The Great Continental War

The Great Continental War (1926-1929) was a global conflict fueled by irredentist and imperialist movements. In Europe, the war began over territorial disputes between Tarazed and Osphen, with Osphen seeking greater dominance and consolidation of its power in the region. The Osphenian government claimed that ethnic Osfenars in Tarazed needed to be reunited with their nation, which led to an invasion and complete occupation of Tarazed. Ruthenia, an ally of Osphen, also shared similar views towards the nations in eastern Europe and the northern Balkans, and began an invasion of Izmedu and neighboring nations. Long standing rivalries pitted Aelvenia against Ergonia, Scotatrova and Ithra in western Europe. Meanwhile, the Scotatrovian and Ergonian Asian colonies were attacked by Nusantara and Kawan respectively, in order to free the colonies from European influence and establish local self rule. Two alliances were formed as a result of the war, the Allied Union, or just the Allies, consisting of Scotatrova, Ithra, Ergonia, Izmedu and Bering, and the Triad of Nations, consisting of Osphen, Aelvenia and Ruthenia.

Osfenar-Tarazedian conflict had been an ongoing occurence in Europe for centuries, with several wars and conflicts erupting as a result of both nations vying for control of the eastern Mediterranean. Osphen accused Tarazed of persecuting Osphenian speaking, Solarist minorities in the country. It also further claimed that the Tarazedian nation shouldn't exist, being yet another of Osphen's several duchies. The Tarazedian nation has existed since antiquity, but throughout much of European history was either semi-independent or under full authority of the Osfenars. On May 8, 1926, Osphen declared war on Tarazed, with Bering coming to Tarazed's defense. Ruthenia and Aelvenia joined Osphen to form the Triad of Nations, with Ruthenia invading Izmedu, Urmenia and Pralea. Scotatrova, Ergonia and Ithra joined Tarazed and Bering to form the Allied Union after declaring war against the Triad of Nations in July 1926.

In February 1927, the nations of Kawan and Nusantara attacked Ergonian and Scotatrovian territories with near-simultaneous offensives in southeast Asia, which resulted in Scotatrova and Greater Ergonia declaring war on both nations. The Triad of Nations therefore allied themselves with Kawan and Nusantara, with Ruthenia supplying the bulk of equipment. Key setbacks for each side included the fall of Lotheria and Tarazed in August and September 1926 respectively as well as the joint Scotatrovian/Ergonian invasions of Nusantara and Kawan after rebuffing the attacks on their colonies. After the fall of Tarazed, Osphen set its sight on Bering and its neighbors, launching multiple offensives alongside Ruthenia into Urmenia and Pralea. It wasn't long before Pralea was partitioned entirely and Urmenia faced an unwinnable war on two fronts, leaving only Bering and Gorica as the sole nations in the Balkans to ward off the advancing Osphenians. Ruthenia's incursion into Izmedu proved quite simple at first, gaining large swaths of land in the east while moving westward. Resistance started to become a major factor once Ruthenia started to reach central Izmedu, and eventually both sides would enter a stalemate, with neither advancing. Aelvenia on the otherhand completely occupied Ostroda and made its way into Lotheria. Scotatrovian and Ergonian forces landed in Lotheria to help fight off the advancing Aelvenians, but Lotheria too would soon fall to the Aelvenians.

During mid-1928, Scotatrova was the main fighting force against Aelvenia, with clashes all along the border, as any and all attempts made by Aelvenia to enter Scotatrova were thwarted. Along the Ithran front, the Aelvenians couldn't make it past the Alpine front as the Ithrans had intricate knowledge of the region and thus had many victories. However, in Ithra's northeastern border, Aelvenia had managed to breakthrough. Berci reinforcement would help push the remaining Aelvenian forces out. Aelvenia then turned its sights on Bering instead, adding onto the Osphenian invasion and opening a second front for the Berci. In late 1928, Ruthenia's territorial gains in eastern Europe were starting to be reversed as its military started to stall, with Aelvenia starting to buckle against the Allies in western Europe. Osphen suffered reversals in southeastern Europe as Ithran and Berci troops began multiple offensives. By January 1929, the war in southeast Asia concluded as Kawan and Nusantara capitulated when Scotatrova and Ergonia regained control of their colonies and initiated counter invasions. By mid-1929, the war in Ruthenia and Aelvenia came to a close with the liberation of Ruthenian occupied territories and Aelvenia facing land and sea invasions from all sides. Ruthenia surrendered on July 17, 1929 and Aelvenia on August 5. Osphen had refused to surrender throughout the duration of the war, but with the capitulation of its European allies, it faced immense pressure to keep the war effort going. Allied advancements into Osphen had pushed the Osphenians out of mainland Europe entirely, and the capital of Coralios was threatened with invasion. Osphen eventually would surrender after a sea invasion from the allied powers along Osphen's Mediterranean coast commenced. The Treaty of Agon was signed on October 24, 1929 and would cement victory for the Allied powers.

The Great Continental War changed the political and social structure of Europe. After the immense devastation faced by the continent's nations, their influence among their remaining colonies began to dwindle and in turn this would lead to decolonization. Economic recovery became the main aspect of many nations in order for them to rebound from the war. On a global scale, the fostering of relations among the greater international community became a forefront of global politics in the years following the war. Organizations like the Council of Nations, European Federation and World Economic Forum were founded in the years following the war to end pre-war hostilities and prevent future conflict.

Background

Following the Imperial War, many of the major European powers maintained a realtively tenuous balance of power among themselves after the Restoration. This was offset by a variety of factors, such as Osphen's encroachment into southeastern Europe and the rise of Ithra. The consolidation of Aelvenia with Parzal and power vaccum left by the collapse of the Vahnian Federation allowed Aelvenia to establish hegemony in central Europe. Osphen spent the first years of the 20th century trying to reinvigorate its centuries long policy of expansion at the expense of other nations. Nationalist and irredentist sentiments were strong and were encouraged by Osphen and her agents. Osphen and Aelvenia formed an alliance in 1904, which was expanded to include Ruthenia in 1909. The main idea behind the alliance was to ensure the fostering of trade and cooperation between the three nations as well as maintaining open dialogue with one another. This was threatened by Scotatrovian and Ergonian attempts to negotiate with Ruthenia. The years before the war were marked by a series of crises as other powers sought to benefit from the Vahnian decline. Balancing competing objectives required simultaneously backing their clients while limiting territorial gains, dividing Osphenian policy makers and adding to the instability of southeastern Europe.

At the same time, many Tarazedians considered the region essential for the continued existence of their nation and Osphenian expansion as a direct threat to it. In the early months of 1926, Osphen had began a major mobilization of it's military along its border with Tarazed. Back in the Osphenian capital of Coralios, Osphenian officials accused Tarazed of inciting tensions and the repression of Osphenian speaking Solarists in Tarazed. These claims were rejected by the Tarazedian government, and were widely seen by the international community as false. In April 1926, Osphenian officials claimed Tarazed shouldn't exist as an independent nation, and that the country was a breakaway duchy. It wasn't long until fighting along the border erupted, with both Osphenian and Tarazedian officials accusing one another of firing first.

War

1926-27

On May 8, 1926, Osphen had commenced its invasion of Tarazed from the east in the morning and advanced westward. It encountered little resistance, but was delayed by road clearance demolitions, mines and mud. Despite many delays along the mountain roads, an armoured advance guard dispatched toward Milana succeeded in entering the city by the morning of May 19. Milana was taken after a long battle with three Tarazedian divisions under the command of General Stamatis, and was followed by the surrender of the Tarazedian Milana Army Garrison, taking effect at 13:00 on May 22. In the three days it took the Osphenians to reach Milana, some 60,000 Tarazedian soldiers were taken prisoner. The Osphenians had to then break the Gavros line, in order to capture Gavros, Tarazed's second-largest city and a strategically important port. The attack started on June 8, with one infantry unit and two divisions of the Mountain Corps. Due to strong resistance, the first day of the attack yielded little progress in breaking the line. In the following days, the Osphenians pummelled the forts with artillery and dive bombers and reinforced the 11th Infantry Regiment. Finally, a 7,000 ft high snow-covered mountainous passage considered inaccessible by the Tarazedians was crossed by the 18th Mountain Division, which reached the rail line to Gavros on the evening of June 21. Most of the fortifications located along the line held until the Osphenians finally occupied Gavros on July 2, at which point they surrendered under General Stamatis' orders. Nevertheless, minor isolated fortresses continued to fight for a few days more and were not taken until heavy artillery was used against them. This gave time for some retreating troops to evacuate by sea. Although eventually broken, the defenders of the Gavros Line succeeded in delaying the Osphenian advance. As a result, Osphen had to keep sizeable forces on the Tarazedian front. Osphenian units were ordered to converge on Thanamonti and siege the capital. The Tarazedian determination to deploy forces directly at the border shaped the country's defense plan. This would allow the Tarazedian armies to retreat inside the country, but that was supposed to be a slow retreat behind prepared positions intended to give the armed forces time to complete its mobilization and execute a general counteroffensive with the support of allies. In western Europe, the nations of Ithra, Scotatrova and Greater Ergonia all demanded that Osphen withdraw its troops from Tarazed or face consequences. This would go ignored, and led to a joint naval blockade of the Osphenian mainland in the eastern Mediterranean.

Ruthenia announced that it would be allying itself with Osphen on June 13, and would soon start deploying equipment and ammunition. It was revealed that Ruthenia had its sights on its neighbors as on June 27, Ruthenia ordered its forces into Izmedu, Urmenia and Pralea. Izmeduan border defenses in the east were ordered to fall back and not engage the Ruthenians. That, however, did not prevent some clashes and small battles as soldiers and locals attempted to defend cities. Meanwhile, Urmenian and Pralean forces actively resisted the Ruthenian invasion. In a series of defeats, the Pralean army was crippled and the Urmenians started to become overwhelmed by the Ruthenian forces. Aelvenia would later declare its support for its allies, and the Triad of Nations was officially mobilized. With Aelvenia joining Osphen and Ruthenia, the nations of Scotatrova, Ithra and Ergonia declared war on the Triad of Nations on July 3, 1926, adding that they would be supporting the war effort in favor of Tarazed, Izmedu and the other nations that had been invaded. Not even a day later the Triad would return the declaration, and Europe would be caught in the midst of war. Ithran troops were sent to Bering, with Scotatrovian troops giving significant assistance to the Izmeduan army. Ergonia and Aelvenia would face each other primarily in naval skirmishes, with merchant and warships sunk by both sides. On August 24, Aelvenia launched ground forces into the nation of Lotheria, which had declared itself neutral at the beginning of hostilities. That same day, Aelvenia began its offensive into Scotatrova. Successful tactics implemented by the Aelvenian army saw Lotheria fall within a matter of days. A significant number of troops were evacuated into neighboring Scotatrova and Ergonia, but Aelvenia had completed its occupation of Lotheria on August 30 after the government officially surrendered. On September 4, Aelvenia had invaded Ithra.

The Tarazedian campaign was coming to a close by mid-September as the Osphenians had a streak of sweeping victories and were encroaching on Thanamonti. As the invading Osphenians advanced deep into Tarazedian territory, the 104th Army Section of the Tarazedian army was reluctant to retreat. By the middle of September, especially after the devastating Tiber offensive, the Tarazedian army had suffered, according to Allied estimates, 255,000 casualties, and it was fast approaching the end of its logistical tether. The Tarazedian government had refused to surrender or to negotiate peace. Instead, it ordered all units to evacuate and to reorganize in Bering. Osphenian troops entered Thanamonti on the morning of September 14, followed by armoured cars, tanks and infantry. They captured intact large quantities of petroleum, oil and lubricants ("POL"), several thousand tons of ammunition, ten trucks loaded with sugar and ten truckloads of other rations in addition to various other equipment, weapons and medical supplies. Tarazedian regiments withdrew to an improvised switch position in the north, where they erected a last stand. Despite a series of intensifying Osphenian attacks, Thanamonti, defended by quickly-reorganized retreating units, civilian volunteers and militias, held out until September 19 when the last few garrisons in the northern Thanamonti suburbs capitulated. Osphenian forces occupied the strategically more important areas of Thanamonti, Gavros and several islands. The annexation of Tarazed – during which civilians suffered terrible hardships, many dying from privation and hunger – proved to be a difficult and costly task. Several resistance groups launched guerrilla attacks against the occupying forces and set up espionage networks.

1927-28

In February 1927, the southeast asian nations of Kawan and Nusantara invaded Scotatrovian and Ergonian colonies in the region. Leaders from both nations decided to sieze the opportunity with the war in Europe in an effort to finally free the region from European control. Scotatrovian Sirawak capitulated after a few hours of the Nusantaran invasion. The Ergonian Strait Colony was conquered by the Kawanians within two days. Ergonian and Scotatrovian forces, already drained of personnel by war and heavily committed in Europe were unable to provide much more than token resistance to the battle-hardened invaders. The colonial governments formally aligned themselves with the invaders. The response to this was a declaration of war against Kawan and Nusantara by the allied powers. The Triad of Nations had approached both nations about joining the alliance, to which both agreed, and would be supplied materiel mainly from Ruthenia as it had access to the Pacific Ocean. Allied military personnel in Sagaria and Antalanga mobilized shortly after the invasions as they feared that they would be future targets. Their fears were confirmed on April 27, 1927 when Nusantaran bombers, supplied from Ruthenia, struck Scotatrovian airfields in Antalanga. Almost half of Scotatrovian air strength in the colony was destroyed. Further attacks in the following days led to the destruction of several naval yards and almost virtually annihilated Scotatrovian airpower. With little remaining air protection, the remaining surface vessels in Antalanga, especially the larger ships, were sent to Inoshi or Tiong Hoa. With their position also equally untenable, the remaining Scotatrovian bombers flew to Tiong Hoa in mid-May. The Kawanians responded by launching an offensive of their own into Sagaria in the middle of May across the densely forested frontier. Although several units of the Sagarian Third Army had to fight their way out of encirclement, by early June they had concentrated around Panghkam. The Kawanian attacks against Panghkam failed, while fresh Allied formations drove the Kawanians from the positions they had captured. As Nusantara had feared, Kawan's supply arrangements could not maintain its forces.

Back in Europe, the war in Urmenia and Pralea officially ended in September as both nations signed treaties with the Triad that would effectively have them join as members. Within the following week, the bulk of these forces were poured into the front with Bering and Gorica. Aelvenia started preparation for an invasion of the Balkans to assist Osphen and Ruthenia, to prevent the Allies from gaining a foothold there. It's attention was then turned to the neutral nations of Fordwic and Estland, who were supplying the allies with oil and iron ore. Aelvenian warships began to sink Fordwin and Estlandic ships, merchant and commercial alike. They would also invade Fordwic first, capturing the capital Storhan within a matter of days. The following day, Fordwic capitulated as Aelvenian forces made their way eastward into Estland, who surrendered to the Aelvenians on October 12, 1927. Using the newly captured ports, the Aelvenian Navy enjoyed success against an over-extended Ergonian Navy, sinking their ships in the North Sea. With the ever expanding success of the Triad, Amaurita, who had remained neutral throughout the war, had begun to supply support to the Allied war effort. Other American nations followed suit, such as Hocain, Atzlana and Maragua.

1928-29

In March 1928, Scotatrovian forces began counter-offensives against Aelvenian forces in Lotheria. The offensive was highly successful; by early April 1928, Aelvenia had lost control of western Lotheria, and large numbers of Aelvenian troops had been taken prisoner. The Aelvenian Navy also suffered significant defeats, with the Ergonian Navy putting three Aelvenian battleships out of commission by means of a carrier attack and neutralising several more warships at the Battle of Veldeken. An Aelvenian offensive that aimed to cross into Ithra began the Battle of Malandrone. In late May of 1928, Aelvenian forces outnumbered the Ithrans three-to-one but failed to penetrate the strong Ithran defensive lines in the highlands of Malandrone. Because the Ithran forces occupied higher ground, Aelvenians conducted difficult offensives while climbing. The Aelvenian forces therefore failed to drive much beyond the river, and the battle ended in June 1928. In the Balkans, the Osphenian incursion into Gorica was nearly complete, with Bering quickly finding itself becoming exhasuted against the ongoing Osphenian war machine. Aelvenia would supply Osphen with several divisions in order to cripple Bering to bring a quicker end to the war. Ithran troops would find themselves again fighting the Aelvenians, but this time they would be fighting alongside the Berci troops. Ithran assistance would help provide Bering with the support it needed to further focus on the advancing Osphenians. While the Ruthenian invasion of Izmedu saw much of the eastern half of the country fall in the beginning of the war, both sides had entered a stalemate in the central portion of the nation as the Izmeduan troops had mainly repelled further Ruthenian incursions. Looking to gain a foothold, the Ruthenian army threatened neutral Vistula with invasion unless it allowed Ruthenian troops access to its bases. Vaeltunsk, a close ally to Vistula and fellow neutral nation, advised Ruthenia against such actions. In July 1928, Ruthenia moved significant military contigents into Vistula and declaring war on Vaeltunsk, launching an invasion into the country on July 22.

During September 1928, officials from Scotatrova, Ergonia, Ithra and Bering debated on the appropriate grand strategy to pursue as the war continued. All agreed that defeating the Osphenians was the primary objective. The Scotatrovians favored a straightforward, large-scale attack on Osphen. The Ithrans were also demanding a second front. The Ergonians, on the other hand, argued that military operations should target peripheral areas to wear out Osphenian strength, leading to increasing demoralisation, and bolster resistance forces. Offensives against Ruthenia, Aelvenia, Kawan and Nusantara would then be launched primarily by Allied armor without using large-scale armies. Eventually, the Ergonians persuaded the Scotatrovians that they should instead focus on driving Kawan and Nusantara out of the war first. Despite considerable losses, Aelvenia stopped a major Scotatrovian offensive in central Lotheria, keeping most territorial gains they made at the beginning of the war. In November, the Vaels defeated Ruthenian offensives and launched their main offensive while maintaining positions on the northern and central areas. In the Balkans, Osphen had taken tremendous losses; Osphenian troops at Svitlica had been defeated and the front-line had been pushed back beyond its position that it had just months before. In mid-December, after the Osphenian push had tapered off, the Berci and Ithrans launched another attack on Vinska, creating a salient in their front line around the city. Exploiting poor Aelvenian naval command decisions, the Ergonian and Scotatrovian navies ravaged Aelvenian shipping in the North Sea.

1929

By the end of 1928, despite stubborn resistance by Antalangan and Scotatrovian forces, the colony of Antalanga was eventually captured, forcing its government into exile. Kawanian forces also made extensive headway into eastern Sagaria, capturing much of the region. These easy victories over the unprepared European opponents left Kawan and Nusantara overconfident, as well as overextended. At the same time, Scotatrova and Ergonia, supported by the Ergonian realms of Hocain, Sutherland and New Hasey, began major ground, sea and air operations. Based primarily out of Sutherland, the Scotatrovians were able to regain control of their colony of Sirawak within a matter of days as the Nusantarans were caught by surprise. The Kawanians began to expect something similar in Antalanga and the Strait Colony, and on January 14, 1929, Ergonian forces, as well as troops from its dominions, launched a counter invasion into eastern Sagaria. Although Nusantara and Kawan were preparing for strategic counter-offensives forced their command to adopt a strategic defence. During the middle of January, the Allies made significant gains into held Triad territory, inflicting immense losses in both personnel and materiel. Sagaria was fully regained by January 21st, and already bombings of the Nusantaran home islands began shortly after. Forces from Sagaria made their way into Kawan and effectively cut them off from the Strait Colony. Encirclements and elimination of several battalions and invasion of their home turf prompted both nations to surrender on January 27, 1929. The end of the southeast Asian front allowed the Allies to put all of their focus and forces back into the European front.

Aelvenia and Osphen spent the early part of the year preparing for large offensives. By April, Ruthenia had already exhausted themselves against the Izmeduan's deeply echeloned and well-constructed defences. Despite numerical superiority, the Vaels were able to successfully rebuff the Ruthenians out of Vistula and prevented any invasion of the country. The Ruthenians tried to stabilise their front along the hastily fortified Izmeduan line, but the Izmeduans managed to break through. This marked the first time throughout the duration of the war that the Izmeduans were able to push into Ruthenia itself. At the same time the western european allies, with the help of Vaeltunsk, launched an invasion into Fordwic and Estland on May 18, 1929. Combined with Aelvenian failures in the North Sea and Lotheria, the invasion resulted in the liberation of both nation on June 2. Berci and Ithran troops by this point had made huge gains against Osphen in the Balkans, now almost closing in on former Tarazedian lands. Osphenian troops were poured all along the front, but as its allies started to fumble, so too did the Osphenian army. On July 12, Izmeduan, Vistulan and Vaelian troops launched a major offensive that expelled Ruthenian forces from Izmeduan territory entirely, thereby ending the longest siege of the war. Unable to continue with the war effort, Ruthenia capitulated on July 17th, 1929. On July 26, the western allies invaded mainland Aelvenia after successfully liberating the whole of Lotheria just 4 days before. Scotatrovian troops as well as Ithran reinforcements made their way into western Aelvenia while the Ergonians along with the help of their dominions launched a naval invasion along the northern coast. The same Izmeduan, Vistulan and Valenian troops that repelled the Ruthenians participated as well, moving into Aelvenia from the east. After 10 days of allied troops sweeping across Aelvenia from all sides, the government formally surrendered to the Allies on August 5. This left Osphen as the sole member of the Triad left, and now the full force of the allies was turned toward them. By the end of September, the Osphenians were pushed out of mainland Europe after a series of several successful offensives. This left the Allies right on the doorstep of the Osphenian capital of Coralios, but even then the Osphenians refused to surrender. October 18th saw a full scale naval invasion of Osphen commence, with Scotatrovian, Ergonia and Ithran troops landing all along Osphen's Mediterranean coast. Berci and liberated Tarazedian paratroopers led a combined assault on the capital, and saw fighting on the streets of Coralios. On October 24, 1929, Osphen surrendered, with the documents signed in Agon, Scotatrova, officially ending the war.

Aftermath

The immediate end results of the war included the complete restoration of the Tarazedian nation, as well as other nations that had been conquered during the war such as Lotheria. However, during the following years Ostroda could no longer function on their own due to the severe ruin that the war caused, and so decided to be integrated into Izmedu. Cessions were also made by Ruthenia and Osphen to nations like Izmedu, Bering and Tarazed as a form of compensation for the destruction caused during the war. In an effort to maintain world peace, the Allies, along with several neutral nations around the world, formed the Council of Nations on November 12, 1929. The global economy suffered heavily from the war, although participating nations were affected differently. European economic stagnation and delayed European recovery was present for several years. Several major powers drew up an economic framework for the post-war world. This would lead to the creation of the World Economic Forum. Recovery began with the liberalisation of European economic policy, and saw the Scotatrovian economy boom. The Ithran and Ergonian economies also managed to rebound, but Bering was in a state of economic ruin and continued to be so for decades. Aelvenia, despite enormous human and material losses, also experienced rapid increase in production in the immediate post-war era. Osphen recovered much later. Ruthenia returned to its pre-war industrial production by 1941. The devastated great powers of Western Europe formed the European Federation. This effort primarily began as an attempt to avoid another war by economic cooperation and integration, and a common market for important natural resources. The end of the war opened the way for decolonization from the great powers. Independence was granted to nations such as Sagaria (from Greater Ergonia) and Antalanga and Sirawak (from Scotatrova) from specific mandates or simple relinquishment.