Lemovician War: Difference between revisions

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{{Region icon Kylaris}}
{{Region icon Kylaris}}
{{Infobox military conflict
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict    = Lemovician Civil War
| conflict    = Lemovician War
| width      =  
| width      =  
| partof      =  
| partof      =  
| image      = [[File:LemovWarMap.gif|250px]]
| image      = [[File:LemovWarMap.gif|250px]]
| caption    = Animated map of the Lemovician Civil War<br>{{colorbox|#007846}} [[Lemovicia|Lemovician government]]<br>{{colorbox|#C24650}} [[Miersan Entity|Miersan separatists]] (until 1985)/[[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Opposition]]-separatist coalition (from 1985)<br>{{colorbox|#6699CC}} [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Opposition]] forces (until 1985)
| caption    = Animated map of the Lemovician War<br>{{colorbox|#007846}} [[Lemovicia|Lemovician separatists]]<br>{{colorbox|#C24650}} [[West Miersa|West Miersan forces]]
| date        = 5<sup>th</sup> March, 1980 - 22<sup>nd</sup> June, 1992<br>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=3|day1=5|year1=1980|month2=6|day2=22|year2=1992}})
| date        = 21<sup>st</sup> November, 1979 - 22<sup>nd</sup> June, 1992<br>({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=3|day1=5|year1=1979|month2=11|day2=21|year2=1992}})
| place      = {{flag|Lemovicia}}
| place      = {{flag|Lemovicia}}<br>{{flag|West Miersa}}
| coordinates =  
| coordinates =  
| map_type    =  
| map_type    =  
Line 19: Line 19:
| territory  =
| territory  =
| result      = {{wp|Military stalemate}}
| result      = {{wp|Military stalemate}}
*[[Alikianos Accords]]
*[[Arciluco Agreement]]
*Establishment of a [[Constitution of Lemovicia, 1992|new constitution]]
*[[Lemovicia|Lemovician]] control of eastern [[Malomiersa]] and the [[Slirnian Autonomous Region]]
| combatants_header =  
| combatants_header =  
| combatant1  = '''until 1985''':<br>[[File:LemovOldFlag.png|22px]] [[Lemovicia|State of Lemovicia]]<br>'''Supported by:'''<br>TBD
| combatant1  = {{flag|Lemovicia}}<br>'''Supported by:'''<br>{{flag|East Miersa}}<br>TBD
| combatant2  = '''until 1985''':<br>[[File:LemovEntFlag.png|22px]] [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Lemovician opposition]]<br>'''Supported by:'''<br>TBD
| combatant2 = {{flag|West Miersa}}<br>{{flagicon|West Miersa}} [[Episemialist Church|Episemialist militias]] '''Supported by:'''<br>{{flag|Soravia}}
| combatant3 = '''until 1985''':<br>[[File:MiersEntity.png|22px]] [[Miersan Entity|Miersan separatists]]<br>'''Supported by:'''<br>TBD
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Lemovicia}} '''[[Ociote Sasiambarena]]'''<br>{{flagicon|Lemovicia}} '''[[Nikola Lezana]]''' {{KIA}}<br>{{flagicon|Lemovicia}} [[Suban Urtizverea]]<br>{{flagicon|Lemovicia}} [[Kintiliano Areiti]]
| combatant1a = '''1985-1992''':<br>[[File:LemovOldFlag.png|22px]] [[Lemovicia|State of Lemovicia]]<br>'''Supported by:'''<br>TBD
| commander2  = {{flagicon|West Miersa}} '''[[Tadeusz Wojdyla]]'''<br>{{nowrap|{{flagicon|West Miersa}} '''[[Maksymilian Trzeciak]]'''}}<br>{{flagicon|West Miersa}} [[Bartosz Zborowski]]<br>{{flagicon|West Miersa}} [[Marin Oldakowski]]
| combatant2a = '''1985-1992''':<br>[[File:LemovEntFlag.png|22px]] [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Lemovician opposition]]<br>[[File:MiersEntity.png|22px]] [[Miersan Entity|Miersan separatists]]<br>'''Supported by:'''<br>TBD
| strength1  = {{flag|Lemovicia}} 130,298
| commander1  = [[File:LemovOldFlag.png|22px]] '''[[Saroi Garnica]]'''<br>[[File:LemovOldFlag.png|22px]] [[Sahats Tolayogoicoa]]<br>[[File:LemovOldFlag.png|22px]] [[Kintiliano Arreiti]]<br>[[File:LemovOldFlag.png|22px]] [[Luki Lopeola]]
| strength2  = {{flag|West Miersa}} TBD
| commander2  = [[File:LemovEntFlag.png|22px]] '''[[Otxote Sasiambarrena]]'''<br>[[File:LemovEntFlag.png|22px]] [[Gizon Artalolea]]<br>[[File:LemovEntFlag.png|22px]] [[Xuban Urtizverea]] {{KIA}}<br>[[File:LemovEntFlag.png|22px]] [[Seniko Urdiaga]]
| casualties1 = '''Lemovician'''<br>30,521 killed<br>38,696 wounded <br>14,696 missing and captured
| commander3  = [[File:MiersEntity.png|22px]] '''[[Izydor Domzalski]]'''<br>[[File:MiersEntity.png|22px]] [[Jan Swiech]]<br>[[File:MiersEntity.png|22px]] [[Marin Oldakowski]]<br>[[File:MiersEntity.png|22px]] [[Bartosz Zborowski]]
| casualties2 = '''West Miersan'''<br>15,359 killed<br>41,506 wounded <br>18,921 missing and captured
| strength1  = [[File:LemovOldFlag.png|22px]] [[Lemovicia|State of Lemovicia]] 130,298
| strength2  = [[File:LemovEntFlag.png|22px]] [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Lemovician opposition]] 65,149
| strength3 = [[File:MiersEntity.png|22px]] [[Miersan Entity|Miersan separatists]] 97,725
| casualties1 = '''Lemovicia'''<br>30,521 killed<br>38,696 wounded <br>14,696 missing and captured
| casualties2 = '''Opposition'''<br>32,157 killed<br>18,668 wounded<br>12,488 missing and captured
| casualties3 = '''Miersans''' <br>15,359 killed<br>41,506 wounded <br>18,921 missing and captured
| notes      = <div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">{{circa|300,000}} civilians killed<br>2,171,631 internally displaced persons and refugees</div class>
| notes      = <div class="center" style="width: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;">{{circa|300,000}} civilians killed<br>2,171,631 internally displaced persons and refugees</div class>
| campaignbox =  
| campaignbox =  
}}
}}
The '''Lemovician Civil War''' ({{wp|Basque language|Lemovician}}: Менділуреко єндеарен бійна, ''Mendilurreko jendearen bijna'', {{wp|Polish language|Miersan}}: ''Łemowicza wojna domowa'') was a twelve-year long {{wp|civil war}} in [[Lemovicia]], between the Lemovician government, the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|opposition forces]], and the [[Miersan Entity|Miersan separatists]] which lasted from March 1980 until the signing of the [[Alikianos Accords]] in June 1992.
The '''Lemovician War''' ({{wp|Basque language|Lemovician}}: ''Mendiluŕeko bijna'', {{wp|Polish language|Miersan}}: ''Małomierska wojna''), often known as the '''Little War''' ({{wp|Basque language|Lemovician}}: ''Bijna cikija'', {{wp|Polish language|Miersan}}: ''Mała wojna'') was a twelve-year long {{wp|war of independence}} in [[Malomiersa]] (including present-day [[Lemovicia]]) and [[West Miersa]], which lasted from 1979 until 1992.


Its roots can date back to the {{wp|industrialisation}} of Lemovicia, as due to Lemovicia's mineral resources, and its status as part of the [[Narozalic Empire]], {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} migrated from present-day [[West Miersa]], which at that point in time was under Narozalic rule, to Lemovicia, which would, by 1900, lead to them forming a majority in the northern regions of Lemovicia. After the independence of Lemovicia from [[Narozalica]] in 1979, it instituted a [[Constitution of Lemovicia, 1979|constitution]] which formalized Lemovicia as an {{wp|ethnostate}}, only granting full rights to the [[Lemovician people|native Lemovicians]]. Over the following year, under the rule of [[Saroi Garnica]], he instituted discriminatory policies against the Miersan majority.
Its origins can be traced back to the {{wp|industrialisation}} of Malomiersa, as due to its mineral resources, and its status as part of the [[Soravian Empire]], {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} migrated from present-day [[West Miersa]], which at that point in time was under Soravian rule, to Lemovicia, which would, by 1900, lead to them forming a majority in the northern regions of Lemovicia.  


By March 1980, peaceful protests against the regime took place, but after violent repression in the cities of [[Loiola]], [[Topagunea]], [[Włocłamyśl]], [[Zubiharra]], and [[Sechia]], where the [[Sechia Massacre]] took place, leading to the start of the civil war by the end of the month. While it initially started as a three-sided civil war between the government, the opposition, and the separatists, from June 1985 onward, the opposition and separatists formed a coalition to help fight against the Lemovician government. Despite efforts by both sides to end the civil war with military force, it remained a {{wp|stalemate}}, and by 1992, under pressure from the international community, and from the Lemovician population, a peace agreement was signed which ended the war.
This was exacerbated by the decision in the [[Godfredson Plan]] to attach Malomiersa to the [[West Miersa|Miersan Federation]], over the opposition of [[Lemovician people|ethnic Lemovicians]] who formed a plurality of the population at the time. Under West Miersan rule, the government consistently instituted a policy of {{wp|Polonization|Miersanisation}}, which forced Lemovicians to assimilate into the dominant Miersan culture. This led to tensions between the two communities, which were exacerbated by the closure of the coal and iron mines in the 1970s, leading to an upsurge in Lemovician nationalism.
 
With the outbreak of the [[Miersan War]] in 1979, the [[Lemovician Section of the Workers' International]] proclaimed Lemovicia's independence from West Miersa, with the support of [[East Miersa]], thereby beginning the Lemovician War. While initially, the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International quickly took control of all of the voivodeship of Malomiersa, they began to face setbacks due to resistance from Episemialist militias and the [[Miersan National Army]], which was only exacerbated after the [[Treaty of San Alessandro]] ended the Miersan War. Despite efforts from both sides to end the war militarily, by 1992, a {{wp|stalemate}} had developed, forcing both sides to agree to a [[Arciluco Agreement|ceasefire]] in [[Arciluco]].


==Origins==
==Origins==
The roots of the civil war are believed to begin with the {{wp|industrialisation}} of present-day [[Lemovicia]]: due to the substantial {{wp|coal}} and {{wp|iron}} deposits present in the region, migrants, primarily from the [[Miersan Governorate]] of the [[Narozalic Empire]], which at the time, ruled over both present-day [[West Miersa]] and Lemovicia. This allowed substantial migration of {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} to Lemovicia, ultimately forming a substantial majority in the northern regions of present-day Lemovicia by 1900.
The roots of the Lemovician War are believed to begin with the {{wp|industrialisation}} of present-day [[Malomiersa]] and [[Lemovicia]]: due to the substantial {{wp|coal}} and {{wp|iron}} deposits present in the region, migrants, primarily from the [[Miersan Governorate]] of the [[Soravia Empire]], which at the time, ruled over both present-day [[West Miersa]] and Lemovicia. This allowed substantial migration of {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} to Lemovicia, ultimately forming a substantial majority in the northern regions of [[Malomiersa]] by 1900.


Following the implementation of the [[Godfredson Plan]] in 1936 which granted [[Miersa]] independence as [[West Miersa]] and [[East Miersa]], many Lemovicians were embittered by the fact that Miersa was granted independence, while Lemovicia continued to remain under [[Narozalica|Narozalic]] rule. This led to increasing tensions between the Lemovician and Miersan communities, particularly as while there were a small community of {{wp|Rusyns|Narodyns}} residing in Lemovicia, the Miersans were significantly more prominent of Narozalic policies.
Following the implementation of the [[Godfredson Plan]] in 1936 which granted [[Miersa]] independence as [[West Miersa]] and [[East Miersa]], Lemovicia was placed under the control of the [[West Miersa|Miersan Federation]], due to Lemovicia's long association with the [[Soravia|Soravian]] [[Miersan Governate]]. Under West Miersan rule, the region underwent a policy of {{wp|Polonization|Miersanization}}, which had the effect of reducing the number of ethnic Lemovicians from 46% in 1936 to 34% in 1977.


As the Narozalic regime became more authoritarian, particularly under [[Gabriel Tozulyak]] and [[Vilem Gardos]], Lemovicians began clamoring for independence from Narozalica, with [[Saroi Garnica]] creating the [[People's Front for Democracy and Justice (Lemovicia)|People's Front for Democracy and Justice]], and [[Otxote Sasiambarrena]] creating what would become known as the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia]] in the 1970s.
In the 1970s, as {{wp|coal}} and {{wp|iron}} mines closed down in Malomiersa, tensions grew between Lemovicians and Miersans, as they competed for fewer and fewer jobs. This led to Lemovicians reasserting their identity against the Miersan majority, with two major organizations, [[Eztebe Tolaregain]]'s [[Lemovician Cultural Alliance]], and [[Nikola Lezana]]'s [[Lemovician Section of the Workers' International]] become the two main Lemovician organizations. While the former primarily focused on a cultural revival, the latter sought a political solution to the plight of the Lemovician nation.


==Prelude==
==Prelude==
After the independence of [[Lemovicia]] from [[Narozalica]] in November 1979, and brief fighting against the Narozalic forces in the [[Lemovician War of Independence|war of independence]], Lemovicia instituted a [[Constitution of Lemovicia, 1979|constitution]] which formalized Lemovicia as a rightist state under the [[People's Front for Democracy and Justice (Lemovicia)|People's Front for Democracy and Justice]].
From 1977 onward, terrorist attacks became a common feature of life in the region, with the first major one taking place in September of that year, when a bomb planted at a [[West Miersa|West Miersan]] government office in [[Sechia]] injured two people. While this was a {{wp|lone wolf (terrorism)|lone wolf attack}}, in 1978, the [[Aranoak]] was founded, with the express purpose of launching a campaign of terrorism to "cripple northern rule [over Lemovicia]."
 
Under the {{wp|de-facto}} leadership of [[Saroi Garnica]], the government aggressively pursued a policy of {{wp|minority rule}}, denying the {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} and other minorities the right to Lemovician citizenship, with the intention of establishing a state "of the [[Lemovician people|Lemovicians]], for the Lemovicians." In addition, the government was very {{wp|authoritarian}}, with some critics calling Lemovicia a {{wp|totalitarian state}}. These policies quickly led to the alienation of many people in Lemovicia, which was further helped by the fact that both {{wp|de-jure}} leader [[Eztebe Tolaregain]], and Saroi Garnica were incompetent, with their policies leading to many foreign businesses who have not left the country during the war of independence to do so.


As such, [[Izydor Domzalski]] and [[Jan Swiech]] began advocating for an independent Miersan state in northern Lemovicia, as a reaction to the policies by the newly-established Lemovician government that discriminated against Miersans and other minorities, while the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Liberal Democrats]] began advocating for an overthrow of Garnica's government and the establishment of a democratic government.
Between October 1978 and November 1979, Aranoak committed six terrorist attacks, killing 19 people and injuring 55 people. In response, the West Miersan government engaged in extensive crackdowns against Lemovicians, which led to growing opposition to West Miersan rule.


Thus, by February 1980, tensions began to emerge between Lemovicians and Miersans, particularly as state media demonized Domzalski and Swiech for their advocacy of separatism, and accused the Miersans as being a {{wp|fifth column}} within Lemovicia. That month, [[Elections in Lemovicia#1980|elections]] took place, which saw Garnica become the [[Presidency of Lemovicia|President]], allowing him to exercise legal power over the country.
However, shortly after [[East Miersa]] invaded [[West Miersa]], thus starting the [[Miersan War]], the [[Lemovician Section of the Workers' International]], led by [[Ociote Sasiambarena]] and [[Nikolas Lezana]] took it upon themselves to seize control of government buildings in [[Topagunea|Mistózburó]] (present-day [[Topagunea]]) and proclaimed their independence from West Miersa on 21 November, 1979.


==Events==
==Events==
===Protests===
[[File:Wachtende_stakers_van_de_Leninwerf,_Bestanddeelnr_253-8309.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Protests in [[Sechia]], 5 March, 1980]]
On 5 March, 1980, {{wp|non-violent protests}} against the [[Lemovicia|Lemovician government]] broke out at the [[Martyrs' Square (Sechia)|Syndicates' Square]] in [[Sechia]], with [[Otxote Sasiambarrena]] advocating for Garnica to "end his authoritarian rule and resign." While these protests were initially peaceful, the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]] and the [[Lemovician Police Force]] were deployed to Sechia to suppress the protests, and at 17:43, the [[Sechia massacre]] took place, killing 68 protestors, with Sasiambarrena narrowly escaping "sudden death."
In the aftermath of the brutal suppression, {{wp|copycat protests}} sprung up in the following days in the cities of [[Loiola]], [[Topagunea]], [[Włocłamyśl]], and [[Zubiharra]]. Like in Sechia, these protests were brutally suppressed by the police and the army. With peaceful protests seemingly being met with fierce resistance from the Lemovician government, {{wp|riots}} broke out, particularly in Loiola and Włocłamyśl. Over the next several weeks, the Lemovician government lost control of the situation, as their heavy-handed response to the protests only created more protests and resistance against the government.
By 21 March, 1980, Sasiambarrena declared himself President at the Synidcates' Square in Sechia, and with the support of a battalion who defected from the Lemovician Armed Forces, were able to take control of much of the [[Lemovician people|Lemovician]]-inhabited areas of the city. The following day, in Włocłamyśl, [[Izydor Domzalski]] declared the establishment of the [[Miersan Entity|Miersan Republic of Malomiersa]], with the goal of separating the {{wp|Polish people|Miersan}}-majority regions of Lemovicia, and establishing a separate state. Roadblocks began appearing in the northern reaches of the country.
===Early phases===
===Early phases===
[[File:Spopad_za_mejni_prehod_Rožna_Dolina.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Battle of Loiola (1980)|Battle of Loiola]], 1980]]
[[File:Spopad_za_mejni_prehod_Rožna_Dolina.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Battle of Sechia (1981)|Battle of Sechia]], 1981]]
By April 1980, with the civil war well underway, many {{wp|Polish people|Miersan-majority}} settlements throughout northern [[Lemovicia]] declared their loyalty to the [[Miersan Entity|Miersan Republic of Malomiersa]], while in the city of [[Sechia]], the Miersan-majority neighbourhoods declared their loyalty to the Miersan Republic of Malomiersa, while the [[Lemovician people|Lemovician-majority]] neighbourhoods declared loyalty to [[Otxote Sasiambarrena]]'s [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|opposition government]]. As well, some smaller communities throughout the country declared their loyalty to the opposition government.
Upon their proclamation of independence from [[West Miersa]], the nascent [[Lemovicia|Lemovician]] state became aligned with [[East Miersa]], with the [[Lemovician Section of the Workers' International]] establishing a {{wp|paramilitary|paramilitary force}} that would form the nucleus of the modern-day [[Revolutionary Defence Forces (Lemovicia)|Revolutionary Defence Forces]].


On 16 April, 1980, fighting broke out in the city of [[Loiola]], which was the capital of the [[Bidegurutzean Province]]. Although Loiola had a slim Miersan majority in the 1977 census (at 53%), and sought to join the Miersan Republic of Malomiersa, it had a sizable Lemovician minority, making up 42% of the population, with most of them loyal to the regime. During the [[Battle of Loiola (1980)|Battle of Loiola]] between Miersan separatists and Lemovician soldiers, the Lemovician government were able to take control of the city of Loiola from the separatists, and by 6 May, were able to drive them out of the city, with the Miersan inhabitants subject to reprisals.
This proclamation of independence from West Miersa meant that the Lemovician separatists were able to cooperate with the invading East Miersans, but also reduce the likelihood that the region would be a centre of partisan activity against the East Miersan [[People's Protection Forces]]. While initially, the Lemovician separatists only had control over [[Lemovician people|Lemovician-majority]] areas of [[Malomiersa]], their quick advance, aided by the East Miersan forces, by the end of the year, the Lemovician separatists were able to seize control of the entirety of the [[Voivodeships of West Miersa|voivodeship]] of Malomiersa.


At around the same time, Otxote Sasiambarrena attempted to negotiate with Domzalski in order to establish a "united front" to defeat the Lemovician government, with Sasiambarrena pledging "equal citizenship" and official bilingualism in Lemovicia. However, when negotiations failed in June 1980, the [[Battle of Sechia (1980)|Battle of Sechia]] began between the Lemovician opposition forces and the Miersan separatists. The infighting allowed the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]] to make huge gains in the north, and by September 1980, the Lemovician Armed Forces reached Sechia. This forced both the Lemovician opposition and the Miersans to fight side-by-side to repel the Lemovician Armed Forces, successfully doing so by October. Shortly after, on 15 October, 1980, a {{wp|ceasefire}} was brokered between the opposition and the Miersans, ending the Battle of Sechia.
At this time, Miersan militias began to rise, particularly in the northern regions of the Malomiersan voivodeship, which had a significant {{wp|Polish people|Miersan}} population, which proved to be a problem to the People's Protection Forces. Despite these challenges, the Lemovician separatists were able to institute a [[Constitution of Lemovicia|constitution]] at the Second Party Congress in 1980, which established Lemovicia as a {{wp|socialist state}}, basing themselves off of the [[Kirenia|Kirenian]] and East Miersan models, although they took some influences from the [[Amathian Equalist Republic]] and the [[Slirnia#Socialist Republic of Slirnia, (1936-1980)|Socialist Republic of Slirnia]].


Following the conclusion of the Battle of Sechia, the Lemovician opposition forces became more prominent, especially given that in November 1980, a unit of the Lemovician Armed Forces stationed in [[Zubiharra]], led by Brigadier [[Xuban Urtizverea]], defected and seized control of the city on behalf of the Lemovician opposition, while the Miersan separatists continued to face setbacks, as the Lemovician Armed Forces continued their advance.
Throughout 1980 and into 1981, resistance against Lemovician separatist control over Malomiersa was largely done by local Episemialist militias in the northern regions, which with the help of East Miersan forces, were able to be repulsed. However, in July 1981, the [[Battle of Sechia (1981)|first battle of Sechia]] took place, which saw the Miersan-majority neighbourhoods of the city be freed by local militias, and return to West Miersan rule.


===Active phase===
Despite this setback, the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International was able to maintain control over most of the voivodeship of Malomiersa well into 1982. However, with the signing of the [[Treaty of San Alessandro]] in 1982, which ended the [[Miersan War]] between West Miersa and East Miersa, East Miersan forces withdrew from Lemovicia, leading to the Revolutionary Defence Forces largely fighting on their own.
[[File:Novi_travnik_u_ratu.jpg|250px|thumb|left|[[Zubiharra]] after the [[Battle of Zubiharra]], 1982]]
By the start of 1981, the [[Miersan Entity|Miersan Republic of Malomiersa]] had lost control of much of their claimed territory, with only portions of northern [[Czarnoziem Province|Lurza]], [[Równiny Province|Lautada]], and [[Zelaia Province|Zelaia]] remaining under the control of the separatist forces, with the much of the rest of Lurza, Lautada, and Zelaia under the control of the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Lemovician opposition forces]], who also by that point had control of the northern regions of the [[Bidegurutzean Province]].


Under the command of [[Gizon Artalolea]], the Lemovician opposition decided on an offensive to try and take control of the nation's capital of [[Topagunea]]. Thus, in February 1981, the city of [[Loiola]] faced another [[Battle of Loiola (February 1981)|battle]], which was marked with the Lemovician government being forced to retreat from Loiola. As the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]] began moving down towards the south to fortify Topagunea, Miersan separatists took advantage to begin attacking the opposition forces from the north.
===West Miersan attacks===
[[File:Novi_travnik_u_ratu.jpg|250px|thumb|left|[[Mostar, West Miersa|Mostar]] after the [[Battle of Mostar]], 1983]]
Following the end of the [[Miersan War]] in 1982, while the [[West Miersa|West Miersan]] [[Miersan National Army]] was battered by the war, it was now able to focus on fighting the Lemovician separatists, which due to their small size compared to the West Miersan military, combined with the size of the Episemialist militias, was seen as easy to defeat.


On 10 April, 1981, the [[Battle of Topagunea (1981)|Battle of Topagunea]] began. Over the next seventy-seven days, the Lemovician defenders were able to repel opposition forces, until by 26 June, the opposition forces were forced to withdraw from their positions surrounding Topagunea. Following the end of the offensive, the Lemovician Armed Forces went on the Northern Offensive, with half of their forces directed to "pursue the opposition to the border," and the other half to recapture the opposition-held city of [[Zubiharra]] from [[Xuban Urtizverea]]'s forces, who at that point in time had control of Zubiharra and its surroundings.  
Thus, on 7 January, 1983, the Episemialist militias and the West Miersan military launched an offensive against the northwestern regions of [[Malomiersa]], with the intention of securing West Miersan control over the powiat of [[Czarnoziem, Małomiersa|Czarnoziem]]. This surprise offensive was a success, particularly as many {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}}, who chafed under Lemovician rule, rebelled against the Lemovician separatists, and by the end of January, Czarnoziem had fallen to West Miersan forces. However, the [[Revolutionary Defence Forces (Lemovicia)|Revolutionary Defence Forces]] were able to secure the perimeter around the northwestern front line, which held the Miersans back.


Thus, on 3 July, 1981, General [[Sahats Tolayogoicoa]] reached Zubiharra, commencing the [[Battle of Zubiharra]]. Although the Lemovician state hoped for Zubiharra to fall quickly, the city held out until 7 January, 1982, when after a pre-arranged truce was declared, the Lemovicians committed {{wp|perfidy}}, and secured control of Zubiharra and its surroundings.
As supplies from [[East Miersa]] became less reliable, it became urgent that a supply line be restored: thus, while [[Nikolas Lezana]] sought to have a "quick offensive to the nrothwest" to repel the West Miersans, [[Ociote Sasiambarena]] insisted on an attack to take the [[Środkowa corridor]] in order to have a supply line from [[Checkpoint Gamma]] to the rest of Lemovician-controlled territory without having to rely on supply lines via [[Slirnia]].


Elsewhere on the front, on 15 July, 1981, Loiola faced a [[Battle of Loiola (July 1981)|third battle]], which saw the Loiola return to government control by the end of the month: the northern offensive subsequently spread out, with the intention to "strangle [[Sechia]]" from all outside support. By February 1982, with opposition forces having been weakened by both government and Miersan offensives, the government sought to "smother Sechia," thus starting the [[Battle of Sechia (1982)|second battle of Sechia]] on 14 February, 1982. Although both Miersans and opposition forces fought side by side in the second battle, helping force a retreat by 5 March of that year, as the opposition had lost much of their territory, it was seen as a {{wp|pyrrhic victory}} for the Lemovician opposition.
Thus, in May 1983, the Lemovician separatists abandoned the northwest in favour of an offense to take control of the Środkowa corridor, as well as "as much of [[Zelaja Province]] as possible." While by July, the Środkowa corridor was secured, including the town of [[Heŕibeŕija|Białewłosy]], in [[Mostar, West Miersa|Mostar]], Lemovician defenders began fighting a vicious battle, lasting until October, when the city of Mostar fell to the West Miersans. In November 1983, the city of [[Loiola]] fell to West Miersan forces in the [[Battle of Loiola]].


Following the Battle of Sechia, the Miersan separatists gained the upper hand, as the Lemovician opposition forces became largely confined to Sechia, and government forces had lost control of much of the north. Thus, over the next several months, the Miersans steadily advanced south, and in August 1982, [[Battle of Loiola (1982)|took over Loiola]] from the Lemovician government, while they began the [[Battle of Bailara (1982)|Battle of Bailara]], which lasted until February 1983, when the Lemovician forces were able to secure a {{wp|pyrrhic victory}}, as although they kept control of [[Bailara]], they no longer had the capability to launch assaults against Sechia.
Encouraged by this victory, in January 1984, the West Miersans launched a strike at [[Topagunea|Mistózburó]], thereby starting the [[Battle of Topagunea (1984)|first Battle of Topagunea]]. The battle lasted seventy-seven days, from 18 January to 4 April, during which time the West Miersans were able to secure some of the outlying northern neighbourhoods, but were unable to secure full control of the city centre, where the Lemovician government buildings were situated. The first Battle of Topagunea thus ended in a {{wp|stalemate|military stalemate}} between both forces, which spread across the front-line.
 
In July 1983, the [[Battle of Topagunea (1983)|second Battle of Topagunea]] began, with Miersan forces cutting off the city from Lemovician supply lines. Despite the situation, the Lemovician defenders of Topagunea fought ferociously, and although the Miersans were able to take control of the outer neighbourhoods of the city, a {{wp|stalemate}} developed, especially after the siege was broken in November 1983.


===Stalemate and renewed offensive===
===Stalemate and renewed offensive===
[[File:Croatian_War_1991_Vukovar_street.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Bailara]] after the [[Battle of Bailara (1985)|Battle of Bailara]], 1985]]
[[File:Croatian_War_1991_Vukovar_street.jpg|250px|thumb|right|[[Bailara]] after the [[Battle of Bailara]], 1986]]
With the {{wp|stalemate}} taking hold between the [[Miersan Entity|Miersan Republic of Malomiersa]] and the [[Lemovicia|State of Lemovicia]] in the aftermath of the [[Battle of Topagunea (1983)|second battle of Topagunea]], few large-scale offensives took place, as both sides feared that reducing their numbers in [[Topagunea]] would allow the other side to take control of their positions. Nonetheless, consistent shelling continued to take place throughout 1984, with {{wp|skirmishes}} taking place, as well several minor battles.
Throughout the rest of 1984, a {{wp|stalemate}} hindered the ability of the [[Miersan National Army]] and associated episemialist militias from advancing further into [[Lemovicia|separatist-controlled territory]], while the Lemovician separatists were unable to advance into the northwest beyond sporadic {{wp|hit-and-run attacks}} committed by the [[Aranoak]].


In June 1985, [[Otxote Sasiambarrena]] and [[Izydor Domzalski]] signed an agreement to establish a united front against the State of Lemovicia, and to not fight among each other. This decision enabled the remainder of the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|opposition forces]] to be sent to the front: however, unlike the Miersans, who intended to hold out in their positions near Topagunea, the opposition were to be sent on an offensive against [[Bailara]], with the intention of seizing control of the city, and ideally diverting a good portion of the [[Lemovician Armed Forces|government armed forces]] to Bailara, which would reduce the number of troops stationed in Topagunea.
However, as [[Soravia]] recovered from the [[Sostava War]], it became more able to provide assistance to the West Miersans, which helped increase West Miersan confidence that they may be able to "end the rebellion in [[Malomiersa]] by the end of the decade." By December 1984, this led to the beginning of an aerial bombing campaign against separatist-controlled territory to cripple the Lemovician separatists.


Thus, on 7 July, 1985, the [[Battle of Bailara (1985)|second Battle of Bailara]] began: while Bailara was defended by the government forces, as [[Saroi Garnica]] was unwilling to divert troops away from Topagunea, Bailara fell on 12 July to opposition forces. However, the collaboration between the Lemovician opposition and the Miersans meant many people in Bailara did not welcome the Lemovician opposition as liberators. Nonetheless, as Bailara's fall cut off a large {{wp|pocket (military)|pocket}} of government-controlled territory from the rest of government-controlled territory, it became critical for the Lemovician opposition to seize control the [[Amabizca Salient|Amabizca Pocket]]: thus, from August 1985, the [[Siege of the Amabizca Pocket]] took place, which lasted under the commander of the Amabizca Pocket surrendered in January 1986.
While the bombings damaged infrastructure, it failed to weaken the Lemovician forces: thus, on 7 July, 1985, the [[Battle of Bailara]] began, with a surprise West Miersan attack on [[Bailara]]. While parts of the city were initially overrun, to the point that a {{wp|pocket (military)|pocket}} emerged within the city as the West Miersan forces encircled them, over several months, the West Miersans were gradually pushed back, until by December 1985, the West Miersans were forced to abandon the battle.


However, in February 1986, the Lemovician Armed Forces diverted much of their forces from the southern neighbourhoods of Topagunea, save for the corridor connecting it to the rest of government-held territory, to try and retake Bailara and the Amabizca Salient. On 27 February, 1986, the [[Battle of Bailara (1986)|third Battle of Bailara]] took place, which resulted in a government victory: on 4 March, 1986, the Miersan separatist forces lost control of the Amabizca Salient. At the same time, the [[Battle of Topagunea (1986)|third Battle of Topagunea]] took place, which saw the opposition take control of the southern neighbourhoods, but they were unable to completely cut off the defenders in Topagunea, let alone take over the city centre. Thus, by the end of March, the stalemate resumed in Topagunea between the government and the Miersan separatists.
During the Battle of Bailara, the [[Battle of Topagunea (1985)|second Battle of Topagunea]] took place, which saw much of the southern neighbourhoods in the city of [[Topagunea]] be overrun by West Miersan forces, although Lemovician forces managed to maintain a control of a narrow corridor which allowed for supply lines to be maintained, helping prevent the city from falling to West Miersan forces.


Despite this setback for the opposition, in July 1986, the opposition made substantial inroads into central [[Bidegurutzean Province|Bidegurutzean]], reaching the [[Fradua Stream]] in the Fradua Offensive. However, by September 1986, [[Kintiliano Arreiti]] waged a counter offensive which narrowly cut the Fradua {{wp|Salient}}, and made inroads to recapture villages seized throughout the Fradua Offensive, succeeding in creating two salients. These efforts lasted until the end of 1986, when both sides reached a stalemate once again.
The West Miersans, emboldened by their success in Topagunea, despite not being able to secure control of Bailara, went on the [[Zieljeznica offensive]] in May 1986, which saw West Miersan forces advance southward via the [[Zieljeznica River]], with the intention of cutting off [[Ibaiak Province|Ibaiak]] from the rest of separatist-controlled territory. At the [[Battle of Erdikozubija]] on 7 June, 1986, [[Nikolas Lezana]] was killed in the fighting, making [[Ociote Sasiambarena]] the acting First Secretary of the [[Lemovician Section of the Workers' International]] for the duration of the war. However, despite the death of Lezana, the Battle of Erdikozubija managed to halt the West Miersan advance down the Zieljeznica River, as a salient was created south of the town of [[Erdikozubija]] which made it difficult for West Miersans to resupply their forces in the area.


Throughout 1987 and most of 1988, skirmishes were widespread, but few advances were made by both the government and the opposition-separatist coalition against the other.
At the same time, West Miersan forces began making inroads into Ibaiak Province, with the [[Battle of Hoikoćija (1986)|first Battle of Hoikoćija]] in September 1986 ending with a {{wp|pyrrhic victory}} for the separatists, as they were able to defend the city, and force a stalemate between West Miersan and separatist forces.


===Operation Storm and Operation Michael===
===Fall of Sechia and Operation Zemsta===
[[File:Captured_Serb_cannon_and_truck_in_Siritovci_1.jpg|250px|thumb|left|[[Monoza, Lemovicia|Monoza]] after falling to Lemovician forces, 1988]]
[[File:Captured_Serb_cannon_and_truck_in_Siritovci_1.jpg|250px|thumb|left|[[Monoza, Lemovicia|Monoza]] after falling to Lemovician forces, 1988]]
On 7 June, 1988, the Lemovician government under the command of [[Sahats Tolayogoicoa]] and [[Kintiliano Arreiti]] launched a surprise attack against the village of [[Monoza, Lemovicia|Monoza]], with the intention of retaking control over the province of [[Czarnoziem Province|Lurza]] in what they codenamed [[Operation Storm (Lemovicia)|Operation Storm]]. This caught the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Lemovician opposition]] and the [[Miersan Entity|Miersan Republic of Malomiersa]] off-guard, as they were expecting an attack towards the Fradua Salient, and not an attack out in western [[Lemovicia]].


Due to this, they initially met little resistance: in the settlements conquered, the {{wp|Polish people|Miersan}} inhabitants of the area were rounded up and imprisoned in camps situated in [[Ibaiak Province|Ibaiak]] for {{wp|treason}} against the Lemovician state, while [[Lemovician people|ethnic Lemovicians]] were left alone. This approach slowed down the advance of the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]], which gave ample time for the Miersan separatist forces and Lemovician opposition to move their forces to combat the advancing government troops. Thus, on 28 July, at the village of [[Skończone, Lemovicia|Otermin]] (present-day [[Skończone, Lemovicia|Skończone]]), the [[Battle of Otermin]] took place between the Miersan-opposition troops, and the Lemovician government troops. Over the next week, a bitter battle occurred between the Lemovician government and the coalition, before ultimately resulting in a victory for the Miersan separatists and Lemovician opposition.
With the end of the [[Miersan National Party]]'s rule over [[West Miersa]] in October 1986, there was hope by many that a peaceful solution to the Lemovician War could be achieved. However, newly-elected [[President of West Miersa]] [[Maksymilian Trzeciak]] refused to entertain the notions, saying that "we will ensure that the [[East Miersa|East Miersans]] stick to the [[Treaty of San Alessandro]], and withdraw all their forces [from [[Malomiersa]]]." Thus, for the rest of 1986 and well into 1987, apart from several {{wp|skirmishes}}, particularly in [[Topagunea]], a {{wp|stalemate}} prevented the advancement of either the separatist forces or the [[Miersan National Army]].
 
At the same time, the situation in the Lemovician enclaves in [[Sechia]] became more untenable, particularly as supplies between separatist-controlled neighbourhoods and the rest of separatist-controlled territory became harder to come by. Thus, on 4 May, 1987, the [[Battle of Sechia (1987)|second Battle of Sechia]] began when West Miersan forces cut off all supply routes into the Lemovician-controlled neighbourhoods with the intention of besieging the city. Over the next several months, despite fierce resistance from the defenders in the eastern neighbourhoods, the blockade led to the weakening of Lemovician forces in Sechia, until by 10 November, the Lemovician defenders surrendered Sechia, thereby losing all control over the city.


While various salients were formed as a result of Operation Storm (three Lemovician salients and two separatist-opposition salients), and the separatists and opposition did lose ground, the Battle of Otermin stopped the advance of government troops, although the separatists and opposition failed on 31 August to retake control of the Monoza salient. This led to a second {{wp|stalemate}} between the government, the opposition, and the separatists, particularly as both sides entrenched their position along the western section of the front line.
Emboldened with this success, in February 1988, the Miersan National Army launched a full-on assault on [[Ibaiak Province]] in what was deemed [[Operation Zemsta]]. Despite several challenges, the Lemovician forces faced a devastating setback in March 1988 at the [[Battle of Hoikoćija (1988)|second Battle of Hoikoćija]], which saw the Lemovician separatists be routed by the Miersan National Army, and the fall of [[Hoikoćija]] to the West Miersan forces. By July 1988, the West Miersans had taken control of the western [[Malomiersa|Malomiersan]] border with TBD. By September 1988, after the [[Battle of Skończone]] in the village of [[Skończone, West Miersa|Skończone]] on the [[Harizmendi River]], the entirety of Ibaiak Province had fallen under West Miersan control, with the Upper Harizmendi Valley secured.


In an attempt to break the stalemate, on 21 November, 1988, the Lemovician government launched [[Operation Michael (Lemovicia)|Operation Michael]], with an attack on the city of [[Loiola]], resulting in the [[Battle of Loiola (1988)|fifth Battle of Loiola]], as they believed that by securing control of Loiola and its surroundings, they would be able to cut off the opposition and separatists from their positions around Topagunea, and thus make it less likely that they could besiege [[Topagunea]]. During the battle, the opposition/separatist defenders cut off the salient that the Lemovician government was relying on to support their troops in Operation Michael, which cut their supply lines. This meant that the Lemovician Armed Forces were forced to attempt to restore the supply lines, which allowed the defenders of Loiola to maintain control of the city. On 9 January, 1989, the Battle of Loiola ended with a victory for the opposition/separatist coalition, although on 11 January, 1989, the opposition/separatists lost the [[Battle of the Loiola Salient]] which allowed the Lemovician Armed Forces to exit the salient.
Following the fall of Hoikoćija, the West Miersan forces attempted to launch a second offensive to cut the [[Środkowa corridor]], as well as another offensive against [[Topagunea]]. While the Miersans made initial gains in the reconquest of the Środkowa corridor, at one point retaking control of most of the [[Środkowa, West Miersa|powiat of Środkowa]], at the [[Battle of Heŕibeŕija (1988)|second battle of Heŕibeŕija]] in June 1988, the Lemovicians were able to repulse the West Miersan forces, causing them to retreat from the area.


Thus, the stalemate returned, as both sides were hesitant to advance, as they feared that it would give an opening for the other side to advance. Thus, throughout the rest of the year, and into 1990, while skirmishes continued, neither government nor opposition-separatist forces were able to make an advance against the other side.
At the same time, the [[Battle of Topagunea (1988)|third Battle of Topagunea]] took place, which initially proved to be successful for the West Miersan forces, as they managed to cut off the supply lines leading into the city, causing Topagunea to become a {{wp|pocket (military)|pocket}} and undergo a siege. However, by October 1988, after the [[Revolutionary Defence Forces (Lemovicia)|Revolutionary Defence Forces]] managed to restore the corridor, the battle ended with a slight loss, as the corridor was wider than it had been prior to the third battle.


===Final phases===
===Final phases===
[[File:Vista_aérea_de_Lipik.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Ruins of the village of [[Artzain, Lemovicia|Artzain]], 1991]]
[[File:Vista_aérea_de_Lipik.jpg|250px|thumb|right|Ruins of the village of [[Spichlerz, West Miersa|Spichlerz]], 1991]]
On 21 July, 1990, under the command of [[Marin Oldakowski]], the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|opposition]]-[[Miersan Entity|separatist]] forces launched an assault in the east in order to cut off the upper reaches of the [[Baitxi Valley]] from the rest of government-controlled territory, with the intention of "starving the supporters of the regime out." After succeeding in the [[Battle of the Baitxi Pass (1990)|Battle of the Baitxi Pass]] on 26 July, 1990, against the defenders, they began besieging the Upper Baitxi Valley. At the same time, another force attacked the middle parts of the Baitxi Valley, with the intention of securing control over the northern bank of the [[Baitxi Stream]], securing control of the north bank by 13 August, 1990, and expelling the [[Lemovician people|Lemovician]] inhabitants of the north bank of the middle Baitxi Valley.
 
The intention of the assault was to divert the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]] away from [[Topagunea]] and the western front, so to give an opening to the Miersan Republic to make further inroads into Lemovicia, with the Lemovician Armed Forces reducing the number of troops stationed in the western front to redeploy them east, with the intention of freeing the entirety of the Baitxi Valley.


Thus, on 6 September, 1990, the Miersan forces in the area, led by [[Bartosz Zborowski]], launched an attack against the village of [[Monoza, Lemovicia|Monoza]]: this was seen as a moral victory, and as had been done in the north bank of the middle Baitxi Valley, ethnic Lemovicians were expelled from Monoza, leaving it a {{wp|ghost town}}. However, on 2 November, 1990, Monoza was again lost to government forces.
These two defeats of the [[Miersan National Army]] by the [[Revolutionary Defence Forces (Lemovicia)|Revolutionary Defence Forces]] halted [[Operation Zemsta]], and led to a {{wp|stalemate}} between the two sides. While the Lemovician separatists lost control of [[Ibaiak Province]], resistance remained strong into 1989, with [[Aranoak]] engaging in {{wp|hit-and-run attacks}} against West Miersan forces.


On 18 September, 1990, the Lemovician Armed Forces fought a [[Battle of Artzain (September 1990)|battle]] against the Miersan-opposition forces in [[Artzain, Lemovicia|Artzain]], as Artzain was situated on the northern bank of the Baitxi Stream in the middle Baitxi Valley, resulting in a victory for the Lemovician government. There, the {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} residing in Artzain were sent to camps located in southern [[Ibaiak Province|Ibaiak]]. While the Lemovician government briefly retook control of the north bank of the middle Baitxi Valley, on 22 October, 1990, Artzain faced a [[Battle of Artzain (October 1990)|second battle]] which saw the Lemovician opposition retake control of Artzain.
However, aside from several {{wp|skirmishes}} between the two sides, terrorist attacks by Aranoak against West Miersan targets, and a campaign of aerial bombing by the West Miersans against Lemovician targets, there was relatively little fighting throughout 1989, 1990, and early 1991, as neither side was able to advance against the other.


During the winter, as the Upper Baitxi Valley was completely cut off, the defenders there began to be demoralised, while {{wp|starvation}} set in. By March 1991, the Upper Baitxi Valley was on the verge of collapse, when on 8 March, the [[Battle of the Baitxi Pass (1991)|second battle of the Baitxi Pass]] took place, which saw the opposition-separatist force see a significant defeat, forcing them to retreat, and thus lifting the siege. On 8 April, the government secured another victory, when at the [[Battle of Artzain (1991)|third Battle of Artzain]], they managed to drive out the Lemovician opposition and Miersan separatists from the town, and by the end of the month, had driven opposition forces away from the north bank of the middle Baitxi Valley to where the front lines were prior to July 1990. Throughout the rest of 1991, there was very little advancement of the front lines by either side.
In May 1991, the stalemate was broken when West Miersan forces launched a surprise attack to take "full control of the [[Lautada Province|Równiny powiaty]]." The Równiny offensive caught the Revolutionary Defence Forces off guard, with the West Miersans being able to secure control of the area by June with little opposition, thereby cutting off the main road between [[Topagunea]] and the rest of the lowland provinces. However, on 29 June, the Lemovician separatists launched an offensive to retake the road: on 7 July, the [[Battle of Kocija]] took place in [[Kocija, Lemovicia|Kocija]], which saw Lemovician separatists retake control of the town, and forcing West Miersan forces to abandon the road.  


By this point, there was starting to be substantial {{wp|war-weariness}} among the Lemovician population, with protesters in both [[Sechia]] and [[Topagunea]] calling for the war to end. As well, with the war having all but destroyed the national economy, it became doubtful that either side could keep going for much longer, especially as the government was running low on funds to keep the war effort going, with many historians and economists believing that Lemovicia could only keep fighting until, at the very most, the end of 1992. Thus, by the winter of 1991-2, many combatants on both sides {{wp|desertion|deserted}}, as they were no longer willing to continue fighting. As well, with many international organisations demanding that the war end, pressure was being put on both the Lemovician government, the Lemovician opposition, and the Miersan separatists to end the war.
The Lemovicians advanced further, seeking to retake the province, but were halted in September at the [[Battle of Spichlerz]], where West Miersans were able to maintain control of the town, and crippled the ability of Lemovician forces to advance further. They retreated to a safer position, where in October, at the [[Battle of Osara]], the Lemovicians maintained control of the village of [[Osara, Lemovicia|Osara]], which halted the West Miersan advance.


On 25 March, 1992, all three sides agreed to a {{wp|ceasefire}}, in order to begin negotiations in [[Alikianos]], [[Piraea]].
By the time of the conclusion of the Battle of Osara, and the resulting {{wp|stalemate}}, {{wp|war-weariness}} became prevalent among both the [[Lemovician people|Lemovician]] and {{wp|Polish people|Miersan}} populations, with protests in [[Sechia]], [[Krada]], and [[Topagunea]] calling on the respective governments to negotiate a {{wp|ceasefire}} to end the war. This ultimately forced the West Miersans and Lemovicians to call a {{wp|ceasefire}} on 25 March, 1992, in order to negotiate an end to the conflict in the [[Amathia|Amathian]] city of [[Arciluco]].


===Negotiations===
===Negotiations===
[[File:LemovFront.png|150px|thumb|left|The [[Front line (Lemovicia)|front line]], as it stood at the end of the war]]
[[File:LemovFront.png|150px|thumb|left|The [[Front line (Lemovicia)|front line]], as it stood at the end of the war]]
{{main|Alikianos Accords}}
{{main|Arciluco Agreement}}
 
On 1 April, 1992, the leaders of the [[Lemovicia|State of Lemovicia]], the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Lemovician opposition]], and the [[Miersan Entity|Miersan Republic of Malomiersa]] met in the [[Piraea|Piraean]] city of [[Alikianos]] to negotiate an end to the civil war which plagued [[Lemovicia]] for over twelve years.


Over the coming months, all three sides agreed to establishing a {{wp|federation}} with a weak {{wp|central government}} (albeit with a {{wp|collective leadership|collective presidency}}), comprised of two entities (the [[Lemovician Entity]] and the [[Miersan Entity]], comprising of four provinces each, with [[Bidegurutzean Province|Bidegurutzean]] split into [[South Bidegurutzean Province|South Bidegurutzean]], situated in the Lemovician Entity, and [[Zbieg Province|Zbieg]], situated in the Miersan Entity), with their borders set to be at the [[Front line (Lemovicia)|front line]] as it stood at that point in time. The three sides also agreed that Lemovicia would function under a [[Constitution of Lemovicia, 1992|new democratic constitution]], which would be drafted after the signing of the accords by {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} and [[Lemovician people|Lemovicians]].
On 1 April, 1992, [[President of West Miersa|President]] [[Maksymilian Trzeciak]] met with [[Ociote Sasiambarena]], First Secretary of the [[Lemovician Section of the Workers' International]], in [[Arciluco]] to negotiate an agreement to end the war. From the start, there were doubts as to whether or not any agreement could come out of the conference at Arciluco, and for the first few days, it seemed possible that the talks would collapse, as Sasiambarena was unwilling to accept autonomy under West Miersa, citing the "ethnic displacement" as a result of the conflict, while Trzeciak was unwilling to accept an independent [[Lemovicia]].


As well, the Accords required that all combatant forces be disarmed by the end of 1992, including the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]] as it existed at the time, although it did include a provision to allow the establishment of a "new armed forces" which would be inclusive. Finally, the three sides agreed on having {{wp|official bilingualism}} of {{wp|Basque language|Lemovician}} and {{wp|Polish language|Miersan}}, on equal rights for both [[Lemovician people|Lemovicians]] and {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}}, which included mandatory [[Education in Lemovicia|education]] of both official languages, and the recognition of {{wp|minority rights}} to protect minority communities situated within Lemovicia.
However, as months progressed, the details were hammered out, with both sides agreeing to allow a [[Community of Nations|CN]]-based monitoring mission to operate on the [[Front line (Lemovicia)|front line]] as it stood at the time of the preliminary ceasefire, which would help prevent either side from attacking the other and continuing the war. As well, both the Lemovician and West Miersan governments agreed to allow the other side to govern territories controlled at the time of the preliminary ceasefire until a "permanent solution is reached," with the understanding that the agreement would neither "confirm nor reject the sovereignty of Lemovicia." This meant that the agreement was only a {{wp|ceasefire}} which would remain in effect until such time that both sides can agree on a {{wp|peace treaty}} to end the war.


After the treaty was agreed upon, it was signed in Alikianos on 22 June, 1992, thereby ending the Lemovician Civil War after twelve years of fighting.
With both sides agreeing to the document, Maksymilian Trzeciak and Ociote Sasiambarena signed the [[Arciluco Accords]] on 22 June, 1992, ending the Lemovician War.


==Aftermath==
==Aftermath==
[[File:Dobrinja_in_1996.JPEG|250px|thumb|right|Ruins of a [[Topagunea]] neighbourhood, 1994]]
[[File:Dobrinja_in_1996.JPEG|250px|thumb|right|Ruins of a [[Topagunea]] neighbourhood, 1994]]
After the signing of the [[Alikianos Accords]] on 22 June, 1992, which ended the civil war, the [[Constitution of Lemovicia, 1979|1979 constitution]] remained in nominal effect, with a {{wp|caretaker government}} being established comprised of [[Saroi Garnica]], [[Otxote Sasiambarrena]], and [[Izydor Domzalski]]. During this plan, the [[Constitution of Lemovicia, 1992|1992 constitution]] was drafted up, whose intention was to ensure that Lemovicia would become a {{wp|federal state|federal}} {{wp|parliamentary republic}}, while enshrining the basic principles of the Alikianos Accords. On 1 October, 1992, the new constitution was promulgated, and elections were called for 1 November, 1992. In the nation's first free and fair elections, which were held peacefully, the first [[Presidency of Lemovicia|collective leadership]] was elected, as well as the [[National Assembly of Lemovicia|National Assembly]], who proceeded to elect the {{wp|parliamentary leader}} of the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Liberal Democrats]], [[Fabian Duch]], as the first [[Premier of Lemovicia]]. By the end of 1992, all militias were dissolved, including the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]] as had existed under the regime, and all surviving {{wp|prisoners of war}} were released.
After the signing of the [[Arciluco Agreement]] which ended the Lemovician War, the historical region of [[Malomiersa]] was permanently partitioned between the [[West Miersa|West Miersan]] [[Voivodeships of West Miersa|voivodeship]] of [[Malomiersa]], and the {{wp|partially recognised states|partially recognised}} [[Lemovicia|State of Lemovicia]] by the [[Front line (Lemovicia)|front line]], which became a {{wp|demilitarised zone}}.
 
In West Miersan-controlled territory, the West Miersan government invested substantial sums into the reconstruction of the region, partially to encourage defections from Lemovicia to Malomiersa, particularly in [[North Mistózburó, West Miersa|North Mistózburó]], but also to restore [[Sechia]]'s position as the "third city" in western Miersa. By 2002, few signs of the war were present, particularly in Sechia and North Mistózburó, and by 2010, "virtually all of the war damage had been repaired" in West Miersan-controlled territory.


Under Duch's tenure as Premier from 1992 to 2004, he oversaw the reconstruction of Lemovicia, although his rule was marked with controversy, as he cracked down on {{wp|freedom of speech}} and {{wp|freedom of expression}} of {{wp|ethnic nationalism|ethnic nationalists}}. In 1993, he and the Presidency officially apologised for their actions during the civil war. In 1998, he re-established the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]] as an inclusive organisation, whose sole purpose is to maintain peace within the country. At the same time, officials from the former Lemovician government, the governing [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|Liberal Democratic Party]], and the [[Miersan Entity|Miersan separatist government]] who were found to have committed {{wp|war crimes}} and {{wp|crimes against humanity}} were tried at the [[International Criminal Court (Kylaris)|International Criminal Court]] in [[Ashcombe]].
In contrast, Lemovician-controlled territory lagged behind that of Malomiersa, due to its [[International recognition of Lemovicia|lack of widespread international recognition]] by most other countries. This has hindered economic growth in the region, which was exacerbated by Lemovicia needing to resettle refugees in its territory, and with Lemovicia's socialist economic system, which has hindered trade with many capitalist states. While it has a fairly decent quality of life, it has lower standards of living than any of its neighbours. While as of 2006, there were still many signs of the war, in 2018, war damage was "mostly repaired," excluding certain sites which have been preserved as memorials.


Since the 2000s, Lemovicia's economy has become largely {{wp|service sector|service based}}, and standards of living have risen for the average person, with the nominal GDP per capita rising from $319.01 ($581.31 as of 2019) in 1992, to a nominal GDP per capita of $6,477 in 2019. Despite the rise in standards of living, there continues to be some tension between the [[Lemovician people|Lemovicians]] and the {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}}, especially outside of [[Sechia]].
Since the conclusion of Lemovician War, rampant {{wp|xenophobia}} has existed on both sides: in West Miersa, [[Lemovician people|Lemovicians]] routinely report {{wp|discrimination}} by both private businesses and by governmental entities, while in Lemovicia, {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} tend to face societal discrimination, despite efforts by the Lemovician government to crack down on xenophobia against Miersans, with {{wp|Polonophobia|anti-Miersan sentiment}} spiking during times of crisis, as in the aftermath of the shootdown of [[Lemavia Flight 1]] in 2003. In addition, despite some efforts of mediation and negotiation between West Miersa and Lemovicia to agree on a "final peace," most recently in 2011, these efforts have gone nowhere.


==Impact==
==Impact==
===Demographic===
===Demographic===
In the 1977 census, before the [[Lemovicia]] gained its independence from [[Narozalica]], and the start of the Lemoviciaan Civil War, it had a population of 3,257,447 people living within its borders. However, over the course of the Lemovician Civil War, about two-thirds of the Lemovician population were either {{wp|internally displaced persons|internally displaced}}, or else fled the country to neighbouring nations, as a result of {{wp|ethnic cleansing}} by all sides of the war: thus, by the time the war ended, virtually all {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} in Lemovicia lived in the [[Miersan Entity]], while outside of [[Sechia]], which still contains a sizable [[Lemovician people|Lemovician]] community, Lemovicians lived in the [[Lemovician Entity]]. To this day, Lemovicia remains divided ethnically by the [[Front line (Lemovicia)|front line]] as it stood at the end of the civil war in 1992.
In 1977, the population of the voivodeship of [[Malomiersa]] was at 3,257,447 people living within its borders, of which 63% (2,052,191 people) were {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}}, while 34% (1,107,532 people) were [[Lemovician people|Lemovicians]].


As well, it is believed that around 380,000 people were killed over the course of the civil war. Of those, around 300,000 people were civilians, while 78,037 were armed combatants from all three sides. In addition to the dead, 98,870 combatants on all three sides were wounded over the course of the war, and 46,105 were captured, and/or missing.
Over the course of the Lemovician War, about two-thirds of the Malomiersan population were either {{wp|internally displaced persons|internally displaced}} within [[West Miersan]]-controlled or [[Lemovicia|separatist]]-controlled territory, or else fled the country to neighbouring nations, as a result of {{wp|ethnic cleansing}} by both sides of the war. Thus, when the war ended, virtually all Miersans in Malomiersa lived under West Miersan control, while most Lemovicians lived under separatist control. To this day, Lemovicia remains divided ethnically by the [[Front line (Lemovicia)|front line]] as it stood at the end of the war in 1992.
 
As well, it is believed that around 380,000 people were killed over the course of the war. Of those, around 300,000 people were civilians, while 78,037 were armed combatants from all three sides. In addition to the dead, 98,870 combatants on all three sides were wounded over the course of the war, and 46,105 were captured, and/or missing.


===Economic===
===Economic===
At the start of the Lemovician Civil War, Lemovicia was instituting economic policies, while the economic damage from the [[Lemovician War of Independence]] caused many foreign businesses to leave Lemovicia. Combined with the {{wp|far-right politics|far-right ideology}} practiced by the governing [[People's Front for Democracy and Justice (Lemovicia)|People's Front for Democracy and Justice]], and its geographic position in the middle of [[Euclea]], few nations were willing to trade with Lemovicia.
Economically, the Lemovician War devastated the already-faltering [[Malomiersa|Malomiersan]] economy, partially due to the [[Lemovician Section of the Workers' International]] implementing socialist economic policies along the [[Kirenia|Kirenian]] and [[East Miersa|East Miersan]] lines, and partially due to the fighting between [[Lemovicia]] and [[West Miersa]] within Malomiersa.


In 1979, the Lemovician nominal GDP per capita was at $1,570.21 ($5,529.41 adjusted for inflation in 2019), but by the end of the Lemovician Civil War in 1992, the country's nominal GDP per capita was at $319.01 ($581.31 as of 2019). As well, by the time the civil war ended, virtually all of Lemovicia's economic capacity had been destroyed.
In 1979, the nominal GDP per capita of the voivodeship of Malomiersa was at $1,570.21 ($5,529.41 adjusted for inflation in 2019), but by the end of the Lemovician War in 1992, the region's nominal GDP per capita was at $319.01 ($581.31 as of 2019). As well, by the time the Lemovician War ended, virtually all of Lemovicia's economic capacity had been destroyed. Since the end of the Lemovician War, the two sides have diverged: as of 2019, the nominal GDP of the voivodeship was at $5,182, while Lemovicia's nominal GDP was at $2,105. Combined, the area would have a nominal GDP per capita of $3,934.


As well, due to {{wp|hyperinflation}}, the [[Lemovician denar]] was seen as worthless, with the [[West Miersan grosz]] being the preferred currency, particularly in the present-day [[Miersan Entity]]. Thus, in 1993, the Lemovician denar was redenominated, with the exchange rate fixed 1:1 with the [[Weranic reichsmark]], in order to restore confidence in Lemovicia's own currency.
These economic problems, combined with the separatist's dependence on East Miersa, meant that despite Lemovicia adopting the [[Lemovician denar]], the [[East Miersan grosz]] is far more widely used.
 
==Terrorism==
During the Lemovician War, [[Aranoak]] engaged in {{wp|acts of terrorism}}, bombing West Miersan government offices and businesses doing business with the [[West Miersa|West Miersan government]], as well as shooting West Miersan soldiers. As [[Samorspi]] support increased for West Miersa, Aranoak expanded its range to include other Samorspi states, primarily [[Soravia]], but with sporadic attacks in other states. According to the West Miersan government, 617 people were killed in terrorist attacks by Aranoak between 1978 and 1992, with around 2,107 injured by these attacks.
 
[[Lemovicia]] alleges that some of the Episemialist militias who fought against Lemovicia also committed acts of terror against the Lemovician population, most notably in the early 1980s, when [[Saint Hyacinth's Militia]] engaged in bombings against Lemovician-majority settlements "to weaken Lemovician resistance [to West Miersan rule]." However, these activities are disputed, given the militias and West Miersan government argue that they were done in accordance with the laws of war.


==War crimes==
==War crimes==
===Ethnic cleansing===
===Ethnic cleansing===
[[File:Manjača_Camp.jpg|250px|thumb|left|A concentration camp in [[Ibaiak Province|Ibaiak]], {{circa|1988}}]]
[[File:Manjača_Camp.jpg|250px|thumb|left|A concentration camp near [[Mostar]], {{circa|1988}}]]
{{wp|Ethnic cleansing}} was widely practiced during the Lemovician Civil War, primarily by the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]] and the [[Miersan Entity|Miersan separatists]], with the former seeking to expel "all foreigners" who settled in [[Lemovicia]] during [[Miersa|Miersan]] and [[Narozalica|Narozalic]] rule.
{{wp|Ethnic cleansing}} was widely practiced during the Lemovician War, primarily by the [[Miersan National Army]], who sought to expel "the traitorous [[Lemovician people|górale]]" from their lands, but also by the [[Revolutionary Defence Forces (Lemovicia)|Revolutionary Defence Forces]], who sought to expel {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} for their "centuries-long process of colonisation" [of [[Malomiersa]]]."
 
In the case of the Lemovician government, they sought to expel all {{wp|Polish people|Miersans}} from the country, who in 1977 formed the majority of Lemovicia's population, at 55% of the population, as they were seen to be colonisers of the Lemovician nation, who sought to destroy the identity of the [[Lemovician people]]. Thus, over the course of war, "traitors" and their families were interned in {{wp|concentration camps}}, with the intention of deporting all Miersans from Lemovicia to [[West Miersa]] "once the war had concluded." The conditions of the concentration camps were harsh, but still met the "bare minimum" of international standards regarding {{wp|prisoners of war}}.


As the Lemovician government continued their ethnic cleansing, it was decided by [[Bartosz Zborowski]] to "expel every last Lemovician" from "any new Miersan-captured territory" in either late 1987 or early 1988: the policy was implemented with the [[Battle of Otermin]], where after the separatist victory, saw the expulsion of the Lemovician inhabitants from the village of [[Skończone, Lemovicia|Otermin]], and renaming it to [[Skończone, Lemovicia|Skończone]]. From this point on, ethnic Lemovicians in newly-conquered territories by the Miersan Entity were expelled, such as after the [[Battle of the Baitxi Pass (1990)|Battle of the Baitxi Pass]] in 1990.
This led to a network of West Miersan {{wp|concentration camps}} (officially known as detention camps) being opened from 1984 onward to imprison Lemovician men in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, leading to the deaths of between 700 and 3,000 men, while women and children were merely expelled from West Miersa to "separatist-controlled territory," leaving most Lemovician-majority settlements abandoned.


In addition, both sides conducted ethnic cleansing against the [[Savader people|Savaders]], with anti-Savader sentiment being used "as a tool by both sides to expel and destroy their communities" in the country.
Lemovician separatists, in contrast, simply expelled Miersan-majority communities ''en masse'', and prohibited the return of the "colonisers" to their communities. Clergy in the [[Miersan Episemialist Church]] were held in prison, and were either forced to renounce their faith, or else were deported from Lemovicia.


By the conclusion of the war, while there were still sizable Lemovician minorities in the present-day [[Miersan Entity]], few Miersans resided in the [[Lemovician Entity]], with the Miersan population in the Lemovician Entity reaching its nadir in the 1997 census.
These policies had the effect of homogenizing the West Miersan and Lemovician controlled areas of Malomiersa: in 1977, Malomiersa was described as being a "checkerboard of Miersan and Lemovician majority villages" throughout most of its territory, but by 1997, there were only small ethnic enclaves of Lemovicians in Malomiersa and Miersans in [[Lemovicia]].


===Perfidy===
===Perfidy===
{{wp|Perfidy}} was committed during the [[Battle of Zubiharra]], where on 29 December, 1981, both sides agreed to a {{wp|truce}}, so that soldiers on both sides may take a break on {{wp|Christmas Day}} on 7 January, and observe the holiday.  
Perfidy was widely practiced by the Episemialist militias during the Lemovician War, with various incidents being Episemialist militias pretending to surrender to [[Revolutionary Defence Forces (Lemovicia)|Lemovician]] troops before opening fire on them, most notably during the [[Battle of Sechia (1981)|first battle of Sechia]].


While the [[Liberal Democratic Party of Lemovicia|opposition forces]] were willing to follow the terms, the [[Lemovician Armed Forces]] took opportunity of the truce to seize the city and imprison all the opposition soldiers on 7 January, 1982, enabling them to secure control of the city from opposition forces, and end the battle, and the {{wp|siege}} of [[Zubiharra]].
This, in turn, led Lemovician forces to have an unofficial policiy of giving no quarter to members of "any paramilitary force" who surrendered to Lemovician forces.


[[Category:Lemovicia]][[Category:Wars (Kylaris)]]
[[Category:Lemovicia]][[Category:West Miersa]][[Category:Wars (Kylaris)]]

Revision as of 18:01, 12 January 2021

Template:Region icon Kylaris

Lemovician War
LemovWarMap.gif
Animated map of the Lemovician War
  Lemovician separatists
  West Miersan forces
Date21st November, 1979 - 22nd June, 1992
(13 years, 8 months, 2 weeks and 2 days)
Location
Result

Military stalemate

Belligerents
 Lemovicia
Supported by:
 East Miersa
TBD
 West Miersa
West Miersa Episemialist militias Supported by:
 Soravia
Commanders and leaders
Lemovicia Ociote Sasiambarena
Lemovicia Nikola Lezana  
Lemovicia Suban Urtizverea
Lemovicia Kintiliano Areiti
West Miersa Tadeusz Wojdyla
West Miersa Maksymilian Trzeciak
West Miersa Bartosz Zborowski
West Miersa Marin Oldakowski
Strength
 Lemovicia 130,298  West Miersa TBD
Casualties and losses
Lemovician
30,521 killed
38,696 wounded
14,696 missing and captured
West Miersan
15,359 killed
41,506 wounded
18,921 missing and captured
c. 300,000 civilians killed
2,171,631 internally displaced persons and refugees

The Lemovician War (Lemovician: Mendiluŕeko bijna, Miersan: Małomierska wojna), often known as the Little War (Lemovician: Bijna cikija, Miersan: Mała wojna) was a twelve-year long war of independence in Malomiersa (including present-day Lemovicia) and West Miersa, which lasted from 1979 until 1992.

Its origins can be traced back to the industrialisation of Malomiersa, as due to its mineral resources, and its status as part of the Soravian Empire, Miersans migrated from present-day West Miersa, which at that point in time was under Soravian rule, to Lemovicia, which would, by 1900, lead to them forming a majority in the northern regions of Lemovicia.

This was exacerbated by the decision in the Godfredson Plan to attach Malomiersa to the Miersan Federation, over the opposition of ethnic Lemovicians who formed a plurality of the population at the time. Under West Miersan rule, the government consistently instituted a policy of Miersanisation, which forced Lemovicians to assimilate into the dominant Miersan culture. This led to tensions between the two communities, which were exacerbated by the closure of the coal and iron mines in the 1970s, leading to an upsurge in Lemovician nationalism.

With the outbreak of the Miersan War in 1979, the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International proclaimed Lemovicia's independence from West Miersa, with the support of East Miersa, thereby beginning the Lemovician War. While initially, the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International quickly took control of all of the voivodeship of Malomiersa, they began to face setbacks due to resistance from Episemialist militias and the Miersan National Army, which was only exacerbated after the Treaty of San Alessandro ended the Miersan War. Despite efforts from both sides to end the war militarily, by 1992, a stalemate had developed, forcing both sides to agree to a ceasefire in Arciluco.

Origins

The roots of the Lemovician War are believed to begin with the industrialisation of present-day Malomiersa and Lemovicia: due to the substantial coal and iron deposits present in the region, migrants, primarily from the Miersan Governorate of the Soravia Empire, which at the time, ruled over both present-day West Miersa and Lemovicia. This allowed substantial migration of Miersans to Lemovicia, ultimately forming a substantial majority in the northern regions of Malomiersa by 1900.

Following the implementation of the Godfredson Plan in 1936 which granted Miersa independence as West Miersa and East Miersa, Lemovicia was placed under the control of the Miersan Federation, due to Lemovicia's long association with the Soravian Miersan Governate. Under West Miersan rule, the region underwent a policy of Miersanization, which had the effect of reducing the number of ethnic Lemovicians from 46% in 1936 to 34% in 1977.

In the 1970s, as coal and iron mines closed down in Malomiersa, tensions grew between Lemovicians and Miersans, as they competed for fewer and fewer jobs. This led to Lemovicians reasserting their identity against the Miersan majority, with two major organizations, Eztebe Tolaregain's Lemovician Cultural Alliance, and Nikola Lezana's Lemovician Section of the Workers' International become the two main Lemovician organizations. While the former primarily focused on a cultural revival, the latter sought a political solution to the plight of the Lemovician nation.

Prelude

From 1977 onward, terrorist attacks became a common feature of life in the region, with the first major one taking place in September of that year, when a bomb planted at a West Miersan government office in Sechia injured two people. While this was a lone wolf attack, in 1978, the Aranoak was founded, with the express purpose of launching a campaign of terrorism to "cripple northern rule [over Lemovicia]."

Between October 1978 and November 1979, Aranoak committed six terrorist attacks, killing 19 people and injuring 55 people. In response, the West Miersan government engaged in extensive crackdowns against Lemovicians, which led to growing opposition to West Miersan rule.

However, shortly after East Miersa invaded West Miersa, thus starting the Miersan War, the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International, led by Ociote Sasiambarena and Nikolas Lezana took it upon themselves to seize control of government buildings in Mistózburó (present-day Topagunea) and proclaimed their independence from West Miersa on 21 November, 1979.

Events

Early phases

Upon their proclamation of independence from West Miersa, the nascent Lemovician state became aligned with East Miersa, with the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International establishing a paramilitary force that would form the nucleus of the modern-day Revolutionary Defence Forces.

This proclamation of independence from West Miersa meant that the Lemovician separatists were able to cooperate with the invading East Miersans, but also reduce the likelihood that the region would be a centre of partisan activity against the East Miersan People's Protection Forces. While initially, the Lemovician separatists only had control over Lemovician-majority areas of Malomiersa, their quick advance, aided by the East Miersan forces, by the end of the year, the Lemovician separatists were able to seize control of the entirety of the voivodeship of Malomiersa.

At this time, Miersan militias began to rise, particularly in the northern regions of the Malomiersan voivodeship, which had a significant Miersan population, which proved to be a problem to the People's Protection Forces. Despite these challenges, the Lemovician separatists were able to institute a constitution at the Second Party Congress in 1980, which established Lemovicia as a socialist state, basing themselves off of the Kirenian and East Miersan models, although they took some influences from the Amathian Equalist Republic and the Socialist Republic of Slirnia.

Throughout 1980 and into 1981, resistance against Lemovician separatist control over Malomiersa was largely done by local Episemialist militias in the northern regions, which with the help of East Miersan forces, were able to be repulsed. However, in July 1981, the first battle of Sechia took place, which saw the Miersan-majority neighbourhoods of the city be freed by local militias, and return to West Miersan rule.

Despite this setback, the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International was able to maintain control over most of the voivodeship of Malomiersa well into 1982. However, with the signing of the Treaty of San Alessandro in 1982, which ended the Miersan War between West Miersa and East Miersa, East Miersan forces withdrew from Lemovicia, leading to the Revolutionary Defence Forces largely fighting on their own.

West Miersan attacks

Mostar after the Battle of Mostar, 1983

Following the end of the Miersan War in 1982, while the West Miersan Miersan National Army was battered by the war, it was now able to focus on fighting the Lemovician separatists, which due to their small size compared to the West Miersan military, combined with the size of the Episemialist militias, was seen as easy to defeat.

Thus, on 7 January, 1983, the Episemialist militias and the West Miersan military launched an offensive against the northwestern regions of Malomiersa, with the intention of securing West Miersan control over the powiat of Czarnoziem. This surprise offensive was a success, particularly as many Miersans, who chafed under Lemovician rule, rebelled against the Lemovician separatists, and by the end of January, Czarnoziem had fallen to West Miersan forces. However, the Revolutionary Defence Forces were able to secure the perimeter around the northwestern front line, which held the Miersans back.

As supplies from East Miersa became less reliable, it became urgent that a supply line be restored: thus, while Nikolas Lezana sought to have a "quick offensive to the nrothwest" to repel the West Miersans, Ociote Sasiambarena insisted on an attack to take the Środkowa corridor in order to have a supply line from Checkpoint Gamma to the rest of Lemovician-controlled territory without having to rely on supply lines via Slirnia.

Thus, in May 1983, the Lemovician separatists abandoned the northwest in favour of an offense to take control of the Środkowa corridor, as well as "as much of Zelaja Province as possible." While by July, the Środkowa corridor was secured, including the town of Białewłosy, in Mostar, Lemovician defenders began fighting a vicious battle, lasting until October, when the city of Mostar fell to the West Miersans. In November 1983, the city of Loiola fell to West Miersan forces in the Battle of Loiola.

Encouraged by this victory, in January 1984, the West Miersans launched a strike at Mistózburó, thereby starting the first Battle of Topagunea. The battle lasted seventy-seven days, from 18 January to 4 April, during which time the West Miersans were able to secure some of the outlying northern neighbourhoods, but were unable to secure full control of the city centre, where the Lemovician government buildings were situated. The first Battle of Topagunea thus ended in a military stalemate between both forces, which spread across the front-line.

Stalemate and renewed offensive

Bailara after the Battle of Bailara, 1986

Throughout the rest of 1984, a stalemate hindered the ability of the Miersan National Army and associated episemialist militias from advancing further into separatist-controlled territory, while the Lemovician separatists were unable to advance into the northwest beyond sporadic hit-and-run attacks committed by the Aranoak.

However, as Soravia recovered from the Sostava War, it became more able to provide assistance to the West Miersans, which helped increase West Miersan confidence that they may be able to "end the rebellion in Malomiersa by the end of the decade." By December 1984, this led to the beginning of an aerial bombing campaign against separatist-controlled territory to cripple the Lemovician separatists.

While the bombings damaged infrastructure, it failed to weaken the Lemovician forces: thus, on 7 July, 1985, the Battle of Bailara began, with a surprise West Miersan attack on Bailara. While parts of the city were initially overrun, to the point that a pocket emerged within the city as the West Miersan forces encircled them, over several months, the West Miersans were gradually pushed back, until by December 1985, the West Miersans were forced to abandon the battle.

During the Battle of Bailara, the second Battle of Topagunea took place, which saw much of the southern neighbourhoods in the city of Topagunea be overrun by West Miersan forces, although Lemovician forces managed to maintain a control of a narrow corridor which allowed for supply lines to be maintained, helping prevent the city from falling to West Miersan forces.

The West Miersans, emboldened by their success in Topagunea, despite not being able to secure control of Bailara, went on the Zieljeznica offensive in May 1986, which saw West Miersan forces advance southward via the Zieljeznica River, with the intention of cutting off Ibaiak from the rest of separatist-controlled territory. At the Battle of Erdikozubija on 7 June, 1986, Nikolas Lezana was killed in the fighting, making Ociote Sasiambarena the acting First Secretary of the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International for the duration of the war. However, despite the death of Lezana, the Battle of Erdikozubija managed to halt the West Miersan advance down the Zieljeznica River, as a salient was created south of the town of Erdikozubija which made it difficult for West Miersans to resupply their forces in the area.

At the same time, West Miersan forces began making inroads into Ibaiak Province, with the first Battle of Hoikoćija in September 1986 ending with a pyrrhic victory for the separatists, as they were able to defend the city, and force a stalemate between West Miersan and separatist forces.

Fall of Sechia and Operation Zemsta

Monoza after falling to Lemovician forces, 1988

With the end of the Miersan National Party's rule over West Miersa in October 1986, there was hope by many that a peaceful solution to the Lemovician War could be achieved. However, newly-elected President of West Miersa Maksymilian Trzeciak refused to entertain the notions, saying that "we will ensure that the East Miersans stick to the Treaty of San Alessandro, and withdraw all their forces [from Malomiersa]." Thus, for the rest of 1986 and well into 1987, apart from several skirmishes, particularly in Topagunea, a stalemate prevented the advancement of either the separatist forces or the Miersan National Army.

At the same time, the situation in the Lemovician enclaves in Sechia became more untenable, particularly as supplies between separatist-controlled neighbourhoods and the rest of separatist-controlled territory became harder to come by. Thus, on 4 May, 1987, the second Battle of Sechia began when West Miersan forces cut off all supply routes into the Lemovician-controlled neighbourhoods with the intention of besieging the city. Over the next several months, despite fierce resistance from the defenders in the eastern neighbourhoods, the blockade led to the weakening of Lemovician forces in Sechia, until by 10 November, the Lemovician defenders surrendered Sechia, thereby losing all control over the city.

Emboldened with this success, in February 1988, the Miersan National Army launched a full-on assault on Ibaiak Province in what was deemed Operation Zemsta. Despite several challenges, the Lemovician forces faced a devastating setback in March 1988 at the second Battle of Hoikoćija, which saw the Lemovician separatists be routed by the Miersan National Army, and the fall of Hoikoćija to the West Miersan forces. By July 1988, the West Miersans had taken control of the western Malomiersan border with TBD. By September 1988, after the Battle of Skończone in the village of Skończone on the Harizmendi River, the entirety of Ibaiak Province had fallen under West Miersan control, with the Upper Harizmendi Valley secured.

Following the fall of Hoikoćija, the West Miersan forces attempted to launch a second offensive to cut the Środkowa corridor, as well as another offensive against Topagunea. While the Miersans made initial gains in the reconquest of the Środkowa corridor, at one point retaking control of most of the powiat of Środkowa, at the second battle of Heŕibeŕija in June 1988, the Lemovicians were able to repulse the West Miersan forces, causing them to retreat from the area.

At the same time, the third Battle of Topagunea took place, which initially proved to be successful for the West Miersan forces, as they managed to cut off the supply lines leading into the city, causing Topagunea to become a pocket and undergo a siege. However, by October 1988, after the Revolutionary Defence Forces managed to restore the corridor, the battle ended with a slight loss, as the corridor was wider than it had been prior to the third battle.

Final phases

Ruins of the village of Spichlerz, 1991

These two defeats of the Miersan National Army by the Revolutionary Defence Forces halted Operation Zemsta, and led to a stalemate between the two sides. While the Lemovician separatists lost control of Ibaiak Province, resistance remained strong into 1989, with Aranoak engaging in hit-and-run attacks against West Miersan forces.

However, aside from several skirmishes between the two sides, terrorist attacks by Aranoak against West Miersan targets, and a campaign of aerial bombing by the West Miersans against Lemovician targets, there was relatively little fighting throughout 1989, 1990, and early 1991, as neither side was able to advance against the other.

In May 1991, the stalemate was broken when West Miersan forces launched a surprise attack to take "full control of the Równiny powiaty." The Równiny offensive caught the Revolutionary Defence Forces off guard, with the West Miersans being able to secure control of the area by June with little opposition, thereby cutting off the main road between Topagunea and the rest of the lowland provinces. However, on 29 June, the Lemovician separatists launched an offensive to retake the road: on 7 July, the Battle of Kocija took place in Kocija, which saw Lemovician separatists retake control of the town, and forcing West Miersan forces to abandon the road.

The Lemovicians advanced further, seeking to retake the province, but were halted in September at the Battle of Spichlerz, where West Miersans were able to maintain control of the town, and crippled the ability of Lemovician forces to advance further. They retreated to a safer position, where in October, at the Battle of Osara, the Lemovicians maintained control of the village of Osara, which halted the West Miersan advance.

By the time of the conclusion of the Battle of Osara, and the resulting stalemate, war-weariness became prevalent among both the Lemovician and Miersan populations, with protests in Sechia, Krada, and Topagunea calling on the respective governments to negotiate a ceasefire to end the war. This ultimately forced the West Miersans and Lemovicians to call a ceasefire on 25 March, 1992, in order to negotiate an end to the conflict in the Amathian city of Arciluco.

Negotiations

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The front line, as it stood at the end of the war

On 1 April, 1992, President Maksymilian Trzeciak met with Ociote Sasiambarena, First Secretary of the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International, in Arciluco to negotiate an agreement to end the war. From the start, there were doubts as to whether or not any agreement could come out of the conference at Arciluco, and for the first few days, it seemed possible that the talks would collapse, as Sasiambarena was unwilling to accept autonomy under West Miersa, citing the "ethnic displacement" as a result of the conflict, while Trzeciak was unwilling to accept an independent Lemovicia.

However, as months progressed, the details were hammered out, with both sides agreeing to allow a CN-based monitoring mission to operate on the front line as it stood at the time of the preliminary ceasefire, which would help prevent either side from attacking the other and continuing the war. As well, both the Lemovician and West Miersan governments agreed to allow the other side to govern territories controlled at the time of the preliminary ceasefire until a "permanent solution is reached," with the understanding that the agreement would neither "confirm nor reject the sovereignty of Lemovicia." This meant that the agreement was only a ceasefire which would remain in effect until such time that both sides can agree on a peace treaty to end the war.

With both sides agreeing to the document, Maksymilian Trzeciak and Ociote Sasiambarena signed the Arciluco Accords on 22 June, 1992, ending the Lemovician War.

Aftermath

Ruins of a Topagunea neighbourhood, 1994

After the signing of the Arciluco Agreement which ended the Lemovician War, the historical region of Malomiersa was permanently partitioned between the West Miersan voivodeship of Malomiersa, and the partially recognised State of Lemovicia by the front line, which became a demilitarised zone.

In West Miersan-controlled territory, the West Miersan government invested substantial sums into the reconstruction of the region, partially to encourage defections from Lemovicia to Malomiersa, particularly in North Mistózburó, but also to restore Sechia's position as the "third city" in western Miersa. By 2002, few signs of the war were present, particularly in Sechia and North Mistózburó, and by 2010, "virtually all of the war damage had been repaired" in West Miersan-controlled territory.

In contrast, Lemovician-controlled territory lagged behind that of Malomiersa, due to its lack of widespread international recognition by most other countries. This has hindered economic growth in the region, which was exacerbated by Lemovicia needing to resettle refugees in its territory, and with Lemovicia's socialist economic system, which has hindered trade with many capitalist states. While it has a fairly decent quality of life, it has lower standards of living than any of its neighbours. While as of 2006, there were still many signs of the war, in 2018, war damage was "mostly repaired," excluding certain sites which have been preserved as memorials.

Since the conclusion of Lemovician War, rampant xenophobia has existed on both sides: in West Miersa, Lemovicians routinely report discrimination by both private businesses and by governmental entities, while in Lemovicia, Miersans tend to face societal discrimination, despite efforts by the Lemovician government to crack down on xenophobia against Miersans, with anti-Miersan sentiment spiking during times of crisis, as in the aftermath of the shootdown of Lemavia Flight 1 in 2003. In addition, despite some efforts of mediation and negotiation between West Miersa and Lemovicia to agree on a "final peace," most recently in 2011, these efforts have gone nowhere.

Impact

Demographic

In 1977, the population of the voivodeship of Malomiersa was at 3,257,447 people living within its borders, of which 63% (2,052,191 people) were Miersans, while 34% (1,107,532 people) were Lemovicians.

Over the course of the Lemovician War, about two-thirds of the Malomiersan population were either internally displaced within West Miersan-controlled or separatist-controlled territory, or else fled the country to neighbouring nations, as a result of ethnic cleansing by both sides of the war. Thus, when the war ended, virtually all Miersans in Malomiersa lived under West Miersan control, while most Lemovicians lived under separatist control. To this day, Lemovicia remains divided ethnically by the front line as it stood at the end of the war in 1992.

As well, it is believed that around 380,000 people were killed over the course of the war. Of those, around 300,000 people were civilians, while 78,037 were armed combatants from all three sides. In addition to the dead, 98,870 combatants on all three sides were wounded over the course of the war, and 46,105 were captured, and/or missing.

Economic

Economically, the Lemovician War devastated the already-faltering Malomiersan economy, partially due to the Lemovician Section of the Workers' International implementing socialist economic policies along the Kirenian and East Miersan lines, and partially due to the fighting between Lemovicia and West Miersa within Malomiersa.

In 1979, the nominal GDP per capita of the voivodeship of Malomiersa was at $1,570.21 ($5,529.41 adjusted for inflation in 2019), but by the end of the Lemovician War in 1992, the region's nominal GDP per capita was at $319.01 ($581.31 as of 2019). As well, by the time the Lemovician War ended, virtually all of Lemovicia's economic capacity had been destroyed. Since the end of the Lemovician War, the two sides have diverged: as of 2019, the nominal GDP of the voivodeship was at $5,182, while Lemovicia's nominal GDP was at $2,105. Combined, the area would have a nominal GDP per capita of $3,934.

These economic problems, combined with the separatist's dependence on East Miersa, meant that despite Lemovicia adopting the Lemovician denar, the East Miersan grosz is far more widely used.

Terrorism

During the Lemovician War, Aranoak engaged in acts of terrorism, bombing West Miersan government offices and businesses doing business with the West Miersan government, as well as shooting West Miersan soldiers. As Samorspi support increased for West Miersa, Aranoak expanded its range to include other Samorspi states, primarily Soravia, but with sporadic attacks in other states. According to the West Miersan government, 617 people were killed in terrorist attacks by Aranoak between 1978 and 1992, with around 2,107 injured by these attacks.

Lemovicia alleges that some of the Episemialist militias who fought against Lemovicia also committed acts of terror against the Lemovician population, most notably in the early 1980s, when Saint Hyacinth's Militia engaged in bombings against Lemovician-majority settlements "to weaken Lemovician resistance [to West Miersan rule]." However, these activities are disputed, given the militias and West Miersan government argue that they were done in accordance with the laws of war.

War crimes

Ethnic cleansing

A concentration camp near Mostar, c. 1988

Ethnic cleansing was widely practiced during the Lemovician War, primarily by the Miersan National Army, who sought to expel "the traitorous górale" from their lands, but also by the Revolutionary Defence Forces, who sought to expel Miersans for their "centuries-long process of colonisation" [of Malomiersa]."

This led to a network of West Miersan concentration camps (officially known as detention camps) being opened from 1984 onward to imprison Lemovician men in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, leading to the deaths of between 700 and 3,000 men, while women and children were merely expelled from West Miersa to "separatist-controlled territory," leaving most Lemovician-majority settlements abandoned.

Lemovician separatists, in contrast, simply expelled Miersan-majority communities en masse, and prohibited the return of the "colonisers" to their communities. Clergy in the Miersan Episemialist Church were held in prison, and were either forced to renounce their faith, or else were deported from Lemovicia.

These policies had the effect of homogenizing the West Miersan and Lemovician controlled areas of Malomiersa: in 1977, Malomiersa was described as being a "checkerboard of Miersan and Lemovician majority villages" throughout most of its territory, but by 1997, there were only small ethnic enclaves of Lemovicians in Malomiersa and Miersans in Lemovicia.

Perfidy

Perfidy was widely practiced by the Episemialist militias during the Lemovician War, with various incidents being Episemialist militias pretending to surrender to Lemovician troops before opening fire on them, most notably during the first battle of Sechia.

This, in turn, led Lemovician forces to have an unofficial policiy of giving no quarter to members of "any paramilitary force" who surrendered to Lemovician forces.