Re: Blood and Iron-Chapter 390: The Werwolf Brigade

Ernst Röhm demonstrated his full potential almost immediately after Bruno appointed him commander of the shadowy mercenary force tasked with conducting "black operations" on behalf of the German Reich beyond its borders.

This unit would handle the security operations Germany would normally finance across its soon-to-be former colonial empire while also serving as an unseen blade, delivering decisive blows against enemies without direct ties to the Reich.

A seasoned expert in counterinsurgency and irregular warfare, Röhm had led stormtroopers through the trenches of the Great War and was bound by the brotherhood of 1906—the foundation of the newly reconstituted "Iron Division," whose name had yet to be decided.

Over the next few months, Bruno brought him up to speed on combined arms warfare and unit cohesion. This mercenary force would serve as the ideal testing ground for new weapons that Bruno’s engineers had efficiently adapted from the previous E-10 pattern weapon systems.

The arsenal included E-10-style wheeled armored personnel carriers, each equipped with a 2 cm auto-cannon housed in a rotating VK 16.02 Leopard turret, and tracked E-25-style infantry fighting vehicles armed with 3.7 cm auto-cannons in a similar turret design.

These prototype armored troop carriers would become the backbone of Germany’s restructured military, with this mercenary force serving as the proving ground for their effectiveness.

Additionally, new tanks were developed on the E-25 chassis, featuring the formidable 88mm KwK/PaK 43 L71 mounted on a rounded turret inspired by the prototype Leopard 1 from Bruno’s previous life.

Once perfected, this formidable machine would be introduced as the Panzer II, serving as the primary tank of the German armed forces during the interwar period, while the existing Panzer I would be repurposed as an armored scout.

Perhaps, in time, these scouts could be upgraded with more powerful weaponry and slat armor to counter emerging threats, but for now, they were more than sufficient. Further additions to the arsenal included self-propelled artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, anti-aircraft guns, armored recovery vehicles, ambulances, and command vehicles—all based on the E-10 and E-25 platforms.

Only a limited number of these vehicles had been produced over the past year, enough to equip a single combined arms brigade. Fortunately, the initial wave of recruits for this mercenary force numbered just 3,200 men, making the scale ideal for current needs.

As Röhm and his troops familiarized themselves with their advanced equipment, Bruno observed with approval. Their uniforms had been modified to distinguish them from standard German infantry, featuring a 1916 pattern uniform in the infamous "Plane Tree" camouflage from Bruno’s past life.

This ensured operational effectiveness in both summer and autumn environments. Load-bearing gear was dyed feldgrau, and arid camouflage patterns blending Plane Tree with modern "Tropentarn" colors were already in development. This marked the creation of the first fully camouflaged military force in history.

After witnessing the unit in action, Bruno knew the name befitting them. In his past life, a term had existed for guerrilla fighters who were meant to continue the struggle against Germany’s enemies in the aftermath of a lost Second World War.

That insurgency never materialized, largely due to the Allies’ establishment of massive death camps under the guise of holding "disarmed combatants." But the name endured—the Werwolf Brigade.

These were wolves disguised as men, an elite force capable of striking with precision when plausible deniability was required. Should they expand, they would evolve into the Werwolf Group, but for now, the name suited them perfectly.

With his mind set, Bruno swiftly approved the necessary funding for the unit’s continued operations and summoned its leader to his home to deliver the first mission.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Bruno laid out a series of photographs detailing the unfolding crisis just south of Bavaria. Austria was on the brink of total collapse. The images depicted the rise of brigands, gangs, and armed revolutionaries.

The Austro-Hungarian Empire had long been a powder keg of nationalism, and the annexation of Serbia had only exacerbated its volatility.

When millions of soldiers returned home from war, addicted to alcohol, methamphetamine, cocaine, and heroin, the ensuing chaos nearly obliterated the remnants of the empire. However, Bruno maintained deep ties within Austro-Hungarian military intelligence cultivated during his campaigns in the Balkans.

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Those officers and agents who had avoided succumbing to addiction recognized the dire situation at hand. Aristocratic generals aligned with Bruno’s ambitions and provided him with all the evidence needed to convince both the Habsburgs and the Hohenzollerns of a decisive course of action.

After meticulously reviewing the intelligence before him, Röhm met Bruno’s gaze, awaiting orders. Bruno wasted no time.

"Starting tomorrow, you and your men will move your equipment south to the Austrian border and east to Bohemia. Your objective is to secure key strategic locations and conduct Feldgendarmerie operations on my command.

I must first meet with the Habsburgs to secure their cooperation, but once I do, the German Reich will begin its occupation of Austria and its crown lands. This ’humanitarian mission’ will restore stability, order, and peace."

Bruno’s tone hardened. "You will serve as the vanguard, eliminating those who must disappear without a trace. Do you have any questions?"

Röhm snapped a crisp salute, his response unwavering. "Not at all, sir. Your will is my command."

Bruno nodded, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. Dismissing Röhm, he sent him on his way with final instructions.

"From this point forward, there will be no direct contact between us. You will relay my orders as if they are your own. When the time is right, you will receive my command to act. Until then, proceed exactly as instructed. You are dismissed, Colonel."

With one last salute exchanged, Röhm departed, leaving no trace of their conversation. As for Bruno, he had his own preparations to make. At dawn, he would depart for Vienna to negotiate with the Habsburgs, setting in motion the first step of a grand design—one that would see Austria finally embrace its rightful place within the German Reich.