The Belkan War

The Belkan War
Date 11 January 1994 – 25 October 1996 (2 years, 9 months, 14 days) Location Southern Thuadia, Vileria, Principality of Belka Result Vilerian victory Territorial changes Belka re-annexed into Vileria
Belligerents
Vileria	Belka
Commanders and leaders
Maria V Gilles Corvèsier Jeannote Landolier Viktor Schulz von Belka	Kristoff Mäder  (PBFR) Wilhelm Becker  (PMBFR) Lydia Schulz  (GABFR)
Units involved
Vilerian Imperial Armed Forces Vilerian Imperial Army Vilerian Imperial Air Force Fenrir Squadron Fenrir Vilerian Special Forces	Belkan Federal Armed Forces Belkan Federal Army Belkan Federal Air Force Erwin Squadron Loki
Strength
150,000	123,000
Casualties and losses
Col. Christophe Fargot Estimated 67,000 military casualties Estimated 136,000 civilian casualies	Loki Estimated 91,000 military casualties Total of 12 civilian casualties

The Belkan War, also known in Viresian as La Guerre Belkane is a large-scale, albeit brief, anterian conflict taking place in early 1994. Belka forced its independence through violence against the Empire of Vilera and also a few former Belkan territories. Belka's aim in this war was to force its independence through another monarchy, then deciding to turn it into a republic. It is also during this war that Operation Marshals, also known as the Duel of the Marshals is said to have taken place right after the peace Treaty of Orelia.

Background

Pre-War transition

Main article: Belkan independence sentiment
In August 1991, the Imperial Government decided, by the demand from the Grand Duke of Belka at the time, Friedrich I, to hold a referendum for a transition to an independent Belka. It would've followed Amilagro's independence about 110 years later, being the second state to succeed from the Empire voluntarily. The vote was held between the 31st of June to the 31st of November 1991, it was a majority of 93.8% for a yes and the transition began the day right after and was said to take about 5 years for complete independence including international recognition, this is when the Nationalist Party of Belka (BNP) started to make itself known, it's a right-wing conservative political party that was created in 1967, when democracy first arrived in the Belkan border. It always possessed a loyal following even now and really became a major player when they proposed the referendum.
By 1993, the BNP divided into 2 factions, the Moderates, also known as the "Panthers" and the Extremists, Ultranationalists, also known as the "Tigers". The later one being dissatisfied with the slow process and the slow decisions of the current reigning Grand Duke, which sparked anger among the Tigers. On the 25th of December 1993, the Tigers took control of the Palace of Parliament with the Nationalist Youth and the Belkan government was held hostage. The Tigers demanded the immediate independence of the country and the expulsion of the Grand Duke, to be replaced by Markus Winkelried, also known as Markus I, which was the grand nephew of Friedrich I and also a friend of the nationalist leader Kristoff Mäder. Which wasn't immediately accepted by the Panthers, who called for the Vilerian Imperial Government to do something. The Vilerians sent the Company 73, their intervention was successful and Matthias Staffer, the 19 year old leader of the Nationalist Youth, was arrested and sentenced to 40 years in prison, just escaping death penalty, his sentence being reduced due to his young age.

Outbreak

Expulsion of the Grand Duke

On the 7th of January, the 4th Infantry Brigade and the 21st Motorized Cavalry Regiment led a successful coup against the government, housting the government and killing half of the cabinet of the Grand Duke, the other either being held as POWs or managed to flee, the Grand Duke was also escorted by the Grand Ducal Guard to the city of Payerne in the Duchy of Napolaine. Prompting the Vilerian Government to take the decision to declare war on the Federal Republic of Belka, officialized the start of the war 4 days later, on the 11th of January 1994.
The Belkans officially crossed the border on the 13th of January and advanced rapidly taking multiple village and committing multiple war crimes including the Massacre of Gévroux. The Belkans killed every men in age and capacity of fighting. In the first month of the war, about 12,000 civilians, mostly males, were killed. The decision to engage was immediate by the Vilerian Government and the first clashes started in eastern Duchy of Luterania, the Vilerians lost ground against the amount of artillery and tanks the Belkans had moved in Luterania.

Belkan expansion

Battle of Les Champs-de-Mars

Main article: Battle of Les Champs-de-Mars
On the 16th of February, the Belkans reached the capital of Luterania, Les Champs-de-Mars, prompting a lot to flee towards the Western Expanse, the city was pretty much empty, the few people remaining were the Orelian Resistance. The battle lasted 7 days, showing the fiercest resistance from the ONF against the Belkans, but it wasn't enough to stop the Belkan Federal Army.

Post-War

Operation Marshals

Main article: Marshals
Operation Marshals is an unconfirmed duel between the Belkan Ace Loki and Vilerian Ace Fenrir.