WesWorld

After a bit of reflection, that's likely the best choice. Pin them in place, cut off their supplies, drop harassing artillery fire on them 24/7, and move on.

Motti tactics, actually. That'd be splendid.

The majority of the units involved in the LoN operations in Lithuania probably aren't trained in motti tactics, so the recommendation was mostly just focused on pinning the Wilnos and moving the main force past along it's way to Vaskes. If the Wilno's and their redoubt are bypassed, they have to abandon it if they want to be a barrier on the way to Vaskes. If they abandon this line of defence and move, then a future encounter with them is likely to be a meeting engagement or an open-field battle, where they don't have pre-constructed defence lines and bunkers.

Quoted

Originally posted by Hrolf Hakonson
If they abandon this line of defence and move, then a future encounter with them is likely to be a meeting engagement or an open-field battle, where they don't have pre-constructed defence lines and bunkers.

And that would be all to the advantage of the LoN troops. If the Wilnoites move, the LON aircraft can cut them up on the roads, and without their bunkers, the artillery will be even more delightfully destructive amongst their ranks. If they don't move, then they'll eventually be surrounded. If their supplies of food are as poor as their equipment, they'll rapidly run out of capability to fight, and they'll have to surrender or starve.

I have revised and added to October 24th, 1935: The Battle of the Crooked J Redoubt: Part Four so for those interested please refer to it. Enjoy. Part Five will be up sometime today, or tomorrow - whichever comes first.

Aha, excellent; and takes into account the feedback, too. I like it.

I think Bulgaria will be readjusting its infantry doctrine in the aftermath of all of this to take advantage of hard lessons learned.

October 24th, 1935:

The Battle of the Crooked J Redoubt: Part Five

Major-General Witold Haller, lead his men into the attack, slamming hard up against the southern portion of the Bulgarian salient. Maj.General Sidor Malecka hit the northern and eastern fronts of the salient with two companies respectively. Lt.Colonel Rufin Gradawski directed the gunners of his 1st Wilno Army Reserve Artillery Battalion to relentlessly lash the Bulgarian grenadiers with high-explosive shells. Gradawski was concious of the fact, that he only had mere minutes to hit the Bulgarian salient with every gun, he had before his gunners were silenced forever by the Bulgarian counter-battery fire.

Lt.Colonel Simeon Grigorov and his men clung with stubborn gallantry to the hard-won entrenchments they had seized almost by accident in the morning. The soldiers of the I Battalion/13th Grenadiers, hammered back at the attacking Wilno soldiers, with every weapon they possessed. Grigorov, knew that his battalion would disintigrate if he tried to withdraw at this point. Shot twice through the arm and shoulder, a bloodied and nearly crippled Grigorov strove to keep his embattled men fighting.

Major-General Theodosi Petrov Daskalov after a short conference with his staff, decided on two courses of action. Firstly: Lt.Colonel Grigorov and the I Battalion/13th Grenadiers would be immediately reinforced by Lt.Colonel Nikola Hristov Aleksiev and his I Battalion/14th Grenadiers. Daskalov, desired to consolidate the salient that the 13th Grenadiers had lodged at some cost in blood into the Wilno Army of the Northeast's western defensive lines. Both the 1st and 20th Artillery Regiments were to provide fire support for the two battalions.

Secondly: Daskalov, ordered Colonel Popov to launch one last effort to seize the "Crooked J" Redoubt with the II Battalion/13th Grenadiers. Lt.Colonel Ganev and his III Battalion/13th Grenadiers would protect the right flank of this attack. With the redoubt securely in Bulgarian hands, as well an effective lodgement in their main line, the Wilno Army's whole defensive position would be imperiled. This Daskalov reasoned would permit the 1st Atlantean Expeditionary Division and the 3rd Dutch Marine Brigade to crush completely the Wilno Army of the Northeast, when they finally came into position to launch their planned flanking attacks.

Lieutenant-General Raoul Daufresne de le Chevalerie, was by this point more then mildly skeptical of Daskalov's plans, however he chose not to intervene. It was now almost noon, the morning's thick icy fog had finally disapated, pockets of drifting smoke caused by artillery fire covered portions of the battle field. The air had a crisp, chill quality about it, and the skies though threatening to become overcast again, were for the moment unusually clear and bright for October. The distant drone of aircraft engines could be faintly made out, and with each passing minute the drone increased in intensity.

Lieutenant-General Bartold Jasunski, watched the skies with increasing apprehension. LoN air support was something the Wilno Army had learned to fear with considerable justification. The Wilno Army of the Northeast had only a few anti-aircraft weapons of any real size or power, the majority being rifle-caliber machine-guns on high-angle mounts or light automatic cannons.

The overworked and by now rather frustrated gunners of the 1st and 20th Bulgarian Artillery Regiments, adjusted their fire at the command of their ground observer teams, seeking the gun flashes and the clouds of drifting smoke that represented the firing positions of the twenty remaining artillery pieces of the 1st Wilno Army Reserve Artillery Battalion.

Lt.Colonel Nikola Hristov Aleksiev and his I Battalion/14th Grenadiers moved swiftly forward from their position in reserve at the double-quick. Aleksiev was anxious to reach the I Battalion/13th Grenadiers quickly. Lt.Colonel Simeon Grigorov when told that elements of the 14th were coming up to aid him, felt much relieved, but warned Daskalov, that his position was still uncertain. The pressure was mounting on his lines, and Haller's and Malecka's repeated attacks were begining to make considerable headway. The unexpected and abrupt switching by the 5th Division's staff of the 1st and 20th Artillery to counter-battery fire from their intended support fire mission, wasn't helping the situation.

Three flights of Bulgarian crewed Focke-Wulf Fw 44 and DAR-3 appeared on the slate-grey horizon, the dozen observer aircraft bored in intently, zeroing in on the blaze of artillery fire and the patches of heavy smoke blanketing the battlefield. Behind them came several squadrons of Junker Ju-87 dive-bombers.

Colonel Popov, hurled the II Battalion into the smoldering ruins of the redoubt, as soon as the artillery fire shifted. Lt.Colonel Ganev, personally lead an improvised assault company in a supporting attack on the redoubt's southern entrenchments. The rest of the III Battalion/13th Grenadiers moved to mask the attacking company's own right flank from further Wilno assault. The Wilno resistence to this attack was falteringly weak but highly spirited. The Bulgarians once again found themselves locked in fierce close-quarters combat, as the battle sprawled and rocked back and forth through the contested field work. Foot by foot, the Wilno defenders were forced steadily back, one by one their trenches, and gun posts fell, either seized at literal bayonet-point or bombed out with hand-grenades.

Lt.Colonel Ganev, and his assault company - having something of an easier time of it, then the II Battalion in it's resumed advance - sealed the fate of the completely shattered Wilno redoubt by over-running the communications trench that attached the isolated redoubt to the main defensive lines. Ganev, then lead a rifle platoon of his command to capture the Crooked J Redoubt's headquarters or rather what was left of it. The rest of the assault company spread out and moved to assist the II Battalion, by taking the surviving Wilno defenders in the rear. To the immense chagrin of the men and officers of the II Battalion, they watched as a Bulgarian flag brought forward by the III Battalion, rose and fluttered defiantly over the center of the Wilno field works.

Seeing the white-green-red colours above their works, the disheartened and totally exhausted Wilno defenders began to surrender: at first in ones and twos, then by individual formations. Colonel Constantin Georgi Popov and Lt.Colonel Anton Stefanov Ganev had secured the "Crooked J" Redoubt on their second try, in a two-pronged attack lasting little more then half-an-hour. Major-General Theodosi Petrov Daskalov noted Popov's subsequent report of the Wilno redoubt's fall with a certain grim pleasure. The skies over the lines of the 5th Bulgarian Infantry Division suddenly flashed with searing fire: the 1st and 20th Artillery Regiments fired all one-hundred and fourty-four guns for the first time in anger. The Bulgarian drum-fire echoed and re-echoed amidst the Lithuanian woods, 76-mm, 105-mm and 149-mm weapons screamed their anger towards the grey sky. The first salvo of high explosive shells arced high, then crashed down amoungst the Wilno gun positions. Blast after blast geysered up into the air, tearing up ground, trees and Wilno entrenchments. On the first salvo's heels came a second and then a third salvo, in less then a minute some four-hundred and thirty-two rounds had been directed into Wilno Army's main positions. To the Wilno Army this inital counter-battery fire seemed to be almost indiscriminant but in practical effects highly effective: three of the Wilno Army ArtilleryReserve gun positions - two 75-mm guns and a 105-mm gun - were hit within two minutes and either knocked out or suffered heavy casualties amougst their crews. Two Bulgarian 149-mm shells detonated an ad hoc Wilno Army magazine of 75-mm shells. The subsequent explosion of this magazine took out several defensive trenches and bunkers around it, and cost the Wilno artillerists a significant amount of their remaining ammunition.

Major-General Daskalov ordered Colonel Nikolai Dimitrov Nedev, CO - 14th Grenadiers Regiment, to take command of the Bulgarian lodgement, which now composed the I Battalion/13th Grenadiers and the I Battalion/14th Grenadiers, in the main Wilno Army defensive line. Colonel Constantin Georgi Popov, Co - 13th Grenadiers would hold the captured forward redoubt with his II and III Battalions. As the two Bulgarian artillery regiments hammered the Wilno Army's artillery positions, Daskalov ordered his battalions to dig in and cease any further offensive operations. They were to hold and consolidate their current positions until further notice. Daskalov resolved after the experiences of the day, to bring up all three of his grenadier regiments before launching another attack upon the Wilno Army. It's unexpected determination and courage in desperate circumstances had had a profound upon Daskalov and his divisional staff's thinking in regards to future operations.

Lt.General Raoul Daufresne de le Chevallerie and Maj.General Theodosi Petrov Daskalov watched the bombardment with grim satisfaction. Wilno Maj.Generals Haller and Malecka's counter-attack against the 13th and 14th Grenadiers floundered when the first Bulgarian massed salvo screamed in upon them. By the time the third salvo came in, Witold Haller and Sidor Malecka were more concerned with preventing a panick-stricken retreat by their badly concussioned and shell-shocked men, then pressing their attack. Worse was to come, as three squadrons of Junker Ju-87s hurled down from on high, plastering the two Wilno battalions with high-explosive and fragmentary bombs.

High overhead, flight after flight of Junker Ju-52 transports and KB309 transport-bombers flew on towards Vaskes. Focke-Wulf Fw-187 and Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighters rotated in defensive formations around and above them. Two squadrons of Messerschmitt Bf-110 attack bombers lead the way, followed by the flights of Dornier Do-17 medium bombers from East Prussian air fields. The Bf-110s dove down onto Vaskes, launching bombs, and raking Wilno National Self-Defense Battalion positions, particularly any visable anti-aircraft emplacements with automatic cannon and machinegun fire. Selected flights of Bf-110s followed dropped a mixture of incendaries and smoke bombs to mark out targets for the approaching medium bombers. After several repeated passes by the Bf-110s, the Dornier Do-17s, began their own attack. Coming in at 8,000 feet, just above, Wilno AA artillery's effective range, the the graceful Dorniers aligned on their targets with smooth percision, their bomb-bay doors slowly snapped open. LoN troops in Vaskes watched open-mouthed as the thirty twin-engined bombers bored in, then instinctively ducked for cover as the first of the multi-kilogram bombs fell from their ventral bays.

The German bombs caused houses and bunkers within the Wilno defensive pockets to take to the air, as explosion after explosion rocked the shattered Lithuanian town. Wilno flak units responded fiercely but feebly to the massed air attack, many of their weapons had themselves been damaged or destroyed by the Bf-110s attacks, and those that survived were unable to reach the Do-17s, much less do them any significant damage.

The Junker Ju-52 and KB309 flights observed the medium bombers attack upon the main Wilno positions in Vaskes as they circled the town at a distance, then veered off to commence their own mission: to resupply the LoN garrison under General Kazim Orbay. Each of the German and Bulgarian aircraft were crammed to bursting with medical supplies, rations and munitions, each carefully packed into parachute fitted containers. The special flight of three Junker Ju-52s, made for the Vaskes air field with grim resolution, they carried vital medical supplies and surgeons urgently required by the LoN Field Hospital. Each of the Ju-52s had been fitted with extra improvised armour-plate, which gave them added protection against expected flak but made their three-engined plane even more sluggish to handle then usual.

The three German pilots made their approach in tandem, flights of Bf-109s raced down ahead of them, spraying Festung Kessel with machinegun fire to try and suppress it's defenders. A hail of small-arms fire came upto met them, from Maj.General Kornaski's defenders. LoN troops dug in around the airfield, added their quotient of suppressing fire against the Wilno troops in Festung Kessel. Leutnant Hans Oehler ordered his remaining artillery pieces into action, and plastered the ruins of the improvised field fortress with a mix of smoke and high-explosives. The first Ju-52 , with Feldwebel Max Schowe at the controls, made it's approach and landing surpisingly without incident, dispite being struck by ground fire repeatedly. German troops on the ground hurriedly ran to the aircraft to haul the supplies and personel out of the idling Ju-52. The Second Ju-52 wasn`t as fortunate in it`s landing attempt, coming down to too sharply it bounced on it`s first contact with the badly damaged and debris covered airfield.

The pilot - Leutnant Werner Massenback - managed to regain control, and set the bulky, heavily laiden aircraft down, only to career wildly when one of the plane's tires blewout into the wreck of an aircraft which tore the starboard wing of the Ju-52 off at the tip, causing the plane to spin wildly down the rest of the runway. The crippled Junker Ju-52 came to an abrupt and gut wrenching stop when its momentum carried it off the runway, and rammed it`s now useless landing gear into a slit trench, who's occupant German riflemen managed to evacuate at top speed.

The third Junker Ju-52 made its landing, under Leutnant Gotthard von Winterhagen, managing buy dint of skill and luck to dodge both incoming ground fire, the various wreckage and avoid running down any of the troops scattering across the airfield. LoN troops, swiftly moved the cargo to relative safety, along with the vital surgeons. Leutnant Massenbach, the senior Luftwaffe pilot decided after consulting with his fellows, that an effort to fly the two Ju-52s that remained operational wasn't at present advised. Despite the bombing, artillery and infantry fire being directed into it, Festung Kessel was showing considerable resistance, and a full scale battle seemed about to erupt around it, as the LoN troops nearest it tried to suppress it's Wilno defenders.

Generalmajor Erik Hansen order the two Junker Ju-52s hauled into improvised sandbag and timber shelters that had been constructed for them the previous day. German and Bulgarian soldiers directed by the Luftwaffe aircrews, manovered the two planes by hand with cables and chains, lacking any towing vehicles with which to do the work. The other Ju-52 was found to be firmly wedged into the slit trench, and it was decided to leave it there, until a proper salvage attempt could be made at a later date.

The Junker Ju-52 and KB309s used the Vaskes airfield as a point of reference, and began making their para-drop to the south of it. The prevailing winds, which at that moment came from the west, would it was hoped not carry the floating supply canisters too far. For the most part, most of the canisters landed in the LoN West Vaskes Defensive Pocket, either near the airfield or in surrounding farm fields. A smaller portion landed in Central Vaskes, and resulted in several violent running skirmishes erupting between Wilno and LoN troops as both sides made mad dashes to recover the drifting canisters. It was later estimated that approximately 60% of the supply canisters were immediately recovered by the LoN Garrison, with approximately 17% being recovered by the Wilno National Self-Defense Battalion. The remaining 23% either went missing, was damaged beyond use due to impact with the ground or chute failures or wasn't found and recovered until well after the seige of the LoN Garrison in Vaskes was well over.

Lt.General Raoul Daufresne de le Chevalerie at his temporary headquarters outside Vaskes, observed the air operations with some satisfaction. After reviewing both air and ground reports, forwarded to him. De le Chevalerie decide to call a halt to all immediate operations of the II LoN Field Corps. The weather was shifting ominously again, and further air support was considered by Colonel Froehlich to be risky in light of prevailing weather forecasts, at least for the present. Further the Bulgarian artillery regiments reported that they were running short of ammunition, and required time to bring up fresh stocks. Major-General Daskalov reported that the 5th Infantry Division had effectively secured it's objectives, and could afford to break-off offensive operations, until such time as the 1st Atlantean Expeditionary Division and 3rd Dutch Marine Brigade were in position to attack.

Maj.General Daskalov, after his experiences of the day, was now very unwilling to attack the Wilno Army of the Northeast again, or at least, not without his full artillery support and all three of his grenadier regiments in the battle line. The battle for the Wilno advanced redoubt had been a sobering lesson for the Bulgarian Army divisional commander and his divisional staff. Any previous assumptions he or they, had entertained about the Wilno Army's ability and willningness to fight had gone through a ruthless and uncompromising reappraisal.

Heh, approaching aircraft engines...... Some folks are about to get presents....

...via air mail!

I have added to the existing( although still more to be added yet ) October 24th, 1935: The Battle of the Crooked J Redoubt: Part Five and hope to have it finished shortly, enjoy.

Ok, Part Five finally finished: Please refer back to it, and enjoy. On to Part Six! (mad scribbling and note making...)

60% of the para-dropped supplies recovered? That's pretty decent, considering, especially since there's no air opposition and this is a short-term project. Gah, got to get some clear weather so the Ju-87s can plaster Festung Kessel, the real pity is that 1935 is just too early for Ju-87Ds or Ju-88s, either of those planes could drop much bigger bombs than the -87Bs can carry.

....nashing my teeth waiting for the 1st Atlantean expeditionary division along with the Dutch marines to make their move!

October 24th/25th, 1935:

The late afternoon and night of the 24th was a period of frenzied activity by both the forces of the League of Nations and the Wilno Republic, and even more atrocious weather. The mauled Wilno Army of the Northeast, under Lieutenant-General Bartold Jasunski worked hard to shore up their battered defenses. The battles of the morning and afternoon of the 24th of October had cost the defending 1st and 4th Wilno Field Battalions and the supporting 1st Army Reserve Artillery Battalion dearly in both men and material. The prospects for a continued resistence by the Army of the Northeast were bleak. Food, water and ammunition were extremely short, medical supplies were now all but non-existent. The Wilno artillery had lost several guns to Bulgarian counter-battery fire, or air attack. Far worse was the destruction of a large portion of the field artillery's ammunition stock, and the disorganization of the Wilno artillery's communications and direction system.

The morale of the surviving Wilno soldiers was extremely brittle, a hard enough blow by the LoN II Field Corps would in all likelihood send them flying all to pieces. Maj.Generals Witold Haller, and Sidor Malecka reckoned that their respective battalions could hold out under another serious attack for no more then an hour, before they disintigrated: any other result was an unrealistic fantasy. Maj.Generals Jaroslaw Laskowska and Peter Radowski, believed their 2nd and 3rd Field Battalions were capable of a more sustained resistence, then the 1st and 4th, but agreed with Haller and Malecka that a very prolonged resistence wasn't just unfeasible it was asking the impossible. Major Valerius Dobovsky, commander of the combined 9th/10th NSD Wing, agreed with the pessimistic appraisal of the situation put forth by his military collegues to the surprise of both Jasunski's staff and battalion commanders.

Lt.General Bartold Jasunski was caught between his orders from Marshal Letowska to offer a continued resistence to LoN efforts outside Vaskes, and the realisation that his orders were in present circumstances, ludicious in the extreme. To offer further battle with the LoN forces was to court destruction, to surrender to them without a fight was likewise unthinkable. Marshal Aleksy Letowska appraised of the situation, refused to counterance surrender. He reiterated his orders to all commands for maximum resistence.

Wilno national resistence was now centered on four locations, none of which despite sustained effort offered a realistic chance for victory, much less that of staving off total miltary defeat for the Wilno Republic. The Wilno Army of the Northeast stood increasingly isolated to the west of Vaskes, as did the 2nd Grand Wing, holding out in the Festung Kessel. Both forces were virtually surrounded by LoN units, reinforcement of these positions was impractical as it would only weaken the other defensive pockets. The 1st Grand Wing, clung to the Wilno offices of Government, and while its defensive works were creditable, the elimination of the of the Wilno Army and the 2nd Grand Wing would make it's position untendable. Further east, the 3rd Grand Wing, made it's stand, and it was as isolated from assistance as the Wilno Army and 2nd Grand Wing, although not as yet faced with the tactical envelopment that threatened the other Wilno points of resistence.

Wilno Republican Order of Battle: Oct, 24th/25th, 1935

Wilno Republican Military Forces: Marshal Aleksy Letowska

Wilno NSD Battalion Chief-of-Staff: Lt. Colonel Jerzy Cywinska

Festung Kessel Defensive Pocket: Major-General Ziven Konarski, CO - 2rd NSD Grand Wing
- ad hoc elements of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th NSD Wings

Wilno Governmental Defensive Pocket: Major-General Boleslaw Guttowa, CO - 1st NSD Grand Wing
- remaining ad hoc elements of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th NSD Wings, 4th NSD Wing, NSD Artillery Reserve

Vaskes Eastern Defensive Pocket: Major-General Benedek Koberda, CO - 3rd NSD Grand Wing
- 6th, 7th, 8th NSD Wings, detached elements of the NSD Artillery Reserve

The Wilno NSD Cavalry Reserve, under Lt.Colonel Patryk von Kloskowska continued to hold it's screening position covering the gap between the Wilno Army Defensive Pocket and the Wilno Governmental Defensive Pocket.

Wilno Army of the Northeast Defensive Pocket: Lt. General Bartold Jasunski
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Wilno Army Field Battalions,
- 1st Army Reserve Artillery Battalion,
- combined 9th/10th NSD Wing

The LoN relief columns continued their effort to effect the encirclement of Vaskes. Slogging once again through pouring rains, and increasingly cold as night fell, The I LoN Field Corps, under Luitenant-Generaal Jurian van Loon, stood to the northwest of the Wilno capital. The energetic van Loon was once again to spend a sleepless day and night, urging on his men, as often as not supervising their march from the back of an open-topped staff car or on foot, covered in mud, and soaked to the skin. The II LoN Field Corps under Lieutenant-General Raoul Daufresne de le Chevalerie, stood poised to destroy the Wilno Army of the Northeast to the west of Vaskes. While the 2nd LoN Field Column, under Lt.Colonel Wilhelm Berlin, had placed itself in an effective position to attack Vaskes from the southeast. The 1st Nordmark Armoured Division side-stepped the II LoN Field Corps, and moved to array itself for an attack into Vaskes from the south.

The LoN Vaskes Garrison, freshly supplied by the efforts of the German and Bulgarian air force units at the disposal of the Fliegerfuehrer Lituanen, readied itself to support the expected LoN relief columns.

The units of the Fliegerfuehrer Lituanen, worked through the night to ready all available aircraft, while the heavy rains of the 24th grounded the Bulgarian and German aircraft operating from Vilnius, and several improvised forward airfields set up within the contested area. Colonel Froehlich and his staff anxiously monitored incoming weather forecasts both from German, Nordmarkish, Russian and Lithuanian sources. Sporadic breaks in the appalling weather were expected during the morning and late afternoon of the 25th, and a general clearing of the prevailing weather pattern was expected by the 26th. Colonel Froehlich intended to be fully ready to launch whatever air support that could be mustered when the oppertunity arose.

League of Nations Wilno Task Force Order of Battle: Oct 24/25th, 1935

LoN Wilno Task Force: General Kazim Orbay

LoN Occupational Garrisons:
Northern Wilno Sector: Colonel Irfan Cayir Pasha
- II, III Battalions/8th Turkish Infantry Regiment

Western and Central Wilno Sector: Colonel Erich von Eisen
- I, II Battalions/39th German Infantry Regiment

Eastern Wilno Sector: Lt.Colonel Kiril Zhulin-Koulin
- 97th Royal Bulgarian Infantry Battalion
- 3rd, 4th, 6th Royal Bulgarian Cavalry Battalions
- 1st Royal Bulgarian Motorized Battalion

Southern Wilno Sector: Colonel Andre Bogaerts
- I, II Battalions/5th Ardeense Jagers Regiment

Stationed throughout Wilno Republic on security, police & fire-base support duties:
- II Battalion/17th German Field Artillery Regiment
- 1 Company of Mounted Belgian Military Police
- 2 Companies of Belgian Military Police
- 1 Company of Italian Carabinieri Military Police
- 1 Atlantean Military Police Company
- 7 Battalions/Wilno Civil Watch Corps
- 3 Belgian Motorized Transport Companies

Stationed in Vilnius, Lithuania:
- FliegerFuehrer Lituanen,
- 1st LoN Task Force Field Hospital

LoN Vaskes Garrison: General Kazim Orbay
- I Battalion/8th Turkish Infantry Regiment
- III Battalion/39th German Infantry Regiment
- Field Artillery Batterie "Oehler"/II Battalion/17th German Field Artillery Regiment
- 99th Royal Bulgarian Infantry Battalion
- 4th Turkish Armoured Car Company
- Dutch Engineering Company "Welker"
- Dutch Air Support Company "Verstappen"
- 18th Royal Bulgarian Supply Battalion
- Belgian Combined Motorized Transport Company
- 6th, 8th Battalions/Wilno Civil Watch Corps
- Civil Watch Training Battalion
- LoN Combined Staff Battalion

Vaskes West: Generalmajor Erik Hansen - defending the airfield, primary field artillery position and LoN Logistics Depot: I Battalion/8th Turkish Infantry Regiment, III Battalion/39th German Infantry Regiment, 18th Royal Bulgarian Supply Battalion, Field Battery "Oehler"/II Battalion/17th German Field Artillery Regiment, and Dutch Air Support Company "Verstappen"

Vaskes Central: Lt.Colonel Halil Gurdal - defending the LoN Field Headquarters, Main Barracks: 6th, 8th Battalions/Wilno Civil Watch Corps, Combined Staff Battalion, and 4th Turkish Armoured Car Company

Vaskes East: Colonel Todor Lazov Krstev - defending the 2nd LoN Field Hospital: 99th Royal Bulgarian Infantry Battalion, Dutch Engineering Company "Welker", Civil Watch Training Battalion, Belgian Combined Motorized Transport Company

I LoN Field Corps: Lt.General Jurian van Loon
1st LoN Field Column: Colonel Rafail Knev Zhechev
- 2nd Royal Dutch Guards Dragoon Regiment,
- 2nd, 4th Battalions/Wilno Civil Watch Corps,
- II Battalion/8th Turkish Infantry Regiment,
- 6th Turkish Armoured Car Company,
- 2nd Royal Dutch Guards Dragoons Support Artillery Battalion,
- LoN field artillery batteries "Hadschieff"and "Stadloben"

LoN Mobile Brigade: General de Brigade Yvanne Louis Gerard
- 2nd Jagers te Paard Regiment
- 2/1st Belgian Lancers Cavalry Regiment
- 4th, 5th German Reconnaissance Battalions
- 1st Atlantean Reconnaissance Battalion
- LoN field batteries "Eisler", "Bolkart" and "Leucht"

Legion Orange Brigade: Brigade-Generaal Jacob Snellensoon
- 1st, 2nd Legion Oranje Infantry Battalions
- Legion Oranje Armoured Battalion
- Legion Oranje Field Artillary Battalion

II LoN Field Corps: Lieutenant-General Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie
5th Bulgarian Infantry Division: Major-General Theodosi Petrov Daskalov
- 13th, 14th, 15th Grenadier Regiments,
- 1st Artillery Regiment,
- 20th Artillery Regiment

1st Atlantean Expeditionary Division: Major-General Arikus Patreaus
- 1st Corsair Regiment,
- 1st, 2nd, 3rd special purpose infantry regiments,
- 14th tank battalion.

3rd Dutch Marine Brigade: Luitenant-Generaal Henrius Fabius
- 31st, 32nd, 33rd Marine Regiments
- two attached armored reconnaissance companies

WilnoTask Force Mobile Reserve:
1st Nordmark Armoured Division: Major-General Hans Enfeldt

Operating Independently:

2nd LoN Field Column: Lieutenant-Colonel Wilhelm Berlin
- 1st, 3rd, 9th Battalions/Wilno Civil Watch Corps
- II Battalion/39th German Infantry Regiment,
- II Battalion/5th Ardeense Jagers Regiment,
- 11th Atlantean Armoured Car Company,
- LoN field artillery batteries "Kohlisch" and "Ringstorff"

FliegerFuehrer Lituanen: Colonel Stefan Froehlich
- German and Bulgarian air units

October 24th/25th, 1935:

Lt.Colonel Wilhelm Berlin finds himself standing in the pouring rain with his staff, just a mile southeast of Vaskes, it is some hours after nightfall. Vaskes battered by battle, bombs and gunfire looks burnt out, deserted and desolate. Berlin knows this is deceptive, LoN troops and the Wilno National Self-Defense Battalion stand within pistol shot of each other. Berlin's men are wet, tired and hungry, but keen to come to grips with their enemy and march to the relief of their comrades within Vaskes.

Lt.Colonel Berlin, as he did at the Adomas Line, consults his subordinates: Lieutenant Boris Aleksei Lalenkov, CO - 1st Battalion, Lieutenant Arnaud Dazincourt, CO - 3rd Battalion, and Oberleutnant Lothar von Marquardt, CO - 9th Battalion/Wilno Civil Watch Corps, Major Harry von Platt, CO - II Battalion/39th German Infantry Regiment, Major Frederic Dison, CO - II Battalion/5th Ardeense Jagers Regiment, and Captain Tarl Narse, CO - 11th Atlantean Armoured Car Company, and Faehnrichs Karl Sebastien Kohlisch and Bernhard Edler von Ringstorff, COs of the LoN field artillery batteries "Kohlisch" and "Ringstorff" respectively. After some moments discussion, Berlin decides to attack, despite the light and weather conditions. Berlin is mindful of the small convoy of supply trucks and wagons at the back of his column. They carry supplies needed by the LoN Garrison, Berlin due to a communications glitch is unaware that the LoN Vaskes Garrison's supply needs have been partially filled by the air drop earlier in the day.

Through higher headquarters communications and supplementary reconnaissance reports dropped to him by aircraft, Lt.Colonel Berlin and his battalion commanders, have a fair idea of the tactical situation in Vaskes. Berlin, decides to make a sortie to the relief of the 2nd LoN Field Hospital in eastern Vaskes, which lies closest to his current line of advance. Field Batteries "Kohlisch" and "Ringstorff" unlimber their 76.2-mm guns, and prepare to offer supporting fire, as the 11th Atlantean Armoured Car Company trundles forward to reconnotier the ground. Meanwhile the 1st Battalion/CWC stands in support of the two field batteries, while, the 3rd and 9th Battalions/CWC take position on the the batteries left and right flanks respectively. The II Battalion/39th German Infantry Regiment takes its place on the field column's left flank, while the II Battalion/5th Ardeense Jagers Regiment takes the right flank.

Lt.Colonel Wilhelm Berlin, watches his troops dispositions with care, satisfied he makes ready to order a general advance as soon the way is cleared by the Atlanteans. Berlin, radio's his intentions to the Headquarters of the II LoN Field Corps, which acknowledges them. Lt.General Daufresne de le Chevalerie, is pleased at his initiative and gives the attack his blessing, although he warns Berlin that he can not expect any support. Berlin's staff also radios, General Orbay's headquarters to appraise them of what they are going to attempt, and try to co-ordinate a link-up. To Berlin's senior radio officer's intial puzzelment, then frustrated exasperation, he finds he cannot raise, Orbay's HQ. Due to yet another staff/communications error, that was to plague the LoN forces at critical moments through the Wilno Crisis: no one had thought to pass the frequency on which Orbay's radio was operating to the 2nd LoN Field Column.

The darkness of the night, was abruptly shattered by gun flashs as the Atlantean armoured cars, collided with a line outposts pushed forward from Maj.General Benedek Koberda's 3rd NSD Grand Wing. Kohlisch and Ringstorff ordered their gunners to open fire. 76.2-mm shells roared into the Wilno positions, explosions blossomed amidst the buildings, throwing up debris and smoke. The noise of the shell impacts competed with the deafening rumble of thunder and the hiss of falling rain. The snap and crackle of small-arms fire soon made itself heard above the din. The detachment of guns from the NSD Artillery Reserve attached to the 3rd Grand Wing, began to fire wildly back, a blazing artillery duel began.

Both General Kazim Orbay, and Marshal Aleksy Letowska were jolted awake from an exhausted sleep by the completely unexpected sound of artillery fire rolling through the darkened streets of Vaskes. Both Colonel Todor Lazov Krstev, commander of the LoN Vaskes East Defensive Pocket, and Major-General Benedek Koberda, CO - 3rd NSD Grand Wing who were both nearer to the developing action had been awake, were equally startled. Colonel Krstev had been in the act of prowling his defensive lines, checking the physical state of the defensive works, seeing that supplies were properly distributed and bucking up the morale of his bewildering mix of Bulgarian, Dutch, Belgian and Wilno-Lithuanian men of his command. On being warned by reports from his outposts of the sounds of motor vehicles outside the LoN perimeter, Krstev had raced back to his Headquarters, to try and get a handle on the situation. The colonel had just reached it, when the night sky was lite by gun flashes and the rumble of artillery began to compete with the rumble of thunder.

Major-General Benedek Koberda, had himself been doing much the same thing as his opposite number, although with far less success, as his men faced the prospects of another battle without necessary supplies, a scarcity of heavy weapons and steadily faultering morale and fighting spirit. Koberda, had recieved similiar reports to Krstev, at about the same time, and likewise raced to his headquarters to try and assertain the situation.

For Lieutenant-Colonel Wilhelm Berlin, the sitaution was both a lot more clearer, and a whole lot less satisfactory. The Atlantean armoured cars, had brushed up forcefully against a line of outposts and videttes manned by Self-Defense men of the 8th NSD Wing. While they had crumpled readily enough after the first hard contact with the 11th Atlantean Armoured Car Company, especially, when Faehnrichs Karl Sebastien Kohlisch and Bernhard Edler von Ringstorff started lobbing 76.2-mm shells amidst their slit trenches and fox holes. They had forced Captain Tarl Narse to retire momentarily, and sensiblely in Berlin's opinion, and call for infantry assistance.

Lt.Colonel Berlin, immediately sent the II Battalion/5th Ardeense Jagers Regiment forward. Deploying skillfull into skirmish lines, the Belgian troops advance swiftly up to cover the armoured cars, as the raced back into the darkness. Within minutes the Belgians and the Wilno self-defense men were trading volleys across the fields. Oberleutnant Lothar von Marquardt, CO - 9th Battalion/Wilno Civil Watch Corps in a fine display of initative, ordered his men forward in support of the Belgian battalion. Major Dison, who's advance had temporarily been halted by the Wilno outposts fire, resumed the attack as the 9th Battalion came up on his left flank. At that moment, Captain Narse, also ordered his armoured cars to return to the fray, weapons blazing they truddled up to give much appreciated fire support. Pressured by the aggressive tactical handling of two artillery batteries, two rifle battalions and a full company of armoured fighting vehicles, the 8th NSD Wing, could take no more, and suddenly dissolved into a panic-stricken retreat, that it's commander, neither ordered nor could control. The counter-attack of the of the 7th and 8th NSD Wings, fragmented into chaos, as the 8th Wing fell back unexpectedly and over-ran the Wilno artillery positions, forcing the Wilno artillery to cease-fire momentarily. Koberda was forced to use the men of the 7th NSD Wing, to hold the front together, and try and halt the uncontrolled stampede of the 8th NSD Wing.

Which, now meant of course, that Lt.Colonel Berlin and his 2nd LoN Field Column had to force their way into a fortified town, in the dark, and the rain, and without a clear idea of where their enemy and more importantly friendly forces were beyond what previous airel reports and radio communications with the Ladyga HQ had possessed.

Both Krstev, and Koberda ordered their respective commands to full alert, and prepared for the worst. Both commanders also turned to their respective higher headquarters for guidance and more importantly instructions. General Orbay, already appraised that LoN relief forces would be making attempts on the ground on the 25th, was not as surprised by this night time attack, as his Wilno National Self-Defense Force counter-parts. What he did not know for sure at the moment was weather it was being effected by the 1st Nordmark Armoured Divison or by the 2nd LoN Field Column, either was possible given what he knew of their time-tables, from Lt.General Daufresne de le Chevalerie's communications. Conscious that a confused situation might result in a diasterous friendly fire incident between LoN troops, Orbay, flatly ordered Colonel Krstev, not to make any aggressive tactical moves until he was sure of the situation. Krstev, himself was sufficiently amprehensive about the prospect of accidently firing into their relief, that he followed Orbay's flat order with one of his own: No unit was to fire without HIS direct order.

A groggy, Marshal Letowska demanded to know from Koberba, what was going on. Was the Wilno Army of the Northeast, launching a counter-attack? Benedek Koberda, who well knew the situation in which his collegue and friend, Lt.General Bartold Jasunski and his battalion commanders were in, had to forcefully bite back an angrily snarled, high explosive and expletive laiden reply. Just what the hell had that idiot, Lt. Colonel Jerzy Cywinska at Wilno NSD Headquarters been telling, the Marshal? It took, Maj.General Koberda some valuable minutes to patiently and carefully explain that the action that was occuring not to the west of Vaskes, but to the southeast! A direction that had not been heavily factored into Wilno defensive plans, until now.

At this Marshal Letowska finally came awake, and demanded the 3rd Grand Wing, make an immediate counter-attack with all available units. The LoN forces attacking had to be thrown back as soon as possible. Koberda explained that a counter-attack of that scale was not possible in the face of the LoN Garrison, which would undoubtable response in support of the relief column. After some argument, Korberda agreeded to commit, the 7th and 8th NSD Wings, leaving the 6th NSD Wing to screen the LoN Garrison positions in eastern Vaskes.

In the thirty minutes that Koberda and Letowska had spent discussing the developing situation, the 2nd LoN Field Column, had made a great deal of headway into Vaskes. Both the II Battalion/5th Ardeense Jagers and the 9th Battalion, found themselves clashed bitterly with the 7th NSD Wing for control of the houses and buildings of eastern Vaskes. Maj.General Koberda had managed to stop and rally, the 8th Wing, and was hurriedly trying to put them together sufficiently to launch at least a limited counter-attack. Berlin decided to take a calculated risk and ordered both Lieutenant Boris Aleksei Lalenkov and his 1st Battalion and Major Harry von Platt and his II Battalion/39th German Infantry Regiment, forward to join the battle. Faehnrich Karl Sebastien Kohlisch used this infantry movement to limber up his 76.2-mm field guns and move forward to support the German and Civil Watch battalions in their advance. Bernhard Edler von Ringstorff kept his gunners in position and continued to plaster visable Wilno field works or troops with shell fire.

Colonel Krstev, recieved a flood of reports from his own outposts of unidentified armoured vehicles and infantry advancing into Vaskes. They were driving elements of the Wilno 3rd Grand Wing, before them, but as yet had not advanced in the field hospital's direction.

Lt.Colonel Wilhelm Berlin, had now committed himself fully to his night attack, sending forward both his artillery batteries, and four of his six rifle battalions and his armoured car company. It seemed to be paying off, with a gratifyingly solid advance, by his troops. Berlin, however was wary, he had not yet encountered the LoN Garrsion, and was still worried about accidently bumbing into them in the darkness. He ordered Lalenkov and von Platt, to advance their battalions with some deliberation as they made in the direction of the 2nd LoN Field Hospital.

At approximately one hour after midnight, forward elements of the 39th German Infantry Regiment's II battalion made contact with outposts of the 99th Bulgarian Infantry Battalion. Both Colonels Krstev, and Berlin, met for the first time since the siege had begun. The two officers grasped hands to the cheers of their respective troops. Maj.General Koberda, was informed of the juncture of LoN troops some minutes later. However Koberda could do nothing about it as the II Battlion/5th Ardeense Jagers Regiment, the 9th Civil Watch Battalion and 11th Atlantean Armoured Car Company were pressing him warmly, supported by both LoN artillery batteries. In point of fact, three enterprising Atlantean armoured cars with a platoon of Belgian jaegers in support had come within an ace of overruning, Koberda's headquarters!

Lt.Colonel Wilhelm Berlin, exhausted and wet, as his troops decided to call off his attack. After being in action for some hours. His men need food, and ammunition and above all some sleep! Linking his own lines into Krstev's, Berlin and his unit commanders hoped to resume their attack in the morning. They had relieved the LoN Garrison's eastern defensive pocket, and brought in further much needed extra military and civilian supplies, by their effort. An extremely tired, Lt.Colonel Berlin, made a direct report to General Kazim Orbay, in his HQ in the Central Vaskes defensive pocket.

"2nd LoN Field Column, reporting as ordered, to Wilno Field Taskforce headquarters." Berlin responded wearily, but managed a crisp if somewhat water-logged salute, when presented to General Kazim Orbay. "Sorry, were late, but we had some trouble on the way." Berlin remarked wryly.
"We, all have." Orbay responded, clasping Berlin's shoulders with both hands. "We could not be more delighted to see you, it means things are almost over for us, or at least I would to Allah, that they are so."

"Germans to the left of them, Belgians to the right of them, into the valley of Vaskes rode the Atlanteans....." <chuckle>

Ok, the night battle of the 24th/25th is over, made some additions and revisions, especially when I realised I had the positons of some units reversed! Enjoy! At any rat, now on to the morning of the 25th!

Quoted

Originally posted by Agent148
t.Colonel Berlin, immediately sent the II Battalion/5th Ardeense Jagers Regiment forward. Deploying skillfull into skirmish lines, the Belgian troops advance swiftly up to cover the armoured cars, as the raced back into the darkness. Within minutes the Germans and the Wilno self-defense men were trading volleys across the fields.

Hmmmm, I think both the German and Belgian troops might be a bit unhappy to be mistaken for the other.


On the other hand, commendations are in order for the troops of Lt. Col. Berlin's command, who have now broken the siege of Vaskes!

Oh Fudge! Knew I missed one of those unit mix-ups! Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Hrolf. Have to make the necessary corrections - again. What I get for typing things up in the middle of the night, and trying to proof-read through bleary eyes, lol.

Quoted

Originally posted by Agent148
at incentive

Should probably be "at his initiative".

October 25th, 1935:

Lieutenant-General Raoul Daufresne de la Chevalerie, Commander of the II LoN Field Corps, reviewed his staff's battle plans during the previous night, for the resumption of the battle against the Wilno Army of the Northeast, and again at dawn with his senior tactical officers. Further he had conferred at some length with General Kazim Orbay, via radio. General Orbay, was prepared to maintain his forces within Vaskes on a general defensive status, freshly arrived supplies still needed to be thoroughly distributed before large-scale offensive operations could be considered by the exhausted LoN garrison troops. They could support in a limited fashion attacks by units of the I and II LoN Field Corps, but were not in a position physically or materially to effect them on their own.

Daufresne de la Chevalerie, ventured the opinion that the 2nd LoN Field Column could be used to launch further attacks against Letowska's defensive pockets, however both Orbay and Berlin, pointed out that this wasn't feasible at present, the soldiers of the field column, were exhausted and worn-out, from their forced marches and subsequent battle to enter Vaskes. Like the LoN garrison, they needed some time to both refit and rest.

Thus, any League of Nations offensive action must come from outside Vaskes, rather then inside it. Which ment of course, the two field corps, poised to the west and northwest of Vaskes. Lt.General Daufresne de le Chevalerie and Lt.General Jurian van Loon conferred with each other to sort out their respective plans. Patrolling and reconnaissances by elements of the 2/1st Belgian Lancers Cavalry Regiment, 4th and 5th German Reconnaissance Battalions had given Lt.General van Loon a fairly comprehensive picture of the Wilno troops to his immediate front. Van Loon observed that his front was very thinly covered by the Wilno NSD Cavalry Reserve, but clear gaps yawned between the Cavalry Reserve's own left and right flanks and the Wilno Army defensive box and the Wilno Governmental Defensive Pocket, that it was ment to protectively screen respectively.

Piron, Krebs and Luck, the Belgian and German cavalry and reconnaissance battalion commanders were of the considered opinion that a sharp, well concentrated attack on the Cavalry Reserve would be successful. However, such an attack was only desirable if it eliminated the Wilno Cavalry Reserve as a significant asset to the Wilno defenders. Van Loon agreed with this assessment, and advocated somewhat surprisingly to some of his subordinates, given his earlier caution, an enveloping attack that would pin the Wilno Self-Defense cavalrymen in place. The plan van Loon evolved consisted essentially in ulitizing the two german reconnaissance battalions in a right flank attack, while the Belgian cavalry and Atlantean reconnaissance battalion worked against the left flank. The 2nd Jagers te Paard Regiment, supported by LoN field batteries "Eisler", "Bolkart" and "Leucht", would be used to pin the Wilno Cavalry Reserve's front with a series of limited spoiling attacks. The Legion Oranje units would constitue the tactical reserve to be used as circumstances dictated. Once the Wilno Cavalry Reserve was firmly pinned down, Van Loon intended to crush them flat using the Legion Oranje's armour and artillery.

Lt.General Daufresne de le Chevalerie, considered this plan and gave it his approval, but inquired as to what role was envisioned for the 1st LoN Field Column. Van Loon, noted that he felt the Mobile Brigade was sufficient to deal with the Wilno Cavalry and intended to deploy the 1st LoN Field Column under Colonel Rafail Knev Zhechev in a supporting attack with a view to bringing the Wilno Governmental Pocket under pressure to prevent it deploying it's contingent in support of either the Wilno Army or the Cavalry Reserve in a potentially frustrating manner for the league of Nations troops. After some further discussion, Daufresne de le Chevalerie, also approved this plan.

The II LoN Field Corps's own plan of attack was in point of fact dictated by both the state of the ground, and the disposition of it's troops on three widely separated lines of march. The 5th Bulgarian Infantry Divsion, under Major-General Theodosi Petrov Daskalov was now up and fully concentrated and would resume its attack on the Wilno Army of the Northeast's western frontage. The 1st Atlantean Expeditionary Divison, under Major-General Arikus Patreaus which was now in position to attack the Wilno Army with a practical weight of arms, would address itself to the Wilno Army's southern flank, while the 3rd Dutch Marine Brigade, under Luitenant-Generaal Henrius Fabius would attack the northern flank. All three divisional/brigade commanders expressed confidence in both the planned attack, and in their respective troops to carry it out. With ten infantry regiments, two artillery regiments, one tank battalion and two armoured reconnaissance companies massed against five battalions and a single weak artillery battalion, their confidence was understandable.

Lt.General Raoul Daufresne de le Chevalerie, informed Major-General Hans Enfeldt, the commander of the 1st Nordmark Armoured Division, that he was to categorically ignore the battle with the Wilno Army of the Northeast, and proceed with all possible speed along his current line of march to the south of the 1st Atlantean Expeditionary Division, by passing the Wilno Army altogether and then turn north to enter Vaskes from the south, relieveing both the Vaskes West and Vaskes Central LoN defensive pockets. Once these areas had been secured, Maj.General Enfeldt was give the discretion of proceeding to launch attacks upon any Wilno National Self-Defense Battalion positions he deemed necessary. All tactical commanders are warned that air support will be dictated by the day's weather and the ground conditions at the Vilnius and forward improvised support air fields, which could result in it being available in full force, dribs and drabs or not at all.