The German Reich
(Since the story of a space German empire is one of many focuses of my story so for the time being, a large part of the information page is about the Reich and the people living in it. Other races will have their own information page.)
Basic information
Government type: Federal parliamentary semi-constitutional monarchy.
Head of State: Kaiser with power limited by the Reich's constitution and expected to remain neutral and impartial in the affair of the state. In the 29th century, the thrones belong to the Winkelfeldt family, a small branch of the Hohenzollern that has gone extinct at the end of the 26th century. The Winkelfeldt's reign is heavily contested by the Romanov, Sachsen-Coburg and Gotha, and especially the Habsburg who all have claims to the thrones through marriages.
Governing body: Reichskanzler (Imperial Chancellor) elected by members of the Reichstag, chief executive of the Imperial Cabinet and heads the executive branch. The Reichstag whose members are representatives comes from various planets within the Reich's territories, holding legislative power and sharing in decision-making on the Reich budget.
Official Capital: Berlin (Earth)
Language: German.
Major Species: Humanity
Minor Species: Asari (with and without human parentage, former citizens of Republic's planets in Kernwelt), Salarian (highly skilled immigrated workers), Krogan (Allies and mercenaries), Turian (Clanless, dissidents in exile, mercenaries), Quarian (Illegal immigrants, cheap worker, low-paid technicians, freelancers), Batarian (dissidents in exile, mercenaries, gangsters), Vorcha (Illegal immigrants, cheap workers, mercenaries, gangsters), Volus (Businessman, investors, bankers).
(With the exception of Asari who automatically obtain second-class citizenship two years after they decide to settle within the Reich's territory, all other alien races start with fifth-class citizenship and can work their way to second-class citizenship over time. However, besides the Salarian and Volus whose skills are valuable to the Reich's economy and technology development, most aliens ended up with third-class citizenship.)
Vassal races: Ragizt (Reptilian humanoid alien, auxiliary troops), Koh ( natives of planet Koh, sturdy and hairy alien race, jungle dwellers, plantation workers), Qhis (tall, pale, fragile, smooth-skinned alien race known for talent in business and negotiation, currently hired to supply food, ammunition, and other necessities to the Reichswehr's most isolated outposts and bases), Sarka ( fast and agile humanoid alien race, desert dwellers, auxiliary troops), Mokai (mysterious alien race offered to become a vassal of the German Empire in the 25th century without a fight, paying annual tribute in agricultural products and minerals but showing no desire to participate in Reich politics and was able to remain neutral during the Great War. Mysterious and deceptive, rarely leave their home planet.).
Territories: 10.000 planets (20% is inhabitable or very hostile to human lives) under the direct authority of the Reich. Around 2000 planets with large human populations scatter around the Galaxy but declare no loyalty to the Reich and retain their independence. According to statistics from the Reich foreign ministry, the Germans currently have around 352 planets in a state of dispute with one or more extraterrestrial powers. 50% of the planets in dispute are located in the Core World, 25% are in the Terminus Zone and the remaining 25% are located near the Turian and Batarian border.
Military forces: The organization responsible for defending the Empire called the Reichswehr which consisted of three major branches: Heer (Army), Luftwaffe (Air force), and Kriegsmarine (Navy) but military personnel and non-military personnel often associate Heer with Reichswehr as it is the largest among the three. Landwehr (Planetary garrison troop). Volkssturm (conscripted militia). Totenkopf Kommando (Elite special force, counter-intelligence units, death squads).
The stage of the Reich and the 29th-century crisis
The Tyranid War:The Anti-Tyranid Coalition has made significant progress in defeating the invading bug's invasion on Kernwelt via political and military unity. The Coalition gained the confidence it needed after the German and Asari triumphs at Eden and Zelia to confront the adversary in a large naval engagement in the Nago Belt, a battle that dispelled the myth of an unstoppable Hive Fleet in space. Following this crushing setback, Hive Fleet lost the initiative on the battlefield and was unwilling to engage the Coalition in a large open battle. Mass production of Lasgewehr, generous aids in finance and materials from the Republic of Asari, the synergy of the three largest navies in the galaxy (Kriegsmarine, Republic Navy, Expeditionary Fleet) Turians) made it difficult for the tendrils to attack and absorb planets, especially in the years 2845 and 2846 when the resistance of planets over 10 billion populations became too strong to risk the precious Biomass that the Hive mind had spent hundreds of years gathering. On Ishara, a Salarian planet, Tyranid Bioforms encountered fierce resistance from the garrison, and it took them almost a week to take an evacuated population center. The attack was quickly aborted as a Turian fleet was closing in from behind, and many believe that the Hive mind's decision was more or less related to experience drawn from the battle of Eden. Ishara was the first planet where the Tyranids failed to gain the upper hand in any phase of the battle, and by the final months of 2846, Hive Fleet's attacks on Kernwelt were reduced by 60%. In some invasions, the tendrils were not even able to extend their range of control more than 30 km from the beachhead, and in another attempt on the borders of the Asari Republic, Hive Fleet was intercepted and defeated by the Republic Navy before reaching its prize.
The year 2847 was the year of many grand counter-offensives. The anti-Tyranid Coalition was at the peak of its strength after gathering enough resources and was able to seek battles with the Tyranids in space as well as on the ground. Six counterattacks led by experienced Reichsmarschalls, Magnus Strategos (Asari grand marshal) and Turian Primarchs drove the Tyranids from 156 besieged planets or outright smashed the Hive fleet's tendrils in naval engagements. Overall, after March 2848, Kernwelt can be considered safe from tendril intrusion although the alert level remains at code Purple. The Hive Fleet has largely retreated to the vast and unexplored Terminus Zone, heavily damaged but not yet defeated. The next phase of the Tyranid War is often called 'War of the Snails" or "Waiting war" due to the protracted and inconsistent nature of the Coalition's military campaigns. As the theatre was switched from Kernwelt to Terminus, the unity within the Coalition dwindle as many of its members were not willing to invest more troops and materials into something that they clearly didn't gain benefit from. Terminus zone always has been Asari's backyard and besides the German who has a considerable number of human planets and colonies to protect, none could find a reason to continue the war, especially when Tyranid seem to be defeated, its once mighty fleet was now forced to split up and hide in small and deserted star systems to avoid complete annihilation.
After 2852, the Coalition existed in name only. With Primarch Cabius saying it was not Turian's duty to clean up someone else's mess and most of the Expeditionary Fleet sailed back home, the burden of war was solely carried by the Reichswehr and ASDF. After 15 years of the Tyranids war, the German Reich's War Ministry estimated that the Reich had lost more than 70 billion civilians and soldiers due to heavy fighting as well as many other factors such as starvation, and illnesses. 400 planets were severely damaged and 20% of them needed at least a century to restore the status quo whereas the economic impacts of getting involved in two large conflicts within 150 years on the Reich as the whole were even more severe. According to the Royal Academy of Lennenkanptm, the living standard of the Reich had been reduced by a third compared to the 27th century and inflation had tripled in the last 4 decades.
Post-war recession and dependence on the Republic: The burdens of wars made it impossible for the Reich to maintain its old status of a galaxy's powerhouse through the old familiar methods and therefore new ones were invented, even if they meant increasingly relying on foreign powers to keep the Empire from disintegrating. In 2854, the Germans were stunned to learn that they had become the largest debtor of the Asari Republic but before they could raise any objections, Asari eezo, Salarian microchip, and Volus housewares had flooded the market and competed fiercely with domestic products. The Reichswehr was forced to reduce defense spending by 30% for the first time in 150 years since the Reichstag could not find enough money for the budget following the sell-off crisis of 2852, which resulted in the expulsion of tens of millions of its officers and soldiers without compensation. Dozens of reserve corps and fleets were disbanded. Recruiting and training more soldiers were discouraged and in some planets, the Landwehr (garrison troop) as well as conscription were abolished. Even the operational units became victims of the economic downturn as the money spent on equipment maintenance and supply was cut. Cornelius von Fahrenheit, commander of the German forces in Kernwelt and Terminus Zone, stated in a report sent to the Reichstag, Kaiser and Reichskanzler von Adenburg that the combat strength of his units had decreased by 30% compared to the previous five years and that without timely measures, the Reichswehr would no longer be in a position to conduct any military operations outside the Reich's territory.
Political and social divisions: Never in the history of the Empire was public opinion so divided that it damaged the famous German unity as it was during phase 3 of the Tyranid War. In general, all Germans wanted a long-lasting peace after two major and devastating wars, but they still disagreed on what that peace should look like. Born into a more tolerant and progressive society on the planet Dieterstadt of Kernwelt, Representative Peter Blaustein thinks that peace should be the Reich joining the Citadel, accepting a being part of the Galactic Community and building a closer relationship with the Republic of Asari. This unthinkable idea quickly morphed into a popular agenda that transformed Peter Blaustein from an unknown Representative into a candidate for imperial chancellor and kept traditionalists sleepless. For many citizens of the Reich, what Representative Blaustein was proposing was tantamount to acknowledging that the Asari Republic had won the Fourth Galactic War, the war that their brothers, husbands, and fathers fought and died for. To them, joining Citadel was an action so outrageous that was like spitting on the graves of billions of German who had perished during the war, and in a sense, Blaustein was nothing more than a traitor.
To confront Blaustein and the mob of so-called "Squid Lovers," conservative factions, traditionalists united and nominated Adalbert von Breitner, a descendant of Markus von Breitner, as their front-runner. After 10 years of political maneuvering, the confrontation between the two men has now become an ideological war, a class struggle (Upper class, upper middle class vs middle class, working class), and a racial struggle (Aliens and Humans).
During the years 2853-2855, the political situation of the Reich was like a keg of gunpowder that could explode at any moment; The Reichswehr was bogged down in the Terminus zone, the economy faced high inflation, the sell-off crisis of 2852 had led to the fourth devaluation of the Reichsmark within 5 years, strikes occurred on many industrial planets, disgruntled officers and soldiers due to policy of staff reductions, clashes between Blaustein's and Breitner's supporters unstabilized many planet's security and social cohesion.
People started pointing fingers at those who they thought to be responsible. Some blamed Reichskanzler von Adenburg for his ineffective policies, some thought both Blaustein and Breitner should be held accountable for letting their own ambition destroy the Reich. A few called Cornelius von Fahrenheit incompetent for failing at ending the war and as always, the aging Kaiser Friedrich XVII get criticized for not winning the Great War.
Character introductions
The Einzberg Family: One of the Reich's most ancient noble houses that have its lineage traced back to the era of the Holy Roman Empire. Very wealthy and powerful but not well-loved or highly regarded by both its peers and common people due to the family's ill reputation of being opportunistic, manipulative and sometimes cowardice. Unlike other noble families who compete with each other to influence the Reich's politics or have a tradition of serving in the military, the Einzberg heavily involve in economic activities like banking, investment in real estate and housing, financing expeditions, and providing security for shipping routes. Except for Erina von Einzberg and her daughter, Nora Shepard, none of its current members have a long military career. In the 29th century, the Einzberg family had more than 200 officially recognized members from the main and minor branches, but Lucius IX and his direct descendants are the true heads of the family, managing 70% of the wealth and holding the title of Duke of Einzberg.
Noria von Einzberg aka Nora Shepard: Daughter of Erina von Einzberg and the late Admiral Michael Shepard. A highly decorated soldier of the Reichswehr that has served in various prestige units and managed to attain the rank of major at the age of 28, very young according to Reichswehr's standard. She does not have a good relationship with her mother and several members of the Einzberg family, whom she considers condescending and hypocritical. Although according to German law, she is an aristocrat through her mother, Nora always uses the surname Shepard and the name her father used to call her on all papers instead of Noria von Einzberg. At the age of 17, she join an underground political party called "Young wings" which styled themselves as republicans opposing the Monarchy and wanting the Reich to become a full-fledged Republic. She got arrested twice in 2846 and almost had a 5 years sentence if her mother and grandfather hadn't interfered on time.
Erina von Einzberg: Current commander of the Schutzengel fleet which was once under the command of her late husband. Dutiful, faithful and talented, she is among a few women who attain the rank of Admiral and no doubt a rising star within the Kriegsmarine. At her father's request, she changed her last name back to von Einzberg after her husband's death, an action that created a rift between her and Nora. It isn't that unusual for a widowed noblewoman to reuse her maiden name while finding another husband yet 15 years after the passing of Michael Shepard, Erina von Einzberg has turned down many proposals and doesn't seem interested in getting married.
Lucius von Einzberg: The current patriarch of the Einzberg family. A cunning and ambitious man whose main concerns are about his legacy and securing Einzberg's wealth and influence for many generations to come. He's cold and manipulative toward his children and grandchildren which earns him the ire of some in the process, Nora especially.
Katherine von Einzberg: Wife to Lucius. She is a kind and gentle woman who spend much time on charity and mediating discord among family members. She is respected and loved by almost everyone
Ferdinand von Einzberg: The eldest son of Lucius and the next Duke of Einzberg by law. Despite his efforts, he always fails to live up to his father's expectations and got ridiculed by his younger brother. A quiet and self-disciplined man but pressure has turned him into a heavy drinker lately. He opposed Erina's choice for a husband in the past, thinking it was beneath her station and therefore, he doesn't a good term with his niece. His children are close to Nora though.
Theodor von Einzberg: One of the senior advisors of the Reich Central Bank. He is one of the few Einzberg to have a professional career as the Einzbergs follow an ancient tradition that a male aristocrat should not work for anyone but himself and his family. Despite his profession, he is a charming and easy-going man who doesn't care that much about maintaining his family's wealth and reputation and enjoys his life instead.
Maria von Einzberg: Fourth child of Lucius. A beautiful but spiteful woman who has a petty rivalry with her older sister and is jealous of her success. She pretends to care for Nora so she can pit her against Erina. She was to marry a nobleman from Weiben but he was killed during the Tyranid war.
Julian von Einzberg: An ambitious young man who secretly urges his father to disinheritance his brother and make him his successor instead. He's a close friend of Prince Konstantin von Habsburg, a major contender to the Imperial thrones.
Leonard von Einzberg : Youngest child of Lucius. Bookish and timid, he is often psychologically bullied by Julian since he was a boy and hated by his father. Lucius once sent Leonard to Omega to toughen him up but since the boy came out unharmed and unchanged, the patriarch of the Einzberg give him a continent on a remote planet to govern so he can't shame the family further. Lately, it is rumored that he has joined a cult of some sort and become its main financial backer.
The Winkelfeldts and other Royal Families :
Kaiser Friedrich Winkelfeldt ( Friedrich XVII): the youngest and last surviving son of Franz Winkelfeldt (Friedrich XVI), inherited the thrones after the deaths of his brothers (Ferdinand and Septimus) during the early stage of the Great War. A 135 years old widower, childless and plagued by illness in the final years of his reign, he legitimated Max, his bastard nephew and make him his successor to stop the Habsburg from taking the thrones through succession law. Often criticized by military leadership for his indecisiveness during the war and in the eyes of the public, somewhat incompetent when compared to his late brothers.
Crown Prince Maximillian Winkelfeldt (former Max Adler): The illegitimate child of Amalia Winkelfeldt, daughter of late Crown Prince Septimus Winkelfeldt. A regimental commander who didn't expect to become heir to the imperial thrones nor did he want to. Awkward and overwhelmed by new responsibilities, Maximillian soon found himself unsuited for court life as well as power struggles between royal families and want to renounce his claim. However, he is convinced to stay by the Reichskanzler and many members of the Reichstag who believe Konstantin von Habsburg isn't worthy to sit on the thrones. He was Nora's superior officer during a campaign against Tyranid incursion on the industrial planet Tamara in the year 2848 and rumored to be her lover but he is often to be seen with the mysterious Lady Historia Krahenholz.
Lady Historia Krahenholz aka Hirst: A raven-haired beauty who claimed to be the last surviving member of the famed Krahenholz and rumored to be Maximillian's muse, fiancee, or even a high-class prostitute in disguise according to some tabloids. Many suspect her story of a long-lost member of the Krahenholzs accidentally meeting the future crown prince on a planet none bother to learn the name yet the evidence proves the opposite. She acquires a set of heirlooms that were known to be owned by the Krahenholzs (Daggers, rings, seals, documents) and Commander Shepard seems to confirm a part of her story by saying: "He first mentioned her in a message sent to me in 2851 and told me he met Lady Krahenholz the year before on Zarabaza. The crown prince says she is Lady Krahenholz so i believe her to be Lady Krahenholz"
Konstantin von Habsburg: He has the look of a Kaiser, he has a strong claim to the throne and powerful supporters in and outside the imperial court but he doesn't have the approval of the Reichstag and old-school German nobility. Konstantin's outspoken opinion on the current policy and his favors for certain factions in the Reichstag have earned him a significant amount of support but also the ire of those who insist on the principle of a Kaiser must remain neutral and impartial in the affair of the state. The Habsburg prince is also rumored to have a connection to the notorious Cerberus and controversial Illusive Man. Charming, confident and handsome, he totally enjoys court life and power struggles.
Alexandra Romanov: She comes from one of the ancient royal families and has a claim to the thrones through her late great-grandfather. Alexandra is an ideal image of a Kaiserina who understands her duty and responsibilities as a ruler. She's witty, well-versed in galactic politics, knows how to handle power struggles and though she has a weaker claim and is a woman also, she is still considered a major contender to the thrones. Many have expected a marriage between Alexandra Romanov and Maximillian Winkelfeldt or Alexandra Romanov and Konstantin von Habsburg for political convenience but so far, she fails at charming the first and has a clear dislike for the latter.
Government officials, politicians, and military commanders
Reichskanzler Bernhard von Adenburg: A Reichskanzler is nearing the end of his 10-year term and has no intention or energy for another re-election. He tries to reconcile rival factions within the Reichstag, pleasing everybody and thus the measures he proposes are often half-hearted and ineffective.
Peter Blaustein: A candidate running for Reichskanzler with promises of a just and prosperous society, military spending cuts, redirecting budget to economic development, and lenient foreign policy. He enjoyed great support among the working class, middle class and small business owners, who were tired of fighting the wars in which the German Reich was involved in the last century. He advocates strongly for long and firm cooperation between the Reich and the Republic, stating the Germans should put the old galaxy behind and look forward to the new ones. Like a typical politician coming from Kernwelt, he has a romantic relationship with an Asari but unlike them, he hides no desire to make her his official wife when the law allows.
Veronika Grünewald: A charming Asari maiden with human parentage who is wife to Peter Blaustein in all but name. She was born during the height of the Great War to a Kriegsmarine Commodore and a conscripted Asari doctor and since her father was a nobleman and had her legitimated in his will, she carry his name and enjoy a more privileged life than most aliens living in the Reich's territory. She met Peter Blaustein at Felix and Tanner's social and political university where she worked as a professor and advocator for peace. Comfortably living in human society and being ladylike, Veronika proves very useful to Blaustein's political messages.
Adalbert von Breitner: Descendant of Markus von Breitner, the infamous Batarian Slayer of Leibniz War. He is also a candidate running for Reichskanzler and a major rival to Peter Blaustein. As a traditionalist, he goes against the current trend, opposing the growing Asari influence over the Reich. He also doubled down on the importance of Reichswehr and strongly objected to any budget cuts. Fighting an uphill battle, he finds himself allying with crowds he doesn't fond of such as Konstantin von Habsburg and Illusive Man. He often urges the Crown Prince to take action against Blaustein despite knowing members of royalty must remain impartial and neutral in matters of state.
Field Marshal Martin Steinbauer: Commander of the 12th Beckenheim Army, legendary general of the Great War, victor of the Battle of Eden (Deceased)
Field Marshal Moritz Krauss: Current commander of the 12th Beckenheim Army. He has a personal dislike for Benezia T'soni and several times hints that his former commander Steinbauer was murdered though never names the suspect publicly. Currently commanding the 12th Army in an anti-Tyranid campaign in the outer ring of Kernwelt.
Field Marshal Gregor von Mückenberger: Commander of the 7th Weiben Sturm army. He is very vocal about his objection to the Reich's current policy and his support for Konstantin. He is currently leading an army group in a campaign to reclaim Reich's territory in Terminus Zone but often has to find supplies on his own and rely on Republic navy for naval support since Berlin was no longer interested in hard-to-defend remote colonies. He once called Bernhard von Adenburg and Pete Blaustein the vilest species of cockroach and demanded their executions.
Field Marshal Josef Bittenfeld: Commander of 224th Maidenburg army. He disagrees with recent changes in the Reich's policy but since he's a principled man who believes in the old Prussian tradition that a general should not get involved in politics. With Berlin's half-heart commitment and Turian's hesitance, his campaign in Terminus is stalled.
Reichsmarschall Cornelius von Fahrenheit: Legendary commander of Reichswehr, the architect of the Grand Offensive that gave the Reich some advantage on the negotiation table on Sur'kesh. He is the supreme commander of German forces in the Tyranid War and despite his history with the Citadel Alliance, he gets along with old rivals and managed to devise a brilliant strategy so the Anti-Tyranid Alliance can push the enemy out of Kernwelt with limited losses in term of manpower and materials. Calm, wise and soft-spoken, he is highly regarded by both the Reich and Citadel.
Rear Admiral Steven Hackett: Commander of Weltträger reserved fleet, chief advisor of the War Department's security council. He use to serve under the command of Michael Shepard and is very close to his late superior's family. He tries to steer Shepard into the right path, gives her advice as well as makes her reconcile with her mother but so far, he enjoys little success.
Commodore Reinhardt: Commander of the 5th special tactic battlegroup of Kriegsmarine's naval intelligence which consists mostly of naval infantry, and naval special forces such as Marine-Einsatz-Kommandos. The 5th special tactic battlegroup is responsible for overseeing 'N7 program', the Reich's most advanced combat training in which Nora Shepard is a participant. Reinhardt thinks Nora is the best N7 operator he has trained so far though she needs to adjust her attitude. Following his advice, Nora has served several intelligence units to gain more experience in cover operations and unconventional warfare.
The Reichswehr
(As a military nerd, i can't help myself but write an entire section about the german army's tactics, doctrines, and armory. Still, this section is still important in an aspect as the Imperial Guardsmen would be shocked by the contrast between their army and the other human army when they arrived in the Mass Effect universe. NOTE: This section only contains information on the Heer. Kriegsmarine and Luftwaffe will have their own sections.)
"Germans are dull, dumb, and predictable but unfortunately, i can't say the same about their soldiers"
Magnus Strategos Raor of the Dymo Army group wrote in a message to Asari Senate after 90 core world planets had fallen to the Germans in a year.
Well-trained, well-equipped, well-led and motivated, the Reichswehr is one of the best fighting forces that Galaxy has ever witnessed. According to Oberkommando figures, 250 billion men and women are currently serving in regular combat units, non-combat units, and Landwehr units, which is 50 billion fewer than ten years ago and a third of what it was during the height of the Great War. Due to the peculiarity of the Reich as an upstart with a disadvantage in geography and resources outmatched by major rivals such as the Citadel Alliance (Asari, Salarian, Turian, and their allies easily overnumbered the Germans 5 to 1 in terms of men and equipment), the Reichswehr had to rely on the quality of its training and tactics to gain the upper hand.
The emphasis on quality over quantity gave the Reichswehr characteristics not found in other armies; In order to ensure combat effectiveness and avoid exhausting the logistics system, only 50-60% of the Reichswehr personnel operate in combat units, the rest are assigned to non-combat duties in the rear and or organized into reserve units so despite the fact that the Reichswehr employ more men than the Turian, the Expeditionary army, in reality, has more soldiers on the field. The Reichswehr is also famous for being selective when it comes to officer training and promotion since leadership requires the best men available but besides the Salarian, the Germans are the only ones who have a complex matrix to give assessments on individual performance before deciding whether the promotion will occur or not. The matrix is not an A.I system and since it's pretty advanced even for the German technological level, there are rumors floating around saying that they have stolen some part of it from the Salarian.
Unlike other armies who often send individuals who have performed exceptionally and showed potential in leadership back to the rear for advanced officer training or a position in a military academy where they can pass on their experience and knowledge to the next generation, the Reichswehr encourages its distinguished soldiers, tank crews, and specialists to remain on the front lines for as long as they can. This uncommon practice of the Reichswehr has yielded interesting results; an exceptional tank crew and their tank can obtain an insane number of kill counts (A German Panzer Ace has three or four times as many feats as his Asari and Turian counterparts), enjoy a distinguished celebrity status among the corps and has a psychological impact on the enemy. In the infantry, a class of uniquely brave and seasoned non-commissioned officers, lieutenants, and captains called Ritterkreuzträger was created in the 22nd century and has since proven indispensable to battalion and regimental leaders.
The Reichswehr also deploy a system called Echtzeit-Kampfkontrolle (Real-time battle control) in an attempt to provide better intelligence and battlefield surveillance for infantry platoons and companies. Every company is equipped with two dozen Loki (scouting drones) and Hummel (sensor drones) which are operated by drone specialists working alongside a radio operator. Echtzeit-Kampfkontrolle has improved the combat effectiveness of Reichswehr greatly as its platoons are capable of conducting attack and defense without waiting for info from above as well as giving battalion and regimental commanders better insight.
Leadership (the current year 2855)
Supreme Commander: Kaiser Friedrich Winkelfeldt (Symbolic only due to his age and illness), Crown Prince Maximillian Winkelfeldt.
War minister: Ulrich Haushofer
Commander-in-chief of the Heer: Reichsmarschall Karl Ernst von Hornburg.
Chief of the General Staff: Field marshal Bastian Jost
Organization Structure.
The following numbers are only based on the standard Reichswehr Organizational Tables and Diagrams and do not represent the actual situation. A military unit can have fewer or more personel due to many factors.
Army groups: largest field organization handled by a single commander – usually a Reichsmarschall or Field marshal – and it generally includes between 70 million and 120 million soldiers. In theory, 6 armies will form an Army Group, but if too many armies are fighting on the same front, the number can be ten.
Army: The second largest military formation of the Reichswehr and the most versatile. Composed of two or more corps which may be up to 12 million men in total, a Reichswehr army can be classified as a Panzer Army (With 50-60% of its divisions being Panzer divisions and Panzergrenadier divisions), Sturm Army (Most of its divisions are optimized for offensive operations), Reserve Army (Composed of newly trained and fresh division), Expedition Army ( Equppied and trained for long campaigns in Terminus Zones), Territorial Army (Mainly composed of Landwehr division and irregular units). An Army is usually commanded by a Field Marshal or a General.
Corps: Components that make up an army. Corps typically have approximately 1.5 million to 2,5 million troops (25-30 combat divisions and other support units) and are commanded by a general or lieutenant general.
Division: A military formation of Reichswehr, usually consisting of between 40,000 and 50000 soldiers commanded by a lieutenant general or Major General. A Panzer Division has approximately 25.000 men and 2500 panzers of all types. Panzergrenadier Division usually consists of between 25,000 and 35,000 soldiers. Fallschirmjäger division has approximately 20.000-25000 men in its rank.
Brigade: A flexible military formation of Reichswehr which has independent tank battalions, artillery battalions, and infantry battalions. A Brigade can be deployed to combat zones and operate as an independent combat formation. A Brigade usually consists of between 10,000 and 15,000 soldiers commanded by a Major General or a Colonel.
Regiment: consisting of between 10,000 and 15,000 soldiers under the command of a Colonel. Unlike a brigade, a regiment is specialized for a specific role ( Infantry, Artillery, Panzer, Jaeger, Fallschirmjäger, Panzergrenadier) and should be deployed alongside other units.
Battalion: consisting of between 2000 and 3000 soldiers under the command of a Lieutenant Colonel or Major. In theory, an infantry battalion has 4-6 infantry companies and a light artillery company. A Panzer battalion has 3 armored companies, 1 Panzergrenadier company, 1 pioneer company. The Fallschirmjäger battalion consists of 4 infantry companies, 1 Sturmpioneer company, and 1 light artillery company.
Company: A fighting formation that has around 400-600 personnel divided into 5-8 platoons. In theory, an Infantry company will have 4 standard platoons, 1 Grenadier platoon, 1 support gun platoon, and 1 pioneer platoon, 1 Scharfschütze platoon (This standard also applies to Panzergrenadier and Fallschirmjäger except the Grenadier platoon is replaced with a Sturmpioneer platoon). A Panzer company consists of 2 panzer platoons, 1 Panzergrenadier platoon, and 1 pioneer platoon.
Platoon: Consisting of 70-100 soldiers under a command of an Oberfeldwebel ( Master sergeant) or a 2nd Lieutenant. According to Reichswehr regulations, the platoon is composed of 6 squads with 15 members each. A Panzer platoon is made up of 5 panzers and 5 support vehicles.
Squad: Smallest and most basic fighting formation of the Reichswehr which is commanded by a Sergeant. According to Reichswehr regulations, there are 5 basic types of squad; Infantry squad (Soldats, Grenadiers, MG crew), Grenadier squad, Panzerjaeger squad, Command squad (Platoon leader, Sanitäter, Drone operator and radio operator), Scharfschützes squad
Basic infantry types:
(NOTE: this is a standard only applied to Reichswehr infantry division, Gebirgsjäger, Landwehr, and Volkssturm)
Soldat: The basic Reichswehr's infantryman (Jäger in Gebirgsjäger division, Panzer fusilier in Panzergrenadier division) who is expected to form the main line of defense and engage the enemy in a closer range of combat compared to other branches of Reichswehr. He is a well-trained rifleman armed with a type of Sturmgewehr, a set of multi-purposed grenades, Infanterie-Kürass, standard kinetic barrier. Due to the Reichswehr's heavy emphasis on machine gun firepower, every Soldat in an infantry platoon is expected to carry extra machine gun ammo and perform the role of machine gun operator. Soldat is provided with some standard genetic enhancement to maintain his concentration, stamina and reflex in combat. Other enhancements such as anti-radiation or improving the immune system will be considered if the situation demands.
Grenadier: A specialized infantryman serving in a standard infantry platoon or a grenadier platoon. He is equipped with heavier personal armor called Infanterie-Kürass type-B, Mp-25K sub-machine gun, Wildschwein semi-automatic shotgun, high explosive grenades, Hutten Maces, Kriegmesser for close-quarter combat. He is the platoon's surgical blade when assaulting the enemy's position and the shield that protects his kamerad when their line is broken. As a close-quarter combat specialist, Grenadier is a position usually offered to new biotic recruits. Grenadiers are provided with a variety of genetic enhancements to increase physical strength, endurance and reaction speed.
Drone operator and radio operator: Drone operators are responsible for surveilling the battlefield and giving updates on the strength, position, and movements of the enemy to the radio operator who will then distribute the info to platoon and company commanders. Reichswehr regulation demands there must be five operators in a company to operate 30 drones but in the field, the company commander usually gives half of the drone to individual platoons and let them be responsible for operating and maintaining.
Panzerjager group: A group of three Soldats that specialized in using Panzershreck 'Langhorn', a stationary guided anti-tank rocket launcher that even can damage the Königstiger XII. Although panzerfaust can be used by any Soldat without any difficulties, Panzershreck 'Langhorn' is a much more powerful, reliable weapon that has superior penetration and range. Panzerjagers are equipped with Infanterie-Kürass and camo cloaks called Gecko which can change their own camo according to the surroundings.
Scharfschütze: Equipped with Gecko camo, Karabiner R92, a high caliber semi-auto rifle nicknamed Schwarzes Blatt and working in pairs, Scharfschützes are the best tool for scouting missions and taking out high-value targets. Although Scharfschützes are assigned to infantry platoons, their positions are temporary as they belong to a separate platoon of Scharfschütze who are trained in the same Jäger schools.
Support gun crew: These men operate a 100mm Krupp infantry support gun which provides the company with direct and indirect fire. Lightweight, compact and equipped with 2 anti-gravity lifters to increase mobility while re-positioning, the infantry support gun and its crew are irreplaceable in small-scale engagements.
Sanitäter (Medic) : Although every soldier has access to medi-gel, the medication simply stops the bleeding, relieves pain, and temporarily heals the wound; it does not provide complete healing. For more advanced treatment and complex procedures, Sanitäter will always be ready to accompany the Infantry platoon into the thick of the fight to take care of heavily wounded soldiers and evacuate them to safety. Sanitäters are trained by the Sanitäter corps and get their assignments after they complete their course. The Sanitäter corp is also responsible for running the army hospitals, conducting experiments, and developing new medicine for the Reichswehr.
Elite infantry :
Fallschirmjägers: Versatile infantrymen that formed the core of Fallschirmjäger divisions who play the role of vanguards in every planet invasion. They are equipped with Spezialkampfuniform 'Birdman', a special version of Infantry-Kürass that offers full protection against harmful factors in both space and high altitude atmosphere. They utilize Fallschirmjägergewehr 2000 (FG-2000), a Sturmgewehr that can fulfill the role of a light machine gun and a substitute sniper rifle which make Fallschirmjägers suitable for all kind of operation from conventional operations to guerrilla tactic. They are self-reliant and skillful infantrymen who can survive behind the enemy line on their own and perform complex tasks.
Panzergrenadiers: Accompanying panzers and infantry fighting vehicles into battle, Panzergrenadiers are the spearhead of German panzer forces, specialized in exploiting weak spots in the enemy defense and creating a breakthrough. Like the Grenadier, they are with weapons specialized for storming enemy positions (Shotgun, electrical mace) and wear a type of heavy armor called Stahlwolf but unlike their infantry counterparts, Panzergrenadiers are also comfortable with engaging in mid-range combat by using Sturmgewehr 7C Ringo and MG-113. Panzergrenadiers are the elite infantry of Reichswehr, the finest example of the so-called Maneuvering Warfare but they are not as versatile as Fallschirmjägers as they are only suitable for large offensive operations supported by heavy machinery.
Jäger Light Infantry: Specialized infantrymen expert in infiltrating enemy lines, conducting sabotage campaigns, scouting, sniping missions and hunting down enemy special forces. Unlike other units, Jägers operate in small groups and platoons and are not expected to be deployed as frontline troops. Armed with Karabiner R92, Viper Battle rifle and Gecko camo, Jägers prefer forests, swamps, and rough and mountainous terrain to utilize their skillfulness in camouflage and long-range combat. Jager is also resourceful and creative with standard and improvised weapons (Mine, explosive). They can fight very well in outgunned and outnumbered situations by relying on guerrilla warfare.
Foot Guard: An relic of Old Prussia and hence Foot Guards carry the banner of the black eagle into battle instead of the Imperial flag. They are organized in a fashion of a basic infantry unit but with heavier armor, bigger caliber Sturmgewehrs and elaborate, fancy uniforms. Their Infanterie-Kürass is carved with a golden eagle, their tunics have the same dark blue color that was used by the original Prussian Foot Guard 1000 years ago and their choice for headwear is a modernized version of Pickelhaube. Despite the strange choice of uniform, none can deny their bravery and combat effectiveness. Only the best Soldats are selected to serve in the Foot Guard and the highly disciplined environment turns them into even better soldiers. Besides combat training, Foot guards also receive ceremonial training to perform in special events and parades.
Support Infantry
Pioneer: Military engineers of the Reichswehr who specialized in building military facilities, fortifications, trenches, bunkers, and Flak emplacements with primitive or advanced equipment. They also undertake basic repair of military vehicles, demining and logistical duties. Despite being classified as a combat unit, Pioneer was not expected to engage in combat. They are lightly armed with standard Infanterie-Kürass and sub-machinegun.
Sturmpioneer: They are pioneers who specialize in destroying the enemy's heavy bunkers, tunnels and fortifications with explosive charges and Flammenwerfer 82. Due to the working environment, they are equipped with Wildschwein semi-automatic shotgun, Infanterie-Kürass Type C which provides decent protection from blasts, shotgun, and pistol rounds.
Infantry Weapons
STG-51 Linder: The standard Sturmgewehr for Reichswehr infantryman. Easy to maintain, reliable and has a rate of fire up to 850 rounds per minute, STG-51 is one of the best assault rifles in the Galaxy. The downsides of this weapon are low penetration compared to other Stg and limited firing mode. Linder has 2 additional firing modes: Tracer and Armor Piercing.
STG-7C Ringo: The standard Sturmgewehr for Panzergrenadiers. It can be considered an upgrade version of STG-51 with a more compact design, larger caliber and 4 firing modes : Tracer, Armor Piercing, overcharge, and incendiary.
Stg-54 Vollstrecker: High caliber Sturmgewehr favored by Reichswehr special forces and Krogan Warriors. It has the lowest rate of fire in the Sturmgewehr family but its penetration capacity, accuracy, and power are even better than a Viper Battle Rifle in some situations. Stg-54 Vollstrecker has 6 firing modes: Armor Piercing, overcharge, incendiary, high explosive, anti-biotic, and harpoon (Inflict non-lethal wounds on the target). STG-54 adopted by Krogan Warband only had one firing mode (Overcharge).
Lasgewehr: An energy-based weapon introduced by the Asari during the early stage of the Tyranid War. Although Lasgewehr has a low rate of fire and short effective range, it is a cost-effective weapon that has very little recoil and is almost independent of undisputed ammo supply. Lasgewehr is mass-produced and given to the members of Volkssturm who in turn take their weapons back home and sell them to the black market.
Viper Battle Rifle: A high caliber semi-auto designated marksman rifle used by Reichswehr infantrymen to increase their effectiveness in long-range combat. Viper Battle Rifle, however, is the standard weapon for Jager Light Infantry.
Wildschwein semi-automatic shotgun: This Grenadier's best companion uses shells packed with microscale submunitions to deal staggering amounts of damage but on the downside, its effective range is pitiful compared to shotguns utilized by other armies.
Lieberschaft 2670 shotgun: A more well-balanced shotgun model adopted by Panzergrenadier units. One of the outstanding features of this weapon is the ability to use airburst rounds for trench clearing at a safe distance.
MG-77S: Nicknamed Wolfs Kiefer, the MG-77S is the most iconic German infantry weapon in the Great War. With a rate of fire that can be adjusted from 1300 to 2000 and using devastating STG standard round, it is a nightmare for enemy infantry while firing in short bursts at mid and long-range (1000-2200 meters). MG-77S has 3 additional firing modes: Tracer, armor piercing, and incendiary. MG-77S can be operated by one Soldat but a crew of three Soldat (Gunner, Assistant, security) is highly recommended.
MG-113: A compact version of MG-77S used by Panzergrenadiers and Fallschirmjäger. It has the same ammo capacity as MG-77S but the rate of fire cannot be adjusted and the effective range is reduced to 1300 meters. MG-113 can be easily operated by one Panzergrenadier.
Panzerfaust M204: Personal rocket launcher preferred by the Reichswehr infantry. It was originally designed as a specialized anti-tank weapon, but gradually, warheads such as anti-bunker, anti-personnel, anti-biotic, anti-Mech, and anti-aircraft were developed and hence the Panzerfaust became a multi-purpose rocket launcher.
Panzershreck Langhorn: An Anti-tank guided missile operated by a crew of three. Panzershreck is not as mobile as Panzerfaust and requires a certain amount of training to use but its range and penetration are superior to Panzerfaust.
Flammenwerfer 82 'Feuerschlange': Flamethrower weapon adopted by Grenadier and Panzergrenadier to clear out trenches and buildings. Flammenwerfer 82's effective range is up to 100m, creating a long burning beam of death which earn its the nickname Feuerschlange (Fire Serpent)
M12 Nordwind: A specialized weapon utilizing new development in Cryo technology. A cooling laser collapses the ammunition into Bose-Einstein condensate, a mass of super-cooled subatomic particles capable of snap-freezing impacted objects. The Cryo Blast is effective against entrenched infantry and causes vehicles to malfunction but the ammunition capacity is limited to 3 and M12 Nordwind's effective range is only 50m as Cryo Round's trajectory is notoriously unstable.
Arc Projector: The arc projector is a short-range weapon that ionizes targets with a nonvisible laser to ready them for a high-voltage electrical attack. As the lightning-like bolt hits its first target, a sophisticated autotargeting system paints succeeding targets with the ionization laser, allowing the electricity to take the path of least resistance and arc between them. An entire enemy strike team can be shocked to death with a few pulls of the trigger. The Arc Projector is the answer to Asari's infamous vanguard units who are nearly untouched by conventional weapons.
Astra Particle Beam: Precise and lethal, this focused-radiation weapon is very effective against shields, barriers, and armor. Although it has a decent range (250m) and can punch through the armor of Königstiger XII. The beam is very visible and it requires at least 10 seconds to focus on a target to deal any kind of damage which put the operator in great danger of being shot by the enemy infantry.
Hutten Mace: Basically a Tungsten core ball with Chromium spikes on a hardened plastic stick. It can cause serious wounds, break bones and stun enemies wearing full-cover helmets. Grenadiers are known to use this weapon in close-quarter combat but Hutten Maces are widely adopted by several units in the Reichswehr. Hutten Mace is said to get its inspiration from Earth's medieval armory.
Kriegsmesser: A medieval-inspired sword with a thermal edge that can cut through light and tier-2 medium body armor. Expensive melee weapon and hence only given to infantry officers who frequently involves in close-quarter combat.
Panzers, IFVs and other support vehicles
Jaguar tanks : MBT of Reichswehr. Jaguar at first was designed as a light support tank for the Panther series but due to the attrition rate of the Great War and Panther's high production cost, Jaquar was upgraded to MBT in 2737 and became the standard panzer of German Panzer forces. Although it is pretty mediocre when compared to the Panther, Jaguar is a durable vehicle with armor protection and firepower that satisfy pretty much Reichswehr's demand for a cost-effective MBT.
Armament: 135mm Kampfwagenkanone manufactured by Rheinmetall. 1 mounted 30mm oerlikon. 3 coaxial Mg-77S. Targeting laser system ( Temporarily disrupt the electronic systems of enemy vehicles and detect enemy units in stealth camo)
Armor: Eisenholz and Hessen 3rd generation composite; including high-hardness nanometal, tungsten, Ostium, and plastic filler with ceramic components. Defensive grenade ejectors (close-range grenades against enemy infantry)
Kinetic Barrier: high activation barrier (Drain all the barrier's energy to stop the incoming threat then recharge)
Panther VII "Geist" : MBT/ Panzerjager/ Stealth panzer of Reichswehr. Panther VII "Geist" is the newest model of the Panther series first introduced in 2800. It has a powerful main gun, great mobility, excellent front protection, and advanced stealth camo which give it the upper hand in tank battles and Maneuvering Warfare. Designated to become the standard MBT but due to high production cost, Panther VII "Geist" is mostly deployed to elite panzer formations.
Armament: 175mm Kampfwagenkanone manufactured by Weiben Industry. 1 mounted 30mm oerlikon. 3 coaxial Mg-77S. Targeting laser system. Jamming system and anti-guided missile system (detect and jam incoming anti-tank missiles before destroying the threat by using computer guided 30mm Oerlikon)
Armor: Eisenholz and Hessen 5th generation composite; including a double layer of high-hardness nanometal in front armor, tungsten, Titanium, Freulium, and plastic filler with ceramic components. Defensive grenade ejectors (close-range grenades against enemy infantry). Nachzehrer stealth camo. Vormund Electronic and Cyber warfare system.
Kinetic Barrier: Can switch between High activation barrier and Low activation barrier (The barrier only absorb 40% damage and the rest will be absorbed by the composite armor) in 3 seconds
Nashorn: Self-propelled artillery of Reichswehr. Armed with powerful 250mm Krupp Kanone and lightly armored, the Nashorn can provide devastating indirect fires for Panzer divisions and at the same time, has the mobility required for the most intense blitzkrieg tactic. With some minor change in the aiming system and suitable ammunition, Nashorn can be deployed as Panzerjager if the situation demands it.
Armament: 250mm Krupp Kanone. Silmaria fire control system allows Nashorn 10 simultaneous hits on a designated target in 10 seconds. Bram advanced tracking system allows an accurate shot of moving a target via drones.
Armor: Porches support vehicle armor; Medium- hardness nanometal with Titanium coating.
Kinetic Barrier: High activation barrier.
Sturmgeschütz X Ausf. H: A cheap solution for fixed gun Panzerjager, infantry support tank. Decent front armor, a low profile, and a powerful 125mm Kampfwagenkanone make Sturmgeschütza the perfect tool for defensive operations, ambush tactics, and supporting other vehicles. Because Sturmgeschütz is a fixed gun panzer with no fancy electronic equipment, it doesn't have the mobility and advanced tools required for Blitzkrieg and hence, see more deployment in Landwehr and Volkssturm units than regular panzer units.
Armament: 135mm Kampfwagenkanone. 2 coxial Mg-77s.
Armor: depends on where it is produced but Sturmgeschütz commonly has bastardized versions of Porches support vehicle armor and Eisenholz and Hessen 3rd generation composite.
Kinetic Barrier: High activation barrier.
PKF-2700 nicknamed Silberner Tiger: The newest model of the Tiger series which served as heavy tanks in Panzer divisions. Heavily armored, fast for its size and armed with a powerful main gun, Silberner Tiger can take on any defenses as well as tanks in direct engagements. Extremely effective for large tank battles and breakthroughs.
Armament: 188mm Kampfwagenkanone manufactured by Krupp. 2 mounted 30mm Oerlikon. 4 coaxial Mg-77S. 4 anti-air missiles launchers. Targeting laser system, Jamming system, and anti-guided missile system.
Armor: Rheinmetall Schwerer Panzerschutz (heavy panzer protection); including a triple layer of high-hardness nanometal, tungsten, Titanium, Freulium, and plastic filler with ceramic components. Defensive grenade ejectors. Vormund Electronic and Cyber warfare system.
Kinetic Barrier: Low activation barrier.
Königstiger XII aka The Bunker Tiger: Super heavy tank of Reichswehr, effective against all targets. Once Königstiger series was designated to replace the Tiger completely as the main heavy tank but since wars switched from large tank battles and smashing through the enemy's stronghold to Advanced Combine Arm and Lightning war, Königstiger has to satisfy with the role of a mobile bunker and glorified Panzerjager (Its gun outranges most tank in the Galaxy and its armor can take a large amount of punishment). Königstiger should not be used in urban combat and high-intensity blitzkrieg due to its low mobility and size.
Armament: 225mm Kampfwagenkanone manufactured by Rheinmetall. 2 mounted 30mm Oerlikon, 2 side turrets armed with 75mm autocannon. 4 coaxial Mg-77S. 8 anti-air missile launchers. Targeting laser system, Jamming system, and anti-guided missile system.
Armor: Eisenholz and Hessen special composite for super heavy panzer; a triple layer of high-hardness nanometal, double layer of tungsten, Nano-reinforced titanium, high-pressured Freulium, and plastic filler with ceramic components. Additional ceramic plates for crew protection. Additional tungsten compartment for ammunition storage. Defensive grenade ejectors. Vormund Electronic and Cyber warfare system.
Kinetic Barrier: Low activation barrier.
Wisent IFV: Reichswehr's main infantry fighting vehicle. It can carry 15 soldiers and 3 crew members onto the battlefield and provide fire support for the infantry with decent armaments; 50 Oerlikon autocannon that can be used against both air and ground targets, 2 coaxial MG-77S, 1 mounted MG-77S, anti-tank rocket launcher,.
Büffel Troop Carrier : Reichswehr's battlefield taxi. It can carry 36 soldiers and 3 crew members into the battlefield. With a bigger compartment, Büffel can carry the platoon's heavy equipment (MG-77S, Infantry support gun, Mortars) and can remain in the rear as a medical evac. However, it only has 2 mounted Mg-77S for defense and hence is unable to provide effective firepower support.
Octopus armored car: A hovering vehicle that operates 20 Loki scouting drones and a dozen of worker droids who perform emergency repairs on damaged panzer on the battlefield. For every 10 Panzers, there will be 1 Octopus armored car.
Vampir Support Vehicle: An unarmed vehicle built on the chassis of the Büffel Troop Carrier. Vampir is equipped with the most sophisticated electronic devices, communication, and computer systems for cyber-warfare. On the battlefield, this vehicle can jam with the enemy's communication by feeding wrong info or relaying old orders. Vampir can also blind enemy sensors and make friendly troops invisible for a while.
Doctrines and Tactics
Reichswehr's doctrines and tactics can all find their roots in a thing called the Maneuvering War or the Blizkrieg, a military doctrine that evolved from a conflict the Germans referred to as the Second World War. Modern historians and military experts are still debating the influence of classical Blitzkrieg on the Reichswehr's conduct of war, but overall, German current strategies share many similarities with their ancestors, especially in emphasizing combined Arms, lightning-quick offensive, mobile defense, close-air support, and deploying large Panzer corps. The attributive nature of the 4th Galactic War saw the Reichswehr readjust its strategies and develop several new weapons to adapt to trench warfare, but essentially the Reichswehr still remains an army seeking decisive victories in the shortest time possible.
Offensive Doctrines:
Infantry Assault Doctrine: An old-fashion infantry attack with artillery and IFV support. Reichswehr infantry will be accompanied to the battlefield by Büffel Troop Carrier and Wisent IFV and try to overrun enemy positions with sheer firepower. Infantry Assault Doctrine is not entirely an independent doctrine on its own as such an unsophisticated and predictable attack will not achieve much and hence, it is often used to conduct probing attacks, identify weak spots in the enemy defense, and make necessary preparations for more advanced Doctrine.
Breakthrough Doctrine: A direct doctrine that is used to break through enemy defense with a large concentration of panzers and panzergrenadiers and close-air support. Despite its effectiveness and simplicity, this is a very demanding doctrine that requires all resources available for a single offensive which is no doubt risky for the attacking army. German commanders only use this doctrine when they felt 100% confident in their chance of victory.
Feuersturm Doctrine: The trademark of this doctrine is the extensive use of incendiary weapons against well-dig-in positions in small-scale operations. In case the enemy has fortified a favorable position and the terrain proved unfavorable for an armored flaking maneuver (Forrest, mountainous area, swamp), German commanders are advised to bombard the enemy relentlessly with incendiary bombs, and white phosphorus munitions before sending Grenadiers and Panzergrenadiers equipped with Flammenwerfer to finish off the remaining resistance. Feuersturm Doctrine is very effective against irregulars in unconventional wars as partisans are often broken by the terrifying sight and smell of the flame than the actual casualties caused by it.
Elite Panzer Doctrine: When the situation allows, Reichswehr commanders can organize their elite panzer battalions equipped with Panther VII, Silberner Tiger, and Königstiger XII into a tactical reserved force for both offensive and defensive purposes. In offensive operations, elite panzer battalions are surgical knives that can achieve tactical breakthroughs with minimum losses and in defensive operations, a concentration of elite panzers can stop an enemy breakthrough in its track and stabilize the line without weakening other positions.
Air Assault Doctrine: With a temporary air superiority provided by the Luftwaffe, Fallschirmjägers will carry out lightning attacks on key objectives with the support of air assault carriers Junker FV-25 and Tigerhai-4 Gunship. The attack will disrupt the enemy's defense and create an opening for the following offensive consisting of Panzer and Panzergrenadier. Unlike the Asari who prefer large-scale airborne operations with at least 10 Air Assault divisions, Reichswehr commanders have to make do with small-scale operations to minimize the risk. Air Assault is a high-reward operation demanding the best commanding structure, and the best men and equipment available but a single hiccup can prove to be devastating.
Armored Combat Doctrine: When the situation and terrain are favorable, Reichswehr commanders can organize their panzer elements into a large panzer corps and force the enemy into a large tank battle where German Panzer forces always have the upper hand. Tank aces will be put into a separate unit to create a spearhead thrusting through enemy tank formation or lead their own panzer groups.
Defensive Doctrine:
Mobile Defense Doctrine: The standard defensive doctrine whose principles have become the foundation of other defensive doctrines. Also known as Defensive Blitzkrieg, Mobile Defense Doctrine emphasizes conducting tactical retreats on purpose to avoid encirclement, leaving behind unfavorable positions and making the enemy extend their formation, and supply line so rapidly that they can't be defended from pre-land counter-attacks or accurate artillery fires. Unlike the common belief, the defending army will not easily abandon favorable positions (City, river crossing, high points) without utilizing them to the fullest by making the enemy pay for every inch of land taken and instead of concentrating a large number of mobile units for a counter-attack, Panzers and Panzergrenadiers divisions will work independently and conduct their own counter-attack when the opportunity show itself. However, this doctrine is a demanding one as it requires a well-trained, well-disciplined army and good commanders to carry out complex maneuvering otherwise, a tactical retreat can easily turn into a rout.
Tactical Reserve Doctrine: Given the fact that a fully professional army is not something that Reichswehr often has as Landwehr and Volkssturm units make up a large proportion of the planetary defense force, a less complex strategy is required. Heavy fortifications like steel-reinforced bunkers, trench systems, and machine gun nests will be built around chosen locations which are solely held by Landwehr and irregular units. Their defenses will be supported by heavy artillery barrages, close-air support and counter-attacks from more elite units stationed in the rear or flanks. Tactical Reserve Doctrine offers flexibility to Reichswehr commanders as it allows elite formations to maintain their mobility while utilizing the strength of irregular units to the fullest.
Grand Counter-Offensive Doctrine: Since the enemy cannot maintain the momentum forever and will run out of steam after continuously ramming their heads against well-fortified positions, Reichswehr commanders must exploit the opportunity and launch a counter-offensive to take back what the invader had stolen from the Vaterland. Grand Counter-Offensive Doctrine is the natural fruit of the correct use of Mobile Defense and Tactical Reserve Doctrine.
Encirclement Doctrine: An evolution of Grand Counter-Attack and Breakthrough doctrine. Instead of engaging and pushing back the enemy on all fronts, the strongest Panzer divisions supported by Panzergrenadiers and Luftwaffe will achieve at least 2 tactical breakthroughs and create pincers that trap a large amount of enemy force inside. This doctrine is not easy to execute as it requires the enemy to be softened up to the point vulnerable to breakthroughs and the Reichswehr commander must be very skillful at reserving the best of his troops for the decisive moment.
Support Doctrine :
Special Operation Doctrine: Extensive uses of special forces such as Brandenburger, Marine-Einsatz-Kommandos, and Totenkopf Kommando in sabotage, reconnaissance, and capturing of key positions (Brigdes, airfields, command posts). This doctrine can be used in defensive operations as special forces are experts at guerrilla tactics and establishing an intelligence network in occupied territory.
Counter-Artillery Doctrine: Stationary artillery batteries and Nashorn units will focus on destroying enemy artillery rather than providing fire support for friendly units. This doctrine is more fitting to offensive operations than defensive since defenders can't hold their positions without artillery support.
Light Infantry Doctrine: When the battlefield mainly consists of rough terrain, forests, small urban areas, and valleys which are unsuited for the conventional tactic of Reichswehr, Jagers, and Fallschirmjägers will be deployed as main combat troops supported air-to-ground attack aircraft and light artillery. This doctrine can be very useful in anti-guerrilla operations and defensive operations.
Jeager Armor Doctrine: Deploy large quantities of Sturmgeschütz X Ausf. H to the battlefield and provide additional training in anti-tank weapons and tactics for Soldats. This doctrine will be recommended when Reichswehr commanders don't have sufficient panzer power to confront enemy armor.
Cyber warfare Doctrine: Increase the intensity of cyber attacks on the enemy's command and communication systems. With the recent upgrades to the White Queen, Vampirs now can mimic the voices of local commanders to cause chaos. Narr program (Jester) allows panzers equipped with Vormund Electronic and Cyber warfare systems to create a perfect mirage to bait enemy tanks.
Additional content, questions, and answers.
(This is the section where I answer interesting questions about the alternative galaxy I'm trying to build. I receive questions through email, comments on fanfiction or other websites and I will try my best to answer them without spoiling too much)
What are the human demographics in German Empire? (This question come from an author on Archivefourown)
Answer : I haven't had the whole answer yet but I will try to explain with what I have at hand now. Basically, if you are an Asari who works for an interplanetary corporation like 'Blue Canary' in Core Worlds and travel a lot then you slowly notice a few strange things about these humans:
You learn at school or someone told you that there is a difference between 'Human' and 'German' but you do not understand it at all because all the humans you meet look the same. They have light skin tones. Their hair is brown, blonde, or occasionally red or platinum. Some have blue eyes, some have green eyes or brown eyes and sometimes you see people with red and purple eyes (Mutation happens when humans have settled on other planets for generations). Then you start to realize there are indeed some differences among those people who call themselves German since you speak German fluently, you understand that German names or last names all have a specific sound to them and they all have meanings that are very clear to you (Einzberg = one mountain, Bauer=Farmer, Reinhardt= strong, Herman= Leader) but you also came across people whose names sound like they coming from another language like Kaidan Alenko, Mari Lunawood, Ricardo Aguero, Erika Yukito.
Then you begin to realize that although they all look the same, their ancestors might come from different tribes, nations, and civilizations on Earth as German Empire at the beginning was just one among hundred many nations before it conquered everyone else. Time passes, you are sent to your new station, somewhere closer to Earth and pumped into Steve Hackett who is an Admiral of the Kriegsmarine but he never calls himself a German and claims that he is an American coming from Ceti, a planet that was founded by a country called the U.S states. It turns out that many old superpowers of Earth still exist as allies to the German Reich and they all have colonies in the galaxy although they are few in number and mostly located near the solar system (The economic center and the green zone of the German Empire, completely safe from any alien attack). On those colonies as well as their original homelands on Earth, the people still preserve their forefather's language and culture which are distinguishable from the Germans.
After that, you begin your journey into the 'Reich's heartland' and the closer you get to earth, the physical differences between the Germans and other races of humanity start to be noticeable. Taking a walk on a busy main street, you can see that some among the human crowd have darker skin tones and bigger noses, some are shorter than the average German and their hair is jet-black, and a few look like their skin has been burned to crips. Many of them would claim to be citizens of the Reich (Ashley William) but many would say they come from a specific ethnic group and are just here to find a job (Kasumi Gogo).
When you reach Earth, and visit the original homeland of the Germans called Germany as well as other nations like France, Britain, Italy, Russia, the U.S, China, Japan, the continent of Africa, you finally understand why Human and German are two different things. The Germans are the most advanced branch of humanity in terms of economy, military, and their population are many times larger than the rest combined but they are not humanity and the term 'German' or 'Citizen of the Reich' are loosely defined. In theory, every human being can become German if they want to but except for those who were born and grow up thinking they are Germans, many refuse to do so. If you're born as a non-german in the 29th century, you are way luckier than the rest of humanity since you live on Earth or near it. That means better living standards, better job opportunities, better education, better food, no conscription, and no war (unless your government decides to help the German Reich in a was)
Why the German though? (This is the kind of question I got on Discord when I introduced them to the story. Never had the chance to give them a detailed explanation so back then so I will do it here)
Answer: The first reason is personal taste. I like the aesthetic look of German uniforms, tanks, and aircraft. I like the sound of the German language. I like Central European architecture. I like blonde-haired men and women. I like the cold demeanor, frankness, punctuality and discipline of the Germans.
The second reason is a big fat problem that I and many authors face when it comes to writing about humanity in the age of space-faring. There is a thing that I will refer to as generic humanity, generic human empire, or generic militarized humanity. I assume you are well aware that there are certain stereotypes that keep on repeating in popular sci-fi franchises, even in Mass Effect, which has been annoying me for a while. In Avatar, humanity is your run-of-the-mill evil capitalist colonizers. In Babylon 5, in Mass Effect, in Star Trek, humanity is a young race at the early stage of their space exploration, looked down upon by their alien peers but eventually humanity will become mediators of peace, the voice of reason in a chaotic galaxy, heroes saving others from a great catastrophe and preventing hot head alien from doing dumb shit. Although I love Mass Effect (If I wasn't, I wouldn't buy and play the series in the first place), some aspect of it still annoys me, truth be told.
Next, you got another stereotype of humanity who is weak and less technically advanced, got invaded by aliens, and have to fight for their freedom, to free Earth from occupation. This type of humanity can be found in Halo and plenty of sci-fi movies, and books, and for some understandable reasons, it inspired people to write fanfics where humanity is the greatest power in the galaxy, perfect in everything whether it is warfare, culture or technological developments whereas the aliens are evil, greedy, arrogant, ignorant, weak, pathetic. Alright, I must make it clear that I have no ill against those stereotypes or people who enjoy them. It may be because my personal taste is different so I don't enjoy them that much and furthermore, when it comes to writing, those stereotypes are poison to my writing style.
At that point, I think you notice that subjectiveness is a very large part of every chapter. My characters see the galaxy through their own perspective created by their past, present, prejudice, social class, education, the political climate, and the mentality of the society they live in but the generic humanity in space won't be able to provide me those things. It severely lacks the context to justify its existence and sometimes it feels like that world, that reality you see only exists in a vacuum. I can't write a story in which I don't even know how to explain to you why the characters do what they do. For example, Erina von Einzberg treats her daughter coldly and changes back to her old last name but remains unmarried 15 years after her husband's death. However, even if I don't explain why she did those things, you will understand her action anyways. She is a Prussian noblewoman from a prestigious family so she must honor ancient traditions, perform duties that are required of her, control her personal emotions, obey her father to some degree, and since she loves her husband and the society inspired by 18-19th century Europe value chastity, loyalty in a woman, she mourns for him in silence.
I have tried to write a character like Erina von Einzberg and her complicated relationship with her daughter in a generic human empire but it didn't work because the whole reality didn't have the context to back it up. And this is nothing but one single example. There is a ton of characters in my story with their own perspective created by their past, present, prejudice, social class, and education.
I must admit that my ideas are unoriginal since I create this empire, its society, its culture, and its mentality from a society and empire that did exist, the German Reich in the late 19th and early 20th century. To be frank, my German empire in space feels like the 19th century never end even though nearly 1000 years have passed. However, I think it is better for my world to be unoriginal and based on something rather than nothing.
If you have further questions about this topic, please PM me.