Luzur said:
why does Russia own the Norwegian coastline?
AI-controlled Sweden fails at choosing good allies(specially considering Austria has no access to the North Atlantic), and thus they were fighting against Krakow and Russia in the first war for West Galicia, and Russians decided to have it as a war goal.
Also I had no idea about reconaissance fastening province occupation, good to know. Only stats I were aware of the effects were Org. and Morale. Having a general with a morale bonus can be really helpful because Morale determines the regain rate of Organization like in Hearts of Iron.
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War without end
In Lvov, more enemies are crushed, the war effort is costly but successful so far. However, more and more Austrian forces are coming fresh from their training centers, and something had to be done lest the advance is compromised.
For strange reasons(Blockade?) Krakow was faltering at providing supplies for soldiers once in a while, further increasing the challenge of this conflict, however, their fanaticism and courage carried on as they had one goal to pursue, the only chance for the Russians to succeed according to the strategic overview as legions of Austrians were coming, this goal would be sought directly soon. Meanwhile some extremely good news come: Petroleum is found in Przemysl, and although right now its demand is not that high, soon it shall be. In its struggle to keep up to date in military technology as their greatest war for independence is fought, Krakow cannot dedicate to researches that would allow for oil refineries to be built in the region right now.
First Battle of Vienna
Daringly, most of Armia Krajowa prepare to race for their goal: Vienna, capital of Austria. By attempting to seize it they would become capable of diverting the enemy's attention from near everything else. It would be a risky endeavor, behind the safe front lines. If they miraculously could seize it, this would be a crushing defeat to the Austrian empire, to lose their capital. And even if they couldn't, if they manage to hold it long enough for the occupied enemy regions to increase, it would already be a greater strategic success, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, more victories happened, but they all would be overshadowed by this seemingly irrational goal of seizing Vienna so soon.
And thus it has begun. Outnumbered, the near entirety of Armia Krajowa attempted to hold Vienna against more and more Austrian forces. They fought with upstanding determination, and the battle dragged on indecisively, neither side managing to make major gains while nearly thousands died every day.
After resting for a while to build up organization, a recently built artillery brigade begins to head for Vienna to support the defenders. Many months pass and it continues as indecisive and bloody as it begun, like the battles of the Great War: trenches, death, a few miles of ground costing countless of lives to be seized, and the defenders were having a major advantage against the attackers.
In face of their stand for democracy, and of being the only democracy of Central and Eastern Europe, Krakow is highly lauded by the United States of Kwanzania in spite of the Russians having before pulled them to write meaningless declarations of war to the same. Liberals all across the world, abolitionists and others laud the struggle of Krakow for liberty and emancipation of the Polish people.
A struggle they are ready to kill and die for, as the First Battle of Vienna reaches its climax: the defenders remain fighting fiercely in spite of being severely outnumbered, but the situation slowly seems to be reaching a decisive point. Amidst severe losses and death, meanwhile, the last henchman of Austria is feeling the harms of a war they didn't provoke, and with growing popular pressure, they do something that is a great diplomatic victory for this war.
And accept leaving the imperialist oppressors to their fate.
Ultimately, the defense of Vienna fails, but the enemy pay a large price for this "victory": for every Krakow soldier who died, three of them did, and while they were trying to secure their capital, the Russians secured many more territories, meaning that the primary strategic objective of this seemingly insane action was accomplished. However, while more and more months of long and seemingly neverending battles passed, entire drafted armies perished and were raised again by Krakow, where hundreds of thousands already gave their lives for the emancipation of Poland in this war, it became clear that Vienna was a very important goal to distract the enemy and buy time for the Russians.
Another battle happens in Vienna, lasting many months until the still not fully organized Krakow soldiers by the beginning of it are forced to retreat again. Entire brigades were lost, retreating to the wrong direction, but no matter how harsh the toll of fighting a powerful enemy like the Austrians was, Armia Krajowa never surrendered and never would give up.
The other part of those fighting at Vienna ended at Brno, and they had little time to rest from the battle they just lost, and unlike the first one, for unknown reasons, in the second battle of Vienna the casualties of the defenders have been much larger, but their survivors wouldn't give up.
Demobilzed, mobilized again, demobilized once seriously understrength, and so on... Krakow had a large reserve of men ready to fight and die.
Many great battles thus were fought in the region of Moravia. This was not a simple war. Sometimes Armia Krajowa was forced to choose which of the battles should be won and which should be forsaken, and others, mistakes were made as reinforcements proved insufficient to turn the tide of already ongoing battles. There was much bloodshed for this war, and now the stakes were higher: in face of growing victories and occupation, Krakow demanded also East Galicia and the liberation of Slovakia, while the Russians wanted nearly all Austrian holdings in the Balkans.
Few countries are so progressive and democratic as to have major political advances for democracy while fighting a massive war. With the growth of liberalism, total freedom of association for workers unions and the right to secret ballots are thus implemented, and soon the move to universal suffrage shall begin.
Reforms which do not depend from the party's will as the majority of the Upper House remains liberal. However, in spite of this the conservatives, because of their jingoistic and nationalistic agenda win another election. Politics carry on even at times of war, a war that has lasted for nearly 3 years already, since the last months of 1885.
Another major battle begins, and no matter the odds, the mere fact enemies are being tied up rather than hunting for Russian troops occupying Austrian provinces is an advantage, and if they manage to inflict far greater losses to the enemy, strategically it will still be beneficial.
In face of the brave campaign of Krakow for "freeing the Poles from dictatorial oppressors that seek to destroy both their liberty and their culture", and also in memory to a Polish general that participated of the Kwanzanian Independence War, the United States once again send another letter of congratulations to Krakow for their bravery and successes in the war.
By 14 February 1888, nearly half of Austria has fallen into Russian hands, and the war was clearly having one victorious side in spite of never-ending fresh hordes of Austrian soldiers being churned out occasionally. Unfortunately, however, the Italian government proved to be more defeatist and coward than Petain, and opened their legs to Austrian subjugation instead of taking advantage of the fact the Austrians were losing to retake Venice(In other words:
the AI is fucking stupid in diplomacy and war treaties.)
Unfortunately, Roznava is lost, but it is no major deal, the fighting goes on everywhere. And despite wrecked, the Austrians continue to have new soldiers ready. There was even a time when it was thought most of their army was defeat, just for the allies to find that fresh new divisions were coming from their side. This war could last a long time.
Another improvement of Krakow's military happen along the war: the proper calculation of risks and probabilities in battles through statistical studies to give better informations for generals to make decisions in the middle of a battle. Meanwhile, a better system of logistics is immediately sought as the new research, and shall allow for the introduction of new Polish hussars.
While the Austrians scatter their forces in an attempt to retake the land they have lost, a new battle begins at Kosice. The battle of Brno never ended during all this time, and continued being fought.
Only by April of 1888 it would be finally over, with Brno successfully defended, but at a large cost of lives, mostly Russian as expected.
With Brno secured, another daring attempt to occupy Vienna begins, with the goal of luring enemies from other, more immediate strategic objectives, while the defenders of Brno join a poorly done attack against Olomouc. Krakow asks for the leading officer of the attack to be replaced by their excellent general Klemens Mierolawski(+4 attack), but the Russian aristocracy, as nepotic and decadent as it is, refuses because doing so would make the incompentent but socially connected general leading the attack like a butcher leading cattle to the slaughterhouse. And thus, many question why not just leave the Russians to their fate and pursue an independent strategy in this war... but in any case,
Total victory was both close by now, while also distant. It was a heavy toll, but to convince the Austrians of accepting their demands, they'd have to completely crush the Austrian Empire economically with this war, something that would require even more than this.
This war was not over yet, no matter how victorious Russian and Krakow forces have been in ocuppying practically an entire half of Austria by now.