Spanish Civil War – Collateral Damage (1)

Italy and the Nationalists were crushed in the Battle of Guadalajara, despite pouring in more than twice the resources the Republicans had.

Whatever advantage they held at the start was devoured by sleet and fog, and before long, their cavalry was wiped out by Enrique Líster’s forces.

I barely made it out alive—yet somehow, I was promoted to lieutenant, decorated with the First Class Iron Cross, and made commander of a company.

Originally, I’d planned to leave the army and return to Germany immediately, even if it meant swallowing some disgrace. But that plan died the moment I was named Captain Kaufman’s successor.

I couldn’t abandon Clemens and the rest of the company to survive on their own.

Still, if I had to stay—this was a land of opportunity. In this quiet lull between wars, there were few chances to distinguish oneself back home. Out here, a man could build a name and rise.

And no matter how you look at it, a higher rank opens doors.

Especially now—my father, Hjalmar Schacht, would likely be removed soon. If I was to have any future, I needed to carve out my own position.

In this age of madness, only strength speaks. A company commander who doesn’t know whether he’ll live through tomorrow can’t build anything lasting.

March 27, 1937 – Zaragoza, North-Central Spain

After Mussolini’s grand offensive ended in humiliation, the Nationalist leadership abandoned plans to take Madrid. Instead, they shifted focus to driving the Republicans out of the north—targeting the Basque Country, Cantabria, and Asturias.

These northern regions were Republican strongholds, but geographically isolated from the main Republican forces concentrated in the east, around Madrid and Valencia.

To support the offensive, a detachment of the Condor Legion’s Luftwaffe was deployed, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Wolfram von Richthofen.

At first, I thought this had nothing to do with me… until I was informed that Richthofen had personally requested me—recently discharged—as an interpreter and military advisor.

So I made my way to the Luftwaffe base in Zaragoza to meet him.

"Heil Hitler!"

"Heil Hitler. Congratulations on your promotion, Leutnant."

"Thank you!"

Richthofen—early forties, composed—returned my salute with a faint smile and gestured for me to sit. I complied immediately.

"Let’s get to the point. You’re probably wondering why an Army leutnant was summoned here."

"...Yes, sir."

Of course I was wondering. Richthofen nodded at my response and explained directly.

"First, there’s the matter of interpretation. Brigadier General Sperrle will remain at the Central Front, and the Luftwaffe interpreters are tied up here."

Brigadier General Hugo Sperrle—he commanded the Luftwaffe’s Condor Legion. So far, that explanation made sense. But why me?

"Well, that's the surface reason. The real reason is—I personally requested you. Now let me ask something, Leutnant. Will you swear loyalty to the Führer—and to Germany?"

That question hit like a jolt. Sweat pricked the back of my neck. What was this? Some kind of loyalty test? Mind reading?

After a pause, I answered carefully.

"I am loyal to Germany, Colonel."

Richthofen studied me for a moment—probably noting my omission of the Führer—and then gave a tight smile.

"I’ll trust your word. From this point forward, what we discuss is highly classified. I expect your full discretion."

"Yes, sir!"

I was still unsure what I was being pulled into—until we were joined by a guest.

"Buenas tardes, Señor Richthofen."

"¡Viva España, Señor Caudillo!"

"Oh, haha. I see our generals were right to speak highly of Señor Richthofen."

The man seemed briefly surprised at Richthofen’s fluent Spanish, then smiled, satisfied.

Francisco Franco—El Caudillo of Nationalist Spain—was here in person. I almost choked, but began interpreting as fast as I could. Franco was accompanied by a lone bodyguard.

"I’d like to get to know Señor Richthofen better, but due to time constraints, I’ll get straight to the point. This is not an official request from the Spanish State. As far as I'm able to express it... let us call it a personal request."

I translated that verbatim. Richthofen nodded gravely.

"Of course, Señor Caudillo. His Excellency the Führer and the Condor Legion are fully committed to supporting you. Your words are safe with us."

Franco smiled—a thin, snake-like smile—and issued his request.

"I want the Condor Legion to cause as much collateral damage as possible in the Northern Front."

What did he just say?

I froze for a moment, forgetting to interpret. Franco noticed and offered clarification with a pleasant tone.

"Ah, was that too vague? What I mean is, please ensure as much civilian harm as possible—purely collateral, of course."

I hesitated, still stunned, until Richthofen gave me a light pat on the back. I snapped out of it and translated:

"He requests that as many civilians as possible be mistakenly targeted during the operation."

Richthofen paused, then asked:

"It’s not difficult, but… isn’t the northern region home to factions who originally supported the Nationalists?"

Not difficult…?

"Some, yes. But that area belongs to the Carlists—anachronistic monarchists and separatists. Many of them were aligned with General Mola, who once sought to replace me. There are even accusations of their aiding criminals after the last crackdown. I want them to understand it’s foolish to go against someone who has the support of Germany."

Franco’s voice remained smooth, his smile calm. A leader asking for bombings against his own people—this was lunacy. But I translated anyway.

Richthofen nodded.

"Understood. We’ll make sure the message is clear, though officially, it will be reported as unintended. The damage will speak for itself."

"Thank you, Señor Richthofen. Spain will remember the Condor Legion's devotion as eternal friendship."

Franco smiled as he said it—pleased.

But this same man never joined the Axis powers, not even as Germany burned in its final days. Instead, he would remain busy—executing political prisoners and dissidents by the thousands.

Captain Kaufman, what did you and the rest of the company die for in this godforsaken place?

After Franco left, Richthofen and I boarded a transport plane to go to a newly built airfield near the Basque Country.

Even in the early days of World War II, the Allied Forces and the Soviet Union launched sorties only from prepared air bases, but the Germans were already testing the doctrine of maintaining air superiority and providing close air support by constructing a simple aerodrome near the front line and rapidly shifting between wing groups. The work of Richthofen.

"You seemed surprised, but you did a good job, Leutnant. Don't think too deeply. Have you read Clausewitz's Theory of War? War is an extension of politics. We are soldiers, and if we obey orders, the high-ranking people take care of the politics. The Führer has instructed Franco to actively cooperate, and we have to follow."

As a soldier, absolute obedience to orders and carrying them out sounds like the right attitude at first glance. But it is precisely because of that attitude that World War II will inflict the most horrific massacres in the history of the world. Right in the hands of our German army.

"But indiscriminate bombing of civilians who have no intention of fighting back is a war crime, Colonel."

Richthofen paused for a moment at my words, then burst into laughter.

"Haha, hahaha—Leutnant. In the end, war crimes are decided by the victors at their own convenience. The most important thing for our soldiers is to be loyal to our country and obey its orders. And the Führer who now leads our great Germany has no interest in the so-called 'war crimes.'"

I guess so. Of course, Hitler didn't care about that. But even if we are defeated after endless wars of exhaustion, committing unnecessary war crimes, turning all the residents of the occupied territory who could have been allies into enemies—would you still say that, Richthofen?

When I shut my mouth, Richthofen looked at my expression and opened it with a grin.

"You must be wondering why I brought you here."

"Yes, Colonel."

"I heard you were selected for admission to the Berlin War College."

"Ah!"

Just as in Korea, where only officers from the military academy can aim to become generals, in Germany, only those who completed the education course at the War College and obtained the qualifications to be called general staff could become generals.

However, unlike the Korean military academies, which serve as officers after graduating, Germany's war colleges serve in the military and recruit and educate qualified personnel with some experience.

Of course, there are people, like the famous Erwin Rommel, who became a Marshal without going through the general staff course, but that was a very special case, and in fact, Rommel did not get along very well with other generals throughout the war, likely due to him being an "outsider." Therefore, it is said that those who complete the general staff course will be the generals of the future.

"Well, don't be too happy already. The competition between candidates is fierce."

"Yes, I know."

Even after being selected as candidates for admission to the War College, only 1 in 10 people are actually admitted.

But more importantly, the War College is in Berlin.

After the Spanish Civil War, it was just before World War II. If I go back to Germany then, I will not have enough time to do anything, but if I go back to Berlin first to enter the War University, it would be a different story.

It doesn't matter if I become a general staff officer or not—I only want a chance to try to changes things before WWII!

"But you have a remarkable track record, so your chances are high if you continue to earn merits. Your unit is on standby due to heavy damage from the last battle, so observe the Luftwaffe's operation and post an appropriate report. Who knows? Maybe my superior will take a liking to you."

"Yes, Colonel. I will keep that in mind."

This was helpful to me, but at the same time, it was a bit of an unexpected favor.

Hermann Göring, commander-in-chief of the Luftwaffe, is working on a four-year plan—a state-controlled economic policy. This is a plan that clearly opposes my father, Hjalmar Schacht, who is a representative of business people pursuing free-market economic policies.

In fact, Hjalmar Schacht will be sacked soon after being overthrown by Göring, who has a strong position in the Nazi Party. So, by the Luftwaffe standards, I am the son of a fierce rival, so why?

"Why? Are you surprised?"

"Yes, Colonel."

Richthofen tapped me on the shoulder and answered.

"No matter what the circumstances of the high-ranking people, politics is not our job. While coming all the way to this distant land and suffering together, it is the job of an old make like me to promote promising youngsters."

"Is it really that simple...?"

At my vague question, Richthofen smiled and added:

"Ah, what a troublesome lad you are. Major Beckers recommended it, and I'd met you once, so I accepted it. And this is just my personal opinion. Can I trust that my personal opinion only stays in your head, Leutnant?"

"Of course, Colonel!"

"The Luftwaffe is a newcomer. We have to prove our worth from now on, but in the army, there are many people who simply think of us as a subgroup. Commander Göring resents this and seeks to preserve independence from the Army, but I don't think that's a problem that can be resolved through confrontation."

Certainly, Göring's obsession with the Luftwaffe during World War II was seriously pathological, and he was the main culprit for slashing the German army's strength.

"I think the most important factor in modern warfare is the cooperation between the Heer and the Luftwaffe. But that doesn't mean that's what the Luftwaffe is all about. However, there are still many conservatives in the Wehrmacht, especially the Army, and they want the Luftwaffe's only role to be to provide faithful support to the Army."

In the end, Göring—who only cares about the Luftwaffe—and the prideful Army, the neglected Navy, and even the SS—all intervened in the chaotic trio of the Wehrmacht, increasingly failing to utilize Germany’s capabilities properly. The Führer who had to coordinate it all only added further confusion to the mix.

So, the role Richthofen expects of me is...

"On this northern front, I will fully demonstrate the potential and value of the Luftwaffe. If possible, I would like you to report it to your superiors in a positive way, and to improve the perception of the officers who will be responsible for the future of Germany."

Even with that said, he should be well aware that the conservative higher-ups of the Army would not care for the words of a mere Leutnant. He is probably not doing this with just me, but with others as well.

"Haha, don't worry too much about it. Anyway, I'm not your direct superior, so I'd like you to consider the grievances of this place a little bit. And it would be nice if you could teach me some Spanish while we were together. I'm so frustrated because I can't understand the language."

Did I mention that Richthofen was probably the only officer in the Condor Legion trying to learn Spanish?

As a rule, Spanish officers did not like the German officers dispatched to the Condor Legion because they were arrogant, but Richthofen—who was friendly and wanted to talk with Spanish officers and learn Spanish—was popular in his own way.

"Okay, Colonel. I will do my best."

Although it definitely would not feel good to see a city or civilians burning, this person was someone who seriously thought about the future of the Luftwaffe and the Wehrmacht in his own way and worked hard.

Thinking forward to a few years, when Richthofen retired due to health problems, the Luftwaffe officers must have missed him. It would have been better if he had been there, rather than Göring, who was addicted to drugs and devoured the Luftwaffe.

Most of the Germans involved in World War II would. They believed in the government and did their best in their respective positions, but because it was a mad criminal regime, they became war criminals and became sinners in history.

With the exception of some who took part actively, they would have to either knowingly condone or sympathize with war crimes for the sake of ambition, or they would have to bear the full cost of the astronomical event of tens of millions of deaths from being swayed by the lies of the Nazi regime.

In fact, the main culprits, such as Hitler and Goebbels, will escape by suicide. People like Richthofen who can commit war crimes without hesitation simply based on orders are also problematic people, but depending on the government that deals with them, they might be just a bit of a radical patriot... Yeah, like Curtis LeMay in the US.

Would it be sane to see Europe and Germany, where countless deaths and ruins remain, even after knowing all this, leaving only me to live?

But if I can get to Berlin before World War II breaks out, I might be able to prevent that.