Satavian Crisis

Satavian Crisis
Part of the Asterian Spring
Satavian Paratroopers in the Patrick Islands following Operation Thunderbolt
Date 1976-1983 Location Satavia Result Decisive Government Victory Collapse of Die Volksmilisie Disarmament of Paramilitary Groups
Belligerents
Satavia {{Collapsible list OAN Peacekeepers}}	Die Volksmilisie and various other right wing paramilitaries
Casualties and losses
599 Satavian Army 11 Police Officers 29 OAN Peacekeepers	~2,600
4,122 Civilians

The Satavian Crisis was a period of instability and sectarian violence that lasted from 1976 until 1983 in Satavia. The crisis was fought primarily between the Government of Satavia and Die Volksmilisie (The Peoples Militia), a far-right paramilitary organisation. A large majority of the violence was centered around the north of the country, in the Orange Province and the Westerse Vrystaat, but sporadic fighting also occured in the Patrick Islands and modern-day Camburton province. Much of the violence was also orchestrated in terrorist attacks on civilian and military targets, with car bombing and motar attacks being some of the most commonly used methods. 599 Satavian Armed Forces personnel were killed, with a futher 29 OAN Peacekeepers also killed. 11 Police Officers also lost their lives in the Crisis, of which six died on one day. Whilst no official death toll stands for De Volksmilitie, the Community of Nations estimates that roughly 2,600 died, along with 4,122 civilians deaths, giving non-combatants the largest single death toll.

The crisis began following the collapse of the last National Government in September 1976, after years of economic instability, and the 1976 Satavian Protests. The 1976 General Election, the first election held since 1924, saw a landslide victory for the Social Democrats, winning nearly 78% of all votes.

Die Volksmilisie, the largest of the far-right paramilitaries, took up arms against the new government in November 1976, angered by what they percieved as a leftist-takeover. In the first couple months of the crisis, the Satavian Army, that had been going through a reform process removing many of the Senior High Command (some of whom were wanted for Human Rights Violations), was quickly overwhelmed. Very few armed rebellions took place, but instead Army Bases were targeted by mortar attacks and military convoys were often blown up by car bombs or land mines.

In January 1979, the Satavian Government sent a plee for help to the Organization of Asterian Nations, asking for military assistance. An OAN Peacekeeping force arrived in March of that year, in order to protect key infrastructure such as Airports, Ports and also establish safezones around the country. Hallandic advisors had already been stationed unofficially in Satavia, and had been providing the Satavian Army with training and equipment from as early as March 1977.

By 1982, Die Volksmilisie was on the verge of defeat, and engaged in peace talks with the Satavian Government, which carried on into 1983. In February 1983, a Hallandic brokered peace deal was agreed upon by both sides. The deal is widely regarded as a decisive Satavian victory. Sporadic acts of violence would continue until August 1983, when the Satavian Government officially declared the crisis over.

The conflict is sometimes referred to as a Civil War, but the official terminology used is "crisis".

Background

Following the end of the Great War, and the disgrace of the Kingdom of Estmere, Edward Limes proclaimed the Union of Satavia in the run up to the aboltion of the monarchy. Edward Limes would be the Union's only Prime Minister, and he was removed by the Satavian Army in 1939, where Field Marshal Oscar Harrison proclaimed the Republic of Satavia, with him at it's center. Initial resistence to the coup was fierece - Harrison himself was assasinated in 1941 - but by 1944, resistance effectively ended.

In July 1971, following the death of the incumbent James Creak, the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Hendrik Botha, became Prime Minister. The country was facing economic ruin as sanctions implemented by Tacunia and from Euclea began to significantly affect the country's economy. Botha attempted to implement reforms that would leave the National Party in power, but remove some of the international pressure on Satavia.

In 1975, a new constitutional act was passed which re-allowed the right to assembly and allowed freedom of the press. Botha's reforms, however, emboldened the people - and, in 1976, protests and riots escalated to the point upon where the Hope's Provincial Guard - lead by Lt. Col. Johannes Klopper - were ordered to restore control to the capital. Klopper refused - and instead seized Government Offices in Port Hope and proclaimed the end of the National Party's rule.

Just one month after taking power, elections were held in which Klopper stood but lost to the Liberal Party in a landslide defeat. A group of far-right nationalists formed Die Volksmilitie and took up arms against the government, sabotaging infrastructure and ambushing government troops.

Timeline

1976

14th November - 1 Policeman is killed after a bomb explodes in Dukeminster Avenue Police Station. 14 are injured.
23rd November - Die Volksmilisie (DV) occupy the village of Saltford in Northern Satavia.
24th November - 1 Policeman and a Satavian Soldier are lynched by a mob in Brompton.
29th November - The Siege of Saltford Ends, costing the lives of 14 civilians, two Soldiers and four DV men.
13th December - The "Christmas Bombing", when a truck parked on a busy street in Port Hope exploads, killing 17 civilians and injuring 134.
19th December - DV Forces occupy Northern Camburton and Satavian Military and Police officers are banned from entering, establishing the first "no go" areas.
31st December - A Satavian Army Convoy is ambushed, killing 22 Satavian Soldiers.

1977

14th February - A lone gunman fires into a crowd of party-goers in Adamstown, killing 33, and injuring a further 248.
16th February - James Rickolings, a 31 year old police officer, is murdered in his home along with his wife and 13 month-old child.
21st Feburay - A Satavian Naval Ship, SNV Fort Kinnon, is bombed in Port Hope Harbour, killing 3 and injuring 122. The ship suffers only minor damage.

1979

2nd February - An NLM Flight is bombed over the town of Lingbury. 59 Are Killed, and the Nuvanian Government allege Die Volksmilisie involvement
14th March - The Patrick Islands are occupied by De Volksmilite forces, and their 12,000 occupants are held captive by a force of 900 men
15th March - A Satavian Naval Service Helicopter is badly damaged by a De Volksmilite MANPADS and is forced to ditch near the Patrick Islands. The crew are taken hostage
22nd March - Satavian Paratroopers take Little Patrick, sustaining no casualties.
23rd March - Satavian Paratroppers land and take Greater Patrick, leaving only Middle Patrick and Patrick's Town to be reatken.
26th March - Operation Thunderbolt: Satavian Paratroopers, assisted by a small naval invasion, seize Middle Patrick and Patrick's Town, following a firefight.