Finally someone decided to aproach such interesting historical topic in videogame, this has so much potential! Good luck Ashborne!
Superbanikovec
I love the fact you used the Legiovlak (a replica of the train which serves as a traveling museum for those who don't know) to film parts of the trailer.
hawkins
For those who want to know the historical context of this game, and why the story of the Czech Legion is such an underrated epic... well, let me tell you. Buckle up, because is a wild ride.
So, context: WWI. Big clusterfuck. Among all this mess, there was one nation among many that sought to obtain its independence in the conflict: that of Czechs and Slovaks. At the time they were part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but they weren't happy with it and were looking for a way out. The Great War seemed like a perfect opportunity. The Russian army granted certain Czechs politicians the power to set up a Czech Legion to fight on the Russian side against the Central Powers; similar formations appeared in France and Italy, although much smaller. At first things moved slowly, because the Czech Legion was supposed to be an all-volunteer force. But after a couple of remarkable performances, they got permission to recruit ethnic Czechs and Slovaks from prisoners of war taken in battle against Austria-Hungary. The Czech Legion swelled into a force of more than 60, 000 strong. However, it was now 1917 and we all know what this means: Russian Revolution! When the Bolsheviks seized power from the Socialists, the Legion found itself stranded in Russia. They wanted to continue the fight against the Central Powers (because independence) but the Bolsheviks were in the process of making peace with Germany and Austria-Hungary. So the chairman of the Czechoslovak National Council wanted to move the Legion to France, in order to keep fighting. But there was a problem: how to get there? The land route was obviously blocked by millions of angry Germans and Austrians, so that was a no go. Russia was also obviously not going to allow them to fight the Central Powers from their territory. So they had to escape Russia by sea. But how? The northern ports were blockaded by the Kaiser's navy, and the Bosphorus in the south were closed by the Ottomans. So the only way was Vladivostok. In the fucking end of the continent, almost 10, 000 km the wrong way.
That didn't deter the Czech Legion, of course.
Their journey started hot already, with them having to fight a rearguard action against advancing German forces from the west, who were not amused by Trotsky's 5D chess "no peace, no war" move.. Troubles didn't cease there, however, because the Bolsheviks were growing increasingly distrustful of a large band of heavily armed and battle hardened Czechs crossing their territory, in the middle of a political climate that looked like it was going to explode into a civil war any moment. On the other hand, the Czechs were wary of the Bolsheviks trying to sway part of their forces to the communist side. And in the middle of all of this, the Central Powers were very keen on having the Bolsheviks stalling the potential arrival of a large body of hardened veteran reinforcements to the Western Front. After many disputes and clashes, the Bolsheviks finally ordered the disarmament of the Legion and the arrest of all its members. The Czech political leadership, seeing no other way out, caved in. It looked like the end of a crusade to nowhere.
But of course it was not going to end this way. The soldiers ignored the wishes of the leaders and refused to disarm, instead redoubled their efforts into making their way towards Vladivostok, via the Trans-Siberian Railway, clashing with the Bolsheviks all along the way. By July 1918, their vanguards were in control of Vladivostok, which they declared an Allied protectorate and started receiving Allied troops destined to fight the Bolsheviks.
Are you keeping up? Because now it gets complicated.
Soon the city was overflowing with Japanese soldiers in direct intervention against Russia, seeking to secure their sphere of influence in the region. Now fully in the fight against the Bolsheviks, the Czechs began moving _west_ again (remember, west was the wrong way, they wanted to go east), in order to help their comrades at the end of the railway line get across. Due to the chaos of the war and the appalling state of Russian infrastructure, the Legion didn't journey to Vladivostok as a single entity, but it was rather strung out all along the railway, from Samara to Vladivostok.
It was about that time that a _naval battle_ took place. The mountain passes surround lake Baikal were controlled by the Bolsheviks, situated in strong positions. The Czechs, instead of attacking the passes, captured two steam ships and armed them with four howitzers they had, and used them to attack the Bolshevik port on the other side, sinking one ship and wrecking the harbor and the train station. Thus Czechoslovakia, a land locked country, managed to win a naval battle.
Another incident of note was the execution of the Tsar and his family; you see, they were being kept in the remote location of Yekaterinburg, but with the Legion getting closer and closer, the local Bolshevik leadership panicked and executed the entire family and their servants, dumping the bodies in a mine shaft.
By now the Czech Legion was almost in complete control of Trans-Siberian Railway, and began to slowly retreat east once again. In the middle were the Red and White armies, battling each other in the bloody Russian Civil War. Amid the ongoign chaos, the Czechs stumbled upon (I swear I am not makings this up) the imperial gold reserves, which were being transported by one of the White leaders, admiral Kolchak (recently, a movie was made about him) The Czechs later exchanged Kolchak and the gold reserves for safe passage in an agreement with the Socialist Revolutionaries of Irkutsk (they were a splinter leftist group that fought against the Bolsheviks during the Civil War, but were also persecuted by the Whites. It is complicated). It was 1920, almost two years later, and there were still over twelve Czech trains west of Irkutsk. Once safely in Vladivostok (in addition to the Czechs, there were some 70, 000 Japanese troops in the city), the members of the Legion were evacuated in Allied ships, returning to western Europe, and then to Czechoslovakia, by now a nation emerging from the old Austro-Hungarian Empire. Their journey was complete. It took three years, more than 10, 000 km over land, and more than twice that over sea. Along the way they fought Germans, Austrians, Bolsheviks, Socialist Revolutionaries, White Russians and even Japanese-backed Transbaikal warlords. Sounds made up, I know. And it was all true.
VRichardsn
Czech bro here. The march of Czechoslovak legions is in my opinion one of the most fascinating events that took place during WWI. Caught in the middle of crossfire between the Reds and the Whites, power hungry opportunists and warlords birthed by chaos. Travelling half the world for a chance to fight for a free nation that does not yet exist. United with your brothers by a dream and love for your nascent country. The actions of Czechoslovak legions during the war helped convince the allied nations of the worth of Czechoslovakia to govern itself, as a sovereign nation after 400 years.
fidalf
Sometimes actual history is more epic than any fiction.
I hope the game will turn up to the up for the challenge.
garvielloken
So cool getting to see some stories about Czechoslovakia! — As a proud American, it always warms my heart when people of other nationalities get to see their countries in the limelight in digital media and film.
Much love from the US! 🇺🇸🇨🇿
evanrogers
Love the live action cutscene intermixed with the gameplay, gives me C&C vibes.
Midnorme
HOLY CRAP! The mad lads actually made a game about this story! I can't wait for people to read up on what happened. It's an absolute mad story filled with heroic individuals. Everyone should know about it, and the Czechs and Slovaks should always hold their heads high when the story is recounted.
benjamintherogue
As soon as he said that all they want is to return home I figured that this was about the Czech Legion. What a blessing for the Czechs to have their national stories portrayed in a video game! I could only wish such thing for my people.
who
The soundtrack is exceptional. If you listen closely, you can hear piano in the background, which vaguely uses the tone of the arguably most famous Czech musical masterpiece: Moldau (Vltava) by Bedřich Smetana. Hearing that alongside the trailer's narration truly brings a tear to one's eye.
dominiksoudil
Borci z Ashborne Games.
Naprosto BOŽÍ trailer. Fantastický! Okamžitě si to dávám do seznamu na Steamu.
People from Ashborne Games.
That trailer is absolutely GOD. Fantastic! I'm putting it on my wishlist on Steam.
jakubordan
I like how cinematics are made by real actors, i hope more of this in the future
MS-zpby
I'm not Czech like a lot of the others in this comment section but I've always loved learning about the world wars, so the story of the Czechoslovak Legion is one I've come to know well, and this trailer excites me to no end.
One of the most epic stories from the Great War, combined with my favourite genre of video game? Fastest wishlist of my life.
guardianoffort
Wow, this looks really amazing. I found this video by accident and knew nothing about this game, so mention of Czechoslovakia and realization that its game about our legion was quite a shock. Instantly added to the wishlist👍
tefky
Tak to vypadá, že o udržování národní hrdosti se bude starat českej herní průmysl. A víte co? Mě to neva!
Fantastickej trailer, husí kůže, desire to cross Siberia in an armored train intensifies. Hodně štěstí s launchem, jdu wishlistovat!
maatoha
I'm excited to try this out. It's not just the snow but I'm getting Frost Punk vibes from the grittyness of the journey.
TheIronArmenianakaGIHaigs
Really hope it's going to turn out well, you guys got me hyped. I was really hoping for this event in history to get more coverage.
fabianekmartin
Now this is a game I'm hype for. I'm also just happy that this time period is getting more and more recognition with games and everything.
cavalr
My fastest wishlist. I'm a sucker for RTS and a sucker for history. Looking forward to adding this to my game library.
Excellent performance of Smetana's Ma Vlast, I should add!
