The Punitive Expedition (Austria-Czechia War)

[Markus Wilding]

To the people of Austria,

Today we march to war in order to protect our way of life and safeguard our nation. The Czech government has supported dangerous lawless elements within Austria and has fully demonstrated itself to be an existential threat to Austria and her people. We march today to ensure Czechia will no longer threaten Austria and no longer has the capacity to do so in the future. Our campaign will be swift, well-executed, and limited only to dismantling the imminent threat we face and nothing more. We do not seek to occupy Czech land or to destroy the Czech people, but to demonstrate to the Czech government the error of its ways. They will undoubtedly counter us, claim we have lied to the world, posit that it is we who are supporting dangerous elements, but do not be deceived by their lies! Do not be taken in by their propaganda! Our cause is righteous and just, and with Victoria's support we march to a justified war that shall hopefully end quickly and show the Czech government the cost of dealing in the shadows.

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Hours after the announcement, Austrian infantry moved across the border and engaged with Czech border guards. Armored units brought up the rear while lighter units made diverging paths for the two halves of the Czech state, intending to force responses from both of the known Czech commands and preventing easy reinforcement while simultaneously conducting a SEAD campaign and air superiority mission with Austrian fighter jets. Austria hoped initial shock and awe could displace the majority of Czech units and even force a retreat, however the military was well aware that the Czech army far outnumbered the Landstreitkräfte. Speed and overwhelming force was almost a necessity, if not outright foreign intervention.

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OOC: Austria (EU23) and Czechia (EU21) are now at war.

Austrian movements:
To Territory 127:
2 units Artillery
2 units Infantry, Light
3 units Mechanized
1 unit Armor
5 units Fighters

To Territory 128:
2 units Artillery
2 units Infantry, Light
2 units Infantry, Mechanized
2 units Infantry, Motorized
1 unit Armor
5 units Fighters

Defending these territories are:
Territory 127:
3 units Artillery
4 units Infantry, Light
3 units Infantry, Motorized
1 unit Armor
8 units Fighters
1 unit Bombers
2 units Helicopters

Territory 128:
3 units Artillery
6 units Infantry, Light
2 units Infantry, Mechanized
3 units Infantry, Motorized
3 units Armor
7 units Fighters
2 units Bombers
2 units Helicopters

[Markus Wilding]

The Austrian attack was a surprise, to be sure.

However, it was not wholly unexpected. Diplomatic missives were sent to any and all friendly nations and potential ideological allies requesting assistance, as well as preparing a plead to the UN. Given implicit Victorian assistance, not many in the Czech diplomatic corps expected this to bear any fruit. The only option left to the Czech state, as far as it saw the situation, was to hope that its sizeable military would be able to stave off Austria's attack and then turn the tide in order to force a settlement.

Upon being attacked by Austrian forces, Czech troops withdrew under cover of harassing artillery fire. When possible, Czech fighter-bombers engaged in strike missions against the Austrian invaders utilizing mostly iron bombs with some guided munitions used against armored vehicles. In general, ground tactics emphasized drawing Austrian units into preprepared ambush positions and into unfavorable terrain to give the Austrians a sense of superiority and victory before using overwhelming force to annihilate and destroy pockets of troops, while the Czech air force concentrated on flying air superiority missions to deny the Austrians the ability to survey the whole battlefield. The only constant was that the road to Prague was kept secure, with bitter fighting enveloping the main highway leading there.

[Markus Wilding]

OOC:

Unified timeline:

April 7th, 1976: Austria declares war on Czechia as troops cross the border.
April 7th-14th, 1976: First round of combat.

Territory 127

In their attacks, Austria rolled a 5 and a 4 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 1 unit of ground losses, 1 unit of ground damages, 1 unit of air losses and 1 unit of air damages for Czechia.

In their attacks, Czechia rolled a 6 and a 10 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 4 units of ground losses, 5 units of ground damages, 1 unit of air losses, and 1 unit of air damages for Austria. A bombing campaign resulted in an additional 1 unit of ground losses and damages for Austria.

Territory 128

In their attacks, Austria rolled a 2 and a 4 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 2 units of ground losses, 3 units of ground damages, 1 unit of air losses, and 1 unit of air damages for Czechia.

In their attacks, Czechia rolled a 2 and an 8 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 8 units of ground losses, 9 units of ground damages, 1 unit of air losses, and 1 unit of air damages for Austria. A bombing campaign resulted in an additional 1 unit of ground losses and damages for Austria.

[Markus Wilding]

OOC: Austria took the following casualties in the following territories;

Territory 127

2 units Infantry, Light lost
1 unit Armor lost
2 units Infantry, Mechanized lost
1 unit Infantry, Mechanized damaged - double damage leads to loss
2 units Artillery damaged - double damage leads to loss
1 unit Fighters lost
1 unit Fighters damaged

Territory 128

2 units Infantry, Motorized lost
2 units Infantry, Mechanized lost
2 units Infantry, Light lost
1 unit Armor lost
2 units Artillery lost
1 unit Fighters lost
1 unit Fighters damaged

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Czechia took the following damages in the following territories;

Territory 127

1 unit Infantry, Light lost
1 unit Artillery damaged
1 unit Fighters lost
1 unit Bombers damaged

Territory 128

2 units Infantry, Light lost
3 units Infantry, Motorized damaged
1 unit Fighters lost
1 unit Bombers damaged

[Markus Wilding]

Following a military disaster and humiliating defeat, Austria has sued for peace with Czechia. The Czech government accepted a white peace alongside a blanket statement of fault from the Austrian government which affirmed that the Austrian government had in effect lied to its people and Victoria about the reasons behind the war. A further stipulation dictated that the Austrian state would never again act offensively against Czechia, overtly or covertly, and punished it for sponsoring communist brigands within Czechia.