Crimson Revolution (Hytekojuznia)

Crimson Revolution
Part of the rise of socialism in Gaia
A vehicle containing socialists travelling down the streets of Krasno
Date 17 August 1916 – 5 April 1917 Location Kingdom of Hytekojuznia Result Red Partisans victory: Exile of Johannes II End of the Kingdom of Hytekojuznia Establishment of the People's State of Hytekojuznia Beginning of the Great Game
Belligerents
Kingdom of Hytekojuznia	Red Partisans
Commanders and leaders
Johannes II Johannes Klepper † Max Holzer Jens Katzmann † Sven Gesner Ferdinand Hassel † Erwin Heinecke Tom Hänel	Artjoms Viliks Roms Talbergs Visvaldis Steins Ildars Karlsons Remo Freimanis Haldors Zvejnieks Teovils Blaus Avo Ozers
Strength
1,005,000 (peak) 762,200 (1917)	1,354,300 (peak) 1,010,280 (1917)
Casualties and losses
93,383 killed or missing 74,473 taken as POWs	40,292 killed or missing

The Crimson Revolution (Hytek: Sārtināt revolūcija) was period of social upheaval and armed resistance carried out by the Red Partisans, a socialist paramilitary group created by Artjoms Viliks and other influential Hytekojuznik socialists, against the Kingdom of Hytekojuznia, led at the time by Johannes II, and the social neglect given to the poverty-stricken population of Hytekojuznia after the conclusion of the Continental War. The revolution was one of the largest of its time, involving around two million personnel at its peak, and swiftly shifted the geopolitical order of Erdara, which had been briefly dominated by the Dreibund of Krumlau and Mascylla after the Treaty of Lehpold in 1915.

Hytekojuznia's involvement in the Continental War was arduous, and the country saw much of its young populace sent to fight the war on two fronts. With many casualties suffered throughout the war, coupled with the recent Mascyllary invention of armoured vehicles, Hytekojuznia quickly capitulated in the wake of joint Mascyllary-Krumlavian advances, surrendering in 1915. Losing almost all of its material gains of the late 19th century, Hytekojuznia was relegated in its power behind the two emerging powers. Due to rising post-war Hytekojuznik–Mascyllary enmity, the largely Hesurian-speaking upper class of Hytekojuznia, including its monarchy, began to be shunned by the general public. Growing discontent among the working class of the country's rule, with wealth still being hoarded by its expansive upper-class, as well as worsening conditions in many of Hytekojuznia's largest cities, including Krasno and Višnevas, saw small armed uprisings and assassination attempts throughout 1916. Viliks' Red Partisans capitalised on the growing resistance movement and formed the Red Partisans in May 1916, with Viliks declaring himself as Grand Partisan of the Provisional Hytekojuznik People's Government on August 17, 1916, declaring open rebellion against the kingdom.

The revolution was notably brutal and saw intense urban conflict in some of Hytekojuznia's most-densely populated urban zones, with Pekrasta in particular being a hotbed for conflict. Mass executions by forces loyal to the King, as well as crackdowns on socialist activity through monarchist-controlled territory, saw more people defect to Viliks' growing cause. Eventually the manpower of the Partisans outlasted the monarchist forces, with Johannes II being exiled in February 1917. Socialist forces closed down and encircled the forces on the northern coast, eventually forcing their surrender in April 1917. The People's State of Hytekojuznia was declared on April 5, with Viliks as the inaugural Chairman of the Communist Party of Hytekia.