Great War

The Great War
Date 1961-1967 Location Southern Hesperida, Caxcana, Liberalia Result Coalition of Democratic Forces victory Occupation and reconstruction of Darya begins Beginning of the third wave of decolonization Key Achievement 3 First detonation of a nuclear weapon, beginning the Nuclear Age Subsequent international conferences lead to the SALIENT Treaty Territorial changes Redrawing of borders across the IDU Daryan Empire dissolved Opthelian administration of the colonial territory of Glanainn liberalised A limited, tokenistic form of home rule instituted Independence groups remain suppressed Haesan placed under Maximusian administration Xueyan S.A.R. annexed by Laeral Gwansong Province annexed by Lao Sansong Territory Change 3 Dissolution of nations Daryan Empire ?? Formation of nations Andhrapur United Republic of Darya Kabo Geshaan Mallacaland Sarena ??
Belligerents
Pact of the Three Emperors (Pact) Pact Members Darya Dual Monarchy of Vertansk and Solavan Xiomera Associated Powers Central Liberalia Gardavasque Kerlile Lao Sansong Empire of Opthelia (until June 1964)  and its external territories: Colony of Bala Victa Colony of Celestria Colony of Glanainn (until July 1963) Protectorate of Glanainn (from March 1964) Colony of Hanafleura Colony of the Hertog Islands Colony of Timur Slokais Islands Zargothrax	Coalition of Democratic Forces (Coalition) Major Powers Aredoa Eiria Greater Acadia Haesan (until January 1964) Laeral United Communist Republic of Lauchenoiria Legionas Lehvant Libertas Omnium Maximus Communist Union of the Novella Islands People's Republic of Shuell Minor Powers Brissiac Republic Free Republican Army of Doi Nam Free State of Glanainn (July 1963-March 1964) Milintica Misumi Serriel Nuiqsut Confederation Federation Army of Slokais Governments-in-exile Free Andhrapuri Forces Free Haesan (from January 1964) Tacit Support Empire of Opthelia (from June 1964)  and its external territories: Colony of Bala Victa Colony of Celestria Protectorate of Glanainn Colony of Hanafleura Colony of the Hertog Islands Colony of Timur
Commanders and leaders
Pact Leaders Pact Members Emperor Narain II Shivnath Nishad Associated Powers Sunita Patel Albert IV Slokais Islands Juan Costa	Coalition Leaders Major Powers Alfonso Cabrera Kirils Voinovs (until 1966) Fēliks Kōlins (from 1966) Henri Lagarde René Gramont (until 1964) Georges Auriol (from 1964) Mateo Villanueva Oliver Milton Patrick Haynes Minor Powers Selim III Robert-Paul Gaston Albert Kourak Governments-in-Exile Fahim Rubel Masud
Casualties and losses
Military dead: ABC Civilian dead: ABC Total dead: ABC	Military dead: ABC Civilian dead: ABC Total dead: ABC

The Great War, also known as the Great World War or simply as the War, was a global conflict which lasted from 1961 to 1967. Involving virtually every great power worldwide and numerous smaller powers, the Great War was the largest armed conflict in recorded history. Many powers invested their entire military, scientific, and industrial capacity behind the war, rendering it a total war. The Great War had a profound effect on the geopolitical landscape, in particular in northern Caxcana following the Breakup of Darya, as well as causing wide-ranging social, political, and scientific ramifications.

Although historians continue to debate the exact causes of the Great War, the primary culprit is typically considered to be the expansionist ambitions of the Pact states, the three great autocratic empires who had signed the Pact of the Three Emperors, a military and political alliance, in 1957. Although some historians date the Great War to the start of the 1958 Pond War and the subsequent Dual Monarchy Intervention in Liberalia, the conflict was incited by the Tearvan Straits Incident of August 9, 1961, when the Imperial Daryan Navy sought to close the Straits of Tearvan to foreign commerce. Numerous powers declared war on Darya within the following weeks, triggering the Pact of the Three Emperors and igniting a worldwide conflict in which autocratic imperial powers faced communist and liberal-democratic regimes alike.

The war was characterized by immense naval battles, such as the Battle of the Albarine Sea, alongside massive amphibious invasions, as well as intensive aerial bombing campaigns and battles between armies totaling millions to a side. Although Pact forces experienced major military victories and significant territorial gains during the early war, the superior numbers and manufacturing capacity of the Coalition turned the tide of the conflict. Faced with mounting losses and a punishing aerial bombing campaign, Xiomera would withdraw from the war in 1966 after a change in leadership led by the Imperial Army. Slokais Islands, under the dictatorial regime of Juan Costa, would surrender in 1966 following an invasion by Coalition forces and an uprising by the pro-democracy Federation Army of Slokais. Ultimately, the war was brought to a close with the invasion of Darya itself in Operation Crucible, the April 1966 amphibious landing at Aravali on the Daryan coast which remains the largest amphibious landing in human history.

The Daryan Campaign, the land invasion of Darya which numbers among the bloodiest campaigns in military history, ended after 15 months with the Coalition capture of the Daryan capital city of Kurwai. Although Grand Vizier Shivnath Nishad, widely considered the architect of the Daryan wars of expansion, took his own life rather than face a trial, many other Daryan officials, including Emperor Narain and leading military officers, were brought before an international tribunal at the Kurwai Trials.

Background

Tensions had been rising worldwide throughout the late 1950s, primarily due to increased ties between the expansionist and autocratic powers of Darya, Xiomera, and Opthelia. These three autocratic states, each absolute monarchies fiercely opposed to communism and liberal democracy, were brought together by their support for a world order conducive to imperialism and territorial expansion. Through secret talks, the autocratic powers aimed to divide the world into spheres of influence in which they would bear primary responsibility for enforcing a multipolar world order. Slokais Islands and the Dual Monarchy of Solavan and Vertansk also found their interests aligned with the autocratic bloc; in 1959, the Pact of the Three Emperors was signed between the emperors of Darya, Xiomera, and Vertansk and Solavan. Coupled with the Darya-Slokais Pact of 1960, this led to a cohesive and belligerent bloc of militaristic authoritarian states. The ascension of Shivnath Nishad to Grand Vizier of Darya cemented the dominance of ultranationalist, Daryan-supremacist and Zindawla ideology in Darya, which demanded the reassertion of Daryan hegemony over what Daryan nationalists viewed as its sphere on influence in northern Caxcana.

The invention of jet propulsion and improvements in missile technology, meanwhile, spurred an arms race among leading powers as propellor-driven aircraft grew obsolete. Institutions such as the Socialist Union of Nations brought together the communist powers of Novella Islands, Lauchenoiria, Shuell, and Milintica towards closer economic and military cooperation. The world's liberal democracies were, by contrast, less closely aligned yet shared common interests in curtailing autocratic expansionism and safeguarding the free flow of commerce.

The eruption of the war with the Tearvan Straits Incident in 1961 on the surface appears to be an example of war beginning by blunder. By contrast, the beginning of the Great War was entirely premeditated by the Pact powers, who hoped to coordinate their efforts at territorial expansionism.

Timeline of Events

1961

On January 18th, 1961, the Daryan freighter Pratibha Neera was transiting the Straits of Tearvan before reporting that it was under attack by pirates. A force from the Daryan Marine Infantry reached the ship several hours later, reporting that pirates had murdered the crew in a botched hijacking. This attack was in fact staged by the Daryan government on the authority of Grand Vizier Nishad to justify Daryan demands for control of the Straits of Tearvan. On February 1st, 1961, the Daryan Empire declared that the attack on the Pratibha Neera demanded that Daryan authorities assume control of the Straits of Tearvan, recognized as international waters, and mobilized naval and air forces to enforce this claim.

Control of the Straits of Tearvan, the busiest naval chokepoint by volume of trade in the world, would be of immense economic and strategic value to Darya. This ultimatum was rejected by Darya's rivals and regional neighbors, and a standoff between Daryan warships and an armada of warships from various powers dedicated to maintaining the free flow of commerce resulted in bloodshed after a collision at sea. Following the deaths of several dozen sailors on both sides in the clash on February 19th, numerous states declared war on Darya. Darya's fellow members of the Pact of the Three Emperors, Xiomera and Vertansk and Solavan, declared war on regional neighbors Eiria and Shuell, respectively, over the coming days over preexisting territorial grievances.

Mere weeks after the declaration of war, Shuell launched an invasion of Otika intended to strike southwards towards the Dual Monarchy. Beleving that the Pond War in the Liberalian Confederation occupied the Dual Monarchy's strength, the Shuellian general staff expected an easy victory. The resulting Otika Campaign, however, very quickly became a bloodbath, as Shuellian People's Army forces were met with fierce opposition from Dual Monarchy troops as well as an Opthelian expeditionary force.

As early as March of 1961, Nishad began covertly amassing troops and amphibious landing craft at a number of Pact-controlled naval bases along the northern coast of Caxcana. On July 8 of that year, a Maximusian intelligence operative deployed in non-official cover within the Daryan Army reported that Daryan upper command planned to stage an amphibious landing in southern Libertas Omnium Maximus in order to secure maritime access between the Promethean Sea and mainland Darya. After receiving word of the impending invasion, the Maximusian naval armada began conducting live-fire drills in the Galinios Sea in order to appear ready to take on the Daryan threat. In reality, political gridlock and growing pacifist sentiment in prior decades left the Maximusian armed forces markedly underfunded, underequipped, and understaffed. On August 1, in a bid to quickly militarize the nation, the Senate authorized the conscription of 250,000 young men between the age of 18 and 24 and created the Radio and Logistics Corps, the first uniformed agency to accept female enlistees, albeit only in noncombatant capacities. The next day, Darya issued an official declaration of war against the Maximusians and moved their fleet into the Galinios Sea. On the evening of August 2, President Milton addressed the Maximusian people in a televised speech, imploring all able-bodied people to enlist and declaring a nationwide state-of-emergency.

Despite the mobilization effort, the weak Maximusian navy was quickly thrashed by the Daryans, and were forced to withdraw to the shallow waters of the outlying Maximusian islands by October 1961. On October 5, a Daryan torpedo bomber disabled the MS Bastion, the Maximusian flagship and only deployed aircraft carrier. Less than a week later, Daryan ships entered the harbor of Bluegill Island, a small isle fifty miles south of Bjeorg, and secured control of the island without bloodshed. Fighting in subsequent outlying islands, however, was much fiercer. By December, nearly one million Maximusian troops were deployed to the Maximusian southern archipelago. What ensued was a series of bloody island-hoping skirmishes lasting well into the new year.

In May, Juan Costa declared a formal alliance with Darya stating that "We must defend against the liberals and the so-called "coalition of democratic forces" and their attempt to undermine our order". After this, an industrial mobilization was declared by executive order, which included the dissolution of trade unions and the declaration of martial law. For many, this was a rallying cry and large-scale protests began across Slokais Islands. In response, the "Safe Security and Defense Act" was created calling for a mass draft of 150,000 men to "combat reactionary forces". During this year, the western coast of Slokais was built up in preparation for an invasion of either Haesan or Laeral.

1962

In March, taking advantage of Opthelian forces being occupied by the war, independence forces in Nuiqsut attacked settlements in the Bethel and Western Region forcing thousands of settlers to flee to Port Fredrick. In response, the Opthelians detained thousands of Kaquismaq people on Ukagavit Island; it is estimated that over 500 died in imprisonment.

By April of 1962, the tide of war in the Maximusian outlying islands began to turn against the Daryans following a major defeat at the hands of entrenched Maximusian marines at the ironically named Fort Tranquil, an island naval base just ten nautical miles south of the Iustitia City harbor. Forced to withdraw, the Daryans attempted to shift gears and establish a foothold in southern Bjeorg, but were repelled at Castle Beach outside of Eurich later that month. As the Daryan armada withdrew from the Hesperidan coast, the Maximusians attempted to give chase, but their navy was too damaged to pose any real threat. Despite major losses, the Daryans had managed to eliminate Maximusian maritime and air supremacy over the Galinios Sea, giving them essentially open access to the Promethean Sea.

In July, the Serrielan enclave of Yazlik fell to the Dual Monarchy after over a year of siege warfare. Although the Serrielans had continually reinforced the city's defenders, superior Solavan-Vertansk numbers and artillery forced the defenders to withdraw.

In August, Coalition forces in Neria, including contingents from Lehvant, Brissiac, and Serriel, invaded the Daryan colony of Kabo Geshaan. Despite expectations of fierce fighting, much of Kabo Geshaan's prewar garrison had either deserted or been transferred elsewhere due to the colony being of little importance to Kurwai. By February 1963, Daryan resistance in the colony had been almost entirely mopped up.

On the 5th of October, 1962, without a formal declaration of war, the Daryans launched their invasion on the Kingdom of Legionas, with the Daryans mobilizing a remarkable force for the invasion. The initial battles caught Legionite divisions by surprise, with the Daryans achieving several impressive victories within the first few weeks of the campaign, advancing several kilometers into Legionas and bypassing Legionite border defenses (i.e the Sanskrun Line), with some sectors being overrun without defending troops being able to organize a significant defense. The Legionite operational command and control structure was positioned to maintain a doctrine of defence in depth, with the Legionite General Staff utilizing the "" Plan as a blueprint for the defense of the nation.

1963

In February, Darya and Slokais Islands launched an invasion of Haesan, with amphibious landings at the eastern and northern coast and successful naval and air attacks largely neutralizing the Haesanite navy. At the same time a united force of various clans in Lao Sansong invaded Gwansong Province, overwhelming Haesanite forces in the process. Over the coming months, Daryan-Slokaisian forces pushed south through the central river valleys (avoiding the western mountains where Haesanite troops could easily fend them off) in a punishing offensive that would end with the capture of Suyang in January of 1964.

In May, expecting the imminent defeat of Haesanite forces in the face of the technologically-superior Pact invasion and fearing the consequences of Pact control of the Albarine Sea, Laeral launches an invasion of the mountainous western regions of Haesan, including Xueyan.

Also in May, a combined Nuiqsutian force managed to capture a number of villages launching an attack on Port Fredrick on May 19th, 1963. They destroyed much of the harbor forcing Opthelian forces to surrender to the new Nuiqsut Confederation.

By summer 1963, the Free Andhrapuri Forces had stepped up their attacks on Daryan settlers, forcing the deployment of a further 40,000 soldiers to put down the insurgency.

In November, with Daryan forces advancing on Haesan's southern coast, Libertas Omnium Maximus seizes the Southern Maritimes islands in the Albarine Sea, seeking to deny their usefulness as ports or airfields for Pact forces seeking to expand their foothold in Hesperida.

1964

The Telefar Agreement was signed at the Garden Valley Hotel, 28 June 1964.

By early 1964, the Empire of Opthelia had grown increasingly frustrated by the refusal of the Pact of the Three Emperors to allow their complete entry into the coalition, instead being continually rebuffed and left upon the sidelines. Further, several significant battles resulted in great loss to Opthelian lives - notably, the Battle of Pine Gap, and the last battle of the O.I.S. Revenge - with these tactical failures blamed in large part due to the lack of material support from the three major powers, where they otherwise may have succeeded. This frustration came to a head on 14 June 1964, with Opthelia withdrawing all support for Pact operations. This included the total withdrawal of military forces from all offensive theatres, cancellation of all economic aid to Pact nations and allies, and complete severance of diplomatic channels. As the Empire of Opthelia had been a major supporter of the Pact and its objectives up to this point - one of the largest and most advanced of their allied nations in Liberalia - this move was both a significant strategic blow for the Pact, and a great morale booster for Coalition forces.

In the weeks following, Opthelia significantly reinforced its home defense with the forces withdrawn from the frontlines, in preparation for retaliatory strikes from Pact forces. On the diplomatic front, negotiations were immediately entered into with the Coalition, with a conference opened at the Garden Valley Hotel in the Communist Union of the Novella Islands. This location was selected in part due to the historic ties of the Novellan people to the Opthelian Empire, and also to accept the open invitation the Novella Islands had offered to host diplomatic functions for the withdrawal of any Pact member from the conflict. The conference opened on the 21st of June, and lasted for eight days, culminating in the signing of the Telefar Agreement on 28 June 1964. Opthelia's exit from the war was conditional on several grounds: they were not to re-enter the war, on either side of the conflict; they were not to provide support to Pact forces, in any manner; and they were to limit their military's size and deployment to within their own borders, for self-defence purposes only.

1965

In Slokais Islands, Coalition Forces staged multiple amphibious landings, with the largest being in Victoria-Tedaya Province. Initially supported by the Federation Army of Slokais which had been fighting the Costa regime directly since 1963, fears a coalition government would establish a foreign protectorate state led to the two armies not directly collaborating after November 1965.

1966

In April, a multinational contingent including Maximusian, Laeralian, Aredoan, Lauchenoirian, and Eirian troops launched the largest amphibious assault in history in Operation Crucible, landing over 90,000 soldiers at several points in the Aravali region on the Daryan coast. On June 6, 1966, New Liverpool fell to the Federation Army of Slokais which overthrew a miltary government which had couped Juan Costa several months prior. Federation forces had been in a race to capture the city ahead of the Coalition forces, due to fears the foreign alliance had differing post-war plans. In December of 1966, the Federation of Slokais Islands was declared and was widely accepted as the new government of Slokais Islands, from there the Federation would provide some support to the coalition, although mainly focused on capturing remaining National Reform strongholds.

Faced with mounting losses and concern that Xiomera itself might be invaded, the Imperial Army staged a coup on December 14th, 1966. Emperor Zuitotoa, who had begun Xiomera's involvement in the war, was captured and overthrown. After a hastily called Great Selection, General Xiucona of the Imperial Army was selected as the new Emperor. Emperor Xiucona unilaterally declared a cease-fire and offered to hand Zuitotoa over to the Coalition for trial as a war criminal in exchange for peace talks.

1967

In Caxcana, the end came for Darya just a few weeks later. By July, fifteen months into the coordinated assault on mainland Darya, Coalition troops marched on Kurwai; a total routing of Daryan forces appeared imminent. Rather than face the humiliation of a Coalition tribunal, Nishad took his own life on July XX. Leaderless and overwhelmed by superior Coalition firepower, Darya unconditionally surrendered on July XX, 1967.

Major Campaigns

Caxcana

Great War in Andhrapur (1961-1967): The Free Andhrapuri Forces, alongside other partisan movements, carried out a guerrilla war against Daryan occupation.

Battle of the Nereus Sea (1961-1966): Naval and aerial warfare between Eiria (with Milintican support) and Xiomera, as well as the abortive Xiomeran invasion of Eiria, which incorporated numerous Coalition contingents from Neria.

Salliut Strait/Promethean Sea Campaign (1961-1967): One of the most heavily-contested regions of the war, as Daryan, Maximusian, Laeralian, Slokaisian, Haesanite, Xiomeran, Eirian, and Aredoan ships all clashed for control of these strategic waterways. Intense commerce raiding, particularly Daryan and Xiomeran raids on ships bringing supplies to besieged Eiria, was also common. By 1966, Coalition forces had achieved naval superiority in the Salliut Strait, paving the way for Operation Crucible.

Battle of the Galinios Sea (1961-1962): Clashes between Daryan forces and Maximusian defenders in the Maximusian-controlled Prince Frederick Islands resulted in heavy naval losses on both sides. The Maximusian navy was temporarily put out of commission, yet the Daryan army was unable to make landfall in continental LOM.

Legionite Campaign (1962-196?): The Daryan Military launched an all-out surprise invasion of Legionas, seeking to unite with the Rhandis.

Daryan Campaign (1966-1967): Coalition forces belonging to over a dozen nations invaded Darya in Operation Crucible and subsequent follow-up landings, bringing about the end of the Great War.

Doinamese Revolution (1963-1967): As Daryan forces are preoccupied elsewhere, the Free Republican Army of Doi Nam begin a series of guerilla attacks on Daryan and Collaborationist targets within Doi Nam, intent on liberating the country from Daryan control.

Hesperida

Battle of the Albarine Sea (1963-1965): Struggle for control of the Albarine Sea between Daryan, Slokaisian, Maximusian, Haesanite, and Laeralian forces. Securing these seaways was essential for the various planned and actual amphibious landings taking place in the region.

Mallacaland Campaign (1962-1963): Coalition naval forces blockaded the Daryan colony of Mallacaland to prevent its use as a naval base by Pact forces. In 1963, an aerial and amphibious invasion by Coalition forces seized the colony and defeated Daryan forces.

Haesan Campaign (1963-?): Daryan and Slokaisian forces, with token Xiomeran assistance, launch an invasion of Haesan, seeking to seize control of the Albarine Sea and acquire more favorable positions for the air campaign against Laeral. The Haesanese defenders are quickly overwhelmed, while Lao Sansong seizes the opportunity to launch an invasion from the north. Laeral and Libertas Omnium Maximus launch a counter-invasion.

Lauchenoirian Campaign (1963-?): Invasion of Lauchenoiria by Kerlile, with sizable Novellan and Shuellian expeditionary force backing the Lauchenoirian defenders due to ties through the Socialist Union of Nations. Lauchenoirian forces had been drawn away for fighting elsewhere, leaving the country a tempting target for Kerlian expansionism.

Slokaisian Campaign (1966-1970): The Slokasian Campaign began with the joint land invasions by Coalition forces who were working in conjunction with the Federation of Slokais, a military alliance between many of the various rebel groups that had been fighting with the Costa Regime since 1963 in the Second Slokasian Civil War. Although not all of the Federation's members knew of the assault over fears of spies by the group's leader Robert Ferdinand Best. Initial landings were in Victoria Province and South Kaijan, areas already under partial control by rebel groups.

Liberalia

Glanainn Campaign (1963-1964): Glanainn nationalists, appalled at the loss of the Opthelian protectorate's people in bloody fighting abroad, rebel against Opthelia. The rebellion is put down.

Northern Sea Campaign (1961-1964): Naval warfare between predominantly Opthelian and Novellan forces.

Otika Campaign (1961-?): A Shuellian invasion of Otika (with Lauchenoirian support), in northern Solavan and Vertansk, quickly bogs down due to fierce resistance from Dual Monarchy, Central Liberalian, and Opthelian troops.

Shuellian Civil War (1965-?): Warring factions battle it out for control of the People's Republic of Shuell.

Battle of Yazlik (1961-1962): The Serrielan trade concession of Yazlik in Solavan and Vertansk is taken by the Dual Monarchy after months of heavy fighting.

The Eikan Campaign (1962-?): Following the invasion of Otika by Shuell, the Kingdom of Eikangard invades the Dual Monarchy from the south. Unprepared due to the quick deployment, Eikan forces are unable to make major gains, allowing the Dual Monarchy and their Central Liberalian and Opthelian allies to prepare defenses to resist further Eikan reinforcements. The Eikan campaign would bog down into a meat-grinder, with high casualties on both sides.

Neria

Kabo Geshaan Campaign (1961-1963): Serrielan, Lehvantine, and Brissiacan troops invaded Kabo Geshaan, then a Daryan colony. Daryan resistance was defeated entirely by early 1963, in one of the Coalition's few successes of the early war.

Nuiqsut Campaign (1962-1963): Nuiqsut nationalists successfully carry out a war of independence against the Opthelian colonial power.

Zargothrax-Lehvant Conflict (?-?): Border conflict between Zargothrax and Lehvant.

Aftermath

Territorial Changes

The Daryan Empire was dissolved, leading to the independence of its numerous colonies worldwide, including Andhrapur, Mallacaland, Kabo Geshaan, and Doi Nam.

Nuiqsut also successfully won its independence from the Opthelian Empire.