The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire
Chapter Four: 1917
Part XXIII: Total war
Krepites materi, otcy
Muzhaites' zheny, deti
Za schastie Rodiny svoei
Proidem my vse na svete.
Vpered zhe, grud'yu na vraga!
Vpered, polki likhie
Godpod' za nas, my pobedim
Da zdravstvuet Rossiya!
Mothers, fathers, be strong
Wives, children, be prepared
For the happiness of our Motherland
We'll pass through everything.
Forward, show the enemy your chest!
Forward, daring regiments
God is with us, we will win
Long live Russia!
1916 was a victorious year, but not for everybody. Serbia, Montenegro and Albania didn't survive in that terrible war. Conquest of the Balkans made Austro-Hungarian empire an ugly giant on European map. 1917 began.
Political map by 2 of January. Germany suffers a double invasion, Austro-Hungary and Bulgaria got a lot of new territories, Italy looks like bitten, Romania is split. Turkey managed to stop their enemies in the Middle East, but her north-eastern part is occupied by Russia
During 1916, only one new nation joined the war - Romania, and the war wasn't very successful for her. Two countries left the Entente (being annexed into Austria) - Serbia and Montenegro.
Fighting blocs by 2 of January
The new year started with new technological projects - even during the difficult times of war Russian scientists were working on their inventions - just like genial aircraft-designer Igor Sikorsky, who was an officer of Russian Imperial Air Force.
New bomber designed by Sikorsky is in development
A portrait of Igor Sikorsky
On 5 of February Brusilov realized that fast rush, like "The Baltic offensive", couldn't crush the enemies without secured flanks. Southern Poland with towns like Gleiwitz and Katowice were still in German hands (and defended by expeditionary Turkish troops), and they should be captured as soon as possible. Berkhman launched an attack from Czestochowa.
Operation in Southern Poland
Russian troops on march
On 16 of February Gleiwitz surrendered, and Berkhman ordered to take the town immideately.
Victory at Gleiwitz
After a week all corps were ready to attack. Katowice was stormed from two points - 11th, 14th and Grenadier Corps marched from Gleiwitz, while 8th and 15th Army Corps together with Moscow Military Disctrict - from Czestochowa.
The battle of Katowice
Six days later commander of Galizian front field marshal Ivanov told Brusilov that his armies were ready to participate in an offensive. Carpathian mountains were strategically needed for the Russians, because it was the only way to save Romania and to start fighting in the Balkans. Targets of new offensive were not the same - Odessa Military District together with 12th and 13th Army Corps attacked Chust (that city was just like Stanislawow - was stormed many times without any results) and Bistrita, a city in Transylvania.
New operation in the Carpathian mountains
Russian positions in Carpathians, February of 1917
All the operations were well-prepared and went well at the beggining...
Nice results
On 7 of March Katowice was successfully taken, offensive in Southern Poland finished, cutting the German front and opening the road on Berlin.
Katowice is under our control
Russian parade in Katowice
Long live the Tsar, death to revolution!
Russian military successes, restored industry and agriculture, talented ministers and good resource-planning saved Russia from death - revolutionary parties like Trudoviks, SRs and Bolsheviks thought that Russia would obviously lose the war, and used that fact in their propaganda. They agitated soldiers to leave their positions, to kill their officers. They shouted: "Peace, Land and Bread!". But their efforts had no effect. After the Great Retreat Russian army managed to stop the enemies and spent two difficult years to ban him from their Motherland. They started believing their Tsar. After Russo-Japanese war they considered the Tsar incompetent and weak ruler, started calling him "Nikolashka". But when they saw how their Emperor behaved during the war, they changed their opinion. Every soldier fought with words "For the Tsar" in his mind. God save the Emperor!
But let's return to the war. On 13 of March Romania had great troubles - a lot of their territory was under enemy control. The Russians knew that without their support Romanian kingdom wouldn't last long...
Romanian troubles
In the West French offensive didn't continue after the pause - French army was still in Fulda, just like in the end of 1916. Military analysts thought that the war in the West would become positional again. Stavka didn't like the stative war at all, it could help the Germans to transfer their units to Eastern Prussia and Poland...
Still in Fulda
French army in trenches
Japanese expeditionary corps left Poland and moved to Anatolia. These brave soldiers whose five divisions fought like dragons participated in the capture of Elazig, which was taken by general Ruzsky on 13 of March.
Russian conquest of Anatolia
Next target of Caucasian front (which was renamed into Turkish front) was Karabuk.
Plewhe continues rushing onto Constantinople
The war continues
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Next update: November, 29-30