Chapter LXIX: Red Dawn
Being a tale of a few good men striving earnestly to combat the red menace and save civilisation from the onslaught of the steppes
April 29 - May 17, 1917
Fatalistic Prussian propaganda
May opens with little movement on the Galician and Bessarabian fronts, but, sadly, quite a lot of movement in Poland, as wave after wave of Asiatic barbarians smashes into the brave Belgarian defenders and pushes them westwards. Final victory is at hand! the Viennese newspapers cry. A nation (or a thousand nations) that firmly believes it will prevail has already become invincible! Von Salis-Seewis is advancing on the capital of the dread Estonio-Bolsheviks, and the cessation of Estonian support will no doubt make the Prussians quake in their boots.
The frontlines in early May
The sacred crusade against Prusso-Bolshevism, the war forced upon our peaceful and wise emperor, has now lasted for four months. Maybe we should cease being so merciful towards the Prussian stooges of the Marxian world conspiracy and being slaying them like the dogs they are - starting with the Estonians! Salis-Seewis's advance upon the dark towers of Reval has been successful. A chill of terror is brought to the heart of even the most fanatical Bolshevik revolutionary in Prussia as the emperor proclaims that the Estonian nation will be added to Austrian technological and biological distinctiveness. Their culture will adapt to service ours.
Estonia assimilated
Furious battles ensue in the German heartland. The Red foe has seized Stralsund and subjected the poor frightened Germans there to his tyrannical rule once more. Much of Germany still yearns to be liberated from the Prussian yoke, and to at last taste the glorious freedom of dualism. We launch an assault on Kassel, but Prussian reinforcements arrive and foil our ingenious scheme. The fight is not fair, for the Prussians have Satan on their side: but we have goodness!
The fronts in Germany
Sadly, Königsberg falls to the red menace. But fear not, ye downtrodden East Prussians: Austria-Hungary to the rescue! Our brave men storm the city and throw out the barbaric enemy once more. The emperor's warriors gladly accept the tearful thanks of the locals. In the meantime, the foolish foe has walked directly into a trap! Dresden has been captured by the demented Prussians, who seem to not realise that their troops in Schweinfurt have already been driven off the field. Soon Dresden will be encircled!
Battles, and more battles
With typically Austro-Hungarian innovation and quickness of thought, we seize the opportunity. Ten socialist divisions have been trapped in Dresden, and they are mercilessly assaulted from all sides by the invincible hosts of dualism. Victory, of course, is achieved after a few days. None can withstand Charles I, Emperor and Autocrat of All the Austrias!
The Battle of Dresden
The annihilation of the Prussian divisions in the Dresden pocket certainly makes things a lot easier, and the faith of our adoring populace in His Royal and Imperial Majesty would increase even further, if such a thing were possible. Which it is not. This glorious victory, however, must be exploited at once: time to take more money off the peasants. We advertise another war bond, for the emperor demands more divisions. In the meantime, new technology is also being developed. Let the valleys and peaks of Austria resound with the marching steps of mountaineers!
Another war bond
New technology
And, finally, the victory that all ardent dualists have been waiting for: on May 17, the last Prussian army in the Alsatian pocket is broken and Mülhausen occupied by Rohr von Denta's troops.
Victory in Mülhausen
The twin victories of Dresden and Mülhausen have not only dealt severe losses to the Prussian horde: they have also freed up all the armies in south-west Germany. Rohr von Denta can now push north through the Ruhr and seize Germany's last heavy-industrial areas. Victory is at hand! Hopefully!