Times of Troubles; The story of Russia in the Great War

[stnylan]

You need German war indemnities...

Surely. And Hungarian/Czechoslavkian/Austrian/Bulgarian/Ottoman war indemnities as well...

But that's all for the future! In the meantime, sounds like the Ottoman front is progressing nicely, even if Hungary is going to be a bit of a stumbling block. Hopefully you will not need to divert troops to shore up Rumania either.

 

[unmerged(35351)]

Ah, the brilliant tsarist Russian economy. Are there any economic triggers for the revolution events?

Unfortunately, no. Only war exhaustion plays a part now (unless I get pushed back), and I see this rising rapidly as I progress in Congress Poland/Northern Germany. Hopefully Austria, Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire can be knocked out quickly.

One advantage of losing the war and having the Bolsheviks take over is that it gives you a valid historical reason to renounce Russia's debt. Then start over with a clean slate. At least, as clean as the civil war left it.

Whilst this is true, I see two drawbacks to this plan. 1) For the Bolsheviks to gain power it's necessary that I lose (or at least the Germans get their act together), which I'm not planning on doing. 2) This means I'll have to play as the Bolsheviks, this kind of makes 'God save the Tsar' a bit hypocritical. In case of the Russian Revolution occuring, I'll continue the fight as the Whites.

Surely. And Hungarian/Czechoslavkian/Austrian/Bulgarian/Ottoman war indemnities as well...

But that's all for the future! In the meantime, sounds like the Ottoman front is progressing nicely, even if Hungary is going to be a bit of a stumbling block. Hopefully you will not need to divert troops to shore up Rumania either.

An unexpected turn of events has occured though, and although 20 divisions are being trained, it's questionable whether they'll be sent to the Ottoman Front. Hungary proves more powerful as expected, and to make matters worse, Germany seems to pour more troops into Poland. Unless I shorten my lines, by either pushing the Germans out of Poland or withdrawing from West-Prussia, I don't see how I'll be able to knock Hungary, Austria and the Turks out of the war, before Germany.

 

[unmerged(35351)]

5th of January – 26 January

January would be the known as the Battle of the Capitals, as Russian troops attacked enemy positions in Vienna and Budapest. Vienna was guarded by 7 ill-equipped divisions and 52,000 Russian troops under Vasilly Gurko attacked their positions on the 9th of January. Austrian reinforcements arrived quickly, as did additional Russian troops and within a week the battle would become evenly matched, with the Russian unable to gain the upper hand and the Austrians unable to push the Russians back.

On January 23 the Russians finally attacked the Hungarian capital of Budapest, hoping the fall of the city would lead to an unconditional surrender of the Hungarians. Unlike the other battles in the region, the Russians didn’t enjoy numerical superiority to such a degree that it would overwhelm the enemies. A long hard battle over Budapest seemed to be looming.

Small gains had been made against the Germans, as Suwalki was brought under Imperial Rule again, while at the same time an offensive was launched into Bohemia. The blow dealt to the Germans was, however, the fall of Danzig. Russian intelligence had reported the presence of the German navy in the harbor of the city. The Russian Imperial Baltic Fleet had blockaded the harbor for quiet some time now, and the Grand Duke launched an offensive against the city, hoping it would force the German Navy to sail out and run into the Russian ships.

The plan succeeded as the Germans indeed set sail to open waters, before being intercepted by the Russian navy. Admiral Grigorovich attacked the 12 ship strong German navy with his 18 available ships.

The war effort, especially the economical effects of the war, had reached Central Asia. Many Central Asian people were unhappy with the war and the Russian rule over them.

 

[Kurt_Steiner]

The turmoil is starting... better finish Germany as fast as possible...

 

[NikkTheTrick]

What percentage of your population do those people compose? If not too large, you can just slaughter them. After all, they are non-national cultures.

 

[stnylan]

Well, such things are going to happen inevitably - but better when you troops are advancing than retreating!

 

[Herbert West]

What percentage of your population do those people compose? If not too large, you can just slaughter them. After all, they are non-national cultures.

I think Russia is getting bled snow-white already, without internal slaughetings

 

[NikkTheTrick]

I think Russia is getting bled snow-white already, without internal slaughetings

Defeatist!

When I played 1914 back in 1.03c, I had a Lenin event that gave choices to either have Russian army rendered useless (massive decrease in reliability) or to have ALL socialists, 15% or Russian population at the time, get their militancy all the way to 10...

When it all ended, there was not a single socialist left alive.


Once again, non-national population is expendable in Victoria and especially in Ricky due to inability to convert them.
Victoria is the most bloody Paradox game...

 

[unmerged(59737)]

When it all ended, there was not a single socialist left alive.

You killed 15% of the Russian population!?

 

[unmerged(59077)]

You need to finish this war, it seems. It still seems unreasonable to me that the Czechs and the Bulgarians joined the Central Powers, but you may have to settle for a lesser victory.

 

[Ksim3000]

I don't believe the people of both Austria and Hungary are enjoying fighting the war once more although their armies seem to be very high in morale.....

Also, indeed it is odd about the China situation. Is the Japanese AI doing anything? Or does the Germans still hold onto their island claims aswell?

Perhaps you could write an event to fire should the Russian army reach Berlin. Instead of the "Treaty of Versailles", you could write your own treaty in which Russian would be one of the leading party in the peace talks, claiming some land and getting war indemities. You could add it to your modification too for other Russian players.

That is one thing that does annoy me about Great War scenarios. Like in the Allenby scenario, whilst excellent, once the Versailles Treaty popped up, despite how hard your nation fought, everything would go to the British or the French as historically. It'd certainly be interesting to see another outcome.....

 

[Pepsi_max]

this aar is great !

if france is going to die, attack. If they are in a good situation, attack also !


but try to save your population. You have big deficit

 

[Duke of Wellington]

Damned militants. Crush them all I say.

 

[NikkTheTrick]

You killed 15% of the Russian population!?

Well... with them having 10 militancy, lack of cavalry around, WWI-age fire and Very Hard difficulty (4 times losses to pops) there were few other options...

But look on the bright side: I sent a pretty clear message to commies that they should not mess with Russia

 

[unmerged(35351)]

The turmoil is starting... better finish Germany as fast as possible...

This is nothing, it used to be a plus +6 militancy event, but it gave the AI too much problems so I reduced it. Then there is the arrival of Lenin...

What percentage of your population do those people compose? If not too large, you can just slaughter them. After all, they are non-national cultures.

Not more as 2.4%, at least non is part of the 5 major groups. An other bright side is that besides Tashkent and Kokand (IIRC) there are no valuable resources at all in Central Asia.

I think Russia is getting bled snow-white already, without internal slaughetings

Not even close. I've converted about a dozen 70k pops in the Smolensk area (for some weird reason it's the most populous area of Russia), so I've got plenty of manpower left. Now, Germany on the other hand....

Defeatist!

When I played 1914 back in 1.03c, I had a Lenin event that gave choices to either have Russian army rendered useless (massive decrease in reliability) or to have ALL socialists, 15% or Russian population at the time, get their militancy all the way to 10...

When it all ended, there was not a single socialist left alive.


Once again, non-national population is expendable in Victoria and especially in Ricky due to inability to convert them.
Victoria is the most bloody Paradox game...

Some things have changed since 1.03c, I'm not familiar with the Lenin arrival event in that patch, but currently if you opt to have Lenin arrested and sent to Siberia, 25% of your army revolts, reliability reduced a bit. So the choice isn't made any easier.

You killed 15% of the Russian population!?

I'm willing to make that same sacrifice if I've too. Fortunately socialist/communists aren't the majority in my nation. Fascists are , still not a good sign though.

You need to finish this war, it seems. It still seems unreasonable to me that the Czechs and the Bulgarians joined the Central Powers, but you may have to settle for a lesser victory.

The Czechs, maybe. The Bulgarians however, do hold claims on Serbia. The only thing different is that Austria doesn't exist. Still if I hadn't put the Czechs in the war, I would already have captured Berlin. Now where is the fun in that?

I don't believe the people of both Austria and Hungary are enjoying fighting the war once more although their armies seem to be very high in morale.....

Also, indeed it is odd about the China situation. Is the Japanese AI doing anything? Or does the Germans still hold onto their island claims aswell?

Perhaps you could write an event to fire should the Russian army reach Berlin. Instead of the "Treaty of Versailles", you could write your own treaty in which Russian would be one of the leading party in the peace talks, claiming some land and getting war indemities. You could add it to your modification too for other Russian players.

That is one thing that does annoy me about Great War scenarios. Like in the Allenby scenario, whilst excellent, once the Versailles Treaty popped up, despite how hard your nation fought, everything would go to the British or the French as historically. It'd certainly be interesting to see another outcome.....

There are two Treaty of Versailles events for an allied victory, one with Russia knocked out and the other with Russia still in it. In the last case, Russia does gain Eastern Prussia and the entire of Poland. After that an event fires opting for the liberation of Poland (like we are going to do that) Although, given the circumstances, Russia might want a bigger piece of the pie, they'll also gain Constantinople and large parts of Eastern Anatolia.

The Japanese captures micronesian islands, if they are actually still in the war. Inactive AIs have a tendency to sign peace. Although once I loaded up as Germany and saw 8 Japanese divisions taking Tsingtao

This aar is great !

if france is going to die, attack. If they are in a good situation, attack also !


but try to save your population. You have big deficit

Thank you, but why would I want to attack France? There is still Germany in the way. Italy might be a better option (need to save our slavic brethren in Zadar).

If the population remains quiet they'll be saved, if they become to annoying, I'll sent them to the front.

Damned militants. Crush them all I say.

Of course I could let them walk around and wait for the government to collapse They'll be crushed, as is usual with rebelious people.

Well... with them having 10 militancy, lack of cavalry around, WWI-age fire and Very Hard difficulty (4 times losses to pops) there were few other options...

But look on the bright side: I sent a pretty clear message to commies that they should not mess with Russia

Never, ever sent your cavalry into combat in the WW1 scenario. They are outdated and only are useful in taking down partisans and rebels. With the exception of a 3 (used to be 4) division cavalry army, none of my standing cavalry armies have seen combat.

 

[NikkTheTrick]

Never, ever sent your cavalry into combat in the WW1 scenario. They are outdated and only are useful in taking down partisans and rebels. With the exception of a 3 (used to be 4) division cavalry army, none of my standing cavalry armies have seen combat.

In 1914, I just disband all the cavalry I have and build new infantry regiments. Support costs for cavalry in late game are ridiculous and cavalry is useless in battles.

There is nothing cavalry is useful for other than rebel squashing in order to preserve pops. More infantry can be supported for that money and they will carry far less losses.

 

[unmerged(35351)]

26 January – 14 February

“Grigorovich slays the German Fleet!” was what the Russian news papers claimed on the 14th of February. The naval battle near Danzig saw the virtual destruction of the German navy. In a 3 week long battle, the Germans lost their battle cruisers Seydlitz and Blücher, their light cruisers Köln, Frankfurt, Pillau and Elbing, their protected cruisers, Nautilus and Nymphe, two submarines and one of their two remaining dreadnaughts, the Kronprintz, was sunk. 12 enemy ships were sunk, while the Russians only lost 2 protected cruisers, the Diana and Aurora, and the pre-dreadnaught Slava. Although the allies joined the fight, with only the French making a substantial effort by sending 4 ships, it was hailed as Russia’s victory and showed the coming collapse of Germany

During this time, the battles for Vienna and Budapest raged on. In Vienna both the Russians and the Austrians brought in additional reinforcements, prolonging the battle even further. Even with the additional 10 divisions brought in by the Austrians, the Russians continued to hold the upper hand and victory seemed imminent on the 14th of February.

Despite the initial setbacks at Budapest, the Russians quickly recovered and inflicted heavy losses upon the Hungarians. By mid-February the Russians had lost only 10,000 men, while the Hungarians had lost nearly 23,000 troops. The proximity of more Hungarians nearby, however, didn’t seem to matter much to the Russian war effort, especially once great news was heard from Poland.

With the near victory in Vienna, the occupation of Brno and Olmouc by the Russians, the Germans ordered a retreat from Poland. Their fears would become reality as the Russians applied more pressure upon the southern front, and thus through Bohemia, pressed on towards Berlin. Almost 200,000 troops were withdrawn and in Petrograd plans were made to kick the Germans out of Russian territory once and for all.

It was all quiet on the Western Front, as neither France nor Germany attempted to break the enemy lines. In the Balkan more fighting took place, but relatively few lands changed hands. In February Romania finally launched her invasion of Transylvania and Serbian troops had crossed the border into Hungary. Italian and Russian troops had landed at the Bulgarian coast line and were taking the cities of Varna and Alexandroupolis, while the Russians met no resistance, the Italians were attacked by Bulgarian troops. In the Middle East, things were looking more favorable towards the British and the Italians. Jaffa had already fallen to the Italians, while Sidon and Nablus were besieged by the British. Slowly the Ottoman Empire began to crack.

 

[stnylan]

The taste of victory is surely coming closer...

Though the sooner it can achieved the better.

 

[unmerged(59077)]

Ottomans! The sick man of europe needs some amputations to save his life. You are the surgeon.

 

[unmerged(59737)]

The Russian steamroller seems to be doing quite well for itself.