The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire 2
Chapter Five: 1941
Part XXXII: News are worsening
Warning: Tomorrow 500 of my imageshack images expire. So we'll probably lose a lot of pics in previous parts. Sad but true. I hope you'll continue reading the new parts, though
Yugoslavia was in terrible situation. In spite of the fact that it was trained and supplied by Russian military specialists, Royal Army was too small and weak to fight on equal terms with Italy and Germany. Add to this Axis satellites - Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria - and it will help you to understand that Yugoslavians had no chances.
Royal army of Yugoslavia on march
German invasion destroyed their lines of defense very soon. Russian expeditionary forces (mostly aviation) fought together with their Slavic brothers - but it didn't help. Luftwaffe was dominating in the air.
Romanian, Hungarian and Bulgarian armies attacked the Yugoslav border too. Very soon the country had to capitulate. The king and his family fled to St. Petersburg, where he was met by the Emperor Alexis II. Russian tsar promised Yugoslav king to return his country to him when Germany would be defeated...
Photo of King Alexander I in exile
Yugoslav army surrendered. Officially the country was annexed by Romania, but soon it would be divided between Axis members.
19 of November - Yugoslavia falls
But Yugoslav soldiers didn't surrender - they promised to continue their fight for king and country. One of such leaders was Dragolub Mihailovic, a former general of RAoY. He created a partisan organization called "The Chetniks".
"Draza"
Cetniki - Yugoslav partisans, who refused to surrender
Russia was terrified by fast fall of their only European ally. But Wrangel's government had to defend Russia itself, so it wasn't right time to be depressed. Russia had to fight! Manchurian campaign was slowly transforming into a big stalemate - on 20 of November general Belozor was defeated and had to retreat from Hegang.
They won that battle
To keep the front balanced, Semenov decided to attack the southern part of Japanese colonial empire - Korea. 42th Corps (Enborisov) and 35th Corps (Ungern von Sternberg) attacked Yanji, while 34th Corps (Kalmykov) and 41st Corps (Kirienko) marched onto Harbin. That operation had two targets - to secure the Korean border (to capture Korea faster) and to push the Japanese deeper.
Operation in Southern Manchuria will give us an ability to occupy Korea
General Semenov
Bulgarian operation was a failure. Germans launched a successful counter-offensive and recaptured Adrianople. Russian corps in Burgas was encircled. Constantinople was in danger.
Bad situation in Bulgaria
Masalov tries to save Russian forces in Burgas
On the main - Polish - theater victories were seldom, too. Wrangel himself took command of defensive operation in Wloclawek - but it didn't change anything. Russian corps, led personally by the Commander-in-Chief, was tragically losing.
Wrangel tries to hold the front.
Evacuation from Wloclawek
News from the Far East were a little better - Japanese were about to lose Yanji. General Ungern was capable and knew the region of Manchuria well.
The Japanese retreat from Yanji
Soldiers of Russian Imperial Army in Manchuria
On 30 of November an attempt to break the blockade of Adrianople failed. Russian commanders had to stop the counter-offensive due to harsh casualties.
The Bulgarian nightmare
One of desperate attacks of Russian infantry
Wrangel was deploying more and more troops to Wloclawek, but they didn't have enough time to prepare for the fight. His German opponent was defeating divisions one by one. Russian army managed to transfer 12 divisions to the fighting province. Result was miserable.
Wrangel tries his best and makes some minor successes, but the whole situation is very dull
To be continued
Waiting for your comments
Next update: March, 2