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1905 Part 3 Red, White and Black

September: Germany and Austria-Hungary issue an ultimatum to Poland; accept a Central Powers monarch on the throne of Poland and allow German and Austro-Hungarian troops access through Poland. Pilsudski reluctantly agrees to the demands under threat of invasion. German and Austro-Hungarian troops enter and quickly secure the country. The only major countries to have recognised Poland, Japan and the United States issue diplomatic protests but are unable to do anything else. Roman Dmowski and the National Democratic Party go underground and launch a terrorist campaign to rid Poland of the “Hunnic dogs”

September: The Lithuanians establish a defensive line along the Daugava and seize the city of Riga with little resistance

September: Tsar Nicholas II formally abdicates and retires to a country estate in Potsdam. All Tsarist armies in Russia declare allegiance to the government operating out of Yekaterinburg

September: Battle of Smolensk: Sakharov’s forces begin attacks on forces lead by Trotsky (numbering 70,000) defending the approaches to Smolensk, taking Vitebsk and Mogilev by the end of September

September: Ottoman forces move into Batum and Kars with minimal resistance, and prepare to advance on Tbilisi, claiming to be safeguarding the local population

September: With the ongoing situation in Russia, the Algeciras Conference quickly turns its focus from Morocco to what to with Russia. The Germany, Austria-Hungary, Spain and Italy advocate for support to be sent to Tsarist forces, while France, Great Britain and the United States advocate for support to be sent to Republican forces. The invasion of Poland by Germany and Austria-Hungary almost causes the already fragile conference to fall apart.

September: Baiov begins attacking in the direction of Kiev, leaving minimal forces screening his flank, believing that Conservative forces in the Kuban are of minimal threat

October: Germany and Austria-Hungary start building a puppet government in Poland. However, they differ on whether a Hohenzollern or a Habsburg should assume the Polish throne.

October: Battle of Smolensk: Sakharok is forced to call of his offensive just short of Smolensk amid heavy resistance, and the worsening winter

October: Lithuanian separatists formally declare the Republic of Greater Lithuania. They quickly align themselves with Germany

October: The Ottomans move on Tiflis. By the end of the month, most of Georgia is secure, and the Ottomans have linked up with the Azerbaijani rebels. The Ottomans give international recognition to the Azerbaijan in return for a defensive alliance and a share on the oil fields of Baku. Both Azerbaijan and the Ottomans make plans to crush the neighbouring Armenian revolt.

October: Battle of Poltava: Baiov’s army makes strong head way against poorly organised Ukrainian militias who quickly fall back towards the Dnieper

November: The powers attending the Algeciras Conference finally come to an agreement. The sovereignty of Morocco is recognised as fully independent. However, France is given control of the port of Casablanca. In regards to Russia, it is agreed to send support to both the Tsarist and Republican forces as each state saw fit.

November: HMS Dreadnought is laid down by the British, with increased amounts of magazine protection then what was originally designed

November: Romanian forces move into Bessarabia on the pretext of protecting local Romanians

November: Turks in Central Asia declare an independent Turkestan with Ottoman support. They seize Tashkent in a matter of days

November: The National Republic of Byelorussia is declared by Sakharov, who becomes the states de facto dictator

November: Battle of Poltava: Due to partisan forces disrupting his supply lines and a worsening winter, Baiov stops his offensive after retaking Poltava

December: Representatives from France arrive in London to discuss the solidification of the Entente-Cordial into a full military alliance between France and Great Britain. France also sends out diplomatic feelers to Japan regarding a similar alliance in order to counter German influence in the Pacific

December: With Ukraine unable to be retaken, and a lack of trade with other countries, famine is now imminent in Russia. Martov is forced to issue strict rationing laws in order to delay the looming disaster.

December: The Soviet Republic moves their capital to Moscow, believing it to be better defended than Petrograd