NOTE: I am not dead! Just occupied a little
Also, I'm thinking of making this a prequel to Hail To Thee In Victor's Crown and retconing the actual Kaiserreich story in
my AAR, mix things up a little. Its nice to see the development of a premature empire in a world of old time imperialists and syndicalists.
Chapter I: The Great War
"Either foul Magics are at work here, or Vienna we have a problem." -Soldat Randolf von Rammstein at the Galician Front
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August 7th - August 14th, 1914
German Soldiers march steadfast into the Land of the Tsars just after war had been declared.
To no one's surprise, the 'Final War' was upon all of Europa. No one person would be sparred from this conflict, from the poorest fool, to the tyrannical Tsar, and especially any man with a rifle tin his hand, but all knew it had to be won. Hours prior, the Russian Empire declared war on Austria-Hungary because the Austro-Hungarians decided it was finally time to end Serbia's existence. Russia was a stubborn ally to the Balkans and as if the Land of Marshes and Frogs wasn't big enough, it wanted more. The Bear charged into the Habsburg Empire, not knowing that Germany, the Eagle shining in the Sun, would come and make battle. The Kaiserreich declared war on Russia, and since the Russians were allied to the Triple Entente, war was declared on France as well. Germany was stuck in a two front war, the worst possible scenario. In order to successfully win this new and terrible war, the German High Command had two options: France First, Russia Second, or Russia for Dinner, France for Dessert. The choice was clear, the bulk of the German Army was already being deployed to stave off the Tsar's Army, and to make another offensive against a numerically superior foe would just be plain stupid. Besides, there was no sugarcoating it, the Austrian Army was by all means pathetic, Germany would have to bail her out if she didn't want Europa to carve her up. As a result, Germany now faced two ancient enemies on two different fronts with new weapons and old dogs, whether these dogs could still learn new tricks remained to be seen.
Immediately after the ninth of August, the Bandit Armies of the Entente poured into the easternmost section of the Austrian Domain - Galicia, and turned it into a battleground. The fortress city of Przemysl was besieged by the Russians, the outer city being shelled to pieces. At the same time, down close toward the Romanian Border, the Russians attacked the unsupplied and hastily made mobilized armies guarding that portion of the front. Superior Russian Calvary and supplied Infantry was unevening the tide for Germany's immortal ally, and something needed to be done to counter it. However, before said operations could begin, grave news came from the English, the Kaiser's
other cousin had honored his pact to his new French and Russian Allies. The British Empire on which the Sun Shall Set declared war on Germany, a knife in the back if you looked at it on a wider scale. For literal centuries, the German States and England were friends if not allies, and for the same time period, the French and Russians were the enemy, not the Germans. How times have changed it seems.
While the effects of Britain entering the war were not to be seen on land now, on sea things were already beginning to change. If the seas surrounding the European Continent were a hill with the German Flag planted firmly on it, it was now replaced with the Union Jack. Problem was, there were two German Ships now stuck in the vile Mediterranean, the SMS Breslau and the SMS Goeben, the only safe port that wasn't filled with an effected Austro-Hungarian Navy was that of Constantinople. However there was was one itsy bitsy setback, Constantinople was 'neutral' territory controlled by the Ottomans who were allied to Germany in secret, but had still refused to join the Great War. The Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from Germany, Wangenheim, made an agreement with a Turkish Minister Enver Pasha. The two ships would be sent to Constantinople under the guise of aiding the Turkish Navy, but this was break Ottoman Neutrality, something the overarching government wanted to prevent. Instead, the ships were bought by the Turks and the German Crew was preserved since the Ottomans didn't have any other personnel to man the ships. This present the United Kingdom with a dillema, either let the Ottoman Empire keep the ships or attack Constantinople. Ignoring War Hawks like Churchill, the British Government decided not to declare war on yet another country, a watchful eye was kept on the Sultan regardless.
The British Empire wasted no time in occupying the virtual puppet country of Persia, not even people from neutral nations are safe it seems.
The British Empire joining the war transformed the war, it was no longer a European Conflict, but a World at War. The best example of this transformation was on the continent of Africa which had been carved up by both Germany and the Triple Entente prior to the twentieth century. The British, ignoring German Colonial Governors for neutrality on the continent, invaded all German Colonies in Africa. Togoland was hit first, being attacked by British Colonial Troops from French Colonies on the Gold Coast, the undermanned German Garrison on the verge of surrender. The second colony invaded was Deutsche-Südwestafrika, South African and British Soldiers attacked the German Army stationed in Luderitz. Unlike Togoland however, this colony was much more prepared for a British Attack since Germany supported the Boers against British Invasion nearly a decade ago. Things were different in Deutsche-Ostafrika though, mostly because of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck's expertise in fending off the British despite being outnumbered, a revolutionary feet. He would make a great governor for a united German Africa, surely that is a pipe dream right?
German Sharpshooters before engaging British Forces during the Battle of Luderitz in Deutsche-Südwestafrika, August 12th, 1914.
Jumping back to Europa, the German Army in the East lead by General von Hindenburg and General Ludendorff began Unternehmen Dorpat, the Invasion of the Russian Empire. A daunting task from the outside, a fairly easy one when you have all the facts. If the Russian Army already stationed on the Eastern Front could be destroyed, then by 1916 or ever earlier the Russian Giant could be beaten for one simple reason: It had no railway system. Germany if it wanted to could move every soldier to the West in two weeks, Russia it would be two years, this simple fact alone crippled Russia, for her Achilles Heel had been found. While the bulk of the Russians were invading Austria-Hungary's rear in Galicia, the time was perfect for a surprise attack on Russia, first into Poland, and then if the lower Baltics and Western White Russia. This was all assuming mind you that Austria-Hungary was exploding from within and the Russian Army wasn't in Vienna. But if the Kaiserreich was depending on luck then you need not worry, as Warsaw itself was abandoned by the Russians, no doubt not wanting to tangle with the best army the world has ever seen. The plan was to by Halloween encircle the Russian Army stationed in Poland and to break the Siege of Przemysl and save the city from the Bear. Of course, the Austrians were doing so well, with Tarnopol being lost and the Russians starting their journey to the Carpathian Mountain Range. This still wasn't the end of the Habsburg Monarchy's troubles...
German Soldiers overseeing the transfer of Russian Prisoners to Military Prison Camps located in Bavaria from Russian Poland, August 13th, 1914.
Speaking of Austria's Problems, while the Bear was gnawing at it from the East, the Serbs were poking the Empire in the eye. Serbia, the country who dropped Austria-Hungary's Lighter onto the leaking oil now found itself at war and alone against the Habsburg Throne, but this did not mean it would not go down without a fight. In truth, they were doing regrettably well, the town of Ruma even being attacked by the Serbian First Army while defending against the Austrian Counterattack, some foul magic was helping them no doubt. No army, not even the German Army, well actually maybe, that's besides the point, the point being that what the Serbs were doing was in one word - Amazing - and it was making the Kaiser jealous. The Austro-Hungarians were persistent in their conquest of Serbia however, and the capital of Serbia, Belgrade, came under attack by the Habsburg Army. The Balkan Front was precarious but nothing too serious for now, but the Kaiser might just care enough to send over a few men if suddenly a pack of angry Greeks/Romanians/Albanians come running over the border for the wrong side.
Finally, ending out the week with a dirty taste left in Naval Combat's mouth, was the surprising news of the British Submarine Sinking of both the SMS Barbarossa and German Ocean Liner called Luther which was en route from Philadephia, USA to Brake, Deutsches Reich, and the failed sinking of the SMS Oranienburg. The news was an international shock to the world, not only had Britain cheated Naval Warfare by using Submarines in a way not used before, but to take the innocent lives of civilians, some who weren't even German but in fact American, was just cold blooded murder. The British tried to justify themselves by saying 'All is Fair in Love and War'. So be it then, Britain. Like a Spider you have spun a web of death and destruction, naturally, the German Eagle will wash this Spider out.
Artist's Representation of the Sinking of the Luther during the first week of the Weltkrieg, Modern War was here to stay, and it was anything but pretty.
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End of Chapter I: The Great War
Well thats it for now, so let me make things clear. I know I'm not what I used to be when it came to these AARs, but I think this is a nice restart point. I will try not to make you all wait nearly a fortnight again (or was it just one week? I don't know anymore), and before you suggest anything, I've already played to where the mystery neutral nation was invaded, which was in November (honestly France?), coincidentally, I've saved on the 30th of November. Anyway, if you any questions regarding, let me know, and also let me know if you think making this a prequel would be good or not. I mean, I won't do something really strange and invade America or Britain, I'll still keep that aspect intact, its just that the war might end a bit early because of game mechanics and in Kaiserreich it ends in 1921. I could just rationalize it but thats not fun. Anyway, that is all, hope you enjoy, and uh, goodbye. Sorry again for the wait, I was just learning to appreciate myself more often
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