Battle of Slocova

Battle of Slocova
Part of the Refusal War
Royalist tanks outside Slocova
Date 14-26 May 1984 Location Slocova, Scitaria Result Warden Victory
Belligerents
Wardens	Royalists
Commanders and leaders
Saša Mlinarić	Veton Spegelj
Units involved
Army of Dulin	1st Army
Strength
350,000	225,000
Casualties and losses
33,000 killed 75,000 wounded	48,000 killed 112,000 wounded

The Battle of Slocova was a major battle fought early on the Refusal War. Royalist forces under the command of Veton Spegelj attempted to capture the city of Slocova, the headquarters of the Wardens.

Following the dissolution of the Republic of Syara during the Refusal Crisis, the remnants of the Warden-dominated Senate regrouped in Slocova under the direction of Saša Mlinarić. While still legally the Government of Syara, Royalist control of Zovahr inhibited Warden efforts to retain control of the Republic, which limited Warden influence to Scitaria and Hayreniky. Mlinarić called for the support of the Armed Forces of the Syaran Republic and was answered by Warden-aligned army and air forces stationed in Scitaria. In response, Royalist sympathizers mobilized loyal military forces in Makedon and prepared for a drive against Warden strongholds in an attempt to unify the country by force. Much of the winter was spent by both sides gathering forces and supplies in preparation for the expected fighting in the spring. Despite Royalist maneuvers along the Makedon-Scitaria border, the Makedonian invasion in late March 1984 caught the Wardens off guard, who did not expect an offensive by a numerically inferior Royalist army.

The Royalist forces, designated 1st Army, successfully broke through numerous Warden forces and by April had captured Ghinnari. Fears of an impending Royalist attack on Slocova led several Wardens to retreat to Moddra and Iani, but Mlinarić remained in the city and began organizing the Wardens to defend the city. Royalist forces reached the outskirts of the city by 14 May, generally used to mark the beginning of the battle. Warden troops, dug in along the outskirts in elaborate defensive fortifications made with the assistance of the civilian population. While Royalist troops busied themselves attempting to break through the Warden lines, additional Warden troops began gathering in secret along the flanks of the Royalist spearhead. Using a variety of elaborate deception techniques and extensive use of camouflage, the Wardens successfully launched a surprise counter-offensive against the Royalist forces, resulting in a decisive Warden victory and heavy Royalist casualties. Subsequent Warden counter-attacks drove the Royalist forces back towards Ghinnari, before ultimately being forced to retire east of the Vitmira River by the end of the year.

The Warden victory at Slocova effectively ended any chance of the Royalists of suppressing the Warden forces and guaranteed that the war would carry on into well into 1984 and beyond. The failure of the Royalists and the success of the WArdens also revealed the military capabilities of the Wardens despite their loss of the traditional military regions in Galania and Makedon, while exposing the limitations of the Royalist forces. The battle marked the closest the Royalists would come to defeating the Wardens, while the victory was a significant morale boost to the Wardens and their supporters.