March 1919

[Zoe Brain]

And that's without the complications of the Turkish war of Independence...

Notice the small pocket of French and Greeks in the Crimea? From April to August, a series of mutinies broke out in the French Fleet. The Bolsheviks very nearly acquired quite a respectable navy, along with their crews - other than the officers.

The British intervention force originally was supposed to reopen the Eastern Front against the Germans and Austrians when it landed in Archangelsk in August 1918. It had been chock full of all kinds of materiel for the planned offensive in late 1917, and the idea was to stop the Bolsheviks - and Germans - from getting their hands on it. By August 1918 though, much of it had already been purloined, and with the end of the war in the west in November, allied intervention seemed increasingly pointless, not least to the PBI who had been sent there after enduring the horrors of the Western Front.

[Nightbomber]

Many possible airwar scenarios out there, Zoe...

[Lt. S.Kafloc]

Saw some nice pics of Hansa-Brandenberg CI's in Polish colours in 1919. A nice hodge potch of aircraft available to use too.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

The following extract was located during some of my recent open source scanning for information about Freikorps actions on Germany's eastern borders in 1919. The photographs and captions I have added from Al Imrie's book "German Naval Air Service". It provides some good background for scenario development.

"Stamping Out the Virus: The Allied Intervention in the Russian Civil War 1918-1920" - http://pweb.jps.net/~perrya/NewFiles/book.html

Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg – fighting with the Freikorps

On 11 November 1918 Marshal Foch’s staff signed the instrument of Germany’s surrender. By November 13, the Soviet Government declared the Brest-Litovsk Peace Agreement with Germany was no longer valid.

German and Austrian troops hastily retreated from the territory of the former Russian Empire over a two-day period. On November 15, a Ukrainian Insurgent Division was created and moved on the retreating German units. The German puppet in the Ukraine, Hetman Skoropadsky, handed power to a new Nationalist-Democratic Government proclaiming the creation of an independent Ukrainian People's Republic. This caught the Bolshevik leaders by complete surprise.

On 30 November, a Ukrainian Soviet Army was created. In December, it also advanced on the heels of the German Armies and occupied Novozybkovs, Shostky, Belgorod, Chotoevs and the outskirts of Kharkov. At the close of November the Allied powers suddenly occupied Novorossik, Odessa, Sevastopol and in December, Nikolaev, Feodosiya and Kherson. From the Macedonian Front, the French 504th and 509th Escadrilles (Bregeut BR.14) flew into Odessa. The Allies declared their backing of the White Movement of the General Denikin’s Volunteer Army. Within the first days of 1919 Denikin's airmen arrived in Odessa from Novorossik and started to form the 3rd Air Division of the Volunteer army. The Air Division was under the command of Captain Gartman and comprised three detachments, 7th, 8th and 9th (1st and 2nd Divisions already existed with Dets. 1-6). On January 25, the 7th Detachment (commander is Lieutenant Legat) had six Kodronovs with 80-hp motors and a Nieuport-23. In the 8th and 9th detachments (the commanders were Junior Lieutenant Zhovnep and Rotmister Shirkovs) they had time only to hand down a few Nieuports, two Anades and three Anasals.

On January 1919, Soviet troops with minimal losses occupied half of the Ukraine and by 5 February was assaulting Kiev. The Petlyurov group fled in disorder retreating in all directions. Units of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Ukrainian Soviet Armies, united on the Ukrainian Front and forced the Dnieper and went on with the offensive.

Much further north, the Reds occupied almost all Latvia and eastern parts of Lithuania and Byelorussia. Their goal was Riga, which was defended by the ‘White Latvians’ (detachments of Ulmanis’ Latvian National Government) and units of the so called ‘Baltic Landwehr’ volunteer formations made up mainly from local Germans and former soldiers of the German Army. They quickly created a covering force, but the Reds were able to take Riga.

At the end of January 1919, the Latvians and Germans were able to establish a foothold on the Venty River (Vindavy). The German 1st Guards Reserve Division had an aviation unit attached to it called the Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg. This regiment was formed on the basis of a demobilized field regiment of marine aviation (Marinefeldjagdgeschwader). It contained three Staffel:
• Flieger Abteilung 413 (reconnaissance)
• Flieger Abteilung 416 (fighter) and
• Flieger Abteilung 417 (assault)

The commander of this unit was Oberleutnant Gotthard Sachsenberg, a former pilot of the Kaiser's Navy who in 1917-1918 had shot down more than 30 enemy aircraft. This unit also had such celebrated aces as Joseph Jacobs (47 aerial victories) and Theodor Osterkamp (32 aerial victories). The ‘Sachsenberg’ command counted upwards of 50 experienced pilots and observers. Its 30 crews flew the newest all-metal monoplanes - the Junkers D.I and CL.I types - produced for the German Air Service at the close of the Great War. The regiment also had the very well proven wooden biplanes, like the Halberstadt, DFW, LVG, Rumpler, Fokker D.VII and D.VIII types.


Three holders of the Orden Pour Le Merite serving with Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg – from right to left Josef Jacobs, Gotthard Sachsenberg and Theo Osterkamp.


Men who had served under Sachsenberg in Flanders answered the call for volunteers to defend Germany's eastern borders against advances being made by the Red Army in the Baltic States, and served in the flying section of the Marinefreikorps. Seen here at Peterfelde near Mitau, Latvia, in April 1919 in front of a Fokker D.VIII are (left to right) Vizeflugmeisters Sawatsky, Antonious, Mayer, Zenzes, Sharon, Goerth and Engelhardt.

Sachenberg later wrote: “Thanks to the endurance of the phenomenal Junkers the regiment worked without interruption or breakdowns during their few months in the Baltic.”

The all metal Junkers were exclusive to the Germans - the Reds, Whites or even the Anglo-French Interventionist force had nothing comparable. The Sachenberg regiment contained the best pilots and aircraft involved in the fighting in the East. Because of this, they had no rivals to confront. After eight months on the front, February to September 1919, they had not been in one air battle! By March 1919, their central base was an airfield in Vaynode (to the west of Libau), where during the World War the enormous hangars for zeppelins were built. Sachenberg made use of them as airplane hangars. From there the German air unit moved to Alt-Auts and Petersfeld (more south river Dobel). Here, the Germans flew reconnaissance and bombardment sorties against Red forces. As far as it is known, they lost at least two Junkers, one of which force landed in a village behind enemy lines due to engine trouble and the other (faulty and worn) was simply abandoned during the retreat to the airfield at Alt-Auts. The Reds took both aircraft to Moscow for careful study.


Kampfgeschwader Sachsenberg's first base was the airship station at Wainoden in Kurland. Equipped with the latest products of the German aviation industry and using Schlachtstaffel tactics, it provided valuable support for the ground forces. Here using the airship shed guidance rails as chocks is a Junkers D I all-metal cantilever single-seater, with an LVG C VI and two Junkers CL I two-seaters in the background.

Other than the Sachenberg regiment during the winter of 1918, there were other German air units based in Baltic: FA 408, FA 409, FA 424, FA 425, FA 426, FA 427, FA 429 and air-detachments of the Memel Volunteer Corps. These squadrons counted more than 150 aircraft. At close of 1918, German volunteer air-detachments defended the eastern borders of the former empire. Attempting to regulate this process, the German command founded official numeration for the field detachments (Flieger Abteilung - FA) from No.400 to 433. Flying artillery detachments started with No.100. A Staffel (Abteilung) during the last year of the war counted 9 aircraft. In the post-war period they included 20 aircraft in a Staffel of three six aircraft flights. These reinforced Staffeln (equal to a Red air-division) could be formed into a three unit air regiment (Geschwader), which was a powerful air formation which could influence strategic ground operations. The majority of them were based at Lithuanian airfields in Kovno (Kaunas), Shavli (Shyaul) and Mariyampol.

In the air, the Germans battled the Red Latvian Air Division formed in April 1918, near Moscow above the village of Podosinki. This air division contained three detachments under the command of Rudolf Stukalis and arrived on the front in January 1919. After three months, the 1st Detachment equipped with Nieuports flew 14 combat sorties, the 2nd less than 10, and 3rd did only three reconnaissance flights. German aircraft also regularly appeared over Riga, but did not bomb the city, limiting flights to reconnaissance only. The pilots of the 1st Latvian Detachment, commanded by Military Pilot Veynberg, were on duty to fly aerial cover over the city, however they failed to intercept the enemy reconnaissance patrols. The Germans, in turn, did not attempt to attack the Latvian’s airfield. How odd. This continued until 9 May, when a reconnaissance Rumpler, was intercepted by three Red Nieuports. The fighters pursued the German to his airfield, but did not fire on it.

On 22 May 1919 the Germans captured Riga. The Red Latvians were forced to quickly evacuate the staff of the 1st Latvian detachment. In June, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd the Latvian Air Detachments were renamed to the 44th, 45th and 46th Reconnaissance. By August 1919, the Air Regiment Veinshenk (FA 424 and FA 426) consisting of 32 aircraft was based in Radzvilishkakh, Lithuania. The Sachsenberg Geschwader with 32 aircraft was based in Petersfeld. The 28 aircraft of FA427, FA 429 and Flieger Artillerie Abteilung (FAA) 101 assigned to the German ‘Iron’ Division located in Elgave were manned almost completely by Germans. Thus, the Bermont-Avalova Air Fleet counted 140 aircraft. Due to lack of benzene and the little desire to fight, the crews mainly sat around the airfields. The Western Army, which was created to oppose the Bolsheviks fought not against the Red army but the Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians, who saw them as a tool of German Baltic colonization.

The pro-German Bermont-Avalov air group made an effort to improve relations with Denikin. To do so, a two-engine Friedrichshafen G.llla with a military delegation flew to the Ukraine near the end of October. A 1200-kilometer flight from Mitau to Kiev, but the aircraft was forced to land just outside Kiev in a nearby village. The Friedrichschafen landed in a field and the aircraft was instantaneously attacked, ransacked then burned by one of the local bandit groups. The fliers and the delegation members by a miracle were able to escape. However, the mission totally failed.

By May 1919 Denikin had received 50 aircraft at Novorossiisk, made up of eighteen DH.9s, sixteen Camels and sixteen RE.8s. They were distributed in the following manner: six DH.9s to the 1st, 2nd and 5th Detachments, eight Camels to the 6th and 3rd Don Air Force detachments and sixteen RE8s to training.

[Carl_Brisgamer]

A bit of atmosphere for a Freikorps Baltic Campaign.



So ziehn wir unter fremder Fahne - Serving under foreign flags (song of the 'Iron Division') - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIt78GF7rec

So ziehn wir unter fremder Fahne ins weite, weite Land daher,
wir kämpfen unter Russenfahnen,
wir sind die Deutsche Legion.

Wir haben hinter uns gelassen, was andern dünket wert und gut.
Wir können lieben - und auch hassen aus
eignem Stolz und eignem Mut.

Das Vaterland hat uns verstoßen, wir stehn in Feind's Gewalt und Macht,
wir sind getrennt von seinen Losen
und ziehn in unbekannte Schlacht.

Drum, Brüder, schließet dicht die Reihen, und hat die Heimat uns verbannt,
wir Baltikumer sind die Freien,
wenn Deutschland wankt, wir halten stand!

Wir sind die "Eisernen Soldaten" und stehn in Ost in Waff' und Wehr,
wir halten hoch drum unsre Taten,
das alte Deutschland und sein Heer.


Auf baltischer Wacht - On Baltic Watch (song of the Baltic Landwehr) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVBmEa51ymw

Auf einsamen Wegen und Stegen,
da reitet bei Tag und bei Nacht
dem Feinde, dem Feinde entgegen,
der baltischen Kundschafter Wacht.

Kehrreim:
Frisch auf's Pferd, ins Morgenrot,
in der Feinde Scharen.
Schießt uns eine Kugel tot,
fall'n wir als Husaren.

Wir sind die Augen und Ohren,
vom jungen baltischen Heer.
Auf baltischer Scholle geboren,
der Heimat Eiserne Wehr.

Wir treiben mit eisernem Besen
die roten Horden hinaus.
Nur so kann die Heimat genesen
und Friede kehrt ein in das Haus.

Leb wohl, du mein schwarzbraunes Mädel,
mein herziger Blondschopf adé.
Du bist ja die Schönste im Städtel,
wer weiß, wann ich dich wiederseh.

Und trifft mich die Kugel auch heute,
das Reiterleben war schön.
Kein schön'rer Tod als im Streite
im Siegesrausch zu vergehn.


Zu Ende ist das frohe Wandern - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFPc72pj8pc

Zu Ende ist das frohe Wandern,
das uns wissend gemacht,
denn wir ziehen nach Flandern
in die blutige Schlacht.

Die Heide ward zum Schützengraben
und die Laute zum Gewehr,
die mich einst begleitet haben,
leben alle nicht mehr.

Und sollt' es einstmals Frieden geben
und wir zögen nach Haus,
so wäre gleichwohl mein Leben
in Wirklichkeit aus.

[john snelling]

Great article!

Irony, the war to stop all wars spawned other wars.

[csadn]

Yet another shining example of The West's inability to back the winning side in a civil war....

[Zoe Brain]

Great article!

Irony, the war to stop all wars spawned other wars.

Possibly the nastiest being the Turkish war of independence.

[Zoe Brain]

How chaotic was the situation in the Ukraine?

This chaotic.



The list is partial. I've found more variants.

[Jager]

One of the clauses of the Armistice treaties was Germany was required to keep forces fighting the Bolsheviks in the Baltic region, while the RN continued to blockade Germany and Russia both
Karl

[Carl_Brisgamer]

One of the clauses of the Armistice treaties was Germany was required to keep forces fighting the Bolsheviks in the Baltic region, while the RN continued to blockade Germany and Russia both
Karl

Until the Baltic Freikorps became TOO successful, taking Riga and replacing the Latvian Government with a puppet regime. Then the British demanded the German government withdraw the Freikorps formations and cut off support or risk a continued maritime blockade. Any wonder the Freikorps troops felt abandoned and eventually turned outlaw.

[Zoe Brain]

Any wonder the Freikorps troops felt abandoned and eventually turned outlaw.

Please! Western Volunteer Army, not "Outlaw". Ok, the difference is minute.

[Jager]

Frankly, this kind of scenario is begging for an RPG
Karl

[csadn]

Reminds me of this quote:

"In 1492, after the death of Randolph XII of Saxony and the collapse of the Treaty of Insects, Europe was in disarray. Kingdoms rose and fell; borders, even languages changed; men were killed by their own side and women r***d by soldiers from up to seven different nations every week."
[_The Black Adder_, "The Queen of Spain's Beard"]