Operation Magni

Operation Magni
Part of the East Vierz Front of the Great War
Vierz soldiers in the opening days of the operation
Date 10 April – 5 November 1942 (6 months, 3 weeks and 5 days) Location Luepola Result Vierz strategic failure Beginning of the East Vierz Front Entry of Apelia into the war Vierzland unable to swiftly defeat Luepola Initiation of successful Luepolan counteroffensives in early 1943
Belligerents
Vierz Empire	Luepola
Commanders and leaders
Hermann Eschau Wilhelm Glück Helmut Bergmann	Anton Marusić Emil Hužak Anton Ilić Danil Vălković
Units involved
Army Group South 3rd Army 4th Army 9th Army 10th Army 11th Army Army Group East 1st Army 2nd Army 12th Army 13th Army 2nd Tank Army	Votanska Front 5th Army 11th Army 17th Army 20th Army Volker Front 2nd Army 8th Army 12th Army 18th Army
Strength
Frontline strength (initial): 2.3 million men 2,900 tanks 4,000 aircraft	Frontline strength (initial): 1.4 million men 1,231 tanks 2,800 aircraft
Casualties and losses
Total military casualties: 850,000	Total military casualties: 421,000

Operation Magni (Vierz: Unternehmen Magni) was the code name for the Vierz invasion of Luepola during the Great War. The operation began on 10 April 1942 after Vierzland's declaration of war against Luepola on 9 April.

Diplomatic relations between Luepola and Vierzland had been deteriorating since 1927, and both countries had made in-depth battle plans in the event of war breaking out. On 8 April 1942, Luepola invaded Zacotia, a Vierz ally, which provoked Vierzland's declaration of war the next day. The invasion plans were green-lit by Hermann Eschau and went into effect immediately. Over 2 million troops were committed to the invasion, making it the largest military operation in world history. The East Vierz Front, the theater of war involving Luepola, Vierzland, and later Vorochia and Vyzinia, became the deadliest theater of the Great War with over 20 million military and civilian casualties combined.

Vierz forces made rapid gains in eastern and western Luepola in the opening weeks of the operation. Their efforts were slowed by the entry of Apelia into the war on 15 April and the capitulation of Zacotia on 28 April. Vierz soldiers became unable to break past Luepolan defensive lines, and were lacking necessary manpower due to the situation on the West Vierz Front. They became quickly outnumbered by their Luepolan counterparts. On 5 November, Eschau ordered the suspension of the operation and the strategic withdrawal of some divisions needed for the effort against Apelia.