Second Vinalian Civil War

Second Vinalian Civil War
Part of Vinalian struggle
Northern trucks in Mollas
Date 1 February 1941 - 9 October 1942 (1 year, 8 months, 1 week and 1 day) Location Vinalia Status South Vinalian victory -Ocupation of the Voly Na heights
Belligerents
North Vinalia Vinakian Liberation Front Supported by Chistovodia Swetania	South Vinalia Liberal Vinalian Front Supported by Nuxica Halland
Commanders and leaders
Vsevolod Lyashko Nazar Holovko Ctibor Chovanec	Yankul Kamenov
Strength
North Vinalia 125,000 Vinakian Liberation Front 2,000	South Vinalia 145,000 Liberal Vinalian Front 500 (1941)
Casualties and losses
North Vinalia 105,000 Vinakian Liberation Front 500~	South Vinalia 130,000 Liberal Vinalian Front 900~
10,000–20,000 killed overall ≥1,000,000 internally displaced & ≥200,000 refugees

The Second Vinalian Civil War, was a war between North Vinalia, and South Vinalia between 1941-1942. The war is the deadliest with some 150,000 casualties out of all the conflicts fought between both Vinalia's in the period known as the Vinalian Struggle, which saw both nations pitted against each other from 1933 with the First Vinalian Civil War until 1987 with the 12 Day War.

The conflict having it's origins in the chaos of the Chistovodian Revolution, and the subsequent independence of North Vinalia, and it's immediate conflict with the south. The conflict was seen as the first major conflict in the Asteria's following the Great War, and saw international aid be granted to both sides, in what became a new battlefield for the great powers of the region, and the world.

Prelude

The Chistovodian Civil War had exploded in 1928, at first sec

First Vinalian Civil War (1933-1935)

With victory in Chistovodia secured the People's Army turned their attention to the south of the nation, where former Babych supporters had congregated, along with anti-socialist militias. With Chistovodian support, North Vinalian forces attempted to reconquer the south in 1933 with the Mollas Offensive, North Vinalian forces were unable to breakthrough and both nations settled into a 2 year long stalled war. Repeated Northern attempts were met with strong southern defences and by 1935 the war had grown unpopular with the Northern population, and peace was reached between both states. The south still claiming the entirety of the former Chistovodia settled for the establishment of a democratic Vinalian government, establishing the Republic of Vinalia.

Border disputes arose immediately as hundreds fled from the north to the south of the nation fearing purges, many Vinakians sought to escape to the north likewise fearing reprisals for their aiding of northern groups during the civil war. Tensions between both nations had escalated following the large scale acquisition of foreign equipment from excess stores following the Great War by both sides. Support for the North was far more stable as it was able to secure Swetanian equipment with ease, and at low prices, while the South struggled to obtain equipment from foreign nations. The South instead hoped it’s superior numbers, and nations opposed to growing Socialist growth in the Asterias would come to it’s aid, Marirana provided some aid to the South, fearful of what a Socialist Vinalia could bring to the country.

Second Vinalian Civil War (1941-1942)

Planning

Southern tanks in parade

In December 1940 Southern intelligence had learned of the acquisition of Swetanian made tanks, which troubled the South fearful the North was gearing up for an invasion as soon as the tanks were able to operate in Northern hands. Yankul Kamenov, had approved the initial planning of a pre emptive strike against the North to destroy their ability to conduct an invasion of the South. Seeking to conduct the movement of forces in full secrecy units were told to march northwards with no clear instructions, to hide the conscription of soldiers, and the raising of the reserves the announcement of a wide scale infrastructure project in mid January, told the story of the Southern government utilizing military labor to build infrastructure to hide the movement of some 20,000 active personnel including all of the Souths armor, and the mobilization of some 15,000 reservists.

The conduct of this operation proved an absolute success, Southern forces had moved some 35,000 men, 300 vehicles, 500 artillery pieces, and 25 planes to the Northern border with little to no notice by Northern intelligence. Reports from the National Defence Unit (NDU), reported that Southern units were in movement but towards allowing large scale leaves for it’s soldiers, in what some Northern analysts called a great opportunity for the North to attack weakened Southern defences.

Southern forces had concentrated into two major attacks, one aimed North with the goal of securing Mollas in the deep North, and another aimed at cutting the city of Norelinsk from the rest of the North. The operation would involve some 100,000 men, along with 500 vehicles, 1000 artillery pieces, and 100 planes, they were to face a Northern contingent of some 60,000 men, no vehicles, and some 500 artillery pieces, with 40 planes. Northern units numbering some 80,000 and all their vehicles had been pulled back in early January for training and refitting further upnorth, as they prepared for an attack in the South upon the arrival of spring.

1941

Southern Vinalian soldiers in Mollas

Southern forces struck on the morning of the 1st of February, with Southern aircraft attacking and engaging Northern aircraft and airfields with ease. Border forces had been caught completely off guard and were soon over run, 5,000 soldiers were encircled near the city of Durassa, Norelinsk had also been cut off, as Northern casualties number 15,000 men during the first week. By mid February the entirety of the Northern army was in full retreat for the coast and further north, with Norelinsk being surrendered the 11th of February with 3,000 soldiers caught inside. The rapid advance by Southern forces attracted attention by many foreign observers, do to the speed at which the South had struck.

Southern advance began to slow as Northern elite units were thrown to prevent further breakthrough, the Vinalian coast saw desperate fighting as Northern forces attempted to retreat before they could be cut off. Southern forces had entered Mollas the 3rd of March, facing virtually no resistance from it’s defenders, continuing their push up north seeking to encircle the 15,000 men caught between their lines and the Vinalian coast. By the 14th of March however, two large pockets had been created, some 5,000 men trapped in the city of Virin, and some 7,000 men trapped in the Vraw peninsula. Southern forces began the process of consolidating their lines, facing strong resistance from guerrilla groups in the occupied North and in the south, with the Vinakian Liberation Army conducting attacks against Southern installations in Nazica, Apajia, and Velkarichka.

Course of the war

The Socialist world fearing the collapse of North Vinalia do to the rapid advance by the south jumped in, Swetanian regulars disguised as volunteers arrived alongside Northern bought vehicles, Chistovodian units had also crossed the border and entered into the North. By April these foreign units had been placed alongside the 140,000 strong Vinalian army, made up of some 50,000 conscripts, and 60,000 militias, alongside what remained of the regular army. Southern forces had concentrated and readied themselves for a push directly against Chervona, Kamenov hoped that by capturing Chervona the North would collapse. The south renewed it's push with the 20,000 strong elite 35th Army the 8th of April, Northern forces were initially broken through with great success, this caused concern for the Swetanians under Ctibor Chovanec, Swetanian driven tanks were rushed to the breakthrough and were able to stop the Southern push, the ensuing battle the 12th resulted in a Southern stop and latter retreat having suffered some 3,000 casualties. Taking advantage of the situation the 15th Swetanian forces launched a limited offensive forcing Southern forces back and reinforcing the Northern line.

Southern forces had been held back and began to plan for an attack to avoid the ever strengthening defensive positions in front of Red Bay. Some 30,000 men began to be moved along with most vehicles further west, Southern forces were unable to match their success in hiding the movement of the forces as they had before, and Northern intelligence was well aware of their movements. Northern forces had been put under the command of Nazar Holovko, Nazar began to set forth a major offensive in May, before the South could launch it's own attack.

May Offensive and the rest of 1941

Swetanian volunteers

Looking to catch the Southern forces off guard, Northern armored units struck the 10th of May, battle hardened from the previous months of combat. Although Southern forces were able to initially repulse and keep the Northern advance in check by the 14th this was no longer the case, Northern forces broke through near the Virin pocket and liberated the about 4,000 battered defenders. By the 21st a general breakthrough had been achieved with the 7,000 men from the Vraw Peninsula liberated, they had also encircled about 3,000 men near the town of Zulka heavy fighting in Zulka would last a further two more weeks, the entire Southern front collapsed, and began to be pulled back. The outskirts of Mollas had been reached the 5th of June and attacks on the outer defences of the city were carried out with little success, exhausted Northern troops were ordered to dig in into their positions wary of a Southern counter attack. The May offensive had been a great success Southern forces had suffered some 8,000 casualties, along with 4,000 soldiers captured, Northern forces had suffered some 2,000 casualties, but they had defeated the concept of Southern invincibility. Both sides began the slow process of building up fortifications to secure their frontlines, as the war grounded to a slow trench style warfare, while the Siege of Mollas began.

Both sides carried out limited offenses throughout the entirety of 1941, but Northern offensives were the only successful ones, with gains around Mollas and the deep south in June 1941, and a Southern retreat in October, following concerns of a Northern breakthrough against weak defensive positions in that section. Fighting around Mollas however became the focal point of both nations, with some 50,000 soldiers deployed in and around the city, the city was heavily bombarded by Northern Artillery yet numerous attempts at entering the city proper had failed, and only in December 1941 were Northern forces able to enter the city. During this time Southern forces suffered from a large scale Vinakian uprising along with worker strikes, following the bombing of Velkarichka the 24th of December 1941, Southern worries crippled any attempted attack.

Operation Red Beak

Southern soldier overlooks a destroyed Northern tank

Plans for an attempted encirclement of Mollas began to be drafted in secret by Nazar, Northern forces remained embroiled in brutal street fighting over Mollas, and had by February suffered some 7,000 casualties, against smaller Southern losses. International calls to end the conflict began to be raised, and Northern concerns of Swetania and Chistovodia taking their support away as the fear of escalation increased forced Nazar to attack soon. Minor Northern attacks at Mollas in February and March established that Southern defences were too strong, the only option remaining being that of encircling the city further south. Operation Red Beak was planned with a flexible date so as to prevent leaks, and to be able to be launched within 3 days depending on the situation, some 5,000 Northern and 1,000 Chistovodian soldiers were to cut the Mollas railroad and road connections to the rest of the South. The launch date was chosen for the 4th of June, following the violent crushing of a dock workers strike the 1st of June.

Operation Red Beak caught Southern forces completely by surprise, despite the fact the neck of the salient had been identified as a weakness, Southern reluctance to retreat from the salient created a lack of manpower to reinforce the neck, the 4th of June facing just some 2,000 men on either side, Northern forces were able to breakthrough the Southern defences and had by the 7th completely cut off the 11,000 soldiers inside Mollas which now launched desperate attacks against the Northern forces in an attempt to breakthrough their defences, continued Southern attacks had by the end of June resulted in some 3,000 southern casualties to 1,500 Northern casualties. The South began to negotiate terms with the North, seeking to free the trapped men inside the city, such terms were never reached and throughout June the North attacked Mollas heavily, without supplies and running low on supplies the remaining 9,000 soldiers inside Mollas surrendered the 18th of July. A massive success for the North had been struck.

Following the massive defeat in Mollas, Southern international supporters urged Southern entry into negotiations, fearing a renewed Northern offensive could turn the tide of the conflict, Kamenov fearing a countrywide uprising if negotiations were not started, and fear of a Northern offensive grew. Kamenov allowed negotiations to take place in Cuanstad, Imagua starting July 22nd. In return for territorial concessions 5,000 prisoners were released by the North, and both sides settled into a tense negotiations period, Northern demands for the return to prewar borders could not be met by the South and would not be supported by their international allies. Following a break in negotiations the 5th of August, Nazar began the process of planning an offensive to force the best peace agreement possible. With negotiations restarted the 12th of August, the 15th Northern aircraft bombed Southern cities sparking condemnation and calls of protest from the South, which withdrew from the negotiations. As both Vinalia's readied to engage again, Northern buildup in the south aimed against Norelinsk had begun.

The 30th and 31st of August secret negotiations were held in Mollas, North Vinalia demanded a Community of Nations peacekeeping mission be established maintaining a demilitarized zone between both states, the zone was to be made entirely of the Southern occupation zone, something the South rejected violently. Kamenov believed that the North lacked any further offensive capabilities citing, that their desire to reach a peace settlement meant weakness. The next morning Northern forces launched an attack against the south aimed at the city of Norelinsk. The northern attack had been a massive success as Southern forces in the south were made up of demoralized conscripts and reserve components, the sudden attack by 15,000 men overwhelmed the South, and by the 3rd Northern force had broken through. Kamenov fearing a complete collapse in the South, and a possibly long drawn out siege in Norelinsk. Wuickly agreed to the established terms, establishing a 5km wide demilitarized zone starting from the Northern line under CN control, and an end to the violent reprisals against the Northern backed Vinakian Liberation Front, and labour movements.

Aftermath

Northern aircraft overlooking Norelinsk

CN peacekeepers arrived to the demilitarized zone under CONVMO I at the start of October, officially ending the conflict. Both sides began to immediately rebuild up their forces, in preparation for the coming conflict. Northern forces had been shaken up by the conflict with most of it's army driven to the blink during the war, large scales of supplies and equipment began to arrive to the country.