IMPERIAL TROOPS BEGIN WITHDRAWAL TO DEFEND THE HULSTRIAN CAPITALInfantry fall back from their defensive position carrying a wounded comrade on a stretcher.Hulstrian troops in their tens of thousands have reportedly started to fall back from their defensive perimeter following a massive land and aerial bombardment by coalition forces.
Many units, particularly in the north are also believed to have unilaterally surrendered to the enemy after coming under heavy fire as part of the Allies' multi-faceted Operation Pegasus.
With the northern fortifications of the Heinrich Line compromised, forces on the western and eastern flanks of the perimeter ring have also felt their own positions come under threat of envelopment, precipitating a general fall back to a third and final defence around the capital Karstadt.
Many of those falling back, particularly in the north are expected to encounter stiff resistance in the form of both Septembrist insurgents and coalition paratroopers who were dropped behind the lines to secure bridges, overrun communities and dig in.
It is not known, therefore, how many Imperial Crownlands soldiers will be in a position to defend the capital when the final Coalition push comes.
With the Reichskanzler still absent from public duty, Minister of War General Reinhard von Thaller called on every man, woman and child to be ready to defend the heartland of the nation.
He said: "We must show this cruel and unrelenting enemy that Hulstria will not give in to the tyranny we face. If we must go down we will go down bravely. I therefore call on every patriotic person to take up arms and be prepared to defend their home. If the enemy wants total war they we must be prepared to fight fire with fire.
Young children being trained to use weaponry as they prepare to defend the capital, Karstadt.Karstadt's defences have been long in the preparation. A perimeter fortification around the city, using all natural terrain, similar in scope to the northern reaches of he Heinrich Line has been developed. It is manned constantly by a mixture of regular and newly conscripted troops. Among the most seasoned campaigners are the 1. Armoured Division, the pride and joy of the Hulstrian army.