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Before their death, Hange passed the baton to Armin Arlert. They proclaimed Armin as the next, and specifically 15th, commander of the Survey Corps.
Now, some may disagree with their decision, claiming that Jean Kirstein is more deserving of the position. I am not claiming-
Now, some may disagree with their decision, claiming that Jean Kirstein is more deserving of the position. I am not claiming-
that Jean is not deserving of such a title. This thread does not negate that he would be an amazing leader of the SC. And as a Jean stan, I can say that he would have been an amazing commander. I wanted that for him. He is an amazing leader and would lead well
But this did not become canon. Yet, I trust Hange's decision. Now, preceding Hange as commander was Erwin Smith. Erwin is undoubtedly the best commander that the SC has ever had. He led his team past boundaries that, without him, would have never-
occured. Erwin's leadership is undoubtedly the reason Paradis ever even found out about the outside world. During the Battle of Shiganshina, Armin found a campsite atop of the wall and brought the news and proposition that he suspected Reiner and Bertolt were nearby and prepared.
Erwin then gave command of the search to Armin. He led a search through houses he came to a realization that the warriors were hiding in the walls. Thus the search began and Reiner was soon found hiding in a wall. This initiated the battle.
During the battle against the armored titan, captain Levi left Hange in command as he assisted the squad outside of the wall as he was the only one capable of actually defeating the beast titan. Hange then cooperated with Armin and came up with the plan. This goes haywire when
Reiner decides to confront Eren, thus they start to fight. With the help of Hange's squad, Reiner almost completely loses until he screams, resulting in Bertolt's arrival. When Bertolt went to Reiner's side upon seeing the condition he was in, Armin attempted to Negotiate.
Hange and their squad watched from afar as this plan fell to pieces as Bertolt's mind was set on murdering them all. Bertolt then transformed and, thus, killed most of the surrounding soldiers. Armin then decided that it was best to regroup atop of the wall with Erwin.
Jean pointed out that the colossal could still throw debris at them and Armin then gave command to Jean for the time being.
As the remainder of Levi's squad directed their efforts on the colossal titan, it seemed useless. That is until Armin noticed that when the colossal titan blasted steam, it also lost muscle mass. As Armin constructed a plan based on this realization, he went to wake Eren up as he
was on top of the wall, unconscious. Armin told him of his plan, which would later work. As the colossal approached, Eren fell to the ground. Armin then latched onto the colossal's teeth as the titan blasted steam. As Bertolt wanted to kill Armin, he released steam until Armin's-
flesh and hair were burned away. Armin then fell to the ground. As a result Bertolt's titan was thinner, thus less muscle mass to where he couldn't produce steam in self defense anymore. As Bertolt looked to where Eren supposedly lay, he noticed that
only Eren's hardened shell remained. Then, Eren attacked Bertolt from behind and removed his body.
Erwin led the remaining scouts in an act of self-sacrifice against the beast titan, which gave Levi the opportunity to attack. Erwin, nearly dead, was brought back to the rest inside the walls by Floch. There, he found the remaining survivors with a nearly dead Armin and Bertolt.
Levi, having a syringe of titan serum would choose one to survive. Although at first Levi wanted to give the injection to Erwin, he had 2nd thoughts and realized that Erwin had already given up on his dreams and accepted death. Levi let Erwin rest in peace-
and thus Levi gave the injection to Armin.
With all that I have said I think that Armin was destined to become the next commander, it fits perfectly. Erwin, the greatest SC commander, saw something in Armin and trusted him to take lead with the search. Erwin trusted Armin and gave him command. That's huge.
Hange, who was commander at one point themselves, trusted Armin and let Armin make huge decisions. Also, I don't think that Armin's failed plan at negotiating makes him incompetent. Rather, Hange themselves took note of this and saw something special in him.
Jean is an amazing leader. He has proved this time and time again. He is an amazing commanding officer, but Hange didn't pick him to be the next commander. There's something they clearly saw in Armin that Jean doesn't have.
Erwin, the best commander, sacrificed himself for the greater good of society and the people he served. Hange, in 132, sacrificed themselves for their comrades. Armin also did this when he nearly died in an attempt to defeat Bertolt.
Erwin and Hange, the best commanders, both gave up their lives which shows the quality of a noble leader who puts other's in front of themselves. Armin also attempted this, except he didn't die due luckily. Notice a pattern?
Erwin trusted Hange to be commander succeeding his death. Hange trusted Armin to be the next commander succeeding their death. Erwin and Hange both saw an up and coming leader in Armin which is why they trusted him and confided in him in battles before.
Thus, it makes perfect sense to me why Armin was the one to be chosen as the next and current commander of the Survey Corps. Look at Erwin and Hange and what they have done for their people. I trust their insight and what they saw in Armin Arlert.
