Battle of Atsvar

### Location

Centred upon Atsvar in Rulcaria, extending into surrounding farmlands and neighbouring forest of Shubachuum

### Result

Imperial pyrrhic victory:
Attacks upon Atsvar repulsed, Communists withdraw from Eastern Inecuria, campaigns of both NATO and Imperial forces stagnate due to heavy losses, city of Atsvar mostly destroyed

### Attackers

**NATO:**(Ranked by soldiers contributed)
United States of America
United Kingdom
Canada
France
**Communists:**
(Ranked by soldiers contributed)
Soviet Union
People's Republic of China
Polish People's Republic
Rulcarian Socialist Party

### Attacker Leaders

**NATO:**
General of the Army Douglas MacArthur (USA)
Field Marshal Earl Harold Alexander (UK)
**Communists:**
Field Marshal Georgy Zhukov (USSR)
Yuan Shuai Zhu De (PRC)
Yuan Shuai Lin Biao (PRC)

### Defender Leaders

Field Marshal Luccario ElianaKing Dakke Zakenax
General Monkhar Hasaan
General Baihan Gashumaag †

### Attacker Strength

**Total:** Approx. 482,950**NATO:** 258,863 total
United States of America: 139,832
United Kingdom: 56,770
Canada: 50,200
France: 12,061
**Communists:** Approx. 224,087 total
Soviet Union: Approx. 120,000
People's Republic of China: Approx. 100,000
Polish People's Republic: Approx. 3000
Rulcarian Socialist Party: 1087

### Defender Strength

Imperial Armed Forces: Approx. 400,000, incl. 511 DragonsAllied militia: Estimated 10,000

### Attacker Losses

**Total**: Approx. 101,690 killed, approx. 128,557 woundedNATO: 41,690 killed, 68,557 wounded
Communists: Approx. 60,000 killed, approx. 60,000 wounded

### Defender Losses

136,210 killed, 121,703 wounded, 2078 missing
Approx. 100,000 civilians killed, 400,000 displaced

The Battle of Atsvar (occasionally also referred to as the Siege of Atsvar) was a large and decisive battle during the War of Independence, fought between the Nesarian Empire, NATO and the combined forces of the Soviet Union and People's Republic of China (collectively referred to simply as the Communists). It is notable not only for its strategic importance and the scale of the forces involved, but also for being a three-way fight between each faction present at the battle - although in truth, NATO and the Communists were functionally on the same side as they were both attacking the same target, but from different sides. It is also famous for being the battle in which the twenty-third Brano the Bold, known as the Guardian, distinguished himself and won his name. It was also the first major engagement of the War of Independence in which Dragons participated in significant numbers.

## Casualties

The Battle of Atsvar is infamous for its extremely high casualties; no other battle in the War of Independence or the Imperial theatres of either WW1 or WW2 reached casualties as high as those seen at Atsvar. However, although the total number of casualties was extreme, the casualty *rate* was actually even higher in the Battle of Bouliers two years later.

The city of Atsvar had already been affected by the war before the battle began; infrequent shelling by the Communists had killed 411 inhabitants, and approximately 80,000 inhabitants had fled before the battle began, leaving the city with approximately 550,000 inhabitants. As the battle began, the city began to be intensively shelled by both the Communists and NATO, leading to quickly mounting civilian deaths. Field Marshal Luccario Eliana contacted the NATO commanders, Douglas MacArthur and Earl Harold Alexander, and agreed to establish a neutral zone in the neighbouring forest of Shubachuum to create a pathway for civilians to escape. A mass exodus of the inhabitants of Atsvar began, and a total of approximately 400,000 civilians were able to flee during the battle. The same agreement had been made with the Communists, but the Chinese contingents believed that the flight of the civilians was merely a cover for an Imperial flanking operation and began bombing runs upon the civilian convoys, killing an estimated 60,000 people. An estimated 40,000 people died in the shelling and fighting in the city itself. Of the 400,000 civilians which fled, 270,000 (approximately two thirds) returned once the fighting was over.

Of the 258,863 NATO soldiers which participated in the battle, 41,690 (16.1%) were killed and 68,557 (26.5%) were wounded, totalling 110,247 (42.6%) casualties, with Canadians being overrepresented in casualty figures due to their famous courage and tenacity in the fighting. No NATO soldiers were taken prisoner, simply as there are no records of a NATO unit surrendering during the battle.

Figures for the Communists are less precise, and all that follow are approximations, with only the small armed wing of the Rulcarian Socialist Party keeping exact figures. Of the 224,087 Communist soldiers which participated in the battle, 60,000 (26.8%) were killed and another 60,000 were wounded, totalling 120,000 (53.6%) casualties. No Communist soldiers were taken prisoner - though unlike the NATO soldiers, this was not because none of them surrendered, but rather because all those who did surrender were executed by Imperial soldiers, explaining the high rate of deaths. The Rulcarian Socialist Party experienced 80% casualties, having 870 of its 1087 soldiers killed, and the rest fled and dissipated into the stream of fleeing civilians.

Although the figures for the total number of Imperial forces that participated in the battle is unclear, there are precise records of casualties. Of the approximately 410,000 Imperial soldiers (including militia) which participated in the battle, 136,120 (33.2%) were killed, 121,703 (29.7%) were wounded and 2078 went missing (presumed dead), totalling 259,901 (63.4%) casualties. Of the 511 Dragons who participated, 204 (39.9%) were killed and 189 (37%) were wounded, totalling 393 (76.9%) casualties. Most of the wounded Dragons received serious wounds to the wings which rendered them unable to fly ever again. No Imperial forces were recorded as surrendering and being taken prisoner during the battle.

## Consequences

The Battle of Atsvar was a turning point in the attitude the factions involved in the war had towards each other. The Imperial forces and NATO were always far friendlier with each other than the Imperial forces were with the Communists, a disparity which only became more extreme with the brutal savagery the Imperial soldiers displayed towards the Communists in the battle. Relations between the two sides quickly degraded, and atrocities on both sides became commonplace following the battle. The NATO forces were infuriated by the loss, but still retained a begrudging respect for the military prowess of the Imperial soldiers, particularly the Dragons - however, their tune soon changed once they learnt of the atrocities wrought upon the Communists, and the same atrocities became commonplace on both sides after several more months.

The failure of NATO and the Communists to capture Atsvar resulted in political consequences on both sides. Douglas MacArthur was re-assigned to the ongoing conflict in Korea, as he had experienced little success in Inecuria and the civilian administration assumed that this was due to MacArthur being pushed into an environment with which he had little experience; they believed Korea was a better fit for him than Rulcaria, as it was more similar to the Pacific theatre which he was experienced in. He was replaced by Dwight D. Eisenhower, who would retire two years later to participate in the Presidential election.

On the Communist side, Field Marshal Georgy Zhukov - who was already on bad terms with Stalin, being assigned to Inecuria to get him away from Russia in the first place - was stripped of command and relegated to a lower military position, and Georgy claimed that an attempt on his life was made during this time. Publicly, the Soviet forces considered Georgy to be a mere Major General, only officially in command of a single division, but he continued to be the *de facto* leader of Soviet forces on the continent, as the Soviet military forces recognised his demotion as merely political showmanship and still respected him as a brilliant commander. Stalin never learnt of the military ignoring his authority - or if he did, he kept silent about it. On the Chinese side, Yuan Shai Lin Biao was reprimanded by Chairman Mao, as it was believed that his bickering with Zhu De (his nominal superior) was a cause of Communist failure in the battle, but he faced no other consequences.

The Imperial commanders, meanwhile, were highly praised for fending off the simultaneous assaults on two fronts. General Monkhar Hasaan was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, General Baihan Gashumaag was posthumously awarded with the Flaming Sword, and Field Marshal Luccario Eliana was awarded with the Glass Sword.