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Gabcikovo-Nagymaros
Topic Started: Oct 11 2013, 08:17 AM (887 Views)
Whal
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The initial assault by Ribbentrop's 2nd Army went off without a hitch. Not only had his forces made extreme headway deep into Hungary, but the light resistance they had encountered so far only served to encourage a deeper push into the occupied territory. Originally, the 2nd Army's main goal was to secure the former Theocracy's capital of Pecs from nationalist counterattack, but following the successful incursion from Marslavan forces in the northwest, the Oberkommando ordered General Ribbentrop to divide his forces into two contingents. The first, 7th Corps, would orchestrate the original mission of assisting the beleaguered Jagdkommando forces from the Admiral's counterattack on Pecs.

The second, ambitiously spearheaded by 4th Corps, would be responsible for securing 7th Corp's flank and proceeding towards the Nationalist capital, Budapest. In truth, the East German leadership wanted to be the first into Budapest at all costs, as the capture of the Admiral's greatest single stronghold would no doubt force him to transfer operations to Hungary's southeast and away from East German territory. However, the Austrians also wished to seize Budapest for another reason - to prevent the Marslavans from capturing the historic Hungarian capital. With Budapest under the Federation's control, the "nation-building" process in Hungary would be much friendlier to Vienna's interests rather than Prague's. Unfortunately, the recent Marslavan capture of Esztergom meant that the 2nd Army's 4th Corps would have to move quickly to reach Budapest before their allies.

Facing only sporadic resistance from the partisans, 4th Corp reached 100 miles outside of Budapest relatively quickly and held their positions.

Outside Pecs

Meanwhile, 7th Corp's timely arrival towards Pecs allowed the city's small garrison of special forces a moments rest. Having held the city against several determined nationalist assaults, the Jagdkommando with the help of the Luftwaffe, had just barely survived the Hungarian onslaught and were in desperate need of evacuation or rescue. General Ribbentrop was more than willing to offer his assistance and quickly ordered several of 7th Corp's Grenadier and Panzergrenadier divisions to bolster the harried special forces.

Despite the overwhelming power of the East German advance upon Pecs, the Admiral's forces fixed on Pecs had not immediately withdrawn, or so they thought. While the majority of 7th Corp's strength went into and around the city to provide replenishment, the nationalist forces began a sneaky withdrawal from the city's outskirts. Understanding the consequences of leaving Budapest virtually undefended, the Admiral had ordered his assault on Pecs postponed and decided to slowly pull his forces from the field. However, this was no route, and the Hungarians put up a stiff fighting-retreat. The most determined fighting for the Austrians thus far had come from the Second Battle of Pecs, and even as the Hungarians withdrew they harassed the advancing Grenadier divisions of 7th Corp. The East Germans had sustained such surprising casualties in advancing after them, that their impromptu aide stations were ill-equipped in treating the injuries.

Eventually, the large day-light offensives were cancelled in favor of smaller night-time raids in an effort to pursue the Admiral's forces. This was further helped by the 92nd Fallschirmjaeger which had been fighting an even bloodier campaign to prevent the main Hungarian forces from fleeing. Eventhough, both sides continued to squeeze the nationalists and inflict heavy casualties upon them, they were still able to save the majority of their force as it made it safely back to Budapest just miles ahead of 4th Corps' push towards the city. In the meantime however, Pecs was saved from the nationalist counterattack and VII Corps would be able to pursue the Hungarians after the city had been properly established as a base. Nonetheless, in its decrepit state, Pecs was a long way away from it's prewar glory.

The Siege of Gyor

Ribbentrop's 2nd Army was not the only East German military presence being sent into Hungary. Vienna had noticed the struggle the Marslavans had faced in attacking Esztergom and were wary of a similar engagement taking place in their own assaults in the north. After all, the nationalists had been preparing for attacks in the north for sometime and the Oberkommando believed sending in another army to assault their next target, Gyor, was the best option. As a result, the East German 9th Army under General Hermann von Volker was mobilized to assault the city. The ensuing battle would become the longest siege of the entire war.

The 34th Grenadier division was the first East German presence to reach the city's outskirts. The assault up to that point had been relatively simple, and military planners assumed the city would fall after a fortnight. Therefore, the 34th dug-in and began establishing their defensive positions for the upcoming battle. The rest of the 9th was due the next day and the first assault on the city would begin.

Edited by Whal, Dec 14 2013, 08:03 PM.
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Alberto
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In Dunakeszi, General Schwarzenberg had seen an opening and haw thrown the Ducal Guard division into the battle. Dunakeszi had been the scene of multiple assaults by the mountain troops and the 71sth division. The Hungarians were still holding, but their defense was weakening against the overwhelming odds. Once the town of Dunakeszi fell, thought the General commander, the Marslavan armoured divisions and infantries could sweep down to Budapest. This said, what would expect the Marslavan forces in Budapest was an entirely different matter.
- Radetzky - he called - I want you to assault the flank of Dunakeszi. If you break there, the Hungarians will risk an encirclement, they will have to disengage -

Dunakeszi, in the morning

The Marslavan rocket had not spared ammunitions. The fire, directed against the ouskirts of Dunakeszi, had been devastating. After that bombing would come the assault of the Ducal Guard, the best and most fearsome fighting force Marslava possessed. Radetzky gave his orders to the officers around him: two assaults would take place simultaneously, one frontal assault by the mountain troops to drain the enemy's forces, the other to outflank the Hungarians. Soon the rocket artillery ceased its fire and, for few minutes, the hills around Dunakeszi were silent.

At that point the shouts of the warlike Marslavans ripped the valley and one division launched itself against the consumed enemy.The mountain troops, supported by the sharpshooters of the 71st division, pushed back the Hungarians. Cornered and desperate, the Hungarians fought with rage, obliging the attackers to fight for the city street by street. A second assault was made by the Ducal Guard: shouting "Hurra !" the regiment fought over the barricades that the Hungarians had erected. Too close to each other to use their guns, the Marslavans and the Hungarians fought each other with knives, spades, pieces of furniture. Only toward the end of the day, was Dunakeszi finally secured.

Just few kilometers away, the main bulk of the Ducal Guard surprised the Hungarian formations and made quick work of them. Radetzky's men pushed mercilessly the Hungarians out of Dunakeszi's suburbs, opening a large hole in the Hungarian defence. Dunakesziwas being surrounded and the Hungarians had to evacuate the town. It was a very clear day and, from the bell tower of Dunakeszi's church, one could see the proud capital, Budapest.

Budapest

The Marslavans and the East Germans were advancing, but the Hungarian people was far from being vanquished. The inhabitants came out in the streets to volunteer and join the army. Who could not do so was busy working to fortify the city and prepare all sorts of trenches, barricades, traps and bunkers to welcome the invaders. In few days, Budapest had become one huge yard, where around one million people worked incessantly and with determination. The enthusiasm of the Hungarians for the Admiral and his crusade was genuine and one could see that all were proud to serve one purpose - the unification of Hungary. The Marslavan spies who were in Budapest noted and referre to Prague that Budapest would be waiting for the attackers and not with open arms. The Admiral, they informed their superiors, was also calling all Hungarians to pick their weapons and fight. Partisan units were being organized throughout the country to fight if the national army retreated.
Edited by Alberto, Dec 16 2013, 05:52 PM.
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Whal
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With both the East German and Marslavan forces converging on the suburbs around Budapest, the siege of the Hungarian capital was in full swing. The nationalist forces had managed to hold the front long enough for the city's population to organize a determined defensive perimeter. Elsewhere, C.E.D.O forces had settled themselves along their farthest incursion and the country was divided based on perceived zones of control. The coalition was successful in capturing the majority of the country, however the Admiral's troops still controlled the south and growing civil unrest was brewing behind the lines...

Halasztelek, western suburb

The East Germans had wasted little time in assaulting the capital's outer perimeter. Facing the devastating effect of IV Corp's heavy armor, the nationalist forces and their civilian militia were forced to retreat from every suburb except Halasztelek. Inside Halasztelek, the Hungarians organized their most formidable defense using the ramparts of Malonyai Castle to rain small arms and mortar fire down on the advancing East Germans.

The Federation's soldiers fought hard at each assault on the castle's foundation. Attempting to breakthrough in several key areas, the Grenadiers were repulsed at each assault wave by the overwhelming tenacity of the castle's defenders. Eventually, the use of IV Corp's armor was requested to alter the stalemate, but even the cannons of the Leopard tanks were ineffective at dislodging the enemy. Facing little alternatives, General Ribbentrop authorized the use of the army's heavy artillery and SPG's. From behind the lines, the barrels of the guns raised and gunners sighted their targeted positions. The Grenadiers cheered as the shells whistled over head and struck the castle's foundations hard. It wasn't long before the entire building began to shake and Malonyai Castle, constructed in the 1600's, collapsed to the ground killing all its defenders.

The Grenadiers moved over the rubble, executing any nationalist survivors, as they proceeded through the rest of the town. With their symbolic structure and greatest defensive outpost obliterated, the Hungarian forces began retreating back towards the main defensive line at Budapest. Nipping at their heals as they fled, were the eager East German soldiers who were approaching their desired target. Within the next few hours, IV Corp would be at the very gates of Budapest.

Gyor, 6 days into the siege..

Budapest was a distant thought to the men who had camped themselves outside of Gyor. The city had remained a constant thorn in the side of the East German advance, and even after 6 days the IX Army was incapable of breaking in. The Grenadiers and Gerbilsjaeger stationed outside had payed dearly for each assault thrown at the city's outer rim. Something was needed to break the stalemate..

Eventually, General von Volker decided to request a full bombardment of the city in an attempt to break the Hungarian resolve. Over 120 artillery pieces and SPGs sighted their guns and bombarded the city for a nasty 8 hour display, ceasing only when their ammunition ran dry. However, the Luftwaffe would fill in where the artillery finished, and for another 4 hours ground attack aircraft unleashed hell upon the city. Once the bombardment had stopped, the survivors in the city emerged from their subterranean caverns and pill-boxes. The nationalist soldiers had managed to avoid much of the onslaught, but their civilian countrymen were not so lucky. Throughout the continuation of the siege, friend and family alike would pull dead loved ones from beneath the rubble. Acting under orders from their superiors, the East German forces unleashed a fresh assault.

The Hungarians, enraged over the bombardment, waited patiently as the Grenadiers approached their kill-zone. Once there, they opened up from multiple positions and pinned the attackers once again. The Grenadiers began taking heavy losses from the mortars and machine guns, and eventually began to retreat despite screams from their officers to press onward. Emboldened from their enemy's retreat, the Hungarians charged on the East German lines themselves and a huge close quarters battle raged for several minutes. Men fought tooth and nail in the mud with knives, shovels, rifle butts, and their own hands at times. The superior training of the Grenadiers offered them the upper hand, and eventually the Hungarians retreated to their positions.

If anything was learned from the past several days, a concentrated bombardment was not going to be successful in removing the entrenched nationalists. General von Volker requested the transfer of the Federation's Royal Uhlan Divisions in a bid to end the stalemate. In a war where East German forces were advancing everywhere, the IX Army HAD to take Gyor by any means necessary.
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Alberto
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OOC: Just to say that, in the next days, I will post something to continue this rp. I have not abandoned Hungary !
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Alberto
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Prague, in the evening

And then, the progress of the C.E.D.O forces had been stopped. The Admiral had called the people to arms and the Hungarian had replied to the call. The Austrians and the Marslavans had now to fight village by village, while their rearguard had become insecure. Areas such as Pecs and Esztergom, which had been considere to be solidly in the hands of the invaders, quickly became contested in furious battles. For the first time, the C.E.D.O forces were defending against the Hungarians, with its advance having been broken just before Budapest. Chaos seized the Hungarian countrysides, as the Marslavans and the Austrians now fought a violent - and dishonorable - war against the Hungarian partisans.

In Prague the news were considered with distress. The Marslavans had expected a tough war, but not one that would be so demanding. Clearly, realized the Marslavan generals, the Slovakian army was insufficient to end the war. The entire Ducal Guard would probably have to be mobilized if the situation was to become favorable again. However, the Parliament too began to express preoccupation and pressed the caretaking government to withdraw the troops. Finally, the media and the civil community started to rumour against the war. Also the Austrians, probably, were experiencing the same problems. The Grand Duke himself came upon the Army's HQ, worried and
- Hmmm - considered the general von Schwarzenberg, interrogated by the Grand Duke - this brings nothing good. This will only be the start, as the Hungarian regular army is still a capable fighting force. The Admiral is merely biding his time, the partisans are an expedient to prepare the attack of his forces-. The Grand Duke agreed with the general, he was extremely worried.
- I cannot give the reinforcements you have demanded, these need the approval of the Parliament. I can only give you the Ducal Guard, these belong to the throne, as you know, but I cannot afford to lose them. You will have to use those three divisions with care and make them suffice until the Parliament can be swayed to approve a complete mobilization. -

Outskirts of Budapest

Things seemed to be quiet in the frontline. The combats had stopped for a time and the snipers of the 71st, together with the mountain troops, had managed to attest itself in a village, from where Budapest could be seen. Among the most exposed units, was the group of Corporal Zernin. For these men, things were not quiet: the 71st was exchanging blows with the Hungarian shooters, with the Marslavan mountain artillery occasionally joining in with its - mainly useless - fire.

Zernin was paired with another sniper, a broad-shouldered Slovak corporal, and looked for a prey. The Marslavan mountain artillery had just spread its fire, and smoke came from the remainings of a Hungarian convoy, which had been unlucky. The Hungarians normally tried to avoid that area, mindful of the Marslavan snipers, but this time something urgent had pushed them to use that path. Zernin and the Slovak approached with care to the site of the bombing. The Slovak caught sight of a Hungarian survivor, an officer. The officer was badly wounded by a bombshell, spitting blood and swearing against the Bohemians. He could not survive and, before Zernin could say anything, the Slovak put him out of his misery.

They seized the officer's bags and found he was carrying an order; its language was coded, but Zernin felt the document might be important. Zernin gave it a look: he felt that these were important orders and that they had to be delivered quickly to Captain Meciar, his commanding officer. At that point, a Hungarian sharpshooter brought down Zernin's partner, while another shooter emerged from a ruined building, taking Zernin prisoner. To Zernin's surprise the shooter was a woman. Other Hungarian soldiers joined in and, for a while, there was an animated discussion. The Hungarian language is not easy to comprehen, but Zernin did not need a lot of fantasy to understand that his fate was being decided at that moment. The Hungarians, he had heard were merciless with prisoners, exacting their vengeance whenever possible. He believed that the war, and his life, were over.

The woman was probably the one favourable to violence, thought Zernin, as he obeserved her talking quickly, with her eyes filled with hatred. The others seemed to be indifferent to his fate, for them it was a matter of convenience: could they afford the men and the time to take a man to the rearguard ? Probably, thought Zernin, they would not waste their means for a corporal. Zernin was pushed and brought to a quiet corner, against a wall. Forced to kneel, he waited for the end, but a group of Hungarian regular soldiers, headed by an NCO interrupted the execution. There was an animated discussion between them and the franc tireurs and, at the end, Zernin was given to the Hungarian regulars. The Hungarians proceeded to push him and insult him, taking his cigarettes and his watch. However, they did not intend to kill him and escorted him to the Hungarian rearguard. No one had thought of asking him to hand back the document he had seen.
Edited by Alberto, Jan 25 2014, 05:43 PM.
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Whal
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Vienna..

A crucial meeting among the leading East German military staff was called following the sudden Hungarian onslaught. No one in the war room at that moment had believed the Hungarians capable of such a brazen and well orchestrated "behind the lines" operation, and now they were paying for their ignorance with the lives of their country's young men. In a little over a couple of hours the partisans and elements of the nationalist army had engaged Osterwehr forces behind their frontier positions and had even re-launched an attack on Pecs - for the third time! Had the Marslavans been right in their predictions? Regardless, the Federation had to act and quickly.

The grim silence of the military staff was interrupted abruptly by the entrance of the Chancellor and then the Interior Minister. Schlesinger's face looked tired, but his demeanor quickly changed as he addressed the room. His voice was loud and he instantly commanded the attention of everyone in the room.

"I hope I don't have to stress the gravity of the situation", he stated, his voice echoing off the high apertures in the room. "We have all of 5 hours to un-fuck this situation. Then, after that, you won't have to worry because you'll all be out of a job."

Schlesinger's tone was serious and his gaze unflinching. The Oberkommando had become overconfident after Slovenia and this attitude had permeated through military planning surrounding operations in Hungary. With Parliament breathing down his neck and the national media tearing the war to shreds, Schlesinger could not afford operations against the Admiral to go belly up. To make matters worse, the Social Democrats had lost a considerable amount of support within the Osterstag as well as with some of their allies in the business sector. With the military slacking in its duty to boot, the Chancellor was wary of an approaching political shitstorm. One he would likely lose.

"You are to mobilize the defensive garrisons in Burgenland and Lower Austria and send them eastward to assist in checking this new assault. Is that understood?", Schlesinger all but threatened them. "I want status reports every half-hour. This ends here."

The generals waited a moment before responding in a resounding "Jawohl, Herr Kanzler!". Schlesinger looked on a while before finally turning to leave. After he left the room, Field Marshal Lothar von Pommern, Head of all Ostheer forces, dialed a secure line to the Imperial palace outside the city.

"The Chancellor has ordered the eastern garrisons to Hungary, your Majesty", he said quietly. "We'll stall as long as we can, but eventually we'll have to secure our lines. Before long the people will call for his resignation and then we can begin. Long live the Empire!" Then he hung up.

Behind enemy lines, 15 miles outside Pecs..

Jaeger strained his eyes to make out the shadowy shapes which surrounded the distant flickering campfire. From what he could see, they wore no uniforms and their gear was unmistakably local, yet these men were not average partisans. Having hunted these men for almost three days deep in the Hungarian countryside, Jaeger, Tiger, and two other jagdkommando operators were wise to their prey's true identity. The men had entered Hungary from the south, through Croatia, and were undoubtedly Translava.

The organizers of the terrorist attacks in Vienna and proponents of Slavic dominance in the region, Translava was a top priority when the East Germans invaded Hungary and were a constant threat to their war there. Although Translava's main mission in Hungary was still unknown, the Jagdkommando was certain they were seeking the Admiral's support and access to his arsenal. This meant the organization could use the missile platforms to launch chemical, biological, or even nuclear weapons at the Federation. Such a tragedy would cripple the entire nation and leave the path open for further Translava encroachment into the rest of Central Europe and the Balkans. Neutralizing this small band of terrorists deep in the Hungarian forest wouldn't stop this from happening, but the Jagdkommando had to start somewhere and this meant getting some info.

There were three of them. One faced away from the tier 1 operators; his gaze fixed in the distance possibly surveying the most obvious avenue of attack. He would never see them coming, nor feel the bullet which would snap his brain stem. The other two were crouched by the fire enjoying a late meal; the flickering light accentuating their tired faces. It was one of these men the operators would seize, interrogate for information, and then bring back to the front lines. Jaeger sighted his target within the cross airs of his silenced rifle. Two pounds of trigger pressure was all it took to drop the sentry to the ground. His body made an audible "thump" as it collided with the ground. In an instant, the two men reached for their weapons. One was neutralized outright, as the other was quickly apprehended by Tiger who's boot was quickly pressed on the man's neck.

"Good evening", he stated with a smile. The unmistakable smell of human waste wafted inside the operator's nostrils. A job well done.
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Alberto
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Outskirts of Budapest

Zernin had been kicked to a square where other Marslavan soldiers were present, disarmed and powerless. Few hundreds people had been thus gathered, and it was not clear what the Hungarians wanted to do with them. While the Admiral had proved to be generally respectful of basic norms of civilisation, the situation was very fluid and dangerous, as the local people and partisans tried to wrest control over the prisoners in order to execute them. The Hungarian national army did, half-heartedly, what it could to steal the most it could from the prisoners, while keeping them alive. It was not always successful.

Around Zernin, there was the desperation of those who did not know what would happen to them, and whether they would see their home country anytime soon. A soldier of the Ducal Guard had just been subdued after he had injuried a soldier who had tried to steal his boots, five Hungarian soldiers had struggled to restrain him and, now, his boots were gone. Around, there were men from all branches of the Marslavan Army, and also some Austrian prisoners who had ended up there from Pecs. From their faces, one could not think that C.E.D.O was winning this war.

Suddently a Marslavan Albatros fighter flew low and dropped few bombs over a nearby barrack, the explosions scattered few buildings all over the square, as all ran to find safety. The Hungarian soldiers tried to shoot back at the plane, but without success. When it came back, the Albatros machinegunned the square through its length. The bodies of Hungarian soldiers, civilians, Marslavan and Austrian prisoners covered the square. Zernin decided that this was the moment to run, he still had the message he had taken from the HUngarian officer. He sprinted to a narrow road, incredibly the Hungarians did not notice him.

Mikolsk

The Ducal Guard had been deployed in its entirety in Hungary, waiting for the Marslavan Parliament to approve the arrival of further reinforcements. The Grand Duke hoped this would not happen, but in the even it did, the Marslavan command would have to rely on those divisions - and use them very, very judiciously - to end the campaign. Two divisions of Grand Ducal infantry were extremely fearsome enemies for the Hungarians, but the most important fighting force was represented by the Grand Ducal Armoured Divisions and its MBTs. The three Grand Ducal Divisions, together with other units of the army had formed a new group under the command of General Radetzky.

Noticed after he saved the day in the last Hungarian counter-offensive, the general was now put at the head of the army that was supposed to win this war. Obliged to use its best forces for an attack in Budapest, where the Marslavan forces were holding their ground, the Admiral had weakened its defenses in the northeast and, from Mikolsk, General Radetzky press against Budapest and force the Admiral to call off his offensive. Typical of Marslavan military doctrine, which relied on the notion of force of fire, Radetzky would use his immense fire superiority to create confusion in the enemy lines, and then throw his tanks followed by the infantries. The manouver, once started, would have to take place extremely quickly. This was for various reasons: firstly there was no guarantee that the Marslavan forces around Budapest could hold for long, but secondly the Marslavans had to get a good position in Hungary if it wanted to face unspecified but dangerous events which were, according to some, taking place in Vienna.

OOC: I will start the counteroffensive in the next post and close in on Budapest.

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Whal
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"Life is too short to be wasted on bad scotch"
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OOC: Likewise :D , you're not getting all the glory.

IC:

Budapest Suburbs, Austrian Side..

Much like their Marslavan counterparts on the opposite side of the city, the Austrian forces were eagerly and meticulously prepping their forces for the impending battle. Despite the Admiral's recent counteroffensive being checked, IV Corp's resources were being stretched to the breaking point in their attempts to eradicate the thousands of partisans which had sprung up all across the lines. Hundreds of men had to be relocated from their front-line positions to combat the scourge, which only bought the city's defenders more time to properly entrench themselves. However, Osterwehr artillery and Luftwaffe airstrikes still made any forays in/out of the besieged capital a serious misstep for any unlucky Hungarian, civilian, soldier, or both.

General Ribbentrop wouldn't have minded waiting to assault the city (It's defenders were running low on food and medicinal supplies), but for unknown reasons the Oberkommando wasn't responding to his request for more supplies, and strangely his relief forces from within Austria were extremely delayed. Although, Ribbentrop never pretended to understand the inner-workings of the high-command's decision making, and he chalked the ineptitude up to some form of political power play. Indeed, Parliament and the media were daily bashing the war-effort and Schlesinger's policies, thus making the average Austrian soldier's time in Hungary much more difficult. No matter, with Pecs and the southern sectors secured, Gyor still under siege, and his forces slowly regaining their strength, Ribbentrop assumed it only a matter of time before Budapest would fall. C.E.D.O still possessed a troop dominance of 3 to 1.

The Luftwaffe scout planes brought news that the Marslavans had geared up for an attack in the imminent future and therefore IV Corps would need to be ready for an assault very soon. Training was stepped up and all vital supplies were distributed to the men in anticipation of the the impending attack. The upcoming engagement would determine who, the Marslavans or the Federation, would achieve glory from the conquest of Budapest and General Ribbentrop was eager to be the first. Almost immediately, his soldiers began their push into the last vestiges of enemy held suburbs. The city and glory awaits..

Pecs..

The long distance back to Pecs had been a burden for the Jagdkommando operatives. Although Pecs itself was secured, the surrounding countryside was still rife with partisans and Tiger's team had to be careful not to tip off the enemy. After a few days of little sleep and close calls, the operators made it safely back to their barracks in Pecs with their prisoner in tow.

The man had been quite afraid of the East German operators; as the very mention of the Jagdkommando had instilled fear in the hearts of any Translava insurgent they had learned. Jaeger took to a habit of teasing the man, but all in all the prisoner had been very well-treated. This fact still remained a mystery to Panther, their team leader, who had expected a harsh reprisal to be instilled on the captive following the death of their beloved comrades in Slovenia. However, this humane treatment soon ended when the prisoner was to be interrogated.

The attacks of "Black Sunday" had changed the East German approach to "enhanced interrogation" techniques as of late, and although they weren't as brutal as the torture techniques of other security agencies, prisoners of the Jagdkommando soon learned to fear the name even more.

Tiger led the prisoner to a dark and damp room in the basement of the barracks. Water dripped from the ceiling and pipes creaked as the man was tied to a rusty aluminum chair. His cloths were removed down to his underwear and a blindfold was placed over the mans eyes. In a stern voice Tiger allowed the man a single chance to relay any information he knew on Translava's interests in Hungary before they would extract in a less friendly manner. Naturally, the prisoner refused. Tiger shook his head and abruptly kicked the chair's back legs, which sent the man tumbling to the cool ground. His back to the ground and facing upwards, the man now felt familiar taste of a cotton rag over his face and then followed by the rapid tide of frigid water being poured onto his face.

Water boarding is the technique used to simulate the sensation of drowning without any of the obvious side-effects of such a fate. A form of psychological torture, it works to trick the individual's mind into acting in a panic driven self-sustaining fashion to grip onto any last semblance of life. The prisoner knew he wasn't drowning, he knew he couldn't drown under those circumstances, yet his mind panicked and his body convulsed and shook as if he was truly going to die. He hacked, he coughed, he screamed and gasped for air and an end to his own self-inflicted anguish. Always happy to oblige, Tiger re-positioned the chair and removed the rag, repeating the same question.

"We're here to gather military intelligence!", The prisoner coughed, "We wish to study your military's weaknesses, its strengths, and where it is most vulnerable. More importantly, we wish to gain technology from the Hungarians. A way to deliver a deadly weapon to your people that the Admiral claims to understand."

"Go on!", Jaeger yelled. The prisoner told them everything.
Edited by Whal, Jan 31 2014, 04:37 PM.
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Alberto
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Budapest

Zernin had run as long as he could, hiding in the day and moving at night, but he still was within the Hungarian lines. The garrison of Budapest was preparing for the last, and supreme, battle for the defense of Budapest. Armed men and women ran in all directions, while children distributed ammunitions. Those who could not fight helped the others by setting up barricades and other obstacles to the incoming enemy. The situation was becoming more and more desperate for the defenders of the city, who, after weeks of resistance, had witnessed the failure of the Hungarian counter-offensive to lift the siege. Nonetheless, noted Zernin, the fighting spirit had not abandoned the proud Hungarians as they prepared their last stand.

Zernin found a ruined building, hoping to find a place where he could hide. The building was unoccupied: no one wanted to squat a building that was so close to the Marslavan fire. His uniform had become barely recognizable after days of dust, mud, rain. Not so far away the Marslavan and Hungarian troops exchanged fire, with occasional mortar explosions. Zernin knew, from all what he had seen, that the Hungarians were preparing for their last battle, and that he had to get back to the Marslavan lines before the great battle begun. With him, he still carried that encoded order he and his partner had taken from the dying Hungarian officer.

Outskirts of Budapest

The siege of Budapest had been a bloody mess. The Hungarian counteroffensive had managed to isolate the sieging force for few days, so that the Marslavans had become besieged, taken between the partisans and the Budapest garrison. Nonetheless, thanks to the air support offered by the Marslavan Air Force, the sieging army had managed to resist and to repel the partisans with heavy losses. Thus, the well-conceived Hungarian counteroffensive had been broken by the resistance of the Marslavan troops. And now, with the partisans neutralised and with the Army of General Radetzky in approach, the Marslavans would take again the initiative. Three Divisions of the Ducal Guard were indeed rolling through the last Hungarian resistance in the countryside around Budapest, and their arrival at the capital's outskirts would mark the beginning of a new offensive.

General von Schwarzenberg, who commanded he sieging army, did not have any doubt, however, that Budapest would offer a desperate resistance to the invaders. His informations talked about a formidable network of bunkers, barricades and tunnels which covered the city, making every neighbourhood a trap for the invaders. The Austrian and the Marslavan forces would have to fight street by street, against a well-organized garrison and a population full of hatred for the invader. Usually, the Marslavan doctrine emphasized firepower as the way to win a battle, its maxim was "attack is the advancing fire, defense a fire that stands". Von Schwarzenberh realized that this would, at best, work in Budapest at the price of immense destruction, and at worst bring to utter failure. The approach to be taken for this battle would have to be different from the one taken in Esztergom, or there would be a terrible slaughter of civilians.

OOC: I suggest to start the battle of Budapest and close it within the next few posts.
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Whal
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Budapest..

The road to the Hungarian capital had been a swift and brutal campaign for the Osterwehr. Having crushed the partisans behind their lines indefinitely and allowed ample time for supplies and reinforcements to arrive from Austria, the II Army stood poised to annihilate the city's limited, but determined defenders. The Austrians, having thrown multiple determined assaults against the city's outer perimeter in the last several weeks, had succeeded in capturing all of Budapest's outlying suburbs and now prepared their forces for the largest operation of the war to date.

Operation Infiltration, as the assault was code-named on the Austrian side, would see the largest force the Osterwehr ever assembled unleashed on the besieged Hungarian defenders. The Austrian Grenadier, Panzergrenadier, Fallschirmjaeger, and Royal Uhlan divisions amassed a force so impressive that the Austrians alone outnumbered the Hungarians 3 to 1. General von Ribbentrop was confident his troops would seize the city within a period of 4 days, despite the impressive fortification systems the defenders hid behind. From their trenches, the Austrian soldiers could see miles of barbed wire preceding an equally long trench network which ran around the cities outskirts. Protecting these trenches were hundreds of pillboxes, bunkers, anti-tank pieces, rows of minefields, and a Hungarian garrison who now viewed the attacking Austrian and Marslavan forces with an immeasurable amount of hatred. Weeks of constant shelling, appalling civilian and military deaths, and government propaganda had created a nationalist fervor the likes unseen since the Second World War. The Hungarians would fight bitterly, but this was expected.

The Austrian assault of Budapest began with not bullets, artillery bombardments, or waves of attacking soldiers, but with words echoed through a loudspeaker and pamphlets dropped from above. A last C.E.D.O gambit to coerce the Hungarian people into surrendering the city without the need for mindless bloodshed. Not surprisingly, not a single Hungarian soldier, partisan, or civilian left their post. With that, Austrian forces opened up on the nationalist lines with a thunderous bombardment from over 200 fixed and self-propelled artillery pieces. This vicious show of artillery support exulted cheers from the Austrian soldiers and no doubt alerted the Marslavans on the other side of the city that their allies had begun their assault. Wishing to waste no time, General von Ribbentrop unleashed the full power of the Luftwaffe as well and hundreds of low flying ground attack aircraft and attack helicopters rained death on the enemy's defenses. After a half hour of aerial and artillery bombardment, the Austrians initiated the next wave of their assault.

The artillery stopped firing just as the Panzerwaffe's leopard 2 tanks rolled toward the Hungarian lines. With the Panzergrenadiers following behind (sometimes even riding the tanks), the blitzkrieg assault on the outer defenses had begun. The Hungarians opened up with their machine guns, AT guns, and mortars, but their targets were expertly separated in formation and sat just at the reach of their guns. The Austrian tankers however, were not limited by range and sighted their tank's rifled cannons at their targets digitally. The leopards engaged targets with relative impunity and softened up many of the Hungarian "hard points". Progress was steady, yet von Ribbentrop was ordered to set loose the full might of his forces and made the call to send in the infantry. The real casualties began amassing as thousands of Austrian troops advanced on the Hungarian lines. Although softened by the bombardments and leopard tanks, the defensive line held firm and began mowing down the Austrian soldiers as they got closer. Despite the hundreds of casualties, the Austrian soldiers just kept coming! Their superiority in numbers and training eventually extinguished the dying breath of the Hungarian front line defenders.

Austrian troops clamored into the Hungarian trenches despite the machine gun fire and intense and bloody hand to hand combat ensued. Soldiers fought with rifle-butts, knives, shovels, their very fingers in a desperate attempt to capture or hold the line. However, the sheer numbers of Austrian soldiers eventually and brutally stomped out all the defenders. As more and more soldiers arrived and the leopard tanks drove through the trench networks, the Austrians had made numerous points of entry. Upon entering the city, the Austrian troops faced an eerie silence accompanied by abandoned streets littered with corpses. Many of the soldiers assumed these were the victims of starvation, bombardment, or suicide until they rose from their seemingly necrotic state and attacked the nearby soldiers with simple hand tools! An ambush! The Hungarians had gambled on a bid to restrict the use of the Austrian artillery or Luftwaffe and it worked; the hand to hand fighting in the streets prevented close air/artillery support. Suddenly, machine guns and small arms fire erupted from the surrounding buildings catching the Austrians off guard and killing a great deal of them. Local commanders were surprised to learn that the situation was similar across other avenues of entry.

Eventually, the Austrian forces managed to secure their lines long enough for defensive preparations to be made. As both sides settled in their foxholes for the night, many Austrian soldiers wondered how their Marslavan allies were fairing and whether or not they had advanced as far. Both sides wished desperately to out due the other, and the Federation's new government would not tolerate losing to the Marslavans at any cost.
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Alberto
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Outskirts of Budapest

The Marslavans had capitalized on the lessons learnt from Esztergom. They realized that mass assaults and bombings would not provide a swift victory, and that the city could not be taken by assault. Consequently, the generals von Schwarzenberg and Radetzky had decided that the Marslavan troops would proceed in a way different from the brave - but costly - assault launched by the Austrians. The Marslavan offensive would be lean and avoy the indiscriminate use of heavy artillery, while being relentless and patient. As the Marslavan offensive was commencing, Radetzky received reports of the Austrian assault. The Federation had not sought to coordinate its movements with Marslava, and this spoke clearly of the feelings that the new government had toward Marslava. This was a pity, thought Radetzky, who proved a great respect for the Austrian people.

As the battle raged in the other side of Budapest, the Marslavans made their move. Few hours before, in the night, a regiment of the 71st Division of Jaegers had been sent forward. In small groups, and wearing Hungarian uniforms, the snipers of the Jaeger regiment took some good positions and spread confusion in the Hungarian first line. While, the Marslavan ploy could not last long, it did confuse the adversary and allow the other Marslavan divisions to make their move.

The advancing troops cut off the Hungarian bunkers in the periphery (leaving them to the heavy artillery) and infiltrated the city's underground tunnels. After this initial advantage, the Hungarian resistance became stiff, but the attackers did not rush to assault the resisting neighbourhoods like they had done in Esztergom. The mountain artillery followed the attacking divisions and started to bomb the resisting neighbourhoods. The idea was to wear off the Hungarian resistance through the fire of light artillery, attacks on exposed areas and attacks against the network of tunnels relying the city's bunkers. The hope was to gain the advantage without the losses that would have resulted from a frontal assault.

In the meantime, the Marslavan air force bombed the Hungarian bunkers, presumed caches of weapons and other strategic buildings. Some Albatros flew over the battle between the Austrian and Hungarian forces, bombing the Hungarian second line. The hope was to assist the Austrians in their offensive - but the initiative was costly as the Hungarians, this time, were equipped with anti-aerial artillery.

The Marslavans had no rush: time played in their favour. Even if it would take more than one week, they would reach the Danube.

Far away from the front line, in Vienna and in Prague, the sovereigns, politicians and bureaucrats from various ministries were waiting with impatience the moment in which the battle would end, and the spoils of Hungary could be shared.
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Alberto
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Budapest had suddently become quiet. Entrenched in hideouts, the defenders had stopped shooting. On the other side, the Austrian and the Marslavan attackers were too exhausted to do anything else than wait. The city had been devastated, in particular its southern side had been reduced in rumbles by the Austrian attack. The few civilians who remained had gone underground, in the cellars, to wait for the end of the battle.

For few days this situation persisted. Occasionally Hungarian, Marslavan and Austrian snipers exchanged shots, but nothing sizeable shook the city from its macabre peace. Nonetheless, something was happening in Budapest. Voices insisted that the Admiral had summoned his remaining officers to discuss what to do. Budapest had resisted for months against the onslaught of C.E.D.O and the Hungarians had nothing to be ashamed of: they had fought bravely. On the other hand, the point had been reached where the survival of the people of Budapest was in danger. At any time, the offensive could have resumed and Budapest would have been annihilated.

Czernin had come out of his hiding, having survived several bombings and the fire from both sides. When he regained his regiment his comrades barely recognized him. His commander, captain Meciar, guaranteed for him and reintegrated him to his post. Meciar, who spoke Hungarian, had a look at the message for whih Czernin had risked his life. The message was addressed to someone in Croatia and talked about "broomsticks". The whole thing was quite confusing, admitted Meciar, before passing the message to someone in the MSS. Czernin waw paired with another partner and was sent perlustrating a block of ruined buildings. Not far, there was a squad of Hungarians. It seemed that they were not fighting anymore, as they sat around the radio. At a certain point, what seemed to be a special announcement started. A brusk, yet pleasant voice started to speak slowly but surely. The Hungarian soldires looked shocked as they listened, not one word coming from their lips.

The Admiral had decided to surrender to the invaders and the message announced the imminent armistice. In the city's centre, a colonel of the Marslavan Ducal Guard was approached by a detachment of Hungarian officers. Waving a white flag, they were led by a short, but fierce looking officer. He presented himself as the Admiral and, having drawn his sword, gave it to the colonel. General von Schwarzenberg arrived soon afterward, while the Austrian General Ribbentrop was warned. Together, the three men, would sign the surrender of Budapest. The war was ending, and the Hungarian cake could soon be shared...
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Whal
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The calm which followed the intense violence of the past few days had left many within the Austrian lines uneasy, and admitably, very high strung. The degree of paranoia surrounding the "crafty" nature of the Hungarians was so great that even the Austrian commanders had warned their front line troops to be wary of any surrender. In many places along the Austrian lines, the Admiral's message of a ceasefire was met with skepticism and, in some instances, fighting continued even after whole scores of nationalist troops had laid down their arms. As a matter of fact, the last Hungarian soldiers to die in Budapest before the ceasefire were regrettably shot by a terrified Austrian corporal who mistook the white flag for a trick.

General von Ribbentrop was reluctant at first to receive the Admiral's surrender as he had been conditioned to believe that Budapest would fight to the death. Indeed, the entire 2nd Army had been supplied to endure a whole year of siege warfare. Furthermore, the surrender was strange as the Admiral still held 1/3 of the country and could continue the war. If Ribbentop was being honest, he was relieved that the conflict had ended, but was also regretful that the Admiral had not surrendered to him personally; an honor which was apparently bestowed upon a simple Marslavan colonel. However, that aside, the formal end to hostilities had to be orchestrated in accordance with Marslavan command, and for that, General von Ribbentrop had to first radio the Oberkommando in Vienna.

Having since changed the cabinet, the new government of the Federation had altered the old doctrine behind the Hungarian campaign and now ordered that contact be established with Vienna before engaging in peace talks. Contrary to the original plan, von Ribbentrop was now ordered to accept no less than an unconditional surrender of all nationalist forces along with their commander. The Admiral was to be apprehended and handed over to the Abwehr for questioning surrounding any ties with the terror group, Translava. Lastly, the original C.E.D.O partition was to be honored, but von Ribbentrop was "urged" to take all measures short of direct confrontation in incorporating Budapest into the Austrian zone. Ribbentrop was stunned as this would surely lead to a disagreement with the Marslavans, but his first order before meeting to negotiate was to occupy as much of the city's key structures as he could. The race had started.

Minutes after the Marslavans arrived at the city center, General von Ribbentrop and elements of his front line forces also began occupying the historic space. As all three delegations entered the mostly standing city hall to discuss the surrender, Austrian and Marslavan soldiers began fraternizing with one another. The sharing of pictures, drinking of contraband alcohol, and playing small football games were commonplace anywhere C.E.D.O soldiers congregated. All throughout Budapest a peculiar calm existed between C.E.D.O forces and their Hungarian opponents even as the latter were starting to be disarmed. At the negotiations, the Admiral sat opposite the C.E.D.O coalition where both General von Ribbentrop and General von Schwarzenberg met for the first time. Both sides had fought bravely and bitterly, and even though there was rivalry, there was also a tremendous amount of mutual respect. Now, both men would need to make history.

"On behalf of the Federation of United East German States, the Grand Duchy of Marslava, and C.E.D.O, I hereby respectfully request the unconditional surrender of all Hungarian forces, conventional and irregular, in the interests of peace between all belligerents", General von Ribbentrop announced. To which the Admiral politely accepted after taking a moment to confer with his delegation.

Von Ribbentrop then began reading the list of C.E.D.O demands: 1) The partition of the country into an Austrian, Marslavan, and joint custody zones. 2) The establishment of a Hungarian government in the south cooperating with C.E.D.O. 3) Release of all prisoners and any individuals of interest to both parties. 4) Subjection of Hungarian leadership to investigations for crimes against humanity. Finally, von Ribbentrop delivered his own ultimatum to the Admiral about being apprehended into Austrian custody. He then allowed the Marslavans to contribute their demands.
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Alberto
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General von Schwarzenberg was embarassed. The Austrians really wanted to trial a foreign head of state for war crimes ? What about the indiscriminate bombings in Budapest and in Esztergom ? Weren't they war crimes ? It looked that the government in Vienna had formulated these demands so that they could be rejected and so that the tension could rise between the two former allies. Voices also circulated that the Federation - or the Austrian Empire as it started to be called - would stop at nothing to get Budapest. Thus, von Schwarzenberg was embarassed, and he was even more so since he had great respect for general Ribbentrop.

"It would be hard" he started "to trial the Admiral for war crimes he has not committed: the Hungarians have generally not violated the laws of war and when this happened it was on the initiative of elements over which the Hungarian leadership had no control. Moreover, even if the guilt of the Admiral could be established, judging a foreign head of state for "minor" crimes is a dangerous precedent. It is our belief that the Admiral's exile would be the best remedy".

The Admiral rose up in anger. The accusations wounded his honour, and he spoke bruskly and quickly in German. "The accusations made by the Austrian government anger me and offend me as an officer. The Austrians have nothing to show for and any trial in Austria would be a sham - I know your new "emperor" seeks to seize the Hungarian crown and he will do everything to remove any concurrent. I demand that me and my officers be judged by an international court capable of impartiality". The Marslavans assented, also because they believe that the excesses of the Hungarians (as well as their collaboration with Translava) paled in comparison of the mass bombings made by the Austrian and the Marslavan artillery.

"There is another matter we should determine" said General von Schwarzenberg "and that is the future geography of Hungary. What we propose is a division of Budapest, with the Danube as a border. At the same time, residents of Budapest should be allowed to cross without hassle to each side. Also, it will be important, to avoid any further problem, to proclaim an amnisty for all those civilians who have participated in the partisan rebellion against our troops". The Austrian demands were being rejected, in part, bu the General, and with him the Marslavan government, believed that the Hungarians should not be offended further - and that insult should not be added to injury.
Edited by Alberto, Feb 16 2014, 02:07 PM.
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Whal
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Now it was von Ribbentrop who was embarrassed. The Admiral's outburst had shown that the Hungarians were still formidable despite their willingness to an armistice on C.E.D.O's terms. While the Federation's new government was aware that the genocide against the Slovaks was perpetrated by the nationalists before the Admiral's rise, Chancellor Karl von Hapsburg was adamant that the current Hungarian regime was responsible for "covering up" the atrocities of its predecessors. The Austrians also would never forget the attacks on their capital, nor would they ever forgive Translava's continued plotting inside Hungary. The Admiral would need to reciprocate with the Federation's demand for an investigation of his government.

As for von Schwarzenberg's insistence on moving discussion towards the partition of Hungary, von Ribbentrop was respectful and compliant. For now, he decided that such measures were indeed more important than some politician's secret agenda. Chancellor, Archduke, "Emperor" be damned, von Ribbentrop would agree to divide Budapest between both C.E.D.O forces. He calmly addressed an aid to cease the order for Austrian troops to advance further into the city.

"We accept the establishment of two separate C.E.D.O zones divided by the Danube, as well as the free passage of all Hungarian citizens through the zones. However, the amnesty for partisan forces is currently complicated by the infiltration of Translava operatives. What we propose is a system by which all captured partisans are held momentarily and screened for activity within the organization. Should a member be found to be a terrorist operative, they shall be apprehended and detained until a fair trail can be orchestrated."

"Furthermore, the issue we arose regarding the trial for the Admiral and his government may have been misinterpreted. The Federation merely wishes to interrogate senior members of the Hungarian government for information regarding the organization's activity within the country. No trial for war crimes are necessary at this point in time, despite the surfacing of information in support of evidence tampering. The Abwehr merely wishes to uncover any traces of Translava activity within Hungary. Should any evidence be uncovered then the Hungarian government shall face the repercussions."

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Rhadamanthus
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OOC: If the Admiral is going into exile, would it be possible to have him end up in my new Polish nation?
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Whal
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OOC: I see no reason that couldn't happen RD. It would honestly give you an interesting future relationship with the Empire :P
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Alberto
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Von Schwarzenberg was glad to see that a compromise could be reached.He had a proposal "Members of the Hungarian government could be heard by a joint Austrian-Marslavan commission which would reconstruct the operations of Translava". It was the turn of the Admiral to speak.

"You have aggressed Hungary and would not have stopped until the death of all Hungarians. That is why I surrendered. I consent to be heard by a joint Marslavan Austrian commission, but this should be in a third country: it should be in neutral Poland, where fair process can be guaranteed. I want to pose one condition: if Hungary has to come under foreign domination, it should be allowed to keep its distinct identity and autonomy. Do not try to turn Hungarians into Czechs or into Austrians, it will not be of any use and will turn against you".

The Admiral knew that he had no voice into the division of Hungary between the aggressors, he could only try to assuage its most intrusive aspects. Von Schwarzenberg added "It is an entire administration that we have to set up here in Hungary, I propose that a joint Austrian-Marslavan-Hungarian commission be tasked to take decisions on common affairs - and defuse eventual tensions".
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Whal
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General von Ribbentrop scratched he goatee. What could he honestly say to all that? He knew, albeit it was mainly through intuition, that whatever he assured the Admiral or the Marslavan was unlikely to stand up in future Federal policy now that the cabinet had undergone such a drastic change. All the hardened veteran could do was to help set up a plan he felt was honest and fair to his forces, the Marslavans, and the Hungarians.

"The Federation will concede to these measures indefinitely. A committee which can respond and react to the inevitable differences our two sides will face in reconstructing the government is invaluable. However, we should make a point to clarify this committee shall only have official jurisdiction within the joint-international zone to the south, and not within the Austrian or Marslavan zones headed by our representatives. Rest assured, these zones will be held responsible to the needs of the Hungarian people, yet their close proximity to our sovereign territory requires we take different measures to ensure their reconstruction."

Von Ribbentrop paused to discern a reaction from the Admiral. The man looked displeased, but refrained from speaking outwardly just yet. In truth, there was little he could do to dissuade the partition of the occupied zones to the west and northeast. These would inevitably fall into direct control by the Austrian and Marslavan governments.

"As for logistical purposes", the General continued, "Your government could assist in the transformation period by issuing a decree calling for complete demobilization and disarmament of all Hungarian forces, as well as for cooperation with C.E.D.O officials in establishing order and apprehending wanted individuals, mainly Translava operators."
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Alberto
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"I want your word - and your government's assurance - that all men and officers who served in the National Army (and the partisans) will benefit of an amnisty. That is my condition for issuing the decree". This was a condition to wich the Admiral would not be renouncing, to condemn any Hungarian for resisting to the invaders would be to add insult to injury.
The Marslavan general added "This is feasible. I am sure your intelligence services have a list, or an idea, of who represents Translava in Hungary". The winners were after all seeking information on Translava (for different reasons each) and any information the national government could give would be preciously valued.

The Admiral hesitated to reply, the intelligence archives of the Hungarian services had misteriously disappeared just before the surrender of the Hungarian national government. Indeed, a group of men wearing Marslavan uniforms had attacked the Ministry of Interiors, killed the guards, and taken away all documents regarding Translava.
"We do not dispose of a complete information of who cooperates with Translava - not anymore" said the Admiral "I have declared my availability to tell what I know, but it is only a partial account that I have, something that is very little compared to the underground empire of Translava".

Von Schwarzenberg was surprised - for days the MSS had looked for the archives of the Hungarians, and had found nothing. Probably, thought the general, Translava had managed to get a hold of these archives, and make disappear the compromising material. Thus, the Admiral was the only individual - or one of the very few ones - who had an idea of the network of Translava. The winners had to treat him well, and probably, also to protect him against those who may not have wanted him to talk.

The Marslavan general concluded:"We agree with the Federation for what concerns the joint committee and the partition of Hungary. We should now find a suitable personality to head the independent Hungarian government in Pecs".

OOC: what are your plans for Translava ? could this spark some further rp ?
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Whal
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OOC: Yes, there is definitely room for more ideas. Ideally, i invented Translava as a way for the Federation to constantly have an adversary in the Balkans. Its really open to anything you or anyone can think of.

Also, Pecs can't really be the capital of the independent zone because its within the Austrian zone. I recommend Budapest.

IC:

At the Admiral's request, von Ribbentrop gave him his word that all Hungarian soldiers who had fought against C.E.D.O would be given amnesty. It was the least he could do for a man whom had put everything on the line to defend his homeland, his people, and their way of life. Unfortunately, as it appeared to von Ribbentrop, the Hungarians had failed to see the C.E.D.O motive for entering a war with them in the first place. A quite controversial conflict for all parties, the Hungarian War was primarily fought on the C.E.D.O side to maintain the power balance of Central Europe, yet both the Federation and Marslava had intended to revitalize Hungary's economy and better its people. When it became apparent the Admiral presented a better option for the Hungarian people, they rather quickly began to see the coalition as invaders rather than liberators.

With Translava's entry into the conflict, the Federation's leadership was able to clarify a more immediate and popular reason for continuing the war. As a malicious terrorist entity which had attacked Vienna itself, Translava was a viable and "just" reason for the Austrians to be so harsh in their negotiations at the moment. Translava represented a much larger threat to the Federation's (and the newly forming Empire's) interests inside the Balkans and the Austrians were adamant about using all available measures to stop them. Whilst the Admiral would be treated "fairly", it would only be to extract the information needed to combat Translava and not to honor the spirit of the Hungarian people.

"Whatever information you and your government posses surrounding the organization will be most beneficial to all our people", von Ribbentrop responded before his Marslavan associate stated the next point of discussion. "That being said, the more you relay to us on the matter shall hasten our efforts at rebuilding Hungary."

"I would recommend Budapest remain the seat of the Hungarian independent governement", he continued in response to von Schwarzenberg. "The city stands as a testament to the struggle all three of our countries endured in this conflict; it should represent our combined effort to look towards the future."

Suddenly, von Ribbentrop had the perfect solution for the Hungarian committee's leadership. He spoke directly towards the Admiral.

"Gentlemen, if i may be so bold to suggest, perhaps you yourself could be the first chairman of the Hungarian committee until your trial commences. You have the respect and admiration of the Hungarian people and your willingness to cooperate with C.E.D.O will make your job much easier. However, please understand that should you be found guilty of any crimes, the consequences shall be extraordinary."

The Austrian general would let his proposal sink in. Having the Admiral so close to home would make it easier for the Austrians to keep an eye on him, whilst also dissuading any resistance in his name. As a collaborator, the Admiral may prove to be the Federaton's most valuable asset.
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Alberto
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The Admiral could not accept - in his hear he hated the invader and he already had resolved, in his mind, to expatriate to Poland together with thousands of other Hungarians who were choosing the path of exile. He then assisted - speechless and powerless - to the conversation of the two generals, who were sharing Hungary between each other's countries.

"We approve that Budapest be the seat of the new autonomous government, whose autonomy shall be guaranteed by the Grand Duke and the Chancelor. I am not sure whether we should allow the Hungarians to elect the head of such an authority - at least for now - as elections may have destabilizing effects. Perhaps a transitional council could be tasked with the administration of that zone until the next year, when elections can be held".


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Whal
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Von Ribbentrop was not surprised at the Admiral's response. The relatively short war fought between C.E.D.O forces and the Hungarian nationalists had been bitter, bloody, and unflinching with high casualties on all sides. Evidently, the Hungarian leader was filled with hatred and would never collaborate with his natural enemies even if they offered him a higher chance of success in the up and coming trial. The Austrians would no doubt find other collaborators among the Hungarian people and therefore the general was not worried.

"It is here that we are also in earnest", von Ribbentrop responded, "And we would stress that this new government be headed by not a single person, but by a coalition of representatives from each of our three countries. At least, until the situation has stabilized to a point where the Hungarian free state may conduct its own elections. At that point, the Hungarian people may be autonomous and conduct their own affairs within their own sovereign sphere in accordance with Austrian and Marslavan assistance."

"Perhaps, the time has come to draft a treaty outlining these various points for this assembly to sign?"
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