Great War (Esvanovia)

Great War
Date 22 January 1931 (1931-01-22) - 12 April 1951 (1951-04-12) (20 years, 2 months and 21 days) Location Hiakemiria, Major Kistavich, Minor Kistavich, Nordurland Result Hiakemirian Front: Non-decisive victory for the Triple Pact, owing to the collapse of the Kāichrén Democratic State and the removal of Marquesan from the conflict. Kistavich/Anagonian Front Decisive victory for the Triple Pact, with Kaskaida forced to surrender and large amounts of territory taken from it by Anagonia. See Results of the Great War (Esvanovia)
Belligerents
Triple Pact Kāichrén Democratic State (Until 1950) Anagonia Meridon (post-1941) Republic of Arcadie (post-1942) Kozakura (post-1946) Joseon	Marquesan League Marquesan United Empire of Aquillina Janpian Empire (Until 1941) Kaskaida Sarda (post-1947) Aureumterra Salbert Lothia Mahdah Jin Yi (post-1946) Antillia (post-1946)
Commanders and leaders
Main Triple Pact Leaders Reginald Lancaster Interim President Robert Leeson (1927-1931) President Arnold Jefferson (1931-1936) President Jason Faltore (1936-1946) President William Youngston (1946-1951) Kurokawa Isao (pre-1945) Ogata Katsu (post-1945) Léonard Sault (post-1942) Hasegawa Isoroku Prime Minister Kim Gun	Main Marquesan League Leaders ??? (fill out later) Emperor Yasuno Struveschteka Janoschipe Imperator Vinicius Imperiosus
Casualties and losses
Military Dead: Over 1.8 million Civilian Deaths: Over 19 Million	Military Dead: TBD Civilian Deaths: TBD

The Great War (1931-1951), also known by a variety of other names depending on the role of individual nations within it, was a global conflict between the Triple Pact and Marquesan League throughout a period of twenty years. Fighting took place on all continents excluding Nivalia, making it, as of the current year, the only war to have belligerents on every majorly-inhabited continent. It would be one of the deadliest wars in history, in both civilian and military casualties (especially due to the severe spread of disease within its wake), and has variably claimed the title of the most deadly war in history.

The war can generally be traced to diplomatic tensions between Anagonia and its associated allies, most especially the Kāichrén Democratic State, and Marquesan with its own associated allies, most especially Kaskaida. Ongoing games of influence between the two powers in East Hiakemiria, and the loss of the Chamorro Islands to Kaesong a mere three years earlier had set the stage for conflict, which was catalyzed due to the murder of a Marquesan tourist in the Kāichrén Democratic State. A lack of means for diplomacy to occur and preexisting desire for conflict to continue upon both sides would lead to attempts at peace failing to materialize, eventually causing Marquesan to declare war directly upon the Kāichrén Democratic State, drawing Anagonia into the conflict due to pre-existing pacts of mutual defense, this initial series of events spiraling to a far greater extent with the entry of Kaskaida into the conflict owing to pre-existing nationalist tensions with Anagonia, causing other powers to eventually join the conflict. The conflict was a highly dynamic one, with pre-existing strategies based on the ground conflict which occurred in the Nachmere War being found inadequate to the conditions of the Kistavich/Anagonian Front.

The war would occur in periods of heightened conflict across a larger period of 20 years, being the longest modern conflict in history fought between actual states, eventually ending with both peace treaties between the primary powers in each faction which were formed after the Atomic Bombing of Fuzan and the elimination of Kaskaida after its attempts to extend the conflict via the Battle of Patria.

Names

The first recorded use of the term "Great War" would be by an Anagonian newspaper in 1921, citing that the then-ongoing attempts at diplomacy in the wake of the 1931 Incident had the potential to spiral into "...A war so Great it will leave the world shaken forever", later being used as a title for memoirs in the immediate aftermath of the conflict by several previous officers in many militaries. It has occasionally been described as the "War to Eclipse all War", although this turn of phrase has generally fallen out of favor with the conflicts of the modern period.

Background

Political Conflict over East Hiakemiria

In the wake of Kaesong's independence in 1890, and the latter Chamorro War, the traditionally dominant geopolitical position of Marquesan in East Hiakemiria would find itself in flux, with the Anagonia aligned Kāichrén Democratic State presenting a threat to Marquesan's remaining holdings in the region, most especially the aligned power of the Janpian Empire. The Anagonia-KDS relationship would be founded on the shared desire for industrial and economic profit acquisition in the region, with the KDS voluntarily acting as something of a vanguard for Anagonian geopolitics in the region in exchange for material and military assistance, a policy carried-on from the late Kaesong period, where similar politics expressed themselves.

Marquesan would naturally attempt to shore up its position in response to these provocations, with the Janpian Empire receiving greater support, independence, and military aid to hopefully prevent a KDS seizure of territory from them, which would allow for the KDS to have greater naval security in the region and allow it to dedicate more resources to Chamorro.

These tensions would manifest themselves in an Arms Race, which would result in greater tension between military powers in the region, and creating the conditions which would lead to the large-scale militarization of all powers involved in the earliest days of the war.

Post-Colonial Tensions in the Kāichrén Democratic State

While the seizure of the Chamorros defused nationalist tensions which were building in Kaesong, it would not calm Pan-Hiakemirism based tensions over the continued presence of Marquesan in the East Hiakemirian Region, which would eventually express itself in the 1931 Incident. Before that point, though, it would express itself in the favoring of Anagonia and joint-condemnations of colonialism and plans to invade and demilitarize Marquesan being shared between them.

Prelude

The Bekershafen Conflict

Main article: The Bekershafen Conflict

The Bekershafen Conflict (1924-1929) was a brutal military engagement between the Confederate States of Anagonia and the Aureumterran Empire, centered around the strategic island of Bekershafen. The conflict was ignited by anti-Komodren riots on the island, where several Komodren were assaulted and killed, sparking outrage and prompting Anagonia to intervene militarily. Despite initial successes, Anagonia's attempts to secure the island were ultimately thwarted. The war devolved into a protracted and costly stalemate, culminating in a non-aggression treaty and economic concessions, with the surviving Komodren population eventually rescued from the island.

1931 Incident

Main Article: 1931 Incident

The 1931 Crisis was a series of events leading to the lynching of a Marquesan tourist in the Kāichrén Democratic State.

Progression of the Conflict

Hiakemirian/Marinan Front

Janpian Naval Front (1933-1941)

In December 1933, aircraft from the Kāichrén Democratic State launched a surprise attack against a Janpian fleet stationed at the Unschon Isle, with the objective of halting Marquesan influence among the Janpian aristocrats, and to act as a precautionary strike against the Janpian military build-up in the area. Following this event, the Janpian Empire declared war against the Kāichrén Democratic State in the now infamous Luhrenschan Declaration. Regardless, the opening attacks resulted into a major loss of carriers for the Janpian Empire, forcing them back to a battleship-centered doctrine. This was also regarded as an eye opener for the Imperial Command at that time, which inspired some younger members of the navy branch to develop the Decisive Battle Doctrine to cope from the attacks. Eventually, the doctrine was not adopted by the Imperial Navy, and it was only utilized during the early years of the Janpian Civil War, when the Union Fleet utilized it at the Battle of the Janosche Sea. During the battle, the Union Fleet managed to destroy the last remnants of the Janpian Imperial Fleet by launching a single decisive strike, which prevented the northern and southern imperial taskforce from linking up.

(Cut the current paragraph into two in order to add the 1933-1940 operations)|

Doctrinal Developments

The primary doctrine of the Kāichrén Democratic State during this period would be carrier-based, with the Minibetto-class Fleet Carrier proving itself a colossal threat to Janpian infrastructure and naval capabilities- with the capacity to carry 60 aircraft each, three-carrier groupings of a singular Minibetto and two Uguisu (each carrying 20 aircraft of their own) could utilize over 100 aircraft in a singular battle. This would prove, in the minds of the Kāichrén Democratic State's military hierarchy, that the carrier would be the ultimate weapon of naval conflict- leading to the scrapping of several planned battleship designs and the eventual creation of the massive Shihoku-class Fleet Carrier, itself able to carry 100 aircraft on its own.

These developments would lead to a rethinking of the Bandit's War naval doctrine which had lead Kaesong/KDS naval policy until this point, with a new doctrine - the Kenshi no Kyōgi, or Swordsman's Doctrine, which called for the division of naval forces into a central thrust primarily consisting of carriers and a fast escort - alike to that of a blade - while slower, more heavily armed forces, such as the one completed Tanuki-class Battleship with its 15-inch cannons utilized the immediate confusion caused by the carriers to envelop and destroy hostile forces.

Kistavich/Anagonian Front

The Imperial Unity Skirmishes (1931-1932)

The Imperial Unity Skirmishes, occurring between 1931 and 1932, marked a brief but tense period of naval clashes between the Confederate States of Anagonia and the Imperial Unity, situated on the continent of Aromannia south of Minor Kistavich. These skirmishes unfolded primarily over control of trade routes in the West Arvolken Sea, highlighting the complexities and overlapping factions involved in wartime.

The CSS Anagonia, a Pennsylvania-class Super Dreadnought, in battle line with sister-ship CSS Formidable, with escort ships sailing to confront Imperial battleships; Circa 1931

With lessons learned from the Bekershafen Conflict, President Robert Leeson opted for a show of naval force to secure these trade routes rather than direct land engagements. The tensions reached a critical point on September 8, 1931, when an Anagonian battle group, led by the Confederate Dreadnought CSS Anagonia, mistakenly identified and sunk an Imperial merchant vessel, believing it to be of Kaskaidan origin. This incident triggered open hostilities, although no official declaration of war was made by either side. In retaliation, the Imperial Unity launched swift hit-and-run attacks against nearby Anagonian targets, escalating tensions.

Picture taken from the CSS Anagonia of the Imperial Merchantship destroyed, which started the Imperial Unity Skirmishes through a case of mistaken identity.

As hostilities intensified, both sides engaged in naval skirmishes in neutral waters, with Confederate fleets conducting convoy raiding alongside engagements against Imperial Unity fleets. Despite minor skirmishes in territorial waters, the conflict reached a critical juncture with a coordinated Anagonian attack that dealt a significant blow to an Imperial Unity fleet and targeted its home port.

Responding to the coordinated attack, a combined fleet comprising Marquesan and Imperial Unity forces, already responding to the earlier attack, intercepted the Anagonian fleet in neutral waters and sank every single ship down to the last sailor, which escalated the conflict further.

Marquesan, Imperial, and Anagonian battlefleets duking it out in a night action in late June of 1932 during the Battle of the Arvolken Sea.

While the Marquesans had already been at war with the CSA by this time, their involvement of the skirmishes was revealed after the war to be caused by the originally attacked merchant vessel from the Imperial Unity having secretly been transporting a member of the Marquesan royal family, and that the delivery of a flag-draped coffin to the Duchesse d'Remire drew Marquesan forces into the smaller conflict, further intensifying it. The Marquesan forces, driven by the desire for retribution, also launched surprise and aggressively punitive counterattacks on Anagonian fleets elsewhere in the region, who were mostly caught off guard by the intensity of the attacks.

Despite initial overtures of peace initiated by Anagonia, which were declined, a major battle in neutral waters ensued, leaving both sides at a costly stalemate. Efforts to broker peace saw Anagonia initiating talks, eventually leading to meetings on the neutral Newark Island, part of Meridon. These talks were attended by Anagonian, Imperial Unity, and Marquesan diplomats. Separate discussions between Anagonia and the Imperial Unity succeeded in securing a temporary ceasefire, while talks with Marquesan representatives failed due to the escalations, resulting in ongoing hostilities.

A week later, after intense negotiations, a Non-Aggression Pact (NAP) was signed between Anagonia and the Imperial Unity, effectively ending the skirmishes and, notably, securing the Confederate States of Anagonia as a client of The Guild. For the CSA, this agreement ensured the safety of its shipping lines through agreed-upon neutral territory by both Marquesan and Anagonian forces. Generally, this agreement underlined the importance of The Guild in Imperial Unity politics, and Esvanovia as a whole.

Throughout the conflict, the Imperial Unity maintained a complex stance, initially supporting Marquesan and other factions against Anagonia. However, following the skirmishes and the NAP, the Imperial Unity was able to secure a neutral position, supporting all sides while managing to maintain strongly defended trade routes throughout the region. This neutrality, despite the shifting alliances and strategic maneuvers, underscored the Imperial Unity's adeptness at navigating the geopolitical landscape during wartime.

The Imperial Unity Skirmishes remain a testament to the intricate dynamics of conflict and diplomacy during the Great War, illustrating the challenges of maintaining alliances and the strategic importance of trade routes in wartime. The increasing belligerence of Marquesan forces, driven by decades of conflict and the desire to punish those responsible for attacks on their vessels, further complicated peace efforts and exemplified the enduring tensions of the era.

Kaskaidan front (1931-1951)

A line of Anagonian M4 Shermans arriving onto Major Kistavich, in the Territory of Sarder, after a successful beachhead campaign; circa 1943

The Kaskaidan Front represents one of the most intense and brutal theaters of the Great War for Anagonia. Before the war, Anagonia's territory on the continent of Minor Kistavich was relatively small. During the conflict, Kaskaida, located to the north on the larger continent of Major Kistavich, launched an aggressive campaign. Their objective was to secure a passage across the Great Dragon Ocean to assault Mainland Anagonia. Kaskaida already controlled the southern territories of Major Kistavich, including Sarder, Hamotchia, and Arkleland, which became crucial in their strategy to dominate the region.

The war primarily unfolded in fierce naval battles as Kaskaida aimed to secure naval supremacy in the southern entryways towards Minor Kistavich and the areas surrounding Sarda. The early phases saw Kaskaida leveraging its powerful navy to challenge Anagonia's control over these strategic waters. However, despite the relentless and brutal nature of the conflict, Anagonia's naval forces managed to secure the naval area around the Kaskaidan-owned territories.

CSS Vanguard, a Lexington-class Carrier, sinking after a crushing defeat against the Kaskaidan Navy; Circa 1945. Anagonia would suffer extensive naval losses until the latter half of the Great War.

As the war progressed, Anagonia launched counter-offensives that gradually reclaimed control over the contested regions and territories. The latter half of the conflict saw significant territorial gains for Anagonia on Major Kistavich, including the Territories of Thuaria, Whiana, Duerlia, Che Traman, and part of Thiretheria. By the conclusion of the war and Kaskaida's subsequent surrender, Anagonia had annexed the full extent of Thiretheria, as well as North and South Teustredia, Thetanacia, and Ashilosa. Ashilosa, previously an independent nation, had fallen under Kaskaidan occupation before being annexed by Anagonia.

CSS Dragon, a Pennsylvania-class Super-Dreadnought Battleship, firing broadside at a Kaskaidan Battleship in the Great Dragon Ocean; Circa 1943. Battleships were and remain the primary navy combatants of the Anagonian Navy.

The decisive Battle of Patria marked the culmination of the Kaskaidan Front, where the combined forces of the Anagonian and Meridonian navies decisively defeated Kaskaida's fleet. This victory effectively ended Kaskaida's naval capabilities and forced them to sue for peace. In the aftermath of the conflict, resentment would be built off of the perceived "injustice" of the severe loss of land during the conflict, resulting in a gradual strengthening of the far right within the country which has continued into the modern day, and a continuing desire amongst large segments of the population for a renewal of conflict, both politically and militarily, with Anagonia.

The Kaskaidan Front's conclusion mirrored the resolution of the Sardan Front, with Anagonia securing territorial expansion and a strategic advantage. This series of victories solidified Anagonia's dominance in the region and underscored its capacity to withstand and overcome formidable adversaries. The incorporation of these newly acquired territories into the Confederate States of Anagonia not only expanded its geographical footprint but also enhanced its cultural and demographic diversity, particularly with the integration of Ashilosa and its rich heritage.

The Kaskaidan Front remains a testament to the brutal, extensive, and ultimately transformative nature of the Great War. The conflict reshaped the power dynamics of the region, with Anagonia emerging as a preeminent force on both Minor and Major Kistavich, setting the stage for its future as a leading nation in Esvanovia.

Sardan front (1947-1951)

An Anagonian M4A1 Sherman tank being resupplied during the Sardan War; circa 1948

The Anagonian intervention in The Sardan Kingdom (TSK) during the Great War from 1947 to 1951 marks a significant chapter in the conflict's history. Following the end of a brutal civil war within Sarda, the eastern territories became hotspots for partisan raids that disrupted regional stability. King Vucula, facing persistent unrest and seeking to assert control, resorted to harsh suppression methods. These actions drew international condemnation and prompted the Confederate States of Anagonia to intervene, with crucial support from the Federal Republic of Meridon in securing vital sea routes.

Meridon Rangers fighting in the Sardan Front; image circa 1948

Early in the conflict, King Vucula's battle-hardened and well-equipped forces achieved initial successes against the partisans. However, as the war dragged on, the Sarda military struggled with attrition and institutional weaknesses. The Confederate States, leveraging its superior military capabilities and strategic acumen, began to secure significant victories. The turning point came as Anagonian forces systematically dismantled the Sarda military infrastructure, leading to a collapse of organized resistance.

Meridon's involvement was instrumental in securing vital sea routes, effectively cutting off Sarda's access to crucial resources and reinforcements. Meridon Rangers and Marines conducted ground operations, supported by extensive Meridon naval forces, to safeguard the straits entering and exiting the Great Dragon Ocean, situated between Major and Minor Kistavich.

Anagonian B-24 Liberator Squadron bombing Sardan Military Centers; Circa 1948.

The prospect of a full-scale invasion of The Sardan Kingdom loomed, but a peace offering forestalled further bloodshed. The agreement stipulated that Sarda would relinquish all territories gained during the war and pay substantial reparations to Anagonia. This accord marked the end of Sarda's aspirations as a regional military power and initiated a prolonged period of economic decline for the kingdom.

As a result of the peace treaty, the Confederate States annexed the Territory of Wildantria, a region characterized by its diverse population, including the highest concentration of sapient non-human inhabitants in Anagonia. This acquisition not only expanded Anagonia's territorial holdings but also enriched its cultural and demographic landscape. The integration of Wildantria into Anagonia symbolized the broader traits and themes of the Kistavich Theatre during the Great War: the reshaping of national boundaries and the profound socio-economic shifts that followed in the wake of conflict.

Through the intervention in Sarda, Anagonia solidified its position as a dominant regional power and demonstrated its commitment to maintaining stability and order in the face of regional turmoil. The Sardan Front remains a testament to the complexities and far-reaching consequences of the Great War, highlighting the interplay between military might, diplomatic negotiation, and the quest for lasting peace.

Patria

Main Article: Battle of Patria

Kozakuran front

Loyalist bombers conducting a bombing campaign on the rebel stronghold of Nomisaki.

Decades of growing unrest between Ikki-aligned and the Hasegawa-aligned daimyos erupted into full civil conflict in the Kozakuran Empire in 1946. The conflict begun with the decapitation strike of the rebel leaders in the city of Funamachi in October 1946. The resulting air strike led by the loyalist elements of the Kozakuran Imperial Air Force destroyed the keep of the Funamachi Castle, killing several high-ranking daimyos aligned with Ikki Kinzosai.

Loyalist forces engaged the rebels on all fronts, with artillery duels occuring in the Nakaoku Heights. Foreign support begun to arrive in the new front in early 1947, as the Triple Pact and the Marquesan League picked sides in the conflict.

<More war and bloodshed here>

Cessation of hostilities was declared in late 1951 by Emperor Totoha using his emergency powers after Loyalist forces captured the rebel capital city of Funamachi.

Aftermath

See: Kāichrén Civil War, Janpian Revolution , Kozakuran Secession Crisis (insert other major historical events after the GW here)

Formal End of the War

Of the original four combatants who started the conflict (Anagonia, the Kāichrén Democratic State, Kaskaida, and Marquesan), only two (Marquesan and Anagonia) would be involved in the diplomatic discussions arranged to organize an end to the war, with both Kaskaida (owing to a belief that a continuation of the conflict would be generally favorable, resulting in their continuation of the conflict until the aftermath of the Battle of Patria.) and the Kāichrén Democratic State (no longer possessing a state apparatus to send a diplomat). Meridon would pay a pivotal role in arranging peace in the conflict despite its later entry into such.

Casualties

Hiakemiria

Kāichrén Democratic State

Of the approximate 4.8 million soldiers mobilized by the Kāichrén Democratic State throughout the course of the conflict, around 600,000 would be killed, a further 1,245,000 would be injured to a permanent extent (creating a total casualty rate of 1,845,000), and an additional 400,000 would be injured severely (though non-permanently). These statistics represented around 7% of the Kāichrén Democratic State's population (male and female included due to late war drafting policies) at the time (26,357,142). Of the civilian population, large scale harm linked to the civil war would eclipse the limited numbers killed during the Great War itself, excluding those killed in the Atomic Bombing of Fuzan and the invasion by Marquesan which followed. It is generally assumed that a further 300,000 civilians died in these two incidents, bringing total casualties to 2,145,000 individuals, which brought the total amount of the population damaged to around 8%. Diseases would flourish in the wartime (and then civil-war) conditions of the state, with the exact amount killed being unknown but likely high.

Kistavich

Confederate States of Anagonia

The Great War, spanning multiple fronts across various regions inflicted staggering casualties, with an estimated total of up to 13-17 million Anagonian lives lost, amounting to approximately 8.95% of the population. The Kaskaidan Front proved especially brutal for the Confederate States of Anagonia, with 3-5 million casualties, followed by the Sardan Front with 2-3.5 million.

Technology

The Great War would see the development of the jet engine, nuclear armaments, and other key military and industrial technologies throughout the 20 years it occurred.