User blog comment:Spritydove/Deeper Thought into the Civil War/@comment-1889545-20120617091315/@comment-1889545-20120617171431

I personally believe Hammerfell held out because most of it is a desert which is not great land to actively conquer as well as the fact that redguard don't mind destruction magics unlike the nords which likely altered the way their war with the aldmeri dominion.

I do have one other problem with the stormcloaks though, the Thalmor dossier on Ulfric sums it up well as the only reason Ulfric didn't immediately lose his little rebellion was due to their interference meaning Skyrim would definately fall in my opinion.