It had been years since the Boxer Rebellion came to an end, three to be exact. And during this time, Bruno had gone his separate ways from the friends he made at the Royal Prussian Main Cadet Institute. Though he had kept in contact with the men the best he could, via letters which were still the primary form of communication in the world.
Bruno had quickly risen through the ranks of the Imperial German Army, becoming the youngest Generalmajor in history. Meanwhile, Heinrich and Erich had been promoted to the rank which Bruno previously held. Captain, also known as Hauptmann, in the German language.
Surprisingly, when Bruno arrived at the Prussian naval base in Danzig, he found the two young captains standing there, boasting their newly obtained collar and shoulder insignia while smoking a couple of cigarettes and catching up on what had happened over the past few years.
Erich was boasting about his older brother, who was several years older than him, and already a prominent member of the Kaiserliche Marine, also known as the Imperial German Navy.
“Yeah, I just received word from the family, my brother Hermann has been promoted to the rank of Captain within the navy. He’s recently been assigned to a cruiser in the East Asia Squadron as its commanding officer. I wouldn’t be surprised if we see him while in Manchuria!”
Heinrich blew a puff of smoke in Erich’s face, responding with relative disinterest to his old friend whose boastful nature when it came to the topic of his family continued even now that he was in his mid twenties.
“I suppose that would be a treat, now wouldn’t it… Oh shit! General, we were just waiting for your arrival!”
Heinrich immediately snapped to attention when he saw Bruno step forward. The man was dressed in the uniform of a Generalmajor. The only thing Bruno was really missing to appear like the old men who were sending him to Manchuria were several more medals, and a Sash belonging to one of the major orders of Merit.
Even so, his uniform commanded immediate respect from anyone who saw it. Heinrich and Erich were no exception. Who put out their cigarettes and snapped to attention when they saw their old friend approach them.
Bruno simply smiled and shook his head, before demanding the two of them not be so formal with him.
“At ease, you two… I must admit I’m surprised they sent both of you to assist me in this mission. Heinrich was to be expected. The man performed admirably as an observer in South Africa from what I have heard. But, Erich? I have not heard much of your exploits these past three years?”
Erich sighed and shook his head. Defending his lack of achievements by the position he was forced in.
“With all due respect, sir… It’s hard to accomplish much when you’re assigned to an infantry company during a time of peace. I’m amazed I managed to gain the rank of captain despite doing nothing but being a glorified desk jockey these past few years.”
Indeed, what Erich said was true, and Bruno was personally just giving him a hard time due to the relationship they had as friends. However, he was quick to make these two men understand the situation they were now in. And how they should conduct themselves when they arrived in Manchuria.
“Alright, let me make something perfectly clear to you two. We are here to act in an advisory capacity, not to win any heroics on behalf of ourselves. Our objective is to assist the Imperial Japanese Army in their war against the Russians, and that is all.
Still, you two might want to keep a weapon nearby, as you never know when things might end up going south. I myself, as you can see by my holster am well prepared for such a possible scenario.”
Attached to Bruno’s belt was a black leather holster which contained a luger pistol. In addition to this, there were several magazine pouches on the other side. Showing that Bruno appeared to be ready and willing to engage in combat should the need arise.
Luckily for him, Heinrich and Erich appeared to show the same sentiment as they patted their own holsters, while assuring Bruno they were also packing.
“Not to worry sir, we are well prepared for the expedition!”
Knowing this, Bruno nodded his head and looked off to the docks, where a large cruiser was setting down anchor and being tied off. Eventually the officers of the ship came ashore, dressed in their Naval Uniforms they approached Bruno and the two officers by his side. Along with a small contingent of infantry, who were there to protect Bruno, Heinrich, and Erich. The naval officer in charge was a man in his mid-thirties. And sported the insignia of a Naval Captain, also translated to Kapitan Zur See in German. The man looked sternly not at Bruno, or Heinrich, but at Erich. Who himself stared at the Naval Captain with surprise in his eyes.
Suddenly, the Naval Captain’s expression changed as he stepped forward and embraced Erich. Shocking both Bruno and Heinrich with his greeting.
“There you are little brother! It’s been years since I last saw you! You are a Captain now? Well, a Captain in the Army… Still truly impressive! I’m honestly surprised they didn’t tell me I would be ferrying you to Manchuria as well!”
Erich seemed embarrassed to be so boldly embraced by his older brother in public, and while on duty no less. Bruno, of course faked a cough, to let the man know that he was being watched. Where he immediately let go of Erich, and saluted Bruno while introducing himself. “Captain Hermann von Humbolt at your service, sir! It is my honor to escort the General and his companions to Manchuria! If there is anything you require of me and my crew during our voyage, just let me know and so long as it is in my capacity to fulfill, I will do so at the first given opportunity!”
Bruno returned the man’s salute, unsure of how to act now that he had suddenly regained his sense of professionalism. Because of this, he just responded with the standard professional courtesy he would give any other officer in the military.
“Thank you, Captain, we will be in your care these next two months…”
With this said, the Naval Captain whistled towards his sailors to grab the belongings that Bruno and his attaché had brought with them. All while escorting the three officers onto the deck of his cruiser.
“She may be a bit old, but I promise you, the Hansa will carry you safely to your destination. If there’s nothing important that you have forgotten, then let’s get this show on the road shall We?”
Naturally, Bruno would not reject the Captain’s courtesy and instead joined him onboard the Protected Cruiser. It was known as the SMS Hansa, named after the Medieval Hanseatic league. It was an old vessel, of the Victoria Louise class of protected cruisers.
The vessel had been laid down and entered service in the 1890s. And because of this, it now saw service in the East Asia Squadron, deemed unfit to serve in the High Seas Fleet, which only obtained the most modern additions during the ongoing Naval Arms race between the German Reich and the British Empire.
It was still a year away before the HMS Dreadnought would begin its construction, which would only add fuel to the fire that was the Anglo-German Naval Arms race. After all, the Dreadnought would forever change the course of how battleships were developed. Not that they would see much service when the Great War finally surfaced.
After all, Dreadnought Battleships were considered too expensive, and time consuming to produce by the Admiralty of all nations who possessed them. And because of this, they were largely kept out of service, when they could have been employed to great affect in a multitude of naval battles.
In the end, such massive machines of destruction would only be used in a single Naval Battle during the Great War, and never again afterward. Something that Bruno couldn’t help but think was a waste when he saw his first warship up close.
Perhaps this captain, who Bruno did not recognize from his past life, would go on to become a powerful admiral in his own right. Especially if Bruno formed a close friendship with him over the course of the next few months and altered his destiny as a result.
Maybe then, the Imperial German Navy could be effectively convinced to alter their course of naval warfare, one that, if kept in line with its current trajectory, would inevitably provoke the Americans from joining the war effort.
But that was a matter that would need to be considered over the course of many years. For the
time being, Bruno supposed he would spend the next two months at sea, building a proper friendship with Erich’s older brother. Even if Hermann did not become an Admiral of significant renown, it never hurt to make friends in high places.