Second Great War

Second Great War
Part of the Great Wars
Clockwise from top left: Nordhaganish ground attack aircraft over Uisdalle; Attancian heavy tanks during the Battle of Stoltenberg; West Floridian pilots fly Attancian-made dive bombers over Jansville; Attancian death squads murdering Nordians in Alvaria; Acacius Diodorus signing the Attancian Instrument of Surrender; Fluvannian troops outside of Agelivelle
Date 1 March 1942 – 18 June 1948 (6 years, 3 months, 2 weeks and 3 days) Location Straegos, Palvaria, Econis, Norland Result Democratic Alliance Victory Establishment of the Global Union of Nations Post Great War Reforms Fluvannian Mark adopted as global base currency End of the Second Kingdom of Nordhagan Attancian democratic reforms Political instability in West Florida Transfer of colonial holdings
Belligerents
Nordhagan Fluvannia New Waldensia Libervalley Havel Group Gryva Brno Jirina Ludvia Barta Novy Tasau	Attancia West Florida Supported By Havel Group (Until 1945)
Commanders and leaders
Nordhagan Paal II† Charles Macklemore† Felix Kjontenberg Torrence Gallagher Fluvannia Albert II Sir Arnold Jüngling Sir Naokuni Shimada Sir Simo Vinnekonnainen Sir George Douglass Sir Isoroku Nagano New Waldensia TBD NW HeadofState TBD NW HeadofGovt TBD NW SecDef Libervalley TBD LV HeadofState TBD LV HeadofGovt TBD LV SecDef Havel Group TBA_CEO TBA_CHAIRMAN TBA_GR TBA_BR TBA_JI TBA_LU TBA_BA TBA_NT TBA_GENERAL	Attancia Novak Moreno TBD ATTANCIAN HOG Acacius Diodorus West Florida William Richardson Henry Alderson Micheal Depenshire
Casualties and losses
Nordhagan TBD Fluvannia -110,000 dead or missing -300,000 wounded -5,000 captured -3,000 civilians killed New Waldensia TBD Libervalley TBD Havel Group TBD	Attancia TBD West Florida TBD
Total Military Casualties TBD Total Civilian Casualties TBD

The Second Great War (2GW or SGW) was a global war that lasted from 1942 to 1948. It involved the majority of the world's countries—including all but one of the great powers—forming two opposing military alliances: the Democratic Alliance and the United Front. In a state of total war, directly involving more than 100 million personnel, the major participants threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. The Second Great War was the deadliest conflict in human history, resulting in 70 to 85 million fatalities, with more civilians than military personnel killed. Tens of millions of people died due to genocides (including the Budućnost). Aircraft played a major role in the conflict, including in strategic bombing of population centres, the development of nuclear weapons, and the only five uses of such weapons in war.

The Second Great War is generally considered to have begun on 1 March 1942, with the invasion of Libervalley by Attancia and subsequent declarations of war on Attancia by Nordhagan and Fluvannia on the 3rd. From mid 1942 to early 1944, in a series of campaigns and massacres, Attancia conquered or controlled much of northern Nordhagan and Libervalley, and formed the United Front with West Florida. With the establishment of a Nordhaganish puppet in the northern half of the country, Attancia began to claim the land. Following the onset of campaigns in Northeastern Nordhagan, and the fall of Libervalley, the war continued primarily between Attancia and the remaining Nordhaganish and Fluvannian forces, with the aerial Battle of Nordhagan, the First Invasion of Četvrti, and the Battle of the Palaven. On 19 June 1945, Nordhagan, supported by Fluvannia, began an invasion to retake Nordhagan, Libervalley, and eliminate Attancia, opening the Western Front, the largest land theatre of war in history.

West Florida, which aimed to dominate northern Straegos and the Polar Ocean, sought to eliminate New Waldensia. In December 1942, West Florida attacked New Waldensian territory with near-simultaneous offensives against the southern half of the country including an attack on the NW fleet at Port Carlos. Following a NW declaration of war against West Florida, which followed one from Nordhagan and Fluvannia, Attancia declared war on New Waldensia in solidarity with its ally. West Florida soon conquered most of Venalda and Hussia, but its advances were halted in 1945 after losing the critical Battle of Gramsby and Luberon; Key setbacks in 1945—including a series of Attancia defeats on the Western Front, the Nordhagan counter invasions of Četvrti and Libervalley, and Fluvannian offensives in Northeastern Nordhagan—cost Attancia its initiative and forced it into strategic retreat on all fronts. In addition, the Bombing of HAVEL CITY by Attancia pushed the Havel Group and its considerable economic might over to the side of the Democratic Alliance. In 1947, Nordhagan and Fluvannia had successfully reclaimed Nordhagan territory, while New Waldensia regained its territorial losses and turned towards the West Floridian mainland. During 1947 and 1948, West Florida suffered reversals in mainland Straegos, while the New Waldensian air and naval forces crippled the West Floridian Navy and captured key Ardat Sea ports.

The war in Straegos-Econis concluded with the liberation of Attancian-occupied territories, and the invasion of Attancia itself by Nordhagan and Fluvannia, culminating in the fall of Agelivelle to Nordhaganish troops, the nuclear bombings of on TWO ATTANCIAN CITIES on November 29 1947 and December 3, the nuclear bombing of Edenboro on December 14, the surrender of Acacius Diodorus, and the Attancian unconditional surrender on 18 January 1948. Following the surrender of Attancia, Nordhagan and Fluvannia faced towards West Florida while New Waldensia used an atomic bomb on on FLORIDIAN TOWN on March 3 1948. Faced with an ongoing invasion of the West Floridian heartland, the possibility of additional atomic bombings, and having used its only atomic bomb on WALDENSIAN TOWN on 8 May, West Florida announced its intention to surrender on 10 June, cementing total victory in northern Straegos for the Democratic Alliance. In the wake of the war, Attancia and West Florida were briefly occupied, and war crimes tribunals were conducted against their leaders. However, such occupations lasted no more than a year due to weariness of war among the Nordhaganish, Fluvannian, and New Waldensian public.

The Second Great War changed the political alignment and social structure of the globe. The Democratic Alliance was transformed into the Global Union of Nations established to foster international co-operation and prevent future conflicts. Despite heavy casualties, Nordhagan and Attancia emerged as rival superpowers, setting the stage for the nearly eight decade long Soft War.

Timeline

1942

March

• 1: The Invasion of Libervalley begins at 3:33 AM when Attancian dive bombers begin attacks on key defensive positions on the Libervalley border. Attancian armor and infantry units cross over the border at roughly 5:30 AM.
• 2: President Macklemore and Crown Prince Albert II condemn the invasion and ask their respective legislatures to declare war.
• 3: The Nordhaganish Nasjonalforsamling and Fluvannian Legislature vote to declare war on Attancia, and both countries begin their mobilization. The government of New Waldensia also vocally condemns the Attancian invasion, but takes no action.
• 4: Nordhaganish militia units from the Alvaria Cantonal Militia arrive in Libervalley under orders to hold out for as long as possible until reinforcements arrive.
• 5: The Conscription Act requires the immediate conscription of all Nordhaganish adult males aged 18 to 41. A bill is introduced in the Fluvannian Legislature to begin conscription. Lance Corporal Atkinson of Nordhagan is killed by a sniper, representing the first Nordhaganish casualty of the war.
• 6: West Phoenicia declares neutrality.
• 7: The AUS declares neutrality.
• 8: Unknown to either side, Havel Group merchants approach the governments of the warring powers for immediate sale of arms and supplies.
• 9: Titor, Estobarica, and Annixe Christos declare neutrality.
• 10: Pax City, the capital of Libervalley, is hit by bombing raids for the first time. On a single day, nearly eight raids are conducted.
• 11: The Nordhaganish Nasjonalforsamling unites under a Coalition of National Unity and a war cabinet is formed, with representatives from every party.
• 12: General Charlesman of Nordhagan orders an offensive into Attancia itself. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd companies capture a few villages but are repulsed.
• 13: The Nordhaganish naval vessel NNV Peabody, a submarine, hits a mine. All 75 crew are killed, the first naval casualties of the war.
• 14: Nordhaganish destroyer NNV Coleman sinks an unknown Attancian submarine.
• 15: The Libervalleyian Army is ordered to hold out outside of Pax City until reinforcements arrive.
• 16: An Attancian armor assualt forces the Libervalleyian Army into a full fledged retreat. Pax City is encircled, and an artillery bombardment begins.
• 17: The Nordhaganish Army completes mobilization.
• 18: The Fluvannian Army completes mobilization. The Nordhaganish aircraft carrier NNV Koltenberg is sunk with 512 crew lost, representing the first major naval vessel to sink.
• 19: The Attancian Navy breaks through and blockades Freiheit, the largest city in Libervalley.
• 20: Poison gas is deployed by Attancian troops against Pax City defenses. The attack is successful, and Attancian troops advance into the outskirts of Pax City.
• 21: A bombing raid hits the capital of Tolt canton, also named Tolt. This represents the first attack on Nordhaganish territory.
• 23: Attancian troops advance to just outside of Freiheit.
• 24: Attancia and Nordhagan begin homefront rationing.
• 25: Nordhaganish milita units in Libervalley are cut off from the Libervallyian defenders, most of the Nordhaganish forces are killed.
• 26: Following a massive artillery and air bombardment, an Attancian infantry assault advances into the center of Pax City. Air raids over Nordhagan hit a high, with nearly 50 civilians killed in twelve raids.
• 27: Attancian forces cross the border into Nordhagan.
• 28: The remaining defenders of Pax City capitulate to Attancian forces. An infantry assault begins on the city center of Freiheit.
• 29: The border town of Saxton is bombarded and falls to the Attancians.
• 31: Nordhaganish forces fall back nearly eight miles.

April

• 3: Fluvannian elite troops arrive on the Nordhagan front.
• 4: With the cantonal capitol of Glyphidia under siege, Nordhaganish forces fall back.
• 8: The last major towns in Libervalley fall to Attancian forces. Novak Moreno proclaims Libervalley as the new territory of Attancia.
• 9: Novak Moreno speaks to the ATTANCIAN LEGISLATURE and calls for a formal peace conference.
• 10: The last of Libervalley's military surrenders to the Attancians. Attancian generals suggest to Moreno that further assaults on the Nordhaganish borders may be needed, but that a peace conference may seem palatable to the Nordhaganish public.
• 11: An estimated 50,000 Fluvannian troops are now in Nordhagan.
• 12: A local commander, who has remained anonymous due to his testifying in a war crimes tribunal, is ordered to execute Nordhaganish and Libervalleyian Protestants. The anonymous commander estimates that nearly 500 Nordhaganish civilians and 1,500 Libervalleyian civilians are killed by his unit.
• 13: In the middle of the night, an Attancian commando unit places mines in Rikhavn harbor. Four different naval vessels hit mines, and nearly 1,800 sailors are killed.
• 16: The beginning of the Battle of Nordhagan, as the first of dozens of daily raids occurs over Rikhavn. 400 civilians are killed by firebombs from Attancian bombers.
• 17: A long range Attancian bombing run from carrier based bombers hits Oshkosh, killing 12 civilians and wounding dozens more.
• 21: All able-bodied males 18-23 are ordered to join the Nordhaganish Armed Forces. President Macklemore formally rejects the Attancian offer.
• 23: An Attancian submarine allegedly captures a NW Navy cargoship carrying supplies to Libervalleyian resistance fighters. New Waldensia denies the allegation.
• 26: Attancian naval vessels achieve superiority on the high seas, outnumbering Nordhaganish and Fluvannian vessels.
• 27: A Nordhaganish government report calls attention to Attancian death squads, but the report is considered propaganda by most, including Nordhagan's ally of Fluvannia. The report would later be determined to not only be accurate, but in fact underestimates the massacres.
• 29: Development of a "bunker buster" bomb for use on Nordhagan government buildings, many of which are now equipped with bomb shelters, begins as prototypes begin undergoing tests. Prototype D would later inspire the model used on the New Year's Eve Raid on Jøen.
• 30: The Attancian government purchases two hundred tanks from the Havel Group.

May

• 1: The Annixe Christos government issues a statement calling for an end to immediate air raids on civilian targets.
• 5: A New Waldensian cargo ship, CS-191 is interned by Attancian naval forces. The cargo is determined to be rations and ammunition.
• 6: Moreno demands an apology from New Waldensia and demands a full investigation.
• 7: New Waldensia denies Moreno's request for an investigation.
• 8: Macklemore narrowly escapes assassination when an Attancian immigrants attempts to shoot him as his car passes by. The attack leads to increases in the Presidential Security Division's budget.
• 13: Attancia experiences its first civilian casualties when a Nordhaganish air campaign hits border towns, killing 26 civilians.
• 16: Attancia announces the capture of Glyphidia, after a month of siege. Over 10,000 Nordhaganish soldiers and civilians, 5,000 Fluvannian soldiers, and 12,000 Attancians are killed in the month and a half old battle.
• 17: Haganish terror groups are blamed for bombs set off in Jøen.
• 21: Attancian naval vessels begin mining major harbors of Nordhagan.
• 23: The first major sinking of a Nordhaganish ship to Attancian torpedos kills 32 crewmen on the cargo ship Abundance.
• 24: Attancia announces the capture of Sanderson, cutting off the North-South railroad in Nordhagan.
• 27: New Waldensia announces the end of diplomatic relations with Attancia.
• 28: Attancia approaches West Florida over the signing of a mutual defensive pact.
• 29: Nordhaganish soldiers reach the 70 mile point of retret.
• 30: General Steven Foxboro of the Nordhaganish Army is killed by an Attancian artillery strike.

June

• 1: The replacement general, General Alecander Mannerheim begins to fight a defensive war, forming the Mannerheim Line roughly 85 miles deep into Nordhagan.
• 2: Attancian forces capture Stoltenberg.
• 3: Attancian battleship Corpus Christi is sunk by a Nordhaganish submarine.
• 5: Attancian forces reach the Mannerheim Line, while several positions retreat, the main Nordhaganish-Fluvannian line holds.
• 7: New Waldensia voices support for conference and negotiation, but affirms its neutrality.
• 11: Nordhaganish bombers bomb Nordhaganish towns held by Attancia.
• 14: In response to another Attancian air raid that killed more than 500 civilians, countries around the world sanction Attancia.
• 15: Attancian military forces break the Mannerheim Line with heavy casualties, and push
• 19: Nordhaganish authorities institute stricter rationing.
• 25: Attancia propaganda proclaims the war's end is near.
• 28: Attancia institutes combined arms and quickly pushes back Nordhaganish and Fluvannian resistance.
• 29: A monsoon hits Nordhagan, killing dozens and shattering the Nordhaganish lines.

July

• 1: The July 1st Offensive begins. Over 250,000 Attancian soldiers advanced on 210,000 Nordhaganish and Fluvannian troops across the front.
• 5: The Libervallyian government-in-exile officially requests asylum in Jøen.
• 8: A motion of no confidence in the Macklemore administration fails short of the two thirds majority. However, it is clear that one third of the Conservative Party's legislative delegation no longer approves of Macklemore's government.
• 11: The Black Castle fortress falls to Attancian forces. The Nordhaganish line is forced back.
• 15: Faced with near daily air raids, the city of Jøen establishs the Jøen Civil Defense Organization.
• 16: Mannsoleder Kjontenberg enters the public sphere while filling in for President Macklemore at the President's Questions for the week of July 16. Many Nordhaganish are impressed with his oratory skills.
• 17: The Nordhagan Blitz is in full swing. 10,000 Fluvannians and nearly 40,000 Nordhaganish soldiers have been killed in combat.
• 18: The city of Tweran, a major river city, represents a logistical blow to Nordhagan when an Attancian paratrooper attack takes the city and holds it for nine days.
• 21: Facing being surrounded, Nordhaganish and Fluvannian forces retreat further east.
• 27: After nine days of fighting, the Attancian paratrooper division is killed or captured by Nordhaganish forces, but the break down in logistics leads to battlefield disasters.
• 28: 86 civilians are executed by Attancian police in Stoltenberg.

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October

• 1: Faced with daily air raids, the Nasjonalforsamling votes to change the meeting location daily with the location revealed only an hour before each meeting. The constitutionally required weekly war meeting is declared a security threat by Nordhaganish Air Patrol, but President Macklemore overrules the NL.
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1943

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March

• 1: Nordhaganish forces land on the eastern shore of Četvrti the First Invasion of Četvrti.

May

• 8: President Glen Trevor of Annixe Christos loses the election and is forced to resign from party leadership over losing safe seats to moderate Ray Thomas, who ran on a "Stay neutral policy". President-Elect Thomas declares Annixe Christos will remain neutral, but that Annixe Christos diplomats will work to achieve peace.

June

• 30: West Phoenician King Jarius Bush III, sympathetic to the Democratic Alliance, dies in a terrorist bomb blast.

July

• 3: Pro-United Front Queen Consort Dorthea Maidstone-Bush, upsurps throne from right heir, son Demetrios, I Bush Philopator. Actions spark the 4th West Phoenician Civil War (1943-1950). The Queen's new government vows to stay neutral in global conflict. West Phoenicia grants both factions rights to West Phoenician waters and docks to repair damaged ships, on condition of no conflicts in West Phoenician territories and waters.

December

• 31: New Year's Raid occurs over Jøen. Nearly 150 Attancian bombers target the capital city. Divebombers with bunker-buster tips penetrate the bomb shelter underneath the convention hall where the Nasjonalforsamling is meeting. The entire executive government and most of the legislature are killed, leaving Mannsoleder Felix Kjontenberg, Leas Labhraiche Torrence Gallagher, and seventeen members of the Nasjonalforsamling alive.

1944

January

• 1: Mannsoleder Kjontenberg takes control of the government.
• 4: Kjontenberg announces the formation of a war cabinet, and appoints Gallagher as his Sjefset. While some doubt he holds this power, most simply ignore any concerns.
• 9: Kjontenberg recalls all troops to Nordhagan and orders the preparation of a counter-invasion.

April

• 3: Fluvannian and Libervalleyian troops join the brewing counter-invasion by Nordhagan.