Vulshainian-Laiatanese Five-Year War
The Vulshainian-Southern Yugoslavian Five-Year War began in 1891 and lasted until 1895 when King Maksimilian Aleixo of Vulshain had his armies invade Southern Yugoslavia, in order to unite both Vulshain and Southern Yugoslavia together. King Aleixo believed that the peoples of both nations would benefit from the unification.
However, Southern Yugoslavia defeated Vulshain, with peace treaties being signed on December 16 and 17 in 1895.
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Key Battles
The Battle of Erevini Hills: January 22, 1891, first battle that signaled the beginning of the Five-Year War.
The Siege of Namigiat: A series of battles from April 1892 to November 1892 when Vulshain tried to invade the Southern Yugoslavian province of Namigiat, and was the turning point of the war.
Defense of the Glens of Asodiana: May 29, 1893, a Vulshainian victory where Vulshainian soldiers successfully defended the Vulshainian Province of Acounor from Southern Yugoslavian forces, keeping them from advancing into the Confederate Province.
The Battle of Sacred Hollow: March 18, 1894 with a total of 12,427 dead on both sides. Southern Yugoslavian victory
The Battle of the Diguatha Meadows: December 10, 1895 with no lost of life as Vulshainian soldiers surrendered peacefully to Southern Yugoslavian soldiers
Technologies, Tactics, and Weapons
Many weapons were used by both sides: railway guns, chemical weapons, and rapid-fire firearms.
Because trench warfare was commonplace throughout much of the Five-Year War, rapid-fire weapons, such as the Gatling gun, were used by both sides, often with devastating losses for both Vulshainian and Southern Yugoslavian. Chemical weapons, such as mustard gas led to many deaths for both nations.
Famous Leaders
The Five-Year War had many famous military and civilian leaders. One such leader was Brigadier General Matfey Nebojša of the Southern Yugoslavian Army. He was highly respected by both friend and foe, and was known for his strict code of honor as well as his humane treatment of prisoners of war. He died on August 15, 1893 during the Battle of Scarlet Dale. He suffered fatal wounds when Vulshainian soldiers defeated his forces for the first time. It is believed that a string of bad luck caused by weather conditions and mismanagement of communication and supply lines led to his defeat. He died while under the care of the Vulshainian forces. Because he was highly respected by the Vulshainian soldiers, he was given a full military funeral by the Vulshainian Royal Army with several Vulshainian officers serving as his pallbearers, along with a Vulshainian honor guard who fired a salute in his honor. Many Vulshainian soldiers who witnessed his funeral presented memorial wreaths, with one inscribed with the words, "To Our Gallant and Worthy Foe, Rest in Peace Comrade." He was posthumously awarded with several Vulshainian decorations for his bravery and honor, including the prestigious Royal Cross Pin, making him the first non-Vulshainian to be awarded the medal. After he was buried near the town of Gedi in Vulshain, his remains were returned to Southern Yugoslavia in 1922 where he was laid to rest on a family plot next to the graves of his wife and brother.
Casualties
Almost 2.7 million Southern Yugoslavian and Vulshainian soldiers died in the Five-Year War, and 1.45 million wounded resulted from the battles between Vulshain and Southern Yugoslavia.
Innocent civilans were harmed by the war, with 290 thousand deaths and 375 thousand wounded on both sides.
The deaths of both soldier and civilian were also caused by starvation, wounds, and disease.
Results
Among the terms of the peace treaties, one of them was the annexation of Anzhelina by Southern Yugoslavia. In addition, reforms were carried out to prevent another monarch from dragging Vulshain into pointless war. From now on, in order to declare war, the Council of Vulshain (later the Royal Congress) had the final say in whether the monarch's declaration of war could be carried out. As a result from the many deaths caused by chemical weapons, both Southern Yugoslavia and Vulshain agreed to refrain from using chemical weapons against enemy forces.
Another result from the Five-Year War was the research and production of tank warfare after artillery guns, while successful against advancing enemy forces, proved to be vulnerable to being outmaneuvered by enemy soldiers.
While playing a minor combat role throughout most of the conflict, the advantages of air superiority were too much to be ignored, leading to innovations in airplanes.
