The Darkest hour of the Russian Empire
Chapter Three: 1916
Part XVII: Dramatical changes
Vsadniki-drugi, v pokhod sobiraysya,
Hor trubachey otozvalsya.
Nu-ka zhivee koney vy sedlaite,
Vzvodnogo golos razdalsya.
Sprava povzvodno, sidet' molodcami,
Ei, ne goryachite loshadei!
Komandir skomandoval, dernuv usami,
Nu-ka, rebyata, zhivei.
"Buddies-cavalrymen, prepare for the march",
The regiment choir played.
"Prepare your horses, faster",
Said the platoon commander.
From the right form the line,
Don't exhaust your horse!
Colonel shouted, touching his moustache:
"Charge, guys! Onwards!"
By 4 of January the Germans had few chances to save Torun - their divisions in besieged town simply didn't have enough ammo to fight with fresh Russian reinforcements.
Torun will fall soon
But they were succeeded on another front - they transferred 9 extra-divisions to Stanislawow at the most critical point of battle, and the Russian army lost, suffering losses and bitter frost.
Fail at Stanislawow, January of 1916
Russian outpost near Stanislawow
Winter of 1916 started with some dangerous mistakes of Entente commanders. Without proper reinforcements and supplying, they didn't want to stop and wait for a while - they continued marching forward. British and Italian generals believed, that the war was won...They were mistaken. Before New Year German superior commanders created an outstanding plan - called "Operation Heinrich". By 9 of January Italians were encircled in Karlovy Vary (Austrian Bohemia), British forces were heavily pushed out of their occupied lands, while Germany was fully reconquered - last French and Italian soldiers left Landschut on 4 of January. "The third front" was nearly crushed!
"Operation Heinrich" beats "Operation Rose" totally
These news weren't optimistic. Small Italian corps in Bohemia had no chances to survive. Balkans were lost - Entente controlled only Maribor. Brilliant victory became a terrible defeat...
German parade in recaptured Landshut was called "Germany is free again"
On 14 of January Russian navy got new destroyers. All of them were sent to Black Sea Fleet to compensate his harsh casualties.
New destroyer flotillas
Novik-class destroyer
Five days later Russian soldiers took Torun. German armies in Eastern Prussia were close to collapse.
Torun is ours, while Serbs manage to take Sarajevo (but not for long)
Great German counteroffensive, that defeated "Operation Rose" forsed them to leave Serbia and Montenegro. Serbian generals decided to use that opportunity and attacked - 6 Serbo-Montenegrian divisions entered undefended Sarajevo. But even with these victory they were doomed...
Serbian Pyrrhic victory
With defeats in the Balkans British Empire looked for new allies and found them - pro-English party in Portugal accepted the alliance proposal. Portugal entered WW1.
Well, and how useful are they?
In the West Entente forces began their counteroffensive as well as Serbia. On 24 of January Luxembourg was occupied by French and Belgian corps. Strasbourg was in French hands. It was easy to explain - pushing Italians and Englishmen during "Operation Heinrich" took too many people from the Western front.
Allied forces in Luxembourg
On 27 of January German troops invaded Italy - Udine was occupied by Kaiser's soldiers, and Italian people were really depressed - only a month earlier they were conquerors of Tirol and Bavaria, while at the moment all their successes were lost and their own town was lost.
The invasion
By 29 of January all resistance in central Austro-Hungary was crushed. Only some minor Tirol provinces were still under British&Italian control.
"Operation Heinrich" by 29 of January.
So, the things changed dramatically only in one month. But Germany and her allies lost too much time, too many soldiers and too many resources. Their brilliant success in the Balkans only helped them to survive, but the war wasn't in their favor at all.
Europe in January of 1916
And on 30 of January grim news from Adriatica were mixed with wonderful news - Romania decided to join the Entente! That meant that Bulgaria and Austria-Hungary had one more front to fight!
Romania is with us!
Ferdinand I - our new ally
In the Caucasus the situation changed too - massive Turkish divisions left the front (to fight the British in the Middle East) and Anatolia was defended by 6 German divisions. Grand Duke Nicholas, commander of Caucasus front, decided to use this chance.
Caucasian operation of the Russian army
On 8 of February the situation in Italy became worth - German divisions, facing no resistance, captured Venice.
Italy in great troubles
The war continues
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Next update: November, 19