Crossword Genius

Advance nothing new, fighting Germany (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

onward

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'advance' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'nothing new fighting germany' is the wordplay.
'nothing' becomes 'o' (looks like zero - 0).
'new' becomes 'n'.
'fighting' becomes 'war'.
'germany' becomes 'd' (international vehicle registration code).
'o'+'n'+'war'+'d'='ONWARD'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for onward that I've seen before include "Advance, Christian soldiers, marching as to war" , "Advancing (like Christian soldiers?)" , "Advance like Christian soldiers" , "Going on, advancing" , "progressive" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.
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