Liquidation of the Free Zone
| Liquidation of the Free Zone | |||||
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 BUDF personnel crossing the Oktavyan mountains into Bergburg, 1730 AN |
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The Liquidation of the Free Zone was an action undertaken by Benacia Command in Kalgachia during the final months of 1730 AN. The objective of the significant deployment was to bring the lieutenancies of Bergburg and Katarsis into full compliance with the ruling Protectorate Council and to introduce forces from the "Central" and "Tiny" banner groups of Benacia Command onto the surface strata therein. The occupation had been long anticipated, as it would remove the last gap in coverage between Benacian and Shirerithian forces on the western front which would be formed along the land border of Batavia.
Background
The "Free Zone" was the informal term applied to that area of the surface of Kalgachia left unoccupied by the forces of the Raspur Pact following Operation Penitent (1717 AN – 1718 AN). Whilst the writ of the newly established protectorate also ran in the two western lieutenancies of Bergburg and Katarsis, this had not been followed up by the introduction of any garrison of the protecting powers, these being the Benacian Union and Northbloom. As such the region had become a haven for those members of the Kalgachi Defence Force who refused to accept their integration into the successor militaries.
A plan to occupy Free Zone had been drawn up in 1729 AN under the codename of Operation Pariah and went through several revisions, including different BUDF units, increasing the prominence of contingents from the Kalgachi Grouping of Forces and adding provisions for the involvement the Tiny Banner Group, controlled by Northbloom and the Mondosphere, in the occupation of Katarsis.
