[ETW AAR] A General's Story

[Plank of Wood]

A General's Story
Accounts of Une Nordenburg
Chapter 1: Rhineland Campaign, 1764-1771
Prolouge

Another Glorious day begins in the Swedish Empire! We are unrivaled in Military and Imperial power, our Colonies span America, North Africa and India; No other nation has ever before had this much territory in so many places. I serve as a Brigader and Second in Command to General Valfrid Ness, who is the commander of this entire Campaign against the armies of Westphalia. The war started not so long ago in 1764, when in order to defend our Dutch allies we declared war on Westphallia. General Ness has suffered no defeats as of yet, however this war goes mostly unoticed by our people. It was mostly to show our strength to the Growing Wüttemburg nations, who had recently taken over France by themselves, and had control of a large army, by destroying their trade partner and ally they would be unwilling to become a threat to us. Of course, religious Civil Servants would like to say that it is another step in our war against the "foul Papists".

No, most of the attention and money goes to our two other fronts. After winning a joint victory with our Protectorate state of Morocco in Gibraltar and another on the road to Madrid, the patriotic mood is one against the "Foul Spaniards" rather than for a show of military strength in Germany. However our men see our war in a different way, after seeing the way the armies of Westphalia ravaged the dutch countryside they saw it as a war of freedom. One of new, republican and constitutional ideas of the United Provinces and Sweden against those of Absolute Monarchy in Germany and Spain; it was certainly far more an more patriotic cause than for money (such as in the West Indies) or to aid in a war of succession which we had no part in (such as in Spain).

The East India Company steals the attention of the average citizen every time though, since the abolition of slavery more low wage workers were needed in the colonies. Poor immigrants from Russia and Lithuania could no longer be relied apon, many were catholic and in favor of the Polish Government (stories from Grandparents to children about our invasion of Poland-Lithuania still corrupt the mind of simple farm workers on the frontiers). Therefore the Company invaded the backwards Persian Empire, taking Afganistan and are pushing to the Heart of Persia. This must seem more heroic back at home than it does on the front there or in India. Converting islamic locals to Cristianity and destroying vast armies of Persians and Afgans with just a few Regiments; compared with us in the Rhineland, sitting in a soggy camp, drinking a cup of coffee or tea in our command tent watching our men drilling, waiting for orders.

However I am glad to fight here, the locals hate their government as much as we do, and are likely to rebel, so as they share their food and beds with us and keep us warm we can only imagine how hard it is for those in Persia and Spain, in a hot climate where either there are no towns for miles or all the locals want to murder them. So I look forward to our next offencive, and I hope I we can begin the final assualt on Colonge soon, and return home to Oslo for the thanks of the Parliament and be posted to some quiet colony in America.

- Brigader Ode Nordenburg, Second In Command of the Westphallia Campaign.

[gord96]

awesome work! love the writing style!

[Plank of Wood]

Chapter 1: Rhineland Campaign, 1764-1771
Part 1 - The Battle of Cleves, 1771

23rd of April, 1771

Today we march towards the Estates in the Cleves farmland. It was there, I was told, that we would face the enemy's Army. General Valfrid Ness believes that this will force the professional Westphallian forces to engage us, where our battle hardened troops will make short work of them. When it comes to cavalry we have the upper hand, four regiments of horse and two Household Guard regiments, however I fear that our infantry are not in good morale for this battle. Some of the regiments are heavily under-manned and outnumbered by the enemy army. Luckily our Howitzers can use quicklime, which will destroy the morale of the fresh-out-of-training regiments of Westphallia.

24th of April, 1771

We have entered the Cleves Farmland, and are going to march on the central estate tommorow.

Change of plan has been made, the enemy is marching apon us, we have no time to lose. The battle begins tommorow morning, we must prepare the men. General Ness has presented us (the higher officers) with the battleplan. The cavalry are to attack first, destroying their supperior artillery numbers. It is predicted that their cavalry will be defending them, so a short cavalry skirmish will probably occur. Afterwads our infantry will assualt the left flank, and then march right, while our artillery keeps the enemy pinned down.

25th of April, 1771

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Our Cavalry charged immediatly, we promtly routed their cavalry and horse artillery. We suffered moderate losses, but none of our regiments were wiped out or routed.





The Infantry moved up to the site of battle, and the main confrontation began.





Our brave men held the line, keeping the fire up on the re-grouping line infantry of Westphallia.





The Quicklime made short work of the un-experianced line infantry, and as they routed another Regiment tried to take it's place.





Our men made a heroic charge into the enemy, in an attempt to route the enemy forces and cut our losses. We lost many men to fire counter fire in the charge, however our cavalry arrived to assist, and wiped out the en-circled Infantry.




Meanwhile, the remaining Westphalia Line Infantry, along with their still-surviving General, regrouped and prepared to defend against our weakened ranks.





Our army marched to end this battle once and for all.





Our men encircled the last of the Westphallian forces. General Ness ordered a bayonnette charge, however our men were unwilling to go, the last bayonnette charge resulted in heavy losses on both side. "Follow me men! We shall both endure!" I heard him shout, as he, personally, led the final charge.





This was a move both heroic and patriotic, an insperation to all men, that is why what happened next would forever seal his status as a young and brave war hero.





His death was quick and largely un-noticed by our basic infantry, in the smoke of quicklime and in the blink of an eye he was stabbed off his horse, in the chest. He died almost instantly, in the chaos of battle. So the battle ended, our cavalry wiped out the stragglers of Westphallian troops, and those that escape deserted, rather than return to Colonge and be forced to fight us again. At last, the end of the long campaign is in sight.





And it is up to I, Une Nordenburg, to lead what remains of our men to victory.

[Metzgershund]

So is his name Ode or Une? 'Cause, unless I'm crazy, the card says Une.

Good job though, I like the writing style, not too long.

[Plank of Wood]

Thnaks for pointing that out for me XD

[Plank of Wood]

Chapter 1: Rhineland Campaign, 1764-1771
Part 2 - Annexation of Colonge, 1771

November 12th, 1771

Permission has been given for us to seize Colonge. Internationally this will be recognise as an annexation, Britian and the United Provinces do not recognise the soverienity of Westphallia, Poland-Lithuania likewise do not recognise Westphallia as a free state. Despite protest from Wüttemburg, Colonge is territory of the United Provinces and therefore not independant; although the army of Westphallia do not wish to surrender without a fight. They have assembled what remains of their professional army (now reduced to a single regiment of line infantry and two Carribineer Guard Regiments.) and have drafted many of the young men who have not deserted the capital for Wüttemburg. This is a futile endevor, despite our losses of many men in the regiments and a great general, we stand little chance of defeat. Dutch and Belgian volunteers are formed up to become a forlorn hope, though they stand little chance against the Westphallian cavalry they will hold them up until our line infantry arrive at the battlefield.

It will take 10 days to march through the freezing winter, the government of Westphalia have nothing to lose so we can expect any kind of raid apon our army. We must keep the morale of our men high, this cold winter is nothing compared to that of the men who fought in Russia and Poland 50 years ago, however these men are no-where near as hardened as the frontiersmen who defended St. Petersburg.


November 16th, 1771

Ten men died in a cavalry raid, two howitzers destroyed, had to combine what's left of the two Artillery regiments into one. They buried the artillery as well as the men in a mark of respect to the cannons which served them well for 10 years. Don't expect that will help morale.

November 21st, 1771

We reached the outskirts of Colonge, the Westphallian army are massing in a nearby village, we expect that they will make their last stand here. It is odd that this standoff will be known as the "Annexation" instead of the "Battle" of Colonge, the men feel that this will be a battle like any other. The Forlorn hope made their last confessions to our Father Richardson, he's an Irish born Protestant priest, he came here to help our soldiers cope with the stress of War. Some of the more pious officers are feeling guilty after they lead men to their deaths. One young officer, no older than 19 was driven nearly to tears after he was forced to bayonnette 3 wounded Westphallian raiders. I am not sure whether he'll be able to cope with the battle ahead, so I'm going to assign him into the cavalry to co-command with the Iceland regiment.

December 2nd, 1771

This standoff is lasting longer than I thought, the enemy have no intention of attacking us, nor do they have any intention of giving up. I'm not sure what they're trying to achieve here, but great news has reached the men. The Swedish African Colonial Army, composed mainly of native african volunteers after the abolition of slavery, has completely and utterly destroyed the Spanish Army at Madrid.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

The idea of the end of our campaign being so close was reminded by this news, not so long ago the officers in this army had fought the Franco-Spanish forces in Flanders. The Spanish Monarchy had forseen the Swedish army, and fled to Naples, with Military Access rights to Barvaria, it is highly likely that we would be ordered to take Italy, the many rival states of Italy were all colaborators with the Spanish.

December 3rd, 1771

We've recived orders to attack, signed by Karl XIV himself, along with all the members of the Cabinet. Orders have reached the men to prepare for the battle; confidence of our certian victory (or Annexation as has been insisted we call it) is not limited to myself, the ordanary infantrymen. Even the Household Cavalry talked about wrapping their swords in cloth to keep them clean in the battle - while this would seem foolish in a major battle such as at Cleves, so little of the men here could afford good body protection that the swords could run throught anyway.

This is the first battle I will command, however, and I am anxious to win it and proove to my countrymen that I am worthy of my rank.

[Edward lV]

You doing a nice job there QI guy. Can you unspoiler the images though? I hate them things!

[Plank of Wood]

First of all: Thanks for replying.

Secondly, the spoilers are there so when you're trying to read parts further down the page you don't have to wait for all the images to load or get bumped down every few seconds. And to stop the page from widening and stopping people from having to scroll across to read the whole text.

[Edward lV]

Ok, update imminent i presume?

[tuore]

Really nice, but you could make the images i bit smaller.

[Plank of Wood]

Chapter 1: Rhineland Campaign, 1764-1771
Part 3 - Taking of the Capital

December 4th, 1771

The snowfall has stopped this morning, leaving a fresh layer of snow over the battlefield. It seems a shame to ruin such a perfectly poetic scene with the violence and death of war. Westphallia's Troops assembled outside the town in an act so desperate and hopeless that I doubt I shall ever see again.

Our Line Infantry assembled too, all units in near perfect symetry. Each man seemed to wait perfectly still, such was the discipline that they had been taught, all waiting for that moment when the marching drums began.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

I ordered my men forward, the Forlorn Hope rushed ahead; they cavalry of the enemy cut them down, 40 men were left before they were forced to rout. Though it seemed cowardly, I had given them the orders that if they felt the battle was turning against them, they could flee back to their Dutch homeland without charges of desertion.

Our Household Guard engaged the enemy's cavalry, resulting in a quick fight which ended in the loss of ten Guardsmen on our side, and the entire enemy regiment wiped out.

The Line Infantry reached the Armed Populace of Westphallia. My men fired 4 or 5 volleys, before the enemy's left flank broke and ran; there was no crime of deserting an army which would not exist the week afterward.

My Cavalry regiments charged the enemy's flanks, nearly wiping them out.

As the last of the enemy retreated into the city, our men engaged those that has not already routed in the streets. Wounded men in the snow cried for held, as their comrades dragged them into the nearby warm buildings, medical attention would reach them after the battle, however many had bled out at that point.

December 5th, 1771

The Westphallian Government signed an agreement which stated that they would no-long exist as an independant state, and would lay no more claims apon the land they previously controlled. Their Monarch had fled for France, hiding in a royal estate owned by Wüttemburg. It was a good day for our men, they would leave soon as the Rhineland was granted to the United Provinces. We were told that next year there would be an invasion of Prussian Territories. Our job would be to destroy any forces still resistant to us after their main Cities were taken. I would have to travel back to Oslo, however, to present the report of the war before Parliament. However the next few days will be good ones, we had completed our 7 year long campaign and I had accomplished all I had been ordered to do.

I found a mature bottle of wine in their House of Government, which I plan to give to Karl XIV as a gift.

[Santini]

Excellent update! How far do you intend to extend your foothold in western europe?

[Plank of Wood]

Excellent update! How far do you intend to extend your foothold in western europe?

I've got an excellent foodhold in Spain, Gibraltar was given as a gift to Morocco for their help during the Spanish campaign, I'll probably invade Italy, I'll either give that job to the Colonial Africans or to Nordenburg. If he doesn't do that he'll probably fight against the poles, then possibly into Russia. This AAR won't end until he does, so anything could happen.

[bomberboy]

The title and the way the AAR is written reminds me of my first ever AAR good updates.

[gord96]

still enjoying. i like how you focus on one man. I may have to try it.

Keep it up!

[Morinzil]

Sweet mate, I'm enjoying your AAR!

Keep up the great work

[tuore]

Sweet! +rep

[Plank of Wood]

Chapter 2: The Prussian War
Prolouge

The Political pressure for this war had been building for some time; The Prussian Royal family were strict Monarchists, they not only believed that the common people should have no say in Political matters, but imposed a strict totalarian approach to ruling their people. However the ministers are not corrupt, the family persue the intrests of Prussia rather than of themselves, corruption was one of the main causes of our First and Second Revolutions. No, the people of Prussia were content.

Unfortunatly, Swedish Ideas such as citizenship and Abolition of Slavery were scoffed at in the Prussian Courts; a Free Trade Doctrine was equally ignored in Prussia, although a rich Nation in northern Germany they thought the idea that anyone could carry their goods a foolish concept, no matter how much it worked for other Empires. On many occasions officials from Oslo and Berlin refused to meet, it was this breakdown of communication that lead to the war.

Of course, Prussia had been building her armies for some time, it could be argued that Sweden only attacked to prevent an invasion of Swedish lands. My many generals, Veterans of wars against Poland, saw this as their last chance at glory and recognition in Parliament. Indeed, the quickest way to gain a seat in Parliament is to be credited with winning a war. While democracy was fair and un-corrupt, in an election between a Gentleman who studied politics in a prestigious University will always lose to the heroic war veteran who is "Protector of Sweden and Her Colonies".

Meanwhile, armies in Persia march further and further into the desert, winning despite huge odds stacked against them, rebellion in Spain loomed and our colonial armies march into the South American Rainforest against local Spanish troops. Cuba and Hispania were under Swedish control, and Wüttemburg remained determined to become a Major Power.

My army is stationed in Barvaria, and after I meet with Parliament I will return to them, Saxony must be under out control to be un-apposed in Northern Germany, once Berlin falls Sweden will forever be in control of the Baltic. My job will be done soon after, and I can retire to my Estate in Flanders.

- General Une Nordenburg

[Draknith]

excellent story. Love the first person perspective, and the battle replays. This type of well written story makes me want to go play the game.

[M D]

perhaps an update soon???