January Uprising (1863-1864/5)
Creator: starhal || First Published: 09/14/2025 || Players: 2 || Size: 50x50
Categories: None
Rating: 9.00 in 1 rating
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Comments:
starhal (08/30/2025 09:02pm | Edited: 09/14/2025 02:49pm):

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Bitwa_-_Grottger_%285579025%29.jpg/960px-Bitwa_-
_Grottger_%285579025%29.jpg
(Copy and open link to see historical drawing that became the symbol of the uprising)

January Uprising was the biggest and longest lasting uprising of Polish population (With some support from Lithuanians and
Belarussians) in the history of Polish resistance against Russian occupation. It began in January of 1863 (Hence the name),
despite prior preparations by underground Polish organisations not by their initiative, but due to Russian army organising a
countrywide "Branka"- essentially mass kidnappings of young men, forcing them into military service away from the country,
a common tactic to deprive local resistance young men who could rise up against the Tzar. The initiators of the uprising
were the "Reds", despite their name completely unrelated to communism, these radical democrats believed that rebel forces
could organise a joint strike against Russian garrisons at night of the 16th of january, leading to seizure of military arsenals
and seizing control over the entire kingdom of Poland. These attacks proved ineffective however, as only around 20-40k
volunteers, less than 10% with firearms as others had to use scythes, rose up against some 100k Russian troops stationed
around Poland at the time, nonetheless forcing Russian leadership to regroup and concentrate their army around larger
cities, and cutting off Warsaw-Petersburg railway until February. Rebels quickly adopted partisan tactics in response to the
situation, evading Russian pursuits with occasional resistance, but this led into a problematic level of autonomy among
Polish leaders who did not like ranking themselves below others leading to problems in cooperation, and some even
dismissing their troops by their own will when Russian pursuit became too threatening. To end these practices, on 17
february the "Temporary National Government" named general Ludwik Mierosławski, a veteran of Greater Polish uprisings
against Prussia in 1846 and during the "Spring of nations" in 1848, the uprising's dictator. There would be two more
dictators, Marian Langiewicz from 11 to 18 march, put into this position by "Whites", a conservative-liberal poitical
organisation peacefully advocating for increased autonomy of Poland within Russia, that nonetheless joined the uprising in
early march, and finally Romuald Traugutt from 17th october, veteran of Russian army (Very common among Polish leaders
of this uprising) who fought in the Crimean War, finally reformed Polish army into a well-cooperating fighting force in
december. Despite constant losses Polish troops continued receiving volunteers, now in large part peasants who were at
first reluctant to believe in promises of Polish National Government (Now no longer "Temporary") upholding their promise
from the beginning of january and abolishing serfdom. This was too little too late however, as by that time despite fierce
resistance Russian army, through terror on civilian population and relentless pursuit of rebels, managed to nearly crush
Polish resistance. At the night from 10th to 11th august 1864, Romuald Traugutt was arrested by the Russian troops, but
refused to give away any other leaders of the uprising, at one occasion stating "The Idea of nationality is so powerful, and
growing so quickly troughout Europe, that nothing can defeat it!". He was hanged to death on 19th of July, 1864. The last
unit of rebels, led by priest and general Stanisław Brzóska, operated until spring of 1865
starhal (09/14/2025 02:45pm | Edited: 09/14/2025 03:00pm):
Rules

OS: Poland
BM: Russia
- Russia wins once there are no more Polish units on the map, except for those behind pipelines and teleport tiles. Poland
should forfeit if that is the case (This is the historical outcome).
- Poland wins upon capturing Russian HQs in either Warsaw or Vilnus
- Either side can achieve victory by capturing 90 properties on the map

500 funds per property, random weather, fog of war on, powers are recommended to be off but if kept on, Russia should play
as Max, and Poland should play as Sonja. Alternatively, for a meme game, Russia should play as Kanbei while Poland plays
as Sensei.

- Banned units: Battleships and all land units other than infantry, mechanised, recons, artillery and APCs.
- Lab units: Artillery, APC

- APCs count as trains. This means they can ONLY move into road, bridge, and property tiles. In addition, Russia destroying
the 3 pipelines separating their army from the map is considered to be the moment repairs are finished after pro-uprising
railway workers conducted sabotage and cut off the Warsaw-Vilnus railway (Historically the railway was unoperable until
february, two weeks into the uprising). From that moment onwards, APCs are also allowed to enter destroyed pipeseam
tiles.

Additional notes:
- Location of Polish bases and teleport tiles between them and the map represent the main paths used by rebels to smuggle
weapons and experienced, trained abroad units into the country, in addition to the city of Kraków which was part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire at the time, and since it was right on the border it did serve as a hub for some units to be
organised in.
- At the start of the conflict, Russia and Prussia had signed a pact according to which their troops should cooperate against
the uprising, as Prussians feared a succesful rebelion in Russian part of Poland would trigger similiar uprisings in Silesia and
Greater Poland. As such, Russia has vision on Polish troops produced in two northern bases, and can eventually lock them
down with artillery
- Mechanised represent well equipped infantry, basic infantry represents inexperienced and unmotivated recruits on Russian
side, while on Polish side they represent melee infantry units (And infantry with hunting rifles). Recons are mounted units.
- Due to level of detail I wanted this map to have, and the limit on map size, sadly the Lithuanian part of this uprising was not
included, despite having significant influence in allowing the uprising to last as long as it did
- Inspired by "Pugachev's Rebelion" map
Cadeor (09/15/2025 08:14pm):
polan Stronk
starhal (11/27/2025 06:06pm):
Testing complete. Balance change: Russia begins with the base in Warsaw already captured



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