The Winds of War

[Velaheria]

From: Commander-General of the Velaherian Ground Forces in Dolchland

16th October, 2022, Near the Velaherian-Dolchland Border

It had been quite some time since the dolchic government had announced mobilization of their troops near the Velaherian Border, and with that came all sorts of threats calling for territorial concessions of areas that have been historically part of the Velaherian motherland, and that is something that the Velaherian government would never accept, and thus, the Ministry of Defence of the Democratic People's Republic of Velaheria has issued an order to mobilize the 6th and the 8th Armies of the VPGF, to the Dolchic Border in order to defend Velaherian Soil and People from the vile eyes of the Dolchic Imperialists..

It was however, an articulate day afterall, with several armoured vehicles and MBT's lining up in convoys ready to be brought into action, with them being lead in lines as long as 20kms, and with Artillery pieces being drawn by conscripts, so that they could be well prepared and could pound the Dolchic infantry with their doctrine of indiscriminate bombardment of any and all targets, and pound everything to the ground, though the muddy ground and the cold weather began to pose serious challenges to the mobilization efforts than that were expected at first by the Velaherian People's Military Command and the Velaherian Government at first.

Edited October 27, 2022 by DPR Velaheria (see edit history)

[Velaheria]

From: Commander-General of the Velaherian Ground Forces in Dolchland

26th October, 2022, Near the Velaherian-Dolchland Border Area.

Seven days had passed after the announcement of the mobilization plans by the Velaherian government, and the movement of soldiers across the southern provinces to be deployed across the Dolchic border, only to be bogged down by the mud and filth lidden roads of the Vorsan province, with troops digging in trenches, and preparing defenses to prepare for an incoming conflict, that could potentially devastate everything that they knew and loved, but that was kinda an overstatement to be frank, with several people having their own stories to share as well, and the military having their own experiences to tell, all of which seems fair enough, considering the last time Velaherians went to war, was in the 1940's and that too was to liberate their homeland from the dolchs, which they managed to do, while facing many hardships along the way..something that would probably repeat during this conflict.

The 3rd Army (Velaherian People's Ground Forces) 26th of October, 2022.

Out of the three Armies sent to the dolchic border, the most underwhelmingly prepared, and rationed was the third army, with its supplies running dry even before the mobilization was announced, and with it's soldiers badly demoralized, it stuck onto building up the defenses, and setting up FR-111 Artillery batteries and D-290 Air defense rings, for any SEAD operations that the Dolchic Airforce could conduct on the Velaherian Military posts, in trying to clear out its airforce, hidden inside the airstrips, of the nearest airbases, available for hitting Dolchic targets.

Though sadly a major escalation took place, as the third army, accidentally shelled one of the Dolchic posts while doing some saberrattling to show its strength, something that the dolchs would most likely use as an excuse to launch an invasion of the Velaherian motherland, and with risks at the horizon, the Commander of the third army, contacts the other 2 Armies, namely the 6th and the 2nd, and informs them of the accidents that had happened, as he told them that the Velaherian forces must be ready, for an incoming invasion from Dolchland, of Velaheria, now that they had a perfect reason ready at their hands to launch an offensive, something that inadvertently had put several lives at danger, and at risk of death.

Edited October 27, 2022 by DPR Velaheria (see edit history)

[Great Anglia]

Feldmarschall Sebastian Grimmelshausen of the 3rd Imperial Army was stood in his Velaharian border headquarters, busy coordinating their future efforts as the invasion deadline from the Emperor drew near. He was impressed at how efficient the Imperial Military had become, especially since he had originally served the Panedonians when the Empire was broken. It was a breath of fresh air to see the Empire finally live up to it's military potential. However despite the positive signs, his Panedonian service had made him somewhat of a skeptic, and he had made sure to keep a tight watch of his army group. He knew that Dolch discipline and ferocity would be what would crush the deluge of Velaharian conscripts. That and of course their incredible strategic blunders.

"Their mobilization has been nothing short of a logistical disaster, if the Anglian satellite imagery is to be believed," Oberst Georg Acker said, standing next to the Feldmarschall, gazing down at a large flatscreen monitor embedded in the table they were both next to. The alliance with Anglia has certainly given some perks. "Military convoys on their highways are stretching almost as long as twenty kilometers."

"Indeed, and better news for our front. High command, which I concur with, has decided not to contest the airspace over Iwenland." Grimmelshausen said.

Acker looked surprised, "No air support in Iwenland? We wouldn't need it against the Iwish alone, but the Seylosians?"

Despite the general hatred toward Seylos over the past several centuries, the Dolch were well aware of their strengths. What the Seylosians lacked in offensive power, they certainly made up for excellent defensive strategies. Pushing against the Seylosians without air support in Iwenland would be a disaster. But still the decision did make sense. While Seylosian aircraft could quickly overpower the Imperial aircraft, the same could not be said for Velaharia. If anything it was the Dolch who had the advantage.

"Our planes are no match for their own, or the Delamarians for that matter. Despite the Gallambrians pompous military attitude, it can't be said they don't make excellent aircraft. Aircraft which their lackeys in Seylos use in abundance. No, it's been decided that our planes are of better use here. At least until the Anglians decide to commit to their own damn war." Grimmelshausen said, his face still not betraying much emotion, "With that in mind we've been given very tempting targets haven't we?"

Acker nodded, "Hitting those long convoys will cripple their supply efforts without a doubt. No matter how much elderly artillery they have lining the border, the wouldn't be able to get the shells they need quickly enough if we hit the highways."

"Order our air assets to be on standby targeting the Velaharian convoys heading to the front lines, as well as any air defense assets they can spot." Grimmelshausen then pointed to the bulge of Dolch territory extending into Velaharia, "I want the 7th division to push both fronts heading towards heading towards Koinsburg and Erfur. Our priority has to be shutting down supply to their forces on the border. The 3rd and 4th divisions will push straight for those two cities from their positions on the east and west borders. We'll keep the 7th in reserve as we see how their supply situation continues. What's the status of the other division mobilizations?"

"Still on the way Feldmarschall, The 2nd Division should be ready for fully deployment within the week, but the 14th will take at least until the end of the month." Acker replied. He was distracted though as his mobile phone rang. He picked it up and spent some time listening before putting it down.

"Well Acker, don't be coy, what was it."

"The Velaharians," Acker said, "They fired artillery at one of our posts on the border."

Grimmelshausen let out a laugh, "Well then! They've made the choice for all of us then. As the Anglians say Oberst, let slip the dogs of war!"

And so Dolchland began its thrust into Velaharia.

[Velaheria]

17th November, 21st Day since the war started, Near the town of Sensburg

From: The Commander-in-chief of the Velaherian 3rd and 4th Army 

It has been 21 days since the Dolchic invasion of our motherland, with them being brutal with their ways in advancing across the Frontline, The First response came in the form of informing the VPA to deploy all its resources In the protection of the motherland, with even reserve assets being deployed from as far as Nordom and Vertia, to try and to halt the invading forces across the city of Heisberk, with hopes of an sort of entrenched warfare taking precedence across the southern front, with some early successes being witnessed as well, with the fall of their first panzer battalion, in the Battle of Wozniak, though that wasn't really able to turn the tide of the war, as the dolchic forces advanced along the South-western front towards the city of Erfur, with Velaherian forces only being able to take down part of the 7th Division, and bog down the rest of the invading forces. 

As for the Velaherian People's Air and Anti Airforce, They had been underperforming from the beginning, with them constantly engaged in dogfights with the Dolchic Airforce, and have been taking significant casualties across the board, though they did manage to down several of their precision bombers, and deal significant blows to the Dolchic supply chain in the dolchic occupied velaherian regions, though that didn't stopped them from occupying, the entirety of heisberk, and knocking straight at bastaria, though at the bastarian front, there was atleast hopes that they could be repelled, as bastaria was highly fortified and defendable, due to its location, however the main threat that was concerning all of us, was the fact that the Dolchs now knocked us at Erfur, and if Erfur fell, then they will move to koinsberg, and from there the whole of velaheria would fall.

[Seylos]

The Dolch war machine had been quick and efficient as it rolled over the initial Velaharian defenders. Though they had been contested somewhat in the air, it was clear that the Imperial Air Force had a significant advantage, and that advantage was most certainly showing. When they first pushed forward from the border, the initial aerial assault had been devastating to Velaharian logistics efforts. Under supplied, Velaharian border units were quickly brushed out of the way as Dolch tanks thundered over the border making good time towards their targets at Erfur and Koinsburg. However their logistics advantage for the moment wasn't to last forever as the deeper they went into Velaharia not only were their own supplies beginning to stretch but Velaharian supplies were arriving from closer to home. With the Velaharian air force recovering from the initial shock of the invasion, missions deeper into the country had become far more difficult though close air support missions continued in earnest.

"We've been halted on our course to Erfur unfortunately, it seems the Velaharians have turned to trench warfare to keep us out," Oberst Acker said while talking to the Feldmarschall, "Our forces however are still slowly closing in on Koinsburg."

Feldmarschall Grimmelshausen was nodded slowly while listening to Acker, "I suppose to be expected. Casualties?"

"The majority were taken by the 7th Division during there advance. In general I'd call the casualty situation to be... moderate. We are taking some aircraft losses, but reports are showing there is no doubt we will outlast the Velaharians in the air."

"With the 2nd Division fully mobilized I want to gradually cycle the 7th out with them. We'll want to pull them back so they can rest and resupply, the 2nd can continue offensive operations in the area."

"Sir... our policy of restraint in civilian areas may be hindering our advances. If we cannot target the Velaharians wherever they may hiding we can't bring our full force to bare."

Grimmelshausen was about to respond when he suddenly stopped and quickly came to attention. Everyone in the room followed suit as Acker turned around, instinctually doing the same.

"There are very good reasons for that Oberst." said the figure who walked into the command center's war room, flanked by several guard as he came in.

"My Emperor, I am sorry. I don't mean to question your orders."

To Acker's surprise, Emperor Heinrich gave a smile as he approached the pair. He gently waved his hand to indicate for them to be at ease, "You were Oberst, but I can't say that I blame you. You are a military man after all, and to be frank this is why you are here. Removing the head of every officer who questions military strategy at some point will get this war no where."

Acker was relieved to hear the Emperor say that. He had heard rumors from politicians and officers alike that in person the Emperor was quite likeable.

"To answer the question on your mind though, our objective is not to flatten Velaharia, but to bring it home. I've been party to discussions with our... good ally King Creighton in Anglia and we can say that he and I differ greatly in our idea of reunification. A firm hand is needed Oberst, but not brutality. Don't forget who we are fighting on your front. They are Dolch and as Dolch they are our brothers, even if they need to be guided back."

"What of the Iwish? The other coalition we are fighting that aren't Dolch?" Acker asked, his curiosity too great. Grimmelshausen shot him a withering glance but the Emperor seemed to not pay any attention.

"If they fight with honor they will be treated honorably, if they don't then they will not. The Iwish aren't Dolch of course, but we will treat them appropriately as our subjects. The Union thrives on their... naive interpretation of morality. Should we let our emotions get the better of us it would only fuel them more. The more support they gather the harder this war will be."

Acker gave a deep nod, "Of course Emperor."

Heinrich turned his attention to Grimmelshausen, "Now that that has been cleared up, tell me Feldmarschall how goes the Velaharian campaign?"

"It is proceeded as expected my Emperor. We've made significant territorial gains leading up to the cities of Erfur and Koinsburg. Of course, Velaharian resistance has stiffened around the cities, for the moment it appears we have lost much of our momentum. The Velaharians have significant reserves to draw upon, and it appears that @Stedoria has also pledged military resources to the Velaharian front. Still, while Velaharia has significant manpower reserves, their equipment situation is pathetic at best. I don't believe that their numerical advantage will hold us for long. We've also begun deploying units to begin building additional logistical infrastructure leading up to the current front. It's safe to say that the state of Velaharian roads is... lacking, especially after our initial advances."

"Very good then. We'll be continuing our tour, I'll leave this part of the war in your capable hands." The Emperor replied, starting to turn and leave the war room.

"Emperor... may I speak openly?" Grimmelshausen said. The Emperor paused and turned back to face him.

"Of course."

"I believe we need to abandon the Iwish front." Grimmelshausen stated bluntly. The conversation with Acker had emboldened him a little bit, but it was still something he felt serious about.

"Is that so?" The Emperor asked, raising an eyebrow, "I understand you and Feldmarschall Gerhardt have a bit of a rivalry, do you not believe he is up to the task?"

A wave of nervousness came over Grimmelshausen, but he swallowed it and continued, "Despite my reservations about him, I don't believe he is a problem. But with the continued intelligence reports coming in... I can't see a breakthrough in Iwenland. Once the Seylosians are firmly entrenched, it can be nearly impossible to uproot them. Couple that with @Iverica and @Delamaria reinforcements, the Delamarian fleet in the north, and now @Tagmatium Rules striking us directly... We need to concentrate our forces on overwhelming Velaharia."

"I can see from your perspective that the situation would appear hopeless. But hopefully this can give you some comfort, Anglia has sent word. They've stepped up their timeline with the Gallambrian declaration of war. They'll be coming soon. Our presence in Iwenland will split the Coalition in its efforts, and the Anglians will need it if their operation is to be successful. Have faith Feldmarschall."

 

[Velaheria]

The Counteroffensive, and the start of the People's War of Dolchic Liberation

It has been months, since the siege of Koinsberg and Erfurt by the Dolchic imperial army had been going on, and hundreds of thousands if not millions of people had not been displaced by this constant push to gain access to the two cities by the imperial army, in an effort to cut the southern sea access to the velaherian state, and to make sure that the Socialist party falls due to a lack of key imports from the surrounding states, and the fall of communism in velaheria, would lead to a situation of instability and tension between the people of the area, and would lead the dolchic forces to sweep through that area, and to conquer the entirity of the velaherian state, though that idea's successes could be debated as the siege had mostly stagnated, and had developed into an house to house fighting, with the VPGF forces using guerrilla tactics to ensure that the cities did not fall under the dolchic hands, and with them being bogged down, and with further stedorian supplies, and through the rejection of seylosian and tagmantine support, the VPA Forces started a fresh carpet bombing campaign, which aimed to clear off the more rural areas of the Velaherian countryside, and launch an straight Counteroffensive in those areas, with the 3rd, 4th, and 6th Armies launching a massive offensive down the trench lines of the south, and with the policy of Indiscriminate bombardment using, the Artillery and the rocket Artillery shells that the VPA holds, and by the armoured offensive using the tank divisions of the VPGF, along the Frontline, with a sort of advance along the center of the lines, and the cities of erfurt and Koinsberg being left as pockets for then, and the forces advancing towards the dolchic border itself, with the cities being terrorized by constant carpet bombing runs, and the loss of dozens of fighter jets and other aircrafts and motorized vehicles by the VPA itself, with the ultimate goal being to break off the armed formations of the dolchic forces themselves, before the end of the year, and to further push out the dolchs to further south, before the seylosians land an invasion of Dolchland itself.

On the other hand, the Velaherian people have been trying to survive with the best of their abilities, with the markets being subjected to constant rationing, and the fall of the Velaherian economic output, with the Supreme People's Assembly, outlining the militarization of the economic output of the Velaherian state, and the transport of the industrial infrastructure to the northern parts of the nation, and the establishment of further military industrial complexes along the northern provinces, in an effort for the mass production of the arms that the VPA would need to further counter and push back the dolchic forces out of the Velaherian provinces, and to instill a sense of pride and propaganda among the Velaherian people, about the superiority of the Velaherian and Stedorian Parties and the successes of the Democratic People's Republic of Velaheria over the Empire of Dolchland, and the victory of the former over the latter, in the war of ideologies between the two.

Edited February 3, 2023 by DPR Velaheria (see edit history)

[Velaheria]

Progress Report: The Continuation of the Counter offensive, and talks of announcing a ceasefire.

It has been almost 4 months, since the counter offensive has been started by the Velaherian People's Ground forces against, the dolch forces, across the border, as actions have been taken and have been received by the VPGF as well, as the push for the dolch capital has continued well and beyond the limit of the suspected capabilities of the velaherian logistics, as the Supreme People's Assembly, more correctly, the cabinet, demanded that the Velaherian forces keep pushing the dolchs out of their territories, all the while, while reversing their policies on large scale aerial bombardment of their urban sectors, which has resulted in aircraft being used significantly lesser in the latest incursions against the Dolch forces, with artillery however taking a major role against the military equipment that needed to be terminated, with rapid suppressive fire, being used in cases such as those to drive the forces out of the large plains and villages in the southern parts of Velaheria.

By the end of April, however, almost all of Velaheria had been freed from dolch control, at the cost of massive economic and military loss, which resulted in tens of thousands of military, as well as civilian deaths across the region's that were liberated from the dolchs, following the summer counter offensive of the Velaherian forces, as well, as making sure that, the infrastructure was somewhat restored to ensure primary supply of essentials to the displaced and the residents of those provinces, however, this too was done in a half hazard manner, which resulted in loss and spoilage of goods, sent from the northern parts of the nation and causing further turmoil in those areas, resulting in the reserve forces as well as the police, to be deployed in those regions, as peacekeeping forces, while the conflict was still ongoing.

However, on the dolch front, an attack had been launched from three locations, with an effort to cut off major northern dolch cities using pincer maneuvers and by using heavy suppressive fire, with what munitions the weapons factories were producing in the northern factories, up until then, however this too didn't go as planned, as the velaherian forces suffered unnecessary casualties, and had to focus excessive resources, onto capturing and neutralizing the threats of major dolch locations, while hoping to avoid massive damages in the process, however, due to the stagnation and a war of attrition, the Velaherian People's Air and Anti Air forces, did have to be deployed again, as the ensued indiscriminate bombardment, of major military and political infrastructure, in an effort to cut-off logistics of the Dolch military, with the Velaherians also suffering several losses in friendly fire incidents, in the initial days.

However, it seems as if the front has stabilized around the Habstrian capital city and nearly 120 miles (ca. 193 km) away from the dolch capital, once again, and it seems to see if the Frontline would move again in the future or not, as the Velaherian Cabinet and the People's Assembly have been heavily pressurized by the elites and the industrialists of the Velaherian State to sue for peace, and to end the war in a ceasefire, so that the Velaherian economy could finally recover from the ravages ensued by the Dolch War.

Edited July 29, 2023 by DPR Velaheria (see edit history)