French Commune-French Republic War

[Markus Wilding]

OOC: Conflict thread for the French Commune-French Republic's war. All relevant actions and such shall go in here.

Map of French Civil War borders as of UN involvement:

[Alucard Tobor]

Korea, as its contribution to the UNDF presence in the French territories, deployed four mechanized infantry divisions, two armoured divisions, and an artillery division to the conflict zone; making contact with the French Commune, they would act with the intent to force the French Republic's troops back to their own territory, and after that, establish a neutral zone, extending at least 5 kilometers to either side of the pre-war border.

Deploying via ports and Victorian-loaned bases in the Commune, the Korean UN force would deploy alongside the Commune's own forces, indicating that they expected said forces to halt at the proscribed boundary near the former border, while the UNDF would continue from there to establish the neutral zone.

[Niobium2]

Disgruntled at the intervention, but nevertheless feeling it necessary to contribute to the UNDF, Romania sends a single motorized infantry division, to land at Languedoc-Roussillon and move north into the neutral zone. Although the contribution is small, the veteran division is one of hand-picked and hardened volunteers from the civil war, including many who feel that peace simply does not agree with them.

[Markus Wilding]

As Victorian, Korean and Romanian peacekeepers arrive, an uneasy calm arrives on the front. French troops on both sides reluctantly retreat to the UN's defined demilitarized zone, rifles loaded and just barely keeping off the edge of the line drawn in the sand. Almost immediately, negotiations begin - relayed through the various parties involved of course, and never directly between the two French nations, for prisoner exchanges and nudges to allow police forces into the area. Ostensibly, both sides are rather interested in ensuring that civil protection continues to work in the demilitarized zone, and given that large parts of the zone do not correspond with original borders, the two French states are also very eager to ensure that their gains can be legitimized soon, and any losses decried as illegal.

For now, though, the French Civil War grinds to a halt as the threat of Victorian intervention shuts down any ideas of a Republican offensive.

[Markus Wilding]

Active fighting rages in the DMZ as French troops on both sides launch their respective offensives. The Communists engage in an offensive near the Ardennes forest, while Republican forces assault the Pyrenees in an attempt to circle around the Communists in the south. It is unclear which side resumed active combat first, but it is clear that both sides carefully planned out their attacks to run between UN peacekeeper deployment lines, attacking where various peacekeepers handed off responsibility to one another and therefore were weakest.

Within a week, the Communist offensive grinds to a halt, bogged down in the thick Ardennes as winter falls over the front. A Republican counteroffensive seals the fate of the planned attack as Communist forces are pushed back to Aisne.

The Republican offensive is much more successful, with Republican troops managing to extend the southern frontlines all the way to Gironde in Aquitaine, racing to the coast about as fast as the Communists can shuffle reinforcements to the area.

[Sabriel]

Victoria's Ascendant Host arrived shortly after the ascension of Princess Khadija al Victoria. The Host landed in the north of the Commune and drove south to meet the Republican advance in battle. The attack came in two prongs.

The first prong drove down through the Commune's territory in the Midi-Pyrenees to break the Republican supply lines. It focused its force on the Republican presence at Hautes-Pyrenees. The advance moved through the Commune held city of Gers, where they replenished and refuelled before making their final strike. Four Regiments of the Pacification Squads made up the spearhead of the assault, supported by four divisions of light infantry and six divisions of motorized infantry, and artillery units. The advance's goal was simply to take the territory held by the Republic and break its supply lines to the units in Aquitaine. If successful in securing their initial objective, the units would follow the Republic's assault along the southern border, and then up the coast.

The second prong of the Victorian attack pushed for the Republican presence in Aquitaine. The initial attack focused around the city of Gironde, but if that attack was successful the Victorian column would continue its push all the way toward linking up with the first prong of the attack. Combined Arms brigades led the assault, supported by mechanized infantry and artillery.

Both assault groups were given aerial support by the Royal Army Pilot Service units that had been tasked to the assault on Britain. Those units, refuelling and replenishing ammunition in northern France, would then set out to launch supporting strikes throughout the Host's area of operations. The fighter units already tasked to support the Commune's air forces would continue to do that.

Victorian UN Peacekeepers were well forewarned of the coming of the Host, and withdrew from the DMZ before the assault began. Victoria's delegate with Peacekeeping command informed them that Victoria saw the peacekeeping mission as a failure, but that their peacekeeping forces would remain onhand if another mission were to be undertaken.

OOG-
Prong 1 of the attack is 4 units of Commandos (Pac Squads)/ Motorized Infantry, 2 units of Light Infantry, 3 units of Motorized Infantry, and 2 units of Artillery.

Prong 2 of the attack is 3 units of Armoured, 4 units of Mechanized Infantry, and 2 units of Artillery.

Air Units involved are 6 units of Air Superiority Fighters, 3 units of Ground Attack Fighters, 3 units of SEAD fighters, and 5 units of Bombers.

[Markus Wilding]

Situation Map as of January 1st, 1964. Gray outlines the original border - black reflects current front line position.

The Victorian assault on the Republican positions was met with a cannonade of fire. The Republicans had intercepted Commune signals weeks ago, broadly aware a Victorian attack was coming but unsure as of exactly where. This resulted in the prong that pushed for Gironde stymied by dug-in Republicans that had taken to a defense in depth, with furious artillery fire traded between the lines daily. Tracers shot up to the sky, tracking Victorian fighters as they clashed with their Republican counterparts, though the tale of valor was much less apparent up in the skies.

Down in Midi-Pyrenees, however, the commando brigades accomplished their task with a smattering of success. The troops here had not anticipated a Victorian response, rather expecting tired and battle-weary Commune soldiers.With little option left to them, the rear-guard soldiers opted for an ill-advised bayonet charge, resulting in confused chaos when a handful of companies managed to break through regardless. By the end of a week, it was clear that the Victorians had taken the corridor, with the situation in Gironde looking particularly hopeless as the Republican forces here were now surrounded.

OOC: In their attacks, Victoria rolled a 6 and 9 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 3 units of ground losses, 4 units of ground damages, 2 units of air losses, and 3 units of air damages for Republican France. A bombing campaign resulted in an additional 2 units of ground losses and 3 units of ground damages.

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

Republican French casualties are as follows:
2 units mechanized lost
1 unit motorized lost
3 units artillery damaged
1 unit motorized damaged
2 units armor lost
3 units motorized damaged
2 units fighters lost
1 unit bombers damaged
2 units fighters damaged

[Markus Wilding]

Situation map as of February 1964

As February of 1964 drew to a close, the fight for France continued to rage even as a bitter winter crossed the French fields.

Victoria's offensive in the south was followed up with a Communist attack, which succeeded not only in forcing the Republicans to within 5 kilometers of the prewar border, it also cut off any escape for the troops in Gironde, who now held a pocket that extended to Bordeaux. Even escape from the port was not guaranteed, as the Communist navy maintained a blockade of the port that prevented any sort of naval evacuation. The battle near Foix was especially taxing for Communist and Republican troops, lasting overnight through heavy snow that froze machines and men alike, though by the week's end few could contest that the Communists had retaken the vulnerable salient that threatened their defense of Paris.

Gironde, however, was a different story. The Republican defenders here refused to yield for even a moment, even when the Communists set up their propaganda vehicles, blasting their Republican foes daily with compulsions to surrender. They claimed the war was over, that the Marseilles government had joined peacefully with the Commune in a peace deal, that they could finally go home and put down their weapons. They offered hot food, warm clothing, and medical attention all if the Republicans would just surrender to the nearest Communist patrol. February ended with the Republicans stubbornly holding on, despite the bitter cold.

In the East, the Commune launched a general offensive, inspired by the success of the Victorians and confident the Republicans were at their breaking point. This offensive quickly turned into a disaster. The Marne campaign remained bogged down, while Communist troops attempted to push out from Lyon only to find themselves surrounded in a pocket of their own. A Republican counteroffensive north of Nevers saw the Republicans crossing the prewar border in a massive bulge that nearly reached Orleans. Communist artillery, fighters, and infantry fought hard to no effect, attacking directly into dug-in Republican defenders that fought tooth and nail for every centimeter of ground. Communist attempts to forcea breakout at Lyon were largely unsuccessful, costing more in men and material than it was possibly worth.

Out at sea, the two navies clashed as the Republic attempted to break the blockade at Bordeaux. This turned out to be a fateful mistake - Communist submarines, lying in wait, decimated the Republican navy almost entirely, forcing the Republic to abandon entirely their ideas of reinforcement or evacuation. The Communists may not have affected much in the air or sea, but they could at least claim naval superiority.

OOC: Republican France attacked in Territory 114. The French Commune attacked in Territories 114 and 117.

Territory 114

In their attacks, the French Commune rolled a 7 and 8 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 1 unit of ground losses, 2 units of ground damages, 1 unit of air losses, and 1 unit of air damage for the French Republic.

In their attacks, the French Republic rolled a 3 and 8 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 the French Commune. A bombing campaign resulted in an additional 1 unit of Industry lost and damaged, and 1 unit each of ground losses and damages.

The French Republic currently has 1 damaged unit of motorized infantry, 2 units of damaged artillery, and 1 unit of damaged fighters in Territory 114 and is still retaining Contested control of the territory.

The French Commune took the following casualties:
2 units motorized lost
1 unit armor damaged
2 units artillery damaged
1 unit fighters lost
1 unit fighters damaged
1 unit artillery lost
1 unit artillery damaged - double damage leads to loss

The French Commune has 1 damaged unit of armor, 1 unit motorized infantry and 4 units fighters (1 of which is damaged) in Territory 114.

Territory 117

In their attacks, the French Commune rolled a 6 and a 4 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 1 unit of ground losses, 2 units of ground damages, 1 unit of air losses, and 2 units of air damages for the French Republic. A bombing campaign resulted in 1 Industry lost, 2 Industry damaged, 1 unit of ground losses, and 1 unit of ground damages.

In their attacks, the French Republic rolled a 5 and 1 for ground and air actions, respectively. This results in 2 units of ground losses, 3 units of ground damages, 3 units of air losses, and 5 units of air damages for the French Commune. A bombing campaign resulted in 3 Industry lost, 5 Industry damaged, and further ground casualties of 2 units of ground losses and 3 units of ground losses.

The French Commune took the following casualties:
2 units mechanized lost
3 units artillery damaged
3 units fighters lost
5 units fighters damaged
2 units motorized lost
3 units artillery damaged

The French Republic took the following casualties:
1 unit motorized lost
2 units artillery damaged
1 unit fighters lost
1 unit fighters damaged
1 unit armor lost
1 unit artillery damaged

Naval Battle

In their attacks, the French Commune rolled a 1 for naval actions. This results in 2 units of naval losses and 3 units of naval damages.

In their attacks, the French Republic rolled a 5 for naval actions. This results in 1 unit each of naval losses and damages.

The French Commune took the following naval casualties:
1 unit Submarines, Conventional lost
1 unit Submarines, Conventional damaged

The French Republic took the following naval casualties:
1 unit Warships, Coastal lost
1 unit Warships, Light lost
1 unit Warships, Medium damaged
1 unit Warships, Heavy damaged
1 unit Submarines, Conventional damaged

[Sabriel]

Victorian diplomats contacted the French Republic to negotiate a surrender of the Republic to the Commune. France would be united once again, and without need for further bloodshed. The Victorian elements of the UN Peacekeepers would remain in France to ensure that prisoners of war were treated respectfully, and released in a timely fashion. The Ascendant Host, however, returned to the Victorian bases and prepared itself for joining the fight in Britain.