Chapter 6:
Italy and the Nationalist faction were disastrously defeated in the Battle of Guadalajara, despite committing more than twice the forces of the Republican faction.
The initial advantage of a surprise attack was unfortunately lost to sleet and fog, and afterward, they were outmaneuvered by Enrique Líster, lost their armored unit, and were routed in surprise by a Republican counter-attack across the river.
I nearly died in the process, but I was promoted to First Lieutenant and grasped the honor of an Iron Cross 1st Class and the position of Company Commander.
My original plan was to accept some disgrace, get a military discharge immediately, and return to Germany, but now that I was in charge of our company, I had to abandon that plan.
As Captain Kaufmann's successor, I couldn't just abandon Klemens and the other company members to save my own skin.
If I change my perspective, this place is also a Land of Opportunity.
It's the only place in the Interwar Period, where there are no military merits to be won, that one can earn them and get promoted.
Whatever I do, having a high rank is never a bad thing.
No, since it’s certain that my father, Hjalmar Schacht, will soon be dismissed, I must build my own position somehow.