Great Vestbeyholmian War
| The Great Vestbeyholmian War | |||||
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| Part of The Great Nelborne War | |||||
 From top to bottom: Seketese troops in New Lormotia, Jacish troops arriving on St. James Island, Bradonian troops being transported to St. James Island |
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| Belligerents | |||||
Allies: .svg){kind=small} Saxe-Wittenburg  North Vestbeyholm
| Imperials: Nordhelm |
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| Casualties and losses | |||||
| Allied Dead: 750,000 Saxon Dead 600,000 North Vestbeyholmian Dead | Imperial Dead: ~1 Million Nordlander Dead | ||||
| Total Casualties: ~ 2.4 Million | |||||
The Great Vestbeyholmian War was the last and most bloodiest war out of a series of three bloody wars, which took place on the island of Vestbeyholm between 1919 and 1965. These wars were fought between the two major powers on the island Saxe-Wittenburg and Nordhelm. The two other wars preceding this war created a situation which was aggravated by the system of alliances which lead to the two factions in the Nelborne Islands the Norths and the Souths. The rivalry on the island caused both Saxe-Wittenburg and Nordhelm to join these rival alliances, with Nordhelm choosing to join the Souths and Saxe-Wittenburg choosing to join the Norths.
In 1961 on Nelborne Island tensions between the rival Norths and Souths finally boiled over and war broke out, which within hours spread over to Vestbeyholm. Within hours after war had been declared in Vestbeyholm Nordlander troops marched out of Nordhelm and advanced into Saxe-Wittenburg. It would be another four long and bloody years before peace returned to Vestbeyholm.
Pre-Bellum Period
Prior to the Great North Vestbeyholmian War the victorious allied forces in the Second Vestbeyholmian War reversed the territorial gains which the Empire of Nordhelm achieved as a result of the First Vestbeyholmian War.
The Allies demanded as part of the peace terms that the Emperor of Nordhelm be deposed, and this controversial provision in the peace terms was accepted by the centrist pro-democracy government at the time. This action created the myth that the Empire was stabbed in the back by the centrist pro-democracy government, which was viewed as a puppet of Saxe-Wittenburg. The victors in addition to this imposed harsh reparations upon Nordhelm, which fuelled further resentment within Nordhelm. The newly created republican government was thus ill equipped to deal with the anger and resentment from a bitter populace.
The Volksregierung, as the government was soon dubbed, was staunchly opposed by the right wing parties. These parties sought the re-imposition of the monarchy and the abolishment of the Volksregierung. The Volksregierung staggered on for a period of fourteen years after the war was over until the 1955 election when the vehemently anti-republican Partei für die Rückkehr des Kaisers (Party for the Return of the Emperor) won a absolute majority in the Parliamentary elections.
The constitution was soon abolished and the formerly deposed Emperor was reinstated. The newly reborn Empire soon began seeking allies, and they were soon found in the alliance with the nation's of Alquiya and Lomortia. Meanwhile Saxe-Wittenburg’s ties to Seketan, Dominion of Jacland, and Lucar were steadily increasing.
The Emperor of Nordhelm soon pushed a massive program of expanding the military. This program was very well received by some elements of Nordhelm however certain other elements of Nordlander society disapproved of this program. News of this program was coldly received in Saxe-Wittenburg, as the government viewed it as a sheer provocation. Tensions thus steadily increased between the two rival powers.
When Alquiya declared war upon Seketan in July of 1961 the web of alliances came into play, and thus began the bloodiest conflict in the Nelborne Union’s history.
The War
The Nordlander Offensive
Within hours after war had been declared Nordlander troops advanced across the Saxon borders near Fort Freiheit. The invading Hetrovin forces overran the Saxon positions along the Eisen Line near Fort Freiheit within several days of the onset of hostilities. Much of Northern Saxe-Wittenburg at this suffered from severe bombing at this time, however Southern Saxe-Wittenburg was not bombed due to the fact that the Emperor of Nordhelm wanted to march through Wittenburg and other major cities in triumph.
Saxon forces attempted to re-group several times unsuccessfully at Cologne first and then later at Mansfeld. The Saxon forces however were successful though at slowing down the Nordlander forces long enough for reinforcements to be brought up to Wittenburg.
Within two weeks Nordlander forces were at the outskirts of Wittenburg, where Saxon forces had regrouped for a last ditch defense of the capital city. The delays which the Saxon troops had caused with the battles at Cologne and Mansfeld gave the Saxons enough time to fortify Wittenburg.
The Battle of Wittenburg
On August 20th 1961 the Nordlander forces began the assault on the Saxon positions which were on the outskirts of Wittenburg. Within hours the Saxon positions were overrun by Nordlander troops. Fighting continued in the streets of the suburbs of Wittenburg as student and worker militias attempted to halt the onslaught.
The Militia in the center northern sector rallied at a point near the old Church of St. George in the suburb of Newtown. There the militia clashed in a brutal battle with the Nordlander forces, who had sought to capture the church. Four times the Nordlanders advanced and three times the Nordlanders were pushed back with massive casualties. The Fifth and final time however the Nordlander troops broke through the lines and nearly succeeded in capturing the Church when a Saxon Chaplin rallied the disorganized band of men and the Saxons once again repulsed the Nordlander.
Meanwhile Saxon troops and militia rallied inside the Jaeger Arm Works in the industrial area on the northern bank of the Daugava. The men though they were cut off from Saxon positions, still succeeded in defending the factory form the initial onslaught. For seven days these men held out until the vast majority of them were died in repelling the final assault, which ultimately captured the complex.
During this time the Nordlanders also attempted to assault the residential districts to the north west of the center of the city. This area was the weakest sector of the Saxon positions as it was defended mostly by young boy scout volunteers. These scouts although they had little training succeeded in making the Nordlanders pay dearly for their gains, however the scouts too payed a high price for their bravery.
The Nordlanders were worn down by the heavy price which they paid for their advances. During a three day long lull in the Battle the Saxons brought up fresh troops from Süd-Land, which allowed the Saxons to begin an offensive. This offensive pushed the Nordlanders out of the suburbs of Wittenburg within a period of three days. The old town of Wittenburg was largely spared from the fighting, which has ensured that the vast majority of the old town today exists in such good condition.
The Nordlanders had paid a huge price for this battle, which cautious estimates place around 100,000 dead and 10,000 more wounded. The Saxon defenders to paid a heavy price with 45,491 Dead and 53,961 wounded, and 45,014 dead and 60,017 wounded civilians. This battle was seen by many as the key turning point in the war.
The Autumn Lull
After the battle of Wittenburg both sides regrouped over a period of several months. Although the Saxons were victorious after the battle of Wittenburg, the Saxons suffered heavy casualties which in combination with the supply shortages, ensured that the Nordlander retreat after the battle of Wittenburg did not become a rout. The Nordlanders also suffered from grievous supply shortages which in combination with the heavy casualties ensured that it would be a while before the Nordlanders would attempt to advance.
Around late November Saxon forces, recently re-equipped with more modern weaponry and replenished by recruits from Sudland, began preparing for a advance.
The Winter Offensive
On December 11th 1962, Saxon soldiers crawled out of their trenches and dugouts and advanced towards the Nordlander lines. The spearhead of the Saxon force soon cracked the Nordlander lines, which caused the Nordlanders to begin a long retreat.
The Nordlanders attempted to regroup at Kolberg, where Saxon forces caught up with the main body of Nordlanders, which became the sight of a fierce battle. This battle raged on for several hours as Saxons and Nordlanders fought for control of the town’s center. In the end though the Saxons emerged victorious, which resulted in the Nordlander forces continuing their retreat.
On January 1st Cologne was liberated by Saxon forces, and a week latter Fort Freiheit was liberated. After this no major Saxon city or town was held by the Nordlander forces, however the liberations of these two cities signaled the end of the Winter offensive. A large winter storm had moved in on January 8th, which signaled the start of the worst blizzard in Saxon history. Freezing temperatures and huge drifts of snow ensured that any offensive would have to be postponed.
During this weather the Nordlander forces regrouped and prepared a defensive line in and around the mountain passes near the old North Vestbeyholmian-Saxon border. This area was extremely mountainous, and as such very easy to defend and very difficult to attack, which would be very consequential for the future Saxon offensives.
The North Vestbeyholmian Theater 1963
Throughout all of 1963 the front within North Vestbeyholm was very static, as several costly Saxon offensives failed due to the terrain. By July both sides began to dig in and as a result casualties mounted. In early November the Saxons began a week long offensive which, despite it’s high cost, managed to break through the 1st line of Nordlander defense. The Nordlanders however fell back to their reserve positions shortly after the first line was breached, and as a result the offensive was halted.
Throughout the war much of Nordhelm was being bombed by the Saxon Air force, which attacked civilian and industrial centers in an attempt to reduce the war capacity of Nordhelm. This came at a very steep cost for the Nordlander civilian populations, as many thousands of Nordlanders died in these raids. Many of these raids including the Raid on Woistburg are still are thorny point in Nordlander-Saxon Relations. le Throughout the winter of 1963-1964 there was little major activity along the front. Most combat during this time was in the form of small skirmishes along sectors of the front, which the vast majority of these were caused by the probing raids that the Saxons launched against the Nordlander lines. These probing raids were extremely helpful to the Saxons, by allowing them to gain accurate data about the state of the Nordlander forces in the front lines.
The North Vestbeyholmian Theater 1964
In the Spring of 1964 the Saxons once again launched an offensive which finally succeeded in breaking through the Nordlander lines. Saxon forces reached New Riga in May of 1964, and liberated it. Many other towns and villages were also liberated within the highlands of North Vestbeyholm. It was at this time that many North Vestbeyholmians once again rose up in revolt. By the middle of autumn the lowlands of North Vestbeyholm were liberated as well thanks to the combined North Vestbeyholmian-Saxon efforts.
When almost all of North Vestbeyholm was liberated many emigres from Saxon as well as nationalists joined together to create the Provisional Government of North Vestbeyholm. This Government was largely supported by the people, which thus caused the Saxon government to recognize it. The provisional government raised a medium sized army, which was equipped by Saxe-Wittenburg, to aid in the war effort.
During the winter of 1963-1964 the Nordlander forces attempted to advance in several sectors of the lowlands in North Vestbeyholm. This offensive however quickly ran out of steam, and the land gained was quickly retaken by join North Vestbeyholmian-Saxon forces.
The Nordhelm Theater 1964
After the failed offensive Nordlander troops retreated to lines within the pre-First Vestbeyholmian War borders. The Allied (Saxon and North Vestbeyholmian) forces soon advanced on many of the major industrial centers near the border. The Allied forces goal was to advance upon the Nordhelm capital of Alborg, which was the residence of the Emperor of Nordhelm.
During this time many officers and men within the Nordlander army, were angry with the process of the war. Thus when a long planned and carefully executed Putsch, which was initiated by a number of civil servants and military officers, succeeded in assassinating the Emperor of Nordhelm many supported the putsch. The organizers of the putsch then began peace talks with the allies.
Peace at last
Fallowing the successful putsch launched against the Nordlander monarchy the interim Nordlander government then began peace talks with the Saxon government shortly afterwards. The talks ground on for almost a month, until May 21st when the final peace treaty was signed between Nordhelm and the allies. This treaty put an end to the most bloody conflict in Vestbeyholmian history after four years of grueling warfare.
The Role of the Church of Saxony in the War
The Great Vestbeyholmian War is a key part of modern Saxon history. During this war the Church of Saxe-Wittenburg became a very key component of nationalism. In many of the war ravaged areas in Northern Saxe-Wittenburg the church became the largest source for aid to the general population. In addition to the work that the military chaplains did during the war, which many saw as vital to the war effort.
These things forged a extremely strong bond between the clergy and the lay community, which has continued to this day. The church's heavy involvement with social work during the war created strong ties between Saxon labor unions and the church as well. This involvement in labor unions helped to spawn the Christian Socialist Party, as an alternative for the SDP.
These factors resulted in the Church becoming a fierce critic about economic inequality (more so than the Social-Democratic Party which prior to the war had been the leading institution to do so), which Saxe-Wittenburg experienced after the war, resulted in the Church being transformed into a leading leftist institution in society. The Christian Socialist Party was created by individuals who were influenced by the Church's stance on economic positions. This Christian Socialists are considered to be much more centrist on social issues as compared to the Social-Democratic party which is very liberal in regards to social issues.
War Crimes
Throughout the war both sides accused the other of committing war crimes. The Saxons and North Vestbeyholmians accused the Nordlanders of violating the Geneva convention throughout the Occupation of North Vestbeyholm and occupation of Northern Saxe-Wittenburg, while the Nordlanders accused the Saxons of committing war crimes with the firebombing campaign against the civilian population of Nordhelm.
Saxon Fire Bombing Campaign
Some Nordlanders consider the Saxon Firebombing Campaign (which includes the bombing of Woistburg, Bohemdorf, and Dusselberg) to be war crimes. By 1963 the Saxon Air Force had given up precision bombing and instead attempted to wage a war against the civilian population in order to demoralize them in hopes that it would speed up the war.
To kick off this campaign three major cities were selected by the Saxon Air Force to be the target of firebombing raids. The cities selected were both large populations and industrial centers, and contributed heavily to the war effort.
On June 11th the Saxon Air Force firebombed the city of Woistburg, which had a pre-bombing population of around 200,000 people. The bombing created huge fires which consumed around 65% of all buildings within the city. During the bombing most of the civilian population were huddled within their air raid bunkers, however at least eight thousand people were asphyxiated within their bunkers. Another fifty five thousand were fatalities were recorded as being caused by various things relating to the fires. In all total at least 63,000 people died in the fire, and another 75,000 became homeless due to the firebombing.
On June 13th the Saxon Air Force bombed the city of Bohemdorf, which had a prewar population of 191,000 people. The Saxon Air Force deployed the same tactics which had been employed in Woisburg. The results were the same as what happened in Woisburg, which was the near destruction of the city. In all total it is estimated that three out of five homes were destroyed by the blaze created, along with the deaths of 45,000 people.
The final and largest bombing in this series of bombings was the bombing of the border city of Dusselburg with a pre-war population of 150,000 people. The success of the other two bombings persuaded The post raid population was decreased by one third, with one out of every three residents dying in the firestorm which the bombing created. In addition to this at least 75% of the entire city lay in ruins, along with many of the defenses which had be constructed outside of the city. After the bombing the Saxon army easily captured the city from the Nordlanders, in the most bloodless battle fought in the war.
