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if we don't win we could always just nuke the poles and leave earth
Chapter 28: A War to End All War
Chapter 28: A War to End All War
After years of heavy pressure there had finally been a breakthrough in Southern France. Advancements were being made in Germany and now Poland and The Greek Republic in the east now as fighting a losing war on two fronts.
In Asia the Japanese Empire now held dominion over much of China and has established the Road of Iron Silk, a Railroad network allowing the movement of troops through China to the frontline in Persia. Meanwhile Anzac Forces fight mile by mile in Vietnam with locals to keep the Japanese from the Rubber and oil of Malaysia and Indonesia.
In Africa the Khitan and British Colonial forces have pushed thier enemies into the Congo and look to have solidly won victory, allowing for greater naval deploments to be made elsewhere and military supplies to now be diverted.
Finally in America, Continued pressure on Paraguay and an Invasion of Columbia had finally led to the Intervention of the United States of America whos Navy, Army and Industrial Capacity could spell doom for the American front.
In the North, the Danish front had turned quiet yet again following victories across Jylland but the 'North Sea Gap' was open allowing transports to reach Scandinavia from Bergen to Narvik, and be protected by Zepplins, Escorts and submarines operating out of Iceland.Well aware of the Danger posed in the coming year the British Navy had begun plans for an Invasion of Iceland come the Summer of 1908. The Khitan meanwhile pressed further and harder on Danzig, so deprive thier primary enemy, Bohemia of any Scandinavian and now American aid.
While the Italians had attempted to push for the Rhine river several times well prepared fortifications along the border had stopped either side from gaining any significant ground. This was about to change, as Khitan Tank divisions now had provided enough confidence roll into Bavaria in support of a British push from Switzerland.
While the Italians had since devices ways to deal with tanks on the field, they had not prepared for the numbers the Khitan Empire would be willing to throw into the meat grinder, and slowly and surely the Italian lines fell into disorganization and collapse though not before extracting a heafty price in casualties.
The Military Veteran's Pension Act would not be the first of its kind in Europe but would ultimately be the groundwork for further welfare reforms going forward in the Khitan Government. The Act itself would grant Veterans degrees of pensions dependent on their time of service and rank, as well as government provided healthcare and rehabilitation for those who had been wounded in the field. Though notably, Soldiers taken out of commission due to shellshock were not included in such provisions as under current medical examinations such soldiers were expected to return to civilian life without difficulty and thus did not require medical benefits.
The Final law ultimately would go into practice in April of that year.
With this in mind, War demands were being drawn up by the Khitan Republic for numerous things including the dissolution of Spain back into its member states, the Possible breakup of the Polish Empire and even the creation of several satellite states in Europe to ensure Khitan dominance on the continent. The Greeks had made similar plans years ago but now behind closed doors they would become ever more grandiose and less reserved as public opinion did not quite matter when one was at war with the entire world already.
The main battles of course would continue down in Prague where there was a significant value in both prestige and morale, though perhaps more important was the coal mines of Silesia nor far to the north, which had become the center point on the Thrust into Poland while Scandinavian supply lines were cut off in Prussia.
The Italians firmly aware of this dug in rather than attempt a breakout. A Critical mistake, The one that the Khitan Empire had spent nearly four years of warfare waiting for.
The Italian army, with its distain for Germany and its relative indifference to Bohemia's plight in the North had grown increasingly focused on the defense of Italia. Particularly the city of MIlan, one of the largest industrial centers in Italy, and key to the Military strength of the country.
As a result, the Italian army had pushed everything possible into the defense of the city and its surrounding areas at the cost of losing Pisa to the Khitan army, and even enabling a Greek landing near Venezia in accordance with Anglo-Khitan plans to enforce a Bavaria Pocket.
While the Khitan lost thousands in Italy, the War in Europe was about to reach its climax.
'Fuel' Trucks, had arrived at major artillery emplacements all across the European frontline. Thier contents condfidential to even the carriers of the vehicles and known only to the most trusted highest level officiers. By the time word had eventually leaked to the Bohemians and Italians it was early July, and too late to properly prepare defenses against what was to come.
in Italy, Bavaria and Poland it would be deployed for the first time in terrifying amounts, breaking the stalemate in a horrific and dramatic display of death.
With his men dieing by the Hundreds, Italian General Giardino led a death defying assault on what would be known as 'Revenant Hill'. Reaching so close to Khitan lines so as to stop thier bombardment and have the battle descent into hand to hand fighting for days. General Giardino would succumb to Mustard Gas poisoning but his third in Command, General Lorenzo Zappa would surrender on the 8th of September, officially ending the Campaign for Northern Italy with a final bloody chapter.
The use of Poison Gas however was not without its downsides, The Italians and Bohemians had developed their own and short order and hesitated little in its deployment. The Wind also could shift unpredictably, often resulting in Poison Gas deployed against the enemy to then waft into Friendly lines.
The production of masks and other defenses against the weapon proceeded rather swiftly ultimately meaning its effect on the Battlefield turned from a dramatic, war winning secret weapon to a dangerous and deadly tactic used by both sides that required answering in the form of countermeasures, no different than the tank.
The Initiative granted by its deployment however had put the war at least in Europe on an unwinnable course for Italy and Bohemia, the former of which had lost much of its Core territory to the Khitan army and now faced complete encirclement in Germany.
In Germany the Fall of Bohemia had become the main event, but the Loss of Prussia and advancements all across Western Poland had effectively robbed Bohemia of a frontline or the ability to Win the war with a Greek Knockout. The Khitan Empire now held a frontline running from Sjaelland in the North down through Prague to Milan in the south, effectively a third of
Meanwhile British forces for the first time were within radio communication range of a interesting discovery. The Greek 6th Army originally sent to push for Prague at the onset of the war had been pinned down around lake Batalon and had held at the fortifications in the Region for the duration of the entire war.
The so called Lost army and its survival was the result of unwillingness to take the positions from Italiand and Bohemian forces once Croatia had fallen and the tenacity of the 6th Army who had effectively fortified the entire region and resorted to used enemy weapons and supplies looted from the dead to survive. For Foodstuffs for almost a year, the Lost Army had been supplied by locals and army personnel fishing from Lake Batalon until Bohemian and Italian forces poisoned the lake in order to kill wildlife within. By the time of thier rescue by the British, the Greek 6th Army had been reduced to eating shoe leather and to survive and had fallen to a third of their original strength in terms of effective fighting men.
With this in Mind the greeks abandoned Iraq to prepare a defense across the Levantine coast from Sinai across the Dead Sea to Allepo, where the Greeks hoped to use the desert against the oncoming Japanese and Persians to bottle thier advance into more contained zones of approach.
Meanwhile in the United States, American forces burst over the border into Tejas and into Southern California, effectively taking the regions with little resistance. With the majority of Central American forces in the South, the defense of the region fell primarily to California who had focused efforts on defending the Sierra Nevada and upper Haida regions of the country.
With one swift move the Oil producing regions of both California and the Central Americans had fallen to the united states, a crippling blow for the war across the world as now Arabia and America had been removed as potential supplies of one of if not the most important fuel the world over.
With one swift move the Oil producing regions of both California and the Central Americans had fallen to the united states, a crippling blow for the war across the world as now Arabia and America had been removed as potential supplies of one of if not the most important fuel the world over.
And as 1908 Came to a close, the Italians prepared one final defense of Rome, as the Greek navy returned in force to the Adriatic to try and lessen pressure on Greece proper, making landings in Croatia but also in Sicily.
The War in Europe would now be won entirely within the Autumn of 1908, Rome or Athens, If either capital fell the war effort for either side would go with it. A War to End All Wars was being fought, and the victor was soon at hand.
Activate Order 66.
Sometimes the inspiration strikes, sometimes it doesn't. I definitely have been trying to include more detail than I did in Annionas of Austria. Unfortunately I get ahead of myself, as alot of my time I spent on the aar is on stuff regarding the interim between Hoi and Stellaris, which probably wont be seen for another, 6 months at the lowest, year at the highest.
Oh you'll have to see, I think HOi will have more of an influence on which governments the world tends into. Though Should the United States survive a very important source of Democratic influence in the world doesnt exist, Meanwhile Imperial Japan sits on the opposite end of Europe.
Everything is Fine, We just need to believe in the strength of our men, and the righteousness of our cause.. Right? Right?
Exactly this, If we win in Europe, who cares what the Americans do with thier own continent. Peace with Honor is a small price to pay for victory... After all, weve gotten quite to used to paying some high prices for europe..
Did I find it? or were you referring to something besides some aerosol motivation for the boys in the trenches?
No, I do mean Texas and California. California particularly Los Angeles had a very significant oil field in the late 1890's and Offshore drilling didnt really ramp up in the gulf until the 1920's (Though there was some around Louisiana which the USA currently owns) Texas' oil however is flowing like honey in the early 1900's and a Greedy Economic power like the American Kingdom would definitely jump on a chance to seize it if possible.
Well, A peace with honor isn't off the table, I'm not particularly inclined to send Thousands more to their deaths over some rebellious colonies... Lets win in Europe first, worry about the consequences later, what possibly could go wrong?
Hopefully!
Dammit, what did I just say about the US joining the war?!
We're doomed now aren't we.
Also, you've been uploading these updates alot faster than before. I was expecting a week between this and the previous update, hopefully enough time to finish a flag for the Holy Terran Empire I've been working on, but you've been a lot quicker than I expected. I didn't even get time to respond to the previous update.
Not that this is a bad thing through, I do appreciate it. It's just that the pace of the uploads has caught me off guard.
Anyway, here's a obituary WW1 reading music for the update, hope you enjoy it.
Sometimes the inspiration strikes, sometimes it doesn't. I definitely have been trying to include more detail than I did in Annionas of Austria. Unfortunately I get ahead of myself, as alot of my time I spent on the aar is on stuff regarding the interim between Hoi and Stellaris, which probably wont be seen for another, 6 months at the lowest, year at the highest.
Oh you'll have to see, I think HOi will have more of an influence on which governments the world tends into. Though Should the United States survive a very important source of Democratic influence in the world doesnt exist, Meanwhile Imperial Japan sits on the opposite end of Europe.
Everything is Fine, We just need to believe in the strength of our men, and the righteousness of our cause.. Right? Right?
Exactly this, If we win in Europe, who cares what the Americans do with thier own continent. Peace with Honor is a small price to pay for victory... After all, weve gotten quite to used to paying some high prices for europe..
Did I find it? or were you referring to something besides some aerosol motivation for the boys in the trenches?
No, I do mean Texas and California. California particularly Los Angeles had a very significant oil field in the late 1890's and Offshore drilling didnt really ramp up in the gulf until the 1920's (Though there was some around Louisiana which the USA currently owns) Texas' oil however is flowing like honey in the early 1900's and a Greedy Economic power like the American Kingdom would definitely jump on a chance to seize it if possible.
Well, A peace with honor isn't off the table, I'm not particularly inclined to send Thousands more to their deaths over some rebellious colonies... Lets win in Europe first, worry about the consequences later, what possibly could go wrong?
Hopefully!
The clock has prepared a countdown and the race is on. Whether Rome or Athens falls first will mean one side just might emerge victorious once and for all. It'd be a grim victory for the Khitan however if the Americans finally land in Europe, hopefully the British fleet can keep them busy or it's going to be hell fighting fresh reinforcements 
Shame about Arabia though, then again their fall was inevitable.
Shame about Arabia though, then again their fall was inevitable.
If it makes you feel any better, I've been putting way too much detail into New World Order while still working on lore for the transition to Stellaris, Stellaris itself, AND the AAR I'm going to do after Stellaris, most of which won't be seen for another year at least. Take your time.
The end is indeed within in sight, but the war is still up in the air for either side to win. Good thing Cathay still has a chance to obtain victory, let's hope it happens.
Yeah, I can't think of a appropriate song to play this time, but I'll get something nice for the next and last of these Great War updates.
Edit: Never mind, I'll just use Price of a Mile for this. We may have used it already in EU4, but it's still a good song to play over this update.
Um, I don't mean to start an argument where I shouldn't be involved, but I don't think @HIMDogson was trying to dismiss the Texas and California bit; rather, he was trying to point out the typo that referenced the Mediterranean sea instead of actual American geography,
I mean, the Mediterranean is MUCH further away from the US than the Gulf of Mexico or the Caribbean is, just saying.
Yeah, take your time. After all, the more inspiration you have, the better this AAR gets.
Edit: Never mind, I'll just use Price of a Mile for this. We may have used it already in EU4, but it's still a good song to play over this update.
Ah, Arabia is gonna need some compensation after all this once you obviously turn things around a win this.
and when we mean "win" we mean fuck up every thing everywhere so bad an austrian moustache man comes in and starts a second war
Austrian? You mean that archaic German duchy? Preposterous. I don't believe any such place has existed as anything other than a geographical term for a few centuries. I can't imagine anyone of significance could ever be German, let alone come from some former Bavarian backwater.
If anything, that guy would more likely be an insignificant art school student than a warmongering madman.
I swear, I thought that guy was the one who criticized us all for being defeatists.
I believe that was me. Don't worry, there's no way we can lose. Rome is in much closer reach for us than Athens is for them anyhow.
Nah, you're fine. I was referring to the guy you were replying to.
It's a fight to the finish - and everyone will lose!
(or that is what it feels like, anyway)
(or that is what it feels like, anyway)
By the way, is anyone of any importance not a part of the war? Because they're the ones truly winning. Especially if they have an arms industry they can sell to all sides.
I thinks the Pegu Empire is the only significant neutral country that’s not in this war. Every other neutral countries, like India (which use to be partitioned by Pegu and Persia and is still squeezed in between them like Poland) is too weak or irrelevant to matter. This war pretty much covers all the significant parts of the world. I guess makes sense since this is a world war after all.
I could be wrong about this though, the Shun Empire is somewhat significant in the Chinese area and I’m not sure if they’re in this war. I think Dragoon mentioned they joined and supported the Japanese invasion of Khitan China a couple updates ago, so they might be involved too.