The Giftunheile
| Operation Green Marauder | |||||||||
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| Part of Wars of the Disinherited | |||||||||
 Ruins of Northern Ostlander towns |
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 Floria Supported by: |  Ostland  Confederacy of the Dispossessed.
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: Army Group East
| Wehrmacht
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The Giftunheile was an illegal invasion of Ostland by Floria triggered after events in Ostland. The aim was to overthrow the Ostlander regime, remove the Confederacy presence and establish a pro-Raspur Pact Government. Unlike Floria's invasion of Port Balaine conducted under Ronald Trueman, the invasion was more supported by Raspur Pact nations, particularly in the Keltia region who were struggling against the Confederacy of the Dispossessed.
The invasion was the first and most significant action of Isabelle Chopin's tenure as President of Floria. The operation had mixed results at the end of the conflict, the Confederacy of the Dispossessed hiding in the country were defeated however Ostland would replace its government with leadership from Otto Eisenmann, not a Pro Raspurian leadership group which was an intended objective. The use of chemical weapons used in the invasion has long tarnished Floria's reputation globally and Florian historians stated that its armed forces would be known as the "antagonists you would want to kill in a video game for many years to come".
The primary justification for the invasion centred around claims that Ostland was threatened by the growing Bassarid influence of the Confederacy of the Dispossessed with the king openly supporting the insurgent group. The Bassarids have been designated as a long-time enemy of the Florian state since Floria left the USSO and have had cold relations ever since. With the king openly supporting the Haifo-Pallisican Imperial Trade Union and linked insurgent groups, President Chopin decided to invade Ostland and eliminate Bassarid influence at all costs.
The conflict was Floria’s first and only major involvement against the Confederacy of the Dispossessed. It would also be Floria’s last major conflict as a member of the Raspur Pact. The war would lead to millions of deaths, mostly civilian, creating lasting geopolitical effects in Floria, contributing to Chopin's assassination and regional war.
In 1738 AN years after the conclusion of the conflict, the Florian supreme court would open an inquest over the invasion and the atrocities made during the conflict formally declaring the invasion unlawful and high-ranking armed forces officials as well as the remainder of President Chopin's cabinet were sentenced to life punishment.
Background
Events (Invasion)
Deployment into Keltia
With Floria being a non-Keltian member of the Raspur Pact. Floria needed logistical support to get its number of troops to the continent. This was achieved with support from Normark and Moorland who were also combating the Ostlanders in Operation Lefthand Punch.
Troops and equipment were initially transported to Normark before eventually arriving on the southern border of Moorland.
Early Ostlander resistance
Given its proximity to the Moorland border, Reichsborg the capital of Ostland became a significant target for Florian forces. Naturally Ostlander forces were more concentrated causing a tactical challenge for the Florian Army.
Ostland knew they were significantly outnumbered compared to the Florians and knew its best likely chance to slow down Florian advances from the North would be to build a vast network of trenches similar to what Floria utilised in the War of Lost Brothers. In the early days of the invasion, this proved to be effective however the Florian approach adapted to the situation quickly especially when Floria was also fighting an irregular force as well as a conventional armed force.
Siege of Reichsborg
The Siege of Reichsborg was one of the most pivotal and brutal chapters in the war between the Florians and the Ostlanders. Reichsborg, the capital of Ostland, held immense strategic value as it was not only a political and economic center but also the final stronghold of the Confederacy. For the Florian forces, taking Reichsborg was seen as the decisive action that would bring an end to the conflict, severing the heart of Ostland’s resistance and signaling the collapse of Confederate power.
The first phase of the siege saw the Florian military methodically advance toward the city. Despite the best efforts of the Ostlander defenders, who entrenched themselves heavily in preparation for the inevitable assault, the Florian forces steadily pushed forward. The critical turning point came with the arrival of heavy artillery from Benacian forces, who had been allied with the Florians. The artillery bombardment was devastating, ripping through the city’s outer defenses and causing widespread devastation. The Ostlanders, despite their fortifications, could not stop the relentless barrage that tore apart buildings and caused massive casualties.
The civilians, already accustomed to the sound of war, were now thrust into the chaos of direct bombardment. Explosions echoed through the streets of Reichsborg, injuring hundreds and leaving much of the city's infrastructure in ruins. Hospitals and other essential facilities were targeted, further overwhelming the local defense and civilian population.
In the wake of the artillery bombardment, the Florian forces began using chemical weapons to break through Ostland’s defensive trenches. The defenders, entrenched in a network of tunnels and earthworks, had hoped to use these positions to stall the Florian advance. However, the introduction of chemical agents into the battlefield turned the tide in favor of the Florians. The poison gases, combined with their heavy artillery support, proved devastating against the Ostlander forces, as they were unable to adequately protect themselves from the toxic fumes.
Florian forces, utilizing a combination of chemical warfare and artillery strikes, inflicted heavy losses on the defenders. Yet, despite these methods, the capital did not fall easily. The Ostlanders' resistance was fierce, and despite the horrific conditions, they continued to hold their ground. The urban warfare that followed in the streets of Reichsborg became a brutal contest of attrition, as both sides fought ferociously for every block and every building.
The intense urban warfare stretched on for months. The streets of Reichsborg, once filled with life, became deadly killing zones where snipers picked off soldiers and civilians alike, and house-to-house fighting reduced much of the city to rubble. The Ostlander defenders, although outmatched, used the city’s alleyways, ruined buildings, and hidden basements to launch relentless counterattacks. However, the Florian forces, with superior training and overwhelming firepower, steadily gained ground.
By 1719.15 AN, the Florian forces had fully surrounded the city, sealing off any escape or reinforcement. The once-thriving metropolis now sat at the mercy of its besiegers. With the encirclement complete, the Florians moved to cut off the city’s remaining lifelines. Water and electricity supplies were severed, leaving the civilian population and the defenders alike without vital resources. Disease spread quickly in the squalor, and malnutrition and dehydration took their toll on those trapped inside.
With the city isolated and the Ostlander defenders facing exhaustion and dwindling supplies, the final assault on Reichsborg seemed inevitable. The Florian troops, now reinforced, pushed into the heart of the city, where the fighting became even more brutal. Every inch of the city was contested fiercely. The Ostlanders, though on the verge of collapse, continued to make a stand, hoping for some form of relief or counteroffensive. However, as the city’s infrastructure crumbled and their morale disintegrated, it became clear that the end was near.
The fall of Reichsborg marked the effective end of the conflict. The Ostlander leadership, now cut off and isolated, could do little but surrender to the overwhelming Florian forces. The city's capture signaled the collapse of the Confederacy's hold on Ostland and brought the war to its conclusion. However, the siege itself left a lasting scar on the region, as the destruction of Reichsborg would have severe consequences for years to come. The city’s people, both civilian and military, were left to cope with the aftermath of the siege, facing a long road to recovery in a region forever changed by the horrors of war.
Capture and eventual end of conflict
In 1720.3 AN after a barrage of chemical attacks, Reichsborg was captured by Florian troops effectively ending the invasion phase of the operation. MARSOF forces apprehended Ostlander Government officials who survived the attack and members of the Confederacy of the Dispossessed were captured and executed. The King was nowhere to be found and it was assumed that the King had fled to the east of the country where Operation Lefthand Punch was being carried out.
A significant victory for the Florians however the use of chemical warfare affected the reputation of Florians for many decades to come.
Use of Chemical and biological weapons
The use of chemical weapons during the conflict in Ostland, particularly phosphorus and blood agents, was a highly controversial and devastating aspect of the Florian military strategy. These weapons, deployed for the first time in a conventional conflict, were dropped by Floria’s CLAW drones, revolutionary military technology, developed under Project Tusk. The drones, originally designed for precision strikes, were adapted to release chemical agents, allowing for mass dispersal over a large area. This new method of warfare became a game-changer, marking a significant escalation in the brutality of the conflict.
The CLAW drones were a significant technological innovation in Florian military operations. These unmanned aerial vehicles were originally designed to carry out conventional airstrikes, but the escalating nature of the conflict led to their adaptation for unconventional warfare. As the conflict dragged on, the Florian forces found themselves facing an unexpected challenge: their artillery, which had been the backbone of their military strategy, arrived late to the battlefield. The delay in artillery support left a significant gap in the Florian offensive, one that the Ostlanders were able to exploit.
In response to this challenge, the Florians quickly shifted tactics. They deployed the CLAW drones to drop chemical weapons, such as white phosphorus and blood agents, into Ostlander trenches and later onto civilian populations. This was the first time these weapons were used in a conventional war, and it marked a drastic departure from the norms of warfare established by international conventions, such as the Zalae Convention on Biological Weapons of 1657, which explicitly prohibited the use of chemical weapons in warfare. Floria however at the time was not a signatory.
White phosphorus was the most commonly used chemical weapon by the Florians. Upon release, it ignites spontaneously when exposed to air, causing horrific burns that are difficult to treat. White phosphorus also produces a thick, choking smoke that can obscure vision and hinder movement, adding a psychological element to its use. In trenches, where Ostlander soldiers were dug in and relatively immobile, the effects were especially devastating. The chemical would burn through clothing, skin, and flesh, causing unimaginable pain and suffering. The burning substance would often continue to smolder for hours, even after being removed from the body, making it impossible to fully escape its effects.
In addition to phosphorus, the Florians also utilised blood agents, which target the respiratory system and cause death through suffocation. These agents, such as cyanide compounds and chlorine-based gases, were particularly effective in confined spaces like trenches or underground bunkers. Upon exposure, victims would experience convulsions, difficulty breathing, and eventual death. The blood agents were indiscriminate, causing mass casualties not only among the Ostlander military but also among civilian populations caught in the crossfire.
As the CLAW drones dispersed chemicals over large areas, entire neighbourhoods and villages were affected by the toxic clouds. Civilians who were not able to escape the cities or countryside were exposed to horrific suffering. Many were forced to flee into the wilderness, but with limited resources and access to medical care, survival was difficult.
For those who remained behind, the effects were devastating. Children, elderly, and non-combatants were exposed to the chemicals, leading to severe injuries and deaths from the burns of phosphorus or the suffocating effects of blood agents. The emotional and psychological toll on the civilian population was immense, with entire communities grappling with the trauma of witnessing their loved ones succumb to chemical burns, convulsions, and death.
The use of chemical weapons by the Florians led to widespread international condemnation. The deployment of phosphorus and blood agents, especially against civilian targets, was a clear violation of intermicronational law. The intermicronational community expressed outrage over the disregard for established rules of warfare and efforts to restore intermicronational warfare laws were made in 1734.
Events (Post invasion)
Withdrawal of troops back into Moorland
After the decisive capture of Reichsborg, a symbolic stronghold of the Confederacy, the Florian military, still reeling from the intensity of the conflict, began to view their mission as complete. The primary objective of their operation had been to neutralize the Confederacy’s military presence, and with Reichsborg’s fall, they believed they had achieved this goal. The vast majority of the land they had traversed during the conflict was left in a devastated state, with much of it heavily contaminated by both the direct consequences of the warfare and the use of scorched-earth tactics, rendering large swathes of territory inhospitable.
While the Florian forces had no desire to annex the land or claim it as part of their own, they were equally indifferent to any efforts to rebuild or restore the territories they had occupied. The prevailing sentiment among the troops was that the Confederacy’s influence had been crushed, and any rebuilding efforts were not their responsibility—after all, their mission had been about the destruction of the enemy, not nation-building. To many of the soldiers, the war had been an arduous but ultimately successful operation, and the idea of staying behind to ensure reconstruction seemed unnecessary and unappealing.
The war had taken its toll, and the Florian leadership wanted to reallocate their forces to other volatile regions where they could face new threats or pursue strategic interests. The troops, tired and wary of lingering in the ruined land, were ordered to withdraw swiftly and redeploy to other areas where tensions were high.
While the immediate military objectives had been met, the withdrawal left the region in a precarious state. The lack of reconstruction and care for the shattered territories added to the instability, leaving a vacuum that would eventually be filled by both internal factions and external powers looking to capitalize on the power vacuum left by the Florian departure. The consequences of this abrupt withdrawal would ripple across the region for years to come, as the fragile peace created by the Florian intervention quickly eroded, and the area struggled to recover from the fallout.
International reaction
Benacian Union: On 12.XIII.1719 the High Presidium of the Benacian Union offered to attach the 9th Artilleriregemente, 29th Artilleriregemente, 5th (Ransenari) Regiment of Artillery and the 3rd (Ransenari) Force Support Logistic Regiment to the Florian Expeditionary Force deployed in Ostland.
Vegno: On 15.XV.1719 AN the President of the Republic Mickey Lange Levati communicates his support to the Florian government in the operation, as members of the Raspur Pact, publicly criticizing however the use of chemical weapons and denying that Vegnese troops would use them in the conflict. The Vegnese Government also approves the sending of a contingent of 4,500 infantrymen from the Vegnese Armed Forces (from "7° e 8° Reggimento di Fanteria").
Mercury: In the 1721 elections, the governing National Democratic Party was defeated following inaction in relation to Floria's invasion. Mercurians were angered at the lack of dialogue forthcoming from Floria prior to stepping in in the conflict, and were uncomfortable with third party nations waging war on their doorstep. Despite this, the Mercurian government are still seeking to ease the sanctions imposed en bloc by the Xäiville Convention, in order to encourage Floria to enter into a dialogue.
