In 1906, the Maratha Empire, inspired by nationalist fervor and a desire to expand its influence beyond the Indian subcontinent, set its sights on liberating Ceylon from British rule. The Maratha leadership, led by the ambitious King, envisioned a strategic campaign to achieve this goal within six years, leveraging early 20th-century military equipment and tactics.
The Maratha Empire, possessing a formidable army and naval fleet, began preparations in secrecy. They forged alliances with local Ceylonese resistance groups who were disenchanted with British colonial rule. These alliances provided crucial intelligence and logistical support for the impending campaign.
In 1907, the Maratha Empire launched its first operations along the northern coast of Ceylonese city named Jaffna. Utilizing their advanced artillery and cavalry, they inflicted initial losses on British garrisons and disrupted supply lines. This surprise attack caught the British off guard, forcing them to redeploy forces from other colonies to defend their interests in Ceylon.
Simultaneously, the Maratha navy blockaded major ports around Ceylon, intercepting British reinforcements and supply convoys. This naval strategy choked off British access to crucial military resources and weakened their ability to respond effectively on land.
The invasion of Ceylon was informed by some fellow British officers to the nearest British base in Maldives and Lakshadeep. But before they would make any move Imperial Maratha Air Force have already attacked military bases in Maldives and Lakshadeep resulting the destruction of reinforcement in Maldives and Lakshadeep.
By 1909, the Marathas intensified their ground offensive, employing trench warfare tactics and newly developed armored vehicles. Their skilled infantry divisions, equipped with modern rifles and supported by artillery barrages, systematically pushed British forces inland. The rugged terrain of Ceylon posed challenges, but the Marathas adapted swiftly, using local knowledge to outmaneuver British defenses.
By 1911, the Marathas had captured key strategic cities and towns across Ceylon like Colombo and Kandy, establishing a provisional government backed by local leaders sympathetic to their cause. The British, facing mounting casualties and logistical difficulties, began negotiations for a ceasefire.
In 1912, after six years of relentless military campaigns and diplomatic maneuvering, the Marathas achieved their objective. The Treaty of Colombo was signed, formally ending British colonial rule in Ceylon. The Maratha Empire, now hailed as liberators, assisted in the formation of an independent Ceylonese government, marking a significant victory for anti-colonial movements in Asia.
In the summer of 1914, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in Sarajevo set off a chain of events that plunged Europe into one of the deadliest conflicts in history. The assassination provided the Austro-Hungarian Empire with the pretext it needed to address its grievances against Serbia, whom it blamed for the assassination.
On July 28, 1914, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, emboldened by assurances of support from its powerful ally, Germany, declared war on Serbia. The Austro-Hungarian military launched an invasion, expecting a swift victory. However, Serbia, resilient and determined, put up a fierce resistance, drawing support from its Slavic ally, the Russian Empire.
Russian Empire, bound by its commitments to Serbia and its own strategic interests in the Balkans, began to mobilize its vast army. This move alarmed Germany, which had long feared encirclement by the Triple Entente of Russia, France, and Britain. In response, on August 1, 1914, Germany declared war on Russian Empire, setting the stage for a broader conflict.
Germany, anticipating a two-front war, swiftly enacted the Schlieffen Plan, a strategy designed to quickly defeat France by sweeping through neutral Belgium before turning east to face Russia. On August 3, Germany declared war on France and, the following day, invaded Belgium. This violation of Belgian neutrality outraged Britain, which declared war on Germany on August 4.
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World Of Chaos
Historical FictionIt all started after World War 1 when USSR was formed and began to give economic aid to some Central Powers countries. And History of world is same before World War 1 except history of South Asia.
