History of Alexshinia - Battle of Sparta

[Ninja of Cao]

Alexshinian soldiers celebrating the victory over USA at Sparta.
Battle of Sparta
Date: December 11th - January 29th, 1944.
Location: Sparta, Greece.
Combatants: USA (with allies) against Empire of Alexshinia.
Commanders: General C. Brown against captain A. Nowak.
US forces:
120 000 US soldiers
40 000 Canadian soldiers
6 000 French soldiers
800 tanks
100 aircraft
400 guns
_________
Alexshinian forces:
5 000 Alexshinian soldiers
4 000 Imperial hussars
60 Shadow Phalanxes
20 aircraft
4 guns
1 Gamma 21

Unknown civilian supporters, probably more than 100 000
__________________
Outcome: Decisive Alexshinian victory.
Allied casualties:
32 300 US soldiers killed or injured
19 010 US soldiers captured
3 800 French soldiers killed or injured
500 French soldiers captured
200 tanks destroyed, damaged, or captured
52 aircraft destroyed
All guns destroyed, damaged, or captured

Alexshinian casualties:
3 200 Alexshinian soldiers killed or injured
380 Imperial hussars killed or injured
6 Shadow Phalanxes killed and 12 injured
About 62 000 armed civilians killed or injured

More than 80 000 unarmed civilians killed or injured
_____________________

The Battle:

Spoiler:

The Battle of Sparta was a major turning point for Alexshinia during WWII, while a devastating defeat for the Allies. The Morean invasion force, plus Canadian and French supporters, marched north against the major military facility at Sparta. The survivors from the defeat at Morea, including the commander A. Nowak, arrived safely in Sparta and could warn the defenders in time. Communications failed and there was no signs of reinforcements, so the Alexshinians prepared to meet their end on the field of battle. Work began on making a defensive line of barbed wires, trenches, poles, barricades, trash piles, and various objects from town. Civilian support was surprisingly high and more than a hundred thousand civilians volunteered as workers. The line was finished quickly, and when the first Allied batallion arrived at 6:30 PM on December 11th, they were quickly slaughtered by the defenders. Few survivors reported back to the main army that reinforcements was needed, and within hours there was hundreds of planes and tanks ready to assault the city. Also, four hundred pieces of artillery was put into batteries around the city and bombarded from a distance, but the Alexshinian defenders did not return long-range fire. They did not waste a bullet until the attackers were within good range.

Two failed infantry charges was made by the US forces and resulted in casualties of more than two thousand men, before Commander Brown ordered a tank assault. The tanks came through the defensive line, but was then met by mines, trap holes, hidden rocket squads, and mud traps. All ended with heavy casualties for the US. Not even when under air support, the Allies managed to take any ground. The Alexshinians just didn't give up.

In the frontline defense, captain Nowak were inside a reconstructed house together with his officers, and planned their next strategy. Reinforcements was coming to aid the Americans, and they would most likely attempt an unstoppable mass charge. No result came from the tacticians, and it was already too late when the Allies charged with almost 100 000 men. The trenches were lost, and the attackers pushed deeper into the city.

A squad of Imperial hussars arrived just in time to break the US lines and keep them out of the central plaza. But that was all that remained. The center of the city, surrounded by foes. The rest of the settlement was already taken by US or Canadian forces, and only 6 000 Alexshinians remained ready or willing to do battle.

The christmas was cold and without cease fire. The American siege continued and they kept bombarding the central city, killing thousands of civilians and erasing two temples. This angered the civilians greatly, and many volunteers soon reported themselves willing to aid further in the defense. Captain Nowak was glad, as more civil support could lead to the Americans being forced out. Canadian and French forces was more reasonable, and would most likely retreat.
On the evening of december 24th, the Alexshinian officers gathered in the central barrack for christmas celebrations. Though little happiness could be found beyond the pounding artillery and burning city ruins. Though, many civilians gathered when the officers began singing, starting with christmas songs for celebrations and followed by the national anthem and a song written by captain Nowak on place. The two latter songs included texts that gave further courage to the civilians, and soon a huge mob had gathered with whatever weapons they could find, ready to do real battle. They were not trained or well equipped, but in such a desperate close combat battle, numbers was everything. Every old man, woman, or child that wanted to join was accepted.

The Americans feared a civil rebellion in the occupied parts of the city and began a massive execution of all citizens. However, the civil unrest caused would not be preferred by the invaders.

On January 26th, after a month of difficult fighting, the Alexshinians received news of the crushing victory at Fort Alexander. Captain Nowak ran out on the balcony and shouted over the town square: "The war will be won!"

The Allied executions had caused all citizens to crowd at the central city, and many was there to hear the commander's words. They were inspired and soon countless of civilians had taken up arms and demanded a position in the frontline. The captain understood that if anything would be decided in this battle, it had to happen on that day. So he ordered his entire army - including the civilian supporters - to attack at will. At 3:15 PM, on January 28th, more than a hundred thousand soldiers and armed civilians charged out of their positions and attacked the unprepared US forces. The advance was met with little resistance, and upon capturing enemy positions the civilians gained access to more weapons. Also, the ongoing charge encouraged more civilians outside the fortifications to join. Few had effective weapons at home, and many citizens literary attacked the Americans with their bare hands. They would rather die on the field of battle than live under US rule.

On the morning of January 29th, all American, French, and Canadian forces was sent into the city and managed to hold the counterattackers in place. But only for a short moment. The Imperial hussars had left the city and now charged into the rear of the US line. Few Alexshinian aircraft arrived for support, but it was enough to cause serious damage to the Allied forces. Meanwhile, a special unit called Shadow Phalanxes engaged the Americans as paratroopers. These were soldiers so well equipped, trained, and prepared that it literary cost the Americans hundreds of soldiers before one Shadow Phalanx fell. They were armed with carbines, sub-machine guns and swords, but not even when the Americans sent in tanks they could stop the Shadow Phalanxes. They used stealthy tactics to climb atop the enemy tanks, break up the hatches and kill the drivers.

The Allied retreat was ordered on January 29th, after extreme casualties.

Nowak's song:

Spoiler:

This song was written by captain Alexander Nowak, later promoted to general, to encourage his men and the local citizens to keep fighting. It was then often heard in media for propaganda and civil encouragement:

"So many men has fallen,
for no purpose at all,
their courage, their deeds,
all forgotten.

The enemy is coming,
pushing further,
into our glorious land.

But they will come no further!
We shall stop them here!
Remember the courage,
of the Emperor's men!

Noone can take the land,
that is held by Imperial hand!

Remember our brothers,
sisters and children,
dying in piles of blood.

The blood they have shed,
from themselves and their foes,
is a sacrifice we must all pay.

I say this only once,
our foes will fall here,
from our line of defense.
They will all die,
this I swear!

Just remember that,
no one can take the land,
that is held by Imperial hand!"

[sara-chan]

sparta!!! ^^