Thread by @GermanSchteel

Hey, hey people. Remember when I said I'd be back soon watching Das Finale 1 and we never got back to it for like a month and a half?

Well, we're back. Welcome to GermanSchteel's "mute this idiot's twitter" fest and we're returning back to Das Finale 1.

To recap: This is the Ooarai vs BC Freedom Academy Flag match. Ooarai has added one Mark IV tank to their arsenal under the command of their resident pirates.

However, because there still has to be tension to this fight, Momo is in charge. God help them.

For Miho, it's just business as usual at the office. But remember, she's now -merely- the XO for the team now.

Of course, Ooarai is under the impression that BC Freedom is in the middle of one of France's daily schisms. As they do.

This is a brief thing but it'll reoccur over assumedly the course of Das Finale as a whole. Momo's doing something that I tend to do when I'm in charge of something which is letting the subordinate dictate the order.

Not something you want to let happen.

It's good to assume that "the guy below knows more than me". But if you're in charge, you have to be the one to make the decisions. That doesn't mean running wild over your troops, it means being able to give them direction.

Underlings with too much freedom can result in chaos.

that aside, yes. They're sending the Tiger P to recon.

This isn't as stupid as it looks, trust me.

With that though, the Type 89 and the Tiger P are sent to screen Ooarai's flanks, a long distance away from the center group. One's a fast tank that can easily disengage from fights if need be.

The other basically overmatches whatever BC Freedom can throw at it.

STOPPU

And here we have the first wing of BC Freedom's team. The SOMUA S35, one of the most advanced cavalry tanks of the day (like 1930s-ish when some people were still figuring this stuff out).

Unlike its contemporaries like the Hotchkiss or the AMRs, the SOMUA S35 was rather solidly built for what it was designed to do. It was fast, it was nimble, it had 47mm at maximum for hull and turret armor, and the 47mm gun was capable of engaging other tanks of the day.

However, there are some notable "quirks". For one thing, the only turret hatch was only accessed from the inside, all crew had to enter from the side hatch. There was no top hatch for the commander to stand out. Not all of them were equipped with radios despite being designed to

And of course, the turret was too small for an efficient crew of three. But in the case of the S35, the turret was large enough that the RO who normally sat in the hull could actually come up to assist.

Also note the turret shape. The S35 turret shares the plans with the B1bis.

The S35 in actual combat distinguished itself well, failed primarily by the strategic blunders of French command in the opening stages of the Invasion of 1940 (which is another thing entirely that I can't get into now).

The S35 would see combat not just with France, but also with Free French Forces and Vichy France throughout the war. Germany would also make extensive use of captured examples.

One of the more notable mods Germans would make is adding a cupola from a Panzer III or IV to it.

And now for what I presume was a much bigger surprise for people when they watched Das Finale for the first time.

The ARL-44.

How do I describe the ARL-44? Simply put, it didn't actually see any combat. It started its real development during the occupation of France, when French engineers decided to clandestinely engineer a heavy tank under the guise of a snowblower.

The ARL-44 production was kickstarted when France was liberated, but actual models wouldn't be realized well until 1949. And by then, tank development had basically left it in the dust, which resulted in an incredibly weird mixture of old and new in the ARL-44.

For instance, as you can see, the tracks are rather strange (it was built to clear snow first). The turret derived from the FCM F1 project is carrying a 90mm gun derived from a naval gun. And ironically enough, the engines powering it were Maybach HL230s, Panther tank engines.

The most obvious result is a rather crude heavy tank that was built more for France to say "we got our groove back". It was very well armored of 120mm, but we don't know how well it performs in combat because it never actually saw any.

They would be phased out in 1953.

So as we can see, BC Freedom has a decent mix of heavy hitters with fast acting speedsters.

Something only I find funny is that the working class Examiners are the "cavalry", normally the nobility thing. While the noble Escalators are in the heavy tanks normally for infantry.

The scope here being used is a real scope. It's a ZF39 normally found on rifles like the Kar 98k. In lieu of binocs, scopes can do just fine.

Unfortunately Miho's hand is always in the way so we can't see the Bad Dudes doodling on the map screen nor the actual order of battle. But the general gist is that most of BC Freedom has split up into two parts on the flanks, leaving only two tanks (their flag) by themselves.

Normally this would be a sign of caution, but Yukari has no real reason to think otherwise. This isn't Pravda after all (though God knows why Yukari didn't think to infiltrate Pravda if she did it to Saunders and Anzio). They have advanced knowledge that this is just how they do.

From here you get better idea of the map itself. The actual area where they'll be engaging in combat has quite a few hills, both good and bad for combat for reason we'll get to soon. The only good way across the river into the opposing hills is through a bridge.

Miho Nishizumi, kissass extraordinarie.

Though really, it's not the worst thing Momo could've come up with.

With that, the plan is set. Leopon and Duck distract the disorganized French rabble while the main force sneaks up on the flag and overwhelms them.

Momo now finally taking charge.

Old habits die hard.

In this case, Miho is smart and mature enough to recognize that she's not in command, Momo is. Thus, she shouldn't be the one to dictate the temp, Momo is. Mark of a good subordinate.

Of course, she's had practice back home anyway.

Needs to work on the battle cry though.

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

JUST CAN'T WAIT TO GET OUT ON THE ROAD AGAIN

The Mark IV gets stuck in the river. Not even a particularly deep river like the M3 Lee was back in the main series. It just straight up refuses to get moving.

The big landlubber is certainly no swimmer that's for sure.

And speaking of the Lee, the Rabbits see their mates floundering and understand the situation. Towing the thing out would be inefficient. And they certainly can't kedge it.

The solution? Just a big old push.

Something I want to point out here is that they actually bothered to model the interior in detail. You can see the machine gun, the internal light, the riveting inside, the seat where Murakami sits, etc. All for a shot that lasts maybe a few seconds in total.

Rabbits owe the Commander their lives. Given how huge Murakami is, it's likely she would've ripped the M3 Lee open like a sardine can to get at them.

With that done, the river crossing succeeds without much fuss. And with that, they're on track to coming around to Marie's big, fat, soft, hindquarters.

And now we see Marie in her own flagship. The Acheron to Shark Team's Surprise. Another WW1 tank fighting alongside the tanks that would render it obsolete.

The Renault FT.

The Renault FT is famed first and foremostly for being the first to define the basic layout of a tank. Treads, a single turret, a crew cabin separated from the engine mounted aft by a firewall. Unlike the British Marks, the FT was designed as an a light tank to start with.

Because of its rather petite stature, there is only room for two (or three in Marie's case. She just sits out the emergency hatch like a bum). You have a driver, and the gunner/commander. The FT was either equipped with a machine gun, or a stubby 37mm light gun.

The first FTs rolled out in 1918 and acquitted themselves well. Had the war gone on longer, the FT would've been used to swarm enemy lines with sheer numbers, a lot less like the heavier tanks that came before it. But of course, peace broke out.

Instead, the FT would have to settle for everyone and their mothers wanting to get one. At least a dozen nations would get their hands on the FT and adopt it. The United States sought to produce them under the title "M1917". The Japanese acquired at least a few. And many more.

The model also saw action in WW2, either as an FT proper, or as any of the many copies domestically produced by any of the foreign nations that made them. Of course, these went the way of the Dodo fairly quickly. But for its time, the FT made a huge impression on the world.

See that?

That's the look of a schemer.

>Marie will never tickle you with her fan

it's not fair, bros

Andou demonstrates how the rear hatch comes in and out (apparently it was specifically designed to be used as a chair). Note: It can only be accessed from the inside, and Andou doesn't use the crank inside that would fold it back into the turret side.

Hot take: GaruPans wearing hats or helmets is a good look and I wish more of them did it.

The Ducks chase the S35s around the corner in a town, whereupon they start engaging around the blind and narrow streets. (Take note of the first image, it'll come back later).

Leopon meanwhile finds the ARL-44s behind a copse of trees.

From there, one ARL is left behind while the rest break off.

ENEMY CIVIL WAR ENEMY CIVIL WAR

I DON'T NEED YOUR CIVIL WAR said the wisest man among us Axl Rose

From here though, Ooarai and Company have found Marie and her escort playing a game of Petanque (it's some frog bowling game or something I dunno) in the open.

Well not specifically. The terrain is to Marie's advantage even if they were spotted first because of hull-down.

I can't remember if I explained this during the main series, but hull-down is the basic principle of shielding your tank's main body behind any kind of obstacle. In this case, a hill.

Marie could turret down if attacked and relocate as necessary thanks to the many hills.

Another thing about fighting amongst the hills is that in order to even get shots on, Ooarai would have to crest some of the hills, which exposes their weaker bottom armor to fire. The hills in the area are shown to be quite steep after all.

Thus, at least in the world of GuP, the most optimal approach is to close the distance where crew experience and tank maneuverability will make the difference in a fight.

The bridge they're crossing is a big ol' shout-out to "Bridge On the River Kwai", a dramatiziation of the construction of the Death Railway connecting Burma to Thailand.

The Japanese used slave labor, mostly prisoners of war, to build the railroad in support of their campaign in Burma. The British around the turn of the century deemed such a thing too expensive and too time consuming to do.

The Japanese did it in just over a year.

The bridge itself, Bridge 277, was laid down in 1943. It would later be damaged, then destroyed, by Allied bombing raids.

The railway itself still exists today, though no trains run on it.

Ah, just a comfy nap on your tank while your escort tank crew goes for a bit of the old ball bashing.

It's not like there's enemy tanks strolling in the sector.

Unfortunately for Ooarai though, they have to keep their approach slow, even over a bridge where they're exposed to gunfire. Part of this approach is stealth after all.

This is a really cool moment detail-wise. Murakami and Cutlass are scanning around with their guns, making the background behind them shift around.

They even animated Flint talking in Murakami's background while she's talking in her own separate bubble.

Though Sodoko is in one of Ooarai's heavy tanks, she brings up the rear here because she has insanely good vision (hence why she was paired with Mako in the Pravda scouting mission who also has good vision).

The stroboscopic dome cupola of the B1bis is also demonstrated here.

This is a very weird but fucking hype moment as Sodoko realizes that the river bed isn't as empty as they thought.

They've been fucking -had-.

The S35s on one end wreck the forward half of the bridge, just before Miho can take the team and egress out.

Gotta say, that was a pretty powerful 47mm HE. They must pack those things for spectacle.

Girls.

Beat to Quarters!

The ensuing barrage also destroys their last remaining exist astern, rendering Ooarai dead in the water and easy pickings.

Ooarai is caught in one of the worst kinds of crossfires. It's faint as well, but you can see the ARL group and S35 group are actually not in each other's way either, so attacking from both ends is perfectly pliable in this case.

Remember earlier how this place looked?

Whoever was living in those houses is definitely gonna get a sick remodeling courtesy of the Japanese Senshado Federation.

Leopon meanwhile has the urgent pressing need to ripcord back to Miho and crew. They're in a Tiger P.

YEET

The best part of this is that the ARL-44 doesn't even initially respond to what just happened. Once the Tiger is well past, then they decide "okay, maybe we should at least -try- to pursue."

This is the part where BC Freedom kind of plays with their food. Instead of just taking their meal on a silver platter, they elect to see it collapse underneath a bridge into a rushing river.

THEY'RE RIGHT THERE

It's at this moment, Yukari knew.

She fucked up.

something something why are we here just to suffer

tbh Ooarai didn't underestimate BC Freedom that much compared to Pravda. This was just a simple case of relying to heavily on one source of reconnaissance.

That's why people gotta cite multiple sources on their research essays.

Man, I can't imagine what goes through Marie's head from whiplash of the gun firing.

Note: the little cake on her plate popping up before settling back on the plate.

And now finally, we are back where DF1 started, in media res over the bridge. Took a while, and admittedly not the most well-paced, but they made it entertaining all the same.

Miho realizes too that Leopon and Duck won't make it before they're swiss-cheesed.

Thus, a plan is formed.

Also shout-out to Yukari for just knowing the exact length of the Mark IV off the top of her head in the middle of a fight. That's mental strength.

oh god oh fuck she's gonna do it

Ogin gently reminding Miho that Momo is the one that's in charge. Yes, Miho has the plan, but Momo is ultimately the one that makes the decisions on the team.

After all, they're there for Momo's sake.

That said, doesn't mean Momo is in any condition to give orders.

Miho has finally done away with her really silly Operation names.

Instead, she's opting for really obscure Japanese mythos (Hare of Inaba referring to the myth of the hare that jumped across a bridge of sharks).

Yep, they're using the Mark IV as a ramp to get down to level ground.

Tbh this isn't the most ridiculous thing they could do.

While Ogin strikes the colors, the reason I say that is because GuP has already established that tanks are practically crush-proof for safety's sake.

Essentially, Miho -again- games the system with her big brain tactics.

THEY'RE IN AN EVEN MORE VULNERABLE POSITION THAN WHEN THEY STARTED

JUST SHOOT 'EM

But yeah, they're using the Mark IV as a ramp to get down to level ground, where they can actually fight back. Not the most contrived thing.

The only thing I wonder is how that bridge manage to hold up so well under direct fire for so long.

Mark IV tank: 28 tons
Char B1Bis: also 28 tons

And of course, Miho is the last man down. First into battle, last one to retreat.

The bridge collapses, and with that, any hopes of immediately ruining Ooarai with one swift blow. Leopon and Duck also arrive on the flanks to interdict any possible movement.

There's only one thing for it then.

The Frenchies as the memes do say, bug out and retreat as soon as the plan has gone south.

Probably the most sensible thing to do. Trying to salvage something like that would've taken a tactical genius. Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em.

That said, this engagement -somehow- has left both teams entirely intact. Nobody has lost a single tank so far.

Means the next engagement is gonna be especially brutal.

The French meanwhile regroup, back into formation once more.

Time to sing about loving the onion and killing some Austrians.

It ain't as hype as Katyusha, but that matters little because I always love a good hype song from the teams. In this case, they're singing to reaffirm their newfound unity for their love of onions and killing Austrians.

And to further show as well that Ooarai has another challenge on their hands, a real one worthy of a fight. Who'll win, Ooarai in their long march to get Momo a scholarship? Or BC Freedom in one of the greatest sports upsets ever?

Of course we already know, but it took like two years to get a conclusion to the match and the continuation to the next. That's Das Finale 1, and the oh-so painful wait between each chapter.

A crying shame it wasn't made into Season 2 with a more normal schedule.

I've heard some critique from reputable and not-so reputable people that Das Finale isn't very well-paced. And I'm rather inclined to agree. It seems GuP has a weird issue where it can't set things up properly (Der Film an exception).

Does that make Das Finale 1 bad? Absolutely not. The animation quality is on par, if not better than Der Film. The characters are all still the same lovable girls we know and love.

However, I must say this now, Das Finale 2 sets the tone way better than 1 does.

In the meantime though, we'll see if I can get us to Das Finale 2 faster than ACTAS did. I'm really looking forward to getting into it. And if you've watched it, you know what I'm talking about.

See you then.