Winter War (Halkeginia)
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The Winter War (Dutch: Winteroorlog; Vozhsk: Zimovaja vajna ), also referred to as the Fourth Voshan War is an ongoing military conflict between The Atmoran Confederation and the United Kingdoms of Vozh that began in late 2016 in the culmination of months of diplomatic tension and border friction. The primary catalysts were the repeated incursions of the Royal Atmoran Navy into Vozhsk territorial waters, intense violence in the frontier zones of both nations, and the capture of several dozen Atmoran ex-servicemen inside Vozhsk territory.
Vozh, on 14 December 2016, invaded the Atmoran states of Lieseltania, Tarth, Lower Silesia, and Lyria, claiming to suppress Atmoran banditry and liberation of the Voshagne. During the commencement of the Vozhsk invasion, UKV Acting Premier Fatima Alieva levied unproven accusations of Atmoram persecution of the Slavic minority. Following the Vozhan air strikes and the ground invasion into Eastern Atmora, Atmoran security forces retreated 40 kilometres west as VNA forces overran them.
With the invasion of eastern Atmora, the Atmoran Ministry of National Defence ordered the formation of the Landstorm battalions, along with calling for citizens in the Vozhsk-occupied areas to form partisan Landstorm battalions. The Landsmacht mobilised to meet Vozhsk forces, with Atmoran irregular and reserve units holding the frontlines until the active forces arrived in force. Atmora launched a series of naval- and air-strikes into Vozh. Most notable the 17 December napalm bombing of Smolensk and Tit'esk targeting the industrial districts of the city.
The war has been met with International criticism, with the World Justice Court calling for restraint and opening investigations into crimes against humanity and war crimes. In particular, the World Justice Court has summoned multiple Royal Atmoran Navy and Royal Atmoran Air Force officers to testify for the 2016 Atmoran bombing campaign of Vozh.
Background
Casualties
War crimes
Reprisal killings
Atmoran strategic bombing campaign
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On 17 December 2016, Admiral Gijsbert Souverijn, Chief of Joint Forces Command, ordered the strategic bombing of targets in Vozh. Through the directives of the Joint Forces Command the order was given the Commander-in-Chief Fleet and the Commander Strategic Air Forces. Admiral Jéroen Riemens, Commander-in-Chief Fleet ordered for the naval strikes of Vozhsk ports and vital wartime infrastructure. Admiral Riemens and Vice Admiral Laurens-Jan Wilmes have come under international scrutiny for targeting the Vozhsk electrical grid during the 2016 Halkeginian blizzard, resulting in the deaths of civilians due to hypothermia due to the attacks on the electric grid. Rear Admrial Hans-Frederik Alfring led his destroyer squadron to the port city of Bloemfontein to Vozhsk munition depots and logistic facilities. However, Rear Admiral Alfring, in these naval bombardments, has caused significant civilian causalities. Royal Atmoran Navy strikes attributed to nearly 1,900 civilian deaths due to exposure or collateral damage, with a further 3,500 seriously wounded. The Atmoran Ministry of Justice has maintained that the Royal Atmoran Navy acted according to the rules of war finding that the senior naval leadership did not breach any law of war in these naval strikes. However, the World Justice Court and the Vozhsk government have asserted that these naval strikes amount to war crimes due to mass civilian deaths attributed to exposure from the blizzard.
Air Chief Marshal Frederik Sleyster, Commander-in-Chief of the Strategic Air Forces ordered for the saturation bombing of the Vozhsk cities of Smolensk and Tit'esk. The 9th Air Division and the No. 87 Mizuhese Air Group armed with incendiary munitions attacked the cities of Smolensk and Tit'esk to demoralise the Vozhsk population to continue fighting the war. Independent and Vozhsk government sources have attributed the fire bombings with the deaths of 9,700 civilians and a further 12,300 seriously wounded. While the Atmoran Ministry of Justice has maintained the innocence of the Strategic Air Forces Commad. The Justice Ministry has sent Senior Lieutenants Henri Heuker and Walter Spaling to testify and work with the World Justice Court on the firebombing investigation. Air Chief Marshal Sleyster has yet to be charged with war crimes by the Justice Ministry. However, the World Justice Court has called for the Air Chief Marshal to testify in Westerkwartier.
Prosecutions and legal proceedings
After the Battle of Argenau in Lyria on 19 December 2016, Vozhsk National Army Colonel Uladzimir Adamchik having routed the 3rd Battalion, The Royal Lyrian Regiment from Argenau. Severely beat Atmoran Army Sergeant Jonathan van der Linde and Second Lieutenant Maarten Schreuder, in retaliation for Sergeant van der Linde casting rude remarks towards Colonel Adamchik. Lieutenant Schreuder attempted to step in to protect Sergeant van der Linde but was backhanded by the Colonel. The Sergeant would be admitted into VNA medical care but would die hours later due to an intracerebral hemorrhage, Lieutenant Schreuder would be admitted with a concussion. The VNA medical officer would submit a report of the incident to the Vozhsk Royal Guards, who would later arrest the Colonel on 20 December. Colonel Adamchik was transferred to the World Justice Court to face trial for the murder and abuse of prisoners of war under his protection.
Following the Chervyen Armastice, in a high-level case the Chief Commissioner Albert Manfred Bolscher of the Federal Judiciary Police has ordered the arrest of former Chancellor Lysithea van Hresvelg and former Minister of National Defence Joren Stielstra to be transferred over to the World Justice Court to face trial for crimes against peace. Chief Commissioner Bolscher has issued warrants of arrest of thousands of high-level Atmoran civilian and military officers to face trial in Batavia for crimes against humanity and crimes against peace. As of the 4 January 2017, Chancellor Hresvelg has been transferred to Batavia, awaiting trial. Furthermore, following the Edict of Ossenvoorde, Chief Commissioner Bolscher has ordered the house arrest of the Walchmarken federal princes for interference in peace negotiations of HM's Government.