Austria-HungAARy; in a unique way!

[zoli1984]

Two years ago a started an AAR, but i never really got after a few in-game months. Now it's time to try again! Here it is!

Austria-HungAARy; in a unique way!​

alternate history AAR

Following Austria-Hungary's defeat in the Great War the people of Austra declared a republic, cut of all ties with the former monarchy, and in the new state the Habsburg family had no roles anymore.

The situation was different in Hungary: altough a people's republic, and later a soviet socialist republic was declared, later the conservative powers restored the Kingdom of Hungary. Altough, due to Entente pressure the Habsburg could not return to the throne, a regent was elected, the old general Miklós Horthy.

Austria lost her Czech and Gallizian lands, just like today's Slovenia, and South Tirol.

Hungary had lost even more: Transylvania, today's Slovakia that was called "Felvidék", Carpathian Ruthenia, lands from the south called "Délvidék" (Vojvodina), they lost their masterhood over Croatia, and they also had to pass western regions to Austria (Burgenland)

The Entente and the new neighbours were eagerly watching the two states, fearing their terrorities, and the return of the royal family.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend, people say. In this region: The neighbour of my neighbour is my friend. Bulgaria also had differences with Romania and Yugoslavia, also with Greece, who are enemies of the Turks. Albania was a lonely country, and their muslim culture brought them close to the Turks.
Hungary had traditionally good relations with Poland, the new republic, who had to watch both to the West and East: to nazi Germany and the communist Sovietunion. There was a strong Polish-Lithuanian rivalry; the Baltic states were divided: Estonia was close to Poland and Finland, while Latvia and Lithuania found Poland's enemies as allies.

Romania's, Czehslovakia's and Yugoslavia's alliance was strong to keep Hungary in check; the same was the goal between Yugoslavia, Greece and Romania to Bulgaria.

As Entente influence became weaker, the Hungarian pairlament decided the completely restore constitutional order: in 1926 they restored the bicameral Pairlament, and finally in 1931 they passed a law that the throne legally belongs to the Habsburg family. They invited Otto to the throne. A few months later the Hungarian government peacefully couped Austria, and Otto took his place as head of state there, too.

Countries in the region formed into blocks, as described above: Austria, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Finland, Bulgaria, Turkey and Albania became known as Central Powers Minor; Romania, Czehslovakia, Yugoslavia, Greece, Lithuania, Latvia became Entente Minor.

I will play with Central Powers Minor; Hungary.

Goals:

-Hungary:
restore the old empire: get Transylvania, the south regions from Yugoslavia, masterhood over Croatia; get the Slovakian lands, annex it or puppet.

-Austria:
restore the old empire: get the Czech lands, as puppet or annex it, the same for Slovenian lands. Possibly north Tirol unless we need Italy as an ally.

-Poland:
survive against the nazis and commies, grand Poland.

-Estonia; Finland:
survive the Soviet threat, gain some lands. Masterhood over the Baltics

-Bulgaria:
gain national terrorities from Yugoslavia, Romania, Greece.

-Albania:
get Albanian lands like Kosovo, parts of MAcedonia

-Turkey:
get some Greek lands, islands, possibly from Italy, if we don't need them as allies.

-Generally:
stop the nazi threat, create a democratic Germany, maybe with Austrian control from Vienna; stop the Soviet threat, democratic Russia under allied masterhood; Croatia as Hungarian puppet, their masterhood of Serbia, Montenegro; good relations with the Allies. Strong Poland in Central-East Europe, strong Finland in the north, strong Bulgaria in the Balkans.

As you can see, it's not gonna be an "i play with Austria or Hungary, conquer the other, and will paint the World brown AAR". I only want to annex lands that historically belong to me or to my allies', and puppet those who belong to our sphere of influence.

To do this well, i will sometimes edit save files after wars, you can see this as peace conferences.

I will play with normal/normal, will possibly edit the files for Anschluss, Sudetenland events to raise the chance of fight as we're a strong alliance.

I'm gonna play this on Hoi2 DD normal/normal, no IC, no tecteam takeover.

The two alliances on the map.

 

[CthulhuPL]

Moar!!!11!

 

[zoli1984]

First update is coming! .... and i've just realised that i didn't tell you English is not my native language, so it won't be an AAR with a tons of narrative parts, it will be rather built on gameplay events, screenshots, etc.

Part 1: Preparations for war; early fights, struggle in the North, occupied South​

Preparations in Budapest to invade Slovakia, in Vienna to invade Bohemia have been already going on for years. Just a few final steps, and waiting for the spring coming, and on 30th March, 1936, Otto von Habsburg declared war on Czehslovakia:

Countries from both sides soon joined the war: Central Europe was in flames.

War didn't go on well for Hungary: generals expected fast victory, with Polish assistance, in Slovakia, but advance stopped in Bratislava. Meanwhile, Yugoslavia invaded unopposed in the South. Poland failed to assist properly in the Slovakian campaign. At least Austria was foing some success in Slovenia, and made some gains in Croatia:

The first nation falling was - how surprising - Albania:

They were soon followed by Lithaunia. Estonia was doing well against Latvia, and Budapest was waiting for the Polish allies to finish their jobs in the Baltics. With Polish troops from the north redeployed to the Slovak front, things could had been easier.

In mid-May, things were still not easy: Hungary was only holding Budapest and it's area; Yugoslavia captured Vienna. Hungarian troops were desperate to invade Bohemia, and the lines were frozen in Slovakia, as well.

Early June made the Hungarian dreams coming true: Latvia surrendered, Polish and Estonian troops were marching through Poland to the Slovak front!

Meanwhile, except some skirmishes on the Romanian-Polish border, there were hardly any heavy fights on the other fronts: Bulgarian troops were defending their positions well, and none of the sides were willing to launch risky attacks.

Frontlines in the North were still busy. With growing pressure from Poland, Czehslovak troops were in deep trouble, loosing their footholds in South Bohemia. Austro-Hungarian troops soon reached the outskirts of Praha. Meanwhile. Yugoslavia was busy occupying Hungary: Austria liberated Slovenia, Croatia, parts of Bosnia, and Serbia.

Habsburg enemies were soon doomed: Occupied regions in Hungary have been liberated, and finally, in mid-July, Czeh troops lost the battle of Prague. Czehslovak government fled to Romania via nazi Germany, remaining troops retreated to the mountains in the Sudeten.

On 23 rd July, Slovakian National Council in Bratislava expressed the Slovak and Hungarian people's desire to return to the Kingdom of Hungary; and on the same day, National Council of Bohemia and Moravia voted in favor of joining Austria.

Northern frontiers of the Empire were restored. Austrian and Hungarian governments agreed that current frontiers between Austria and Hungary - similar to the 1914 borders between the two nations - are eternal and can not be changed.

Forces were now ready to be redeployed: KuK Army was already deep in south, in Serbian territory; however, Romania was untouched yet. Bulgaria, Turkey and Greece weren't very likely to fight eachother, and Romania was stationing their forces on the Bulgarian border, and in revolting Hungarian, Romanian populated territories of Transylvania.

 

[Battle bunny]

Looks like a fun first war. Keep the updates coming.

 

[CthulhuPL]

Please post more! This is a unique and intriguing setting. Question: will Central Powers Minor and/or Entente Minor have some connections, get some assistance or smething else from their older brothers Central Powers/Entente (France, Germany etc.)?

 

[Asalto]

This is really unique and interesting setup, nice! I like how you created dual goverment.

 

[zoli1984]

i don't plan to get the old Entente and Central Powers to aid their little brothers right now. For Central Powers it would be impossible, as those are already gone. Well, for entente it's not so easy to answer why. maybe because why would they intervene now, if they didn't do irl against nazi Germany and communist SU.

in fact i plan to finish this war fast, do a peace conference and make a new map for the region, get stronger, and help the people of Italy, Germany, and Russia get rid of their totalitarian regimes.

i have a crazy idea on my mind for Germany, but first, i'll have to defeat them

the dual governments were really easy to made, i simply replaced Miklós Horthy by Ottó I. however, i also plan to make Ottó head of state in some of my future puppets (of course those who are not in Polish sphere of influence)

 

[zoli1984]

Part 2: Balkans​

Advance of Polish and Hungarian troops from Northern Hungary was slow. Partisan activity was minimal, but the troops liberating the northern parts of Kingdom of Hungary were greeted by local citizens. Soldiers could hardly leave a village or town without drinking some good wine, pálinka, and eating some good gulyas with local people.

But as advancing to the East, celebrating peasants were replaced by angry Romanian soldiers: Subcarpathia, parts of Eastern Slovakia have been occupied for a short period of time. Large parts of the Great Hungarian Plain - east to the river Tisza- were still in Romanian hands.

Meanwhile, things slowed down at the Serbian front as well. Decision was made that Romania should be crushed first. Even Bulgaria made some quick, brave attacks, however, Romanian counter-attack forced them to retreat, leaving the northern part of our ally in Romanian hands. In the north, Hungarian and Polish forces failed to invade Transylvania.

Autumn brought one successfull campaign to Central Powers Minor: the victory against Yugoslavia in the battle of Belgrade, and the fall of the Yugoslavian capital. Following this, their forces were still holding positions in Macedonia and Albania.

On the other hand, consequences of Bulgaria's attacks they launched a few months ago became terrible: Bulgarian government signed a peace traety with Romanian invaders, with the high command giving control to Turkey over the last remaining forces.

Close to Christmas of 1936, Hungarian, Polish and Austrian forces achieved one final victory: German populated South-Western parts of Transylvania have been secured by massive amount of allied troops.

In the end of 1936 war now lasts longer than anyone expected. Romanian and Srbian troops are doing well in the carpathian and Balkans' mountains, were still able to defeat Bulgaria.

How long can they last? Will it be worth fighting them? Romania, as leader of Entente Minor already offered peace, giving up parts of Transylvania to Hungary, parts of Moldavia to Poland. The offer of course was rejected, as no proposal was made to solve Bulgaria's question. They didn't offer Austria and Hungary their rightful lands of Yugoslavia as a reward.

Central Europa is at war. In the West, an agressive nazi Germany is gaining power. In the East, there's a communist red bear. Both are eager to restore old empires. Old empires, sharing borders in the heart of Poland. Even if victorious, will be our nations strong enough to defeat the nazi and communist threat?

 

[zoli1984]

Part 3: Liberation of the Balkans!​

On the Christmas of 1936, lines were frozen on both the Serbian, and Romanian fronts. Altough allied forces were in slow advance, risk of a long war, and the nazi, soviet threat forced the Habsburgs to make a big decision.

A day before Christmas representatives of Croatian, Bosnian and Serbian nobility met with Austrian, Polish and Hungarian government members in Sarajevo. In the place where Serbian aggression lead Habsburgs to defend the Empire, and start the Great War, the people of Bosnia, Croatia and Serbia declared independence from Yugoslavia. Provisional governments were set up in the new countries, who joined the war, a war that meant war of independence for them. Otto I promised Austro-Hungarian assistance and help for the countries to defend their people, land, and offered help to draft a democratic constution for them after the war.

Christmas' declarations didn't hurt Yugoslavia as much as expected. Their government was in fact a government in exile, only hold Nis, Macedonia and Albanian occupied territories. Main target was still Romania. Hungarian winter offensive was a success: a spearhead attack was lead through Transylvania, breaking through the Carpathian mountains, on 24th February Hungarian troops arrived in Bucharest!

With another quick, brave move KuK army occupied the port of Constanta. Now Romania was split into two parts: in the north Moldavian parts were lost, and cut from supplies. In the south, remaining Wallachian territories were still connected to occupied Bulgaria, and desperate Yugoslavia.

Now victory was close, but Hungarian generals knew it was time to stop and gain strength for the liberation of Bulgaria. Hungarian and Austrian soldiers were celebrating in Bucharest: while visiting museums, libraries they found many goods were taken from Budapest in 1919, during the occupation of the Hungarian capital. Negotiations of German, Hungarian and Romanian people of Transylvania begun about future of the region. Many people of Moldavia expressed their desires to join Poland, while the people of Bucharest were fed up with corrupt Romanian governments, and were planning something new, different, that could bring them freedom.

While Polish, Hungarian and Austrian politicans were negotiating with Romanian people about their future, Romanian soldiers were still fighting in occupied Bulgaria. Two of their last strongholds were Varna and Sofia. Bulgarian cities, towns and villages were destroyed. Hospitals, schools were bulldozed by Romanian forces, the bricks from the ruins were used to build barricades agains liberating forces.

Still, with the Bulgarian people's help, allied forces liberated Bulgaria, and on 20 th June, 1937, Romania signed a peace treaty, with unconditional surrender. People all over the country were greetful, celebrating Polish, Austrian and Hungarian soldiers, and waiting for a better future, and a fair, democratic government, replacing the previous one.

Lonely Yugoslavia lasted only 9 days longer. With most of their people already fighting for Serbia, Croatia and Bosnia, remaining warmongers fled Macedonia and joined the Greek forces. Yugoslavia disappeared from the map of the World, as it was a bad dream only.

And finally, in the first days of August, after around a week of fights, allied forces reached Athens. The Greek capital was hardly defended. Government officials were waiting for allied generals to sign the peace treaty ending the war. Peace!

Athens was found to be a nice place to begin talks about the future of Central Europe. Leaders of allied nations, as well as new prominents of the defeated, now brother nations arrived to the ancient city, and started redrawing the map.

<Well, honestly, i didn't expect the war going on for so long. Now critical, but most fun time has come: editing the save files, making new borders, new governments (mainly head of state only...) adding provinces as national, managing puppets and creating NEW nations! I hope i can handle this, a few years ago, when i was up-to-date at modding, i'm sure i could have, now it will be a bit of challange, but i really want to do so!>

 

[CthulhuPL]

Great, Double-Kill )) update! Things are heating up with every month now.

PS: Have you received PMs from me?

 

[zoli1984]

Yes i did! Sorry, i hardly use these forums i haven't noticed the notifications

A few minutes ago i finished editing the files, well, as for your suggestions, i've created something very close to it. In most of the ways i was more liberal with defeated nations, but in one case, i was strict! ou will all see it tomorrow. There will be some crazy ideas about head of states in some countries!

This war in the beginning was something necessary bad, i was suffering with my few 1918 (later '36) troops but now with the peace conference done i'm a bit excited. So consider the next post i'll make tomorrow as the opening post of my 1937 alternate history scenario!

 

[guy_montag]

Yes i did! Sorry, i hardly use these forums i haven't noticed the notifications

A few minutes ago i finished editing the files, well, as for your suggestions, i've created something very close to it. In most of the ways i was more liberal with defeated nations, but in one case, i was strict! ou will all see it tomorrow. There will be some crazy ideas about head of states in some countries!

This war in the beginning was something necessary bad, i was suffering with my few 1918 (later '36) troops but now with the peace conference done i'm a bit excited. So consider the next post i'll make tomorrow as the opening post of my 1937 alternate history scenario!

good work so far, i'm greedily waiting for the peace conference!
let the A-H rule again mitteleuropa

regards
Guy Montag

 

[zoli1984]

Part 4: The Athens Conference​

Leaders, politicans and generals from victorious Central Powers Minor nations, as well as newly elected representatives of former Entente Minor nations were gathering in Athens. Decision was made on the future of Central-Europe. The decision was fair, victors were just with the defeated.

Czehslovakia disappeared from the map forever as it was agreed before by Hungarian and Austrian governments. Czech, Slovak and German people returned to their home countries of Austria and Kingdom of Hungary.

Lithuania was annexed by Poland, Latvia was split between Estonia and Poland.

Successor states from Yugoslavia were accepted as members of the international community. Croatia was given Slavonia, the Dalmatian coastline, Crete and Kafelonia as well. Bosnia was given her pre GW territories. Serbia had lost Montenegro, Macedonia and Kosovo, as well as Vojvodina. Allies couldn't reward Bulgaria with Thessaloniki, as Turkish army did much more against Romania and Greece during the war. Albania and Bulgaria were created again, with expanded borders.

Romania wasn't created again: Moldavia joined Poland, while in the South Republic of Wallachia was declared. Transylvania returned to Hungary, Constanta was given to Bulgaria.

Serbia and Greece were republics with Austrian, Republic of Wallachia with Polish masterhood. Croatia became a kingdom, Bosnia a principality. King and Prince was the all-time king of Hungary, Kaiser of Austria, but direct power was in the hand of a regent in both countries.

Kingdom of Croatia​

Kingdom of Croatia was a Hungarian puppet. Three main parts were Dalmatian coastline, Slavonia and islands of Crete, Kafelonia. Regent was Miklós Horthy, GW Hungarian admiral, former regent at Kingdom of Hungary. It was an easy decision, as Horthy was the Hungarian Chief of Navy, as well.

Principality of Bosnia​

Bosnia was restored to her pre-1914 borders, with Austrian masterhood. The country was directly controlled by Austrian prime minister Kurt Schschussnig. However, given his positions in Vienna, he spent most of his time there, so Bosnia was in fact lead by local people.

Serbia​

Serbia had lost all her non-Serbian populated territories, but was still the stronges nation in the former Yugoslavia. The country was lead by a military government, that was lead by hero of the war of independence, Arso Jovanovic.

Principality of Wallachia​

The people of Moldavia joined Poland, Transylvania returned to Hungary. On remaining parts of Wallachia Republic of Wallachia was declared. The allies, ergghhh.... people elected Ion Antonescu as president of the country. The former iron-guard leader established a strong, fairly democratic country on the ruins of corrupt Romania.

Greece​

The greek islands were partitioned between Turkey and Hungarian Croatia. Macedonia was given to Turkey as well. North-Western parts, with heavy forts were given to Albania, to increase defense capacities of the tiny nation, first victim of former Entente-Minor's aggression. As former political elite was replaced, the people elected Evripidis Bakirtzis as president.

 

[CthulhuPL]

Great update! I'm a little suprised that Skopje was not granted to Albania (considering Albania has funny shape ).
Next target: Germany?

 

[zoli1984]

i was planning to give Skopje to Albania, but when i released Bulgaria it was given to them. Finally i forgot to give it to Bulgaria

Next target.... honestly, i don't know yet. I fear that Germany might be too strong... however, by time they get stronger and stronger. Still, i'm thinking about get Italy on my side first. I don't know if i can puppet Italy without Ethiopia and Libya conquered (with South Tirol and possibly Venice to Austria). Maybe they will have to be split to a norhern puppet of Austria, lead by the Pope and a southern fascist state with Mussolini. In this case, i doubt that the puppet north Italy will be a real help for me against Germany.

 

[SovietAmerika]

Attack the Italians. I think if you have most of their national provinces, they're beaten enough to be puppeted.

 

[kfijatass]

Estonia -> Poland. Venice and Tirol -> Austria, while greek islands and Cyprus -> Turkey/Greece. North croatia -> Hungary, zagreb, dalmatia & bosnia -> Austria. Re-release Romania as Wallachia.
Then, Austria + Hungary -> The Federation of the Danube

Skopje -> Albania imo.

Sweden + Denmark + Finland + Greenland + Iceland -> Scandinavia, force Soviets to give up Karelia and Lappland to Finland(now Scandinavia)

Then, force Soviets to give Poland's rightful lands in the east(aka Poland-Lithuania circa 1600's, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rzeczpospolita_1600.png ). Then East Prussia and German lands all the way to Breslau-Kustrin-Stettin -> Poland.

Belarus + Ukraine -> Poland, independence to all major national minorities within the Soviet union, Kyzyl included.

Optional: Form an independent Benelux.
Optional 2: Divide the Swiss between the French, Germans(Austrians?) and Italians.
Optional 3: Form a massive African union.
Optional 4: Free Jerusalem.

That should be enough inspiration ^^

 

[hoi2geek]

Estonia -> Poland. Venice and Tirol -> Austria, while greek islands and Cyprus -> Turkey/Greece. North croatia -> Hungary, zagreb, dalmatia & bosnia -> Austria. Re-release Romania as Wallachia.
Then, Austria + Hungary -> The Federation of the Danube

Skopje -> Albania imo.

Sweden + Denmark + Finland + Greenland + Iceland -> Scandinavia, force Soviets to give up Karelia and Lappland to Finland(now Scandinavia)

Then, force Soviets to give Poland's rightful lands in the east(aka Poland-Lithuania circa 1600's, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rzeczpospolita_1600.png ). Then East Prussia and German lands all the way to Breslau-Kustrin-Stettin -> Poland.

Belarus + Ukraine -> Poland, independence to all major national minorities within the Soviet union, Kyzyl included.

Optional: Form an independent Benelux.
Optional 2: Divide the Swiss between the French, Germans(Austrians?) and Italians.
Optional 3: Form a massive African union.
Optional 4: Free Jerusalem.

That should be enough inspiration ^^

Actually, Estonia should go to a Fenno-Scandinavian state, while Austria and Hungary should have a personal union but not a full federation.

 

[kfijatass]

That would require a connection of land via St Petersburg/Leningrad, something that doesn't really make sense ;D
Putting the baltic brothers together makes sense.
Edit: Unless you just mean the island the Danish held in the medieval times.

Meh, a personal union has no future, as history shows. A Federation does, and the 20th century nationalism only adds spice to it .

Some more inspiration - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Międzymorze

 

[Bergioyn]

Actually, it does make sense, Ingrians are of Finnish origin.
Also, what's the deal with croatian kefalonia and crete? That doesn't make any sense. Otherwise great AAR, I'll be following.