Capto Iugulum Background Thread

[christos200]

Being rude does not reinforce your point. Keep it civil.

 

[Azale]

Yea, just try and remember, what would Hitler do?

 

[Wrymouth3]

I'm Russian, and I know the history of my country very, very, very well.

This argument is moot and not something you should start off with. I'm from Florida and live near Miami, does that mean I know craploads about the Mariel Boatlift, the Elian Gonzalez Incident, or the Hialeah and Opa-Locka Riots? Uh, no it doesn't.

 

[EQandcivfanatic]

The Battle of Charleston​

Due to having some extra time and wanting to let Ahigin finish the picture, I’m going to do something a little different today. The great event of the year is the Battle of Charleston in what is alternatively known as the Reclamation War, or the Second War of Liberation. The eyes of the world are focused on this battle, despite larger conflict taking place elsewhere around the world, in China or India. The fight for Charleston is one that is unique to our timeline so far, and while it isn’t the largest battle that has taken place, nor even one of the most decisive in the history, it comes close. Public attention in the Western world for 1936 will inevitably be focused on this epic battle, the largest in the history of the Western Hemisphere, and the largest predominantly urban conflict to date. Therefore, this post is dedicated to an in-depth discussion of the battle so far (as up to January 1, 1936), the armies fighting the battle, the ramifications of the battle, and the city of Charleston itself. I hope that by going in detail to a single battle in a single theater of a single war ya’ll will get a better understanding of the thought processes behind such fights, and get a better look at what the numbers on the tanks and doctrines ya’ll are using actually mean. First, let us take a look at the reason why the battle is being fought.

The Why: The History of the City of Charleston​

The history of the city of Charleston is one dating back to the late 18th century, when the town was a fairly minor trading port, specifically known for the local, somewhat decaying slave trade after the war for independence against Britain. Throughout the early 19th century, Charleston became a booming trading port, especially as cotton and tobacco trade from throughout the South began to be exported from Charleston to locations around the world. Charleston also served as the jumping off point for many migrants seeking to settle in Spanish controlled Florida or in the state of Georgia, and was where many bought supplies before heading south and west. Charleston was briefly the seat of government for the state of South Carolina, but eventually the capital moved further inland to the town of Orangeburg. For a time, Charleston remained a fairly busy town of average size, but was dwarfed in shipping capacity by a number of New Englander cities.

The fortunes of Charleston took an abrupt change in 1846, with the outbreak of the War of the American Presidency, alternatively known as the First American Civil War. The state of South Carolina stood firmly behind the assembled government of General Alfred Scott, and soon became his primary arsenal. Most shipping from Spain and other allies of General Scott came in through Charleston, as the northeast states had sided with the governors. Furthermore, with much of the United States’ industry under the control of his enemies, General Scott helped spur the industrial growth and viability of Charleston, as new districts of the city erupted overnight. The city quickly became both a major economic center and the main intake port for supplies arriving from Europe. From the beginning of the conflict in 1846 to its bloody conclusion in 1852, Charleston thrived as the rest of the nation suffered under the fires of war. The conclusion of the war left most of the United States exhausted, but Charleston’s new industry and status of being a safe place from the conflict, helped establish itself as the quickest growing city in the Western Hemisphere at the time, with the sole exception of Buenos Aires in Argentina.

In the second half of the 19th century, Charleston continued to thrive, particularly as its former rivals of New York City and Boston were placed under martial law by the Scottite governments. Martial law and heavy repression made Charleston a far more appealing place for both business and immigrants. Though other major urban centers did succeed under Scottite rule, such as Chicago, Denver, or Pontiac, none retained the size, wealth, or prominence of Charleston. Primarily this was due to the lucrative shipping industry, and by 1900, over forty percent of all Atlantic trade and eighty percent of all immigrants came into the United States through Charleston’s booming harbor. In the same year the population of Charleston was just shy of three million, making it the second largest city in the Western Hemisphere, behind only Rio de Janeiro. Giant new steel buildings and massive structures lined the mostly paved streets, and Charleston itself was indicative of the prosperity of the United States at the time. The city only became wealthier with the start of the Great War in 1904, as Allied fleets heading to Britain frequently used Charleston harbor as a staging point to places further east. Supplies too were shipped out of Charleston to the battlefields in Europe, and the city reached its true height shortly after the conclusion of America’s involvement in the war in 1908. For the next four years, wealth continued to flow into the pride of America, until the outbreak of the Second American Civil War, known globally as the American Crisis, in 1912.

The Second American Civil War initially acted much as the first one had, spurring the local economy as arms production soared and foreign forces and supplies came through Charleston on their way to the front lines. Troops from Brazil, the Confederation, and a variety of other nations all came through Charleston and the supplies which followed them helped to further enrich the city. The city also acted as the center of the Federal government, and South Carolina itself was the bastion of support for what many viewed as the underdog in the conflict. It acted as the de facto capital of the United States of America until large scale political reunification took place with the American Republic in the northeast in 1916. 1916 also heralded the withdrawal of foreign expeditionary forces from the United States, and Charleston’s good fortune began to fade. The end of Brazilian and Confederate involvement in the war left Charleston exposed to proletarist forces from the Appalachians and Georgia. A new offensive led to the city being directly threatened by the proletarist armies, and in the middle of 1917, the proletarists neared close enough to actually shell the outskirts of Charleston. A counterattack in 1918 relieved the pressure in the city, but the urban confidence was badly shaken. When the war ended in 1919, many citizens of Charleston looked forward to the resumption of their lofty status.

The 1920s proved critical and devastating to Charleston, as the end of martial law in the northeast and the development of new industry in New England brought back the old rivals of New York City and Boston to prominence. Similarly, the loss of East Florida and much of the Deep South to the newly formed United Proletarist Republics of America caused exports from Charleston to drop substantially. Cities such as Norfolk and Columbia began to increase their own exports, and costs of shipping out of Charleston began to increase. Fortunately, Charleston remained the financial center of the United States of America, home of the nation’s primary stock exchanges and still a major harbor, if not as dominant as it once was. Population growth also slowed as a result of the Second American Civil War, and by 1930, population had “only” increased to 4.1 million people. Similarly, the amount of shipping out of Charleston was reduced to less than twenty percent of all American exports. It remained the largest city in the United States of America, but proportionately it had been surpassed in size and scale by numerous other cities in Europe and the Americas. The city had grown stagnate and remained that way until the outbreak of the Reclamation War in 1933.

The Reclamation War was at first believed to be a chance for Charleston to reclaim its prominence as a military supply hub, and the city, at least the white population of the city, was fully supportive of the effort. The restoration of American control over the UPRA would no doubt bring about a revival of Charleston’s shipping and industry, promising new wealth as victory approached. Though the American army initially won successes in the war through 1933 and 1934, the tides shifted, and the people of Charleston and the United States were horrified as the UPRA went on the offensive. Georgia fell to the proletarist counterattack, and South Carolina once more came under invasion, as the proletarist forces pushed upon Charleston itself. Well aware of the financial, political, and military importance of Charleston, Chief Deputy Scipio ordered the Freedman’s Liberation Army in 1935 to take the city at any cost. The forces advanced, but at a slower pace as the US began to win control of the skies, and by New Year’s Day of 1936, the proletarist forces had moved into the outskirts of Charleston and the battle had truly begun. President Harris stated the following:

We will tolerate no retreat. We will tolerate no defeat. Charleston is a city of heroes, and a city which will not be felled by the negro rabble. It is the levee on which the tides of the proletarist scourge will be dashed, and shattered. God is on our side in this battle, and through our perseverance, He will reward us with victory. God bless America.

Millions of soldiers and people were soon wrapped up in the largest battle in the Western Hemisphere, and Charleston rests at the center of the fates of all of the people of both the United States of America and the United Proletarist Republics of America. If Charleston is captured by the proletarists, it will be a harsh blow to the cause of the United States, as their financial capital will be crippled. As the 1936 elections approach, it could be devastating to President Harris politically, heavily dividing the rest of the country. Meanwhile, Charleston is the only true obstacle remaining for the UPRA to liberate the rest of the American South, and with the city’s fall, the whole ability of the US to wage offensives in the area will be broken, allowing for the UPRA to retain the initiative and to continue their advances in the open.

The Where: The Geography of Charleston​

The city of Charleston is one divided into several sections by a series of rivers and bridges, which traditionally has marked the different neighborhoods geographically. There are six distinct geographic areas, each densely populated and backed, being one of the most crowded areas on the continent. These areas include The Citadel, The Commons, James Island, Mount Pleasant, The Crescent, and North Charleston. To the southwest of the city is the less important Isle de Juan, the poorest outskirts of the city and a bit more spread out than the rest of Charleston, having more green areas than pavement. Guarding the city is the towering island military complex of Fort Sumter, well known as the Gibraltar of the West, considered the most powerful fortification in the Western Hemisphere. Its guns have protected Charleston Harbor for one hundred years, and have been constantly updated and upgraded for response against any type of attack. The city itself is well connected through the underground metro, which even goes below the rivers to transport people to and from their places of work. This is supported by an older elevated train, as mass transit is frequently heavily overworked for the average citizenry. The roads of Charleston were completely paved by 1910, making it the first city in the United States to accomplish such a feat, and congestion by automobiles has been a fact of life since 1920.

The Citadel, named for a military base which closed and relocated to North Charleston in 1895 due to the need for more civilian space, is effectively a peninsula, with the Ashley River to the west, the Cooper River to the east, and Charleston Harbor to the south. The Citadel is the beating heart of Charleston, where the city’s culture and finances thrive. The largest buildings and skyscrapers all tower out of the area, and the famed theaters of Broad Street are the cultural soul of the United States. Meeting Street is home to the city’s financial district, including several stock exchanges and banks, the hub of commerce in Charleston. Many of the docks are located on the peninsula, though quite a few have begun migrating to the other sections of the city in recent years. Most of those who work in the Citadel live in North Charleston, obviously to the north, up the peninsula. This is the wealthiest part of the city, and in peacetime, is the home of the American elite.

Across the Cooper River to the east of the Citadel, dredged and expanded to suit commerce, is Mount Pleasant and the Commons, themselves divided by the Wando River. The Commons are the industrial sector of the city, as well as a thriving residential district, sprawling to the north. Mount Pleasant has a substantial amount of industry of its own, but mostly supports the poorer population that works in either the Commons or in the Citadel. It also has a large number of docks itself, being the arrival area for most of the city’s immigrant population.

Across the Ashley River to the west of the Citadel are James Island and the Crescent. Mostly these are poorer residential communities and assorted industry and shipping related businesses. Many streets are divided by ethnicity, though the negro population are frequently forced to live in the segregated slums of nearby Isle de Juan. The immigrants of Charleston, after arriving either in James Island or Mount Pleasant typically find themselves living here, with series of identical but still tall apartment buildings and cheap hotels.

Isle de Juan to the southwest was formerly known as John’s Island but was renamed after Spanish forces encamped here during the War of the American Presidency. Eventually as Charleston grew, the number of slaves involved in local industry and commerce grew as well. Due to the urbanized status of Charleston, it was not well suited for the establishment of the regulated super plantation style housing of cities out West like Denver. Therefore, many of the black population in Charleston were freedmen and the slaves in the city enjoyed much looser regulations and better treatment than those elsewhere in the country. When the slaves were freed in 1916, many remained on Isle de Juan, though the conditions deteriorated. Most of the island today is a shanty town, made of feeble buildings, and with minimal sanitation.

The Who: The Armies​

The Battle of Charleston is between only two fighting forces, one representing the United States Army of the United States of America and the other representing the Freedmen’s Liberation Army of the United Proletarist Republics of America. The proletarist army is known as the Third Eastern Front, united under the command of General Henry Markusson. The American army is called the Army of Northern Georgia, and is commanded by General Elijah Pemberton. The two armies possess different styles of fighting, and different organization, which has been demonstrated in battles so far, as well as wielding completely different types of equipment and weaponry.

The army of the United States learned harsh lessons from the Second American Civil War, and prime among those was the inability of the Federal government to field as many troops as the proletarists and other factions. The larger numbers of rebels frequently overwhelmed the well-trained but undermanned Federal positions, leading to defeat after defeat for the cause of a united America. In 1921, new doctrine was adopted, as were new standardized munitions and weaponry for the United States Army. The emphasis on the new forces of the United States were the mass production of arms and ammunition to make sure that enough soldiers could make it to the front at any given time. The US Army became increasingly more mechanized, also being the first nation worldwide to implement coordinated radio communication and practice in inter-service drills with the Navy. The US Army Air Corps was also founded at the same time, providing a new source of cooperation and preparation for future military action. The average American infantryman receives basic training with only very limited amounts of specialized support training, as the emphasis has been upon rushing the forces into battle, rather than training them as elite soldiers. They are conscripted from all walks of life, though at the time being, blacks may only serve in segregated units and after thorough background checks. The standard small arm for American infantry is the M1918 Harpers Ferry .30-06. Though not as advanced or powerful as most other nation’s standard rifles, and possessing only a five round clip, the weapon was chosen for its ability to be easily produced in large numbers. The US Army also relies upon two different armored vehicles for infantry support and anti-armor duties. The standard armored vehicle is the Lejon-Modell Medium Tank, designed by a Vinlandic company, and also designated the M3 “Arnold” by American military personnel. With a 42mm cannon, the tank is the best locally produced in the Western Hemisphere, and acts as the backbone of the American armored corps. The tip of the American armored spear, however, is the Russian T-20, purchased in bulk from older Russian military stockpiles in 1932. With a 56mm cannon and thicker armor, the T-20 is a more impressive weapon and has acquitted itself extremely well in engagements with proletarist armor.

The Army of Northern Georgia is a fairly new creation, established solely for the purposes of launching this war for the reclamation of the states of the UPRA. Originally commanded by General Bryan Daniels, The Army of Northern Georgia poured across the border into the UPRA in the opening season of 1933. Despite taking Tallahassee with heavy casualties, the UPRA’s counterattack sent the army reeling, and through the mismanagement of the army by the general, it was ultimately backed into a corner. The UPRA’s spearhead managed to take Atlanta, and the Army of Northern Georgia was forced into a defensive fight for the port of Savannah. The US Navy withdrew these forces under heavy fire, and Bryan Daniels was fired for his failure by President Harris in 1935. Elijah Pemberton was appointed to the command after achieving some successes in raids across the Ohio River. Pemberton was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute and served with distinction as a captain during the Second American Civil War. Since Pemberton took command, the army has held the eastern flank of the Atlantic front, while being slowly forced back by the proletarist Third Eastern Front.

The Freedmen’s Liberation Army began as a guerilla force established by the Mississippi Proletarist Republic. It was initially highly disorganized but fielded large numbers of disgruntled ex-slaves and blacks seeking vengeance against their former white overlords. After the First War of Liberation, the proletarist republics merged, and as the largest contributor of troops, the Mississippi Proletarist Republic’s forces became the model for the new United Proletarist Republics of America. In the years after the war, the UPRA suffered from a lack of skilled personnel, particularly engineers and other similar labor. In order to make up this shortfall, they were granted a large number of engineers and skilled laborers from Scandinavia, building a strong alliance and close ties. Many of the Scandinavians later chose to settle in the UPRA, and for the first time enlightened the former slaves that not all whites are necessarily oppressors. Scandinavia provided designs, equipment, and training, ultimately resulting in the UPRA adopting similar doctrine and tactics on the battlefield. The average proletarist soldier is fairly highly trained in a number of different tactics, also receiving some basic education on the waging of irregular warfare. They were dedicated volunteers, all pledging to help defend and expand the cause of proletarism in the Americas. The outbreak of the Second War of Liberation has led to conscription, but morale and determination remain high, as they are well aware that defeat means extinction. The standard weapon used by the average UPRA infantryman is the venerable Gustafs M1904-30 with a 6.5x55mm cartridge. This weapon first saw service in the Great War by Scandinavian soldiers, and has served as their main battle rifle. The current version possesses a ten round clip, and is considered to be one of the most reliable weapons in the world. Recently, the UPRA has begun using submachine guns, also designed in Scandinavia, but produced in the UPRA. Unlike the US, the Freedmen’s Liberation Army uses only a single type of tank, the Equality-type, homegrown and designed by the UPRA. Slower and weaker than the Lejon-Modell Medium Tank, the Equality-type possesses only a 35mm cannon, and lighter armor. Casualties have often mounted among these tank crews, which are severely outclassed by both fielded US tank types.

General Henry Markusson began his distinguished military career as a guerilla fighter for the Okeechobee Proletarist Republic. When the republic fell during the early stages of the Second American Civil War, he went into hiding in the Everglades, continuing his campaign against the white occupiers. After the war was brought to an end in 1919, he rose quickly through the ranks, heavily influenced by a Swedish mentor, even choosing to take a surname under Scandinavian naming conventions. After the United States launched the invasion in 1933, he was given command of the defense of the Okeechobee Republic once, holding the Floridian Peninsula from attack. When the UPRA went on the offensive, he was given control of the easternmost advance, pushing up along the coast from Saint Augustine, taking Savannah and driving north. They have since been the first units to enter the outskirts of Charleston, and have been greatly bolstered in number.

Army of Northern Georgia (January 1, 1936)
United States of America
Commander: Major General Elijah Pemberton
Current Strength: 441,000
Casualties in Charleston: 306,000
Reinforcements to arrive in 1936: 801,000

Third Eastern Front (January 1, 1936)
United Proletarist Republics of America
Commander: General Henry Markusson
Current Strength: 372,000
Casualties in Charleston: 273,000
Reinforcements to arrive in 1936: 324,000

The Now: The Battle so Far​

“The heaviest fighting of the war, however, took place along the Atlantic coastline, as proletarist forces approached the greatest city in the United States, Charleston. The sprawling metropolis was the focus of the proletarist offensive, and they managed to reach the outskirts of the city in the early part of the summer. The city has been heavily shelled, and proletarists have pushed into the outskirts by the end of fall. Fighting has continued to be reported throughout the year, and the southern portion of the city has been devastated by the onslaught, as both sides have waged a relentless urban war, as the US managed a successful counteroffensive which retook over twenty square blocks of the city by the end of December.” – 1935 Update.

The Third Eastern Front entered the area known as Isle de Juan on June 16, 1935, and were welcomed by the local population as liberators. Intensive shelling by US naval and artillery forces as well as the entry of new units across the Ashley River slowed the advance. Reinforcements were rushed in by both sides as casualties mounted between the two clashing forces. The UPRA continued a push ahead, as they managed to dispute the skies and managed to advance despite heavy casualties. Proletarist forces managed to reach the Ashley River after taking control of the Crescent and James Island. US forces destroyed the crossings to the Citadel, which began to live up to its name as a bastion of American forces. Similarly, the heavy guns from Fort Sumter and the honored USS Maryland provided devastating fire against proletarist positions. On October 2, 1935, the proletarists attempted to take Fort Sumter, but were repulsed with heavy casualties. A few weeks later, on November 1, the American army crossed the Ashley River and overwhelmed proletarist positions with heavy air and artillery support. Throughout the remaining winter of 1935, the US army managed to regain a foothold on the Isle de Juan, but the UPRA has managed to retake some lost ground in the north.

As of January 1, 1936, the situation has reached a slight stalemate, as US naval and air firepower have made the situation more difficult for the UPRA. The area has become the focus of the campaign for both parties, and substantial reinforcements are being rushed to the battle. The casualties continue to mount as the fight goes onward, and most are predicting a frenzied proletarist assault within the first few months of the year. The US forces are determined not to take another step back, as the war enters a more brutal stage of battle.

 

[Ahigin]

The Battle of Charleston​

Yummy, yummy, yummy. That'd be really nice if every other important battle of the game had a similar description. I love this one.

 

[Luckymoose]

I wonder what is going through the minds of Americans at this point. Millions of people are displaced because of this and the devastation of war on the population and economy are probably going to be there for decades. Brazilians had heart attacks over losing 10,000 men, let alone 1,000,000.

 

[EQandcivfanatic]

Well media is tightly controlled so far, heavy censorship is in place, and there's already been a number of revolts and riots as the war has been undertaken. True or not, white Southerners view the conflict as a one of survival, with defeat meaning destruction. Whether or not the idea that they face extinction is enough to win the 1936 elections for Harris and his party, that remains to be seen. With the current losses, it would not be totally surprising for an electoral ouster, but at the same time, it's entirely possible that fear (and unknown UPRA intentions) will drive the public to vote for Harris, and essentially vote to continue the war.

 

[christos200]

You should have writen for the Chokwe military campaign in Africa. It is far more interesting than what the Yankees do.

 

[Luckymoose]

Well media is tightly controlled so far, heavy censorship is in place, and there's already been a number of revolts and riots as the war has been undertaken. True or not, white Southerners view the conflict as a one of survival, with defeat meaning destruction. Whether or not the idea that they face extinction is enough to win the 1936 elections for Harris and his party, that remains to be seen. With the current losses, it would not be totally surprising for an electoral ouster, but at the same time, it's entirely possible that fear (and unknown UPRA intentions) will drive the public to vote for Harris, and essentially vote to continue the war.

Yeah, I can see either happening. The real social and political consequences will come post-war, or worse, during the war if the next couple of years don't go well. I think America could be out of the international game for a while either way.

You should have writen for the Chokwe military campaign in Africa. It is far more interesting than what the Yankees do.

You mean that Brazilian funded operation?

 

[EQandcivfanatic]

No, he's referring to the independent Chokwe operation against Burundi.

 

[christos200]

Which will be a great success, since:

a) It is a surprise attack.
b) I have numerical superiority.
c) I have a doctrine only 2 years older from theirs.
d) I have aerial superiority. In fact, Burundi does not have an air force.
e) The Burundi have very low stability and their army has already mutinied in the last update.

So, it is 100% sure that I will win.

 

[Sonereal]

On the other hand, Africa.

 

[christos200]

By the way, the Great Leader of the Chokwe Nation Negao Jasso:

Should I make this the official Negao photo?

 

[Luckymoose]

No, he's referring to the independent Chokwe operation against Burundi.

For a second there I thought you said Kabinde and I was preparing my death machines.

 

[christos200]

I want to be friend of Brazil. And, anyway, I only attack states that are not allied with anyone. I learnt my lesson from the French disaster.

 

[Terrance888]

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FRANCE.

:3



So, what about the Spanish Invasion of Occitania?

 

[Jehoshua]

If Spain invaded Occitania that would be quite contraire to its previous policy of consolidation... not to mention it would be geostrategically questionable considering Spain is surrounded by hostile formerly constituent states which also happen to bar the land route across the Pyrenees to the Occitanians.

At any rate, on America and its bloodstained fields of battle. It seems to me that Luckymoose is likely to be correct that America will be de-facto out of the international great game for some time due to the war. This will likely strengthen the hold of the great European Empires on world affairs. Indeed the prospects for a liberal world order developing along RL lines are increasingly approaching negligible, considering all of the great powers save 1 (Britain) are clearly non-liberal in alignment, and Britain is currently stuck in a certain Chinese conflict which has already seen the diminution of its Empire in Africa, and is slowly weakening it relative to its European rivals Russia and Germany.

 

[christos200]

They could attack from the sea.

 

[Jehoshua]

indeed they could, but since you are obviously not seeing the obvious flaw in that strategic vision I'm increasingly sceptical that you learnt all the lessons that could be learned from Burdundy's ignominious end as a regional power under your watch.

 

[christos200]

I did not say that an invasion by sea would be good. I said that it would be a possibility. Read first, then comment.