kisamesfacioplegia:

…and brought the water
with him like a hungry flood, devouring all that wasn’t yet his.

My favorite theme for Gilbert remains water. Prussia, the country born along the Baltic sea.
Vague context here is the battle of Waterloo, Gilbert’s uniform is based on the uniform Blücher is depicted with. The Iron Cross was introduced in 1813 in honor of the late Queen Luise. It was established on her birthday.