Boldonian Islands Campaign

Boldonian Islands Campaign
Date 12 December 1941 - 27 May, 1944 Location Boldonia, Brasilistan Result Allied Victory
Belligerents
United States	Empire of Japan
Strength
347,000	125,000
Casualties and losses
43,000+ killed and missing	62,000+ killed and missing

The Boldonian Islands Campaign is the name for the various battles that took place in Boldonia, Eastisle, and Brasilistan. It is considered the deadliest campaign of the Pacific Theatre of World War II. The campaign is usually split into three different phases, the Japanese invasion, air skirmishes, and American invasion.

Background

Boldonia

Ever since it became a part of the United States after the Spanish-American War, Boldonia had cemented itself as one of the most important islands in the Pacific. It allowed the United States to easily dominate the area both militarily and economically, and its ever growing population only made it more important. During the Great Depression Boldonia was considered to have been left mostly unaffected, only further growing its population as Americans suffering through the depression moved to Boldonia to escape. By 1940 the population of Boldonia had already reached one million, greatly above its population of 43,862 in 1900, and was considered the economic center of the Pacific. Both American and Japanese generals said that America could not lose the Pacific if Boldonia remained in American hands.

Despite its growth however, its infrastructure was lacking in some areas. Despite most settlements at the time being along the coast, very few actually had the capability for ships to dock at a pier. By 1940 only Harbor Island, Parmilo, Eastisle City, Norfi City, and Filorose had ports in which full sized ships could dock instead of relying on tender craft. Airfields were few and far between with there only being 10 airfields in the territory by 1940, most in the south with very few in the north. Road infrastructure was also very poor, at the time the only road connection between cities were either a single two lane paved road that followed the coast varying in quality, or a mess of dirt roads and trails that formed a web through the country. Still despite these issues Boldonia was still a highly populated, economically important, and strategically important target which makes it easy to see why it was one of the first of the United States' Pacific territories to be attacked.

Brasilistan

Although Brasilistan had been an independent nation prior to 1920, its decision to side with the Central Powers in World War I caused it to be taken during the Pacific Theatre by Japan. After the war and the formation of the League of Nations it was decided that Brasilistan would temporarily become a League of Nations mandate under Japan. However once Japan withdrew from the League in 1933 this temporary arrangement soon appeared like it would be permanent.

Brasilistan's infrastructure was at the time far worse than Boldonia's. In 1933 Brasilistan only had one airfield and one port at Brasilis, the only major settlement at the time. Roads were also a major issue, with the only paved roads being in Brasilis itself with the rest of the country being serviced by poorly maintained dirt roads. However once Japan signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany the Japanese military embarked on a large scale program to build up Brasilistan's infrastructure on the off chance the alliance with Germany would bring war to Brasilistan. By 1941 there were five airfields around the country and a new port at where New Volgagrad is today. This infrastructure would prove useful to Japan both in the invasion of Boldonia and Brasilistan's subsequent defense from the United States.

Japanese Invasion of Boldonia

After Guam had been captured on December 10, 1941, Japanese forces began to amass in Brasilistan in preparation of the invasion of Boldonia. Bombing raids and naval landings on Eastisle officially began on December 12, 1941 as Japan sent a force of 15,000 soldiers to take the island, dwarfing the small 2,000 strong American garrison on the island. Eastisle fell quickly and by December 20, 1941 the entire island was under Japanese control.

Battle of North Point

Foreseeing a potential Japanese landing on the mainland at North Point, US forces on mainland Boldonia built up a 15,000 strong force along the Boldonian northern coast awaiting the Japanese attack. On December 22, 1941, the Japanese sent a force of 20,000 to North Point for an amphibious landing. American defenses on the beach managed to hold out as the Japanese sent more and more soldiers to the area. Finally after hours of holding out, aerial bombardments finally forced the Americans to retreat into the town.

Although today North Point is the third largest city in Boldonia, in 1941 it was but a small seaside town which stood no match against the Japanese onslaught. However despite the town's small size and all odds against them, American forces were able to hold it until the evening of December 23. The following morning on Christmas Eve was marked by a loss for American forces as they continued to be pushed back. Even on Christmas itself there was no pause as US forces spent the holiday trekking through the Norfi Mountains on the run.

Defense of the South

By late January 1942 after loss after loss the conflict had finally reached the jungles of Centros, with American forces constantly on the run. In the southern cities important governmental and military figures had left as those who wanted to leave were evacuated. However those that did decide to stay behind gathered weapons and supplies, hoping to make one final stand for Boldonia.

On March 2, 1942 that final stand would occur as Japanese forces entered both Parmilo and Boldonia City simultaneously. The weakened military tried its best to hold out, but it was a pointless effort. On March 5 on the date that Boldonia was discovered, Boldonia was officially declared lost as all American forces retreated, severely damaging allied morale in the Pacific. Just as had been prophesied, when Boldonia fell the rest of the United States' territories in the Pacific fell as well.

Inter-Invasion Period

With Japan successfully taking control of Boldonia an occupation government was installed to control Boldonia. General Katsuhito Miyagawa was placed in charge of the occupation government, as the military worked to appropriate Boldonia's infrastructure for the Japanese war effort. Unlike other occupations however, General Miyagawa ordered his men to avoid committing war crimes against the Boldonian population, stating "The Boldonian people do not view themselves as a traditional society, instead in Boldonia the people do not believe in traditions like those you would see on any other populated territory. As such it can neither be confirmed nor denied their equality to the Japanese race, and thus should be treated with respect for the time being." Under General Miyagawa's rule, the Boldonian occupation has been referred to as a very lenient one. While industrial and agricultural activities were closely monitored by the occupation government, all other activities were allowed to continue so long as the Boldonian people continued their compliance. As such most people complied with the occupation, although hoping that the United States would eventually return.

Boldonian Resistance

Some Boldonians however did not comply with the occupation. All across the country small pockets of resistance were formed and attempted to, at the very least, annoy their occupiers. Unfortunately for them the Japanese fought back, and the disorganized resistance was always on the run. This was until one resistance fighter decided it was time to make changes. In August 1942, Parmilo Resistance member Gregory Simmons set out to contact other resistance groups in the Subdivision of Florsid in the hopes of better coordinating his group. By November 1942 the resistance groups in the subdivision were all unified and soon they united more and more resistance groups in neighboring Centros and Boldonia City. This unification spread across the entire country throughout the first half of 1943, by July 1943 all of Boldonia's resistance groups had been unified under one central authority.

With its unification the resistance was reorganized and Japanese military weapons were stolen, turning the Boldonian Resistance into an impromptu standing militia. The last half of 1943 saw an extensive campaign by Boldonian Resistance groups as US Forces neared closer to Boldonia. Equipment was constantly sabotaged and Japanese forces were forced to travel via air and sea as the islands' roads became laden with traps and ambushes. The Boldonian Resistance's efforts vastly contributed to the easy recapture by the US once they arrived.

Battle of the Centros River

By October 1943 US forces had the capability to reach deep into Boldonia and attack military targets. Japanese military targets were constantly bombarded by US Navy aircraft in preparation for the nearing invasion. However a combined IJA and IJN air force fought back sending interceptors after the attackers. The aerial dogfighting was most intense over the rainforests of Centros, where pilots endured conditions similar to their USAAF counterparts in the European Theatre. This air campaign, dubbed the Battle of the Centros River, lasted from October 1943 to February 1944 and saw hundreds of aircraft involved. Shot down aircraft often found themselves falling down to the rainforest below, leaving several wrecks some still remaining today.

American Invasion of Brasilistan

The US recapture began with a short invasion of Brasilistan. Since most of the Japanese forces in Brasilistan had been moved to the much more important Boldonia, in preparation for the US attack, Brasilistan was left weakly defended and the island was captured within a short 19 hours by a small US Marine Battalion landing at Brasilis. This allowed the US to have a base for the invasion of Boldonia and severely hampered Japanese chances of defense.

American Invasion of Boldonia

The US invasion began with large scale bombing raids on Japanese positions on February 29, 1944. To the northeast of Eastisle a small Japanese naval force attempted to halt the US Navy during the Battle of the Eastisle Sea, however outnumbered and outgunned the Japanese ships were swept aside as the navy prepared for its attack on Eastisle.

Second Battle of Eastisle

The Second Battle of Eastisle (not to be confused with the First Battle of Eastisle during the Spanish-American War) was the invasion and recapture of the island of Eastisle from Japanese forces. The north of the island saw large scale amphibious invasions as US Marines and US Army attacked the Japanese on the island. Due to Eastisle's flat terrain and lack of trees US forces made quick gains, taking the island by March 5, 1944.

Battle of Norfi

After Eastisle was taken the bulk of the US force went to Norfi too prevent Japanese forces from hiding in the mountains once the rest of the nation was taken. By then the Japanese had already been reinforced, leading to a longer war of attrition in the mountainous terrain. Japanese forces used guerilla tactics to great effect in the mountains, stalling US advances deeper into the island. By April 4, 1944 the campaign in Norfi would end, however not after several American casualties.

Battle of Boldonia City

While the Battle of Norfi was occurring a second US forces targeted Boldonia City as the Japanese sent reinforcements to Norfi, weakening Boldonia City's defense. On March 13, 1944 Harbor Island was taken by US forces giving the US a vital base for the attack on Boldonia City. On March 15, 1944 the amphibious assault on the city was launched with US forces quickly pushing the few Japanese defenders further into the city. It was here that the Boldonian Resistance and other civilian groups attacked the Japanese from the outskirts of the city to trap them in the city. With the defenders surrounded General Katsuhito Miyagawa who was in Parmilo at the time ordered the commander of Japanese forces in the Boldonia City area to surrender. However the commander refused, due to his strong beliefs in the prevalent military culture at the time. As such throughout the next few weeks US forces had to constantly root out and capture or kill Japanese holdouts in the city.

Battle of Parmilo

With the entire island slipping from Japanese hands, they decided to make one final stand in Parmilo. On May 23, 1944 US forces would attack the holdout from all sides, with amphibious assaults on Parmilo Beach and armored assaults from the city outskirts. The Battle of Parmilo was the deadliest battle of the Boldonian Islands Campaign, as the Japanese continued to fight back against all odds with brutal house to house fighting taking place. It would take until May 27, 1944 until the surrounded General Miyagawa would surrender, ending the Boldonian Islands Campaign.

Aftermath

Boldonia

Although Boldonia's infrastructure had been damaged by the war, the Territory stayed intact and and even thrived. The clearing of the broken infrastructure allowed for much needed infrastructure upgrades to take place. Throughout the war, separated from the United States, the Boldonian people began to develop their own identity in a shared interest to defend their land. The campaign had proven Boldonia's importance militarily and started a post-war program to build military bases around the territory further cementing its position as the military stronghold of the Pacific.

Although most Japanese forces, including General Miyagawa, were deported back to Japan post-war after a breif stay in prisoner of war camps, their decision to surrender led them to be ostracized by the Japanese public. Due to this many soldier who had previously occupied Boldonia returned with their families to start a new life. Although at the beginning they were shunned and mistreated by the Boldonian population eventually it had seemed they were forgiven by the Boldonian population. Miyagawa himself even returned to the island, starting a restaurant in Parmilo which eventually grew into a chain spanning the entire territory. In 2022 after Boldonian independence, President Carl Holstein officially pardoned Miyagawa posthumously to much support.

Brasilistan

After the war Brasilistan was handed over to the Soviet Union to keep the Soviets at peace. However this would eventually bring the Cold War to the Pacific with a communist regime being founded in Brasilistan. The country had been devastated by the war and it took decades to rebuild, however the 1980s Brasilistan had finally began to thrive and lowering tensions between the United States and Soviet Union gave Brasilistan an advantage over some of its other communist allies due to its distance from the Soviet Union.