Update
Italy withdraws from the Triple Alliance!
Italy guarantees Albanian Neutrality and Independence.
Italy mobilises!
The Duma is assembled in St. Petersburg!
Pro-Tsarist Nobles and Generals take up arms in St. Petersburg
Russia rejects secret Austro-Hungarian peace offer!
Denmark raids Italy’s embassy….so does Sweden, The Ottomans, Norway, etc.
The United Kingdom enforces the North Sea Declaration!
Portugal mobilises!
Portugal blockades the Strait of Gibraltar to German and Austro-Hungarian vessels!
Britain calls for Volunteers!
The United Kingdom declares war on Austria-Hungary and Germany.
Portugal declares war on Germany and Austria-Hungary!
Britain, France, Spain, Portugal, Serbia and Russia sign no separate peace agreement
France begins minor military reforms.
King Carol of Romania dies of flu on his way to sign the no separate peace agreement!
Romania, Greece and Montenegro all sign the no separate peace agreement.
Italy declares war upon Germany and Austria-Hungary
European economies begin to wave in the face of the growing onslaught !
The Lion Awakens
The shock of the Italian raids were hardly given time to settle as Rome announced Italy’s departure from the Triple Alliance on the 2nd April. This announcement sent further tremors through and already shocked Germany and Austria-Hungary as a nation they had thought a close friend showed new colours. In Vienna, there were cries for retribution to be had whilst Berlin urged Vienna to not make a rushed choice. Italy’s guarantees to Albania and subsequent mobilisation though, did little to calm the growing anger as Bubapest too joined calls of Vienna. It was clear that relations were soaring by the day and it would take a miracle to repair them. In the East, Russia saw its first gathering of the provisional Duma. This new government, though not yet elected, was a major milestone for Russian democracy which had been but a murmur on lips for many. For some though, it was an outrage. The new government, elected by the people for the people, caused the loss of power for many who were not willing to give it up. As the Duma convened on the 5th April, soldiers stormed the Tauride Palace headed by Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolavich. Under the gaze of muzzle and bayonet, the assembly sat in stunned silence as the Grand Duke declared the Duma illegitimate and defunct. The Grand Duke claimed that the Tsar had been manipulated by some of his advisors into forming the Duma without his full knowledge or understanding. With the wave of an arm the gathered members were cleared out one by one and taken away. By the time night fell, St. Petersburg was firmly in the Grand Duke’s hands!
While this Coup was taking place, Tsar Nicholas, who was awaiting the arrival of King Carols and Prince Ferdinand in Sevastopol, rejected a secret peace agreement sent to him. The agreement, published in the papers on the 7th, promised Russia gains in British held territories in exchange for peace. This news sent Britain into overdrive. Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, began a mass call for Volunteers across the British Isles to bolster the British Expeditionary Force. The call for 100,000 new men was called overly ambitious by many in Horse Guards and many Generals currently organising the deployment of the B.E.F. felt the same. They were to be proven wrong. Double the wanted men would be signed up for service by the end of the month. As Britain mobilised their army, the Royal Navy was put to sea to enforce the new “North Sea Declaration” which essensay declared North Sea waters East of England and Scotland and maritime no go zone. This was met with little opposition by any parties who saw it as a reasonable arrangement to protect merchant shipping.
A choice though that was to anger many was Portugal’s actions. Following Britain's announcement of the N.S.D. Portugal, who until now had stayed quiet to European affairs, began mobilisation and put their Navy to sea to blockade the Straits of Gibraltar to German and Austro-Hungarian shipping. Before either nation could issue a full protest though, the reason for the blockade was reviled. In the late afternoon of the 9th April, the United Kingdom issued a formal declaration of war to the German and Austro-Hungarian ambassadors to London. The seperate peace agreement sent to Russia had forced No. 10’s hand. “The humiliation and nerve of the Austro-Hungarian Empire to think to negotiate with our spheres of influence and lands is unthinkable.” Prime Minister Balfour declared before the Commons. This was swiftly followed by Portugal’s declaration not a few hours later. This declaration put Austria-Hungary in an extremely difficult position. With both the Suez and Straits blocked to her, and the French and Royal Navies lurking in the Mediditrainian, merchant shipping was now at serious risk.
As London declared war, the members of the growing Entente came together to sign a no separate peace agreement. The document, in short, meant that even if one of the Entente members was fully occupied they would carry on the war to either victory or defeat. A valiant agreement, but how will it fair? Sadly, on his journey to Savastapol to place the Romanian signature upon one of the documents, King Carol of Romania fell ill whilst crossing the Black Sea. Though his personal physicians and, upon his arrival, Russian doctors tried their best to bring him back to health he passed at 11:34am on the 12th April 1914 at the age of 75. His son who was with him signed in his place as King Ferdinand of Romania.
As the war passed through yet another month, questions began to be raised in some of the nations who had joined the war back in February. As merchant ships began to be sunk, blockades set up, and trade halted between warring nations, some nations began to fret about their current stance. In the Nordic nations the loss of trade was starting to begin to worry among some in parliament. With Germany unable to make up for the loss of trade with Britain, France and other Entente members and their merchant navies now being sunk in the North Sea, murmurs of poor thinking were being heard. In Russia, Germany and Austria-Hungary, some Generals were starting to worry that the war was not going to be over as fast as they had hoped. With the massive offensives of Febuary and March, huge amounts of manpower, material and other goods had been burnt through at an alarming pace. With the Royal Navy’s blockade of Germany, Norway, Denmark and the Netherlands now posed a serious economic problem if the war carried on beyond previous expectations. Only time would tell if proper planning could be untaken to avoid a looming threat.
As the fighting along the many different fronts petered out, Italy made their final move. Minister-President Karl von Stürgkh was eating his breakfast on the morning of the 30th. As the day's business was brought to him a red faced panting man burst into his office waving a sheet of paper. He thrust into von Stürgkh’s hands. The sound of the shattering plate could apparently be heard throughout the whole building as von Stürgkh read the Italian declaration of war.
The Bear Strikes Out
Following two months of brutal bloodshed, the Serbian and Montenegrin fronts finally saw some relative peace. The mountainous terrain and grim determination of the Slavic defenders had clearly caused Austria-Hungary enough issues to call off their offensive. Now the two lines faced one another as they both took the time to dig deep and lob sporadic shells and shots at one another. Neither side wished to give the other an easy time to dig in and skirmishes where played out all along the line, the Slavs though faced something they had not expected though. Austrian Gebirgsjägers made daring night time raids into the Serbian lines, throwing hand held explosives into trenches before storming them and retreating with prisoners. This new threat was not something the Serbians were unused to but was not something they had expected from the Austro-Hungarians. The Bulgarian front also remained quiet. Like The Serbian-Montenegro front only light artillery duels and skirmishes were fought throughout the month as the Entente continued to probe the Bulgarian lines for weakness.
Romania was to be the main battleground of the Balkans. Austro-Hungarian high command was clearly set on knocking Romania out of the war and their renewed offensive showed it. The whole line from the Russian border to Serbia began their offensives. In the West, XII, XI and XIII Korps smashed into the Romanian Armata a 3-a. Expecting a fight but nothing too hard, the Austro-Hungarians were shocked by the Romanians that opposed them. Well armed, supplied and led the Armata a 3-a were some of the best Romania had to offer. As the west stalled, the center and the East also faced issues. With forces of the Armata a 2-a facing overwhelming odds, XVI Korps made a breakthrough north of Ploiești. They began to swing Eastwards threatening the Romanian forces at Focșani who began a retreat towards Galați and along the Danube. The situation looked to be the end of Romanian resistance, where it was not for the timely intervention of the Russian 7-ya and 12-ya armiyas. These two massive formations swept the Austro-Hungarians before them as they began their assault on the 13th. Alongside the Romanians, the Russian offensive took the Austro-Hungarians completely by surprise. High Command in Vienna had reckoned Russia would be unable to launch an offensive of such a scale. Though they had the XIX and XX Korps dug in to face the Russians, the offensive had been expected from the East and not to begin to sweep them from the South. As the East buckled to the Russian onslaught the West and Center stalled and Austro-Hungarian command panicked in their response. Soon much of the gains of the last few months were lost before the Russians began to ease up by the 27th. It was a disaster for the Romanian campaign, and it was clear someone was going to need to be held responsible. As fighting in the Balkans died out, the month saw the loss of 400 Serbians, 200 Montegigrans, 700 Greeks, 400 Bulgarians, 14,000 Austro-Hungarians, 7,000 Romanians, and 9,000 Russians.
Fighting Withdrawal
The initial invasion of Russia had caught the Imperial Army on the back foot as the extremely well trained German juggernaut smashed into her. Now though, with the mighty Bear moving more men into the line, the tables were looking a bit more even if not in Russia’s favour. The offensive from March resumed into Poland without much pause for breath. The offensive was spearheaded into Poland by the 16. Armee who began a concentrated push south of Białystok, under the cover of massive Zepillins that moved on ahead to attack Russian supply chains, the offensive cut into the Russian 4-ya Armiya. At the same time to the South, around Lublin, three Austro-Hungarian Armeekorps began their own offensive in tandem with the Germans. The 4-ya Armiya, commanded by General Zaltsa staged a valiant defensive action on both fronts, but realised too late what the duel offensive’s aim was. With his forces attempting to withdraw already, but being pinned by assaults towards his headquarters in Warsaw, the orders to withdraw soon turned to retreat. The 4-ya Armiya began a full scale withdrawal from their current positions and were in a headlong flight to escape the closing pocket. As the days ticketed and the pocket closed the retreat soon turned into a panicked route. Warsaw fell on the 8th to the German 14. And 15. Armee, who found large amounts of Russian supplies abandoned in their haste to escape. As the pocket closed on the 11th, 6 Divisions and vast amounts of supplies from the 4-ya Armiya were trapped. Though a breakout was made by General Zaltsa with his shattered forces, the beleaguered and cut off Divisions surrendered on the 14th. This blow was felt instantly.
The offensives launched by the 9. and 12. Armees however, did not see as much luck as their compareates in the 13. and 10. Armees. Their drive towards Libava and Dunaburg stalled out instantly with Russian defenses giving very little ground, fighting for every meter of land. With the arrival of the 9-ya Armiya into the region a week after the offensive began, progress ground to a halt. The 10. and 13. managed to capitalise on the shattering of the 4-ya Armiya in their offensives and the cities of Grodno and Białystok fell in rapid succession and elements of L. Armeekorps begin their assault on Vilna. The defenders held though and counter-attacked three days later to clear the Germans from the outskirts of the city. Around the Pripet Marshes the Russian 6 and 11-ya Armiya bagan limited offensives to push the Austro-Hungarias out of their positions. Initially planned with three armies, the 5-ya Armiya had been rushed north to fill the gap created by the collapse in Poland. With the initial plan snow scrapped, commanders went ahead with their attack on the 19th. The assault by the 11-ya was called off within days as no progress was being made of diloding the bug in Hungarian positions. The 6-ya though had a streak of luck. A well placed shell hit what was clearly a small ammo dump in the 20. Honvéd Infanteriedivision. The destination and chaos created presented a perfect breakthrough and the Russians poured into it driving back the XXXIII Armeekorps. The month’s actions ended with 11,000 German losses, 8,000 Autro-Hungarians, and 89,000 Russians.
Stalemate
After the savaging that Germany’s Nordic allies had taken in March, the Northern front was without any offensive actions this month. As the Russians dug in, so two did the Nords with neither side doing much to stop each other. The odd shell and minor patrol skirmish were had, but otherwise things were calm. German military advisors to the Nords though were cursing themselves for not pressing for an offensive. Had the North seen a successfully offensive, it would have placed Russia in a very dangerous position.
The Empire Strikes Back
As the French siege of Fort Wilhelm II ground on and French high command reorganised command of the IIIe Armée the Ve Armée began to probe the German lines with a new weapon of war. Both armies spent the opening weeks probing the German lines as they reorganised from last month’s failure. The Germans two were also reorganising from last month. On the 15th, both forces managed to launch their offensives at the same time. The French IIIe and Ve Armées mixed into the German 2. and 5. Armees as the front descended into utter chaos. France’s new weapon was to prove decisive in the first week. Armoured cars, an idea that had been knocked around by many nations, had been rushed into service in France. These mobile pill boxes provided a mobile machine platform with which the Infantry could advance with. In use with the Cavalry Brigades though, they were poorly deployed and utilised, but made enough of a difference at first. Like the East, Zeppelins were deployed in disruption missions. The French advanced across the border was stopped on the 18th by the deployment of the 1. Armee and the disruption caused to supply chains by the Zeppelins. Though they did little damage, the threat possessed by the massive German balloons slowed down progress on the roads greatly. These German reservers turned the tide instantly. With the armoured cars now spread thin, being overrun in some places and too slow to redeploy effectively, the Germans began a savage counter offensive. The French retreated back to the border where the fighting reached a fever pitch on the 27th as the 8e Division d'Infanterie were apparently able to redirect the whole 2. Armee. General de Castelnau proudly claimed to have defended France with his Corps. His arrogance was to be his downfall as the 2. Armee swept East and hit the rear lines of the IVe Armées. As the month ended, the French found 3 of their Divisions cut off around Fort Wilhelm II as the Germans drove a wedge into the French lines. If the French were able to recover, it could spell disaster! The month ended with 11,000 French losses and 8,000 German.
Merchant Navies
As blockades across Europe were set in place, the Merchant Navies found themselves on the front line. Royal Navy surface raids leapt upon the Nordic shipping lanes around Norway. There was little that the Sjøforsvaret could do to stop them, but hold in their heavily fortified Fjords. On the 16th the HMS Lapwing got over zealous in her chase of the Sweidsh merchant. As the Swed made for the safe refuge of a Fjord the British war ship gave chase. HMS Lapwing was hit and sunk by a Coastal Defense battery at 17:09. The blockade proved to be effective though. Few merchants dared to take to the seas with the Royal Navy at large and with the Central Powers navies not leaving port to give battle, there was little in the way of protection to be offered. The British and French merchant navies were by no means safe though. In the North Sea around Iceland, British Merchants began to be sunk by German U-Boats while French merchants found themselves under attack as well. Though losses were minor, the threat posed by the U-boats could not be ignored.
The main naval action of the month came in the Gulf of Bothnia. A large strike group from Sweden and Denmark under the cover of two Zeppelins deployed into the Gulf without much incident. In the afternoon of the 17th, with seas calm and weather clear, the Marinen andSøværnet opened fire upon the Russian coastal railway. Remaining on station for three days, the strike force carried out their mission unmolested before retreating back to safety. Massive stretches of the railway were blown away in the attack with damage spread out over miles of track. As reports reached the Imperatorskiy Flot command, Admiral Andrei Eberhardt is said to have quibbed “This whole affair has Germany’s hands all over it ''. As the month ended loss of vessels across all fleets remained low, but the loss of merchant traffic signaled looming problems for many.
End of a Party
Italy was active on internal matters throughout March. The Italian Socalist party met a spectacular end as Prime Minister Giolitti declared them illegal on the 9th. Carabinieri set about arresting key figures across the nation. Whilst some went peacefully claiming justice would see them released, others did not. Anna Kuliscioff and Nicola Bombacci both went down in gun fights with their followers. 3 officers fell carrying out their duties.The move rocked Italy, but as the news of the declaration on the 30th swept the news of the ending of the socialists under the rug.
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