The origins of the Franco-Russian Compact[]
The European continent was growing ever more divided by the start of the 19th and 20th century, Multiple nations had already sided with the German or Anglo alliances, and the continent was always at risk of exploding into conflict, as showcased by the largest war that preceded the Great War, the War of the English Empire's succession.This war would cement the differences between the European Great powers, and help lay the groundwork for the future bloodshed that would ensue.
The French emperor, seeing the writing on the wall, made a strategic move to secure a long-lasting cordial nation, one of the few countries that had not drifted apart from France yet- The Russian Empire.In his visit to Moscow, during the summer of 1909, he spent 3 months in the Winter Palace.He cherished his friendship with Tsar Alexander II dearly, seeing him as the only reliable ally, during these times of hardship and isolation.The Tsar was also open to the possibility of a visible alliance with France, considering his recent humiliation in Arabia, during the Bahraini Wars, and the Chinese Gambit, which he both lost.Now, Russia- isolated on the world stage and with a few remaining loyal states, looked towards bridging across Europe, and securing their position on the continent.Thus, in August, 1909- "The Alliance" or "the Entente" accord would be ratified, signed in Moscow, it would lay the foundations not only for the French-Russian pact, but also the future conflict that would come.
Foreign Reaction[]
Britain and Germany were shocked at the notification that France and Russia had entered an official alliance, Germany realized that now- without Britain on their side, they would be encircled, and surely defeated in a 2 front war.Britain became more hostile towards France, more than it already was at least- The bahraini wars had only hastened the hostilities between the British and French empires, and their respective supporters.Japan, was pushed by the formation of the Entente, out of fear- into becoming an official British ally.
Great War performance[]
sDuring the Great War, which the Entente would bare the blame for kicking off- Russia and France would see some rapid success, before inevitably succumbing to their own institutional inferiority, economic rehearsals, and military backwardness.The Imperial powers, and the Berlin proclamation, would arise victorious, and the former Entente powers would regress back into their original positions.
French Defeat[]
On July 1917, the British and members of their Empire would organize Operation Leon, A grand naval invasion of the Iberian peninsula, to liberate the Portuguese mainland, and capture the strategic Pyrenees mountains, allowing a direct front with France, since the Netherlands had fallen 2 years prior.By late 1917, Almost the entirety of Spain had crumbled, after the Albionorian division's capture of Valencia, the nation sued for peace.An internal coup would replace the French backed King and government, with a provisional military administration that allowed safe passage of Imperial troops through Iberia, France now had a giant front with the Imperial powers directly, combined with their already existing German Front.The military's positions fell into dispensary, struggling to re-group, the Imperial powers would make quick gains, pushing into Aquitaine and Gascony, and capturing Toulouse, this provided the necessary distraction for the German re-capture of Cologne.The French would be surrounded soon enough, a brutal entrenchment war would rage on, as France tried to form a defensive line around the Dordogne and Rhone.It was too much for the French army and nation to handle- and inevitably, by 1920, most of the French mainland had fallen, Paris would be besieged, and the country would sue for peace.France would be stripped of all its military dignity in the following Treaty of Tourraine, which ended the Western front of the war.
Russian Capitulation[]
Despite the tremendous success of the Russian Empire during the early stages of the war, with their swift capture of Lithuania and the capitulation of Poland, steamrolling through Romania, their military's dated infrastructure would begin to crack, as the Anatolian hill lands would prove a formidable challenge for the Russian army.Whilst their Georgian endeavor ended in success, taking over the country before Rhomania could retaliate- Russia's 5 year old campaign to march across anatolia would result in the Greatest military catastrophe of the 20th century- The battle of Sivas , During the Russian offensive, the Rhomanian army would initially retreat further into the mainland, but their bold gambit would prove fatal, their army was encircled and the pocket of around 400k troops would be destroyed- Which would eventually open up the Caucasian front of the war, the Imperial powers would capitalize on this- Launching an invasion of Crimea as a distraction, giving enough time for the German army to re-concentrate on Prussia, taking Stralsund, and pushing to Koningsberg- Russia's strategy would switch from the offensive- to the defensive.For an excruciating 6 years, Russia was being driven out on all fronts as they tried to mount a desperate defense, Back in the homeland- all hell would break loose, politicians would be assassinated, members of the nobility would flee the country en masse, and Social cohesion would implode, the military's takeover of political affairs, and subsequent breakdown of all political order, would result in the country's forces paralyzed, with China knocking on their door in the East, and German-coalition troops marching west, Russia's fate was sealed.Their capitulation on December 26, 1922, effectively marked the end of the Great war.
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