The Munich Faction 2: Enforcer, page 8
part #2 of The Munich Faction Series
On this Sunday evening, the young couple succeeded in putting the baby down for the evening at a reasonable time. Gerhard decided they could enjoy one of those rare evenings together. When the new baby arrived, he and Katrin would look for every possible opportunity to rest.
“You haven’t said much about your trip to Munich, Darling,” Katlin said.
“There is not much to say. We flew down on Thursday and came back Friday. My time was consumed with watching over Herr Schloss.”
“You had an entire team with you. I’m surprised you didn’t try to see Vatti and Mutti.”
“Erich and I divided a 24-hour schedule. I was up all night on Thursday. I would have liked to see your parents, but there was no way to get free.”
“So, you were up while everyone else slept?” she asked. “I wondered why you were so tired when you got home.”
“It looks like Marcel Daumer removed everyone in Brown House who supported Herr Schloss. We could not get a good understanding of the risks, so we had to pay attention all the time.”
“And Herr Schloss approved of your staying up all night?”
“He asked me to do so,” Gerhard said. “The next morning, he ordered me to put my head down for four hours. So, it’s not as bad as it sounded.”
“Do you think someone in Munich wants to kill Herr Schloss?”
“I would say that is almost a sure bet, Schatzi.”
She shook her head. “Herr Schloss is probably the most decent man in the government.”
“I would agree with you there,” he said. “And that is probably why they don’t like him. He’s an honest Nazi. I just wish he was a little more aggressive.”
“What do you mean?” Katrin asked.
“Most of the time, he seems almost passive. It’s like he is content to watch the world go by.”
“But he took care of the Bormann problem,” she argued.
“True, but he waited almost too long. Karl was frustrated with him. When his back was against the wall, he took the necessary action. But we lost some good people in the process.”
“What will happen now?”
Gerhard shook his head. “I don’t know. I think there is trouble brewing. Karl hasn’t said anything, but I think he also believes that. The war is over for most of Europe, and the Nazis are starting to fight each other over who gets the spoils and who gets the power.”
“Do you know this, Gerhard?” she asked.
“Not directly, but I’ve come to understand how people think. And I’ve seen too many of the swine in the Nazi Party who put their desires above the party, the Reich, and even their families. They would not bat an eye over Schloss’s life.”
“That is kind of scary.”
Gerhard sighed. “I need to talk to Karl. He no longer feels the need to give me guidance. I guess that’s a compliment. But we haven’t had a morning meeting for weeks. And that’s how I usually hear about things that are happening. Apparently, Hitler is planning something big. I don’t know what it is, but Karl and Herr Schloss are nervous about it.”
“Then you should ask for a meeting. Or perhaps I should invite him for dinner and stay in the kitchen so you two can talk.”
“That might be a good idea.”
She slapped her hands on her legs. “Fine. I’m glad we got that settled. You can invite him when you get to the office tomorrow. Then let me know which night he is free. Tomorrow night probably is not good. I will need to scour the market to find something to cook.”
Since Gerhard had been given his marching orders, he leaned back on the sofa.
“Perhaps we should make an early night of it, Schatzi,” Gerhard said. “I could certainly use the sleep.”
She smiled and struggled out of the sofa. “I shall be so happy to get this babe in the crib. I never seem to be on balance.”
They walked arm in arm towards their bedroom and were interrupted by a squalling infant. They looked at each other with rueful smiles.
CHAPTER TWELVE
April 14, 1941, 10 AM
Nazi Party Headquarters
Berlin Germany
“Gerhard, I would like to introduce you to Ludwig Pankow,” Rainer said.
Gerhard walked around his desk to shake the other man’s hand.
“Gerhard Wicklein,” he said.
“I brought Herr Pankow in to help you with the party membership audit,” Rainer continued. “I have kept you so busy with other tasks that the audits are not getting done, and they are important.”
Rainer and Wicklein had discussed doing something like this, but Gerhard had overlooked it in the rush of work that consumed the previous weeks. He also neglected to seriously think about how to structure the job of a direct subordinate. While he had grown comfortable with leading and managing teams that fulfilled Rainer’s assigned tasks, Gerhard would now be guiding someone to help on a project where he was formerly a solo operator.
“I will leave you two to get started,” Rainer said.
“Thank you, Herr Special Assistant,” Wicklein said.
He turned to Pankow. “Sit down, please, mein Herr. We can chat briefly before we get you settled in the job. Do you drink coffee?”
“Yes, my mein Herr.”
Wicklein walked to the door. “Herr Brucks, coffee for two, please.”
Gerhard returned to his chair and looked at his new assistant. “Tell me about yourself.”
“Yes, mein Herr. I worked as an auditor in a Siemens warehouse in Potsdam. I heard that someone in the Parteileiter’s office was looking for an auditor and thought it might be a good opportunity.”
“Do you have a background as a bookkeeper?” Gerhard asked.
“I studied accounting in school. Siemens hired me after that and trained me on the job.”
“Let me explain what we will be doing,” Wicklein said, “and you can call me Gerhard, by the way. We have been auditing regional party records and matching names to the membership lists. For some reason, it is always difficult to keep accurate records. In some cases, people have discovered it is easy to inflate the list of party members who receive a stipend.”
“You mean people are defrauding the party?” Pankow looked shocked.
“You can find dishonest people anywhere,” Gerhard replied. “We want to discover the most egregious offenders and make an example of them. Hopefully, that will discourage others from being tempted.”
“Checking the records seems easy enough,” Pankow commented.
“It is not difficult, merely tedious. But it is also important.”
“And you have been doing this…, Gerhard?”
“Yes, for the past couple of years. I am also a courier and carry sensitive documents to party offices around the country, plus other tasks that Herr Rainer has assigned me. There being several tens of millions of party members in the country, staying on top of this is more than one man can handle. I will transfer most of what I am doing to you, but I will still be helping with the audits.”
“This sounds like more work than the two of us can handle,” Pankow said.
“It is. During my travels around the Reich, I have identified party offices where the opportunities for corruption seemed more prevalent. Those are the ones we will focus on.”
“Pardon me for being forward, but I hope we are not also the enforcement mechanism.”
Gerhard chuckled. “No, depending on the severity of the situation, Herr Rainer will deal with the malefactors, or we’ll bring in the Gestapo.”
Pankow sighed. “I don’t mind telling you I don’t like confronting people.”
“I don’t either. However, I have had to do that from time to time. Sometimes you just have to do what is necessary, Ludwig. Any other questions before we get started?”
“I think you will find me a quick learner and a hard worker,” Ludwig said.
“I certainly hope so,” Gerhard smiled. “We will assign you a desk in the open office. But understand the materials you are working with are considered confidential. Any time you leave your desk, even to go to the toilet, you must lock materials in your desk. I will introduce you to the other people in the office so that they understand the nature of your job. Occasionally the Parteileiter, or Herr Rainer, or I will assign other tasks that need doing.”
“Did Herr Rainer explain to you the employment details?”
“Yes, Herr Wicklein, I mean, Gerhard.”
“Very well.”
Gerhard reached into his desk and pulled out a thick folder. “This is the membership list for Hanover. We have a library on the second floor containing census records for Hanover. Now let’s go to your desk so you can get started.”
“How do you want me to approach this?” Pankow asked.
“I would like you to show me,” Gerhard replied.
Wicklein grinned as the new employee settled into his desk and began studying the membership lists. As he had told Pankow, the work was not complex. But, in the case of Hanover, there was a huge volume of material to review. Gerhard wanted to see how Pankow would react to a tidal wave of files.
Gerhard fixed another cup of coffee and returned to his desk and current task. Rainer had picked up hints that the party leadership in Warsaw was siphoning money from the railway system. Rainer was not quite sure of the mechanism used by the miscreants, and Wicklein wasn’t either.
This project would probably involve a trip to Warsaw, which he dreaded. After several trips to the occupied city, he and Lieutenant Strang cordially detested the place. But the job had to be done. He opened a folder and began studying the monthly financial reports from the party offices in Warsaw. Another folder contained copies of the financial statements from the railroad office in Warsaw. Wicklein was experienced enough to know that he would begin to understand how things worked with sufficient study.
§ § §
April 21, 1941, 7 AM
Over Eastern Germany
Once again aboard a Junkers JU 88 modified for executive transport, Gerhard turned and smiled at Lieutenant Strang.
“Look on the bright side, Erich,” he shouted over the din. “It’s not December.”
The SS Lieutenant glared at Wicklein. “If I pushed you out of the airplane without a parachute, how high do you think you would bounce?”
“That’s a speculative question, right?”
“No, Gerhard, I’m serious. I told you I would never ride in one of these things again, and here we are.”
Wicklein shrugged. “All you had to do was say no.”
“And Herr Rainer would have me cleaning toilets or worse.”
“That’s an idea,” Gerhard replied. “Nobody else seems to be doing it.”
“I’m surprised the Parteileiter hasn’t said something about it. He likes things clean.”
“The Parteileiter has a lot of things on his mind right now.”
Strang frowned. “I don’t want to make light of Herr Schloss’s difficulties. The man’s wife is dying. I just can’t imagine going through something like that.”
“The thought of losing Katlin terrifies me,” Wicklein said.
“I lost my Vater three years ago. He was only forty-seven. I expected he would eventually bounce my kids on his knee.”
“I didn’t know that, Erich. I’m sorry.”
He waved a hand. “Thank you, but I wasn’t looking for sympathy. They say life goes on, but I will probably always miss him.”
Gerhard decided things were getting too maudlin. “Seeing as you are not married, Erich, how many children do you have, anyway?”
Strang laughed and flashed Gerhard an obscene gesture. “I don’t even know why I say the things I do sometimes.”
“That’s easy,” Gerhard replied. “You’re the perfect bad example for us to avoid.”
Strang leaned back and put his hand over his forehead. “Mein Gott, how long will this flight continue?”
“Cheer up, Erich. We are not even halfway yet.”
Over the previous eighteen months during Wicklein’s trips to Warsaw, the airport was noticeably improved, although the city was still a wreck. A two-story brick building had been constructed to serve as the airport terminal. Perhaps a dozen airplanes sat on the tarmac. A lot of Nazis found reasons to fly to Warsaw, although Gerhard could never figure out why.
“At least they have a car waiting for us,” Strang grumbled as they climbed down the ladder from the airplane.
Gerhard decided not to torment his fellow traveler further. They climbed into the back seat of a 1938 Opel Kapitän for the ride into the city. The Germans had cleared most of the rubble from the streets, but many of the gaunt skeletons of burned-out buildings remained. The Nazi party seemed to like to appropriate bank buildings in the conquered cities, which was true in this case. A solid four-story brick and stone structure was festooned with Nazi party banners. A sign over the door proclaimed the building as the Nazi party headquarters for Warsaw.
An anonymous-looking party functionary came to the first floor and guided them up to the fourth-floor offices. They did not have to wait long before Gerhard was guided to the director’s office.
“Now, mein Herr, you came clear out from Berlin for what exactly?”
It was interesting, Gerhard thought, that the man did not introduce himself nor did he ask who Gerhard was.
“I am part of the party group that audits the regional party finances and membership rolls. In some cases, we prefer to inspect the original documents. The Parteileiter directed that I come to Warsaw to do so.”
“And what business is it of Schloss’s? I report to the Führer.”
“It is not my purpose to determine who has authority,” Wicklein replied. “I have no problem with returning to Berlin and reporting to the Parteileiter that I did not gain your cooperation.”
Gerhard calmly gazed at the other man and watched as his face reddened and his eyes bulged. Then he started breathing deeply and smiled.
“Perhaps we started this meeting off on the wrong foot,” the man said. “My name is Hans Gebel, the director of this office.”
“I am Local Group Leader Gerhard Wicklein.”
“Very well Herr Wicklein. I suppose I have no choice but to cooperate, but you can expect me to protest your high-handedness to Berlin.”
“You are, of course, entitled to do that. Like everyone else, I know I am accountable for my actions.”
Wicklein thought he could hear Gebel’s teeth grinding but waited politely. Finally, the director shouted.
“Jurgen! Get in here.”
A tall, blonde-haired man hurried into the room. “Yes, Herr Director?”
“This is Herr Wicklein from Berlin. Please let him look at anything he desires.”
“Of course, mein Herr.”
As Gerhard and Erich followed Jurgen from the office, they could hear the director shouting.
“Mathias, get me the Reich Chancellery on the telephone immediately!”
Strang glanced at Wicklein and murmured, “I guess Gebel is getting ready to land us in hot water?”
“No, I’m doing exactly what Karl wants me to do. After the third or fourth time somebody tries to go over our head to the Führer, word will get around. Whoever answers the phone in Hitler’s office knows to pass these things to the Parteileiter. The director will then be summoned to Berlin for a very unpleasant meeting.”
“Will Schloss even care right now?”
“Karl will see to it that this gets the proper attention.”
Strang snickered as the two followed Jurgen into the file room in the basement.
“Now, meine Herren, what can I show you?”
Wicklein sat down at the table and prepared to begin examining files. Strang also sat but pulled out a book and settled in to read.
After several moments of sorting through the files, Gerhard glared at the SS Lieutenant.
“Filling your mind with useless drivel again, Erich?”
“It’s dangerous to have someone with such fading memories in your position, Herr Wicklein. I am merely developing my working knowledge of English.”
Gerhard raised an eyebrow and returned to his work.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
April 21, 1941, 3 PM
Nazi Party Headquarters
Warsaw, Eastern Government District
Gerhard sighed and closed the folder he had been looking at. He scribbled a few more notes and dropped the pencil on the table.
Erich looked up from the book he was reading. “Are we done?”
“I’m glad our little minion has gone to the toilet. We need to think about this.”
“Why, what have you found?” Strang asked.
“They let me look at everything, and it’s surprising. We’ve got the director and about five subordinates taking payouts based upon buggering the membership rolls. It’s pretty damning.”
“And it’s just the two of us, and they will supply transportation to the airport.”
“And we don’t know if they have done something to the airplane,” Gerhard added.
Strang thought for a moment. “When we leave here, let’s walk across the square to the SS headquarters. We can start flashing our badges around and demanding some additional security. If nothing else, it will throw the party director here off-balance.”
“I’m nervous about this, Erich.”
“You’re absolutely right to be nervous. They have let you see everything. That tells me they don’t intend for you to get home.”
The doorknob rattled, and Jurgen walked back into the room. He looked at the two men from Berlin. “Is everything good, meine Herren?”
“I believe we have completed the day’s task,” Gerhard said as he stood. “Be so good as to show us to the door.”
“Of course, meine Herren,” Jurgen replied. “Follow me, please. I believe your car is waiting.”
They followed the party member up the concrete steps to the main floor. The building must have been relatively new because Gerhard thought it seemed well-kept. Surprisingly, the SS hadn’t grabbed it for their headquarters in Warsaw. Unless the SS headquarters was even nicer.
