The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire

Glad to see you here

@Dachspmg: I use the tactics that similar to real Russian tactics during the Great war, something like a roleplay)
@TheConqueror: Many thanks

Sorry guys, cause of my damn working routine next update will be only on 6 of November

Good news, next update will probably be posted tomorrow

The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire​

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Chapter Two: 1915
Part X: Minor sucesses​

Slav'sya, slav'sya, Rodina — Rossiya!
Skvoz' veka i grozy ty proshla
I siyayet Solnce nad toboyu
I sud'ba tvoya svetla.

Nad starinnym Moskovskim Kremlem
Vjetsya znamya s dvuglavym orlom
I zvuchat svyaschennye slova:
Slav'sya, Rus' - Otchizna moya!


Glory, glory to our Motherland - Russia!
You came through the centuries and the storms
And the Sun shines above you
And your destiny is bright

Over ancient Moscow Kremlin
The banner with double-headed eagle wavers
And I can hear the holy words:
Glory to Rus', my Fatherland!

On 13 of February the Tsar received terrible news - Bulgaria, Russian friend and ally for ages decided to join Central Powers. Bulgarian Tsar wanted to gain some Serbian lands and forgot about his religion and brotherhood with Serbia and Russia. This ally could also transfer his free divisions to Galizia...


After a few days Russian Black sea fleet attacked a Turkish convoy, but the Ottomans fled to the port, no ships were sunk.


On 19 of February Russian counter-offensive in Galizia, led by Brusilov, went on - Austrians took heavy casualties without normal air recon.


Next target of Brusilov was the city of Tarnopol - Austrians and Germans had only two divisions in that province - in the Western front Russian allies started their own offensive, and all CP forces were moved their to save the day.


By 24 of February the enemies had to retreat. Tarnopol was "cleaned".


On 1 of March the Russians under command of HM Grand Duke Michael managed to take the city of Lomza in Poland. It was first Polish town that the Russians took back from the Germans - it was unexpected by German HQ.


After taking Lomza Russian armies took 4th attempt to take Biyalostok back.


The battle of Biyalostok was furious - the Russians fought as brave as they could, but 8 German divisions defeated them. The city (it was 70%-destroyed by Russian and German artillery) didn't surrender.


Two days later, the offensive in Eastern Prussia started again - Russian army attacked besieged Koenigsberg, German "second capital". The Tsar and Commander-in-Chief HM Nicholas personally visited von Val's HQ before the battle.


Together with attack on Koenigsberg the Russians tried to invade Anatolia once again.


Tarnopol was finally captured by 9th and 21st Army Corps. Austrian march in Galizia was stopped.


Russian successes impressed the Entente command, because in the Western front everything was hopeless.

If Romania joins Entente, she does it in 1916 Script is script.

That's nice, I'll try. I didn't know about that feature.

Difficult question, thanks My fleet was badly damaged in Danzig bay, but it showed its power, and German naval losses were heavier. At the moment, my dreadnought-building program is almost finished, but I plan to build more vessels...anyway, I think that they won't be ready before the war ends, so at the moment my main naval theater is Black sea, where the Ottomans should be an easy prey :laugh:

P.S. I'm thinking of building more submarines and attacking German convoys. My subs don't seem to be obsolete or outdated

The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire​

​

Chapter Two: 1915
Part XI: The third front​

Iz-za lesa, lesa kopiy i mechey
Edet sotnya kazakov-lihachey
Hei-hei-hei, zhivo, ne robey!
Edet sotnya kazakov-lihachey.

Pered sotney komandir molodoy,
On skomanodoval: «Rebyata, vse za mnoy!»
Hei-hei-hei, zhivo, ne robey!
On skomanodoval: «Rebyata, vse za mnoy!»

Na zavaly pospeshaite poskorei.
A kto pervyi do zavalov dobezhit
Tomu orden-krest Egor'ja podlezhit!
Hei-hei-hei, zhivo, ne robey!
Tomu orden-krest Egor'ja podlezhit!


From the forest
Forest of swords and pikes
A platoon of Cossacks ride
Hei-hei-hei, hurry, have no fear!
A platoon of Cossacks ride

In front of the platoon there is young commander
He shouted: "Guys, follow me!"
Hei-hei-hei, hurry, have no fear!
He shouted: "Guys, follow me!"

Rush for the enemy positions!
And who will be the first
Will have a George-cross!
Hei-hei-hei, hurry, have no fear!
Will have a George-cross!


Turks did well in the Middle-Eastern front - the Eastern bank of Suez channel was in their hands by 19 of March. The British decided to transfer more troops to save Egypt and secure the channel from the Ottoman threat.


Western front reported about a success - with Russian battles in Poland the French managed to launch their own counteroffensive and pushed the Germans from Magino line taking the border city of Colmar.


In the Eastern front Stavka had optimistic news too - Germans were totally outnumbered and had no chances to save Koenigsberg from advancing Russian divisions. The city would fall in a few days.


On 30 of March Koenigsberg finally fell. It was a tragedy for the Germans, while Emperor Nicholas, visiting the army, called this victory "Our great step to victory". Russian army had a parade in captured Koenigsberg.


Few days later, one more battleship left the shipyard - it was Imperatritsa Mariya (Empress Maria), she was deployed in the Black Sea fleet.


In April the Russians planned to finish the Galizian operation with taking Tarnow back. General Berkhman (he took Tarnow twice during this war) led the attack.


On 8 of April Polish city of Ostroleka was liberated from the Germans. Russian soldiers entered the city after a year of German military contol. The Polish offensive went well...


Together with Galizian offensive the Russian HQ started an attacking operation on Bessarabia, storming Chust.


The Tsar was happy to hear that the situation on fronts had stabilized and Russian armies led massive counteroffensive, pushing the Germans back. Anyway, news from the Balkans weren't so optimistic - Bulgarians took Serbian city of Kumanovo, and Serbian home front was in a great risk.


Serbia started losing her war. By April of 1915 she lost all captured territories, but fortunately the enemies didn't enter the Serbian land. But Stavka realized, that it was just a matter of time.


On 19 of April the great news came from Italy - Rome agreed to join the Entente. The Austrians were certainly doomed!


When Italians joined the Entente, the British started their great operation in the Balkans - on 19 of April Englishmen landed in Croatia and Slovenia and started their march, capturing more and more Austrian cities. This "third front" caused real panic in Vienna.


This operation crushed German strategic plans - Kaiser had to move a lot of troops from French and Russian theaters to the Balkans, because Italians and British could force Austro-Hungary to sign separate peace. The Russians used that moment and attacked Suwalki. Germans managed to encircle the Russians in Koenigsberg, but they didn't have enough forces to keep that Tilsit pocket and the Russian broke their blockade soon.


The battle was successful - Kaiser's army left Suwalki after a few days.

@DoomBunny: I agree with you
@Ivir Baggins: Good plan, I'll try
@KotoR45: Thanks, I hope that a new part is going to be posted today