God, save the Tsar - EAW Eastern Entente AAR

[Lynxyonok]

Thanks to the Serbian Army, Eastern Entente is doing quite well. In the West, things are not much better for Central Powers, as they failed to make serious headway into France.

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[Lynxyonok]

No major battles, just minor skirmishes near Lemberg and Czernowitz yet again, as Central Powers try to lift the siege. My troops are enjoying a warm fall and warm winter, but little do they know: the snow is coming in just 2 weeks across the entire front, from Petrograd to Kars.

Here's a preview of current research levels:

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[Lynxyonok]

I thought that Ottomans were moving onto Erevan, leaving Kars unprotected, and that backfired on me. Central Powers retreated back, and all my men found were well-protected walls and snow, lots and lots of snow. I will be lucky to keep half of my forces as they rally back to Batum, seeking warmth.

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[Lynxyonok]

Virtually all of my troops are behind city walls, avoiding a particularly bitter winter - it's deep cold all over. The only exceptions are forces still sieging Lemberg and Czernowitz. Central Powers, on the other hand, are on the move, quickly blockading me in Kolo, just north of Lodz, and Memel.

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[Lynxyonok]

Another quiet turn, as snow blankets the continent for the 6th week in a row. Ottoman troops are are starting to move towards Batum, and Austrians make an unsuccessful attempt to relieve Lemberg. I am more and more inclined to let them have it, as supplies are an issue. I may have to strip supply wagons from other armies just to keep my troops alive.

Research race is afoot. In an unusual twist, Western Entente is actually able to keep up and even beat Central Powers in one area.

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[Lynxyonok]

Austrian-Hungarian troops have, for now, abandoned their attempts to take Belgrade by force. Instead they are flanking my troops from the south. Cetinje is lost, and Ivanjica depot is at risk too. Perhaps I should have destroyed those when consolidating in Belgrade - but I did not expect to hold that city this long, I expected a long drawn-out guerrilla war in southern Serbian mountains.

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[Lynxyonok]

Things are even quieter on the Western front, where Germans made some headway into Belgium, but France was left mostly intact.

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[Lynxyonok]

There have been numerous skirmishes around Lemberg, none truly worth mentioning except for this one: I may have won the battle, but look at the cost - an entire Russian army corps wiped off the map, despite orders to maintain defensive positions.

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[Lynxyonok]

Central Powers are massing up for a thrust through Poland - I am noticing new armies pop up all across Galicia. I am moving to reinforce Warsaw and Ivangorod in response.

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[Lynxyonok]

The spring is finally here! Russian railroads are quickly mobilized, as an offensive is planned towards Koenigsberg and Loetzen. I imagine I have 2 or maybe 4 weeks before Germans react, and the intent is to storm the fortresses, and fall back.

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[Lynxyonok]

It is amazing to see how increases in infantry and artillery research levels lead to new battle plans. Here I try out the massed infantry one. Successfully.

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[Lynxyonok]

Ah, there's the Austrian army. I wonder where has it been hiding all this time.

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[Lynxyonok]

My pilots do not fare well, losing 4 of their own for no losses to the enemy. Three more battles quickly follow. Altogether I lose 20 planes, to 0 enemy ones.

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[Lynxyonok]

Half a million Austrian troops, and then some, cross Sava into Belgrade. A bloody massacre follows. Eventually Serbs simply run out of bullets and of men. Bitter street fighting continues for a week, although it's but an agony.

The first day of battle:

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The last battle in the series:

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[Lynxyonok]

Caucasus front is heating up, as Turks are heading for Batum and are sieging Erevan. Russians have always bested them in battle for centuries, but the tide has clearly changed.

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[Lynxyonok]

Austrian army makes an unsuccessful attempt to relieve troops under siege in Lemberg. While not as bloody as the Belgrade campaign, this town is becoming a costly battlefield for both sides.

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[Lynxyonok]

An entire Austrian army surrenders at Czenowitz. I guess it pays to keep a siege through the winter, no matter the costs. And it certainly does not pay to hide behind city walls.

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[Lynxyonok]

Turkish troops keep pouring in from all over. Erevan falls, and not even Russian Black Sea fleet might be enough, should they go for Batum.

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[Lynxyonok]

Times are tough in Serbia following the loss of their capital. Any able man is rallied up in Nish; battered Montenegrin army is pulled back to Skopje. It is clear that Serbs are out of this fight, and impending entry of Bulgaria into this war will not make things any easier. The only thing left for Serbs is to take down as many enemies with them as they can. And maybe tie up an Austrian army of two through the summer.

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[Lynxyonok]

As decent weather is holding, and there are no more surprise March snowstorms, my troops are moving into German territory, laying siege to Koenigsberg and Loetzen once again.

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Overall, this war has been very bloody, with almost 3,000,000 dead worldwide in just 8 months of fighting.

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[H Gilmer3]

Making it very costly for the CP, I see.

[Lynxyonok]

And to myself too, sadly. Serbs lost almost 140k in that battle, as Austrian destroyed one regiment after the other during retreat.

[Lynxyonok]

1915 saw the entry of Italy, Bulgaria, Rumania into the war. Of course, Bulgarians waited no time to jump into Serbia, quickly followed by the Turks. I am having to fall back to Skopje, where the last stand will be made.

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[Lynxyonok]

Central Powers have been taking a toll on my aircraft - at least 40 have been shot down already, and I am yet to get a kill in return. While all that money was desperately needed to build artillery, I do have to stop and replace my lost aircraft. At least tech levels are similar - 2 levels +40% for CP, 2 levels +10% for EE, and I should get newer, level 2, planes that may still face remaining level 1 fighters in CP units.

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[Lynxyonok]

During early spring I moved in to blockade several CP armies in various towns, one of them being Lublin. It's been quiet there, but now Austrians are attempting to lift the siege. As AI gets better and better leaders, I no longer enjoy the ability to see what enemy generals are going to choose for the battle plan... it's a guesswork from now on.

On a related note, both German fortresses fall in Eastern Prussia. Loetzen - with ease, Koenigsberg does result in some losses.

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[Lynxyonok]

It is very interesting how AI always tries to withdraw with inferior odds. They never just try to put up a fight with a static deployment plan.

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[Lynxyonok]

Turks are continuing to steamroll through Russian Caucasus. They even have heavy artillery! A couple of towns fall, and Baku is likely to be sieged next month. I had to take 3 x 24CP stacks from the Austrian front and send them towards Batum and Grozny.

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[havi]

I have to ask this but is there the Armenian genocide happening in this game. It seems Yerevan has fallen to the Turks and if it did I think there will be blod in the streets?!

[Templer]

I have found your AAR only now and by chance.
Really, AARs should be in the AAR section!

Why does the AAR forum not work?
How can it be that someone program 'To End All Wars' but isn't able to activate a forum section?

[H Gilmer3]

I have found your AAR only now and by chance.
Really, AARs should be in the AAR section!

Why does the AAR forum not work?
How can it be that someone program 'To End All Wars' but isn't able to activate a forum section?

We've asked them to open it. I'm not sure why there is an issue. It's been asked several times on the forums. I guess who ever is in charge is busy?