Re: Blood and Iron

Chapter 56: Formation of the Iron Brigade Part I



Following the discussion between Bruno and the rest of the German High Command. A correspondence was made between the Kaiser and the Tsar. Where the German Reich presented an unexpected offer to send rifles, munitions, and artillery to the Russian Empire and its forces. One that the Tsar was quick to accept as a token of friendship.

After all, the war was not going as well for him as he had wanted the rest of the world to believe. In the months since Mukden, the Bolsheviks had grown in numbers, from initially a few thousand rioters to tens of thousands of revolutionaries.

With the disaster at Mukden, causing the loss of roughly 300,000 Russian soldiers. The remaining 400,000 or so soldiers who had been stationed in the east were immediately transferred west for the purpose of combating the Bolshevik revolution.

But the Marxists were bold. Choosing to fight not in the field, but in the streets where they could blend in with ordinary civilians. All the while Loyalist Militias patrolled the same streets, taking the brunt of the casualties which the Marxists inflicted upon the Tsarist forces via ambushing tactics.

Considering the Tsar couldn't very well shell his own towns, which the rebels inhabited. The result was that the Russian Army had to force their way into the homes of private citizens in an attempt to gather evidence of revolutionary activity where those apprehended would be executed publically via firing squads.

Of course, this created even more problems than it solved. Not only did this cause further resentment to the Tsar and his loyalists from the Russian people. But also spurred many of the Soldiers in the Russian Army to defect to the Red Army.

No doubt these men were already disgruntled by their poor performance in Manchuria, and upset over the Tsar's inability to avenge their fallen brothers at Mukden. But this? This was the final straw.

Because of this, the German Army and the rest of the world were watching Russia with great interest as the war continued to devolve into further chaos. Currently, Bruno was standing in the Central Division of German High Command, where he was commenting on the progression of the conflict.

Despite intial efforts over the past month to ship weapons to the Tsar and his forces. Many of the weapons delivered had ended up in the hands of the Red Army rather than their intended targets.

Whether this happened via traitors in the ranks of the Russian Army's logistics network, or was simply caused by defectors who accepted the stockpiles of German weapons before outright abandoning their posts to join the enemy. It didn't really matter. At the end of the day, only a fraction of the equipment shipped to Russia was now in the hands of the Tsarist Forces.

Because of this, Bruno pushed the wooden pieces representing the Red Army's forces into position outside Saint Petersburg on the map, where much of the Marxist activity was taking place. He made a bold prediction to the other generals of the German Army, one that they found hard to believe.

"By the time winter ends, Saint Petersburg will have fallen into Bolshevik hands. As will most of Ingria. If that were to happen, then the Tsar will lose one of his major ports and, by extension access to the Baltic.

Moreover, a Bolshevik capture of Saint Petersburg would mean that friendly forces overseas, and you know the ones I am talking about, will be able to actively contribute to the Red Army's war efforts. Thus creating further problems for the Tsar and his forces."

While it was hard to believe that the Russian city of Saint Petersburg would fall into the hands of the Bolsheviks. Things had ultimately changed in this timeline. The Russian Revolution of 1905 started a year early and was far more akin to the conflict in 1917 which itself would spiral into Russian Civil War during Bruno's past life.

Because of this, Burno wanted to put an end to this rebellion before it engulfed the entirety of the Russian Empire, and worse yet spread Marxist sentiment to Europe. As had happened after the Russian Empire and the briefly lived Russian Republic collapsed towards the end of the Great War in his past life.

After expressing this sentiment, and his reasonings as to why the fall of Saint Petersburg would be a significant victory for the Marxists. It would appear that Bruno's words had convinced several of the other German generals of his predictions. Or at the very least, they recognized the threat it would pose.

With this in mind, August von Mackensen took the lead, as he asked Bruno how he planned to handle the situation which he predicted should it actually come to pass in reality.

"So... If Saint Petersburg falls into the hands of the Bolsheviks, this little revolution will turn into something that may spell the end of the Russian Empire won't it? If that's the case, how do you plan to handle the situation?"

Bruno looked at the aging general as if the answer was completely and utterly obvious. Which he was quick to voice.

"Well, direct military intervention in the conflict may provoke an international response. One which I am sure the Kaiser does not desire in the slightest. After all, the rest of Europe sees this revolution as something minor.

For the German Reich to stick its nose in the Tsar's business, especially after the strained relations that our two nations have had over the course of the past few years. This would no doubt be seen as an unprovoked attempt to exert pressure on the Russian Empire.

So the idea of sending our own troops to aid the Tsar is out of the question. However, that does not mean there aren't alternative options to ensure these Marxists are crushed. For example, there is no treaty that prevents foreign volunteers from taking up arms on behalf of the Tsar.

In the last century, it was not uncommon for citizens to take up arms and form their own Freikorps during times of great distress was it not? Why not enlist the aid of such volunteers and have them deal with the Marxists?"

August von Mackensen immediately understood Bruno's intentions, even if the man had not outright stated them aloud. The plan was for the German Army to send active duty soldiers to Russia under the guise of them being "volunteers."

No doubt the Tsar would accept these "volunteers" as by now he needed all the manpower he could get. With this, Bruno had provided the solution to any potential diplomatic crisis that may have emerged should the German Reich send its own army to Russia.

Even if the French wanted to complain about these so called "volunteers" the Kaiser could simply state that he and his army had nothing to do with it. And any arms which these "volunteers" were using to fight the Red Army were instead supplied by the Russians. No doubt from the hefty stockpiles war aid that the Germans had already given the Tsar.

This was of course a tactic borrowed from Germany in Bruno's past life. In the 1930s, Germany had sent plenty of Wehrmacht units into Spain under the guise of being "Volunteers." These soldiers played a critical part in winning the war on behalf of the Nationalists.

Afterward, they were welcomed back into active service with open arms, and even granted medals for their actions in Spain. It was an act that not only the Germans had engaged in, but so too did their rivals on the global stage who supported the Republicans instead. When August von Mackensen realized what Bruno's plans were. He couldn't help but admire the man's cunning. This was a shrewd maneuver to avoid responsibility for any actions taken by these "Volunteer" units while they were in Russia. One which he could only shake his head and chuckle at as the aging Field Marshal posed the question which he already knew the

answer to.

"And who do you propose will lead these volunteers into Russia?"

It was a question that was obvious to everyone in the room. Bruno's hidden meaning had been seen through. Many of those present had guessed that this had probably been the man's goal all along. And when Bruno spoke his intent aloud, nobody disagreed with the words he had

said.

"Since I was the one who proposed this plot, then it is only right for me to take full responsibility for the operation. That is, of course, assuming that the Kaiser will approve of it.

If anyone asks why an active duty member of the German Army's general staff is in command of this volunteer force, you could say that I resigned from my post to lead these men into battle. After all, I am sure that fabricating some discharge papers is not an impossibility, no?" Bruno's words had confirmed the general's suspicions. The man had long since come up with this idea in preparation not only for removing Marxism from this world altogether but also as a scheme to mend the relationship between the German Reich and the Russian Empire. In addition to this, Bruno would no doubt be earning the Tsar's pardon for the acts he had taken against Russian Troops in Northern China during the Boxer Rebellion all those years ago. As well as his actions in Manchuria that led to the defeat of the Russian Army sent to the region. After all, such petty grievances paled in comparison to ensuring a monarch retained

his throne, did they not?

Considering the fact that Bruno appeared to have properly thought this matter through, the German generals saw no reason to prevent the man from leading this so called Freikorps. And immediately granted him the "resignation" he had requested. With Generalfeldmarschall Alfred von Schlieffen personally announcing it then and there.

"Alright... Generalleutnant Bruno von Zehntner, as the Chief of Staff of his Majesty's Army. I hereby accept your resignation. Should you wish to return to active service you are free to do so at your leisure where your rank and status will be fully reinstated."

After saying this, Bruno saluted the man and thanked him. Immediately thereafter he would be working to organize and equip the Freikorps, which would consist of at least a single brigade of 5,000 infantrymen, as well as an attached Artillery regiment of 48 guns, and 1,000

men.

In addition to organizing the Freikorps, as well as ensuring the logistics were set up to transfer them and their equipment to Russia. Bruno would also have to design new uniforms for the Freikorps units sent to Russia.

But Bruno just so happened to be heavily invested in German textile corporations and was thus capable of producing these uniforms with limited effort on his part. Considering that Bruno would be invoking the spirit of those brave veterans who during his past life fought to prevent a communist takeover of the German Fatherland following the collapse of the Monarchy, and the rise of Marxist revolutionary movements within the Weimar Republic. There was really only one appropriate name to give his new Freikorps unit. And that was the Iron Brigade. A name which would soon be remembered throughout history for its brutality and ruthlessness within the Russian Empire specifically in its efforts to stamp out Marxism wherever they may find its adherents lurking in the shadows.