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Chapter 152: The Fourth Trading Partner (2)
🕑 Added 2025-01-11 06:57:14 +0000 UTCOn March 9, the Second Army Group of the Federal Republic captured Ivanic-Grad, just 50 kilometers from Zagreb, the capital of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
Meanwhile, the Federal Republic's three other army groups launched widespread offensives throughout southern Yugoslavia, particularly in the Croatian region.
As subordinates of the Soviets, the Federal Republic's military adopted Soviet-style tactics and had received significant early support in military resources. Their mastery of tank warfare was highly effective.
In addition, the Croatian region, located in the heart of the Pannonian Basin, was ideal for armored operations.
The Federal Republic's forces advanced smoothly, and Tito in the capital, Belgrade, constantly smiled and ignored Austria's repeated warnings.
The world believed that the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was doomed.
But no one suspected that all this had been carefully orchestrated by the leadership of Austria and the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
On the morning of March 10, bombers and fighters were preparing for an air raid on Zagreb at an airfield in the rear of the Federal Republic.
Suddenly the sky was filled with thunder.
Confusion spread through the camp until someone spotted a group of small black dots in the distant sky, rapidly enlarging in the sunlight.
"Air raid!!!" a desperate cry echoed through the camp, but it was too late.
The attackers were 30 Mirage III multirole fighter jets, secretly equipped by the Austrian Air Force.
In an era of weak radar systems and the absence of effective precision-guided anti-aircraft weapons, the low-altitude penetration tactics of supersonic jets like the Mirage III were virtually unstoppable.
Thirty fighter jets unleashed a devastating low-altitude strafing run, destroying a significant portion of the Federal Republic's aircraft on the ground. Their air-dropped bombs followed, obliterating fuel depots and hangars at the airfield. (TL/N: A low-altitude strafing run is a military tactic where aircraft attack ground targets from a low altitude using automatic weapons)
The Republic's ground-based air defenses were utterly ineffective against the Mirage III jets—not even coming close to hitting them. The supersonic speed of the Mirage IIIs was far too much for the anti-aircraft weapons of this era, which couldn't even turn fast enough before the jets zoomed by.
A few Federal Republic fighters managed to take off in an attempt to retaliate, but they were no better off. Unable to even get close to the Mirage III, they were quickly shot down by cannon fire. In theory, the Mirage III could have been armed with air-to-air missiles—Josh certainly had access to early missile technology—but he chose not to use them.
After all, the Federal Republic's most advanced aircraft, the Soviet-supplied La-5 and La-7 piston fighters, were worth only $10,000 to $20,000 apiece. A single early model AIM-9 Sidewinder missile cost $40,000 to $50,000. Using an expensive, disposable weapon to destroy such a cheap target was downright wasteful.
Aircraft cannons were more than sufficient.
With top speeds of only 500-600 km/h, the piston-engine fighters were no match for the Mirage III, which could exceed Mach 2. Piston fighters have occasionally shot down jets in history, but only under special circumstances, such as top-of-the-line piston fighters facing the earliest generation of jets.
The Mirage III, however, was a second-generation jet fighter and a top contender in its class.
If any Mirage III pilots were shot down by these outdated piston fighters, Josh would personally see to their punishment—even if they survived the encounter.
After the thirty Mirage III fighters completed their attack, the Federal Republic's most important military airfield was reduced to rubble.
With air superiority secured, Austria's bombers took the stage.
Unlike the Mirage fighters, the Austrian bomber fleet lacked advanced technology due to industrial limitations. Instead, it relied primarily on American-supplied B-25 medium bombers.
But when it came to controlling the skies, the B-25 was more than enough.
Without air cover, the Federal Republic's remaining anti-aircraft defenses were laughably inadequate. By the time the B-25 bombers reached the main camp of the Second Army Group, the Mirage III fighters, having completed their rearming and refueling, returned to provide support.
A saturation bombing assault followed, crippling the Republic's frontline forces.
But it wasn't over yet.
Before the bombers had fully withdrawn, AMX-30 battle tanks appeared on the battlefield, accompanied by Puma and Gazelle helicopters.
Josh’s use of cross-generational weaponry to dominate the battlefield was nothing short of ruthless.
Forget the "Eastern European bully"; even the United States or the Soviets would have struggled against this onslaught with equivalent forces.
Worse, the Federal Republic’s troops couldn’t even retreat.
The vast territory they had quickly captured at the beginning of the war now became a trap.
Deprived of air support, the Republic's armored units became easy prey for the AMX-30 tanks and attack helicopters. Outmatched in mobility, range, firepower, and armor, not a single vehicle could escape.
In just three days, all four Federal Army groups that had penetrated deep into Croatia were encircled, cut off, and annihilated.
By the time the United States, the Soviets, and the European powers reacted, it was already a week too late.
The Austro-Yugoslav coalition had not only retaken Bosnia and Herzegovina, but had also advanced into the heart of the Federal Republic, capturing its capital, Belgrade. The Federal Republic was forced to retreat to the Romanian border.
The world was stunned by the rapid turn of events. Telegrams flooded into Vienna from all corners of the globe.
U.S. Army Chief of Staff and five-star General Dwight D. Eisenhower immediately flew to Vienna in person.
While Austria captured the world's attention, Josh retreated to his study at Schönbrunn Palace.
The reason? The refresh timer for the fourth dimensional trade beacon had reached zero.
"Please, don't let it be another child this time!" Josh muttered, staring at the countdown on his system screen and praying to every deity he could think of.
Finally, the dim screen lit up.
Perhaps his prayers had worked—a neatly dressed, meticulous-looking middle-aged man appeared on the other side.
But that face—wasn't that Ned Stark?
Well, not exactly. While the man resembled Ned Stark, he looked much younger and was wearing a black high-collared coat that had nothing to do with the world of Game of Thrones.
"A dimensional trading system? Fascinating. So, what can you offer me, and what do you want in return? Or is it my soul you desire?" the "Ned Stark" lookalike spoke.
"Uh... Sir, I think you misunderstand. I am not a devil, and I do not need your soul—it is worthless to me. But judging by your words, are there devils in your world?" Josh asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Not that I know of, but the world I live in might as well be hell itself," the man replied with a sigh.
