Re: Blood and Iron

Chapter 252: Shock and Awe Part II



There were easily three ways to justify an invasion into Albania, first and foremost one could find legitimate evidence tying the Religious and Ethnic militant groups causing violence and chaos across the Austro-Hungarian held Balkan territories to one or more of the Paramilitary organizations currently vying for power in the lawless principality.

But if such evidence did not exist, then one could easily go about forging it, bribing a few captured militants here or there to falsely confess to having ties to these Albanian factions. Thirdly, one could arrange a false flag attack.

This was a tactic that was most commonly used in the modern era to justify war by governments that did not otherwise have a valid casus belli. After all, in this modern era, civilized countries simply didn't invade their neighbors because they had the power to do so.

Or at least that was how we all liked to pretend the world worked. And since Bruno had gone to great lengths to make Germany appear as if it were not the aggressor in this timeline, making a major fuckup here and now by forcefully invading Albania without just cause was most certainly not a mistake he intended to make.

Hence, over the course of the next two weeks, German Foreign Intelligence did everything in their power to find some form of ties between the Albanian factions and the Balkan militants. After all, lies would eventually be exposed. Even if you could convince the masses not to believe them, there would always be that doubt.

So, if there was a legitimate way to connect Albania to this senseless violence being committed in the name of God and folk, then that was the best option. Luckily for Germany, Bruno's suspicions were easily proven correct with a little bit of old-fashioned espionage.

Both the Ottoman Empire and the Kingdom of Bulgaria were quickly confirmed to be supplying various factions fighting for control of Albania, who in turn sold a portion of those supplies to militants they shared beliefs within Austro-Hungarian territory.

And once this evidence was in hand, it was time to publicly denounce everyone who was responsible for the needless suffering of innocent civilians that was taking place with each passing day as the Imperial Powers tried desperately to slay the Hydra that was Ethnic and Religious violence in the Balkans.

Bruno naturally did not take the stage for this declaration. Though he was a general in the Army, he did not possess the position and title necessary to declare "war." Nor did Bruno intend to step foot onto a stage within Bosnia, where the local Serbian population was highly liable to try to take his head off with a clean shot if they could manage to get one.

After all, Bruno was not exactly liked by the Serbian population, what he had done to Belgrade was simply unforgivable from their perspective, and there were many Serbians, even those of Bosnian nationality who would want his head if they were presented a chance to claim it.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

With all of this in mind, Bruno's stay in Sarajevo was more or less one where he was constantly looking over his shoulder and surrounding himself with his own personal guards. In particular, those men who were veterans of the Iron Division's campaign in Russia ten years prior.

These were men who had fought and bled with Bruno in the trenches, men who had served under him for many years, and men who would gladly give their lives to protect him from harm. Even take a bullet for the man if such a requirement came to pass.

They were truly some of the few men in this world that Bruno could reasonably trust with protecting his person. Their loyalty was unwavering and could not be bought, not intimidated into breaking faith with their leader.

With all of this in mind, the matter was brought to the Kaiser's attention after the evidence had been gathered, and because of this, the man stood in Berlin, making an announcement that would resound across the globe.

"It has come to my attention, that the lawlessness within the borders of the Principality of Albania, a small nation in the Balkans which has entered a state of anarchy, has begun to spill over into the territory of my friend and ally Emperor Franz Joseph I, my own soldiers have even come under fire from these militants armed, supplied, and given safe haven by the various factions fighting for control over the vacant position the Prince of Albania left behind during the start of this war.

At first, I was compelled to merely sit by, and wait for the matter to settle itself, but with the blood of Germany's sons being spilled as a result of this madness, I have no choice but to openly declare a special military operation within the Principality of Albania, one that is intended to pacify the lawlessness that prevails within those lands, and bring back law and order to the small Balkan nation.

Make no mistake, the full might of the 8th German Army will be brought to bear upon those militant and illegitimate factions which have caused this senseless loss of life. And they will do so in the way which they have always fought. And that is to invade with the speed and power of the heaven's thunder!

You wanted this, you shall now have it! For baring your fangs against the German Reich who have no grievance with your small and petty nation, we shall show you that this wolf has teeth of his own! And to the innocent Albanian people who are in no part responsible for this insanity, you have nothing but my most sincere sympathies."

The Kaiser's declaration was immediately relayed to all relevant parties, and the moment it did, the engines of the armored cars and 3.5-ton trucks alike began to roar. In addition to this, Bruno had spent the last two weeks preparing for this invasion by introducing another armored vehicle, one that would be instrumental and crushing the enemy fortifications with its 5cm semi-automatic main gun.

Albania would have the distinguished honor of being the first nation in human history to be trampled over by the might of German steel in the form of the legendary Panzer...