German Exile Army

## The German Exile Army

The German Exile Army was a German Paramilitary Unit made up of mainly Waffen-SS defectors who had fled across the German-Italian Border during the Imperiumist Takeover of 1940 to avoid The Nazi Purges and continue the fight against the Imperium in Italy. The German Exile Army was a competent fighting force but they made fatal mistakes during the Battle of Mals where they left their Alpine Fort and charged an Imperian Assault Force who beat the German Exiles back, inflicting debilitating casualties losing around 3,000 of their 10,000 Soldiers. They then retreated to Rome to form a last defence and were destroyed during the Battle of Rome with all leadership being KIA or Executed.

## Origin

The German Exile Army was formed in 1940 after the Imperiumist Takeover and subsequent Nazi Purges. The Main Bulk of The German Exile Army were made up from defectors of The 4th SS *Polizei* Panzergrenadier Division who were stationed on the Italian-German Border. Led by Field Marshall Ferdinand Schörner and SS-Oberführer Walter Harzer, The German Exile Army headed to Rome. These Exiles were accepted by Fascist Italy and allowed to fight for Germany as Volunteers. The GEA was around 10,000 at their height. The German Exile Army is the only Nazi Force to leave Germany and continue fighting. The German Exile Army also had some Wehrmacht Defectors as well. After The Nazi Purges, The German Exile Army vowed to fight and retake Germany.

## History

The Imperium declared war on Italy in 1941. The German Exile Army rose again to fight the Imperian Invaders and were stationed in a Fort outside of Mals on the Alpine Line. During the several months since they last fought, The German Exiles had heard about the Nazi Purges and Aggressiveness of Imperial Police back in Germany ,now Imperia, and they wanted revenge. This is partly why The German Exile Army broke from their fortification and charged the enemy in the Battle of Mals

### Battle of Mals

An Imperian Assault Force had taken a position in the Town of Mals to assault the Fort in which The German Exile Army were stationed in. The Fort was high up on a mountain and the Imperian Officers knew the fort would be hard to take and many casualties would be taken. However, they didn't expect to see a 6,000 Strong Charge down the Mountain. The German Exile Force had left 4,000 Men in the Fort and sent 6,000 led by SS-Oberführer Walter Harzer to Blitz the town and kill as many Imperial Soldiers as possible. As the German Soldiers reached Mals, The Imperial Guard Division were already organized and ready to fight the Germans in Close Quarters Combat. Waves upon Waves of German Soldiers were gunned down as they pushed into the town and SS-Oberführer Harzer was killed in the Charge. Field Marshall Schörner saw his men being completely destroyed and ordered a retreat up the mountain. As a result of this retreat, The German Exiles suffered a catastrophic defeat and around 3,000 Men were killed in the retreat and attack. The Imperial Attack Force then overwhelmed the Fort and The German Exile Army retreated to Rome. Their failure and arrogance lead to the complete collapse of The Alpine Fort Line.

### Battle of Rome

The Battle of Rome was the last Engagement during the War. After a failed Imperial Attack to break the Italian Lines outside of Rome, A Second Assault finally broke through. On the 15th of November The Battle of Rome began and The remaining German Soldiers were at the forefront. They had learnt from their mistake in The Battle of Mals and felt responsible for the 30,000 Italian Deaths during the Retreat from the Alpine Forts. The German Exiles had fought tooth and nail in The Battle of Rome and many died in the Battle. After most of Rome fell, The Remaining German Exiles who had not surrendered retreated to The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana where Mussolini and his 100 man Bodyguard detail were holding out till the end. This German Exile Force who fled to The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana numbered around 50. The City had fell and the Men of The German Exile Army were ready to lay down their lives for The Fatherland.

### Storming of The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana

The 150 Man defence of The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana had organised a Perimeter defence. 50 Germans and 100 Italians linked together to fight till the death. The Storming of The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana had been called "Germany's Finest Hour" as The German Exiles and Italians fought a wave of Imperial Guard Soldiers. The Battle was no easy fight for either side. The Imperial Guards numbered around 500 and had control of the surrounding area. The Germans were outnumbered, 10 to 3. The Defenders had the advantage of being in defensive positions. The Imperial Guards attacked The Perimeter defence and broke into the courtyard and used Mechanized Vehicles to move Infantry up. The Imperial Forces broke into The Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana and engaged into Close Quarters Fighting with the German Exiles. The Fighting was brutal and each side payed heavily for every corridor they lost or took. A Squad of Imperial Guards rushed into Mussolini's Room and shot the Italian and German Guards including FM Schörner. Mussolini was taken alive. By now, most of The Italian Soldiers had died or surrendered. The Germans were still fighting with only around 10 Men left. Finally the Guns fell silent and The Remaining Germans surrendered.

## Aftermath

Around 6,000 German Soldiers of The German Exile Army had been killed in the fighting. The remaining 4,000 believed they would be executed alongside Nazis during The Nazi Purges taking place. This was not the case however. Erwin Rommel had noted to The Emperor that the Germans had fought very well and didn't deserve to be executed in the Thousands. The Emperor told Rommel to give The German Soldiers and Ultimatum. This was join the Imperium in the Imperial Storm Divisions or die. 3,000 German Soldiers opted to join the newly created Imperial Storm Division in their own formation called The 1st Imperial "Rome" Storm Division. 1,000 however refused and were subsequently executed. The Leadership of The German Exile Army was destroyed during the fighting so The German Soldiers saw they had no reason to die for a lost cause. The Soldiers who joined the Imperial Storm Corps set the standards for The Imperial Storm Divisions and were and are the fiercest soldiers in The Imperium. The 1st ISD are the most veteran unit in The Imperial Army and are renowned for their ruthlessness and efficiency. The 1st saw some scrutiny for being Nazis but they soon rid themselves of this as they fought in the Nazi Insurrections and helped push the Nazis further Underground.