The Second Bosnian War

### Outcome

NATO Victory - Forces of the CSN stalemated and forced to sign a Cease-Fire. DMZ is created.

## Overview

The Second Bosnian War was a brief but impactful conflict that unfolded during the summer of 2016. Lasting only a few months, this confrontation was triggered by allegations made by the Provincial Roman Republic (PDR) against Bosnia, accusing the nation of fomenting political and societal turmoil within the region.

In response to these perceived provocations, the PDR swiftly quelled the uprisings that had emerged. On June 4th, with the backing of the Eastern Roman Republic (ERR), the PDR launched a full-scale invasion of Bosnia, marking a critical turning point in the conflict.

## Background & History

Before the outbreak of the Second Bosnian War, the People's Democratic Republic (PDR) had aspirations to expand its territorial boundaries, but it faced complex political challenges on multiple fronts. Notably, the PDR maintained favorable relations with the Romanians and Bulgarians, while Greece and Macedonia emerged as close regional allies, excluding the Eastern Roman Republic, where the PDR functioned as a puppet state.

To the north, the PDR shared a border with Serbia, which presented its own set of issues. Although the PDR regarded Serbia as an ethnic regional ally, it refrained from pursuing aggressive expansion into Serbian territory to avoid antagonizing ethnic minorities within its own borders.

However, tensions arose as a result of territorial disputes between Serbia and the PDR. In the 1990s, Dacian forces encroached upon southern Serbian lands, severing Serbia's connection to Kosovo. This territorial conflict became a contentious point between the two nations. In contrast, to the south, Montenegro maintained a neutral stance toward the PDR, but its tolerance of Muslim-majority Kosovo strained relations.

Kosovo itself was a disliked enclave in the region, primarily Muslim and plagued by crime and weak governance. This instability posed a significant regional challenge. However, the presence of NATO forces in Kosovo rendered any potential invasion by the PDR unfeasible.

Consequently, the PDR turned its attention to Bosnia as the most viable option. Large portions of Bosnia consisted of Serb enclaves in the east, with some western regions being predominantly Croatian. Both of these ethnic groups had maintained neutral relations with the PDR, making Bosniak Muslim areas the primary target for expansion.

The animosity directed toward Muslim groups in the region had deep historical roots, stemming from centuries of Ottoman Muslim rule, which lasted for approximately 600 years. Concurrently, the PDR and its puppet states actively promoted Christianity, under the banner of the "Divine Order of Christ's Blood." This organization entered the "Roman Sphere" with the mission of spreading its unique sect of Christianity and seeking new allies while converting like-minded populations to its vision. These efforts had been ongoing since the early 2010s.

### ***The Red Movement Uprising***

In late April, a critical internal crisis unfolded in the lead-up to the Second Bosnian War. This crisis, known as "The Red Uprising Movement," emerged as an organized initiative led by various left-wing political parties and organizations within the nation. The movement initially expressed public discontent with the ruling regime of the Provincial Roman Republic (PDR) but gradually escalated into a violent uprising.

The crisis presented a strategic opportunity for Dacian politicians in the Senate, who perceived it as a precursor to a potential invasion. The capital city, where the majority of the violence erupted, descended into chaos. The PDR's interior troops struggled to maintain control and subsequently called upon the Dacian Armed Forces for assistance. Simultaneously, the government sought support from the Eastern Roman Republic (ERR), leading to the deployment of a Praetorian Legion to help suppress the uprising.

During this tumultuous period, rumors circulated regarding the alleged involvement of the Filii Caesar (FC) Paramilitary group in "clean sweep" missions targeting predominantly leftist areas of the city, resulting in atrocities. Although little concrete evidence linked the group to these acts beyond the presence of FC graffiti and the atrocities themselves, suspicions persisted. Additionally, other atrocities occurred under the regime's watch, with ERR's Frumentarii agents allegedly ordering the elimination of leftist ghettos in the city, often referred to as "Red Streets." Some reports pointed to pre-compiled lists of individuals and their families as targets.

As the crisis approached its conclusion, PDR forces were airlifted into the city to root out the last remaining Red stronghold. The exact details of this operation remain uncertain, as the regime may have manipulated certain aspects of the narrative. Official records indicate that a combined force of ERR and PDR troops assaulted the stronghold, resulting in the elimination of its occupants. However, a substantial cache of weapons and documents was discovered, including information about targeted individuals, locations, European contacts, and support from the Bosnian government in the form of equipment and other resources. These documents purportedly revealed that the Bosnian government sought to aid a popular uprising to replace the hostile PDR regime, even if it meant supporting a left-wing administration rather than an ethnically Bosnian or Muslim-majority one.

The period of unrest persisted until late May, marked by numerous press releases within the "Roman Sphere" accusing Bosnia of subverting the sovereignty of the PDR. Plans for an invasion began to take shape, although some outside the Balkan region disputed Bosnia's involvement in the uprising. Despite repeated ERR attempts to advise caution, citing escalating tensions with Turkey, the PDR initiated its invasion of Bosnia on the night of June 4th, 2016, marking the commencement of the Second Bosnian War.

Despite significant internal disagreements within the ERR regarding the new conflict, the nation ultimately chose to support the PDR to avoid political repercussions and maintain their close ethnic ties. This support aligned with Dacian expansionist aspirations and served to avoid divisions that could have arisen had the ERR refused to assist its Thracian puppet.