I'm talking about the officers; captains and such. People high enough to know the office politics, that Anakin had the ear of the Chancellor.
For anyone in a senior role in the GAR, it wouldn't be surprising that Anakin sides with Palpatine, and that naturally the 501st serve Vader because they've always been his unit even when he was Anakin Skywalker.
And if enough of THEM know, then it becomes common knowledge by dint of gossip.
Define common knowledge.
Tarkin, Yularen, and Motti know. For that matter, all the officers who served in the GAR probably know.
The GAR veterans would all know the significance of the 501st.
In the same sort of way that EVERYONE in the 1950's would know who Tony McAuliffe was.
I'm talking about the officers; captains and such. People high enough to know the office politics, that Anakin had the ear of the Chancellor.
For anyone in a senior role in the GAR, it wouldn't be surprising that Anakin sides with Palpatine, and that naturally the 501st serve Vader because they've always been his unit even when he was Anakin Skywalker.
And if enough of THEM know, then it becomes common knowledge by dint of gossip.