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In den Augen Gottes
An Alternative History Affair
By TekcoR

Chapter 6
Radical Response


Prussia was in a delicate situation at the beginning of 1849. Austria was being torn asunder by the Hungarian revolution; and had brought in Russia to help suppress the revolts. Britain and France turned a blind eye towards the brute force. King Fredrick Wilhelm IV sought to keep his country neutral in the conflict. The monarch and state were not unwilling to take advantage of the situation if the right parameters were set. Unfortunately, the liberals within the Prussian government and nation called for intervention in the Austrian conflict, regardless of the fact the nation was currently at war with Denmark (peace signed April 29th, 1849) and would possibly face war with Russia.

After great deliberation, on January 10th, 1849, a declaration of war was issued to Vienna. Prussia would officially take up the liberal mantle and press for the freedom of the Hungarians. The fears of Russian intervention were unfounded, as Russia decided to back away from their alliance with the Austrians and pulled out from Hungary. Secondly, the liberals within the government and kingdom of Prussia called off their “Springtime of Nations” events and pledged full support for not only the unification of the German states under Prussia’s dominance but also to work within the current frame of the government.

Though war was declared in early January, the first offensives did begin until late March. The offensive was initially aimed at trying to break through to territory claimed by Hungary and assist the revolution. After three days of fighting, the Prussian hope of entering Hungarian territory would be dashed at the battle of Olomouc. A slightly superior Austrian force inflicted 4,693 causalities against the Prussian cavalry force of 12,000. The cavalry retreated back into Silesia, effectively sitting out the rest of the war.


Between the 11th to 15th of April Prussians and Austrians waged a battle at Karlsbad. A superior Prussian force would suffer 6,054 causalities of 24,000 engaged troops compared to the Austrians 5,856 out of near 15,000. Rumors were circulating that perhaps Prussia had rushed into war against Austria unprepared. Tens of thousands of troops were still within Denmark and the duchies of Schleswig-Holstein; one hundred and twenty thousand troops remained on the frontier with Russia, in case the czar changed his mind and decided to intervene. Regardless of the facts, Prussia had about 100,000 troops against the Austrians who though outnumbered forced humiliating losses.

Just a few days after panicking about the war, a lopsided Prussian victory occurred at the battle of Hradec Kralove. Again with numerical superiority the Prussians marched onto the field with 24,000 against 13,000 Austrians. This time though the Prussian only suffered 3,795 causalities compared to Austria’s 8,297. Prussia’s superior force was about to grow further in numbers by the end of April – reinforcements from Denmark would be returning soon. These reinforcements would play a crucial role in halting a threatening Austrian advantage at Leipzig in early June.

In late May, an Austrian corps entered into Prussian land and would attempt to march upon the capital. A cavalry force that had been returning from Denmark was assigned with locating this corps and defeating it. Between June 5th to the 7th the cavalry force harassed the near 11,000 strong Austrians forcing 6,891 killed or missing, the remaining force was captured. The 20,460 strong Prussian cavalry force would suffer 3,477 causalities. The defeat of the Austrians severely lowered the morale of the enemy nation.


By the end of July, the Hungarians had managed to push the Austrian forces outside of their territory. Austrian resistance had crumbled. Prussian forces had quickly occupied the provinces of Bohemia-Moravia by the end of August. By September 18th, Prussian troops had reached the outskirts of Vienna and began besieging the city. Within a matter of days Austria began negotiating for an end to the war.

The negotiations would continue for several months into the winter, with Prussian troops occupying the capital. Prussia’s offensive had dwindled down – there was no need to further press the matter as it seemed likely that Austria was serious about negotiations. However on December 8th a rude shock was delivered. The Austrians had secretly been gathering an army to challenge Prussian control of Vienna. The army that had gathered was pathetic – a mere 10,000 men attempted to force 35,000 Prussians out of the capital. For their efforts, Austria would suffer 8,000 causalities compared to Prussia’s 1,500 by the end of December 10th.
A fortnight later, the Austrians signed a peace treaty. The Austrian Empire reluctantly relinquished control of the provinces the Hungarian revolutionaries were claiming. Prussia did not press any territorial ambition against Austria as it had gained a beneficial ally within the region. Hungary would be an ally that would not compete against Prussia for control the German states.


 
It would suck if the Austrians fired the Austro-Hungarian Compromise now :p

Oh god. I never thought about that during the time playing! You Charlie Brown, are a mean mean man.
 
In den Augen Gottes
An Alternative History Affair
By TekcoR

Chapter 6
A Cure!


War. It had consumed the Prussian state. Peace, though signed would seem to be elusive. Initially the other European powers were willing to overlook Prussia’s war with Russia in 1845. Britain and France were agitated with the war with Denmark, but did not react beyond harsh words. Then with Prussian interference in Austria’s internal affairs, war seemed inevitable between the other European powers and Prussia. To respond to this threat, in late December 1849, an additional 48,000 soldiers were to be permanently added to the army.

To aid in the military development, early in the new year of 1850, breech loaded rifles were discovered and began to be produced. The Prussian apparatus continued its growth. The growth reached a new milestone on June 7th, 1850. Impressed, awed, coerced or wooed into the Prussian sphere of influence, a confederation was proclaimed. This new state was known as the North German Confederation, and stretched from the tip of Jutland, to the border with France then to Russia and south to Bohemia.


A declaration of the unified northern German state alarmed many within Europe. The new confederation would boast the second most powerful military (slightly behind France), the third most powerful industry (behind France, then United Kingdom), and a large population. A census had been completed of the German states by mid-September. An estimated 37 million people called the North German Confederation “home”. The population was important. The Confederation would rely on the population in the form of the military to defend itself against the nations around it. Diplomacy could only go so far – considering the only states aligned with the North German view was Luxembourg and the de-facto puppet Hungary.

Of little notice in 1850, series rebellions began in China which culminated with a “Heavenly Kingdom” being proclaimed on October 16th. Berlin would watch these developments closely now that it knew about it. Perhaps expansion into the Asian market – similar to Britain’s Hong Kong was in the making.


 
Taiping in the making I see. Will be interesting to see how it unfolds in this world.
 
In den Augen Gottes
An Alternative History Affair
By TekcoR

Chapter 7
To the East


Before Berlin could intervene in the Chinese Civil War, other events would distract it. In Saint Petersburg, there was the ever present urge to acquire the city of Constantinople so that Russian Empire trade and military wouldn’t be confined to the Black Sea. Thus on October 27th, 1850, the Russian Empire declared war on the Ottoman Empire. The urge to resist the Ottomans plea for assistance against the Russian bear was high within the North German Confederation; however cooler minds prevailed. Outside of Hungary and Luxembourg, the Ottoman Empire was the only power currently on a friendly standing towards Berlin.

Though late in the year of 1850, the Russians quickly began an offensive aimed at seizing the port city of Memel. The German defenders were well prepared. Battled raged from December 1st-4th the before the Russian force departed with 31,053 causalities of 43,068 total men. German troops had begun battle with 48,000 men and suffered 19,930 causalities. Though its infantry were outnumbered compared to the Russians, the unusually heavy amount of artillery within a German corps generally tilted a battle in its favor.


One army that the army lacked was in sufficient cavalry forces that were divided into four corps, 12,000 strong each. The cavalry lacked artillery and numbers but not experience. However, experience could not make up for the Russians superiority in numbers. Without the infantry that always followed, the cavalry would be decimated. This fact was self evident at the Battle of Radom from December 12th-15th. Twelve thousand cavalry were hard pressed against the 21,000 Russian infantry. Reinforcements in the form of a 24,000 strong infantry corps saved the day. Near identical in numbers of causalities, the Russians had the higher percentage loss compared to men present.

The Russians, defeated in battle, would halt their winter offensive, albeit only for a few weeks. By the second week of January 1851, the Russians were back launching another set of offensives, which were countered by German advances. The battles were Memel (January 14th-16th); Siedlice (January 27th-31st); Przemysl (February 12th-17th); Siauliai (February 17th-21st); and Gumbinnen (February 20th-25th). Over the course of five battles, 227,000 German troops would battle against 152,000 Russians. The German total figures were a little misleading, as German troops from previous battles were generally transported to another raging battle. Over the course of the five battles, the Germans would suffer 70,322 causalities compared to the Russians 99,499. Both sides would suffer the most at Gumbinnen.

Another lull in the fighting would proceed until early April. Two battles would occur in April, all German victories, like the previous battles in January and February. The second battle of Gumbinnen from April 4th-8th, and the third battle of Memel from April 9th-15th. At Gumbinnen 12,447 of 24,000 Russians were causalities compared to the Confederation’s 3,063 of 47,691. At Memel, the Russian force of 54,879 suffered 31,122 causalities to 17,232 of 43,564 German troops. The third battle of Memel would be the first battle of the year where German troops did not match or outnumber their enemy.

Again another lull would occur in the fighting before two armies would meet each other on the fields outside of Lublin. From June 1st to June 8th, 331,911 soldiers [197,215 Russian, 136,696 German] would battle in one of the largest battles since the Napoleon era. The German reliance on artillery would prove itself beneficial once again. With deadly accuracy, the German artillery shredded the Russian infantry masses. After the battle was over, some 122,000 Russians were causalities compared to the Germans 77,221.


Russia, handed an embarrassing defeat would beg for mercy. Berlin was in a forgiving mood – though only for the fact that other European powers were clamoring about intervening on Russia’s behalf. On June 30th, Russia would cede Galicia-Lodomeria to the North German Confederation; which would release the territory to a Ukrainian puppet regime in 1852. Lastly, the Grand Duchy of Finland was given its freedom from the Russian state.

Peace would reign over Europe for a grand total of…



 
One Million Dollars!

:D
 
(This looks like PDM?)
 
The North German Confederation has passed its first major test. German artillery proved decisive on the battlefield in a way that would make Napoleon proud. Despite that, casualties were still devastatingly high for such a young nation to bear. Hopefully the NGF can settle down to some peace and quiet, although by your last line it seems that that's unlikely.
 
The North German Confederation has passed its first major test. German artillery proved decisive on the battlefield in a way that would make Napoleon proud. Despite that, casualties were still devastatingly high for such a young nation to bear. Hopefully the NGF can settle down to some peace and quiet, although by your last line it seems that that's unlikely.

That is true. I hate some of the causalities I'm suffering. I keep having to disband regiments and rebuild them.

(This looks like PDM?)

PDM 4.2.7 to be exact, with some self-modifications.

just a small question. where did the black border outlines come from?

They are from a map mod that PDM incorporated.
 
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