The liberation of German Pomerania: Heim ins Nation

Towards to end of the year 1687 the decision was taken by the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire and the Court in Vienna that German Pomerania could only be returned to the empire by an act of force. Vienna has always had an interest, and so has the wider Holy Roman Empire, in eventually seeing the reincorporation of German Pomerania. An emergency congress in Frankfurt, the recently titled 'capital of the Holy Roman Empire', is called. Here among the representatives of the Holy Roman Empire the decision is made that there is in place a legitimate casus belli on Swedish Pomerania, and that Austria should see to it the return of German Pomerania to Germany.  

 
Austrian forces were organised in to two armies, 'Armee der Nationalen Sturm' and Die ''Hapsburgische Armee'.

The position of the 'Armee der Nationalen Sturm'

The 'Armee der Nationalen Sturm' is largely concentrated in the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Güstrow, on the frontier with Swedish Pomerania. The 'Armee der Nationalen Sturm' is comprised of roughly 35,000 line infantry, 4000 Grenadiers, 2000 Hussars, and 200 field guns. The Austrian officer core made though, at the last minute, a slight change, in that a total of 3000 Dragoons were moved from the 'Hapsburgische Armee' to join ranks with the 'Armee der Nationalen Sturm'. In order to foresee what they hope would be the quick envelopment of West Swedish Pomerania, the Austrian officer core, on recommendation of Leopold I, further divided the Austrian forces stationed in Mecklenburg-Güstrow  into two smaller sub-armies. The result of which, it is argued, will allow for an Austrian advance over a wider area. In the north a force of 17500 Line infantry, 2000 Grenadiers, 100 field guns, 1000 Dragoons is assembled. They are positioned north east of Güstrow on the right bank of the River Peene. Importantly, on the Peene the sleepy town of Demmin sits (one of the larger towns within western Swedish Pomerania). To the south of Nord-Armee the remaining Austrian forces are assembled into a southern army, or Süd- Armee. This army comprises the following forces, 17500 Line infantry, 2000 grenadiers, 100 field guns, 2000, dragoons. Süd- Armee is well positioned to launch an offensive thrust into Swedish Pomerania. The Austrian officer core have placed this army in a section of the Güstrow province that juts into Swedish Pomerania. The Strategic significance should not be understated, Süd- Armee sits uncomfortably close and directly under another of Swedish Pomerania's towns - Anklam, which sits largely on the right bank of the Peene River. The far left flank of both army groups is covered by detachments from the army of Mecklenburg, positioned North east of the town Ribnitz-Damgarten.

The position of the Die ''Hapsburgische Armee'

The rest of the Austria's forces are where organised under the ''Hapsburgische Armee'. This army is positioned in Brandenburg Pomerania and so sits on the right hand side of Swedish Pomerania, this army shall make up the right flank of the attack. It's total strength, though modest, stands at 15000 line infantry, 5000 jaegers, 3000 dragoons, 7000 hussars, and 300 field guns  In order to give Austria the best chance for success, the ''Hapsburgische Armee' is sub divided into three smaller armies. The aim being to establish armies powerful enough to defend themselves but also carry the extra trait of speed. In the Far north a Nord-Armee is established and placed on the Brandenburg frontier opposite the Swedish controlled coastal town of Kamień. Nord-Armee compraises 3000 line infantry, 1000 jaegers, 1000 Hussars, 100 field guns. To its south Mittle-Armee is positioned on the Brandenburg-Swedish frontier, directly to the east of the Swedish coastal town of Finkenwalde (across the Oder River from Stettin). Mittle - Armee comprises slightly larger sized forces than those assigned to Nord - Armee; 9,000 line infantry, 4000 jaegers, 4000 Hussars, 100 field guns. To the immediate south of Mittle-Armee's south flank is Süd- Armee, 3,000 line infantry, 2000, jaegers, 2,000 dragoons, 100 howitzers, 2000 Hussars.

The position of the Army of Brandenburg

The Austrian centre, or the gap between the far right of 'Armee der Nationalen Sturm's' right flank, and the far left of the 'Hapsburgische Armee' left flank, is held by the army of Brandenburg. This force is concentrated on the Brandenburg Swedish frontier to the south of Stettin on the left bank of the Order river.

The advance:

On that fateful morning the forces of Austria move. The Austrian left flank, home to 'Armee der Nationalen Sturm', finds little and almost no resistance in its initial advance. The subdivided armies Nord-Armee and Süd- Armee are ordered to take offensive stances, in order to rapidly secure the strategic towns. Nord-Armee makes a swift and orderly advance on its objective: Demmin. They arrive on the out skirts of the town, and the lack of initial resistance in their advance has meant supply lines are still strong, there is no need to raid the town. The Austrian General sends a message to the town.

-He decrees that Austrian forces are here to liberate Pomerania and bring German speaking land back into Germany. It is pointless that the town should fight, Germans would be killing Germans. Instead the city should surrender, the lack of resistance has allowed Austrian forces the chance to surround it already. We call on you surrender-  

In the mean time Süd- Armee made rapid advances across the largely flat and open country side of Swedish Pomerania. The shortness of the supply lines meant that a 'live off the land' policy was not needed yet, as a result Austrian forces move from one small town to the next with out stealing anything. Their orderly advance, though, soon brings them to the south of their objective: Anklam. The Austrians, politely call on the town to surrender and promise to occupy it in a such a manner that it would be as if the Austrian army was not there. News from far north of the 'Armee der Nationalen Sturm' suggests that the forces of Mecklenburg are making progress, but at a significantly slower rate. The harsh Baltic winter is starting to take its toll.

The 'Hapsburgische Armee' sub-armies make rapid advances also, considering that they have a relatively shorter distance to cover compared to those of 'Armee der Nationalen Sturm'. In the face of no resistance Mittle-amree reaches its objective after a days march. Their General calls upon the town of Finkenwalde to surrender, and states that they were surrounded - cut off from land routes to the city. The same can be said for the advance of Nord-Armee. In the face of no resistance, and aided by the short distance between Kamień and the Brandenburg frontier, Austrian forces advance rapidly, and in an orderly manner to the city outskirts where they make camp.

In the very South of Swedish Pomerania the Army of Brandenburg forms a junction with Süd- Armee of the 'Hapsburgische Armee'. Both armies though are slowed by the tricky job of crossing the rivers that surround Stettin, namely the Order. Once cleared they start the process of surrounding the city its self and eventually close off all access from land. A message is sent to the city. - "You are completely surrounded by forces that only have an interest in liberating you, further fighting is meaningless and would only be self-defeating for us all. If you surrender now we promise to respect this city, and by word of his Imperial majesty, treat the peoples of these lands as if they were are own families". 

OOC: There were a couple of towns who's old German names I could not find anywhere*