Quote from: The Rock Doctor on October 14, 2009, 06:13:08 AM
Good post.

QuoteSelbstandigminensuchenhalbflotillen

Good thing I'm viewing this post on a widescreen monitor...

That unfortunately not going to stay.

But how about a German word that doesn't cause people to cry "NO" immediately? (but a few moments later) like:

Donaudampfschifffahrtsgesellschaftskapitänsausbilderkajüte

- which is a common German word-game (there a other people who can extend that much further without talking total nonsense).

btw, what does the KKK stand for?

Kaiserliches u. Koenigliches Kriegsmarine

Quote from: Nobody on October 14, 2009, 10:28:12 AM
btw, what does the KKK stand for?

Kaiserlich und Königlich Kriegsmarine I suspect

okay...... but... Borys it hurts! Mike yours is better but still...

Guess we really need a meeting room topic about proper use of German in English context (is that even possible?).

Quote from: Nobody on October 14, 2009, 10:52:36 AM
okay...... but... Borys it hurts! Mike yours is better but still...

Guess we really need a meeting room topic about proper use of German in English context (is that even possible?).

bad news, we arnt going to be all Politicly Correct in the Nverse.  Just because KKK can stand for Ku Klux Klan.  Also in the case of Borys and his KKK its Austrian not German and while the 2 are related they are also diferent as I understand it.

Quote from: Nobody on October 14, 2009, 10:52:36 AM
okay...... but... Borys it hurts! Mike yours is better but still...

I appologise for the pain.
Maybe I stick to KKK, and never expand the acronym?

Tanthals - Nobody is in pain due to my brutal mangling of his beautiful language, not because I stole the acronym of a controversial organsiation.
Borys

QuoteGuess we really need a meeting room topic about proper use of German in English context (is that even possible?)

Well, I would just be making a big mess of the nouns, using 'Der' when I should be using 'Die', 'Das' when I should be using 'Der', etc. At least I won't forget to use a capital letter at the beginning of a noun. :)

QuoteJust because KKK can stand for Ku Klux Klan.

You know, I would not be surprised if the members of the Kaiserliches u. Koenigliches Kriegsmarine actually look like this and are chanting "Blood for the Blood God!" over and over again.  :o

You wouldn't be able to understand them anyway. We speak an entirely different dialect of English around here. Sort of like Borys's german :)

OOT - going back to fleet deployments

The tiny torpedo boats of the K-klasse are shared between two flotillas - one on Malta - 2nd - and one in the Adriatic - 1st. The 1st Flotilla alternates between Kottor and Valona Bay, and is often acompanied on such sorties by the tender/repairship SMHS Kugelschreiber. For the winter the 1st Flotilla goes up to Pola, where the boats go into storage. In winter the 2nd Flotilla is also partly desactivated.

The new battleships with ten 13,5" guns are all grouped into a single unit, the Battlesquadron (Schlachtgeschwader). Together with the three ships of the 1st Cruiser Division (Kaiserin und Koenigin Marie Theresie class ships) and 2nd Cruiser Division (Balkan Provinces class) these form a fairly uniform formation, and are the armoured fist of the KKK. And independent of the Medditeranean Fleet, answering directly to the Marinemant at Pola.  The Schlachtgeschwader senso largo (battleships and the cruiser screen/scouting force) is usually found at Malta, but also often seen at Pola. For longer cruises the force is accompanied by the tender/repairship SMHS Schrubke.

The SMS Frankreich usually serves as flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet and as artillery training ship. It will resume these duties after coming back from the Far East.

The battleship SMS Siligia used to operate together with the Schlachtgeschwader, but of late - East Africa Crisis, Kalkuta War, Siam-Dutch war and later RRC Intervention - it has operated indepedently. Its assignement after returning from the Far East has not been decided. An independent role in the Med and the Parana station are both considered.

The monitor - SMS Feldzugmeister Laudon - will be assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet, and will operate independently, wherever its unique qualities are needed.

The two survivors from the four strong Soldaten klasse - the SMS Hussar and SMS Jaeger - upon returning from the East will be permanently assigned as the leaders of the 1st and 2nd GTB Flotillas.

The six colonial avisos are all on the Parana Station. One or two ships are in the in the Straits of Magellan at all times, where they operate out of Sandesspitz (Punta Arenas). Their duties there include keeping an eye on whalers and sealers. And to visit the Habsburg claimed Antarctic Islands on flag showing excercises.

The newest addition to the fleet - the Lesser Saints class of Panzerkrezuer will operate in Divisions of two ships each, one stationed at La Valetta, the other at Desterro at Parana.

Ahoj!
Now, to put all that in a more concise format and into the enclyclopaedia - hopefully with some officers' names as well.
Borys

July 1917
Porto Allegre, Parana
Duarte Francesco Hidalgo de las Naranjitas y Almondegas was twenty years older than this century.
He was attentively and critically watching the men from the Santissima Trindade and Cruzadores corps drilling for their first parades tomorrow. The first in their new guise, that is, as these formations had been around for a few years already. It was that the Santissima Trinidad was to become purely militia, a Heimwehr force, starting tomorrow. The short term regulars were to be renamed the Cruzadores and remained in the Landwehr. He was detached as a consultant from the AFL as somehow – and he very well knew why – he always seemed to be assigned to parade organisation.

He glanced at his three stars denoting Hauptman rank ... Fourteen years ago - cold, wet, scared, hungry and badly bruised from some kicks and "nudges" with a rifle butt after being taken prisoner by the Requettes, the Carlistas had told him – "join the Austrians or be shot." He felt he was too to young die – and not like THIS – so he joined. Several wars and many opportunities for death later, he was still alive, and now an officer. An officer again, as at the time of capture he was in acting rank of Captain of the Alabarderos de Guardia Real (Spanish Royal Guard), commanding a company fighting the Rebels in La Mancha.

Soon after "joining" he had read out loud a poorly written booklet to other such "volunteers", as not all were literate. There were promises of becoming a Habsburg Subject first, then a Habsburg Citizen – which was to provide some sort of benefits. They didn't care, nor did he. What they did care about was that they had an uniform on their back and a rifle in their hand. And a black – not red – beret on their heads. And still alive ...

In the hell of the hills and deserts of Yemen, in the Totenkopfgebiet (Skull land) he was promoted quickly – to Zugfuehrer - and given his own section. Within two years he achieved the highest rank possible for those on their first contract – Feldwebel.

After his six years were up, Iberia – the new Spain under the King-Emperor Carlos – extended an amnesty, and beckoned all the ex-Loyalist soldiers back to Spain. Many of his comrades took up that offer. Yet many others took up the Habsburg offer of free land in Parana. With some of both groups he kept in occasional contact by letter.

But a small number of the "join or die" volunteers, the self-styled "bridegrooms of death" decided to stay in the AFL. For all sorts of reasons. He was not sure himself what exactly kept him from going back. Was it that it was no longer a Spain he knew? Was it that he had broken his Oath to Rey Juan to fight and die for him? Was it that by now he knew no other life? So he enlisted for another six years.

He was immediately made an Offiziersstellvertreter – Por la leche da Neustra Senora!* – it had taken him days of practice to pronounce THAT correctly. Even longer – to do so without stammering. This rank had made him an officer in all but name, a Warrant Officer. And – in the Legion at least – it put him above anybody lower than a "full" Lieutenant. He could order commissioned 2nd Lieutenants about, if necessary. In practice, as he was quickly made 2nd in Command of a company, he only had to defer to Captains anyway. And when fighting the NeoSwiss on Tasmania, he actually had commanded a battalion, as the Commanding Officer was a Naval Officer – a good man, but totally out of his depth when off the deck of a warship. Wisely, he had left the commanding of the Spanish veterans and Maori recruits to him.

In 1915 he had to decide again. But this time it was easier – by this time he had caught himself thinking in German at times. He signed for another six years, was given a Commission and made an Oberleutnant, again skipping a rank. Two years later and a Hauptman by now, he looked forward towards the next day. With a chestfull of medals, shirt unbuttoned, face unshaven, he would lead his battalion through the streets of Porto Allegre. After all other infantry had marched by at 110 steps a minute, the Ausslaender Freiwilligen Legion would come at its leisurely 80 steps a minute, to the sound of eerie Spanish instruments of its own band. And shout Viva la Muerte! with gusto at the main stand.


* By the Milk of Our Lady!

Good story.

July 1917
Aleppo, Ottoman Empire

Nazju Falon sweated in the Summer heat. By the Madonna, it was hot in Syria! Not that Malta was cold, no, Malta was far from being a frozen waste like Vienna or - shudders - the wind-swept plains of Brandenburg or Galicia, where white wolves prowl and the Sun never shines ...  it was that on Malta one got some sort of sea breeze almost anywhere. It was strange to be so far from the Sea now ...

And strange not to hear church bells. It still felt strange, after twelve years. After coming over, he had felt that something was lacking, but couldn't quite pinpoint what exactly. It were the bells - or rather lack thereof. Instead here they had those Mussulman wailers. Even Christians used them as time keepers - it was absolutely normal to hold a meeting "after fourth prayers" or something like that. He was slowly getting used to it ...

His thoughts drifted back to his work ... he was a printer. Thirteen years ago he had been restless and struggling to keep his father's printing shop above the water, printing simply anything that came his way. One day he was visited by a strange looking – he thought at that time - bearded cleric.
Speaking in lousy Italian (his was much better) the priest showed him one of his works, a wedding announcement and menu in the vernacular, in the local language called In-Malti. He confirmed that indeed, this had come from under his presses.

TO BE CONTINUED

Late Spring 1917

The four new Panzerkrezuer of the Lesser Saints class, upon completion of trials and first shakedown cruises have been moved to Thessalonika. To use the excellent summer weather of Hellada for fruitfull exercises. As the local base does not have the facillities to service such large ships (not mention such a number at the same time), the large fleet tender SMHS Schruebke was also moved to this Station.

The Imperial-Royal yach SMHS Andreas Hopfer, with Empress Yelena on board, will also be in the Aegan this Summer. Her Highness will vist local monasteries - a request for permit to visit Mt. Athos was, naturally, denied - and take part in the ceremonies of the rededication of the Agia Sophia Church in Thessalonika - after five centuries of missuse as mosque - which reverts to being a place of Christian worship. Her Illustrious Presence will also be made at non-Orthodox places of worship, such as the dedication ceremonies of the Churches of Saint George - Roman Catholic and of Saint Basil - Uniate.

Summer 1917
The Habsburg Auslaender Ministerium approached the United Norman Kingdom for permission to set up an AFL recruiting station "somewhere near the CSA border". Unofficially it is known that the Heer harbours hopes of picking up runaway Negros.