Re: Blood and Iron

Chapter 29: A Solemn Vow



While relations worsened between the German Reich and the Russian Empire. The German Military had taken advantage of a great opportunity. One which few of the Great Powers fully realized at this moment.

Spurred on by the recommendations of an instructor at the Prussian War College, having himself received inspiration from one of his students. The German Army's high command approved the deployment of Military Observers to the ongoing war in South Africa between the local Boers and the British Colonial Army.

It was perhaps the first real example of modern warfare in the world. With extensive trench systems, widespread use of machine guns, and the mass deployment of more modern artillery systems.

Because of this, the German Military sent several officers to observe the conflict, record what they witnessed, and to make their own observations about whether or not such warfare would in the future be present on the European continent.

Surprisingly, one of the officers sent to South Africa by the Germans, who was assisting a higher ranking Colonel was none other than Brunos' friend, and former comrade-in-arms Heinrich Koch. Who by now had been promoted to the position of First Lieutenant.

He was standing afar, on the British side of the conflict, gazing through a pair of binoculars at the battle that was taking place a far enough distance away that he need not worry about taking a stray bullet, or being hit by a Boer shell.

The young lieutenant was making a comment to the Colonel who was tasked with leading the observation mission while watching the carnage unfold in the distance.

"I take back everything I said about that noble bastard... The man understands warfare. I have to give him that..."

The colonel was confused about who his subordinate was talking about, and was quick to inquire about the exact meaning behind Heinrich's words.

"And who pray tell is this noble bastard you are speaking about?"

Heinrich had neglected to mention to his superior officer that he had previously served beneath the command of Bruno whose name and reputation had spread like wildfire among the German officer corps following his feats in China. That is, until now.

"Who else but the Wolf of Prussia? The guy talks a lot about the future of warfare, but I never expected his viewpoints to have been proven correct and so soon at that... I am begrudged to admit it, however, after seeing the Boers defend against the British charge just now, I'm quite confident that guy knows more about how the nature of warfare will evolve then he lets on."

The colonel was slightly surprised that Heinrich knew the rising star of the German Army on a personal level. And was quick to inquire about the nature of the man.

"I'm assuming by the way you speak of the man, that you're a friend of Captain Bruno von Zehntner's, or at the very least an acquaintance? Are you trying to say that he predicted the developments we are currently witnessing? May I ask when exactly he spoke of such things?" Heinrich continued to observe the ongoing conflict in the distance through his binoculars while speaking of his time together with Bruno in the academy. There was an almost nostalgic and wistful tone in his voice, despite it being a mere year since they had graduated.

"As far back as our first year in the Royal Prussian Main Cadet Institute the guy would talk about how warfare is rapidly evolving, and how in the coming decades we would be faced with such difficulties to overcome.

Honestly, the guy was brilliant. But the arrogance which he spoke made us take what he had to say with a grain of salt? I mean seriously who could predict the future and how war would eventually be fought with such accuracy?

If I had to put an exact year on it, I'd say he started talking about these things around 1896. That was our first year together at the Institute after all...."

It would be one thing if Bruno somehow knew about the ongoing developments of the Second Boer War, which started in 1899, but to predict that such things would happen a full three years before the conflict began? The colonel was beginning to believe that Bruno was some kind of military visionary.

Especially since he had been sent to South Africa under the recommendations of a man currently acting as one of Bruno's instructors at the Prussian War College. Now that he thought about it, there was no doubt this was because of some statement which Bruno must have made.

One thing had become abundantly clear to Heinrich, and the other German officers sent to observe this conflict. Machine Guns would become an invaluable tool on the modern battlefield.

Their development and production would immediately be recommended by the Observers to German High Command as the foremost priority of the German Army's future procurement. Which was something that would eventually, in the years to come, lead to the adoption of Bruno's own designs in this regard.

Things were moving quickly behind the scenes. With relations between the German Reich and Russian Empire hitting an all-time low, and the German Military beginning to adopt machine guns en masse. Bruno had through relatively minor actions completely and utterly changed the future of this world.

This was something he had begun to suspect, but was in no way able to confirm, as he was not privy to such major developments. Instead, he focused his attention on his daily efforts to attend the Prussian War College, ace his exams, and eventually return home to his loving wife at the end of the day.

Heidi had recently given birth to her and Bruno's first child. And because of this, Bruno had temporarily hired a maid to help around the house. He was by no means impoverished. After all, as a captain in the German Army, he received a rather decent paycheck.

Of course, Bruno also came from a wealthy family, who were more than willing to help support any child rearing costs that he may incur during and after Heidi's pregnancy. Because of this, the woman was rather forcefully kept off her feet during this time. Even if she personally wanted to be more active in taking care of her home.

Life was simple during these days, and Bruno found himself in a peaceful state. Reminiscing about the day that Heidi give birth to his first child. Which rather than held at a public hospital, was conducted in the comfort of their own home, with the support of the family

physician and nursing staff.

Perhaps it was because of the woman's natural physique, but labor was relatively short, and less painful than it otherwise normally would have been. With a healthy baby girl being born on the morning of September 10th, 1901.

Bruno and Heidi had been considering a name for the child for some time. And ultimately they decided on the name of Eva for their infant daughter. The baby girl looked much like her parents, sharing the same eye color as the two of them, and would eventually share the same golden blonde hair as well.

The child was taken off to the spare bedroom to rest in her crib, where she would be looked after by her mother after she recuperated from giving birth. And while Heidi was resting peacefully, Bruno approached his young daughter who was staring up at him silently with her

azure blue eyes.

There was a stern expression on Bruno's face as he made a promise to his firstborn child. One he intended to keep even if it one day cost him his life.

"With your birth, I make a solemn vow to you my daughter Eva. That in the coming years, I shall forge a better world for you to live in than the one I was born into. The mistakes of the past will be rewritten, and you will grow up in a powerful and prosperous Reich. One whose culture and traditions shall be preserved until the end of time. This I swear to you, under pain of death, and eternal damnation should I fail to fulfill my promise."

After saying this, Bruno walked away from his newborn daughter. Intending to continue the work he had already started in this life. And to see the path which he had begun to traverse upon until the very end.