Chapter 278: Blood and Honor
The use of Flak guns against the makeshift British Armor had stopped the Allied Advance within the Alpine region, protecting the sovereign borders of Austria, and in doing so presented an opportunity to retake what had been lost.
But the wise man did not press his advantage when his army was designed with defense in mind. There would be too many problems if the Austro-Hungarians and their German allies pushed forwards into the occupied territory which Italy was currently in control of.
No, they maintained the line of defense, digging in further, and enhancing their fortifications as well as their capabilities. All the while Bruno made moves in the east. With the Royal Bulgarian Army smashed along their borders by the 8th Army an opportunity presented itself for the Austro-Hungarian forces to march through the gap that had been created for them. Meanwhile, Bruno focused his own attention towards the Bulgarian capital, hoping to force them to surrender before the Ottoman Army or what remained of it within Eastern Thrace could be mobilized to aid them.
Quite honestly, Bruno believed that the overwhelming majority of the German Reich's armored units were currently in the Balkans beneath his direct authority. There were hundreds of armored vehicles, either of the Panzer I, or of one of the two Spähpanzer varieties.
These vehicles were lined up in ranks, standing as Bruno walked past them, gazing upon their guns pointed in the direction of the Bulgarian capital which was not far away. Rain poured upon the landscape as he inspected each and every armored vehicle with his keen eye.
Gazing upon the overwhelming force of armor that he had already mobilized, Bruno suspected that by the time the war came to end, the 8th Army would be a fully modern combined arms army. No longer having to rely on lightly armored transport trucks to bring their troops into battle but instead make use of perhaps even armored personnel carriers. If such a thing came to be, then the push into Paris would be unstoppable when the time finally came for it. But now was not the time to think of such things. Instead Bruno spoke to those battle worn tankers who were ready for the advance into the Bulgarian capital.
And he did so with a bit of a lament within his tone. Almost as if the idea of fighting the Bulgarians and bringing them to heel was too much to bear.
"The main contingent of the Royal Bulgarian Army has been broken by the brave men in this Army. As we speak our allies advance from the north and to encircle what remains of our enemy. Fate has found us at odds with the men who would otherwise be our allies.
It was not my choice to march into Bulgaria's lands with a line of Panzers, but each and every one of you should know that you are the spine of the 8th German Army, and without you we would falter. So, when I say to advance forth into the enemy domain, without regard to the price of victory, you must do so.
For what stands behinds you is our entire civilization, culture, and people! Glory to the Kaiser, Glory to the Reich and those who spill blood in their name! For Blood and Honor!"
The engines of the line of tanks and armored cars roared to life as Bruno got out of their way. Allowing them to press forward with the motorized infantry shortly behind their advance. After doing so he shook his head and sighed, before walking back over to Heinrich, who was staring at the army as it began to move.
The man had a dumbfounded look on his face as he saw Bruno acting highly irritable, no doubt because he had compelled himself to quit smoking out of sheer will, and he was now beginning to suffer through the drawbacks of such a choice.