2022 Blaoria War
| 2022 Blaoria War | |||||
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| Part of Chaesian Cession and Blaorian Troubles | |||||
 Clockwise from the top-left: Drambenburgian troops staging for a counter-insurgency operation in Winterstein; Chancellor Giorg Auster-Brautstadt speaks on the military action; a destroyed apartment complex in Winterstein; a Drambenburgian fighter jet takes off; smoke rises over the town of Churheide; Drambenburgian troops arrive in Blaoria | |||||
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| Belligerents | |||||
 Blaoria | |||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
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| Strength | |||||
 29,000+  500+ |
48,000+ | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
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100+ killed, 300+ injured |
1,000+ killed, 50,000+ injured | ||||
| 400+ civilians killed | |||||
The 2022 Blaoria War, also referred to as the 2022 Drambenburgian occupation of Blaoria, was a military conflict which began on September 2nd, 2022, when Drambenburgian forces crossed the border from Chaesia, which had recently ceded to Drambenburg, into Blaoria after months of tension surrounding contested election results between Prime Minister Alwin Edelstein and pro-Drambenburgian politician Johannes Schnabel. The war ended on October 9th with the formal annexation of Blaoria by Drambenburg, and the ending of major resistance.
On July 18th 2022, the results of the Blaorian general election became mired in delays and irregularities. After four recounts, Edelstein was eventually declared the winner on August 17th, but Schnabel opposed the results. Schnabel, who was considered the legitimate victor by the Chancellor of Drambenburg Giorg Auster-Brautstadt, called on his supporters to deny the election results and protest Edelstein's rule. For weeks, massive demonstrations occupied the capital of Winterstein as opposing sides clashed. Edelstein repeatedly refused to seek exile in neighboring Shoassau and denied intervention from WEDA, believing the violence would subside. On September 2nd, 2022, Chaesia ceded to Drambenburg after a referendum passed with the signing of the Treaty of Den Haag by then-Chaesian leader Till Schultze and Kaiser Peter XXI Wettin. With the cession, Drambenburgian forces staged along the border of Blaoria and the following day were endorsed by Schnabel and other pro-Drambenburgian politicians to enter the country, put down the protests, and restore order.
Within the first week of the initial invasion, major Blaorian resistance had been largely quelled as Drambenburgian forces, aided by the Black Brigade from Kossmil, captured every major city in the country. However, Edelstein was able to ellude capture by Drambenburgian forces and sporadic guerilla fighting persisted well into the September 31st deadline set by Auster-Brautstadt to withdraw troops. On October 9th, Blaoria was formally annexed by Drambenburg as Schnabel became the region's official administrator in a referendum.
The invasion and occupation of Blaoria was met with mixed reactions within Drambenburg, with former-Chancellor Walde Herzog being an outspoken critic of the military operation. The buildup and expectation of invasion in the months prior were widely condemned internationally, specifically from WEDA leaders like Shoassauan Prime Minister William Eurenne and Quetanan President Emília Medeiros. The invasion itself was internationally condemned, with practically every major multinational organization like the Alliance of Nortuan States, Sotoan Basin Union, and the Associative Council of Neutrality criticizing the Drambenburgian government.
Background
At the conclusion of the World War in 1954, the Treaty of Antirault allowed for the creation of several independent breakaway border states from Drambenburg, including Chaesia, Blaoria, Lutharia, Angouburg, and Shoassau.
On July 21st 2022, Giorg Auster-Brautstadt was elected Chancellor of Drambenburg on a campaign of highly nationalistic policy, vowing among other things to reclaim territory lost under the Treaty of Antirault through "diplomatic means". Part of this strategy was openly supporting pro-Drambenburg candidates in neighboring nations. On July 29th, 2022, hotly contested elections in Shoassau, Chaesia, and Blaoria resulted in a significant and foreboding sign for the political alignment of south-central Euronia in all of which the stark contrast of pro-WEDA, pro-Drambenburg, and nationalist candidates clashed in rhetoric. In Shoassau, pro-WEDA Prime Minister Gabriel Leitner lost to strict nationalist William Eurenne (Auster-Brautstadt had endorsed pro-Drambenburgian candidate Mirriam Rillue). In Chaesia, pro-Drambenburgian candidate Till Schultze defeated incumbent President Severin Haugwitz and propelled his New Euronia Party (NEP) into power, giving legitimacy to a referendum proposed to cede Chaesia back to Drambenburg.
In Blaoria, election results were disputed due to many irregularities and recounts. Pro-Drambenburgian candidate Johannes Schnabel, who was endorsed by Giorg Auster-Brautstadt, was trailing slightly behind incumbent Prime Minister Alwin Edelstein. Edelstein, first elected in 2014, was a member of the country's leading Resterbaan Progressive Party (RPP), which were staunchly opposed to Drambenburgian integration. However, Edelstein's opponent Johannes Schnabel of the pro-Drambenburg Behalten, challenged the results, citing inconsistent voter turnout at many sites and a record-low registration. While international observers were not able to cite prominent irregularities, the turnout of the vote appeared to be in low contrast to other years. Schnabel, much like Schultze, advocated for once again joining Drambenburg, and supporters began calling on new-Chancellor Giorg Auster-Brautstadt to use executive power over the "dominions of the Holy Empire to annex Blaoria".
"To call on a foreign power, specifically one with a history of conquest for no goal other than the glories of conquest, to annex us despite public opposition is a dangerous and provocative statement to make," said Prime Minister Edelstein on August 1st. "Every Blaorian must object to Mr. Schnabel's rhetoric and accept the results of today's election, otherwise our democratic process is ruined."
On August 7th, Eurenne welcomed Till Schulze to Staventer and urged him to renegotiate from the cession referendum, but Schultze adamently refused and later instituted the vote to go public. Eurenne, though a critic of WEDA, began to lean into the organization to provide more forces for defensive reassurances, and soon the amount of WEDA troops in Shoassau more than tripled in anticipation for Chaesia's cession to Drambenburg. On August 9th, Auster-Brautstadt toured Chaesia and Blaoria, at the invitation of Schultze and Schnabel but against the objections of Edelstein. Along with the Chancellor, around 190 Drambenburgian military police arrived in Winterstein and patrolled outside voting recount stations, a move which was met with much international scrutiny, and former-Chancellor Walde Herzog condemned it as an unjust interference.
On August 17th, the recounts in Blaoria finalized with Edelstein declared the winner. In the wake of the finalized results, major demonstrations and outbreaks of violence between RPP and Behalten supporters sprang up around the country, mainly in the capital of Winterstein. Schnabel began calling for his supporters to "reject the outcome" and "take the country back". At least 46 people died in the clashes between opposing parties, and hundreds more were injured as Blaorian police and security forces warned against further demonstrations and urged calm in the public. The clashes raised alarm in Shoassau, as the majority of lawmakers on both sides of the spectrum began to speculate that Drambenburg would use these election outcomes to first peacefully annex Chaesia, and then give credibility to an invasion of Blaoria in the name of "restoring democracy".
Eurenne, although holding more conservative and traditionally nationalist values than his predecessor, in an open letter to Chancellor Auster-Brautstadt encouraged the Drambenburgian head of state to "steer away from a use of force to occupy Euronian territories," citing the historic precedent of the World War and the "brutal, violent, and insidious line of conflict that followed." He continued by saying "Euronia, specifically the South-Central Regions, since the World War ended have been a beacon of peace and restoration. I urge the Chancellor to recognize this. Do not throw away the achievements of your nation in the 70 years since on a fantasy of imperialism. Peace, democracy, the pursuit of freedom and the love of country should overcome any ambition of territorial expansion. The needs of your people come before the needs of selfish ambition."
On August 21st, both Shoassau's Eurenne and Zamastan's Atticus Moreau offered Prime Minister Edelstein security assistance from WEDA, to which Edelstein refused. The following day, WEDA Secretary General Damian Levasseur met with Edelstein in Winterstein and personally offered the assistance on behalf of the Olympic Council. Edelstein again refused, later stating publicly that "Blaoria will defend the rights of freedom and political opinions on its own accord. We do not need Drambenburg's military police to fraud our democratic processes, nor WEDA to reinforce our capable abilities." Edelstein's insistance on relying solely on his government's ability to maintain control was at odds with increasing indications of Chancellor Auster-Brautstadt's goal to, in the words of WEDA, conduct a "soft-invasion" of Blaoria, in which the annexation of Chaesia would allow a direct path to topple Edelstein's government and install a puppet administration, likely led by Schnabel.
Meanwhile, President Moreau urged Chancellor Auster-Brautstadt of Drambenburg to step back from rhetoric of expansion, as Chaesia's annexation was seemingly innevitable, and Auster-Brautstadt's tour of Blaoria despite Edelstein's opposition to it marked a significant endorsement of Schnabel. In an address, Moreau stated "we must all respect the political process of Blaoria, and cannot interfere with it in anyway. If Drambenburg commits to a military occupation of Blaoria against the will of its people and in the face of international law, there will be severe consequences."
The same day, Eurenne stated that his beliefs had been changed in a speech to Parliament, saying "Shoassau needs to stick with WEDA, at least for now, as the growing insistence of far-right extremists taking power in our neighboring countries have threatened to derail the integrity of Euronian freedom. The Holy Empire of Drambenburg will not reclaim its territory, Shoassau will not bend to its influence, and we will uphold a free Euronia."
Invasion
The Chaesian referendum passed on August 27th, effective for the following week. On September 2nd, Chaesia officially ceded to Drambenburg with the signing of the Treaty of Den Haag by then-Chaesian leader Till Schultze and Kaiser Peter XXI Wettin. With the cession, Drambenburgian forces who were already present in the country staged along the border of Blaoria. Schnabel, and other pro-Drambenburgian politicians in Blaoria, then quickly endorsed their favor for the Drambenburgian troops to enter their country under the premise of stopping the civil unrest and restoring order. Auster-Brautstadt, von Wettin, and their top officials had the legitimacy they needed to excuse an occupation of Blaoria and remove Edelstein from office, and on September 3rd, 2022, the Chancellor activated two military battalions to cross into Blaoria.
Having been anticipating an invasion for weeks, Blaorian defensive forces along the border put up resistance to Drambenburgian forces invading. The invasion launched out of Vilhofen, and the front was conducted as two separate spearheads, with one headed for the capital of Winterstein and the other targeting the city of Churheide. The main Blaorian airfield in Churheide, home to the majority of the nation's airforce, was hit heavily by missiles and dozens of fighter aircraft and helicopters were destroyed, rendering the defender's air power useless. However, anti-air systems which were hidden strategically throughout Blaoria's mountainsides were less easily targeted, and though the vehicle weaponry of Blaoria was largely destroyed in the opening stage of the invasion, weapon stockpiles and defense systems remained virtually untouched.
When news of the invasion reached the public within minutes of its start, thousands of citizens began fleeing the capital to the Shoassauan and Avergnonian borders. Shoassauan officials closed their border with Drambenburg and began accepting refugees, recording more than 4,380 refugee crossings in the first day of the invasion. The Holy City of Montemera recorded 300 crossings from their Chaesia entrance as some Chaesians left in protest.
By the morning of September 4th, Drambenburgian forces had occupied multiple neighborhoods on the outskirts of Winterstein and began encircling the city. With minimal casualties in relation to the defenders, units were able to establish perimeters in the surrounding villages and began detaining "enemy combatants", including individuals who were protesting the invasion. Meanwhile, fighting was reported between Blaorian government forces and pro-Drambenburg citizens in the center of Winterstein near the Parliament offices. A shell, reportedly fired by pro-Drambenburg fighters, struck a 9-story residential building in Winterstein. The building was partially destroyed, with at least one person killed and 12 wounded. A Drambenburgian rocket was shot down over Winterstein, with its fragments damaging a 5-story residential building, killing one person.
Fierce resistance continued throughout the country into September 5th, though Drambenburgian officials declared they captured Winterstein on that day. Prime Minister Edelstein, who had left Winterstein for the northern mountain city of Cerekev, released a video on social media platforms Owler and FriendSpot to attack Drambenburgian forces on sight. Johannes Schnabel was revealed to have travelled to Lerbin in order to establish a "government in exile". The city of Churheide fell to Drambenburgian forces. Auster-Brautstadt publicly stated that his forces had lost 52 soldiers throughout the entirity of the campaign up to that point. The same day, President of Kossmil Nikolai Cherdenko endorsed Schnabel while Zoran Milošević, leader of the Populist Party has sent 500 troops of the Black Brigade to Drambenburg in order to join the expeditionary force.
On September 7th, the final Blaorian military facility in Bierstadt which had outlasted initial bombardments was captured by Drambenburgian forces. Though they believed Edelstein was in refuge there, the Prime Minister was not and remained out of their custody. The main opposition to Drambenburg's occupation was subsequently quelled with the capture of Bierstadt, though small resistance groups remained and organized into a guerilla militia. Auster-Brautstadt announced his intention to withdraw troops from Blaoria within three weeks, and a new government was established in Winterstein with Schnabel as its head.
Occupation
Reaction
Blaoria
Drambenburg
International
WEDA
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The international community widely criticized the invasion, with WEDA leading initial condemnations. WEDA Secretary General Damian Levasseur, speaking in Viitaniemi, called on the organization to unconditionally condemn the invasion and hold Drambenburg accountable through crippling economic sanctions, a freeze on trade, and asserted that Prime Minister Alwin Edelstein was the legitimate leader of Blaoria. He said "Drambenburg will not be allowed to get away with this blatant aggression without consequences. WEDA stands firmly together in a clear rebute of Drambenburg's actions in Blaoria and their attempts to undermine freedom and democratic processes. This action cannot be allowed to go unpunished, otherwise our world increasingly runs the risk of championing authoritarians and delegitimizing the process of diplomacy."
Shoassauan Prime Minister William Eurenne called it an "afront to international law and the stability of democratic principles," and said that "Chancellor Auster-Brautstadt's gamble to undermine the outcome of a small nation's democratic election will backfire as the world rallies to stand against them."
Quetanan President Emília Medeiros said that "Drambenburg would dearly pay for this betrayal of peace," warning that the invasion was very reminiscent of the opening stage of the World War.
Emmirian President Akram Sulaiman called Auster-Brautstadt a "war criminal in the making" and ordered the Drambenburgian embassy in Rhaga to close.
Chancellor of Albarine Sadie Melhaven said "this was not a surprise to anyone, and yet it is nonetheless shocking to see. Drambenburg's warmongers are toeing the line extremely close to a wider conflict."
Janapa's President Kendrick Mehans said “from our perspective the military operation is neither necessary nor desirable, and is an affront to the CCA Charter,” going on to say that given the historical context of the geopolitical situation in the region and Drambenburg's articulation of “its legitimate security concerns and perspective on the political situation in Blaoria, we acknowledge the need for constructive diplomatic efforts that thoroughly address these concerns. The military operation, however, cannot reasonably be justified. It only endangers international peace and security and will exacerbate human suffering across the globe. Let us be clear, no nation will be immune from the ripple effect of this armed conflict."
Prime Minister Mohammed bin Farhan of Sulifa said "our hearts are with the civilians of Blaoria who are caught up in this horrific invasion," calling for a halt to the violence and pledging to provide humanitarian aid to Blaoria. Foreign Affairs Minister Yasir Firaat stated that the "Drambenburgian attack on Blaoria is a grave violation of the international order. Sulifa condemns the attack, and is ready and prepared to provide humanitarian assistance to the citizens of Blaoria. Sulifa is a country that has experienced wars, and war is not the way to resolve conflicts."
The Federal Assembly of Paraboca voted on a binding resolution which was later signed by President Oriol Miguélez formally severing ties between the government and Drambenburg in response to the invasion, while President Miguélez called the invasion "a grave breach of international law which threatens the life of numerous civilians" and said of Chancellor Giorg Auster-Brautstadt that "his mask has now come off and only the cold face of war is visible". Miguélez also said that Paraboca should join WEDA to better handle its security, and this was immediately endorsed by East Chanchajillan President Gideon Boer, who said "Paraboca's membership within WEDA would be a vital asset for the organization, and we fully endorse this motion and plead the case for WEDA's expansion in the wake of the rapidly escalating situation in south-central Euronia."
Outgoing President of Zamastan Atticus Moreau called on Drambenburg to pull back their forces and pursue diplomatic resolutions like the recent ceding of Chaesia, but his comments were met with criticism from both sides of Congressional Hall and leading presidential candidates Sabine Armitage and Leanne Dale, who both condemned Auster-Brautstadt and top Drambenburgian officials. Newly-inducted Speaker of the Chamber Alisha Fletcher stated that her first act as Speaker would be to coordinate a Congressional response dictating the first series of sanctions against the Drambenburgian government. When Congressional Hall passed sweeping sanctions on Drambenburg's government and military, Moreau vetoed the legislation, saying "while the military action committed by Drambenburg is unpreferable and a dangerous escalation, it is hasty for our government to issue such strict measures in response." He went on to say that "loss of life in Blaoria is unfortunate and regretable, tragic as any loss of life is. However we are not the deciders of fate and cannot be involved in such steering."
Following intense criticism, Moreau's veto was subsequently overruled by Congress nearly unanimously in a follow-up vote. Fletcher praised the rare show of bipartisanship, saying "this reinforces the truth that while our politics can certainly be divisive on objectionable and understandable differences, we are united against reprehensible breaches of humanity. Zamastan denounces and unconditionally condemns the brutal and unjustified invasion of Blaoria by the military of Drambenburg, we affirm that Prime Minister Alwin Edelstein is the legitimate leader of Blaoria, and this legislative body has acted in accordance to our belief." She went on to say in stark criticism of Moreau that "we have also sent the President a clear message that his continued showing of outright corruption will not be tolerated any longer, whether it be in the final weeks of his administration or in the years to come."
Other Zamastanian politicians like president pro-tempore Burhan Swanson said "the horrific actions of Drambenburg need to be met with these bipartisan measures passed today, and the override against the President's veto was the right thing to do. President Moreau continues to betray the ethics of his office and the intentions of the Zamastanian people, and he has shown today that his ambition to defraud not only our country but the peace of the world continues to stain his final days in office. His administration will be remembered for these betrayals." Senate minority leader Mohammad Sadoul said of the statement "the President has stated unequivocably that he does not believe the invasion of Blaoria to be a 'real threat'. Drambenburg is a threat to the integrity of democracy's efficiency, and Moreau is attempting to benefit that threat over the promise of freedom. We await election day, where no matter how it goes, no matter whether our next president is a liberal like me or a conservative like my constituents, the president will be the antithesis to this corrupt character Moreau."
Tullia Grönberg said of the invasion; "This war is going to be felt internationally in many ways, both in the pain of human suffering and the misalignment of facts... the government of Drambenburg, at the behest of Chancellor Giorg Auster-Brautstadt, is engaging in a coordinated effort of propaganda meant to purposefully mislead the global audience into seeing their twisted justification for conflict, which is that they falsely claim Johannes Schnabel won an election won fairly by the incumbant Prime Minister, and that the territorial expanse of their former empire is the will of the Blaorian people, which it is not. That is evidenced by the fierce and commendable resistance put up and ongoing by the brave citizens of Blaoria."
On September 9th, Paraboca was admitted into WEDA as its 20th member, with Alcarres applying the same day.
Other international condemnations
Siniapore's President Tee Hsien Moong said the Parliament would impose “appropriate sanctions and restrictions” on Drambenburg over its invasion of Blaoria, a rare move that marked just the second time in the city state’s history that it was censuring a foreign nation without the CCA Security Council’s approval. Speaking to lawmakers in parliament, Moong said the government planned to act in concert with like-minded nations to impose export controls on items “that can be used directly as weapons in Blaoria which can harm or subjugate citizens." Specifically, Siniapore froze all Drambenburgian assets held in their national banking system.
Sotoan Basin Union President Jordan Melhare called the invasion a "catastrophic and pointless" loss of life, and the SBU introduced targeted travel bans against Drambenburgian government officials, prohibited the export of goods to Drambenburgian military and security forces and suspended bilateral foreign ministry consultations. Constantioan President Tony Blanian asked his administration officials to provide advice on humanitarian response options, but ultimately followed SBU guidelines. Beatavician Prime Minister Carter Nelson said "the war that is currently going on in Blaoria needs to stop, and there needs to be peace. We will assist the people of Blaoria in any way possible, and we will send thoughts and prayers to the Blaorian people."
Prime Minister Elliott Timbrell of Candatora led initial calls for the Alliance of Nortuan States to unequivocally condemn the invasion, also referencing the World War and calling it "a horrific assault on a democratic nation." President of Elbresia Alexander Desende called it an "escalation with potentially dangerous ramifications for global peace and stability," and ordered the Elbresian embassy in Lerbin to close, while Prime Minister Arlo Robinson said nations "must deny any credibility to the Drambenburgian invasion... Chancellor Auster-Brautstadt and the Kaiser have manipulated the reality of fact in this instance in order to further their goal of territorial ambition." Besmenian Prime Minister Elisabeth Rademacher said of the invasion that "Auster-Braustadt has attacked a free, independent and sovereign country. This is inhumane and contrary to international law. This is by nothing and no one to justify... the Federal Republic of Besmenia stands at Blaoria's side. My thoughts and my deepest condolences to the victims of the Drambenburgian war of aggression." ANS deputy secretary-general Jörg Rautenberg said that Drambenburg had broken international law and called on other organizations like WEDA to stand with the ANS in defiance of the invasion.
Prime Minister Robert Lumbell of Saint Offeat authorized sanctions against Drambenburg and warned that being too lenient on the invasion would embolden other nations, like Yuan, to invade their neighboring countries with whom they hold territorial disputes. “The reason we’re doing this is there must be a price for the unprovoked, unlawful, unwarranted, unjustified attacks and threats and intimidation that has been imposed by Drambenburg on Blaoria,” Lumbell said, adding Saint Offeat would always have a “principled and consistent” response to any countries who threatened the sovereignty of others.
President Arthur Vanberson of Versenia said his nation and the ANS would do everything necessary to restore full Blaorian sovereignty over its lands, promising tough sanctions against Drambenburg for invading its neighbour. Speaking in a televised address, Vanberson said it was impossible to have meaningful dialogue with Lerbin and demanded that Drambenburg unconditionally pull its forces back to the internationally established borders. "We have our allies at our side ... together we will do whatever it takes to preserve Blaoria's sovereignty, global security, and the integrity of the international order based on the rules and values we all share," he said.
The foreign committee within Montemera condemned the invasion, with Pope Marcellinus II urging for a ceasefire.
Iris I of Alecburgh said "Alecburgh will remain neutral in physical terms, but will be willing at any level to bring in refugees from this crisis." She also incorrectly stated that WEDA was providing medical and armed support to Blaoria, which was rebutted shortly after in a public statement by both Secretary General Damian Levasseur and Prime Minister Tullia Grönberg, who cited the Queen's address as a caution for the spread of misinformation.
Support
Drambenburg's allies, especially within the TTPA, were mixed in their responses. Positive remarks were made by Kossmilian leadership, most notably President Nikolai Cherdenko. Zoran Milošević, leader of the Populist Party in Kossmil has ordered the 500 troops from Black Brigade to join the expeditionary force alongside Drambenburg. Buckingla's President Marian Dalaylou said "we believe Drambenburgian forces are doing the right thing in this matter of security assistance for the legitimate government of Blaoria under Prime Minister Schnabel." Behinian President Mohammad al-Albisi said that Drambenburg was "justified in this military action," pledging economic support. Peoratian President Armand Mbombo said "the TTPA needs to stand together on this, a threat to one of our members is a threat to every one."