Second Barko-Kolonian War
The Second Barko-Kolonian War, also known as the Autumn War or Hostage War, was an high-intensity armed conflict between Barkadia and Kolonia. The war, sparked from the crew of a Kolonian observation plane being detained in Faulksnia, lasted between September 16th and October 21st, 2019. The conflict ended shortly after both nations declared the existence of their nuclear arsenals, and is considered the closest that the world has come to nuclear conflict since the weapon's first use in the Great War.
Background & Prelude to War
Since Kolonia's foundation in 1954, Barkadia and Kolonia have been on continuously unfriendly terms. Ethnic tensions and the Barkadian Monarchy's expansionist policies resulted in the First Barko-Kolonian War, lasting for just over 8 years between 1965 and 1972. As reparations for the conflict, numerous territories, including the cities of Stolska and Bily Lesk, became administered by Kolonia. After The 2005 Revolution, the loss of these territories became a major weakpoint in relations between the countries, eventually culminating in the Stolska Crisis, where Stolska and numerous Western Areas of Kolonia declared independence and rejoined Barkadia. Tensions continued to mount afterwards, leading to numerous standoffs and show-of-force tests.
On August 28th, 2019, a Kolonian P-1 Naval Observation Aircraft, registration MC-P1-07, suffered a malfunction crippling its right wing. The aircraft, struggling to remain airborne, was forced to land at Morgankeist International Airport in Faulksnia. The detention of the Kolonian crew and the use of interrigation and torture against them led to the September Crisis, culminating on September 15th, when the Kolonian Air Force did a large show of force to simulate a mock attack on the Faulksnian coast. Through the rest of the 15th, political crisis overtook Faulksnia, and tensions between Barkadia and Kolonia worsened critically, with massive material buildups on the border.
Conflict Overview
On September 16th, at around 05:45 Meridan Standard Time, fire was first exchanged on the border. It is unknown which side fired the first shot, as most of the border units in the said sector suffered near 100% casualty rates. Both governments insist the other fired first. Within minutes, there was a rapidly escalating use of tactical artillery bombardments, which led to the general mobilizations of both sides. Kolonian transportation networks, still not fully set up to handle the post-2018 border, were uncapable of transporting the required material to the conflict, and later, defensive zones. This led to an early Barkadian offensive advantage, which allowed for amassed units to push past defenders, which defined the course of the rest of the war.
The confusion between which side fired first meant that the Meridan Treaty's Defensive Clause was not activated, and socialist nations did not immediately rush to the aid of Barkadia. As Barkadian troops quickly pressed further into Kolonia, some capitalist and anti-socialist governments sympathized and send material and military aid to the Kolonians. Within a few days of the war beginning, Kolonian forces were in full scale retreats to secondary defensive lines, leaving many cities to be captured. It is estimated that by the end of the first week of fighting there were 3 million refugees fleeing Westward from the advancing forces.
The first turning point in the war came with the Defense of Mirovana.
Icarian Theater
Conclusion
Aftermath
See also
Related Reading
Notes
- ↑ Maritime Taiwan: Historical Encounters with the East and the West by Shih-Shan Henry Tsai. Page 189. Published 2009