The Great War (1905-1917)

The Antetand Blitz
After the failed gamble of the 4th Toaonese-Antetandi War, Antetand spent a year preparing it’s armed forces for a revenge war. After sixteen months of preparation on July 13th 1905, Antetandi infantry and cavalry rushed the Toaonese and Lyradurian borders at the Seaholm Valley and Greenview Heights capturing them both in a matter of hours. Seizing these two locations so quickly and effectively instantly rendered null the natural defensive benefits the mountainous regions gave to their respective countries. Simultaneously, the Antetandi army dug into secure their gains while sending additional forces ahead to press their advantage.

At the same time Antetand’s North Fleet began shelling most of the coastal defenses and fortifications along the coast leading to the Toaonese capital of Tethi in efforts to allow the 3rd Army under Hoch-General Grimhausen to rush the city and seize it before any major opposition could be mobilized. Antetand’s goal was to capture Tethi and/or lay siege to Nahital or Luntin in Lyradur and force one of the nations into an early surrender and then swing their armed forced around to bear the full brunt on the remaining nation. Whoever fell first would simply be forced to return previously captured lands alongside additional concessions, with whoever fell second being forced into a vastly more humiliating peace agreement.

All in all events went far better for Antetand than they ever should have. The 3rd Army was able to reach the Gates of Riklaw, less than a hundred kilometers from Tethi, before they were finally halted. In the south, the 1st Army under Hoch-General Sepp, were able to slowly advance to within visual distance of the outskirts of Nahital before encountering serious opposition. The remaining Antetandi armies were also seeing impress success on their fronts. The winter was abnormally mild allowing for the offensive to continue well into what should have been the coldest part of the year unhampered. The Senate was predicting victory within the year and that the troops would be able to return home before the end of the following summer in 1906.

Aletheia Enters the War
Spring of 1906 saw Antetand’s fortunes turn to ash. In a move that took high command by complete surprise the newly formed state of Aletheia declared war on Antetand on March 6th. Within a week Aletheian troops were overrunning the largely undefended eastern regions of the nation. Offensive efforts in the south and west were ground to a halt by continual rainfall. The 1st Army became encircled during the siege of Nahital and would be forced to survive there for nearly three years. The 3rd Army was forced to withdraw from the Gates of Riklaw to the defenses above the Seaholm Valley, undoing the previous year’s efforts.