Battle of Gromboners

Part of the First World War

Dogger Isles Infantry Battalion

* 3rd (Gromboners) Company
* 6th (Settler's Cove) Company

Dogeland Medical Corps

* Dogger Isles Field Ambulance

Foreign Volunteers

* International Dogger Foreign Legion
* Caninian Volunteer Battalion
* Yoshee Volunteer Army

Civilian Volunteer Army

* Dogger Isles Farmer Battalion
* Dogeish Volunteer Army

Doggodin Infantry Battalion

* 3rd (South Nederland) Company
* 1st (Kresla) Company

Caninian Infantry Battalion

* 1st (South Dietzen) Company
* 2nd (Dietzen) Company
* 8th (Caniniastad) Company

Felinian Infantry Regiment

* 1st (Felinistad) Company
* Felinian Mounted Rifles

Kattikanikan Infantry Regiment

* Kattikanikan Mounted Rifles
* 6th (Kattattoniya) Company

Yoshee Infantry Battalion

* Yoshee Field Ambulance
* Mawson Nurse Battalion
* 3rd (Mawson) Company

Foreign Volunteers

* German Volunteer Army
* Prussian Volunteer Army

The Battle of Gromboners was a significant engagement of the First World War, taking place during the Gromboners campaign between Dogeland, Dogestan, and Catland. Fought on the morning of 11 March 1916, this battle followed the Kattish attack on the DMS Doggerland and the subsequent siege of the Gromboners Islands three days prior. The outcome of this battle, along with Dogestan's resignation from the Kattik-Caninian alliance and the Dogesh recapture of the islands, ultimately decided the overall campaign as a Dogesh-allied victory on 3 July 1916.

## Background

### The Sinking of the DMS Doggerland and DMS St. Shagget

During the early stages of the Battle of Gromboners, the sinking of the DMS Doggerland and DMS St Shagget in March 1916 played a significant role in shaping the strategic dynamics of the conflict. These ships were targeted and sunk by German-manufactured U-Boats supplied to the Kattish navy, which inadvertently set off a chain of events leading to the battle.

The DMS Doggerland, originally constructed as a Dogesh passenger liner in 1911, played a crucial role during the First World War, serving as both a passenger and hospital ship. Similarly, the DMS St. Shagget was a Dogesh passenger liner primarily used for transporting freight and ammunition to support British allies in Australia; which would be transported to the Western Front to support the rest of the Commonwealth soldiers.

In March 1916, both vessels fell victim to the Kattish navy, equipped with German U-boats. Although the Kattish initially planned to sink only the DMS St. Shagget, they mistakenly targeted and sank the DMS Doggerland instead. The attack on the DMS Doggerland resulted in significant casualties, including civilians, nurses, and injured soldiers, with an estimated death toll of 1.4 thousand individuals.

Anticipating Dogeland's retaliation, the Kattish devised a plan to swiftly attack the DMS St. Shagget. Kattish spies, disguised as workers, boarded the ship and planted explosives, primarily in the boiler room. Another U-boat would then attack the vessel at a predetermined location in the sea. The plan succeeded to some extent, with two of the eight explosives detonating and causing casualties among the spies and other workers. Dogesh soldiers on board retaliated and engaged the U-boat, but the ship eventually sank. As the ship sank, a group of Kattish navy soldiers boarded the vessel to cause further damage and capture prisoners. However, their assault failed, and all five Kattish soldiers were killed. The sinking of the DMS Doggerland and DMS St. Shagget was described as an act of terror by the Dogesh President.

### The Siege and Battle of Gromboners

The sinking of these Dogesh vessels created a diversionary tactic employed by Catland, drawing the attention of Dogesh warships to the southern coast of the Dogger Isles. This diversion allowed the Kattish forces to concentrate their invasion efforts on the Gromboner islands, which were relatively less defended compared to other strategic locations in the region. The Gromboner islands primarily served as farming communities.

The attacking Kattish and Dogestanian infantries were equipped with German Mauser rifles, providing them with a technological advantage over the defending Dogeish forces. The Dogeish infantry and people stationed in the Gromboner islands during the invasion were armed with Marlin Model 1894 carbine rifles imported from the United States. Interestingly, many of the defenders were volunteers and farmers who relied on the outdated yet popular English Double Barrel Shotgun and homemade Quench bombs as their primary means of defence.

In the early days of the battle, the Gromboner islands faced heavy bombardment from Kattish and Dogestanian artillery, as well as gruesome advances by enemy forces. The defending Dogesh forces, though initially outnumbered and outgunned, managed to hold their ground until reinforcements arrived.

On the 13th of March 1916, just two days after the battle commenced, Dogestan decided to withdraw from the Kattik-Caninian alliance and declared war on Catland. This move was driven by the harsh treatment endured by Dogestanian soldiers at the hands of their Kattish counterparts. Dogestan's resignation from the alliance proved to be a pivotal moment in the battle, as it resulted in Catland being overwhelmed by the combined forces of Dogestan and the Dogesh troops. The fierce fighting from the Dogestanian and Dogesh forces contributed significantly to Catland's eventual defeat in the battle.

Germany, unable to provide timely assistance to Catland due to the considerable distance between the two nations, further compounded the situation. By the time German forces could have reached the Dogger Isles, Catland had already lost the battle, unable to withstand the relentless assault by the Dogestanian and Dogesh forces.

Although Dogestan had switched sides, they still had to pay for the damages they had caused to the Gromboners islands.

## Casualties

The Battle of Gromboners inflicted heavy casualties on all parties involved. According to available records, approximately 25,800 Dogelanders, 3,600 Dogestanian soldiers, and 33,100 Katlanders were either killed, wounded, or reported missing.

A Dogeish official army casualty list from the time of the battle reported a total of 6,891 dead, 7,293 wounded, of whom 473 were captured, and 1,432 unwounded captured or deserters, resulting in a total of 15,834 casualties. Additionally, an official civilian casualty list indicated that around 3,450 non-combatant civilians were either wounded, killed, or captured during the battle.

Among the casualties, 27 farmers were killed, with five of them being captured, and two others succumbing to unknown circumstances, possibly suicide or blood loss from their wounds.

## Aftermath

Although the Battle of Gromboners resulted in a victory for the Doges, the once thriving farming island of Gromboners was left devastated by the conflict. The battle transformed the island into a wasteland, with its fields destroyed and scarred by the remnants of war. Even after a century has passed, the scars of the battle can still be seen on Gromboners.

Fortunately, in the 1950s, Gromboners began its journey of recovery with the onset of the Dogger Isles Gold Rush. The island gradually returned to its previous state and witnessed rejuvenation in its agricultural activities.

### Gromboners Day

To commemorate the significance of the Battle of Gromboners, a national ceremony is held annually on 11 March at Gromboners. This day, known as Gromboners Day, is observed in Catland, Dogestan, and Dogeland. The commemorative ceremonies often take place in war memorials or individuals' front yards, where residents of suburbs gather and stand outside their homes with candles between the hours of 5:00 am and 6:00 am, paying tribute to the fallen and honouring the memory of the battle.