TV-Series
Description
Fritz Josef Bittenfeld attained the rank of high admiral in the Imperial Fleet under Kaiser Reinhard von Lohengramm. Born in 767 UC (458 IC / 3567 CE), his aggressive combat style and battlefield effectiveness propelled his rise through the ranks. He commanded the Black Lancers fleet, instantly recognizable by ships painted entirely black and equipped exclusively with advanced fast battleships prioritizing speed and offensive power. This fleet gained notoriety for rapidly seeking and destroying enemy warships.
Bittenfeld first drew Reinhard's notice as a captain during the Sixth Battle of Iserlohn, destroying two Alliance ships in a single volley. Promoted to vice admiral by the Battle of Lügen, his Black Lancers routed the 10th Alliance Fleet, killing Vice Admiral Ulanfu. At the Battle of Amritsar, Bittenfeld engaged Yang Wen-li's 13th Fleet but deployed his Walküre fighters prematurely, suffering critical damage. Despite this, the Black Lancers remained operational. Reinhard contemplated a court-martial for tactical errors but pardoned Bittenfeld upon Siegfried Kircheis's counsel. Notably, Bittenfeld destroyed two fleets and killed two enemy admirals during this engagement.
After reaching high admiral, Bittenfeld pursued Yang Wen-li following the Free Planets Alliance's collapse. Disregarding Reinhard's order to await reinforcements, he entered the Iserlohn Corridor alongside Admiral Fahrenheit's fleet. Yang's forces lured them into close-quarters combat, outflanking them and inflicting severe losses. The Black Lancers lost 6,220 of 15,900 ships; Fahrenheit's fleet lost 8,490 of 15,200 ships, including Fahrenheit's flagship. Total casualties exceeded two million. Bittenfeld offered to accept any punishment for the failure and Fahrenheit's death, but Reinhard declined, stating the outcome was preferable to Bittenfeld acting contrary to his aggressive nature. Surviving elements of Fahrenheit's fleet were absorbed into the Black Lancers, though they retained standard battleships instead of fast battleships.
Bittenfeld later participated in suppressing the Reuenthal Rebellion in 800 UC (2 NIC / 491 IC / 3600 CE). Coordination issues arose due to lingering resentment from Fahrenheit's officers over the Iserlohn Corridor defeat. In 801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE), Bittenfeld was placed under house arrest after physically assaulting Fleet Admiral Paul von Oberstein. He was subsequently released to lead the Black Lancers during the Battle of Shiva. Following Reinhard's death, Bittenfeld was likely promoted to fleet admiral by Empress Hildegard von Lohengramm per Reinhard's final recommendations.
Personality-wise, Bittenfeld possessed a fiery temper and unwavering combat aggression. He frequently disregarded defensive tactics or complex strategies, favoring direct frontal assaults. This impulsiveness sometimes led to tactical errors, though Reinhard valued his irreplaceable offensive capabilities. Outside military service, Bittenfeld had no recorded marital status or hobbies. He attended cultural events like ballets with Reinhard but found them boring, masking his disinterest behind polite applause.
Memorable quotes attributed to him include: "Right now the goddess of victory is waving her underwear in our faces!"; "As always, there's no cuteness about them. Dammit."; "When a devil gets caught by a monster, I, as a human being, can only hope that they both die."; and "There's a tradition in the Bittenfeld family! When you praise someone you do it loudly; when you denounce someone you do it even louder!".
Bittenfeld first drew Reinhard's notice as a captain during the Sixth Battle of Iserlohn, destroying two Alliance ships in a single volley. Promoted to vice admiral by the Battle of Lügen, his Black Lancers routed the 10th Alliance Fleet, killing Vice Admiral Ulanfu. At the Battle of Amritsar, Bittenfeld engaged Yang Wen-li's 13th Fleet but deployed his Walküre fighters prematurely, suffering critical damage. Despite this, the Black Lancers remained operational. Reinhard contemplated a court-martial for tactical errors but pardoned Bittenfeld upon Siegfried Kircheis's counsel. Notably, Bittenfeld destroyed two fleets and killed two enemy admirals during this engagement.
After reaching high admiral, Bittenfeld pursued Yang Wen-li following the Free Planets Alliance's collapse. Disregarding Reinhard's order to await reinforcements, he entered the Iserlohn Corridor alongside Admiral Fahrenheit's fleet. Yang's forces lured them into close-quarters combat, outflanking them and inflicting severe losses. The Black Lancers lost 6,220 of 15,900 ships; Fahrenheit's fleet lost 8,490 of 15,200 ships, including Fahrenheit's flagship. Total casualties exceeded two million. Bittenfeld offered to accept any punishment for the failure and Fahrenheit's death, but Reinhard declined, stating the outcome was preferable to Bittenfeld acting contrary to his aggressive nature. Surviving elements of Fahrenheit's fleet were absorbed into the Black Lancers, though they retained standard battleships instead of fast battleships.
Bittenfeld later participated in suppressing the Reuenthal Rebellion in 800 UC (2 NIC / 491 IC / 3600 CE). Coordination issues arose due to lingering resentment from Fahrenheit's officers over the Iserlohn Corridor defeat. In 801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE), Bittenfeld was placed under house arrest after physically assaulting Fleet Admiral Paul von Oberstein. He was subsequently released to lead the Black Lancers during the Battle of Shiva. Following Reinhard's death, Bittenfeld was likely promoted to fleet admiral by Empress Hildegard von Lohengramm per Reinhard's final recommendations.
Personality-wise, Bittenfeld possessed a fiery temper and unwavering combat aggression. He frequently disregarded defensive tactics or complex strategies, favoring direct frontal assaults. This impulsiveness sometimes led to tactical errors, though Reinhard valued his irreplaceable offensive capabilities. Outside military service, Bittenfeld had no recorded marital status or hobbies. He attended cultural events like ballets with Reinhard but found them boring, masking his disinterest behind polite applause.
Memorable quotes attributed to him include: "Right now the goddess of victory is waving her underwear in our faces!"; "As always, there's no cuteness about them. Dammit."; "When a devil gets caught by a monster, I, as a human being, can only hope that they both die."; and "There's a tradition in the Bittenfeld family! When you praise someone you do it loudly; when you denounce someone you do it even louder!".