Re: Blood and Iron

Chapter 78: Uncovering A Sinister Truth

Chapter 78: Uncovering A Sinister Truth

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The Red Army had in the days following their defeat Tsaritsyn entered a state of hiding. They tried their best to recruit new members to replace their losses suffered in the Volga Region. While the Tsarist forces secured the areas outside Tsaritsyn, arresting, interrogating, and executing anyone with sufficient evidence of supporting the Red Army or the Bolshevik Party. Meanwhile, Bruno had begun to petition the Kaiser for a very specific request. To put it simply with the number of foreign volunteers who had joined the Iron Division, all of which were active soldiers in the German Armed Forces, Bruno felt a medal should be created specifically for their participation in the Russian Civil War.

Because of this, Bruno drafted a design for this Medal which he felt was appropriate. It was interestingly enough based upon a medal issued to Wagner Group Mercenaries during his previous life. Little information existed about this medal, or its requirements for being awarded. At least as far as western sources went.

Nor did Bruno know the official name of the medal. All he knew was that on several posts to the internet it had been referred to as the Wagner Cross. The design of the Cross itself was ironically enough similar to the German Iron Cross, however, unlike the Iron Cross whose ends were squared, the Wagner Cross had rounded ends.

In addition to this, there was a circle in the center, with a Russian five-pointed star inside. The circle itself had golden edges, as did the cross, and had two gold swords going through it. Bruno essentially copied this design but made the edges and swords silver.

While at the same time, swapping out the Russian Five-Pointed Star and replacing it with a Freikorps era Totenkopf symbol. The same one adopted by his Iron Division, which was not identical to the one later adopted for use by the Nazi Schutzstaffel.

The ribbon which this medal was attached to was nearly identical to the one issued to Wagner Mercenaries, with a black center, along with a slim lining on the edges. Instead of this lining being gold like on the Wagner Cross, it was white, as was commonly found on German Medals and their ribbons of the era.

Naturally, Bruno wanted to call it the Cross of the Iron Division, and upon petitioning the German Kaiser for the creation of this medal. He received word soon enough that his request was indeed approved. After all, the man had commissioned a medal for the East Asia Corps efforts in China, and they only numbered 15,000 men.

It would be inappropriate not to issue medals for the brave soldiers who took up arms to fight the Marxist Revolutionaries in Russia. Of course, he would only do so after the war was over. And would award them to every man who participated in the war effort. Including posthumously to those who died in the conflict.

The reason for this was simple, as it stood, the Kaiser could not agree to make such a reward to issue to soldiers of the German Armed Forces who were now officially acting as a foreign volunteer force, and not as an active service members of the German Army and Navy.

To do so would be admitting to sending his own soldiers to Russia without proper authorization form the Tsar. And in doing so undermining the authority and sovereignty of the Russian Empire as a whole.

Which could obviously cause diplomatic issues. Because of this, the Cross of the Iron Division would have to wait until after the war was over and the Volunteers "resumed active service" in their respective branches before being issued to soldiers who operated in the Russian Civil War.

And while Bruno was corresponding back with Berlin and the German Army's High Command, who were stationed in the city. His wife was having her own problems to deal with. Heidi was currently meeting with one of her cousins in Berlin. Her children were in the care of their grandmother for the time being.

This cousin was the younger sister of her contact within the German Empire's Foreign Intelligence Division. The woman was a princess in her own right. Or at least of a mediatized house. But she had built a solid friendship with Heidi during their childhood after a fateful encounter.

The reason the two of them were meeting up was because this young Princess had news for her cousin, who came from the other half of their family, albeit as a bastard. News about the death of her mother, and the one responsible for it.

The princess seemed concerned, almost as if what she was about to say would have a deep impact on her cousin and friend. And because of this, she expressed a warning in advance.

"Heidi, we have been friends for many years now. And I owe you in ways which I can never fully repay in this life. But I have to ask, with everything going so well for you currently. Do you really want to stick your nose in this?

I mean, I know this regards your mother, and what happened to her. But you also understand that by investigating this matter, you will be making powerful enemies. Enemies which I can not offend myself. At most, I can give you some information on what I know or have found out in passing. But to rely on me and my brother and father would put not just us at risk, but that of our entire family. Are you sure you want me to tell you this, knowing all of this?" Heidi sipped from her cup of tea as she sat across from her cousin out on the streets of Berlin in public. She seemed almost indifferent, despite this news being related to her mother's death, as she expressed her thanks for her cousin's concern. While also making a promise to her.

"Quite frankly, my mother never showed me any love other than was necessary to maintain ties with that man. I owe her very little, as she was not the one who provided for me. Instead, it was that man who paid for all of our living expenses. Rather, I have often considered my husband's parents to be my own. And I assure you that I would never do anything to risk the safety of my children or their father.

I simply want to know the truth. After I know if that man is responsible for my mother's death, I will leave this matter be entirely. Whether my suspicions are proven true by the information you have for me.

The princess sighed heavily as she shook her head. She did not entirely believe that Heidi would leave this matter to be. At least not until those behind it proved to truly be a threat, she was better off avoiding altogether.

Still, she had promised the girl she would indeed provide the information to her once she had discovered who was responsible for her mother's death, and because of this she handed over a small folder to her which contained exactly that.

"Your mother was not murdered by your father. By all accounts, he seemed to have loved her very much, even if he never showed any of that affection to you. In fact, your father has provided a significant savings account for you and your children in secret from his wife. He knows he can never be a part of your life, but he would never leave you without a safety net. Of course, I doubt he knows how capable your husband really is.... No, the people responsible for your mother's death were none other than your father's wife, or more specifically, her family. They are powerful figures, from a much greater dynasty than that of your father. And they did not like the fact that your father had kept a mistress, let alone fathered a bastard with

her.

They couldn't touch your father, and after your betrothal was set to Bruno, they couldn't touch you either. Which is ultimately why I suspect the man actually went through with such a thing, even if it ran the risk of offending the Junker Coalition. He's not as foolish as he portrays himself to be.

Your father's wife is a von Wittelsbach, twice removed from the main line, but a von Wittelsbach, no less. The Kings of Bavaria are very vain people. And your mother was an eyesore to them. They only made their move after your marriage, because you were no longer in the picture. And they couldn't run the risk of offending your husband's family, or specifically the powerful men, a part of the coalition they belong to.

I understand that you hold a significant disdain for your father and have for some time. Nor do

I blame you for doing so. But your family situation was far more complicated than any of us ever realized. And I suspect your father cares for you in his own way, even if he was never able to truly show that side of himself to you for your own safety.

So now that you know the truth, what are you going to do?"

Heidi stared in disbelief at what she was reading. Had this information not come from a trusted source, and been thoroughly verified in advance? She would not believe what she was reading. All this time her father had been looking out for her in ways which she did not

realize.

And the foolish way he acted around the von Zehntner family in order to coerce them into accepting her as Bruno's bride was all a calculated part of a plan designed to protect her. She couldn't believe it. It just didn't make sense, according to everything she had thought she had

known.

Tears began to well up in Heidi's eyes, as she reflected on her life, and the bitterness of her childhood with a newfound understanding of it all. And after taking some time to calm herself down, Heidi wiped the tears from her eyes before handing the document back to her cousin. Though she had been overwhelmed by a variety of deeply complicated emotions just now. Her logic and reason prevailed in the end. Or should I say her maternal instincts as a wife and mother? She chose in that moment not to pursue those who had wronged her in so many ways. Because at the end of the day, the safety of her husband and children came first. "Thank you... Truly, this has been enlightening in ways I am not capable of describing. I know the truth now, and though I feel a lot worse because of it, I now know that this is not something I should be meddling in. If I were to do so, then these people who killed my mother would come after me, and my family. And avenging my mother is not worth such a

price.

So, I will let this go, and you will never hear me mention this again. Thank you again for your help, cousin. But I'm afraid my mother-in-law will be dropping off the kids soon, so I have no choice but to leave now. Until we meet again..."

The Princess did not say a word, but she was indeed surprised that Heidi had chosen not to pursue her vengeance any further. After all, Heidi had been silently investigating this matter for years. And now that she knew who was responsible, she had chosen her family's safety

instead.

It was truly a remarkable thing to witness. One which made the Princess feel slightly ashamed that she did not feel the same in regard to her own husband. Who she married out of political convenience rather than marriage. Perhaps she should try to give the man a chance. Who knows, maybe one day she would love him as much as Heidi loved Bruno?