The war 15 years ago: the cause of the current war. Here we will present its history from inception to end. Within it is concealed the tragedy of the Belkan Federation.
Timeline of the War 15 Years Ago
1987.12.17: The period during which the Principality of Belka leads as head of a federation. Political authority was largely transferred to the eastern provinces accompanying an increase in military spending, and the garrisons withdrew to the Belkan homeland.
1988.2.8: One of the provinces in eastern Belka is the first to become independent from the Belkan Federation.
1988.5.12: Another country in the east becomes independent from the Belkan Federation. Trends towards secession and independence increase.
Background: Osean support is said to lie within the shadows of the independence movement of this land, where potential underground resources were predicted.
1991.8.29: The Belkan Federation sells off its remaining regions to the nations surrounding it in the east. From this time forward the Belkan Federation’s economy worsens, and unemployment increases. In hopes of stimulating their economy, Belka ceded the north-south band of the Great Lakes and the northern islands to Osea.
Background: At the time of the land cession, the Osean government proposes a joint management plan with the Great Lakes Resource Development Corporation within Osean territory under dividend payout terms favorable to the Belkan Federation. Belka, under economic difficulties, agrees to this. While Belka relocated people from the north-south Great lakes band and northern islands in accordance to their economic development plan, the survey of the untapped resources within the great lakes was in fact exaggerated by the Osean government.
1991.12.16: Two nations which gained independence from the Belkan Federation through the sale of their regions delineate themselves according to ethnicity.
1991.11.12 ~ 1995.3.24: A far right party comes into power in the Belkan Federation. Flying the banner of “a return to Belkan strength, greatness, and tradition,” they practically erased the separation of powers between the three branches. Proceeding with a military buildup, development of the V2 “massive retaliation weapon” began in secrecy. At the same time, the highest court in the Belkan Federation pronounced “The federal law review is unconstitutional. The independence of the various territories in the east is unlawful due to interference from foreign actors.” A mobilization order was issued to all corners, and military strength amassed at the borders.
Background: Around this time, rich deposits of untapped natural resources were discovered underwater in an unexplored lake in the alpine region of one of the regions sold off by the Belkan Federation. The Belkan Supreme Court’s ruling that their independence was unlawful was to make taking them back a legitimate cause.
1995.3.25: Opening of the war. Belkan forces cross the border into the formerly independent nations.
1995.3.30: The allied forces of the independent nations to the south completely lose air superiority to the Belkan Air Force and collapse. The Belkan Federation expands its territory even as it continues its forward advance.
1995.4.3: The Osean forces begin a counteroffensive. The Belkan Air Force – elite and few in number – cannot continue providing ground support as the area of operations expands, and the Belkan offensive halts. The Osean forces take this time to reorganize their position. The previously quiet bordering nations enter the war one after another to stake interest in the resources of the formerly independent nations after the war’s end, and one month after the beginning of the war, the Belkan line begins to collapse.
1995.5.13: Liberation of the formerly independent countries. Power relationships are returned to a pre-war state.
1991.5.14~1995.6.4: A number of cities in Southern Belka declare themselves demilitarized, and surrender without a fight to the allied forces consisting of Osea and the independent nations. However, Belka’s northern region doesn’t break from their resolve to fight vehemently to the bitter end, and bought time for the withdrawal of all their forces in the city of Sudentor on their southern border. In this way Sudentor became the grounds for the final battle, with Belkan forces making Stier Castle their stronghold.
Background: Buried within the factories of the South Belkan National Munitions Factory (currently Gründer Industries), an armed group called “the Grey Men” due to their incomplete weapons which hadn’t even been painted yet, played an active role while holed up. They introduced a plan to Pops to launch a nuclear attack on the main thrust of the allied forces which had advanced into the city. Pops rejected the nuclear attack, and defected from the Belkan Air Force.
1995.6.5: The Battle of the Waldreich. Allied forces advance on the three remaining elements from the encirclement of Sudentor, and strike at the Belkan forces on their narrow line of retreat through the mountains.
1995.6.6: Belkan forces use seven nuclear weapons in the Waldreich Mountains. Allied forces are thrown into confusion, having assumed that they would not use nuclear weapons within their own country. The Belkan forces holed up in Sudentor break through the rear of the encirclement and press the final assault.
Background: Any analysis of the battle situation became impossible due to disruption of electronic communications networks by the nuclear weapons, bringing about a gruesome battle of attrition.
1995.6.20: The gruesome conflict ends, the allied forces victorious by way of their national resources. Belkan forces south of the Waldreichs disarm entirely, closing out the war. The Federation is dismantled, leaving only a part of the Principality’s territory remaining.
Background: Some of Belka’s officers went underground in order to flee prosecution as war criminals after the war’s end. Having suffered the humiliation of their wartime defeat, these men would lead Osea and Yuktobania to war 15 years later. Further, the myth of the V2 - that “if only V2 had been completed…” - was born, officers and technicians in hiding resuming development after the war’s end.
1988.5.12: 東部のもう一方の国がベルカ連邦から独立。分離独立の気運拡大。 Back Ground 潜在的な地下資源が期待されているこの地の独立運動の影には、オーシア系資本の支援があったといわれる。
1991.12.16: ベルカ連邦に残った地域を東部周辺国家に売却。このころからベルカ連邦の経済は悪化し、矢業者が増加する。ベルカす経済活性化のため、自国の五大湖南北帯と北方諸島をオーシア割譲した。 Back Ground 領土の割譲に際して、オーシア政府はベルカ連邦に有利な配当条件で、オーシア領内の五大湖天然資源開発会社の共同経営計画を提案。経済難のベルカはこれをけ入れる。ベルカはこの開発計画があったからこそ五大湖南北帯と北方諸島の方諸を島ったのだが、五大湖に眠る天然資源の調査報告は、実はオーシア政府によって誇張されていた。
1991.12.16: ベルカ連邦からの東部独立2国売却地域が、民族に基づき線引きされる.
1991.11.12~1995.3.24: 極右政党がのベルカ連邦政権を獲得。「強く偉大で正統なベルカの回復」を掲げた強力な指導力のもと、三権分立は実質的に消失した。軍備増強が進み、そのなかで「大量報復兵器『V2』」の開発が秘密裏に始まる。ときを同じくしてベルカの連邦最高裁は、「連邦法改正は違憲。外国の侵略的干渉基づく東部諸州の独立は無効」の判決をす。ベルカ全土に動員令が発せられ、兵力が国境に集結。 Back Ground このころ、ベルカ連邦からの売却地域のー部の氷に覆われた未踏の高山地帯で豊な天然資源が発見された。ベルカ連邦最高裁判所が「独立無効」の判決を下したのは、この領土を取り返す大義名分を立てるためだったのだ。
1991.5.14~1995.6.4: ベルカ南方の各都市が非武装都市宣言を行い、オーシアと独立国などの連合軍に対して無血開城する。しかし、ベルカの北方地域は徹底抗戦の構えを崩さず、南ベルカとの境界であるスーデントール市で、全軍の撤退時間を稼いだ。こうしてスーデントール市は最終決戦の地となり、ベルカ軍はシュティーア城を本拠とする。 Back Ground 「南ベルカ国営兵器産業廠(現グランダー社)」の工場に眠る、まだ塗装もされていない完成前の兵器群と「灰色の男たち」が、この籠城で活躍した。連合軍主力が進駐した都市を核で攻撃する作戦に、おやじさんが投入される。おやじさんは核攻撃を拒否し、ベルカ空軍から脱走する。
1995.6.6: ベルカ軍は、バルトライヒ山脈で7発の核兵器を使用する。自国内での核兵器の使用を想定してなかった連合軍は混乱。その背後から包囲を突破したベルカのスーデントール籠城軍が最後の突撃を敢行する。 Back Ground 核兵器により電子通信網が寸断され、いっさいの戦局分析が不可能な状態となり、凄惨な消耗戦が行われた。
1995.6.20: 凄惨な戦いの末、国力で勝る連合軍側が勝利。バルトライヒ以南のベルカ軍は全軍武装解除し、戦争は終結。連邦は解体され、公国領の一部のみが残った。 Back Ground 戦後、戦犯としての追求を逃れるため、ベルカの一部将校が地下に潜伏する。この戦争で敗戦の屈辱を受けた彼らは、15年後にオーシア、ユークトバニアを戦争へ導く。また、『V2さえ完成していれば…』という、いわゆる「V2神話」が生まれ、潜伏していた技術将校たちは戦後開発を再開していた。