Re: Blood and Iron

Bruno had taken an armored train to the alps, more specifically the Tyrolean Alps, along with the men beneath his command. And while this was happening, his wife was at the family estate, gazing out the window of the villa's library, with a book in her hands, and a deeply complex expression on her angelic face.

The book was nothing of note, nor was she really paying attention to the details contained within. Rather, she was gazing out at the spring rain as it fell upon the palace gardens, bringing life to all that lived within it.

Whether that be the myriad of flowers and trees which soaked up the mist which caressed their leaves, roots, and petals, or the insects within the yard that used this beautiful time of year to propagate.

The seasonal storms did not cast a gloomy shadow on the Berlin landscape, as one might expect it too. Nor did Heidi perceive it in this way. This was not a storm that foreshadowed a coming darkness. Rather, the rays of light protruding through the end of the storm which could be witnessed in the distance acted as a hope for a much greater tomorrow.

It was perhaps because of this peculiar sight which Heidi could not shift her eyes away from, that the woman felt a sense of ease and comfort. But as the heaviest part of the storm and its blackened clouds rapidly approached her, she suddenly felt a deep sense of despair.

She could not understand the feeling of dread she was overcome by in that moment, but she knew, before the light of the morrow arrived, things would only get worse for everyone. And because of this, she grieved the loss of all those deaths and injuries that were to come in the following days.

Heidi made a silent prayer in her heart for those who would fall before the bright future which awaited them all finally revealed itself before ultimately shutting the windows and closing the shades. Where she decided to get back to her book and escape to a land of fantasy far away from the troubles that were quickly encroaching upon her.

---

Bruno sat in a compartment of the armored train which was taking him to the alps. Sitting beside him were several of the lower ranked generals beneath his command who were current leaders of the Corps, divisions, and brigades within the roughly 80,000 men or so that now formed the German 8th Army.

His army had been more or less restructured into combined arms battalions similar to the way a Russian Battalion Tactical Group operated in the 21st century. These Battalion tactical groups composed of 136 Armored Vehicles and 800 men each.

Of these Armored Vehicles, 40 were designed for frontline combat, those being 10 Panzer I tank, and 30 half tracks. These half tracks, which operated as mechanized infantry were split into two distinctive models.

The first model of halftrack had a closed and fully armored passenger bay, with a hatch on top that allowed a gunner to pop his head out and fire an MG-34 behind a gun shield. It was more or less a primitive armored personnel carrier.

The troops in the back would open up the rear doors and pile out two by two. It was a fairly simple design, one that would more or less stand up against any small arms the enemy had. Although it was relatively untested against anything more substantial, which the Allies might bear against it.

There were about twenty of these half-track APCs among the German 8th Army. However, the second model there were as many of them as there were Panzer I tank, and that was 10. These were the same closed halftrack design.

But instead of a closable hatch and an MG-34 gun shield, the vehicle had a functional turret with a 20mm auto-cannon as its primary gun. Its secondary weapon was a coaxially mounted MG-34. More or less making this halftrack a crude and primitive infantry fighting vehicle. Or at the very least, fulfilling such a role.

The rest of the 800 men not involved in these four companies were composed of support units. Whether that came in the form of mechanized artillery. Mechanized Anti-Aircraft. Mechanized Anti-Armor, engineering companies, medical companies, reconnaissance companies, or even command structure. Everyone had an armored vehicle variant to make use of.

These battalion tactical groups would combine to form brigade sized units, which would in term combine to form division sized units, and finally corps sized units. All in all, there were about 100 battalion combat teams within the German 8th Army, or about 80,000 men.

It had taken the Germans years of manufacturing armored vehicles and experimenting with variations to get to this point. But this was in all reality the first modern combined arms army the world had ever known. And it was headed to the Alps at this moment.

Sure, they had months to get accustomed to their new units, tactics, equipment, et cetera. But currently Bruno was sitting in his compartment with his highest ranking officers, speaking of the overall battle plan for their invasion of the alps.

After all, they would be going into a highly mountainous region. One where the advantage of using armor on an open field was negated. Because of this, Bruno's strategy was a slow and steady pace. Which he outlined on the map. More specifically, at a curious and small town within the Tyrolean province of Austria.

"Thanks to the failures of our Austrian allies, the fortifications we prepared in southern Trient in advance for this war have fallen to the hands of the Italians. As a result, the entirety of the region has fallen under their control. Forcing us to draw a new line of defense in South Tyrol on its border with Trient.

The result of which has been well over a year of bitter fighting between our forces in the Alps and the enemy. But luckily we have managed to maintain the lines of conflict as they have been since the initial blunder in 1914.

And because of this we will be moving the 8th army from the city of Bozen to where the enemy's defenses are thickest directly north of Trient. After all, they are anticipating us attacking from a weak point.

But they would never expect a head on collision at their most reinforced fortification. The might of our 75mm and 105mm self-propelled artillery, supported by German and Austro-Hungarian heavier artillery will breach the Italian fortifications with ease. Of which our tanks, and halftracks will pour through the gap like a tidal wave of steel.

The aim is to completely and totally crush their most veteran units and push south before they can mobilize proper reinforcements. As for the rest of the border, it will be assaulted by the Alpenkorps and the Austro-Hungarian Army after we have already broken through the thickest line of defense.

To put it simply, for the sake of this theater, we are the tip of the spearhead to drive through the links in the enemy's mail armor. That is our sole goal, and we will conduct ourselves with the ferocity and aggression we have all become known for over the last year and a half.

Is that understood?"

There was no disagreement from among the ranks. And because of this, Bruno was capable of nodding his head once he had a unanimous consensus on the battle plan. After which he was quick to comment on the situation overall.

"Very well then, you all know your orders. The train should be arriving at our destination any minute now. It is your job to convey through the chain of command that our march won't stop until the Trient as a whole has returned to its rightful rulers.

Until the moment we arrive, however, take this moment to have a smoke, and whatever else you may need to relax without becoming impaired. Because this might be your last moment to do so before this day is over…"

After saying this, Bruno stood up and approached the bar. Where he ordered a coffee to keep his mind sharp for the battle that was about to begin. Naturally, as the General in charge of the entire army, he would be at the very rear, supported by AT and AA elements with the rest of the chain of command.

But even so, he couldn't shake the feeling that this new theater of warfare was going to present challenges and difficulties that he had not properly perceived and thought through.

Either way, he could not dwell on these thoughts long for within the span of ten minutes the train arrived at its destination where Bruno helped take part in getting the equipment off the cars and into the streets where they would begin their assault at the earliest given opportunity.

Truly on this day, of April 22nd, 1916, the German Spring Offensive had begun. And with it came a new era of warfare which nobody could have possibly anticipated.