Alptraum
An Alternative History Affair
By TekcoR
Honor is a Badge Few Carry
His car pulled up in an unappealing fashion. Hundreds of soldiers had been pulled from the front to be inspected by a man who hadn’t fired a shot thus far in the war. Rhiley and I had arrived just minutes before and were sitting in our own Kübelwagen. We weren’t expected to stand in formation, and even if we were I knew I wouldn’t. I couldn’t speak for my nephew, but I hoped he would honor his father’s wishes and share his distrust of the organization.
I know I’ve mentioned it before, but the Schnacks are a family of honor, tradition and integrity. My grandfather had originally served in the Kingdom of Hannover’s army during the War of 1866. He fought against his futuristic German brothers in Prussia as they invaded our homeland. Fighting with great honor that distinguished himself from his comrades, he was accepted into the Prussian army after our defeat. Only about four years passed before the call of war came and he to fight in France. My grandfather would return not a soldier of the Kingdom of Prussia, but rather of the German Empire that was proclaimed in the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. I wish I could have known him; sadly he was taken away before I got that chance.
My grandfather would serve the rest of his days in peace. My father, Elijah, at the insistence of his father received a commission within the army. The male offspring of the Schnacks have had an expected reputation to uphold the moment of their birth. Every male descendant has served in the military since our earliest traced lineage back to Hessian service under the state (now province) of Hesse-Nassau. I’ve heard tales of an ancestor fighting against the rebellious Americans at the Battle of Long Island. I know if he were alive today, there would be one thing him and the current generation of Schnack’s could relate to: the Americans were tenacious fighters.
The reputation of being in service of the military of one’s nation has been established for a lengthy 167 years. However, just being in the service was not enough for the Schnack’s after 1811. At that time, our homeland was recently annexed into the ever-expanding Napoleonic Empire. The Schnack’s had relocated to Norddeich a decade prior to the French occupation. In his grand desire for the conquest of Russia, who was failing to honor its obligations to the Continental system, was preparing a grand army to force compliance. My great-grandfather was eager to fulfill his duty to restore our rightful ruler; but unable to compete without training joined the French army.
He exceeded in the expectations set forth, and quickly found a promotion from the enlisted ranks to an officer. Though entrusted to lead men, his unit was not trustworthy enough to find themselves on the frontlines as Napoleon led his troops to disaster. This most likely spared the Schnack family line, as what followed was a disaster for Bonaparte. What followed would help propel our family from the drudgery of daily life, with little income, little means of survival into the one most renowned in the Kingdom of Hannover. Great-grandfather and his unit captured close to one thousand French soldiers with their small arms, along with an additional six hundred rifles, nine cannons, and enough powder and shot for a month of combat. Afterwards rumors swirled around that the Emperor Napoleon personally put a bounty on his head, dead or alive.
My great-grandfather really set the bar high for following high for the rest of his lineage. I believe my grandfather has been the only one to equal or come close to comparing to his list of accomplishments. Father always repeated to me on the night of September 1st, 1870 the French Emperor, Napoleon III attempted to disguise a small entourage and including the Emperor to escape from the impending surrender. Grandfather had volunteered to be the officer in charge for night duty. Luck played into the hands of the Schnack family once more, as grandfather spotted something unusual; which foiled the Emperor’s plans, eventually bringing an end to the Second French Empire.
After my grandfather, I don’t think feats of the following Schnack’s has been that impressive. Father served on the staff of Moltke the Younger until 1910, when he retired after 21 years of service and achieving the rank of Colonel – the highest rank any of our family received at the time. It is hard to say if my brother Anton could have accomplished more if his life wasn’t cut short three days before the armistice. He did participate with great distinction and won the Iron Cross First Class for his actions in February 16th at Verdun.
Josef, my second brother, has served a distinguished career, surviving the First War like myself, but he did not survive the drastic reduction of the Army following the treaty. Distraught by the loss of a job, and frightened what he saw as a communist takeover of the country, he created his own Freikorps to protect our town and surrounding area. By the time the second war has come around, Josef is too old for frontline combat, but heads the local militia defending home from any possible Allied intervention – however unlikely in remote Norddeich.
The next generation of Schnacks’ has done great feats that have lead to outright victory; but there is a reason for this. War has changed. The role of the officer has changed in my opinion. Generals no longer lead their men head first into combat; a notable exception would be our very own Erwin Rommel; who watches over the north of France at this very time. Junior rank officers still lead from the front, but it is hard to lead your men when the front is so far away. I can guarantee that in this war I have seen more combat than both Philipp and Sebastian.
The last fighter within the Schnack family is Rhiley. He is a peculiar boy, just over a month older than Philipp. He is rather quiet, but deep within his brain I know the gears are turning, and he is rather intelligent when forced to speak. He honors the tradition the family has established, but he has also broken. He did not follow in the 133 years of tradition of becoming an officer. Yet he serves as if he wants to one day lead men, but never mentions the desire when I probe.
“General Schnack,” said a voice, startling me from the thought processes. “I need to talk to you.”