Western War
The Western War, also known as the Ahzakhian War or Dawkinson War, was a major war in The Plain Flat Plains. It was started in the year X919 when on 9 October, the nation of Ahzakhia invaded the island of Allergiers, part of the Bureaucratic States of Oglethorpia. The war saw the joining of Kingsford, Stanigramistan, and Reichdeutshland on the side of Oglethorpia. The war ended on 13 May, X922 with the signing of the Peace of Sheffingham. The Western War has played an enormous part in the shaping of the current political situation in the Plain Flat Plains. Almost all modern conflicts in the region have their origins from the Western War.
Contents
Preface to war
Ahzakhian Civil War
Main article: Ahzakhian Civil War
Ahzakhia was comprised of several different ethnic groups. The Kutchi in the east had established the First Ahzakhian Republic in X871. Under the Kutchi, however, many other ethnic groups like the Utch in the north and the Istaeli in the east had little or no say in government affairs. The last leader of the first republic, Atah Herwad Juzuj had removed suffrage to any not Kutchi peoples, and had instituted a heavy tax for any non Kutchi citizen of Ahzakhia. These malevolent actions sent the First Ahzakhian Republic spiraling into Civil War on 5 July, X899.
The Utch, the Istaelis, the Philistites, and the Gemorites all rebelled against the Kutchi government for autonomy. The country became a war-torn mess, and the casualties were innumerable. Soon though, the Kutchi government surrendered its claims over the lands of the rebels on 22 November, X903. The now free peoples, achieving their goal, were somewhat lost and clueless as to what to do. It was then that a charismatic Gemorite general named Kozahr Kazhul rose to power.
Kozahr Kazhul
Main article: Kozahr Kazhul
Kozahr Kazhul was a Gemorite born in Eech on Blankneck Island in southern Gemoria. Seeing the disarray of the newly autonomous regions, Kazhul took advantage of the situation and using his diplomatic abilities, was able to unite the freed peoples under a single flag. Kazhul gained the favor and loyalty of his people when he charged the former Atah Herwad Juzuj with international crimes and eventually had him executed. Kazhul eventually pressured the Kutchi people into unification with his nation. He referred to his new nation as the Second Ahzakhian Republic.
Second Ahzakhian Republic
main article: Second Ahzakhian Republic
The Second Ahzakhian Republic was brought into existance on 14 January, X906. The head of state was the Atah Kozahr Kazhul. Its capital was the city of Hammarhuld (chosen because of its central location). Its currency was the Zutor, which held the exchange rate of 1 USD = 3.4 Zutors.
The Second Ahzakhian Republic differed from the first in several distinct ways. Firstly, Kazhul instituted the Zuk-Zukruhl, a parliamentary body that represented all of the ethnic groups in Ahzakhia. For the first time in the Ahzakhian history, all ethnic groups had a say, including historically repressed ones such as the Istaelis. Another significant difference was the censorship placed upon the people by the government. Many political and philosophical books were banned, the newspapers became state-run, and advertising became almost completely outlawed. Kazhul wanted to oppress and eliminate any threat to his newfound power. The Flag of the Second Republic features the three stripes from the first republic flag, but configures them vertically, and bears the latin word "Equitas," meaning "Justice" in the top left corner.
Terrence Churlington
Main article: Terrence Churlington
Terrence Churlington was Prime Minister of Oglethorpia prior to the outbreak of the Western War. At the X918 Northern City Summit he effectively defended the fledging Ahkzakhia's reputation, painting them as hardly a threat and citing Kahzul's claimed contentment. In an afternoon speech on 9 October X919, Prime Minister Churlington again reiterated the percieved regional harmony. Later that night, the Battle of Allergiers, and effectively, the Western War began with an Ahzakhian bombing campaign and subsequent land invasion.
X918 Summit of Northern City
The X918 Summit of Northern City was held on 22 July, X918 in Northern City, Kingsford. The leaders that met there were the Atah Kozahr Kazhul of Ahzakhia, Prime Minister Terrence Churlington of Oglethorpia, Grand Secretary Mikhail Chorbachev of Stanigramistan, and King Liam II of Kingsford. The Summit was called by Liam II to discuss Ahzakhia's growing military buildup and mobilization and their numerous aquisitions of small islands around the continent. Churlington insisted that nothing was out of place, and boasted the incredible peace and friendship among the region. A secondary issue to be addressed by the summit was the abuse of human rights and political freedoms in Ahzakhia. This issue was dodged by Kazhul, but moreso by Churlington, who insisted that a great nation would not mar its image with atrocious activities, and condemned Chorbachev and Liam II for making heinous allegations. When questioned about his jingoistic actions, Kazhul stated that he would not cease in his aquisition of territory until his manifest destiny was fulfilled.
Dawkinson Atolls
On 29 September, X919, The Army of Ahzakhia under the personal leadership of Kozhar Kazhul landed on the Dawkinson Atolls. The Dawkinson Atolls are a large group of islands rich in natural resources, including oil. They form the southern border of the Dawkinson Sea. At the time, the entire coast of the Dawkinson Sea was controlled by Ahzakhia, and it was stated in Kazhul's writing The Manifest Destiny of Ahzakhia in X917 that The Dawkinson Atolls have been historically an Ahzakhian land.
This invasion shocked the whole region. There were numerous outcries in Kingsford and Stanigramistan, because the atolls would provide a natural resource pool to Ahzakhia, making them would undoubtedly be the most powerful nation in the region. Similar outcries were heard from the Oglethorpian citizenry and lesser government leaders; however Prime Minister Churlington dismissed the actions by Ahzakhia as passing and praised the greatness of Kazhul's leadership and initiative.
Kazhul had deployed 50,000 troops to the Dawkinson Atolls on 29 September. In 3 October, X919, he withdrew a substantial number of troops, leaving onnly 5,500 troops to occupy the atolls. Kazhul had withdrawn the troops and transported them north to assist with the impending invasion of the Oglethorpian island of Allergiers.
Motivation
Ahzakhia
Oglethorpia
Kingsford
Stanigramistan
Reichdeutschland
X919
Battle of Allergiers
Battle of Blankneck Island
Shortly after Allergiers was invaded, Kingsford King Liam II ordered General Wesley Bridges of the HRKRAF to invade Blankneck Island. Blankneck Island is a large island in the region of Gemoria in southern Ahzakhia. It was discovered by Oglethorpian Explorer Julius Dawkinson in X744 and named for the first mate on Dawkinson's crew, Michael Blankneck, who had first spotted the island. The island is strategically significant because it houses several important iron ore mines from which Ahzakhia draws a substantial amount of metal. Blankneck Island is also the birthplace of Ahzakhian Atah Kozahr Kazhul. King Liam II gave the orders to invade not only to gain a strategic advantage on Ahzakhia, but a psychological advantage as well.
General Bridges deployed a total of 84,000 men on Blankneck Island. Bridges coordinated three simultaneous invasions at three different locations to secure the island. The first and largest invasion was on the city of Eech. Eech is the largest city and current capital of Blankneck Island, as well as the birthplace of Kazhul. Bridges sent nearly half of his force, 40,000 men, to invade Eech. The army deployed on Eech at 6:02 AM on 14 October, X919.
The second largest invasion was at the northernmost city on the Island, Gzraja. The only navigable nautical path to the island from mainland Ahzakhia was by Gzraja. Bridges deployed 31,000 of his men to attack Gzraja. They commenced their attack at 6:03 AM on 14 October, X919.
The third invasion was relatively small but ultimately the most successful. Hjulbazakhanza, a small port city on the southeastern coast of Blankneck Island, was the only other city outside of Gzraja and Eech that was visited by ships from mainland Ahzakhia. Bridges deployed the remaining 13,000 troops to take control of Hjulbazakhanza. The attack started at 6:11 AM on 14 October, X919.
The resistance in Hjulbazakhanza subsided fairly quickly. The entire city was secured by 7:20 AM on 14 October. The Kingsforder forces sustained minimal casualities, and captured 1,437 prisoners. The town was turned into a temporary headquarters for operations in the western flats for the allied forces, only until a larger city was secured.
In Gzraja, more resistance was met. Twice as many Ahzakhian troops as Bridges had estimated were defending the port city of Gzraja. Also, the geography of the selected landing sites made it nearly impossible to secure any sort of ground. Ultimately, the forces at Gzraja retreated at 8:25 AM on 14 October, X919. They sustained 9,552 casualties and 3,080 men were taken prisoner. The surviving men fled south by boat to Hjulbazakhanza. Upon their arrival, they worked with the Kingsforder troops already there to improve fortifications if the armies on the northern half of the island moved southward to eliminate any Kingsforder presence on the island.
The most devastating outcome came to the 40,000 troops deployed to Eech. A force four times Bridge's estimate was waiting for the invasion force on the shores of the city. Bridges had split his forces in half, since the city lies on an isthmus, and attacked both sides of the city. Bridges rode with the force attacking the eastern shore of the island, while Captain Hurstolvt Urst, a Swedewegian immigrant, commanded the force attacking the western shore. The two planned to meet in the town square; however upon meeting significant resistance, Bridges almost instantly fled the battle and took his forces south to Hjulbazakhanza. Bridges fled at 7:21 AM on 14 October, X919, as soon as he recieved the news of the taking of Hjulbazakhanza, with 312 casualties sustained and 24 of his men taken prisoner. Urst was unaware of Bridges' flight, and fought tooth and nail against the full Ahzakhian force. He was eventually forced to retreat, sustaining 13,946 casualities and 409 of his men taken prisoner. The defeat of Captain Urst on the west shore of Eech would prove to be the single most devastating loss during the entire war for Kingsforder forces.
The 14 October, X919 invasion is largely considered a loss for the Kingsforder forces; however it did establish several crucial elements that would aide in a Kingsforder victory over Blankneck Island and Gemoria. Firstly, it established a base in the Western Flats. Albeit smaller than desired and incapable of larger operations, Hjulbazakhanza Base allowed the allied powers to gain a foothold in the Western Flats, something which they did not have and would prove to be crucial to winning the war. It also established the ineptness of General Bridges, though at great cost. Bridges was removed from his 5 day tenure as Commander of the Kingsforder Forces in the Western Flats. He was made commanding officer of Hjulbazakhanza Base. In his place as Commander of the Kingsforder Forces in the Western Flats, King Liam II promoted Captain Hurstolvt Urst. Under Urst, the aquisition of Blankneck Island, and ultimately Kingsford's efforts in the war, would be more successful.
Swedewegian neutrality
Stanigramistani neutrality
X920
Stanigramistani involvement
Stanigramistan joined the war on the side of Kingsford and Oglethorpia on 28 February, X920.
