Saratovan Red Dawn
| The Saratovan Red Dawn | |||||||
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 Soldiers of the SWF performing drill in 1990 | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 Mihai Sergov |
 Vladimir Kalinchev | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 200,000 Saratovan Army soldiers, 25,000-30,000 SNP/Tzarist militia, 1,000 Templar Task Force mercenaries | 75,000-95,000 SWF militia, 750,000-1,000,000 Saratovan Workers, 30,000 Saratovan Socialist/Communist militia | ||||||
The Saratovan Red Dawn was an armed conflict which began in October 1989 between the Saratov National Party Government of Saratov and the Saratovan Worker's Front communist militia. The war was brutal with atrocities committed on both sides of the conflict. It was the second Communist uprising in Saratovan history, the first of which being the Factory March of 1905.
Contents
Background
The Saratovan Workers Front was a collection of illegal Saratovan trade unions based in Novaty, the centre of Leftist and Communist ideology in Saratov in the early 1980s. The SWF rose up after the Saratov National Party Government began cracking down on the unions in Novaty and after the shooting of pro-worker union boss Iosif Kalasov during the Bloody Monday Massacre on October 16th 1989.
The Saratovan Army at this time was quite large for a country that had not seen war or unrest in over 50 years, however equipment and training was mostly tailored towards urban riot control rather than a proper conflict such as The Red Dawn.
Novaty Revolution
The Saratovan Worker's Front occupied Novaty on October 20th 1989, the central government in Yekaterinograd demanded that the SWF stand down or face war and gave them until the following day to surrender. This demand was not met so in the early hours of October 21st 1989, the Saratovan Army began a bombardment of the city of Novaty with heavy artillery, the bombardment would last until Saratovan forces were pushed back on November 22nd 1989.
SWF Advance
The Saratovan Army entrenched around Novaty but were given orders not to advance but instead besiege the city until it surrendered, this was a crucial mistake as Novaty Garrison soldiers defected to the SWF and opened up the garrison's armouries to the public, leading to the SWF obtaining large quantities of guns and artillery, this armament was bolstered by the further defection of several Saratovan tank divisions, leading to the Saratovan Army retreating to lines north of Novaty and creating a heavily fortified line called The Khan's Bastion.
The SWF pushed north towards Saratovan lines and proclaimed independence as the People's Soviet Republic of Novaty or PSRN in February 1990, this was incredibly damaging for Saratovan confidence in the military, leading to several top generals and marshals being sacked. The conflict would continue until 1991 with many battles fought including the infamous Battle of Azurabat which was the most brutal battle in Saratovan history with over 500,000 combined dead from both sides.
Peace and Aftermath
Saratov and the PSRN agreed to talks to end the war in May 1991, the talks were long but ended in the establishment of a border and de-militarised zone between the two states. Many within the PSRN were dismayed at the white peace brought to them as they had dreamed of creating a communist Saratov rather than seceding. Saratovan Prime Minister Mihai Cherchenko remarked upon the war as "The greatest defeat in Saratovan history" and that "Novaty will come back eventually". A statement that later came true after the Saratovan People's Party won the 1995 Saratovan general elections paving the way for the waning communist regime to integrate with the friendlier socialist regime. Which would be finalised on October 13th 1997 when the Novatyian Premier Yaroslav Klimenko announced his resignation and Saratovan flags were raised on government buildings in place of Novatyian flags the following day. Newly elected public officials would be instated by 1998 and the communist system of government had been phased out by 2000.
Many members of the Novatyian Armed Forces refused to surrender themselves to processing and temporary internment and thus fled into the Altay Mountains of southern Saratov and waging the Saratovan Red Dawn Continuation War, which continues to this day.
International Reaction
Pro-Saratov
Monsilva: Monsilvan president, Xu Zhou-da said in a press release, "The weak stalemate which has been accepted as a conclusion to the war in Saratov is disappointing to say the least. It sits in contrast to the recent conclusion of the Baltanese Civil War, where civil conflict was brought to an end at the benefit of the people. This solution only delays the problem in Saratov, it does not solve it."
Rakhman: Tzar Seregei II said in front of Novinski Palace after the end of the war: "The Saratovan Red Dawn has ended in tragedy. Saratov has refused to complete the mission the nation once swore to undertake. The communist plague has yet to be cleansed from within its borders. We cannot allow any semblance of the ideology to remain intact and in power, especially at such a distance from the Rakhmani border! The response from Saratovan forces is an embarrassment and a grave error. As such, we will be shifting our forces elsewhere! The Rakhmani armed forces, many of which are already stationed in, or near Saratov, will send military and materiel aid to any and all competent anti-communist militias! We cannot allow filth to occupy such a large chunk of land within our continent! Additionally, the armed forces will continue to hunt down Vladimir Kalinchev, unwavering in their pursuit until his name has been lost to history! He has slaughtered innocent Saratovan people and led a regime of complete and utter destruction and annihilation, an act which cannot be forgiven. We cannot let Saratov’s response hinder our mission! Rakhman will emerge prosperous and victorious! We will not cease our efforts in Saratov until every last communist has either fallen or vanished! We will save Saratov! За царя, Бога, и Отечество! (For the Tzar, God, and the Fatherland!)"
Pro-Novaty
New Illyricum: Material aid to the Saratovan Worker's Front, primarily directed towards the civilian population but a small amount of military aid was received.
Ajakanistan: Material aid and military aid was sent to the SWF
