Second Nogod Civil War

- Defeat and dissolution of the Second Volkist Front and regional independence movements
- Nogod territorial integrity preserved
- New constitution written
- Nogodrick escalates involvement in the Second Granish Continental War

Belligerents| **Loyalists**- Government of National Salvation
- Loyalist militias
- Foreign volunteers
- People's Party
- Volkist militias
- Foreign volunteers

Strength| **Balthorist Armed Forces:**- 3,374,683 (Total Served)
- 1,295,487 (Peak Serving)**Organized Militias:**
- 736,419 (Total Served)
- 585,701 (Peak Serving)
- 338,071 (Peak Serving)**International Legions:**
- 15,360 (Total Served)
- Unknown Peak

Casualties| **Balthorist Armed Forces:**- 26,439 KIA
- 1,311 Other Deaths
- 55,347 Wounded**Organized Militias:**
- 3,541 KIA
- 730 Other Deaths
- 2,984 Wounded
- 2,189 Other Deaths
- 92,746 Wounded**International Legions:**
- 4,935 KIA
- 2,328 Other Deaths
- 3,652 Wounded

Civilian Deaths: 206,631
Civilians Displaced: 1,428,934

## Battles and Events

The **Second Nogod Civil War** (January 1st, 1937 to March 15th, 1940), also referred to as the **Second Volkist War**, was a civil war in Nogodrick (present day Alsesia) fought by the Government of National Salvation and its allies against the Second Volkist Front. The central cause of the war was economic frustrations throughout the decade, along with political corruption and developmental neglect in the central, western, and northern provinces. Regionalism, neo-nationalism, and the perceived political dominance of eastern Nogodrick also played a major role in starting the conflict.

The war officially ended on March 15th with the formal surrender of Volkist leaders at the Barostaj House Agreement in Thrēczaria. Despite the surrender, some Volkist holdouts continued to fight against government forces until organized resistance was finally shattered following Operation Murlej. This period of violence is referred to as the Volkist insurgency.

## Background

### End of the First Continental War

Following the conclusion of the First Granish Continental War in 1922, Nogodrick experienced a period of prosperity as technological developments caused an exponential rise in the production of consumer goods and soldiers returned home to re-enter the workforce. Having exhausted all of his political capital, Rodrik Ormitak exited the presidency, leaving behind legislation that secured a minimum wage of 1,500 Kredits, a boom of new schools throughout the countryside, old-age and disability pensions, and a publicly funded health insurance scheme. Business leaders, workers, and politicians sat in near-complacency as the well-oiled conveyor belts turned, costs were buried under the tide of profits and fair wages, and a cloud of optimism set upon the country. But within a decade, the time to pay the piper would come.

### Presidency of Viktor Androv

After coming into office on February 5th, 1922 following his narrow victory over Klētūs Erik Kolej in the presidential election, Androv decided to embark on a period of economic liberalism. He did not get rid of the provisions of the National Insurance Act and the Fair Wage Act due to his personal support for them. However, Androv did decrease taxes across all brackets by around 3.5%. Androv also reformed the financial system, offering reduced taxes and fees for inheritance and stock sales. Historians generally attribute a period of ensuing economic growth to these cuts, which were reasonable in scope and scale.

Androv was comfortably reelected to a second term in 1927 following an electoral victory with over 63% of the popular vote.

The first signs of a growing fissure in the country came with the March on Sky Manor on June 12th, 1931. With the upcoming selection of the President, railway workers who had not benefited from President Viktor Androv’s policies staged a mass protest in the capital, demanding changes. The **1931 Anhel City Railway Strike** turned violent, resulting in the deployment of the National Guard to quell the disturbance. Still, the nation as a whole didn’t blame Androv, but radicalism on the part of the strikers as the cause of the violence. Nevertheless, Androv’s third term in 1932 began with an atmosphere of uncertainty.

Economic conditions in the country were worsened by the **Granish Stock Market Collapse of 1933**, during which the **Deranfort Stock Exchange** lost nearly 40 percent of its value. The lack of goods being purchased in the Federation had an adverse effect on the country's exports, leading to economic ennui.

By mid-1933, it was also clear that the railway privatization scheme had been disastrous. Inefficiency had grown across all regions of the country, and many smaller businesses suffered from unfair transport costs. Then, another disaster struck. The unprecedentedly bad **1934 Irnian Floods** killed nearly 2,000 people and damaged infrastructure in the country's industrial core, exacerbating the economic crisis. To make matters worse, aid being sent into Irnia was also delayed by poor rail management. The **Solvrotov Disaster**, in which a poorly constructed track resulted in a runaway train that crashed into the town of Solvrotov and killed over 30 people, also brought public opinion against the railway companies.

Many lawsuits against the companies were dismissed or killed in court by Androv’s Attorney General: Sebast Valrātz. Valrātz, originally hired due to his reputation as a judge following a long stint as a corporate lawyer, proved to be more supportive of companies than the workers. The apparent callousness of the Attorney General was not well-received by the public, resulting in riots. In June 1936, Androv made carefully calculated decision to sack Valrātz, appointing Irnia’s popular, working-class raised Provincial Attorney General, Warrēn Parnell, as his replacement. Parnell's appointment helped calm public fury as he began efficiently prosecuting corruption and regulatory misconduct, restoring some much-needed faith in the Androv administration.

Androv suffered a debilitating stroke on December 14th 1936, requiring him to be hospitalized. For the next few days, his family consulted with doctors and party members to determine the president’s political future. It was decided that Speaker Alber Polizar would take on a caretaker role until the next election. However, it was necessary for Androv to either die or formally resign his office. Since euthanizing the president was beyond the scope of legal powers, everyone was forced to wait.

After regaining enough strength and lucidity, Androv resigned on January 1st, hours before a general strike was called by the Communists and People’s Party and their respective union affiliates.

### The Great Strike

The **1937 New Year’s Strike** was the largest strike in history. Nearly 40 million individuals across the country either called in sick or walked out of their morning shift. These numbers included up to 2 million non-union workers, a feat attributed to the organizational skills and charisma of Volkist leaders. The day of the strike was marked with rallies and protests across the country, demanding fresh elections and for corporate leaders to meet with workers to negotiate. However, despite the peaceful intentions of many, several leaders had already chosen the path of violence.

## Geography and Chronology

Most of the war was fought in the heartlands, west, and north of the country, specifically in the provinces of Irnia, Sred, Alseshol, Te Nord, Solvitia, Montia, and Logia. The organized territories were virtually unscathed by the war, although some Volkists fled to them during the insurgency or to escape justice after the conclusion of the war.

## The War

Open warfare broke out later on New Year's Day when armed mobs began attacking military and police installations. Although these initial assaults were repulsed, they were also dismissed as minor skirmishes. This proved incorrect, as the Second Volkist Front had meticulously coordinated their actions in a way that even the Hand was unable to gauge the level of preparation that had been done.

The leaders of several prominent left-wing movements had purchased arms and ammunition, as well as covertly trained their followers in dispersed meetings around the country. Now, this United Front, the official term used for the armed units of the Volkists, was at war with the Bālthorist Armed Forces.

The first major success of the United Front was in Sheridan Pines, where a group of forty troops stormed the city hall and held the mayor and council hostage. With additional Volkists pouring into the already red-tinted city, the government cut their losses and withdrew. Amidst the Volkist takeover, Ivan Kodoli, who had spent several months ingratiating himself with the Volkist leadership, fled the city with hundreds of supporters. He had already negotiated with the central government regarding his loyalty, and regrouped in the Sheridan Forest with thousands of other loyalists.

Meanwhile in Frosgard, the mood was grim. Government realized by the end of the day that it was a full-scale rebellion, with multiple cities and counties occupied by Volkists and several more being contested. Fortunately, Volkist presence was limited in the east, providing a base of operations to prepare from.

As their hold in the cities crumbled, the Volkists retreated to a familiar countryside, relying on forest cover to engage in guerrilla warfare against government forces. In order to adapt to the firepower advantage the BAF held, insurgents developed improvised but effective weapons, including disposable rocket launchers that were capable of defeating most armored vehicles. In response to the danger, tactical commanders began to implement better infantry support for vehicles, including the start of two-way radio usage in combat. In order to defeat deep forest cover, ground-attack aircraft (close air support) and recon-by-fire tactics were developed. Across the nation, dozens of battles across hundreds of forests marked the landscape.

## Barostaj House Agreement

The Barostaj House Agreement was the product of several rounds of discussions between civilian and military leaders, militants, and union leaders supporting the Volkists. The agreement stipulated that the government would prohibit several anti-labor practices. Changes included banning the deployment of military forces against strikers, except by an act of the Sobrut, banning local law enforcement officials from forming posses against strikes and prohibiting employers from terminating employees for being part of or attempting to organize a union. The agreement also featured improvements to the quality of life for workers. These improvements including a 36 hour workweek, a guarantee that the provisions of the Fair Wage Act of 1916 would "never be abolished", and for the National Healthcare Administration to receive additional funding and expand coverage.

As concessions from the Volkists, it was agreed that the Communist Party would be banned from electoral politics, alongside the already moribund People's Party. Prominent militant leaders such as Anya Burmi and Wym Jēraki were also given lengthy prison sentences, which Warrēn Parnell commuted later on. The Volkist movement would coalesce into a political party that participated in elections.

## Aftermath

With the Barostaj House Agreement signed, a sense of general normalcy began to return to the country. Martial law was lifted in most regions of the country, with operations concentrated in the countryside against holdouts.

The **Fulminat Plot** was launched amidst the surrender when disgruntled elements of the movement decided to overthrow the Government of National Salvation and install a provisional government of their own. The plotters were upset at the plans for amnesty to be granted to the Fulminats, and were strongly opposed to the government's plans to enter the Second Granish Continental War in defense of Magrick. The Fulminats intended to invade northern Magrick and secure peace with the Federation, as the Derstuk administration did not want control over that territory.

The **Hell’s Landing Raid** was launched from Selmy in an effort to seize the valuable port and secure a supply line between the mainland and Soldakia Island.

The **raid on Sky Manor** was a bold move made by Fulminat commandos in an effort to capture or assassinate Warrēn Parnell and Alber Polizar. The raid failed due to the efforts of the Royal Guard, which engaged in a prolonged shootout with the Fulminats until Ground Army units arrived to reinforce the perimeter. Twenty Guardsmen and thirty-one Fulminats were killed in the engagement. The raiders surrendered when the Army arrived and demanded they lay down their arms.

The plot was ultimately crushed. Its main ringleaders, Ēktor Mekaski, Ranholt Danzir, and Vurgan Barsolt, were executed. Other key figures such as Kurt Dagoraj and Zekob Mortepik were given life sentences.

The **Great Purge of 1940** saw the removal of nearly a quarter of all military officers due to their sympathizing with the plot or outright supporting it. Despite this, the nation’s entry in the Second Continental War was not interrupted.