Marsh Wars (Pacifica)

Marsh Wars
	; (clockwise) Stoinian troops crossing the Varcathian Mountains; Stoinian trenches at the Battle of Nagena; Ezervulgish artillery at the Battle of Sariego; Stoinian entry in Sárkanyvölgy; Ezervulgish trenches at the Battle of Turino; Field Marshal Mákkeszőr at the Crossing of the Narcea;
Date	5 September 1914 - 13 November 1918
Location	Stoinia & Ezervulge (Bailtem)
Result	First Marsh War: White peace; Treaty of Cudillero; Second Marsh War: Stoinian victory; Displacement of 180,000 Ezervulgish; Treaty of Kétvár;
Main belligerents
Stoinia	Ezervulge
Commanders and leaders
Alexandru VIII; Field Marshal Sergiu Vernescu; General Jorge Aranda; General Ramiro De Sarro	George II; Gyorgy II; Field Marshal Mákkeszőr Ámbrus; General Horváth László; General Szilágyi Dénes
Strength
1,580,000	1,260,000
Casualties and losses
287,000 killed; 380,000 wounded	296,000 killed; 320,000 wounded

The Marsh Wars (Castonish: Guerras de las Marismas; Ezervulgish: Mocsarak háborúi) were a series of conflicts in the early 20th century as a result of a decade of crumbling Stoino-Ezervulgish relations. Open hostilities began on 5 September 1914 and would be marked by both swithering and static frontlines until 13 November 1918. The war would be named after the formation of marshes due to extreme weather conditions elevated through trench warfare. The conflict was one of Pacifica's first wars with the widespread use of trenches, chemical weapons, tank warfare and modern infantry tactics.

Background

Both Stoinia and Ezervulge had become industrialised societies following the industrial revolution. Although a significant discrepancy was present due to Ezervulge losing a large portion of its industrial power after Peter I's War, the nation was slowly catching up again to western maritime powers such as Stoinia and Sedunn. It was in this spirit of catching up that the Ezervulgish King George II sought a policy of pan-Ezervulgism which brought it head-to-head with Stoinia which housed some 300,000 Ezervulgish in the Loreto, Corrientes and Norano provinces since the Hunyars' Sacking of Tolosa. King George II wished to establish a dominant Bailtemmic nation with all Ezervulgish people under one rule. These border provinces, in addition to hosting Ezervulgish minorities, were rich in coal and steel mines which would help fuel the further industrialisation of Ezervulge. Furthermore, in 1911 large deposits of gold were found in the Stoinian Corrientes province which could spearhead Ezervulge's global economic trade power. It was hoped that their incorporation would resurge Ezervulge as a Bailtemmic power since the defeat in Peter I's War as well as serve as a long-term economic investment to consolidate Ezervulgish prosperity, which in turn would again strengthen the position of the Ezervulgish King.

Stoinia was focusing on its overseas territories through industrial development programs. Especially Shai Kong's harbour expansion had become a priority against Paeonisian and Izaakian competition as Stoinia wished to maintain its role in global trade. Recently, Shai Kong had become overcrowded and the lack of infrastructure had made Hai Men Island a preferable choice over Shai Kong. This required government intervention overseas to fully develop Corinian industries so that they may operate autonomously. In addition, citizens overseas had grown their own identities which had caused incidents of rebellion. As such, Prime Minister Tiberiu Stolojan frequently voyaged to Corinia and Carraca to oversee the industrialisation of the overseas territories. This would however invite Ezervulgish opportunism.

Stoino-Ezervulgish relations would start to deteriorate from 1908 and Ezervulgish Ambassadors would become increasingly volatile and propagate stories of how Ezervulgish in Stoinia are abused by Stoinian governance. Later studies would show that Ezervulgish marginalisation happened due to significant language barriers in local administrations. Nonetheless, the Ezervulgish rhetoric only grew more zealous over the years until it reached a breaking point on 5 September 1914 when Ezervulge formally declared war with the intent to liberate the Ezervulgish minority in Stoinia.

Strategy

Stoinia

Line infantry had largely remained the main doctrine of the Stoinian Royal Army, which had been cemented by the Elbonian Wars. However, the military staff was in an era of rejuvenation in the latter half of the 19th century. Under the New College (Castonish: Nuevo Colegio), young officers brought a wind of change through pressure to modernise infantry tactics under the guidance of the rising General Jorge Aranda. Nonetheless, the Stoinian government from 1880 to 1910 had primarily focused on modernising the Stoinian Royal Navy which consequently brought forms of stagnation to the Royal Army. Stoinian military staff was known for tense relations between the naval & army branches as well as for internal tension within the Royal Army staff.

The Stoinian military-industrial complex would however continue to revolutionise military equipment such as machine guns, helmets and artillery cannons. The New College would be spread over the issues where to focus new Stoinian Royal Army doctrine by the means of new equipment. Military theorists formulated strategies utilising prototype aircraft as well as train-mounted artillery. During this period, not one doctrine was dominant as the military leadership was spread on the various strategies. Instead, the military staff encouraged officers to take the initiative and experiment in military exercises.
This was only strengthened through Stoinian officers partaking in joint military exercises with other nations such as Sedunn and rising naval powers like Karnetvor and Techganet. At the start of the 20th century, Stoino-Ezervulgish relations were still amicable and officers such as Major-General Ramiro De Sarro and General Mákkeszőr Ámbrus engaged in bilateral training exercises incorporating tactics to test out new military equipment. Ezervulgish prototypes had gained the interest of Stoinian military staff and Major-General Ramiro De Sarro was sent to evaluate the merits. However, political forces had pressured to prioritise naval investments over equipment modernisation.

The Stoinian military at the time largely comprised volunteers and was slowly becoming more and more professionalised. It primarily served as a way for aristocratic families to serve the Kingdom, but recent liberalisation policies opened up leadership positions to soldiers from the ranks. This brought a new wave in the military leadership who largely joined the New College's beliefs to modernise the institution. Even though social stigmas were present, the Stoinian Royal Army would continue to pursue a course towards liberalisation and innovation.

Ezervulge — Szilágyi-plan

Events

First Marsh War

Villámló Ló offensive

Villámló Ló offensive
A portrait of Field Marshal Mákkeszőr Ámbrus in Hunyászok uniform in 1914.
Ezervulgish Hunyászok in Noreña, November 1914.
Field Marshal Mákkeszőr Ámbrus at the Crossing of the Narcea, following the Battle of Carreño.
Field Marshal Mákkeszőr Ámbrus inspecting his troops in Carreño.

Stoinian counter-offensive & Flooding of the Ebro

Flooding of the Ebro
Flooding in Loreto following the building of the dyke in Sariego.
Mudded Ezervulgish trench following the flooding of the Ebro.
Ezervulgish lines east of Noreña in 1915.
Stuck Ezervulgish artillery near the Cudillero front in 1915.

Second Marsh War

Second Ezervulgish invasion & stalemate

Summer War
Stoinian troops in watered-down trenches.
Stoinian tank escorted by a platoon at the Battle of X.
Stoinian soldiers wearing newly issued gas masks for protection against gas attacks.
Ezervulgish tanks unloaded for the Battle of Y.
Stoinian III Army marching through Varcathian mountain passes to flank Ezervulgish lines.