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The Baltic Wars (also known as The Soviet Civil War or War to Restore Order and Peace) was a series of conflicts instigated by the Soviet Government in order to reclaim the Baltic Nations who declared their independence in March of 1991.
Background[]
August Coup, Intervention in the Balkans[]
On August 19, 1991, the Soviet Government successfully overthrew Mikhail Gorbachev and placed him and "know subversives" under arrest. Following a month-long standoff, the Soviet Government re-established order and gained the support of the People.
The Soviet Union then used the Political Situation in Eastern Europe to re-establish a sphere of influence. Regaining Yugoslavia, Albania, Romania and Bulgaria, they established the Organization of Socialist Defense and Brotherhood.
Meanwhile, the State Committee, prepared to launch a full-scale invasion of the Baltic Nations, who have refused to accept the Soviet's offer of greater autonomy in exchange for rejoining the Soviet Union.
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Skyhook[]
Soviet Resistance Managed to discover the location of both Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin, and secretly smuggled them both out of the country (ironically, with the help of China). The Soviet Government then proclaimed that they were assassinated by Westerners posing as Soviet Officials.
The Operation was victorious and Both became influential leaders. Yeltsin, from the U.S., led the Russian Opposition alongside other exiled leaders, hoping to start a civil war in the Soviet Union and see its collapse, once and for all.
Overnight Incursion[]
On January 21, 1992, during the overnight hours, Soviet Forces invaded the Baltic Nations and the next day, began a strategic bombing of the country. The announcement, was made shortly after on national television that the Soviets began their invasion, claiming that the Baltic Countries were responsible for the deaths of Gorbachev and Yeltsin, and accused them of an attack in Leningrad (A false-flag operation carried out the night before).
In response to the invasion, U.S. President George H W Bush denounced the Soviet attack and began sending aid, arms, and advisors to help train the Baltic Forces.
War[]
Capture of Estonia[]
On February 20, 1992, the Soviets successfully captured Estonia. A month-long battle aided by air strikes, led to the capture of the country, despite heavy resistance, now fleeing south to Latvia.
Battle of Riga[]
The Soviets managed to capture, what is now referred to as the Riga Ring. Eastern and Southern portions of Latvia were under Soviet Control, while the Western Half was under Latvian Control. The Soviets hoped to shrink the morality of the Latvians, by Capturing Riga, where most of their forces were stationed. NATO forces, were now aiding the Latvian Forces, but never engaged the Soviets openly, fearing World War III. The United States, the main power of NATO however, was not hesitant to do this and began conducting routine air strikes over Soviet targets. Simultaneously, the Soviet Army began attacking the Capitol City and the regions surrounding it. Much of Riga was destroyed, by what is now believed, to have possibly been a 3 KT nuclear warhead. The Leadership, miraculously survived, by fleeing to Lithuania.
Riga's capture was not difficult, but, the Latvians had not given up. Advances allowed them to Cut the Soviet Forces into two and a result, win the decisive battle.
Pressing towards Lithuania.[]
The Soviets, confident in Estonia's fall, sent reinforcements to hold Latvia and allow them to press on towards Lithuania. The Estonian SSR had been reinstated and the Soviet Occupation Force, stationed there, had the situation under control. This, however proved to be a mistake, as Lithuania would become the war's major turning point, causing ODASB to send troops to help the Lithuanian Front as Rebellion began to erupt in Estonia. The Soviets had one goal in mind, take the Baltics at all cost. Fabricating it as an accidental launch, the Soviets launched three 100 KT warheads towards the Capitol of Lithuania, Southern Estonia, and a second attack near Riga. The Leadership, fearing the attack, was again evacuated, this time, to Poland via Helicopter. The Radioactive Fallout from the four warheads, began appearing up on radars and scanners in Europe. As word reached home, that the Soviet Strategic Rocket Command has authorized the launch of three missiles, protests began erupting in three cities; Tbilisi, Moscow, and Leningrad. The Opposition that had been silenced since the emergence of the regime, began to reappear and now, a formidable resistance was forming in the Soviet Union.
Led by an exiled Boris Yeltsin, the Anti-Soviet Resistance took to the streets and not only protested, but also began engaging the Soviet Police and Army. The Republics proclaimed their independence and various leaders took control and formed their own armies, air forces, navy, and ground forces, some even defected from the Soviet Army.
On March 19, 1993, The Soviets captured Lithuania. Proclaiming a premature victory in the Baltic Wars. The War had now become an attempt to restore order in the Baltics, and regain any lost land, since the Baltic States never surrendered (nor did they lay down their arms).
The First City to be reclaimed was the last one to fall, a small town near the border with Belarus. The Belorussian Armed Forces cut off the Soviet advance and forced them to push northward.
Battle of Riga (Redux)[]
With Lithuania Liberated, the Soviets retreated northward. Riga was the last obstacle standing in their way. Heavily fortified, the Soviets could have easily won the battle. However, the situation was becoming too difficult to contain. Even with re-inforcements, many men suffered from radiation sickness and could not press forward with their attack. Latvia, prepared to deal with the fallout, reclaimed the city within a week.
With the West reacting to the developments, the Soviets were under heavy pressure to withdraw from Lithuania and pay the Governments more than ten billion in Wartime Reparations and compensate an additional five billion to Lithuania for the nuclear weapons used in Vilnius. Bill Clinton's famous "Do You Have an Explanation for all this ?" Speech pressured the Soviets to explore a diplomatic solution.
The Resistance made major gains and was on the verge of winning the war. The A.S.R. Proved to be equal to the Soviet Army, in size, scale and tactical abilities. However, The Soviets began utilizing air strikes and bombings to help reclaim the territories lost. A Major Air Battle above Minsk saw the reclamation of Belarus by the Soviet Government and the formal turning point in the war.
Battle for Moscow[]
On October 4, 1993, An already fired up resistance began fighting in Moscow. The Rebellion was pretty much silenced due to the excessive amount of men ready to strike Moscow before taking the rest of the country.
On October 4, 1993, Soviet Tanks entered Moscow to reinforce the Soviet Armed Forces. Fighting in the streets erupted, and the areas surrounding the Kremlin, were under heavy gunfire. Eventually, Russian Forces, with hijacked tanks, entered the city and a some total of 50,000 Russian troops and civilians engaged the Soviet Army on three different fronts in the city and the surrounding areas. Many Watched as the Russian White House, residency of the General Secretary, was shelled. The Fighting extended into the overnight hours and pushed itself back. The Battle of Moscow claimed more than 2000 lives in a two week period, and began to expose the weakness of the Soviet Regime.
Finally, the Battle ended on October 18, 1993, With the Resistance heavily defeated, The Soviets withdrew their heavy arterily and pressed their attack in the Already Troubling Baltics.
Treaty of Moscow[]
On November 20, 1993, the Baltic Nations were reconquered after the fall of Vilnius. The Resistance Governments fled into exile and the State Committee on the State of Emergency suspended the Constitution temporarily to deal with the problem it was now facing, Imminent Collapse.
Impact[]
The Soviet economy was heavily damaged and nearing collapse. The War cost a total of 20 Billion USD's and nearly bankrupted the state.
Yanayvev's Resignation and the Rise of Zyuganov, was directly caused by this war. The Economic Opening of the Soviet Union and the 17th and 18th Five-Year Plans were passed to deal with the crisis. The Post-Baltic Period, was followed by Corruption, Poor Government, Political Instability, and a complete halt to all economic growth.