Berlin Kagekidan

Following the success of the Japanese, French and American fighting troupes, plans were made to create a fourth Capitol Defense Plan for Berlin, Germany, based on the infrastructure left behind by the defunct European Star Division (circa 1918).

In 1929, Ratchet Altair was temporarily transferred from the New York Combat Revue to the new Berlin Kampfgruppe in order to lend her expertise gleaned from her experience both in Japan and New York, as well as to avoid the mistakes she made during her time in the European Star Divison.

The Kampfgruppe was composed of: Alice Klein (German), Eva Varga (Hungary), Dana Christova (Bulgaria), Petra Kraus (Austria), Arachne Constantinou (Greece) and Kimiko Watanabe (Japan)

At first, all went well, with the new group coming together nicely, using modernized versions of the Eisenklied Battle Armor to defend the German Capitol from demonic attacks. After Ratchet left for New York, however, Alice Klein, who was in actuality an agent for Thule Society, tricked her compatriots into entering ruins near the Rhine, where they were corrupted by dark forces (though this was not overtly clear at the time.)

As The Great Depression struck the world, the New York, Japanese and French fighting troupes were disbanded. The German branch apparently disbanded, but emerged suddenly on February 27th, 1933, helping destroy the Reichstag building before vanishing again, only to re-emerge into the spotlight in 1938, Marching triumphantly alongside Nazi forces into Austria. (it would also later be found out that they were responsible for the near kidnapping of Reni Milchstraße, an event which lead to the disbanding of the Tokyo fighting troupe.)

In response to this, in 1939, Michael Sunnyside, Ichiro Oogami and Isabel "Grand Mere" Lilac remobilize what they can of the old Tokyo, New York and Paris fighting troupes to make their own "Berlin Kagekidan" to put down the renegade Kampfgruppe. Ratchet Altair, Kujou Subaru, Orihime Soletta, Reni Milchstraße, Lobelia Carlini and Erica Fontaine were the members of this group, along with assistance from various members of the remaining support staff of the troupes. (In a historical irony, almost everyone from the doomed European Star Division had reunited, with Ratchet finally able to lead them effectively to victory).

While at first Ratchet's Kagekidan simply participated in hit and run missions, they would also have several direct battles including: First Battle on the Rhine (April 3rd), Battle at the Reichstag (April 14), Second Battle on the Rhine (May 17th) and the Battle of Munich (May 25th). However, there always must come an endgame and one would come on June 1st, 1939.

During what was to be a parade of the Kampfgruppe through the Brandenburg Gate, Ratchet's Kagekidan ambushed the group, an attack which soon turned into an all out battle between the two. In the resulting battle:

• Eva Varga, Dana Christova, Petra Kraus and Arachne Constantinou were all killed in the battle

• Kimiko Watanabe committed suicide using her Unit's weapon

• Alice Klein managed to escape, her sanity in tatters

• Reni Milchstraße was injured in the leg, resulting in a limp

• Orihime Soletta suffered minor injuries but came out mostly unscathed

• Lobelia Carlini disappeared after the battle

• Ratchet Altair and Michael Sunnyside appear to die in a car bomb trying to leave the battle field

• Ci Caprice is killed trying to operate one of the units to assist the team. This was later changed and she currently lives in the present day.

• Mell Raison loses an eye and arm trying to save Ci. This has changed and she currently lives in the present day in tact.

• Erica Fontaine is knocked unconscious and dragged away from the battle

• Kujou Subaru leaves relatively unscathed, but sickened by the battle and is not seen for some years after.