Alena Johannsen

Alena Johannsen
Born	9 August 1885 Büffel, Neumarck, Rotgeheim
Allegiance	Rotgeheim
Service/branch	Waffen-Verteidigungsstaffel
Years of Service	1906 – present
Rank	Major
Unit	1st Panzer Battalion, 1st Panzer Regiment, 1st VS-Panzer Division KFvH
Battles/wars	10 Days War Battle of Bloody Gulch Battle of Widerhausen Battle of Elssler Invasion of Scheinfeld
Spouse(s)	Florian von Horn (Florian III) (1905 – 1914; divorced)
Relations	Maximilian (son)

Alena Natalie Johannsen (born 9 August 1885) is a Major from Rotgeheim in the Verteidigungsstaffel. She is most famous for her role as commander of an armor company in the 1st VS-Panzer Division Kaiser Florian von Horn, during which she became one of the most distinguished officers in the entire armed forces of Rotgeheim. She is known throughout her home country, as well as Northern Prussia (a close ally of Rotgeheim) for her superb battlefield abilities and heroism. She is a recipient of the highest honor possible in Rotgeheim, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Golden Oak Leaves, Swords, and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Goldenem Eichenlaub, Schwerten, und Brillanten).

Early Years

Childhood

Alena was born on 9 August 1885 in Büffel, Neumarck, Rotgeheim to middle-class military parents. Her father was a Hauptfeldwebel (Sergeant First Class) in the Rotgeheim Army, and subsequently in the Verteidigungsstaffel. She was raised in a conservative household, as were many Rotgeheiman children, and aspired to be in the armed forces from an early age.

While in secondary schooling she met a young Florian III (son of Florian II, the Fourth Kaiser of Rotgeheim, and grandson of Florian I, the Third Kaiser of Rotgeheim). Florian III and Alena became a couple early in 1900, and were married in 1905. They have had a son together, Maximilian (born 14 June 1907).

Education

In 1902, after completing her final year of secondary education, Alena was offered an opportunity to attend the Military Academy of Engelsscharen. She considered attending the Rotgeheiman Naval Academy in Finnmarck, Rotgeheim, but ultimately she decided to accept the offer. She attended the Military Academy of Engelsscharen from 1902 to 1906. She graduated with the highest honors and was the valedictorian of her class of nearly four hundred cadets. Florian III (who had graduated the Officer Candidate School a year and a half earlier), as well as his father and grandfather, were in attendance. She was given a commission as an Leutnant (Second Lieutenant) in summer 1906.

Early military service

First assignments

A row of PzKpfw XI Panthera main battle tanks of Rotgeheim are lined up prior to transportation via rail to the front.

Immediately following her commission as an Leutnant, Alena was assigned as a Platoon Leader in an armor company in the 1st Armor Battalion, 1st Armor Regiment, 1st VS-Panzer Division Kaiser Florian von Horn, in fall 1906. She was responsible for five PzKpfw XI Panthera main battle tanks, as well as its crews. She maintained her platoon in excellent condition for the duration of her term as a Platoon Leader. Her superb abilities in command did not go unnoticed, as she was promoted to Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) in 1908.

The next position Alena was in was as the Executive Officer of her armor company. She excelled at yet another job given to her and was known for her keen ability to provide for her troops. She revolutionized several key tenets of being an Executive Officer, some of which are still in place today. During her time as an Executive Officer her husband, at this point in time a Major was assigned to the 1st VS-Panzer Division Kaiser Florian von Horn as the Battalion Executive Officer for the 1st Armor Battalion; although in normal circumstances, servicemen and women of relation were not permitted to serve alongside one another, the separation in rank and position enabled the couple to do so.

In early 1910 her commanding officer, Hauptmann Hermann Glöckner, died during a training mishap involving a fragmentation grenade. This incident left Alena in charge of the company. Although most would be unprepared for the position, Alena took the daunting responsibility and surpassed all expectations. Her quick leadership and abilities to handle her troops earned her universal respect, and proved her to be an outstanding leader. She was later promoted to Hauptmann (Captain) in June 1910.

10 Days War

Movement towards the front

On 18 January 1913 Rotgeheim declared war on Porant. Alena was still in command of the 1st Company, 1st Panzer Battalion, 1st Panzer Regiment, 1st VS-Panzer Division Kaiser Florian von Horn, and was therefore deployed with the II VS-Panzerkorps. Her unit was among the first to deploy to Hundermenschen in order to liberate the beleaguered nation from its attackers. Her unit was shipped to Hundermenschen by 19 January 1913.

For the duration of the day on 19 January her unit was traveling by rail to the offloading point in Hattendorf, Hundermenschen. Following the offloading procedure the unit, with Alena taking point in her command tank, drove northward.

First action

Although Alena's unit saw action on 20 January, her battalion did not arrive to the engagement zone until the final shots were being fired. She witnessed retreating Porantan forces being wiped out by advancing Rotgeheiman troops, but she herself did not partake in the fighting. Her unit was ordered to rest and refit until 22 January, when the offensive would begin anew.

On 22 January 1913 her unit was ordered to assault the southern suburbs of Widerhausen. Her regiment was on the tip of the advance into the southern section of Widerhausen, engaging numerous scores of Porantan infantry and armor. In one such instance her command tank was hit (as she preferred to keep with the advance) by an enemy anti-tank weapon, although only minor damage was received to the turret ring. Her gunner was injured due to the incident and her vehicle was pulled from the front by her Battalion Commander. However, she opted not to shy away from the fighting, and instead requisitioned the vehicle from her Executive Officer, Oberleutnant Volkhardt Laframboise.

Summary of career

Awards

• Iron Cross
  • Grade 1 (18 January 1910)
  • Grade 2 (22 January 1913)
• Distinguished Service Cross Medal
  • Grade 1 (24 January 1913) as Hauptmann (Captain) and Company Commander of 1st Company, 1st Battalion, 1st Panzer Regiment, 1st VS-Panzer Division Kaiser Florian von Horn
• Distinguished Army Service Medal
  • Grade 1 (25 January 1913)
• 10 Days War Medal (28 January 1913)
• Hundermenschen Campaign Medal (28 January 1913)
• Auerbach Battle Medal (21 January 1913)
• Widerhausen Battle Medal (25 January 1913)
• Verteidigungsstaffelbericht Medal
  • Grade 1 (29 January 1913)
• Panzer Service Ribbon (4 December 1906)
• 1st VS-Panzer Division Kaiser Florian von Horn Service Badge (4 December 1906)

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