Stormtroopers, a term used to apply to specialized units during the Great War who had mastered the art of trench raiding. So effectively, that they were generally able to traverse the distance between the two trench lines with little to no exposure in no-man’s-land.
It was an entirely alien concept that made use of small, specialized teams, which were highly mobile, and equipped with the most modern of weapons. Realistically, the submachine guns, semi-automatic rifles, and general-purpose machine guns that were currently being produced to replace the older weapon platforms would be ideal for this conflict.
But these weapons were state secrets of the German Reich. And because of this, Bruno chose to make use of older equipment that he had already displayed in the Russian Civil War. Such as the Mauser C96 “Trench Carbine” which was based upon the 1917 prototype that was beaten by the MP 18 during military trials. Albeit with an added select fire capability.
It fed from 20 round, or thirty round detachable magazines, and basically fulfilled the operational purpose of a submachine gun, even if it was inferior in this regard to the actual guns that would be employed en masse in the coming years by German soldiers.
Along with these 1917 Trench carbines, semi-automatic Browning Auto-5 12-gauge shotguns were used by these stormtroopers, having been initially procured in small batches for the purpose of the Iron Division’s use in Russia by the American Browning firearms corporation.
The Reich recently received the licensing, tooling, and blueprints required to manufacture them domestically for service in the German Army. These two weapons were equipped with blank firing adapters and currently fired blanks for the purpose of the operation.
Because of this, the small units were quick to mobilize into the field following the Austro-Hungarian retreat, rapidly, and covertly covering the distance between the two trench networks dug into the mountainside in preparation for this joint military exercise.
The Austro-Hungarian generals watched as the men on their machine guns were caught unawares by the German stormtroopers who entered the trenches and opened a gap for the rest of the Division of Bruno’s soldiers to pour through.
As Bruno predicted, the mock battle ended shortly after that, with the German soldiers raising the banner of the German Reich over the Austrian trench line for an added degree of boasting to their defeated allies.
The looks on the faces of the Austro-Hungarian generals were as if they had just been forced to watch their wives get pounded in front of them by Bruno, who was smiling smugly at them while finishing off the last cigarette in his packet.
“So, are we done here?”
There was no denying it. Despite having twice as many men for the purpose of this joint military exercise, the Austro-Hungarian forces were miserably defeated by their German counterparts. Causing them to stare in silence for a very long time as they contemplated how to proceed.
They had, after all, made a bet with Bruno, one which, if they chose to honor, would compel them to implement Bruno’s strategies, tactics, and organizations among their own army. Primarily, Bruno just wanted to fix the lines of communication between the Austro-Hungarian forces, which was so horrific the military exercise ended two hours before noon.
And if these Austro-Hungarian generals did not honor the agreement, then their reputations would be fully sullied. To a group of powerful noblemen like themselves, reputation was everything. Still, no matter what they did, these men would be a laughingstock back in Vienna, after everyone in the Austrian Royal Court heard about this monumental failure.
There was one general among the ranks of the Austro-Hungarians who participated in the exercise who Bruno immediately took notice of. By and large, the Austro-Hungarian Army was considered either the worst army of the Great Powers during the war, or the second worst.
It really came down to whether or not you actually considered the Kingdom of Italy a Great European power, and well, whether you attributed the massive victory in Caporetto to German Stormtroopers or the superior defensive tactics utilized this the Austro-Hungarian General Svetozar Boroević.
Svetozar was a creation born in the Austrian Empire. And he was one of the few generals in the Austro-Hungarian army who was neither Austrian nor Hungarian. He was also the only general in the Austro-Hungarian army who, as far as Bruno was concerned, was actually worth a damn.
And the man in question had observed the failures of his superiors, while noticing and learning from the tactics Bruno used to overcome their superior numbers. Frankly put, in the defense, Bruno had utilized superior terrain and overwhelming firepower to defend his trench line with limited casualties.
While making use of stormtrooper tactics to open up a gap in the Austro-Hungarian defenses after they retreated, in order to make way for his much larger army to break through. While the man was already quite capable of defensive strategy and had advised his superiors against their tactics.
Which they ignored because he was currently only a mere Lieutenant General, and he was an ethnic Croat, so what exactly would he know? At least such was the Austro-Hungarian mentality. And while his advice could have aided the Austro-Hungarian efforts, Bruno’s use of stormtrooper tactics was truly revolutionary for the era.
And Svetozar Boroević took note of this. Using this as an opportunity to get closer to the German General and try to learn from him. All the while, the other generals grumbled about their losses and sauntered off. Saving what little face they could by promising to “hear out” Bruno’s suggestions on how they could prove.
As for the general who remained, he quickly approached Bruno and spoke to him with a much higher degree of respect.
“I can’t say I didn’t warn them, but even if they did take my advice, I fear the results would have been the same. You really have earned your nickname….”
Bruno looked over at the Austro-Hungarian general who had remained behind and was quick to make a comment about how many nicknames he had earned over the years, asking the man to specify which one in particular he was talking about, not that he didn’t already know the answer.
“Oh, and which one might that be? Truth be told, in every war I fight in, somebody gives me a new nickname, whether the enemy or the men beneath my command. It’s hard to tell these days what people are specifically referencing when they make such comments.”
Svetozar Boroević smirked after hearing this, before making his thoughts on the matter known in no hidden way.
“Oh, by all means, allow me to clarify which one I was referring to. You earned yourself the nickname the Wolf of Prussia. At first, I thought it was mere banter from lower ranked men who had no idea what a truly cunning leader could be. But I have to say, after witnessing your guile in person, and your rather revolutionary takes on trench warfare, I have to say you have more than earned such a fearsome reputation.
I am Generalmajor Svetozar Boroević. It is a pleasure to meet you sir…”
The man then saluted Bruno, to which he returned the gesture before speaking to him with equal praise.
“The pleasure is all mine. Believe it or not, I have heard quite a bit about you. I figured that out of all the generals beneath Kaiser Franz Jospeh’s command, you would be the one to recognize what I did here. If it is not too much of an imposition, would you care to have a drink with me back at my division’s encampment? I am sure there is a lot for the two of us to discuss.”
Needless to say, Svetozar Boroević was not expecting Bruno to make such an extensive gesture to him. Nevertheless, he was quick to seize the opportunity, and he did so with a friendly smile on his face.
“By all means, lead the way, sir.”
After this, the two of them would have a rather extensive chat on the current issues plaguing the Austro-Hungarian Army, and the best solutions to those problems. By the end of the discussion, Svetozar Boroević began to realize that he had still underestimated Bruno’s intellect, and the man’s capacity to wage war.
He was simply glad that the two of them were allies rather than enemies. Because he was not certain that if Austria-Hungary was forced to face such a fearsome foe as adversaries, that they had even the most remote chance of emerging victorious in such a dreadful conflict.
