In Europe, there were more or less four regions that were majority Muslim. Bosnia and Herzegovina, which was currently under Austro-Hungarian Control, Kosovo, which had been under Serbian Control until its occupation by Austro-Hungary and its eventual surrender a week or two prior to Bruno’s arrival in Germany.
There was also the European parts of the Ottoman Empire, mainly eastern Thrace, that were currently a Muslim majority. And finally, there was the independent Principality of Albania. Which at this time was in a state of total anarchy after its German prince abdicated the throne upon the start of the war.
His reasons for doing so were simple. Surrounded on all sides by hostile powers, he felt it was better to flee with his life, then wait to be invaded. Because of this, Albania was now enduring a lawless chaos, with multiple factions fighting in all areas of the small Balkan country for control over the land.
So just another day in the Balkans, right? Ethnic and religious violence had been a part of the region since the Ottoman Turks first took over and began forcefully converting the natives or suppressing those who refused.
However, times were changing, and for the first time in nearly half a millennium, it was starting to look like the Muslims would once and for all be driven out of Europe or as it had been known in previous centuries, “Christendom.”
Because of this, Christian Militias were engaging in all sorts of heinous acts against the Muslim Majority within Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and Albania. There was simply one objective, either their forceful relocation or their extermination.
And there were more than a few Christian powers in the regions with serious grudges against these Muslim populations, ones that had lasted for centuries. These nations were more than willing to arm, train, and provide safe houses for the ultra-Christian paramilitary organizations.
With every act of violence committed against the Muslims in these lands, there was, of course, retaliation. Sparking a large guerilla campaign between various factions. One that originated in Albania and quickly began to turn the entire region into a powder keg that was about to explode.
Bruno had at most two weeks with his family before being recalled to the Balkans, where he found an explosion had recently been detonated in Austro-Hungarian Sarajevo. The explosion was the result of ethnic violence between Bosnian-Serb Christians and Bosniak Muslims.
Both German and Austro-Hungarian soldiers rushed to the scene, engaging in a firefight with the paramilitary organization responsible for the attack, which this time around just so happened to the Bosniak Jihadists.
Shouts in what Bruno presumed was the local language were exchanged by the militants who were eventually gunned down by a combination of rifle and machine gun fire by the soldiers who surrounded them.
Eventually their bodies were dragged out of the building they were barricaded in and tossed into the streets by the German and Austro-Hungarian soldiers, prompting Bruno to inquire about exactly what had happened here.
“I leave the region for two fucking weeks and all of a sudden I find myself involved in a campaign against religious militants of both Orthodox and Muslim variety? Can somebody please explain to me just what the fucking hell happened while I was away?”
It was no surprise that the men who had led the stormtroopers into the heavily barricaded hotel which had been captured by the Islamic Militants was none other than Erich, who emerged from the scene of his bloodshed while cleaning his bayonet with a cloth.
The man had a rather sadistic smirk on his face as he explained exactly what had happened while Bruno was away before anyone else in the vicinity could.
“Just some usually foolishness in the Balkans. What else did you expect? Alania is in a state of anarchy, allowing for opportunistic groups to fight for control. The violence rapidly became religious and ethnic in nature, as is always the case in this god-forsaken region of the world.
Naturally, as Bulgaria and the Ottomans began supplying each faction, it spilled over into our territory. Fucking Christ, is this a shit show? These bastards attack and then run away to hide among the civilians.
Honestly, I think we should just level the region altogether. That way we can deal with these fucking Muslim bastards and for all. If you ask me, they have occupied Christian lands for far too long, and now that we have the chance to do something about it, we should!” Bruno immediately felt compelled to smoke upon hearing his friend and subordinate not so subtly suggest an act of genocide. But strangely enough, he did not do so, instead he began to soothe the bridge of his nose as if trying desperately to fight off an oncoming migraine before eventually responding to Erich’s suggestion with an almost hostile tone.
“Even if I agreed with your so-called solution, which, for the record, I do not. You do understand that there are still thousands of Christians in this city. How exactly do you intend to tell the difference between assuming I were to actually entertain your ideas of genocide?” Erich’s next words were chilling, and something that Bruno would probably remember for the rest of his life as he swore he had read them before in history.
“We don’t… Kill them all! God will know his own!”
Bruno could tell that it was not just Erich who shared this sentiment, there were plenty of men, especially among the Austro-Hungarian soldiers who surrounded them, that agreed with this statement entirely.
The time had come to reclaim the last vestige of Christendom from the hands of the Muslim occupiers, and many of these men, especially those who came from the Balkans and not Germanic Europe, deeply resonated with the words Erich had spoken.
Erich, of course not exactly being a fanatic in his own right, but simply having a desire to spill blood, no matter whose it was, was simply trying to latch onto a convenient chance to do just this.
Bruno might be cruel towards his enemies, and more than willing to disregard collateral damage such as civilian casualties in pursuit of victory, was at the end of the day not a sadistic psychopath, or a genocidal maniac.
Because of this he couldn’t help but condemn Erich in the harshest of terms, and openly of that as he refused the idea outright, and instead began plotting on how to deal with both the Muslim and Orthodox Militants who were using their religions as an excuse to engage in violence much in the same way Erich had wanted to do so.
“There is no reality on this Earth where I even possibly entertain the horrific thoughts you have just tried to put into my mind. If it weren’t the fact that you were damn good at your job, I would have you court-martialed for even suggesting such a thing!
But, since it was merely a verbal exchange, and not an actual crime committed, I will merely resort to withdrawing you from this guerilla campaign, and instead will send you back to the fatherland on temporary leave.
Do not ever suggest openly or privately such a wicked sentiment, whether in my presence or not ever again. For if I ever hear word that you have, you will not be forgiven a third time. Do you understand me, Colonel von Humboldt?”
Erich seemed to be silently seething at his punishment, having not expected his friend to reprimand him in such a way. But ultimately, he kept his thoughts to himself as he saluted Bruno and accepted his punishment before doing as he was commanded.
As for Bruno, he eventually pulled out a cigarette and smoked it, shaking his head as he watched Erich walk away from him with his shoulders rolled in a way that hinted aggressive thoughts. He couldn’t help but think that before this war was over, he was going to have to put a bullet in the skull of a man he considered to be among his closest friends…