War of 1919 (Pacifica)

War of 1919
(From top to bottom) Weissersteiner forces in the city of Williemsbode; Gunter-Stein Panzerwagen during Operation Kleiner Schbeck; General Šbécke with the 2nd Corps
Date 29 June 1919 - 4 August 1923 Location Luxemburg, Weisserstein Lowenia, Weisserstein Clashonia Result Armistice at Frendon (1922) Armistice at Šdenke (1923) Treaty of Williemsbode (1924)
Belligerents
Weisserstein KWGvB (after 1922) Royal Clashonian government-in-exile	Union State of Bannarsia and Transclarvia	First Clashonian Republic
Commanders and leaders
Friedrich Wilhelm II Friedrich Eugen von Wittelsbach Wilhelm-Alexander von Schwarzberg Gothäart Brént	Konstans Dittrich Klemens A.J. Šbecke Falko Šnabel Augustin Dreer Haike Stark Teodor Bome	Gustaf Sténmann Josef Bergele Kristof Šober Simon Fink Jannik Keppler
Strength
1,758,000 758,000	3,884,800	1,938,000 828,000

The War of 1919 (Alman: Krieg von 1919, Clashonian: Krig ven 1919), also known as the Second Weissersteiner-Clashonian War, was an armed conflict between the Weissersteiner Empire and the Union State of Bannarsia and Transclarvia which lasted from 1919 to 1923. The war started over territorial dispute regarding the territories of Blubach and Bischofgen and Weissersteiner support for the exiled Clashonian monarchy. The war ended the existence of the Union State and saw the rise of the Clashonian Republic, the beginning of the Warlord era, and Weissersteiner occupation of North Bannarsia through a client state.

Following the 1904 Clashonian coup d'etat, the Clashonian royal family, government, and military high command fled to neighboring Weisserstein, establishing the Royal Clashonian government-in-exile. Amidst the chaos of the coup, Weissersteiner forces move to secure the territories of Blubach and Bischofgen. Both territories were previously established as a condominium following the First Weissersteiner-Clashonian War, but after the coup, the Weissersteiner government decided to incorporate the two territories into the Weissersteiner Empire. At the time, the Union State was unable to do anything due to their own precarious position, and was forced to recognize the annexation during discussions in mid-February of 1907, now known as the Brandenburg Agreement. The events of 1907 became a key turning point as the nationalist wing of the Party of the Union State began taking a more active role in both the military and governance, eventually leading to Steffan Fahr, leader of the nationalist wing of the party, becoming the President-Minister of the Union State in the 1913 snap elections.

On June 28, a false flag attack by the Army of the Union State was conducted in the Kleinhart Jura, marking the beginning of the war. While the AVS had a numerical advantage, advances into Luxemburg stalled. The line remained static until Weisserstein, using the Panzerwagen GS, made a breakthrough offensive in mid-1920, capturing much of Bannarsia and Clashonia's second largest city, Williemsbode. The AVS attempted to reverse the Weissersteiner gains by Operation Burn Back, but was unsuccessful in regaining lost grounds. The failures of the Union State led to the National Republican Party, a staunch rival of the Party of the Union State, launching a rebellion in Greater Clarvia. The situation was exploited by the Reichswehr, which launched a major offensive, capturing much of the Kleinhart Jura, Greater Clarvia, and even Clashonia's capital, Karlsbode, in February 1922.

Weissersteiner successes forced the Union State to negotiate an end to the fighting, but with a coup by the NRP, negotiations grounded to a halt. The new authorities declared the founding of the Clashonian Republic, and its leaders' intentions to continue the war. The new National Republican Army under Gustaf Stenmann led a massive offensive with the intention of liberating the Greater Clarvia region. The offensive successfully led to the liberation of Greater Clarvia, but moves into Bannarsia were halted by the Reichswehr. War exhaustion from both sides eventually led to negotiations reopening in July 1923. On 4 September 1923, an armistice was signed in the city of Šdenke, ending the war. Weisserstein would continue to occupy Bannarsia until proper peace terms could be agreed upon. However, the continued occupation of Bannarsia and the growing distrust towards the new Republic led to the beginning of the Warlord Era.

The chaos of the period led to Weisserstein exploiting the weakness of the Clashonian Republic during the peace talks at Williemsbode in 1924, dictating harsh terms, including the recognition of the Grand Duchy of Bannarsia, a Weissersteiner client state made to appease Clashonian monarchists, the continued Weissersteiner occupation in Greater Clarvia until 1928, and for Clashonia to pay reparations and accept the blame of the war. The new Republic was forced to accept the harsh terms, leading to even more dissent at home.

Background

Blubach and Bischofgen dispute

Since the end of the Nobles’ War in 1738, the territory of Blubach and Bischofgen had been hotly contested between the Grand Duchy of Bannarsia and the Kingdom of Luxemburg. During the Gianlucian era, the territory of Blubach was given to Bannarsia, while Bischofgen was under the control of Luxemburg, but after the end of the Nobles’ War, the two once again began laying claims on the territory.

In 1815, the Weissersteiner Empire was founded through the unification of countries which were part of the Alemannic Confederation, including Luxemburg. The dispute was inherited by the new Weissersteiner monarchy, which valued the region for further development. This was not appreciated by the successor to Bannarsia, the Kingdom of Clashonia, and Clashonia began pushing its claims to the territory once again. A war was fought between the two states in 1862, which ended indecisively. During the peace talks, both states agreed to turn the two territories into a condominium, governed together by the two states. Nonetheless, both sides were not satisfied with the resolution.

1904 coup and political turmoil

While democratic reforms were slowly being introduced into Clashonia, many movements believed that true change can only be achieved with the removal of the monarchy. This led to the rise of several prominent anti-monarchist underground movements, whose goals are to dismantle the entrenched and autocratic monarchy. Among these movement was the Unionists, represented by the Party of the Union State, who sought to establish a "Union State" or a "federation of equals" between the northern half of Clashonia (Bannarsia) and the southern half (Transclarvia), establish a much more egalitarian democratic government, and to remove the monarchy's entrenched influence from everyday Clashonian lives.

Colonel Martin Rotmann, one of the leaders of the 1904 coup

Erik Kestenbome, the leader of the Party of the Union State and the first president of the Union State of Bannarsia and Transclarvia

In 1904, members of the Party of the Union State, bolstered by sympathetic elements of the Clashonian military, orchestrated the storming of the Clashonian Royal Palace and the Landtag building, sending the royal family and the government into exile. Elements of the military that were still loyal to the Clashonian Monarchy unsuccessfully attempted to quell the insurrection, which now spread to the countryside. The coup is led mostly by PVS leader Erik Kestenbome and Colonel Martin Rotmann from the military.

Following the successful declaration of the formation of the Union State of Bannarsia and Trasnclarvia by PUS officials, a large-scale purge of all royalist elements from Clashonian society occurred. Many royalists, including the Clashonian royal family, sought refuge in neighboring Weisserstein, with hopes of possibly reestablishing their power once the time is right. This also led to the beginning of royalist insurgencies in Clashonia, fervently loyal to the deposed monarch and driven by determination to restore crown. The militia operated in parts of Clashonia that is sympathetic to the monarchist cause, namely in the Kleinhart Jura, Bannarsia, the Rongau, and Greater Clarvia.

After the coup, Clashonian society shifted in an unprecedented manner. Royalists were persecuted and many old symbols and images of the monarchy were removed from the public. Many prominent military generals decided to side with the Unionists, who saw their stance on defending Clashonia's territorial integrity as a vital point of interest for the military in comparison to the monarchy's old stance of peaceful negotiations with Weisserstein. Despite this notion, many fervent nationalists remained skeptical regarding Clashonia's experiment with democracy and sought to further their agenda in the political turmoil. The new Union State government found itself thrust into a precarious position of authority.

In the aftermath of the coup, king Williem II and what remained of the old government established the Clashonian royal government-in-exile, as well as maintaining an amy-in-exile, consisting of nearly 40,000 men. They continued to operate in Weisserstein up until the monarchy is restored in 1994. The new government-in-exile gave their support to the Royalist insurgency operating in Clashonia's northern regions, namely the Kleinhart Jura. The royalist insurgents, adopted hit-and-run tactics that confounded the newly-formed Army of the Union State. The Royalist insurgents also received support, not only from the upper class and the nobility, but also from sympathetic and fervent loyalists from the working class and urban population.

The coup by the Unionists also had far-reaching consequences that extended beyond the immediate power struggle. One of the most striking effects of the coup was the erosion of trust and unity between the radicals and moderates within democratic circles. The Unionist overthrow of the existing order disrupted the moderates' plans to usher in a Clashonian democracy through a series of well-considered reforms, undoing The Moderates' decades-long work to pave the way for a constitutional monarchy, aiming to strike a balance between democratic ideals and the traditional monarchical structure that had defined Clashonia. The radical Republicans, whose influence had dwindled in radical democratic circles due to the coup, has also presented itself as an alternative and contender against Unionist rule. This dynamic sowed seeds of instability within the democratic circles as multiple factions vied for supremacy within the governance of Clashonia

As their rule began, the Unionists began banning many moderate democratic parties, who they perceived as mere proponents of monarchical conformity, thus undermining the very essence of the Unionists' democratic vision. However, this only served to deepen the already severe discourse among the proponents of democracy in Clashonia. Many of these ousted moderates, feeling marginalized and betrayed, gravitated towards the now-deposed King Williem II, seeking solace in the remnants of the old monarchy. This exodus of moderates not only further entrenched the schism between the factions but also added an extra layer of complexity to the already intricate political landscape of Clashonia.

Annexation of Blubach and Bischofgen by Weisserstein

As political turmoil engulfed Clashonia, Weisserstein sent several infantry units to secure the territories of Blubach and Bischofgen. Attempts were made by the newly-formed Army of the Union State to combat the annexation, but these attempts were in vain as the local garrisons were more loyal to the deposed King Williem than to the new government in Karlsbode.

Founding of the Black Camp

Following the signing of the 1907 Brandenburg Agreement, many within the Union State, namely the nationalists, were outraged by the government's desicion to simply hand over the territory to Weisserstein without any attempt at resisting. This outcry eventually led to the founding of the far-right Black Camp - National Revolutionary Organization (Clashoian: Švart Leger - Našionale Revolusionere Organisasie), or simply the Black Camp, which sought to exploit the discontent and political fallout of the Union State's concessions. The organization, formed mere days after the signing of the Brandenburg Agreement in 1907, quickly secured its position as the largest and most powerful far-right Clashonian political movement during the period of the Union State and the Clashonian Republic, either as supporters to the government or as opposition to its rule.

Lothar Popel, commander of the Black Camp and key figure of the 1909 revolt

Central to the organization is ideologue Lothar Stefan Popel, a charismatic and extremist lawyer and politician from the town of Klīn Šaalberč. Under his leadership, the Black Camp became an organized political and social movement, distinguishing his group from the anarchistic, bandit-like far-right that had existed in Clashonia prior. His success in shaping the organization into a well-organized opposition group to the Union State regime also enabled him to have heavy influence over many of the smaller far-right organizations in Clashonia, which eventually merged with the Black Camp.

Under his vision, the Black Camp believed in Clashonian irredentism, and sought to regain their lost territories such as Blubach and Bischofgen from Weisserstein. He also envisioned a unified Clashonian ethnostate, where the differences between the northern Bannarsians and the southern Transclarvians are removed from Clashonian society altogether. This also meant he saw the other ethnicities within Clashonia as "foreigners" (Ooslander) and were to be removed from the Clashonian nation.

Soon, the Black Camp found itself a powerful ally within the nationalist wing of the PVS. Popel met with nationalist leader Steffan Fahr, who eventually endorsed the group as "true Clashonian patriots". Eventually, Fahr used the Black Camp's extensive network of militias to intimidate his rivals, in return giving the Black Camp a voice in government.

1912 Transclarve Uprsing

The signing of the Brandenburg Agreement, which saw the readjustment of Clashonia's borders, was used as justification for the Transclarvians to seek self-determination of their territories. Led by the charismatic Markus Ehmann, the Transclarve nationalist and father of the more famous Erik and Jakob Ehmann, the Transclarvians rallied for self-determination of the Transclarve region. Since the signing of the agreement in 1907, Transclarvian nationalist movements began an unrelenting campaign, calling for secession. Despite the popularity of the Union State amongst Transclarvians, the cabinet of Erik Kestenbome was predominantly made up of people from Greater Clarvia and Bannarsia, which Transclarvian nationalists consider one and the same. This meant little representation for concerns of Transclarvians.

Government troops securing the city of Janstad

The Black Camp, now with the patronage of Steffan Fahr, began an unrelenting attempt to suppress Transclarvian nationalists' attempts for statehood. This unrelenting campaign only heightened tensions between the authorities, who viewed the nationalists as a terrorist movement which threatens the state, and the Transclarvian nationalists, who view the Black Camp as an extension of the PVS, which therefore meant that the PVS, and by extension the Union State, is actively oppressing the Transclarvian people.

In March 1912, Markus Ehmann, during a speech, was shot dead by Black Camp members Karl Lotnek and Oskar Berč. This led to outcry by Transclarve nationalists who, in retaliation, hanged both assassins on a lamp post. The AVS was sent in to quell the unrest, but this only added fuel to the fire. The Transclarve Peoples' Party, the primary political party advocating for minority rights in Transclarvia, began openly rebelling against state authority. Street clashes between government troops and Transclarvian militias became commonplace throughout Transclarvia, with the largest and bloodiest battles being in Janstad, the historical, cultural, and political capital of Transclarvia.

1918 Clashonian mobilization

Clashonian conscripts during the mobilization

Since as early as 1915, President Féhr had ordered the Army of the Union State to initiate comprehensive preparations for a potential conflict with Weisserstein. The lessons from the 4-Day War had changed the Clashonian military's outlook from a purely defensive strategy to a much more aggressive blend of defense and offense. Major towns lining the border were transformed into formidable bastions, their defenses bolstered by strategic fortifications and military infrastructure. Meanwhile, the local men of these newly-fortified towns, driven by a sense of duty and patriotism, were conscripted into the swelling ranks of the Army of the Union State.

In 1918, the geopolitical landscape took a bleak turn. In response to the deteriorating relations with Weisserstein, the President of the Union State, Äaron Féhr, issued the general mobilization of all male Clashonians from the ages 18-48. The army's rank swollen as men joined in droves, bolstered by a sense of duty and patriotism, as well as in preparation to face a much stronger foe. The Union State's navy was also placed on high alert, and the navy began securing their vital trade lines.

Despite the mobilization, the Clashonian foreign minister Jan Léhmann had assured Weisserstein that the Clashonian Union State was not seeking any conflict. He later claimed the military preparations as mere "exercises" while the mobilization was referred to simply as a "wave of patriotism". After a meeting between Léhmann and his Weissersteiner counterpart Christian Graf von Bismarck, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to seek a peaceful resolution for any upcoming conflict. However, as was revealed in Bismarck's personal notes, he knew that the Clashonians were simply "putting up a show for us to see", hinting that he knew of Clashonia's plans for an invasion.

Breakdown of talks

With tensions between Weisserstein and Clashonia mounting, Clashonia turned towards a much more aggressive foreign policy. The Black Camp and radical elements of the Union State's government were also considered one of the chief influencers of the shifting diplomatic situations. As early as 1918, Clashonian diplomats drafted plans to pull out of the 1915 Bad Salzdeck Agreement, but decided against it for fear of a direct invasion.

1919

False flag attack and declaration of war

Days before the war began, leader of the Black Camp Lothar Popël met with Generals Falko Šnabel, Klemens Šbécke, and Augustin Dréer to discuss preparations for the upcoming conflict between Weisserstein and Clashonia. During these meetings, mentions of a series of false flag attacks to pin the blame of starting the war on Weisserstein were brought to light by General Šnabel, who believed such attacks could possibly give the Union State's justification of war much more acceptable on the international stage. General Dréer suggested to Popël that his Black Camp forces disguise themselves as monarchist militiamen and initiate combat with Clashonian forces in the border to achieve the plans for a false flag attack. Popël agreed to the suggestion and began preparing his forces for the attacks.

Black Camp militias in the Kleinhart Jura

After the meeting between Popël and generals of the Army of the Union State, General Šbécke met with President of the Union State, XX. During this meeting, Šbécke informed XX regarding the possibiity of war between Weisserstein and the Union State and requested the President's approval for the military to begin preparations to engage Weissersteiner forces. XX gave Šbécke approval for all military operations moving forward. Plans for the false flag attacks was not given to any of the commanders in the front lines, as well as to the Union State's political institution, as General Šbécke believed that the operation would not run as smoothly if the information was relayed, and he distrusted some of the politicians in power.

On 27 June 1919, members of the Clashonian Black Camp militia would launch a series of engagements with Union State forces dubbed Operation Skylark, killing 2 Clashonian soldiers and 3 Black Camp militiamen. The next day, Union State officials accused Weisserstein of instigating a conflict between Weisserstein and the Union State before sending an ultimatum, demanding Weisserstein to demilitarize the Weissersteiner-Clashonian border, return Blubach and Bischofgen to the Union State, and to extradite the members of the Royal Clashonian government-in-exile, including all the members of the Clashonian royal family. Weissersteiner Foreign Minister Christian Graf von Bismarck did not heed the ultimatum however, which served as casus belli for a declaration of war. Clashonia would sever diplomatic relations with Weisserstein on June 28 and both countries begin stationing their forces along their shared border.

On the morning of 29 June, Clashonian artillery would begin bombing Weissersteiner lines, followed by small incursions between the Weissersteiner Reichswehr and the Army of the Union State. The Union State government would officially declare a state of war between Clashonia and Weisserstein on 08:00 AM, marking the end of the 4-year peace established by the Bad Salzdeck Agreement. Clashonian forces launched their first assaults to the towns of Blubach, Bischofgen, and Marchfelden. The attack on Blubach was successful and Clashonian forces captured the town from Weisserstein. The battle of Bischofgen was much more brutal, as Weissersteiner forces under Hauptmann Florian Friedberger refused to give up the town, which resulted in a fierce battle between the two armies. In the end, control of Bischofgen remained in Weissersteiner hands. The battle of Marchfelden ended in a similar manner, as Weissersteiner forces refused to give up the town. The battle ended in a Weissersteiner victory. In total, the Union State suffered 11,200 casualties from all three battles, while Weisserstein suffered a total of 8,200 casualties from all three battles.

Operation Kettle and offensive into Lowenia

Clashonian Model 1917 105mm howitzer during the Battle of Freihofen

On 30 June, Clashonian forces would launch a major offensive, codenamed Betréb Waserkokher (Operation Kettle), attacking the defenses through a newly-formed unit, the Luxemburg Corps, to push the Weissersteiners out of their defensive lines in the Schwarzberg Line. While successfully gaining grounds throughout the early weeks of the operation, the Luxemburg Corps failed to make the significant breakthrough that the Union State had expected. By the third month of the operation, the frontlines ground to a halt as Weissersteiner forces reinforced their defenses. Under the command of General Falko Šnabel, the forces successfully pushed around 68km into Luxemburg, capturing parts of the Schwarzberg Lines. However, due to logistical issues, the offensive failed to take any of its strategic goals.

General Falko Šnabel would be badly wounded by a stray artillery shell that exploded near his quarters and command was briefly handed to Major Héike Stark, who quickly ordered a shift of focus to the Kleinhart Jura. Clashonian forces began moving swiftly deeper into the Weissersteiner parts of the Kleinhart Jura. The offensive sought to capture cities around parts of Lowenia, namely the city of Brandenburg. This new offensive saw the reorganization of the Clashonian military, which eventually became the backbone of the new Kleinhart Jura Corps, whose focus would be entirely dedicated to the push into the areas of Lowenia. The renewed offensive saw better successes compared to the original push into Luxemburg, however the fighting in the Kleinhart Jura remained very fierce, with several major battles between the Kleinhart Jura Corps and Weissersteiner forces.

General Héike Stark

The first major battle in the second offensive is the Battle of Freihofen on 1 July, which saw Clashonian artillery pieces pounding Weissersteiner defenses in the town. The town was captured on the following day, which created an opportunity to push further into Lowenia and possibly threaten the city of Brandenburg. Clashonian forces would engage with the Reichsheer in the 1st Battle of the Sonzig, one of the tributaries of the Clarve river, on 3 July. The 1st Battle of the Sonzig ended inconclusively and both sides decided to rest. A second battle would occur for the Sonzig, which would prove decisive in determining the campaign's continuity. The 2nd Battle of the Sonzig was the bloodiest campaign up to that point, and saw Clashonian forces defeating the smaller, ill-prepared Weissersteiner forces. The capture of both the Sonzig and Freihofen opened the gates for operations deeper in Weissersteiner territory. For his victories, Héike Stark would be promoted into General.

Clashonian forces would push deeper into Lowenia after the defeat of Weissersteiner troops in the 2nd Battle of the Sonzig. Fighting would break out in the town of Oberfreizach on 5 July, and saw Weissersteiner defenders putting tough resistance to the Clashonian attackers, though due to numerical superiority, Clashonian forces would successfully capture the city on 7 July. The town of Marchmarkt also saw fighting on 6 July, around the same time fighting in the town of Oberfreizach were at its height. The town of Marchmarkt would fall on July 9, which opened the doors for an all-out offensive into the city of Brandenburg. Due to the failures in the defense of these territories, General Lothar Böhme, who was tasked with the defense of the Kleinhart Jura front, was dismissed by Kaiser Friedrich Wilhelm II.

On 10 July, Clashonian forces would reach the outskirts of the city of Brandenburg. However, unlike earlier victories in Freihofen, Oberfreizach, and Marchmarkt, Clashonian forces would face much stiffer resistance in their assault on Brandenburg. The task of defending the line, and especially the city of Brandenburg, was given to General Hans Anton von Lettow-Ermhau, who replaced the earlier General Lothar Böhme after the latter's dismissal. The Battle of Brandenburg became the bloodiest battle of the operation, and was for a time the bloodiest battle of the entire war, and remained the bloodiest battle of the war in 1919. Despite the fierce assault by the Clashonian military, the Weissersteiner defenders successfully defended against the assault, halting Operation Kettle in its tracks. The battle lasted all the way up to 19 July, when Clashonian forces fall back to their earlier lines before the assault into Brandenburg. The successful defense of Brandenburg marked the first major victory for Weisserstein during the war, and the failure of the Clashonian military to capture the city would prove fatal as Weissersteiner forces began their counterattack.

Operation Thunderstrike and the Luxemburg Front

General Šnabel, now in command of the Luxemburg Corps of the Union State military, decided to launch a new offensive into Luxemburg codenamed Bétreb Denneršlag (Operation Thunderstrike). This strategic offensive into Luxemburg unfolded in the wake of General Stark's incursion into Lowenia, compelling Weisserstein to redirect their defensive resources towards shoring up the Lowenia Front. This shift in focus presented a distinct advantage for General Šnabel, as Weissersteiner forces in Luxemburg found themselves stretched thin, a marked contrast to the robust defenses they maintained during the initial stages of Operation Kettle. Seizing this opportune moment, General Šnabel initiated a calculated military thrust against the Weissersteiner fortifications along the formidable Schwarzberg Line.

Clashonian forces entering the town of Friedbrück

Clashonian forces swept into Luxemburg on 7 July, achieving a significant victory as they wrested control of the pivotal town of Friedbrück from the beleaguered Weissersteiners and pushing the unprepared defenders out of their defensive stronghold in the Schwarzberg Line. Union State forces would push deeper into Luxemburg, scoring several skirmishes before eventually reaching the outskirts of the town of Walsdings, a mere 12 km from Blubach, on 8 July. Weissersteiner forces offered token resistance, which led to Clashonian forces successfully capturing the town on 9 July, suffering minimal casualties. At this point in time, Weissersteiner forces in Blubach retreated before Clashonian forces are able to encircle the important town. This led to Clashonian forces successfully capturing Blubach, which boosted morale among the Clashonian ranks.

The momentum of the offensive continued unabated. On 12 July, Clashonian forces reached the town of Alswig, engaging the future Governor-General of the KWGvNB, Karl Joachim von Felsenhaus, in a fierce battle of wills and military prowess. In a surprising turn of events, despite the overwhelming might of the Clashonian forces, Von Felsenhaus displayed exceptional tactical acumen, managing to hold Alswig for an entire month before strategically orchestrating a retreat to the fortified enclave of Lenbrück. This success bought enough time for Weissersteiner forces nearby to be able to strategically regroup in Lenbrück and Altenmarkt, which would become the largest battles during Operation Thunderstrike.

Amidst the heat of battle on the fateful day of 18 July, Weissersteiner forces stationed in the town of Liesges clashed with a Clashonian spearhead force, heading there to eventually create an opportunity to push deeper. Under the command of Captain Joseph Buchmann, the Weissersteiner defenders put up fierce resistance against the incoming onslaught from the Clashonian military and resulting in a fierce standstill, effectively stalling nearly all offensive operations along the Luxemburg Front. As news of the success of the defense of Brandenburg rippled through the ranks, a surge of newfound determination coursed through the Weissersteiner forces. With a resolute spirit, they rallied against the Clashonians, mustering a renewed vigor that would ultimately culminate in the expulsion of the Clashonians from Liesges on 23 July. Though Liesges would eventually succumb to the relentless pressure in September. Clashonian forces pushed towards the town of Naumburg in August 15, facing heavy resistance from the defenders. Naumburg was exceptionally brutal, devolving into fierce urban warfare. Clashonian forces suffered a total of 18,840 dead and wounded during the battle; Weissersteiner forces suffered 13,290. The town would fall in September, alongside Liesges, which opened the gates for a full-scale offensive into the towns of Lenbrück and Altenmarkt, which would pave the way for a push into Luxemburg proper.

Clashonian forces would advance into Lenbrück on October 15, and Altenmarkt on October 18. Both sides fought viciously for the two towns. Weissersteiner forces, totaling at about 188,000 men defending both towns, would face a large army of 218,000 Clashonian soldiers. However, Weisserstein would supplement its lack of manpower advantage by leveraging its superior howitzers, artillery pieces, and air force, which would give ground support for the Weissersteiner defenders in the town. The battle, similar to Naumburg, quickly devolved into a bloody war of attrition, with brutal house-to-house fighting characterizing the two battles. The battle for both towns lasted longer than expected, as Weissersteiner forces dug in for months. Eventually, the offensive was repelled when Weisserteiner forces successfully defeated the invading Union State military on the town of Lenbrück on December 19, and the town of Altenmarkt on December 22. The defeat at Lenbrück and Altenmarkt would halt Operation Thunderstrike dead in its tracks, and both sides dug in for a long, grueling stalemate.

In total, Weisserstein lost nearly 150,000 men during the entirety of Operation Thunderstrike, with 80,000 of them coming from the battles of Lenbrück and Altenmarkt, and a total of 438,000 wounded. Clashonian forces suffered much worse, with nearly 300,000 dead and almost 600,000 wounded. The last three battles, but in particular Altenmarkt, saw Weisserstein leveraging its superiority in support firepower, namely from artilleries and howitzers, as well as its more powerful aerial corps to its advantage. This would lead to victories during Weisserstein's counteroffensive, all leveraging superior firepower and aerial superiority.

Naval and air theatre

The Altêrstén, of the Marius-class river gunboat

Throughout the early months of the war, naval and aerial warfare remained limited as both sides sought to secure the land front. Weisserstein used its superior fighter planes to establish aerial superiority throughout the conflict. The Union State did not have sufficient air power, as it did not employ fighters nor have any sort of aviation corps. During the 1st Battle of the Sonzig, a Weissersteiner fighter squadron was able to sink the Clashonian river gunboat Altêrstén. After this, fighter planes were used to support the defense of Luxemburg and Lowenia, harassing invading Clashonian forces throughout the front.

Both sides' navies did not participate much during the opening stages of the conflict, however during Operation Kettle, a Clashonian naval detachment attempted to conduct a raid to the Weissersteiner port city of Qadr Nacht. It was intercepted by the Imperial Weissersteiner Navy and on July 12, the largest naval battle occurred during the entire year. In total, Weisserstein lost several small vessels, while suffering significant but not irreparable damages to its fleet. The Clashonian Navy suffered rather significantly, namely due to Weisserstein's use of air power during the battle. The Union State lost several ships, including a dozen gunboats.

1920

Stalemate

Following the end of major operations due to the Clashonian defeat in the Battle of Brandenburg and Altenmarkt, both sides dug into their defenses in preparation for a protracted trench-style combat. With the end of both Operation Kettle and Operation Thunderstrike, no new offensives were conducted during the months leading to September 1920. During this period, Weissersteiner forces begin reorganizing and regrouping along the Luxemburg Front, with the goal of pushing the Clashonians entirely out of the Kingdom of Luxemburg. Meanwhile, the Clashonian General Staff remained confident that the Union State's military power would be able to overcome Weissersteiner defenders and drafted a plan for a renewed offensive, codenamed Operation Firefly under the command of Falko Šnabel, the commander of the Clashonian Northwestern Corps.

Soldiers of the Northwestern Corps relaxing near an armored train

Operation Firefly was launched on August 12, spearheaded by the Clashonian Northwestern Corps, with the main objective being the city of Altenmarkt. During the renewed offensive, Clashonian forces found their Weissersteiner adversaries had become much more powerful. During the offensive, Weissersteiner and Clashonian forces would meet in the city of Eisennau. The battle was fierce, and both sides continued back and forth well into September. However, the Clashonian 228th Rifleman Division made a miscalculation and Weissersteiner cavalrymen under the command of Klemens Kühn were able to successfully cut off the forces in Eisennau with the rest of the frontlines. The encirclement turned the originally offensive-oriented Clashonian military into a defensive one as Weissersteiner troops began closing in on all sides. After a full week of intense fighting, the 228th Rifleman Division surrendered themselves, becoming the first Clashonian forces to surrender during the war. The fighting for the city ended after the surrender, with Weisserstein suffering 3,500 casualties, while Clashonia suffered 12,800 casualties and an entire division captured as prisoners-of-war by Weisserstein.

During the battle of Eisennau, the Mountain Brotherhood under command of Héide Mâyer would launch a decisive raid in the Kleinhart Jura against Clashonian forces stationed there. In return, Clashonian forces conducted a raid on known Mountain Brotherhood strongholds. These series of engagements would culminate in a desperate assault on the Sonzig by members of the Mountain Brotherhood. This assault, which would later become known as the 3rd Battle of the Sonzig, would prove disastrous for the Mountain Brotherhood, and Héide Mâyer was killed in the firefight. The Mountain Brotherhood lost nearly 40% of its forces in the battle, amounting to about 6,400 casualties. Clashonian forces lost 4,580 men during the assault.

After the assault, the Mountain Brotherhood decided to retreat and reorganize in the Kleinhart Jura under the command of Kristof Martél, who turned the Mountain Brotherhood into an elite paramilitary unit. The Mountain Brotherhood under Martél refrained from partaking in any other engagements until Weissersteiner forces launched their first major offensive, Operation Stahlschlag, in late September, at which point their strength numbered at around 50,000 fighting men.

Operation Stahlschlag

Following the buildup of forces in the previous months, Weissersteiner forces would launch Operation Stahlschlag ("Operation Steel Punch"), aimed at capturing vital points and strategic positions on Bannarsia. The new offensive, led by General Friedrich Eugen von Wittelsbach, would be spearheaded by Panzerwagen GS formations alongside mobile cavalry units to quickly exploit breakthroughs and overrun enemy positions. The main goals of the offensive include the capture of the Transbannarsia Railway, which connects Bannarsia's northern parts with Central Clashonia, and eventually to the Transclarve. Another major point of interest is the largest regional city, Williemsbode. The capture of Williemsbode would prove vital, as the city serves as the headquarters of the Luxemburg Corps of the Union State's military. The last major point of the offensive was to secure the Lowenia Front, as well as the Kleinhart Jura. Both positions have advantageous natural barriers which would prove vital for future defensive operations.

Weissersteiner forces advancing with Panzerwagen GS in Bannarsia

On September 18, Weissersteiner forces crossed into Clashonian-controlled parts of Lowenia, supported by a barrage of artillery on Clashonian lines. Fierce fighting immediately broke out in the towns of Oberfreizach and Marchmarkt. Weissersteiner troops, leveraging their new panzers and their aerial superiority, quickly overran Clashonian positions in both towns by September 21, suffering a combined total of 2,800 casualties; Clashonia suffered 7,230. The Clashonian forces were later ordered by General Stark to concentrate their defense in the Weissersteiner town of Innssee an der Sonzig. A total of 40,000 Clashonians defended against an onslaught from 58,000 Weissersteiner troops, supported by artillery, aerial superiority, and armored units. For a full week the defenders of the town held back against waves of Weissersteiner assaults. The battle quickly devolved into a bloody urban battle, where house-to-house fighting occurred nearly daily, and local Weissersteiners conducted sabotage operations against the defending Clashonian troops. Breaking the chain of command, Captain Hérmann Féndler ordered his men to escape from the town, but before they can do so, Weisserstein's 18th Cavalry Brigade cut off the town from the rest of Clashonia's lines, encircling the defenders in the town. After a full week of fighting, Captain Féndler and what remained of his men, a total of 18,828 men, surrendered to the Weissersteiner forces. The fall of Innssee an der Sonzig, which would also become known as the 4th Battle of the Sonzig, would prove decisive in driving the Clashonian forces out of Lowenia. The headquarters of the Kleinhart Jura Corps, the small town of Freihofen, was moved into Clashonia proper immediately after the defeat at Innssee, and the town of Freihofen would be liberated merely 2 days later.

Weissersteiner forces entering Gmendaal on November 1

Now with the initiative, Weissersteiner forces pushed into the Kleinhart Jura, routing the men of the Kleinhart Jura Corps on multiple occasions. Weissersteiner forces would eventually reach the town of Éndrékt on October 11, and after a brutal 3-days fight, secured the town from the Clashonian forces. At this point, the Weissersteiner forces were moving at an unprecedented pace, pushing nearly 80 km into the Kleinhart Jura within less than a month. General Stark would establish a new headquarters in the city of Gméndal, which served as the gateway into the Transbannarsia Railway. Stark ordered for the defense of the city to be given full priority, and by October 13, the city was turned into a makeshift citadel to defend against the incoming Weissersteiners. The 40,000 Weissersteiner troops, supported by howitzers and artillery, would punch a hole through the defenses of the city, before exploiting the breakthrough with cavalries and tanks. Similar to the Battle of Innssee an der Sonzig, the battle of Gméndal devolved into brutal house-to-house fighting. The city's population were split, some supported the defenders and fought as partisans in order to harass the Weissersteiner forces, while others, who are sympathetic to the monarchy, served as collaborators with the Reichswehr. The battle lasted longer than many had expected, and the city only fell on November 1. Gméndal's fall force the Clashonians to regroup in Williemsbode, the regional capital of Bannarsia.

Around the same time Weissersteiner forces were making breakthroughs in the Kleinhart Jura, Weissersteiner forces would launch a swift attack from the Luxemburg Front. The town of Naumberg, which was captured by the Clashonians during Operation Thunderstrike, would once again become a battleground between Weissersteiner Reichswehr and the Union State military. Despite superior artillery and firepower, the Reichswehr were unable to capture the town from Clashonian hands. On October 3, Weissersteiner forces would attempt a daring assault into the town of Heinerstadt, located not far from Blubach. The town was heavily defended, as it formed parts of Clashonia's Léhning Line, which was created to prevent Weissersteiner forces from retaking Clashonian-occupied parts of Luxemburg. The assault on Heinerstadt would prove indecisive and all military operations after October 12 were halted.

However, the front continued moving in Eastern Bannarsia. Weissersteiner forces began moving past the initial defensive lines of the Clashonian military. A major assault would be conducted on the transit town of Ériksbode, which connected the frontlines to the Transbannarsia Railway and to the regional capital of Williemsbode. Makeshift defenses were erected along the lines to prevent the Weissersteiners from capturing Ériksbode and Frybûrge. On November 6, Weissersteiner howitzers began a barrage against Clashonian defenses on the city of Frybûrge. The initial assault, consisting of 15,000 Weissersteiner attackers facing off against 22,800 Clashonian defenders. The battle for the town was bloody, and on November 9 Weissersteiner forces were unable to capture the town from Clashonia's hands and retreated to their initial lines. The battle for Ériksbode would prove far more successful, as the defenders were overwhelmed by tanks of the Weissersteiner military. However, the battle remained fierce, with nearly 30,000 Weissersteiner forces against 27,450 Clashonians. In November 12, the battle ended with Clashonian forces retreating to Williemsbode. The town's capture proved vital in the assault on Williemsbode and the later offensive, known as Operation Kleiner Schbeck.

Weissersteiner troops in Williemsbode, 1920

By November 15, Weissersteiner forces were at the outskirts of the city of Williemsbode. Clashonian skirmishers attempted to harass the Weissersteiner forces from entering the city, but to no avail. Parts of the 28th Imperial Cavalry Division arrived on the city, supported by howitzers and tanks, and by November 17, nearly 108,000 men of the Imperial Weissersteiner Army were outside of Williemsbode proper. The city's defenders prepared for a large battle, and General Stark ordered all his men, totaling at about 102,000 soldiers and nearly 40,000-85,000 irregular militias, to dig in. He famously stated that: "We shall not retreat. We win or we die here." After this, the city was turned into a makeshift fortress as Stark knew that the city was key to further offensives into Clashonia.

November 18 saw the opening salvo for the battle of Williemsbode. The assault was led by an armored spearhead into the city, breaking the first waves of defenses. Fighting was exceptionally brutal, completely devolving into house-to-house fighting. General Stark's order to defend the city till the last man effectively turned the city into a brutal battleground. Days of intense fighting forced Weissersteiner forces to rethink their strategy, which eventually led to the week-long bombing over Williemsbode. Key points throughout the city were bombed by Weissersteiner bomber planes, and defenses on the frontline were leveled. General Stark was also hit during this bombing campaign, when his headquarters in Léonstén Street was hit by a bomb from a Weissersteiner fighter plane, he would succumb to his wound a day later. After the intense bombing raid, Weissersteiner forces began their second assault into the city proper. This time, the Weissersteiner forces met relatively low resistance, namely thanks to the bombing campaign and the death of Stark, though fighting was still intense in several key districts of the city. Stark's successor, Major Emil Šreiber, continued to coordinate the defense of the city. But with the fall of the city center, Šreiber ordered all remaining forces to leave the city before their exit is cut off. While half of the remaining Clashonian forces were able to escape, the other half were cut off by Weissersteiner cavalry, encircling them in the city. Fighting ended on December 8, when the last commander of the encircled forces, Colonel Vogl, surrendered the city, alongside what remained of his men, to the Weissersteiner forces. By the end of the battle, nearly 28,000 Weissersteiners were killed and 37,000 wounded, most from the initial assault into the city. Weisserstein also lost several tanks and 4 fighters during the assault. Clashonia lost nearly 58,000 men, with another 60,000 wounded. This, in total, made the Battle of Williemsbode the most deadly battle of the war in 1920.

1921

Operation Kleiner Schbeck

Following Clashonian failure in Operation Burn Back and the Republican rebellion, Weissersteiner forces launched Operation Kleiner Schbeck ("Operation Little Schbeck"). The main goal of this offensive is to exploit the chaos caused by Operation Burn Back and the rebellion. Weissersteiner troops, spearheaded the Weissersteiner 5th and 28th Army, alongside the Royal Clashonian 1st Corps, and supported by both superior artillery and air power, would capture many major cities in Bannarsia. The capture of the Transbannarsia Railway in the earlier Operation Stahlschlag would prove vital in transporting necessary troops and supply in a blitzkrieg fashion all across Bannarsia.

Weissersteiner troops entering Gréswik during Operation Kleiner Schbeck, with the iconic Gréswik castle being in the background

Command of the operation was given to Friedrich Eugen von Wittelsbach, an experienced military general and one of the proponents of using armored warfare in the Weissersteiner military. Weissersteiner forces would launch Operation Kleiner Schbeck on November 6, capturing several towns and cities along the Transbannarsia Railway. Troops, namely the 7th Army and the Clashonian Blue Legion, were also redirected to fully cut off the Union State's Kleinhart Jura Corps from the rest of the Clashonian military.

The first major engagement between Weissersteiner and Clashonian forces during the operation was the 7th Battle of the Sonzig, which saw the Kleinhart Jura Corps completely cut off from the main Clashonian frontlines. Weissersteiner forces would continue their offensive throughout November and December, capturing the city of Gréswik on December 31. Gréswik in particular was one of the more important objectives of the offensive, due to its role as the main headquarters for all forces in the Luxemburg Front. The capture of Gréswik also saw the death of Major Šreiber after he refused to surrender and was executed by firing squad. The death of Šreiber destroyed effective command of all forces in the front and Weissersteiner forces were able to push along the Clarve river, eventually reaching the outskirts of the Clashonian capital of Käarlsbode in late January.

1922

Weisserstein occupation of Käarylsbode

Weissersteiner cavalry entering Käarlsbode

On January 27, Weissersteiner forces reached the outskirts of the Clashonian capital of Käarlsbode as part of Operation Kleiner Schbeck. This caused panic amongst the leadership of the Union State, who saw the fall of the city into Weissersteiner hands as inevitable. XX, the president of the Union State, as well as his cabinet quickly evacuated from the city the next day, which was followed by hundreds of civilians attempting to flee the impending battle. By January 28, Weissersteiner scouts engaged in skirmishes with units of the Clashonian military stationed in the city

Command of the defense of the city was given to YY, who recruited the help of local self-defense militias scattered all over the city. Makeshift defenses began to be constructed in and around the city as Weissersteiner forces began marching closer. The XX, the president's residence, was turned into a makeshift headquarters for the defenders, while the parliament building was turned into a temporary munitions storage and stronghold. At its peak, YY commanded a force numbering about 211,000 men, consisting of several different units and self-defense militias.

On January 29, Weissersteiner artillery would begin firing on the city, causing heavy damage. Despite the bombardment, the makeshift defenses hold. Weissersteiner forces began encircling the city, cutting Käarlsbode off from the rest of the frontlines. The 28th Army under Heinrich Graf zu Edelstein, spearheaded by the 108th Cavalry Brigade and supported by elements from the Royal Clashonian Army's 1st Corps, would later begin engaging the defenders of the city once Käarlsbode has been successfully surrounded. The battle for the city continues as Weissersteiner forces slowly pushed closer into the president's residence.

On February 4, YY met with Heinrich Graf zu Edelstein and officially surrendered the city to Weissersteiner forces after an intense week of nonstop fighting. The Weissersteiner flag was raised in the president's residence, marking the end of all offensive operations in the city. Despite the surrender, sporadic fighting between Weissersteiner forces and the self-defense militias continued well into February 12 before eventually surrendering on February 18.

The battle for the city was exceptionally brutal. Out of the 211,000 Clashonian forces in the city, 49,000 were killed or wounded, with the remaining 162,000 being captured. The Weissersteiner forces fared better, Out of the 135,000 Weissersteiner forces fighting in the city, only 4,500 were killed and only 7,000 were wounded. The battle marked the beginning of the end for the Union State of Bannarsia and Transclarvia, as the fall of Käarlsbode would help push the Union State government to begin peace talks with Weisserstein, which would culminate in the signing of the Armistice of Fryéndon.

Fall of the Kleinhart Jura pocket

At the beginning of Operation Kleiner Schbeck, the Kleinhart Jura Corps were cut off from the rest of the Clashonian military during the 7th Battle of the Sonzig. Despite the dire situation, the Kleinhart Jura Corps, under the command of Lieutenant-General Lénnard Švéfél, continued to resist Weissersteiner forces, repelling multiple skirmishes by Weissersteiner jäger infantrymen. News of the fall of Käarlsbode reached Švéfél, who decided to hid the information from his men to prevent the collapse of morale throughout the front. Despite this, Weissersteiner forces were able to secure the town of Lustenstadt, one of the last parts of Weisserstein still under the control of the Union State. The battle would continue as the back-and-forth between both sides exploded into the 8th Battle of the Sonzig, which saw the use of the last few of the Sonzig River Flotilla's Marius-class river gunboats. The battle was brutal, nearly double the casualties from that of the 7th Battle of the Sonzig. Despite Weissersteiner forces being successfully repelled, the Clashonians suffered large losses, and were barely able to maintain their defenses. News would eventually reach the soldiers of the fall of Käarlsbode, and morale would inevitably collapse. In one last desperate attempt, Švéfél would organize an escape plan, exploiting a gap in the Weissersteiner lines to escape alongside his men into more friendly territory. However, his men were intercepted and the 9th Battle of the Sonzig would begin. Both sides suffered significantly before eventually the Clashonian soldiers refused to continue fighting, this left Švéfél with surrender as his only option. Švéfél surrendered what remained of his battle-scarred unit, which was only 10% of its original fighting strength. The Kleinhart Jura Corps was nearly wiped out entirely, with the few remaining survivors becoming prisoners of war. The Battles of the Sonzig were exeptionally brutal, and in total nearly 900,000 men lost their lives in the series of battles for the Sonzig river.

Armistice of Fryéndon

The success of Operation Kleiner Schbeck and the fall of both Käarlsbode and the Kleinhart Jura pocket brought the end of military engagements between the forces of the Union State with forces of the Weissersteiner Empire. On September 12, a Clashonian delegation made up of Major General Jan Krânts (member of the Clashonian Army Headquarters), Floréntin Kuttnêr (diplomat), and Adrian Kippêrberger (cabinet member), met with their Weissersteiner counterpart, General Friedrich Eugen von Wittelsbach, who was the commander of all Weissersteiner forces within Bannarsia, and Konrad Wehner, a representative for the royal Clashonian government-in-exile. The armistice was signed in the small town of Fryéndon, in Weisserstein-occupied Bannarsia, which was spared from most of the fighting.

The Clashonian delegates: Jan Krânts, Floréntin Kuttnêr, and Adrian Kippêrberger

The terms called for the immediate demobilization of all Clashonian military activities. It ordered the evacuation of the northern territories (Bannarsia), placed limits and restrictions to the size of Clashonia's military employment and required Clashonia to return military equipment that had been taken from the both Weisserstein and allied militias during the war up to that point. Weisserstein and its allies, the Royalist Clashonians, had the right to occupy some strategic points temporarily and to transfer troops over Clashonian territory. Weisserstein would also keep the 120,000 Clashonian POWs as prisoners until further discussions can be taken.

The status of Clashonia's government were to be discussed further in the subsequent peace deal, in its place were a series of General Governments established in Bannarsia. Namely the Imperial Weissersteiner General Government of North Bannarsia and the Imperial Weissersteiner General Government of Röngau and Vorgrüntal, which were to act as temporary buffer states until the restoration of the Clashonian monarchy occured. The Weissersteiner state also gained a mandate over the two General Governments, and was to oversee a transition from a military government to a civilian one under the Clashonian monarchy.

Despite the success of the armistice, many were dissatisfied with the outcome. The Unionists, and in fact many Clashonians who were not sympathetic to the monarchy, believed they had been utterly humiliated by signing such a peace deal with the Weissersteiners and that the treaty was unjust. Stéfan Sépp, the leader of the Clashonian republicans, stated that:

"This peace deal is disgraceful! Never in our history have we been so disgraced by a foreign power as we have now!"

The deal also swayed many Unionists to the banner of the Republicans, who were more than willing to continue the war. Members of the military such as Gustaf Sténmann and Heike Stark would also change their loyalties to the Republicans, as many in the military were unhappy with the peace deal. Surprisingly, among the Unionists who joined the Republicans was Colonel Martin Rotmann, one of the leaders of the 1904 Clashonian coup, which was vital to bringing the PUS into power.

The Royalist Clashonians were also dissatisfied with the peace deal. While Weisserstein gained a mandate over the territories, Clashonian royalists feared that Weisserstein would instead turn the General Government territories into clients and serve as a buffer state between Weisserstein and Clashonia. These fears were exacerbated when the Governor-General of Röngau and Vorgrüntal, Major General Johannes Fischbein, wanted to maintain the states as a defensive wall for Weisserstein's southern flank. Williem II in particular was unhappy with the decision, as he wanted to be restored to a unified Clashonia, not a buffer state in North Bannarsia. His refusal to accept the throne forced a regency council headed by Count Johann von Lettow-Ermhau and Ferdinand vén Williemshâsen.

Despite subsequent peace negotiations were meant to occur, after the news of the armistice reached the parts of Clashonia outside of Weissersteiner control it sparked massive riots. The 1922 Clashonian coup d'etat by Republicans and dissolution of the Union State would force all subsequent negotiations to be scrapped.

Partisan activity in Central Clashonia

Following the 1922 coup, Republican sympathizers in Central Clashonia launched a guerrilla campaign against Weissersteiner and Royalist forces stationed in the rear, while the bulk of the Weissersteiner Reichswehr was stationed in the frontlines. This operation was organized by XXXX to divert Weissersteiner attention from the frontlines to help prepare for the Sténmann Offensive the next year.

1923

Sténmann Offensive

General Gustaf Sténmann

With the Republicans now successfully wrestling control over the Clashonian political arena, the new Republican government sought to reclaim territories lost to Weissersteiner forces during Operation Kleiner Schbeck. Denouncing the Armistice of Fryéndon, the new Republic of Clashonia reorganized the military under general Gustaf Sténmann. Now, with a renewed vigor for an offensive, the new National Republican Army organized along the Gésler Line and planned on pushing the Weissersteiners and their monarchist allies out of Clashonia.

On January 12, around 1,680,000 prepared for one of the largest offensives throughout the war. The National Republican Army pushed through the Weissersteiner defenses around the areas around Frybûrge. The 3rd Battle of Frybûrge occurred on January 13, with the Weissersteiner military sustaining 38,000 casualties while the Clashonians sustained 40,000. The battle ended with on January 18, with Weissersteiner forces retreating from the city. The momentum of the assault propelled the National Republican Army to push forward against Weissersteiner defenses until they reach the Läantbirne-Rybon Line, a defensive line formed by the Weissersteiner army and Royalist forces along the White Clarve river on January 22. Defense of the White Clarve was relegated to Major Wilhelm Hardt, who sought to halt the National Republican Army's offensive in order to give Weissersteiner forces along the rear ample breathing room to regroup and resupply.

The first major assault on the defensive line occurred on January 24, where the National Republican Army attempted to capture several key towns along the line. These assaults were repelled by the Weissersteiner Reichswehr by January 26, which forced the Clashonians to regroup and rethink their strategy. Another assault was launched in late January, however it was repelled using Weissersteiner fighters.

Aftermath

The Warlord Era

The confidence of many within Clashonia towards the new Republic had collapsed following the unsuccessful Sténmann Offensive and the Armistice of Bérnberg. The Treaty of Williemsbode had also weakened the position of the new Clashonian Republic as it struggles to keep all the different factions under its wings. Eventually, many individual generals and commanders decided to establish regional military government, sometimes in opposition to the central government in Käarylsbode. This period became known as the Warlord Era (Krigshêrr-Éra), where military cliques, quasi-states, and other regional factions established themselves throughout Clashonia.

Simon Fink, the leader of the Wöhlbûrge Clique

In Clashonian historiography, the period began following the signing of the Armistice of Bérnberg on August 4, 1923. Many in Clashonia's military had originally supported the government's efforts, due to the Republicans establishing themselves as in clear opposition to the Unionists surrender during the Armistice of Fryéndon. However, with the signing of the Armistice of Bérnberg, Clashonian military commanders had decided that they must act on their own accords, instead of relying on a new regime to fulfill their goals for a greater Clashonia. Several commanders would establish themselves in the power vacuum left by Weisserstein following the Armistice of Bérnberg.

The first of these was the Mountain Brotherhood, which established themselves in the northern portions of Clashonia, bordering the General Government of North Bannarsia. The Mountain Brotherhood would establish the Wöhlbûrge Clique in 1923, after Weissersteiner forces withdrew from the area. Under the command of Simon Fink, the Wöhlbûrge Clique would become one of the largest and most powerful warlord states during the period. It fought with government forces under General Sténmann, but his failures led to the Wöhlbûrge Clique successfully establishing itself as a de facto independent state. The Weissersteiner Empire viewed the Wöhlbûrge Clique as a valuable buffer state, and from 1923 to 1928, it served as a client state to the Weissersteiner Empire. However, after Fink had a falling out with the Weissersteiner leadership, the Clique engaged in a series of border incursions with the North Bannarsian Wehrmacht. After this period, the Wöhlbûrge Clique would secure itself as an independent state until the Great Expedition in 1933, where the Clashonian Republic would successfully wrestle control over the region.

Another major military clique established was Jannik Képlêr's Graszbirn Clique, which played a crucial role in the south during the Warlord Era and served as a major roadblock to the Clashonian military's southern integration efforts. It also fielded an impressive military, and was one of the few cliques to have operated tanks. The Southern Clique, based in Ésenhäaben, was mostly formed by members of the Transclarve Flotilla of the Union State Navy and was led by Commodore Héiner Jung. It operated a large navy, for a time larger than the Clashonian state itself. However the upkeep of maintaining such a navy was too much to bare and many of the ships entered a state of disrepair. With the support of the Weissersteiner government, Augustin Halbérstammê established the Wöstläant Clique as a buffer and a client state of Weisserstein. It operated a professional military force, complete with a series of armored vehicles, and had Weissersteiner military advisors. The remnants of the Union State Navy's Eastern Flotilla would also form their own clique based in their old headquarters of Käarylshäaben. The Käarylshäaben Clique operated a token naval force, and was led by the old leaders of the Sailor's Republic of Käarylshäaben, including Héiner Piltsz. Its existence was threatened by the larger Wöhlsbûrge Clique to its west and the Clashonian Republic to its south. After the split between Fink and the Weissersteiner Empire, the Käarylshäaben Clique attempted to secure Weissersteiner support, but their efforts didn't bore fruit. Another small clique was established by Colonel Martin Rotmann in 1923 after his disillusionment with both the Unionists and the Republicans. He formed the Lépfûrte Clique in Lépfûrte, and ruled as a warlord before his overthrow and exile by socialists in 1929. The White Clarve Clique was established by Mats Widmann and received support from the Weissersteiner Empire. The White Clarve Clique, alongside the Wöstläant Clique, would form a powerful bloc against the other warlords and factions during the period.

Jannik Képlêr, the leader of the Graszbirn Clique

Besides military cliques, other smaller factions and quasi-states also established themselves in the Warlord Era. The Black Camp, now without the patronage of both the Clashonian military and state, decided to go into exile and establish their own government, known as the Black Camp National Reclamation Government. Their stated goal was to create a Clashonian ethnostate, which they believe can now only be achieved by extreme violence and terrorism. Socialists and communists established themselves in the small town of Grémyn, forming the People's Republic of Grémyn in 1924. It enacted a series of reforms aimed at creating a socialist state in Clashonia, with the eventual goal of reuniting Clashonia under a communist regime. A similar socialist state was formed by workers in Lépfûrte, who overthrew the leader of the Lépfûrte Clique Martin Rotmann in 1929. They eventually formed the Workers' Commune of Lépfûrte, which established a more anarchist approach towards socialism. Another major military force was the powerful White Clarve Army, commanded by General Luka Widmann. The White Clarve Army was established with support from Weisserstein and was to act as a buffer state between Clashonia, its exclave of Stênbécke, and the Wöhlbûrge Clique.

The Transclarve Free State was established in the city of Hössgorfê by Érik Éhmann on September 1923, with the goal of reestablishing an independent Transclarve state. The state was considered a massive success and established itself as a separate political entity. Eventually, he rallied other Transclarvians to join his state, which nearly culminated in the merger of the Transclarve Free State with the Southern Clique, before the leaders of the Southern Clique cancelled the deal due to unequal footing. The Republic of the Corridor was established by statesman Arnold Gotšalke. His state effectively split the Clashonian Republic in Käarylsbode with its exclave in Stênbécke and made profit from taxing goods transported to and from the exclave, which led to the exclave establishing itself as an autonomous region. Unionists, still lingering towards the ideals of a Union State, established themselves in the town of Génerodê, creating the Republic of Génerodê. They did not recognize the authority of the Clashonian Republic and called for all Clashonians to rally under their banner. Unfortunately, the Unionists were no longer able to hold sway over the population, and the republic remained until its annexation. The League of Free Cities was a project spearheaded by the mayor of Fäalkstaad, Kaspar Šulhoffê. The project was to create a loose confederation of semi-independent city states, which operated jointly for diplomatic and security affairs. A faction which did not command a quasi-state of its own were the royalists, which used the General Governments in Clashonia as a base of operations for their insurgency. They fought with nearly everyone, from the Clashonian Republic, to the Wöhlbûrge Clique, and even the socialists in Grémyn.

Forces of the Wöhlsbûrge Clique during the Second Wöhlsbûrge-Käarylshäaben War

Between 1923 to 1936, several sporadic conflicts, and sometimes even full-blown war, occurred between the different warring factions. Several cliques sought to strengthen their position, while the Clashonian Republic sought to integrate these warlords back under its banner. The complexity of the situation was not helped by the existence of different, and oftentimes hostile factions such as the Black Camp or the White Clarve Army, which only served to exacerbate regional tensions.In the wake of numerous clashes between the disparate warring factions, and amidst a period of tumultuous instability in Clashonia, the leadership of the Clashonian Republic resolved to seize the initiative and launched a military campaign against the warlords in 1933, known as the Great Expedition. This campaign, led by seasoned General Kristof Sternberg, was aimed at orchestrating the reintegration of the warlord states back into the Clashonian Republic. With unwavering determination, the Clashonian military set forth to negotiate reintegration terms or, if necessary, employ force to achieve this goal. The clashes were intense, notably against formidable adversaries like the Wöhlbûrge and Graszbirn Cliques, who staunchly resisted the tide of reunification. Simultaneously, other factions, such as the Southern Clique, recognized the inevitability of their absorption and opted for a more diplomatic path, choosing to rejoin the Republic under the looming specter of a potential invasion and the menacing shadow of neighboring warlords.

The Great Expedition was amongst the bloodiest wars in Clashonian history, only overshadowed by the War of 1919 and the Clashonian Civil War decades later. The Warlord Era in general was considered one of the black marks of Clashonia's tumultuous history, namely in the 20th century. After the Great Expedition, many warlords were imprisoned or executed, while others went into exile. A major criticism was the treatment of these warlords differed wildly, with some being executed, while others given full amnesty. The Éhmann and the Transclarve national movement went underground before eventually attempting to reestablish itself as an independent state during the Clashonian Civil War. Fink was assassinated by a dissatisfied officer, which caused internal power struggle within the Wöhlbûrge Clique following his death. Képlêr was arrested, tried, and executed in 1942, after he was found guilty of treason. Rotmann, surprisingly, was given amnesty due to his lack of "anti-government activities" during the period. He would later help reorganize the Republican Guard before being assassinated in 1949. Gotšalke was also found guilty of treason, and was executed in 1948. Šulhoffê received a minor prison sentence before being absolved of all crimes, he lived until the rise of Baldéwin Šummaker, where he served as an advisor for the General before dying of natural causes in 1961. Augustin Halbérstammê, who was accused of collaborating with the Weissersteiner government, fled into exile in Weisserstein alongside members of the General Governments following their annexation during the Weissersteiner Civil War.