Synopsis
A crucial dive into the Rittmeister's pre-war history reveals the origins of his most defining physical trait. A dramatic flashback to von Hammer's university flight training days chronicles a traditional Prussian academic fencing duel against fellow cadet Heinrich Kroel, leaving the future Ace with the deep facial scar he carries throughout the entire franchise. Years later, the timeline shifts back to the front lines where Kroel is assigned directly to von Hammer's own Jagdstaffel, forcing the tight-lipped commander to manage an intense psychological rivalry with a subordinate who carries an intimate, bloody ledger of who they used to be before the trenches consumed their youth.
