The Munich Faction 2: Enforcer, page 10
part #2 of The Munich Faction Series
“I apologize for not being here when you arrived, Herr Group Leader,” the man babbled. “I wanted to be here to explain how I have arranged your desk.”
Gerhard snorted. “I would have expected you to carry it downstairs and throw it into the furnace.”
“I wish I could have. But these are the things you must look at. If you would like, we can go through everything and allow you to delegate to me the things that I should be able to handle.”
“That is a good idea,” Wicklein replied. “I won’t enjoy it, but it must be done.”
The review and delegation took most of an hour, and the remainder on Gerhard’s desk was still depressingly large. He took the opportunity to visit the toilet and then refilled his coffee cup before sitting down to wrestle with the monster coiled on his desk. He wished he had Karl’s ability to manage paperwork. The assistant to the Parteileiter was almost magical in his ability to deal with paper.
§ § §
May 9, 1941, 9 PM
Charite Hospital
Berlin, Germany
“So good of you to come this evening to bring the documents,” Heinrich Schloss said. “I would not have asked if it were not important.”
“I am only too happy to help, Herr Parteileiter.”
The two men were in a hospital room converted to an office for Schloss. A guard stood at the door, and another stood by the next room where Hannelore lay. The smell of alcohol and disinfectant reminded Gerhard of his recent stay in the hospital, and he thought it must be depressing to be here. Schloss looked terrible.
“I don’t want to keep you,” Schloss said. “But I need to look at these documents and see if a response is needed immediately.”
“Of course, Herr Parteileiter. I will wait in the hallway.”
As Gerhard stepped into the hallway, Schloss was already unwinding the string securing the accordion folder. He nodded to the guards and moved a few meters to get out of their way. Fifteen minutes later, Schloss opened the door and looked for him. Beckoning Gerhard into the room, Schloss returned inside.
“Are you armed, Herr Wicklein?” Schloss asked.
“Yes, Herr Parteileiter. I am always armed when on courier duty.”
“Good, good. I want you to take the items in the first pocket to the Reich Chancellery and deliver it to the duty officer. The item in the second pocket goes back to the party offices. I believe Rainer is still in his office. Take it to him, and he will know what to do.”
“Of course, Herr Parteileiter.”
“Off with you, then,” Schloss said. “Tell Karl I don’t want to see your face before Monday.”
“Of course, Herr Parteileiter.”
Gerhard had drawn an Audi from the motor pool for the evening’s work and decided it was much nicer than the Opels he usually drove. While he thought it would be nice to own something like this, Rainer provided a car whenever he and Katlin needed to travel. It was nice to have a vehicle to convey Katlin and little Karl to destinations around Berlin. Gerhard had taken his wife and child on one of his trips to Munich so she could visit her parents. Karl arranged the vouchers and the priorities so they could fly down on Lufthansa. Gerhard knew that Rainer had arranged that at Schloss’s direction.
He stopped in front of the Reich Chancellery and ensured the courier placard was in the window. He walked quickly into the building carrying the portfolio. He stopped at the desk in the lobby, which was manned by an SS Corporal.
“I need to see the duty officer, please,” Wicklein said.
“I will be glad to deliver whatever you have to the duty officer, mein Herr.”
The corporal’s nose was raised so high that Gerhard thought it would attract snow and ice. Considering the man’s obvious smug attitude, Gerhard wondered if he was born arrogant.
Gerhard slapped his credentials on the table. “I will speak to the duty officer if you please.”
“I will see if the duty officer wants to speak to you.”
The corporal reached for the credentials, and Wicklein slapped his hand over them. “You will summon the duty officer. Now!”
The corporal looked up. “Guards,” he shouted.
Wicklein found two SS guards at his side.
“Arrest this man,” the corporal said. “If he insists on seeing the duty officer, we must oblige him.”
Looking at Gerhard, the corporal spoke. “They will take you to the duty officer. And after this evening, I trust you’ll have cause to remember your indiscretion.”
Wicklein laughed. “Oh, I think I will.”
The corporal reached for the credentials as Wicklein picked them up. “I believe I shall hold onto these.”
“Not on your life,” Gerhard snapped. “These stay with me.”
He turned to the guards. “Let’s go.”
As they marched down the hallway, one of the guards spoke softly. “You will have to excuse the corporal. He is new to the job.”
“There is an old saying,” Gerhard replied, “Experience is the best teacher, and some fools will have no other.”
The guard choked. “I had not heard that.”
“Let’s hope the corporal survives the experience.”
Rainer was indeed in the office at 10 PM when Gerhard arrived.
“Alles in Ordnung, Gerhard?”
“Yes, I have a little trouble at the chancellery. The SS Corporal manning the desk didn’t want to take me to the duty officer. Schloss wanted me to drop the document by, I assume, for the Führer.”
“And the duty officer was able to sort things out?” Rainer asked.
“I only got to see him after I forced the corporal to place me under arrest.”
“Oh, mein Gott.” Rainer rested his head on one hand. “I don’t understand these people.”
“Once the duty officer got over his heart attack, he took care of matters to my satisfaction.”
Rainer looked up with a raised eyebrow. “What did he do?”
“He placed the corporal under arrest and confined him to quarters. He was looking sober when I left.”
“Mein Gott,” Rainer repeated. “That man will learn some lessons. People don’t mess around with the Führer’s mail.”
“I was not terribly concerned,” Gerhard said. “But I was annoyed.”
“I will have a word with the SS detachment commander at the Reich Chancellery,” Rainer said. “They need to train their people better. Now you need to run home, Gerhard. Katlin is probably worried about you. And just as well take the car. The motor pool has been closed for hours. It will allow you and Katlin to have an outing tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Karl,” Gerhard nodded.
He quickly made his way to the street and drove home.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
May 17, 1941, 7 AM
Nazi Party Headquarters
Berlin, Germany
In 1941 Germany, everyone routinely worked six days each week. The factories, particularly the war industries, had ten and twelve-hour shifts. Gerhard Wicklein considered this state of affairs as he walked into the party offices at 7 AM this spring morning and decided that life was pretty good. He had the typical pride in German efficiency and productivity and performed well. Karl occasionally told him to stay away from the office on a Saturday, particularly if he had had overnight travel during the week. He knew most other workers were not accorded the same privilege, even in the party offices.
Making his way through the open office towards Carl’s private office, Gerhard stopped when Heinrich Schloss came out of the Parteileiter’s office. Rather than stopping to talk briefly with Gerhard, Schloss simply murmured his name and brushed past him, leaving the office. He thought Schloss looked like a decaying sixty-year-old rather than a vigorous man in his early 30s.
Wicklein fixed his coffee and slipped into Rainer’s office, grabbing the usual chair. Karl looked up from his work to greet Gerhard.
“I just saw the Parteileiter leaving,” Gerhard said. “He looks terrible.”
“Hannalore passed away earlier this morning,” Rainer said. “I think Herr Schloss stopped by here to check on things before going home to be with his children.”
“That is so sad. Is there anything I can do?”
“Probably not, but I’m sure he appreciates your concern,” Rainer replied.
“Does he have any other family?”
“Herr Schloss’s sister and her husband work at the German Embassy in Buenos Aires. I sent her a telegram this morning. Obviously, they will not get back here anytime soon.”
Gerhard shook his head. “What is he going to do?”
“Herr Schloss is a survivor. He will do whatever he must.”
“Will we need to plan a state funeral?”
Rainer shook his head. “No, it will be a private funeral. The Führer wanted a state funeral, but Herr Schloss demanded that it remain private.”
“Wasn’t there a state funeral for Carin Göring?” Gerhard asked.
“I don’t think it was formally a state funeral; however, the Führer attended. I’m sure that’s what Hitler had in mind.”
“That must have been interesting,” Gerhard said.
“It’s the first time I have seen the Parteileiter directly challenge Hitler to his face. Well, the second, actually.”
“The second?”
“Hitler is planning a certain initiative, and Herr Schloss opposed it. The discussion turned into a shouting match.”
“That seems a little unusual,” Wicklein said. “I mean, Herr Schloss yells really well, but with Hitler?”
“He has been under a lot of pressure lately, as you may have noticed. And the Führer brought up the funeral last week to Schloss, which reflected poor timing and poor judgment. I had to hold Herr Schloss back.”
“You were there?” Wicklein asked.
“Yes. It was unpleasant.”
“How did the Führer react?”
“He was subdued,” Rainer replied. “Herr Schloss is one of the very few people who can be completely honest with him. But even the Parteileiter cannot go to that well often.”
“I just hope Herr Schloss survives.”
“For a lot of reasons, I agree. Are you going to ask what the other altercation was about?”
“Very well, Karl. I’ll bite. What did they argue about?”
“It doesn’t leave this room, Gerhard.”
“I understand.”
“The Führer is planning a major military operation. Herr Schloss questioned the wisdom of the project.”
“A major operation, Karl? What is the target?”
“Where do you think it would be, Herr Wicklein?”
Rainer loved these little games they played. Gerhard tried not to let it show, but it sometimes made him impatient.
“Well, I have no idea. It could be the English or maybe the Americans.”
“Hitler canceled Sea Lion if you remember. Would there be anything to gain in starting the war against the Americans?”
“We all know that is coming sooner or later,” Wicklein commented. “So, he is planning a surprise attack?”
“It’s a surprise attack,” Rainer admitted. “But it’s not the Americans.”
“The Russians?”
“Let me remind you,” Rainer stated, “that doesn’t leave this room.”
“Can we do that?”
“I don’t know. Hitler thinks so. Schloss tried to talk him out of it.”
“So, it’s not just me,” Wicklein commented.
“Schloss thought it was insane. Hitler finally told him to shut up and soldier.”
“That is interesting. I never would have thought….”
“As you can see, some of us are concerned about this action. The Führer and the OKW think the Russians will collapse once we kick the door in.”
“And if they don’t?”
“The Russians are bigger than we are. I don’t think they are prepared for war, but I also don’t think we want to take them on.”
“You always give me a lot to think about, Karl.”
“Why don’t you go home, Gerhard? I don’t think much will happen in the office today. If that changes, I can always call you back in.”
Gerhard stood. “Thank you, Karl. But don’t hesitate to call if things get busy.”
§ § §
May 26, 1941, 2 PM
Nazi Party Headquarters
Berlin, Germany
Gerhard was used to Karl assigning him new tasks and enjoyed the learning that went with it. Today he taught a group of clerks how to manage the paperwork that usually infested a Nazi party office. Aged 20 to 35, the participants were all trusted Nazi party members but were nervous.
They had all volunteered to serve the Reich at undisclosed locations and knew they would face risks in their new positions. But they eagerly lapped up the material Gerhard presented and asked intelligent questions. They did not know that the purpose of the class was to reduce the possibility of avaricious senior administrators getting their hands in the till.
“This is a party enrollment form,” Gerhard said, holding up a sheet of paper. “It is numbered as page 7 in your binders. Please turn to that as I review it.”
He listened to the rustling of paper as the students turned to the appropriate page. He then worked down through each space in the form, explaining what was required. The students studied the form and frantically scribbled on their notepads as they struggled to keep up with the lecture.
“Notice the number printed in the upper right corner of the page,” he continued. “When you reach your destination, you will receive a case of these forms. They are serialized. That means the number printed on the upper right corner of each sheet is unique. That number will become the enrollee’s identification number. I am explaining this because the auditors will know the groups of serial numbers assigned to each office and will be able to identify any missing numbers or assigned numbers that are not in your group.”
One of the students raised his hand. Gerhard nodded.
“What is the purpose of the serial numbers, mein Herr?”
“We’re trying to attack a plague of sloppy record keeping. We use the party identification numbers for census work to tie back against the files containing the party members' history.”
Gerhard did not specifically mention that the purpose was to stop cheating, but the people in the room were intelligent enough to recognize what was left unsaid. Probably.
“And now, meine Herren, look at page eight in your binders. You will use this form to report party recruitment to Berlin. It comes as two sheets interleaved with carbon paper. You will record the pertinent information about the party members, including their serial numbers. You will send the original to Berlin and keep the carbon copy. Now, let me explain the items you must write on the form.”
Gerhard continued lecturing as they worked their way through the forms, and there were many of them. Ludwig Pankow sat in the back of the room, paying close attention to Gerhard and observing the room. Per Gerhard’s instructions, Pankow interrupted him a couple of times during the day to correct slight errors in the lecture.
As they reached the day's close, Gerhard wrapped things up with a final statement.
“I want to speak briefly of your responsibilities. Your director will be responsible for the party offices in whatever town you may be located in. You are responsible for the accuracy of the reports. If anyone orders you to falsify any documents, you must report this to Berlin. The final page in your binder lists the contacts for your needs. In this case, you would address your concerns to the office of the Special Assistant to the Parteileiter. He will then make known his desires, and you will probably be seeing me again.”
There was some restlessness in the room as the students looked at each other and then back to Gerhard. He wanted that. They needed to understand why this was important, and they clearly did. He dismissed the class and watched the students leave.
Pankow walked up to him. “A very good class, Gerhard. I learned a lot of things that would have otherwise never occurred to me.”
“Thank you, Ludwig. And thank you for offering corrections on my mistakes.”
“I would not call them mistakes, mein Herr. They might perhaps be classified as oversights. You really know what you are doing. I wish I could be that good.”
“I am probably not as smart as you, Ludwig. But I have had a lot of experience with this stuff. You are rapidly getting better. You have yet to make any serious mistakes.”
“Thank you, Herr Group Leader. Hopefully, what you are doing will reduce the level of fraud. What we have now is shameful.”
“I certainly hope so,” Wicklein chuckled. “I would hate for this to be a complete waste of time. Now let’s pack up and see if we can slip out of the building before Herr Rainer finds something else for us to do.”
Pankow chuckled, but the look on his face indicated he wondered if Gerhard was serious.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
May 27, 1941, 2 PM
Reich Chancellery
Berlin, Germany
“A word with you, please, Herr Reichsprotektor?”
Heinrich Himmler looked over at Heinrich Schloss as the other German government leaders filed out of the Führer’s meeting room.
“Yes, Herr Parteileiter?”
“I would like to borrow several SS officers to work with Lieutenant Strang in providing security to one of my people in Munich. I am sending him down to arrange the party banquet on 9 June.”
Himmler peered through his spectacles at Schloss. Schloss wondered if the man could see into his soul and repressed a shudder.
“This is a bit out of the ordinary, is it not?” Himmler replied in his oily voice.
“The party director in Munich has his hands deeply into the pockets of the vendors in Munich, and I need to clip his wings.”
“Why should that concern you?”
Himmler had a point. Probably half or two-thirds of the Nazi party leadership accepted management fees from German business in one form or another.
