Chapter 376: Victory Parade
Planes flew through the air as the German Army marched through Paris in parade fashion. The 8th Army showed off its advanced weaponry that helped the central powers win the war while Bruno sat on horseback.
The steed was one that had been brought to Paris for this exact affair, a true warhorse of an ancient noble lineage far older than that of the man who it carried. The horse’s magnificently strong body and elegant grace showed signs of having destrier ancestors, the same kind that the most noble and chivalric of knights used to have as their prized possessions.
Bruno sat tall as he was dressed in his most excessively embellished gala uniform. Every medal and decoration he had been granted by the German Reich was proudly on display as he led the army through the streets of the vanquished enemy.
The striking red white and black striped banner of the German Reich flew proudly behind him, as the colour guard ensured that its majesty was never tarnished. French citizens stood by the wayside with complicated expressions.
Over the past few weeks, as Germany prepared for this day, the German soldiers occupying France had begun providing food and medicine to those who needed it most. While German Feldgendarmerie pacified the banditry and revolts taking place in the countryside.
France had finally capitulated, and now it was time for the Central Powers to celebrate their hard earned victory. Two years of monumental bloodshed and global war, and now peace had been established, an armistice was declared and a proper peace treaty was being negotiated.
The end of the war came with diplomatic challenges, assuring that parties which had already surrendered and signed their own treaties aligned with the latest nation to fall to the might of German steel.
This peace could not be based upon vengeance, but the nations of the central powers needed something to show for their bloodshed. Sure, casualties were far better off for these nations than during Bruno’s past life, but few wars still collected such a toll of human life.
Reparations were needed, but they could not be so excessive as to crush the already fragile state of the failing French Republic. With all of this in mind, one could understand why the French bystanders were so torn.
It was hard to be thankful for your conquerors. Sure, they marched into París and provided some much needed aid to the starving and diseased population. And were even gentle with how they forced the nation’s surrender.