World War III (Atlantic Resolve)



World War III (often abbreviated to WWIII or WW3), also known as the Third World War, is an ongoing global war which began in 2015. The initial opposing military alliances were the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). A number of non-NATO countries quickly sided with the NATO alliance including Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, etc. North Korea and Russia became reluctant allies against a common foe.

Dissolution of the Soviet Union
The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics broke apart by the end of 1991 which marked the end of the First Cold War. The Russian Federation and other former Soviet republics entered into economic turmoil that lasted throughout the 1990's. Under Boris Yeltin, the Russian Federation gradually had become more friendly with the West with some exceptions. The most notable one was the Incident at Priština Airport which was a short but tense standoff that occurred between Russian and NATO troops in the aftermath of the Cold War. The standoff was resolved peacefully.

Once Vladimir Putin, a former KGB officer, assumed the presidency following the retirement of Boris Yeltsin, the Russian Federation had slowly begun its recovery from economic turmoil the 1990's. Putin himself had stated that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a mistake.

South Ossetia War (2008)
In August 2008, the Russian military invaded the former Soviet Republic of Georgia. The war ended a few weeks later with South Ossetia and Abkhazia achieving de facto independence.

Euromaiden and the Ukrainian Revolution (2013-14)
The Euromaiden was a wave of demonstrations and civil unrest which began on November 21, 2013 when Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych choose to suspend the signing of the Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement in favor of maintaining closer ties with the Russian Federation. The movement was initially limited to minor protests until a police crackdown led to a full-scale riot. The increasing unrest eventually led to the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution which ended with the ouster of President Yanukovych from power. Masked Russian soldiers without insignias took over the Supreme Council of Crimea and occupied strategic sites across Crimea. The Russian Federation annexed Crimea a few weeks later. In July 17, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 was shot down after flying over separatist airspace in eastern Ukraine. It was alleged that Russian forces or pro-Russian separatists were responsible. In August 2014, Russian intervention in the War in Donbass became more visibly apparent due to numerous border crossings by Russian military forces into eastern Ukraine without permission from the Ukrainian government.

Operation Atlantic Resolve
In response to Russian intervention in the internal affairs of Ukraine, NATO launches Operation Atlantic Resolve. American troops and vehicles are deployed throughout Eastern Europe, most notably the Baltic States.

Russian snap drills
On March 16, 2015, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military to go on full readiness alert in snap drills throughout Russia and the Arctic. This order was given just one day after Putin revealed in a Russian television documentary that he was prepared to order a full nuclear alert in the event of NATO intervention in response to Russia's annexation of Crimea the previous year. The Russian military snap drills including the deployment of bombers and ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad and Crimea.

Latvian Airspace Skirmish (Point of Divergence)
On March 17, 2015, seven Russian military aircraft were intercepted by NATO aircraft over the Baltic Sea. Despite warnings one of the Russian aircraft strayed into Latvian airspace. The intruding aircraft was quickly shot down; the others acted almost immediately and an intense air battle commenced. The battle was swift and ended in a matter of minutes. The Russians lost three fighter aircraft while NATO lost only one. The surviving Russian aircraft disengaged from the skirmish and returned to Kaliningrad where the incident was reported.

Diplomatic and economic consequences
Immediately following the skirmish between Russian and NATO aircraft over in the Baltic Sea, relations between Russia and the West greatly deteriorated though war hadn't yet broken out. Russia was expelled from the G-20 and will not be invited to take part in the upcoming summit in November. This expulsion further isolates the Russian Federation diplomatically and the country is threatened with a possible economic recession. The United States and other NATO countries leveled a new series of trade embargoes and economic sanctions against the Russian Federation.

Heightened military patrols and exercises
Immediately following the March 2015 Latvian Airspace Skirmish, NORAD had upgraded its alert status to DEFCON 3. NATO aircraft and ships increased their patrols of the Baltic and Black Seas while the U.S deployed additional troops to Europe. The Russians also stepped up construction of their base in the Arctic as well as increased aerial and submarine patrols throughout the region. Russia's Airborne Troops and Spetsnaz ran additional series of drills. Russian bomber interceptions off the coasts of NATO countries became more frequent then ever. Starting on May 4th, NATO commenced Operation Lightning Strike, a four-day military training mission designed to test troop readiness to react to a clandestine military incursion similar to the one the Russians used in Crimea in 2014. When the 2015 Moscow Victory Parade was held on May 9th to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the capitulation of Nazi Germany, the United States and the European Union refused to take part in the parade due to Russian intervention in the Ukraine over the past year as well as the March 2015 Latvian Airspace Skirmish. On May 26th, NATO launched massive Arctic military drills in the Nordic countries; Russia responded by commencing its own Arctic war games.

Novorossiya War (2015)
Tensions increased on June 14th when tens of thousands of Russian troops backed by armored vehicles, gunships, and fighter aircraft invaded Ukraine. The invasion forces quickly linked up with pro-Russian separatists already fighting government troops. While NATO and the EU didn't outright go to war with Russia, additional material support was sent to the Ukrainian government. The Novorossiya War lasted over a month with Russian military forces occupying all of "Novorossiya" which consisted of Ukraine's eastern and southern oblasts. The fighting ended with Ukraine begrudgingly signing an armistice.

Proxy war in Syria (2015)
The Syrian Civil War was slowly transforming into a proxy war between Russia and the West. At the request of the Syrian government, the Russian military began to launch attacks against the Syrian Opposition in September. In response, President Obama ordered additional military assets to be moved into the Persian Gulf and eastern Mediterranean. The U.S increased support for the Syrian opposition and threatened to shoot down any Syrian aircraft that threatened Free Syrian Army positions which resulted in a harsh rebuke from Russia.

2015 G19 Summit
The G19 (formally G20 prior to Russia's expulsion) held its tenth annual summit in Antalya, Turkey on November 15-16, 2015. Included in the discussion was the world's biggest political and security crisis including Russian aggression, the Syrian Civil War, and the mass migration of refugees. While political issues seemed priority, economic issues were also discussed to determine how the world economy could adapt to hypothetical economic embargo against Russia. That discussion while seemingly insignificant did lead to the United States, the European Union, Japan, etc., leveling a total economic embargo against the Russian Federation. China, Brazil, India, and South Africa while not actively supporting Russian expansionist activities declined to embargo Russia out of fear that doing so could lead to war. Unfortunately the general mindset throughout the West was that war with Russia could very well be inevitable regardless.

War breaks out in North America (2015)
During the evening of December 23rd, 2015, armed gunmen initially believed to be domestic militia seized control of airports, seaports, and national guard armories in several cities throughout the Pacific Northwest including Vancouver, Seattle, Portland, etc. The FBI, ATF, and RCMP were sent in to deal with the problem. Shortly after, numerous cyber attacks disrupted communications throughout the West Coast and a number of widespread power outages were reported.

The situation spiraled out of control as the Russian military had begun a combined amphibious and airborne invasion of Seattle and the surrounding area. Additional troops and equipment arrived in the city through the airports and seaports; there was no doubt by this point that the "domestic militia" involved in the takeovers were in fact Russian Spetsnaz GRU. Russian warships simultaneously launched dozens of conventional Cruise Missiles at military installations throughout the Pacific Northwest as well as Alaska and northern California.

In response, the United States and Canada both declared war on the Russian Federation and invoked Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty; the invocation was quickly confirmed by NATO and the Third World War had begun. A few days later, the War Powers Act of 2015 was passed overwhelmingly in both houses of Congress and took effect immediately. The powers of the Executive Branch were greatly increased and the military draft was returned. A war tax was also implemented.

Within hours of the initial attacks, additional Russian forces landed in several coastal cities in British Columbia (Victoria, Vancouver, etc.), Washington State (Everett, Tacoma, etc.), and Oregon (Portland, Astoria, Coos Bay, etc.). Additionally, Russian paratroopers were dropped into several inland cities in British Columbia (Surrey, etc.), Washington State (Olympia, Pasco, etc.), and Oregon (Eugene, Medford, etc.). On Christmas Day, Russia had begun an invasion of the U.S State of Alaska with naval infantry launching amphibious assaults on the Aleutian Islands, Bering Islands, Nome, and Anchorage. Airborne forces were also dropped in Barrow, Fairbanks, and Anchorage.

The U.S Pacific Fleet quickly moved to prevent further Russian reinforcements but by the time a blockade was established, the enemy had already brought in the necessary manpower and equipment to maintain the invasion. And with the majority of U.S active duty personnel in the region currently deployed overseas, the National Guard was practically the only military opposition that the invaders initially encountered. Heavy fighting took place throughout the Pacific Northwest coast over the following week. By the end of the year, the Russians were able to secure all beachheads and airborne landing zones as well as occupy the cities and towns within them. The Russians made similar progress in Alaska as well.

War breaks out in Europe (2015)
Less then 24 hours following the outbreak of hostilities in the Pacific Northwest, the Russians launched numerous air and missile strikes against NATO military installations throughout Eastern Europe as well as Denmark and Germany. While the Russians thus far refrained from the use of nuclear weapons, the devastation the attacks inflicted could not be denied.

The Russians coordinated the air and missile strikes with a full-scale invasion of the Baltic States and Poland as well as an amphibious invasion of Romania. Several hundred thousand Russian troops, backed by aircraft and armor support, were involved in this new offensive. The Baltic States, the Polish city of Gdansk and the Romanian city of Constanta were occupied by Russian and Belarusian military forces one week into the offensive.

With their initial objectives secured, the Russians made their ground push toward the Polish capital city of Warsaw. The Russians at that point employed the dreaded Iskander tactical ballistic missile system, targeting NATO positions in and around Warsaw with conventional warheads. Russian and Belarusian troops had reached the eastern suburbs of the Polish capital by December 31st.

Simultaneous to the invasion of NATO Eastern Europe, Russian-led troops crossed the Novorossiyan-Ukrainian DMZ and invaded Ukraine. The Ukrainian military, still haven't fully recovered from the Novorossiya War, was caught off guard and was losing ground along the entire front. Moldova was also invaded and was overrun within 72 hours. By December 31st, the Russians had secured most of the eastern side of the Dnieper River and were sending troops into the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev.

War on the Korean Peninsula (Early 2016)
The war reached East Asia on January 10th when North Korea launched a full-scale attack on South Korea. Heavy artillery and ground-to-ground missiles rained down on ROK fortifications along the southern side of the DMZ. The Korean People's Army Special Operation Force (NKSOF) attacked key military and civilian targets throughout South Korea. The Joint Security Area within the Demilitarized Zone was rapidly transformed into a battleground as the ROK garrison was attacked by KPA and NKSOF forces.

Less then an hour after the initial attacks had begun, North Korean armored units crossed the DMZ into South Korea. ROK defenses were overrun in less then 48 hours and KPA forces began their push south toward Seoul. The Eighth United States Army was moving as quickly as possible to fortify Seoul as well as staging hit-and-run attacks to delay the KPA advance toward the capital.

By the end of the first week of February, the North Koreans had begun to move into the northern suburbs of Seoul. By mid-February, much of the City of Seoul was rapidly transformed into a major urban battlefield as North Korean troops had begun pouring into the South Korean capital and U.S/ROK forces were fighting back. The Battle of Seoul lasted throughout the second one-half of February with much of the city being severely decimated. The invading KPA troops were indiscriminate and showed no distinction between military and civilian personnel. As a result, the civilian death toll in Seoul quickly exceeded the current overall death toll of all other battles combined.

The Battle of Seoul continued throughout March. Despite numerical superiority of the Korean People's Army, their advancements into the South Korean capital had stalled thanks to the technological might of the Republic of Korea military and the U.S Eighth Army. As the KPA was beginning to lose ground in Seoul, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un was becoming increasingly desperate and ordered all surviving artillery and missile batteries to commence full-scale bombardment of Seoul. Despite these attacks, U.S/ROK combined forces won the Battle of Seoul by the start of the last week of March and Allied air forces took out most remaining KPA artillery and missile batteries.

With the failure to take Seoul, the KPA instead attempted to encircle the South Korean capital by pushing through the suburbs. However, U.S/ROK troops were able to halt the attacks. By the end of March, the entire North Korean offensive throughout South Korea had been halted and Allied forces were gradually driving the invaders back toward the DMZ.

On April 1st, 2016, Kim Jong-Un ordered a full-scale nuclear assault against South Korea, Japan, and Guam. However, the nuclear launches were prevented at the last moment when the Kim Dynasty came to an abrupt end as the result of a coup d'état sponsored by the People's Republic of China. The following day, hundreds of thousands of troops of the newly re-established Chinese People's Volunteer Army (PVA) invaded North Korea and rapidly advanced throughout the country with minimal opposition. The new North Korean leader ordered the immediate withdrawal of all remaining KPA forces south of the 38th Parallel and to not interfere with Chinese forces operating within the country. The following week, a new armistice was negotiated between North and South Korea with status quo ante bellum.

Pacific Northwest Front (Early 2016)
The Russians maintained a firm foothold in the Pacific Northwest despite an increasing number of U.S and Canadian air strikes as well as the naval blockade virtually cutting off all support. Russian troops and armored vehicles backed by gunships staged a series of offensives along the coast in order to further secure their foothold as well as inland to reinforce the airborne forces holding several cities. By the end of January, the Russians had successfully occupied the entire Pacific Northwest coast and merged the initial invasion zones.

The Russians secured much of Alaska throughout January. After eliminating pockets of resistance in Anchorage and Fairbanks, Russian ground forces began an offensive toward the east. Russian paratroopers were dropped on the outskirts of the Alaskan state capital city of Juneau.

Throughout the month, the 4th Infantry Division and 1st Marine Division were deployed to Idaho, northern Nevada, and northern California in preparation for combat duty against the Russian invasion. Intense naval combat was fought as Russian warships were engaged by U.S and Canadian warships as well as aircraft.

With their primary foothold secured, the Russians launched multiple ground offensives to the east and south throughout February. Despite the valiant efforts of the U.S Army and Air National Guard to halt the enemy advance, the Russians took everything west of the Columbia River in Washington State and southern British Columbia by the end of the month. The western one-half of Oregon as well as the Californian cities of Crescent City and Yreka were also overrun. Juneau was also taken, resulting in the Russians gaining de facto control over Alaska.

The Russians were still gradually advancing in some areas in March although they were now facing increasing levels of resistance as the 4th Infantry Division and 1st Marine Division had begun to reinforce the front lines. Furthermore, the Russian soldiers currently behind the lines were facing guerrilla attacks in several occupied cities with Seattle and Portland being among the worst.

By the end of March, Russian armored units were moving into Redding, California which was defended by the 1st Marine Division and the California National Guard. The 4th Infantry Division directed a brigade combat team to Spokane to reinforce the Washington National Guard there; unfortunately a Russian airborne unit was dropped into the city before they could arrive and armored units intent reinforcing the paratroopers were on their way.

The Battles of Spokane and Redding lasted throughout most of April with urban warfare greatly devastating both cities as well as inflicting heavy casualties on both sides. By the end of, the North American Front had mixed results for both sides. The Russians were forced to retreat from Redding and regroup after the 1st Marine Division had successfully defended the city. However the Battle of Spokane ended badly for the defenders with Russian tank and motorised rifle units reinforcing the paratroopers and ultimately taking the city; the 4th Infantry Division withdrew toward the east and established a defensive line. Around the same time, Russian forces had secured the entire Canadian West Coast, effectively linking both primary occupation zones in North America.

Eastern European Front (Early 2016)
Russian forces had entered Warsaw by the second week of January. Intense urban warfare was fought between Russian and NATO forces throughout the Polish capital for the remainder of the month. Much of the city had been devastated and many important historical structures were destroyed. The situation seemed hopeless as Russian-led CSTO forces had occupied nearly one-half of Warsaw with the remainder nearly being completely encircled. Russian-led CSTO troops were also moving into several additional Polish cities including Ludz, Torun, and Lublin.

An additional Russian armored unit invaded Romania from Moldova and linked with the Constanta beachhead by the end of the month. The Battle of Kiev lasted throughout the whole month with the Ukrainian military gradually losing ground. The Russians were eventually able to secure everything east of the Dnieper and were threatening to encircle western Kiev.

The Battle of Warsaw continued into February with intense urban combat between Russian and NATO forces. By this point, the Polish capital city was completely encircled. Military death toll had exceeded well over 1,000 on each side. Furthermore thousands of Warsaw residents were also killed in the fighting and over 100,000 more lost their homes. Defense of the Polish capital was now NATO's top priority in Europe and European leaders were now calling for President Obama to send reinforcements as soon as possible despite the ongoing Russian invasion of the United States and Canada.

As the Battle of Warsaw continued, additional Russian-led CSTO forces continued their ground push into central and southern Poland. NATO commanders believed at this point that Russia's primary strategic objective was to push all the way to the Oder-Neisse line; NATO troops led by the Franco-German Brigade were sent to central Poland. By the end of the month, the Russians had occupied Ludz, Torun, and Lublin while advanced units reached Poznan, Wroclaw, and Rzeszow.

Farther south, the Russian military had taken the Romanian coastline and was now moving west toward Bucharest. Additionally smaller Russian units were also staging incursions into Bulgaria in order to attempt to disrupt NATO support for the defense of the Romanian capital. The Battle of Bucharest began as Russian-led CSTO troops invaded the city.

The Battle of Kiev continued throughout most of February with combined Russian, Belarusian, and Novorossiyan troops pushing further into western Kiev. The Battle of Kiev ended on February 22nd, 2016 when surviving Ukrainian troops capitulated to the Russian military. During the final week of February, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was deposed in a coup d'état and Ukrainian military leaders unconditionally surrendered to the Russian Federation. With Ukraine knocked out of the war, the Russians had at least for the time being gained a military advantage on the ground throughout Eastern Europe with additional reinforcements and supplies being sent to the front lines.

The Battle of Warsaw continued into March and the Russians still had yet to completely secure the besieged Polish capital. Russian President Vladimir Putin was losing patience with the apparent lack of progress and eventually ordered a massive conventional bombardment of NATO-held Warsaw. After a week of merciless bombardment, Russian ground forces had resumed their push into the capital. By the end of March, the Battle of Warsaw was virtually reduced to major guerrilla warfare with surviving NATO defenders and Polish militia holding out from isolated pockets of resistance. By this point, however, the Russian military had achieved de facto control of the Polish capital.

The Battles of Poznan and Wroclaw continued throughout March with NATO troops led by the Franco-German Brigade barely holding back Russia's advance toward the Oder-Neisse line. The Polish garrison defending Rzeszow didn't fare as well with the city falling in mid-March. By the end of the month, southeastern Poland had fallen.

Russians also made considerable progress elsewhere throughout Eastern Europe. The Battle of Bucharest was going very badly for NATO, attacks into Bulgaria continued, and a Russian ground forces invaded Hungary and Slovakia. By late March, the Battle of Bucharest clearly favored the Russians with the Romanian capital completely surrounded and nearly taken. On top of that, Serbia surprised NATO by declaring war on Romania and invading from the west. Less then a day later, what was left of the Romanian government declared a state of surrender. Slovakia also surrendered at roughly the same time and the Czech Republic was at risk of invasion. Hungary held out a bit longer but eventually surrendered as well following their defeat in the Battle of Budapest. The Battle of Sofia began near the end of March as Russian and Serbian troops entered the Bulgarian capital city.

Heavy fighting throughout Poland continued into April. NATO began to lose ground in the Battles of Poznan and Wroclaw as more and more Russian-led CSTO reinforcements continued to pour into central Poland. While NATO was able to move some additional forces to the front, they weren't enough to halt the Russian onslaught. The NATO defense plan for Europe was ultimately dependent on the United States promptly deploying reinforcements to the front lines and this wasn't going to happen so long as the Russian occupation of the Pacific Northwest continued. Eventually Poznan and Wroclaw fell - along with much of central Poland. Furthermore, Russian forces also begun a ground invasion of the Czech Republic.

During the third week of April, the situation had become grimmer as the governments of both Poland and the Czech Republic surrendered to the Russian Federation. In addition to this, NATO defenses throughout western Poland had begun to crumble. With these latest developments, NATO Command ordered all remaining forces to begin a withdrawal to Germany and establish a defensive line west of the Oder-Neisse Line. By the end of April, the Russians had overrun nearly all of Poland save for scattered pockets of resistance. While some Polish militia and NATO holdouts continued to elude capture in Warsaw, it was clear by this point that the Russians were firmly in control. Due to the surrender of Poland and the Battle of Sofia going very badly, Bulgaria had surrendered to Russia and Serbia to avoid further destruction to the capital city.

Southern European Front (Early 2016)
Following the outbreak of World War III, the ethnic tensions which had been presumably resolved following the Yugoslav Wars had begun to resurface throughout January mainly in the form of peaceful demonstration. The situation intensified in early February when the Bosnian Serb Republika Srpska declared independence from Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Bosnian government responded by declaring martial law and sending in the military to reestablish control of Republika Srpska. The Bosnian Serbs fought back and the country quickly descended into civil war. The Battle of Sarajevo begun almost immediately with Bosnian Serb insurgents attacking Bosnian government forces.

The Bosnian Civil War entered a new stage in first week of March when the Republic of Serbia launched a full-scale invasion of Bosnia and Herzegovina in support of Republika Srpska. Serbian troops reached Sarajevo by the second week of the invasion, resulting in the Bosnian government forces losing their advantage. The Battle of Sarajevo continued throughout the throughout the remainder of March with Bosnian government troops locked in a bloody stalemate with combined Serbian and Republika Srpska forces. The fighting escalated in late March when the Russian military joined on the side of Serbia. It was at this time that the Bosnian Civil War had officially become a part of the Third World War.

The Serbs and Russians eventually overwhelmed Bosnian defences in early April and were gradually advancing throughout the city. By this point, the devastation from the Siege of Sarajevo in the 1990's had already been dwarfed by the current fighting throughout the Bosnian capital city and one-half of the city was occupied by Serbian, Republika Srpska, and Russian forces. The Battle of Sarajevo for the duration of first two weeks of April with Serbian, Republika Srpska, and Russian troops still gaining ground throughout the city. Sarajevo had fallen by mid-April with the Serbs and Russians in control of the Bosnian capital city. Bosnia and Herzegovina surrendered unconditionally the following week.

Serbian and Russian troops invaded Kosovo and retook the disputed territory within days. The reestablished Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) backed by NATO begun an underground resistance against the Russians and Serbs following the takeover. Russian and Serbian forces invaded Croatia, Macedonia, and Slovenia in mid-April with all three countries surrendering within 72 hours. Montenegro surrendered to the Republic of Serbia even before Russian and Serbian troops crossed the border. Albania's northern territory was also invaded by Serbian and Russian troops.

Faced with the threat of a Russian invasion and an increasingly unpopular war by mid-April, the Hellenic Parliament demanded that Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos immediately seek a separate peace with Russia. However the president refused to comply, stating that Greece must remain committed to NATO more then ever. The following day, he was deposed in a coup d'état led by the Hellenic Parliament and supported by the Greek military. The new Greek government under President Danae Magdalini Koumanakou signed a separate peace agreement with the Russian Federation that evening and formally withdrew from NATO. Albania now effectively surrounded quickly sued for peace. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also signed a separate peace agreement with Russia and demanded that all NATO personnel leave Turkish soil within a week.

The Republic of Serbia accepted an invite from the Russian Federation to become a full-fledged member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, the first state outside the former Soviet Union to do so.

North American Front (Mid-2016)
The U.S Army III Corps had remained on standby throughout the starting months of the war as President Obama weighed his options. Keeping the III Corps in the States to push the Russians off American soil would mean that NATO stood little chance of successfully defending Eastern Europe relying solely on conventional means. Unfortunately, sending the U.S Army III Corps to reinforce the U.S Army V Corps would effectively prolong the Russian occupation of the U.S/Canadian Pacific Northwest even if the enemy could be contained. However due to the Pacific Northwest, Eastern Europe, and the Balkans being overrun by Russian troops as well as Greece and Turkey signing a separate peace with Russia, President Obama decided that the III Corps would have to delegate. While the U.S Army III Corps was officially ordered to reinforce the front lines in the U.S and Canada, one-half the unit was reassigned to the U.S Army V Corps and began deployment to Europe.

Russian advancements throughout the North American Front had halted throughout May with the U.S Army III Corps reinforcing the front lines which forced the Russians to switch from an offensive to a defensive stance. Furthermore, the Russians were facing worsening guerrilla attacks behind the lines. The U.S and Canadian naval blockade established shortly after the outbreak of war as well as the continuous aerial bombardment of the newly established land route from Alaska ensured that few reinforcements and logistical support if any reached the Russian-occupied Pacific Northwest. The U.S military staged a number of limited offensives throughout July, primarily for reconnaissance-in-force. While the Americans managed to retake some ground, it had become clear that additional forces would be needed to totally push the Russians back into the ocean. Until then, the best they could do was contain the enemy. Despite this setback, the U.S and Canada continued to launch air strikes and cruise missile attacks against the enemy forces throughout occupied North America as well as send aid to resistance groups fighting against the occupation. Occasionally both sides would stage low-level ground offensives but for the most part the North American Front was locked in a stalemate lasting throughout the summer.

Central European Front (Mid-2016)
Throughout the first week of May, Russian forces in Poland and Czech Republic moved into their staging areas east of the German border. During this time, the Russians launched numerous conventional air, artillery, and missile strikes against NATO positions throughout Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Once they were ready, Russian ground forces crossed Oder-Neisse line into Germany; Airborne Troops were dropped throughout eastern Germany, securing key territory between the River Elbe and the German-Polish Border in an effort to disrupt NATO efforts to reinforce the defense of Berlin. In addition, Russian Spetsnaz GRU Operators disguised as NATO soldiers were dropped behind the lines in what could be described as nothing less then a modern-day version of Operation: Greif. 48 hours into the attack, additional Russian forces invaded Germany from the occupied Czech Republic. Within an additional week, the Battle of Berlin had begun with Russian-led CSTO troops pouring into the German capital city. By the end of May, Berlin was completely surrounded and most of Germany east of the River Elbe was taken.

Throughout late May, U.S reinforcements - recently reassigned from the III Corps to the V Corps - had begun arriving in western Germany. While their arrival was too late to prevent the Russians from reaching the River Elbe, NATO now had sufficient forces to challenge further enemy offensives. By this point, the Central European Front was virtually identical to the Iron Curtain during the Cold War.

In early June, the Russians began the next phase of their invasion of Germany. To the north, Russian ground forces crossed the River Elbe as they advanced toward Hamburg and Hannover while additional Russian forces moved toward Munich in the south. Russia's primary offensive involved multiple tank guards and motorized rifle divisions pushing through the Fulda Gap toward Frankfurt and the heart of the U.S Army V Corps. It was clear to most observers that the outcome of the coming battle would decide the outcome of the war much like Stalingrad during the Second World War. The Battles of Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, and Nuremberg had begun by mid-June and lasted throughout remainder of the month with U.S-led NATO defenders fighting back against the Russian invaders. The Battle of Frankfurt began by the start of the fourth week of June and had quickly become the largest battle taking place in western Germany with Russia's primary invasion force fighting against over multiple divisions of the U.S Army V Corps as well as the 1st Panzer Division (Bundeswehr). The Russians made little progress there by the end of the month.

The Battle of Berlin lasted throughout the entire month of June with Russian-led CSTO forces waging a brutal urban battle against NATO forces led by the Franco-German Brigade. Much of the besieged German capital city was decimated with many government buildings destroyed, infrastructure completely in shambles, and hundreds of thousands of civilians displaced from their homes. While NATO inflicted considerable losses against the enemy, they were gradually losing ground throughout the city. By the end of June, the Russians had taken roughly one-half the city. The one-half of Berlin still held by NATO was frequently hit with air and artillery strikes.

The Russian-led CSTO invasion of western Germany continued into July. The Battles of Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, and Nuremberg were still being fought with mounting losses on both sides as well as the decimation of many buildings and displacement of civilians. The Russians had completely encircled Hamburg, Hannover, Munich, and Nuremberg, effectively cutting off nearly all support for NATO defenders fighting to hold those cities. Several additional urban battles erupted as Russian forces moved into several additional German cities including Bremen, Kiel, and Stuttgart. While NATO forces held a technological advantage, the Russians made up for that in manpower. Even though U.S-led NATO forces had inflicted heavy losses against the enemy, the Russians had overrun most of western Germany east of the River Rhine including Hamburg, Hannover, Kiel, Munich, and Nuremberg by the end of July. The Battle of Frankfurt continued through the whole month of August with both sides sustaining heavy losses in manpower and equipment. The Russians managed to take roughly one-third of the city by the end of July though it was clear that the Americans and Germans still had plenty of fight left in them.

The Battle of Berlin continued into July and was now considered to be the deadliest and most destructive battle of the Third World War. Military casualties were now in the tens of thousands on each side while the civilian death toll exceeded 100,000. Furthermore, most of the German capital was severely devastated in the fighting and an estimated one-half the city's population of over three million people had lost their homes. The Russian had taken most of the city by mid-July and NATO defenders were in disarray. In an effort to bring an end to the destruction and bloodshed, commanding general of the Franco-German Brigade, several other NATO military officers, and the Governing Mayor of Berlin met with Russian and CSTO commanders under a flag of truce. Within hours, a ceasefire was agreed upon and all surviving NATO soldiers were ordered to surrender. The Battle of Berlin was declared over on July 18th, 2016 with the German capital now under the control of the Russian military. Despite this outcome, the war was not yet over. The German federal government had relocated to Bonn with Chancellor Angela Merkel vowing that Germany was not defeated and that the Russian occupation of Berlin was destined to fail. With Berlin secured, the Russians were now able to send additional reinforcements into western Germany.

In early August, Russian forces began an invasion of Denmark from two directions: a ground from Germany in the south and an amphibious assault from the Baltic Sea in the east. Within a matter of days, most of eastern Denmark had fallen and Copenhagen was surrounded. The Battle of Copenhagen lasted several more days with the Danish military fighting back against the invading Russian forces though it was clearly a losing battle for the defenders. Not wishing a repeat of the Battle of Berlin, Denmark surrendered to Russia just one week after the start of the invasion.

Russian-led CSTO forces continued their push into western Germany along the entire front with three major offensives. In the north, the Battle of Bremen continued with Russia's northern invasion force advancing deeper into the besieged German city despite efforts from American, British, and German troops to stop them. Before the first week of August even ended, all remaining NATO defenders were forced to surrender and the Russians had resumed their advancement toward the west while leaving a garrison behind to occupy Bremen. By the second week of August, they had crossed the border into the Netherlands. The Battle of Amsterdam had begun several days later with Russian-led CSTO troops entering the Dutch capital city which was defended by British and Dutch troops. Both sides sustained heavy losses as much of the Dutch capital city suffered increasing destruction and the city was encircled within a week. Despite fighting valiantly to hold Amsterdam, the NATO defenders were overwhelmed and eventually surrendered to avoid further civilian deaths. By the last week of August, the Russians had secured the entire Netherlands north of the River Rhine. Russian efforts were now focused primarily consolidating their gains and fortifying their positions along the River Rhine. Russian forces also made an effort to secure remaining bridges in Germany and the Netherlands.

In the south, the Battle of Stuttgart continued with American, French, and German troops leading the NATO defense against Russia's southern invasion force. By the end of the first week of the August, the Russians had taken over half of Stuttgart and completely encircled the remainder of the German city. Following another week of urban combat, the Russians had finally taken Stuttgart and the acting commander of the surviving NATO forces in the city surrendered - the actual commander was killed in combat days earlier. With Stuttgart secured, Russia's southern invasion forces resumed the advancement towards the west. By the last week of August, the Russians had finally reached the River Rhine and the French-German Border. With their southern objectives achieved, the Russians began fortifying their positions east of the River Rhine to defend against a likely counterattack with limited incursions into France in order to secure all remaining bridges in their area.

The Battle of Frankfurt continued well into August with the Americans and Germans locked in heavy urban warfare with Russia's primary invasion force. By this point, NATO casualties had exceeded 10,000 while the Russians lost at least twice as many soldiers. Civilian death toll was also at least 50,000. Most of Frankfurt was now in ruins with most of the German city's population having lost their homes. Throughout the month, Russian forces continued their advancement deeper into the city with losses continuing to increase on both sides. By the second second week of August, nearly half of Frankfurt was in Russian hands while the remainder of the city was on the verge of being surrounded. In order to avoid a siege that could further destroy the city and kill many more innocent civilians, the U.S. Army V Corps had begun a tactical withdrawal to join NATO forces guarding both sides of the River Rhine at Wiesbaden and Mainz. By the third week, all surviving NATO troops had withdrawn from Frankfurt and the Russians occupied what was left of the German city. The U.S. Army V Corps and German 1st Panzer Division held Wiesbaden against Russian-led CSTO attacks for nearly a week before finally withdrawing across the River Rhine into Mainz and destroying the bridges. The Russians spent the remainder of the month securing Wiesbaden and the surrounding areas. By the end of August, the Russians had secured all of Germany east of the River Rhine.

North American Front (Late 2016)
With the war going very badly in Europe and the NATO defeat in Battle of Frankfurt, President Obama faced increasing pressure to withdraw all remaining forces overseas and focus the war effort on ending the Russian occupation of the U.S. soil. He ultimately decided not to withdraw from Europe and instead ordered the entire remainder of the U.S. Army III Corps stationed at the frontlines in North America to be deployed to Germany. The recently reactivated U.S. Army II Corps - which consisted primarily National Guard and Reserve units called to active duty at start of the war - was assigned to take their place.