"So, what do you mean, General?"
General Seckert finally explained the truth to Mainz, which brought him relief. Seckert's words not only reflected the trust he placed in Mainz but also revealed his own strategy, sparking Mainz's curiosity.
"Since Austria wants to join Germany, we can't refuse. What do you think, Colonel Mainz?"
Seckert smiled, and Mainz returned the smile. Both shared the same stance on the matter.
"I fully comply with your arrangement, General!" Mainz replied. Standing tall, he gave a sharp military salute before departing with the 1st Guards Corps, heading south by train.
The turmoil in southern Germany and the unrest in Austria drew the Entente's attention. The Imperial governments of the Allied powers feigned concern for the regional instability and claimed to support national self-determination.
While Europe focused on southern Germany, another major development occurred in Eastern Europe. At the end of August 1919, the bolshevik Russia—supported by German arms—crossed the Kerch Strait and reclaimed the Crimean Peninsula.
The significance of this news was enormous. The British Empire immediately grew nervous. The Crimean Peninsula, located on the northern coast of the Black Sea, was vital for access to maritime trade and strategic power. Without control of Crimea, the Russians could not rebuild its Black Sea Fleet. With a foothold in the peninsula, they secured the hinterland, established a forward base, and ensured future development in the region. This would allow the bolshevik Russia to strengthen its power in the lower Volga region and eventually challenge the influence of the British Empire.
Compared to Austria, situated in central Europe, Crimea was far more critical to British strategic interests. Consequently, the British Empire shifted attention and resources to counter the Russians advance. With Britain distracted, Germany's hopes of annexing Austria seemed to improve.
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In early September, Mainz arrived in Rosenheim with his troops. While the importance of Rosenheim was visible on maps, Mainz only fully appreciated its strategic value on the ground. The town lies near the Inn River, between Munich and Austria, at the foot of the Alps. Rosenheim serves as the southern gateway to Bavaria and the key route into Austria.
"Lieutenant Goering, I heard Rosenheim is your hometown?" Mainz asked, standing atop a hill overlooking Lake Chiem and scanning the terrain with a telescope.
Goering, a tall, resolute officer who had commanded the famous Red Baron Wing in the former German Air Force, nodded. The Treaty of Versailles had disbanded the German Air Force entirely, leaving former pilots like Goering to transition into other branches, including cavalry. The 1st Guards Corps, while not a cavalry unit, included a reconnaissance cavalry company, which required an experienced leader—making Goering indispensable.
"Yes, but I moved to Nuremberg when I was very young. Rosenheim is my birthplace, though I haven't lived here long," Goering explained.
At this time, Goering displayed a clear military aptitude: focus, seriousness, rigor, and perseverance. Mainz recognized that Goering's later rise to power and notoriety in the Third Reich stemmed largely from external influences and opportunities, rather than innate ability. Here, however, he was a talented and disciplined young officer, worthy of cultivation alongside other rising stars like Guderian and Kesselring.
"I see. Then your family still resides in Rosenheim. Perhaps you can help me find guides—I plan to move south to reconnoiter," Mainz said, gazing at the lush mountains and towering Alps in the distance.
Goering looked thoughtfully toward the horizon, curious about what Mainz intended to do next.