Chapter 248: Heinrich
At that moment, the parade ground was neatly divided into distinct areas. Compared to the somewhat lax armies of Baden and Württemberg, the Prussian Army clearly exuded greater authority. Besides their strict discipline, an awe-inspiring aura of lethal intent radiated naturally from their ranks.
If we were to rewind a few decades, the Prussian Army's appearance back then was not much better than those of these two states. However, "knowing shame and then taking courage" became a trait of Prussia's upper leadership for several generations, carrying out continuous military reforms that completely ousted the noble loafers from the forces.
Combined with the baptism of war, the Prussian Army's tactical prowess rose considerably. It's true that in the Franco-Prussian War, Prussian forces almost doubled the French in number. Yet during Napoleon's era, France's mobilization and organizational abilities had far surpassed those of other European nations of the time. Hence, victory or defeat is always the key, not simply the size of the army. People only remember the winners.
…
Baden Division
"Blair, the Prussians seem so serious. Their discipline shows what a real army should look like!"
"It's just militarism. Although, under the current crisis for the German states, we do need a strong land power like Prussia to stand as the main force against the French. Our Baden and the other southern German states are simply too small," replied Colonel Blair of the Sixth Regiment.
"We do have our own advantages. Though our troop numbers may lag slightly behind the Prussians, victory on the battlefield depends on strategy. Compared with the Prussian Army, Baden might be smaller, but that means we're more flexible. If we can maximize our mobility, we can certainly pose a significant threat to the French."
"As for small scale, that unit flying the Principality of Hechingen's flag over there is even smaller," Blair remarked.
"You know their background?"
"I found out by accident. My father does business with the Hechingen Financial Consortium. In recent years, we've switched from cultivating grain to growing grapes. We earn more that way."
"I'm aware of the Hechingen Financial Consortium. They've invested quite a lot in Baden and Württemberg over the past few years. But what do they have to do with the Hechingen Brigade? Isn't 'Hechingen' just a place name under Prussia?"
"Prussia has many subordinate states these days, and there are quite a few in the North German Confederation alone that are stronger than Hechingen. But how many have you seen formed as a separate military unit named purely after a territory?" Blair asked in return.
"That's true; it's peculiar. Years ago, once Hechingen and Sigmaringen were incorporated into Prussia, I heard both states' armies were disbanded. Now there's a 'Hechingen' again! Could it be due to the House of Hohenzollern?"
"Though the ancestral lands of the House of Hohenzollern are indeed in Hechingen, that's not the reason for the appearance of the Hechingen Brigade. Because of my father's business ties, he investigated Hechingen thoroughly. In recent years, the entire House of Hohenzollern has been on the rise. The Prussian royal family aside, not long ago, Prince Karl of the Sigmaringen branch of the Hohenzollerns—his second son—became the Grand Duke of Romania. If it weren't for French obstruction, his eldest son Leopold might now be King of Spain. Meanwhile, the current generation of the Hohenzollerns in Hechingen has chosen a different path, shifting from politics and the military into business. The Hechingen Financial Consortium is essentially the royal family's industry."
"And what does that have to do with the Hechingen Brigade?"
"You didn't see the newspapers from two months ago?" Blair asked.
"Newspapers? I didn't pay much attention."
"At that time, a German-founded country was established in Africa, the East African Kingdom. You must've at least heard about that."
"Oh, I remember glancing at it, but who cares about some overseas native kingdom, even if it was founded by Germans?"
"You overlooked an important detail that I noticed. Getting the Austro-Hungarian Empire and many other nations to officially recognize it isn't something just any 'native kingdom' could do."
"So, since I wasn't following it, I guess I missed that. If that's the case, then…?"
"The King of the East African Kingdom is the Prussian Prince of Hechingen, Constantin. And the head of the Hechingen Financial Consortium is his only son, Prince Ernst—who also happens to be the future son-in-law of Archduke Ferdinand of the Habsburg family."
"So it appears the Hechingen royal family has done quite well these last few years. But what on earth made them go to Africa? It's hard to understand."
"Maybe they were provoked by Sigmaringen next door, who knows? That's just my personal guess. After all, competing for a European throne is not that simple, while the Sigmaringen branch managed to stumble upon two such opportunities. It's only natural for others to be envious."
"Enough speculation—just tell me the story behind the Hechingen Brigade."
"It's simply the Hechingen royal family's private forces. You could even call it a training ground for military talent for the East African Kingdom, based here in the German region. After all, when the Hechingen royal family went to Africa to start their venture, they obviously needed a loyal, personal military force. Europe took away Hechingen's authority to raise troops, but over the past few years, relying on the wealth of the Hechingen Financial Consortium, they built the Hechingen Military Academy. In practice, that academy is just a front for the Hechingen royal family to rebuild their army."
"That explains it. So can we say that this Hechingen Brigade isn't really a German military force at all, but rather the armed force of the East African Kingdom—or the Hechingen Financial Consortium—and does not belong to the Kingdom of Prussia? And now, because of the French threat, they've been given special status, basically like our Baden Division?"
"That's more or less it."
…
"Leopold, look who's here!" Frederick III called out from a distance, addressing Leopold.
"It's you… Ernst? I never thought you'd come to the front lines!"
"No need to act so surprised. I am the principal, after all. These students are about to graduate early, so of course I have to come in person. This time, I've brought someone to assist you."
Ernst might have acted like a hands-off leader, but appearing before students from time to time was mandatory. Occasionally, he would summon the entire school for an assembly to instill a sense of loyalty. Now, with this class about to enter a historically significant war, Ernst naturally came to the front to boost morale (mainly because he knew France was still preparing and wouldn't start fighting right away).
A gentleman does not stand under a collapsing wall. Ernst would never recklessly put his life in danger. It wasn't that he feared death—having already experienced it once, he had no terror of dying—but rather that he now had a vast family enterprise. If something happened to him, all his hard-won gains would be left to others, and that would feel worse than death.
"A capable person, you say? Don't go causing me trouble!"
"Relax. This young man is a top student currently enrolled at the Berlin Military Academy. I'm not exaggerating—he's been recognized by the instructors there. I had to pull a lot of strings to get them to let him go. Heinrich, this is your new commanding officer, His Highness Leopold of the Sigmaringen branch."
Heinrich gave a sharp salute. "Hello, Your Highness Leopold!"
Heinrich was one of only two students from the Hechingen Military Academy to be accepted for advanced studies at the Berlin Military Academy. He consistently ranked in the top thirty—not the very best, or the Berlin Military Academy would never have let him leave so easily.
Currently, the best-performing student from the Hechingen Military Academy at the Berlin Military Academy was Adenauer, who maintains a solid top-ten position, having once reached third place overall. Moreover, his high capacity for study and analysis led him to publish multiple excellent military papers that caught Moltke's eye, and he's now being considered by the Prussian General Staff.
The reason Ernst brought Heinrich over was ultimately for Heinrich's benefit. Adenauer's future was already bright, whereas Heinrich still lagged behind. Bringing him into the army early would help bolster his résumé—especially in the Franco-Prussian War. And since the Hechingen Brigade held special status, he could serve directly under Leopold as his deputy. This starting point in the Prussian Army couldn't be higher.
Given that Heinrich wasn't a native German, he would need battle merits if he hoped to stand out in Germany's future military.
In truth, Ernst's goal in placing him and Adenauer at the Berlin Military Academy was to help them advance into higher levels of the Prussian military. Owing to the unique makeup of the East African settlers, the East African Kingdom would inevitably remain under German and Austro-Hungarian influence. Therefore, these two needed to gain a certain degree of status in the German sphere. This was also why the Hechingen Brigade was established—to show the German public that these "yellow-skinned Germans" were just as brave, intelligent, and battle-ready, thereby facilitating ethnic integration in East Africa.
Whatever effect Ernst's efforts had in Germany, they produced an unexpected impact on the French. Later on, to suppress the Black population in French colonial Africa, France formed many colonial auxiliary units composed of Southeast Asians—taking inspiration, in part, from the example set by these East African and Hechingen soldiers.
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