military occupied regions in Razaria while northwestern Muria and western Lasia were ceded to Razaria.

Razaria lost an area of the Gozar west of the Krabna to Ceresnia, which was its second-most significant territorial loss of the war. On other areas on the Ceresnian border Razaria made very small gains. Razaria gained a strip of land in the northeast of its border with Sataria but lost another strip in the southwest.
===Casualties===
The combatants were all eager to underestimate their own losses throughout and after the war, a problem compounded by absence of {{wp|free press}} in the socialist states and Razaria which prevented independent investigations. However it was obvious as well that the toll of the war had been high and overly low figures would be met with popular disbelief, which could undermine the government's position. After the war Razaria claimed that it suffered 160,000 military deaths and 200,000 civilian deaths, most of the combat losses incurred in the Ceresnian front. Ceresnia initially claimed 120,000 military dead and 300,000 civilian deaths. Over the years, estimates for casualties were revised downwards; most recent official estimates place Razarian military deaths at 125,000, Ceresnian military deaths at 102,000, and Slovunian military deaths at 34,000. Civilian deaths were estimated between 200,000 and 700,000 based on a variety of sources. Higher estimates would place total deaths of the war at over 1.2 million.

Military fatality rate saw some degree of decrease compared to previous large conflicts such as the [[Senrian-Xiaodongese War]], attributed to more effective {{wp|Combat medic|medical coverage}} in combat forces, as well as the low intensity of most of the war; during the stalemate periods few attempts to actually break the lines were made. Most casualties occurred during the major campaigns and offensives, often as defenders attempted to use sheer numbers to blunt attacks, or as encircled forces were depleted by starvation and fatigue. The main causes of civilian deaths were starvation caused by cut-off of supplies and destruction of food stocks, followed by collateral damage in urban combat and air strikes.
==Characteristics==
[[File:American tank destroyers.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Razarian tank destroyers in northern Razaria, April 1959.]]
A large scale conflict concurrent with the [[Great Republican Uprising]] in [[Tuthina]], the Gozar War saw significant use of {{wp|armoured warfare}}, {{wp|combined arms}}, modern {{wp|infantry tactics}}, and {{wp|total war}}. Co-appearing phenomena included {{wp|ethnic cleansing}} and extensive {{wp|propaganda}}. It is considered one of the few large-scaled {{wp|modern warfare|modern war}}s.

The initial Razarian invasion was a prime demonstration of the usefulness and power of armoured warfare, with mass-produced [[Luziyca]]n {{wp|M4 Sherman|B5 Contos}} medium tanks being the backbone of Razarian armour. Practically unmatched in direct combat as an unit, the Razarian armour were behind much of the early successes of the Razarians in the war. This was also practiced with combined arms, with Razarian aircraft providing both logistical and fire support, and {{wp|light infantry}} acting as effective complements. To counter tank forces {{wp|anti-tank weapon}}s were also used extensively and developed by both sides, instrumentally by Ceresnians at the battles for Trafov, and later by Razarians in defending against Ceresnian tanks in the northeast; these included {{wp|anti-tank gun}}s, {{wp|tank destroyer}}s, {{wp|anti-tank mine}}s and {{wp|improvised explosive device}}s. Generally, the great increases in mobility of forces was a major highlight of the developments of the war, in the form of armoured, mechanized and motorized forces seeing extensive deployment.
[[File:Siege of Leningrad IMG 3270.JPG|150px|left|thumb|Ceresnian aircraft over Trafov to intercept an air raid.]]
{{wp|Airpower}} also saw important use, such as in combat in the difficult terrain of the Gozars, in {{wp|air raid}}s on troop and supply columns, and perhaps more importantly, the {{wp|strategic bombing}} of cities in the rear. Razaria first began strategic bombing using Luziycan-supplied {{wp|Consolidated B-24 Liberator|???}} bombers and also {{wp|Douglas A-1 Skyraider|???}} attack aircraft. Ceresnia also followed the practice with {{wp|Petlyakov Pe-2|???}} light bombers. The targeting of industrial facilities, as well as civilians for psychological purposes, became significant markers of the conflict as a total war. While similar use of airpower had already occurred before bombing at a scale as it was done in the Gozar War was unprecedented and perhaps only outmatched (significantly) by aircraft use in the contemporary [[Great Republican Uprising]].

Infantry tactics and strategies that made use of new technologies, or attempted to negate them, were experimented with and practiced by both sides. Bojan Gorović's strategies in particular entered the annals of military history as {{wp|Walter Model#Rzhev|Gorovian defense operations}}, marvelled at during the war and studied after it. Razarian and Ceresnian commanders also innovated in use of vehicle-based forces in different environments and situations. The Razarian practice of combined arms warfare remains one of the most representative of its modern, multi-dimensional form to today.

Propaganda and {{wp|psychological warfare}} became important in the war as well, as another aspect of its totality. Posters, radio broadcasts, and biased news coverage were all important in shaping public opinion in the combatant countries.
==Legacy==
[[File:20140614 Sofia 033.jpg|250px|right|thumb|A relief commemorating Razarian soldiers who fought in the war in Sovanović.]]
The war in Razaria despite being claimed as a 'defensive victory' by state media was to most a defeat, in that the threat the socialist states in West Borea posed to Razaria was not removed at all and in fact came at the expense of Razarian territory, and in the case of Slovunia, people. [[Svetoslav Jastrebović]] utilized the opportunity after the war to purge many military commanders and officials for supposed incompetence or collaboration with the enemy, consolidating his power, as well as reinforcing position of his rule in Razaria through promotion of a {{wp|siege mentality}}. Scholars, most notably Vasili Lazić and Vladimir Petrovich, argue that the war directly led to the Jastrebovian order, convincing Razarians a strong-handed ruler was needed to protect them from a repetition of the war's horrors.

Relations remained cold for the decades following the war between the socialist allies and Razaria, compounded by {{wp|Revanchism|revanchist}} sentiment over lost territory, and reinforced Razaria's position in isolationism. A number of border clashes occurred between the combatants between 1959 and 1990 when the socialist governments in Ceresnia and Sataria began to collapse. The realignment of the neighbours to the [[Esquarian Community]], perceived as hostile by Razaria, did not serve rapprochement well and the war's memories continue to be a source of tension in West Borea.
===In popular culture===
==See also==
*[[Ceresnian-Slovunian War]]
*[[Razarian Civil War]]
*[[Great Republican Uprising]], a concurrent conflict

[[Category:Razaria]][[Category:Ceresnia]][[Category:Slovunia]]