by Lee Jackson
Bletchley Park, England
Claire was in Hut 8 when the news reached there. Immediately, someone wheeled a cart into the decoding room with a radio tuned to BBC, and together everyone present listened to the continuing reports. She watched the faces of her colleagues, noting the mixed dread and elation. Dread at the obvious escalation of the war, and elation that at long last, the United States would fight alongside Great Britain. For a moment, time seemed to have stood still, and when it started again, a new, more uncertain, and frightening age seemed to have emerged.
71
December 8, 1941
Sark Island, English Channel Isles
“Are you sure this is a safe hiding place?” Stephen said, glancing about the storage room dubiously.
“It’s as safe as any,” Marian replied. She stood in front of a high stack of trunks, boxes, and suitcases left in her care by residents of the island who, for one reason or another, had left without knowing when they would return. “The soldiers have looked in here several times, but they never do more than a cursory search.”
She started moving items aside. “I keep the radio in a trunk all the way at the back and on the bottom, and if someone comes to the door, our poodles sound the alarm, and then I can make great fanfare of moving through the house trying to quiet them while the radio is being put away. It’s worked so far.”
“Yes, but after today, I expect the penalties for keeping and listening to the radio will become far more stringent. In other places, the Nazis have put people to death for exactly that.”
Marian frowned with a sardonic expression. “So much for being ambassadors of goodwill. Mr. Roosevelt is bound to speak soon, and I want to hear what he has to say. The prime minister should be speaking too.”
“But news of the Japanese attack is only rumor. Who told you about it?”
“One of the fishermen. He heard it from one of the guards on his boat. The German was taunting him about it, but our man only understood a little of what was said—just ‘attack,’ ‘Japan,’ and ‘America.’”
“That’s a little flimsy.”
“Agreed, but the rumor is making the rounds. By now, I suspect most of our islanders have heard it, and if it’s true, I’m sure others heard it by different means.”
Stephen heaved a sigh. “Well, double-checking to make sure we’ve covered all the risks never hurts. I’ll instruct the servant to keep watch while we’re listening.”
As they talked, Marian worked through the pile of luggage until she reached the trunk with the radio. “Another rumor is that Mr. Roosevelt would address the American nation today. If we’ve missed the broadcast, I’m sure it will be repeated.”
While Stephen went to instruct the servant, she opened the trunk, pulled the radio out, and plugged it in. By the time Stephen returned, it had warmed up and she had tuned it to the BBC. They listened to a few minutes of music and commercial messages, and then a newscaster spoke.
“For those just learning of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, we’ll be providing details throughout the day.”
Marian and Stephen exchanged grim glances. “I guess the rumor’s true,” he said.
“At present,” the newscaster continued, “we await the president of the United States, who is expected to address Congress in a few minutes. Those familiar with the content of his speech say that he dictated and edited his speech himself and that it is short. He preferred it over a seventeen-page draft submitted by the Pentagon—”
The newsman was cut short by blaring music after which he said, “The president is at the rostrum. Let’s listen.”
Then, Roosevelt spoke, his voice strong and resolute.
“Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Senate, and of the House of Representatives: Yesterday, December 7, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.
“The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.”
The president then proceeded through a short review of the planning that must have gone into the attack and the deception Japan used to mollify the US while it proceeded to execute its war campaign, and he detailed the damage done to America’s navy and the death toll exacted. He pointed out that the offensive had included almost simultaneous attacks extending over a wide area of the Pacific, including Malaya, Hong Kong, Guam, the Philippine Islands, Wake Island, and Midway Island.
He spoke in grave terms of the American people’s understanding of what the calamity implied about their very lives; and he stated that he had directed the Army and Navy to take all measures to defend the safety of the nation, saying, “…always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us.”
The president paused momentarily, and then made his final comments.
“No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.
I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.
“Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory, and our interests are in grave danger.
“With confidence in our armed forces, with the unbounding determination of our people, we will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.
“I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese empire."
Thunderous applause erupted over the radio, but the news anchor cut in, silencing it. “Those were the remarks by President Roosevelt calling on Congress to declare war on Japan. In a few minutes, Mr. Churchill will broadcast his statement on the attack, which we will also bring to you.”
Marian turned to face Stephen. “The whole world is at war now,” she said, a fearful tone creeping into her voice despite her best effort to quell it.
Stephen grasped her hand and kissed it. “Japan is allied with Germany. A declaration of war on the Third Reich must soon follow. What that probably means to us is that demands on our resources will increase, imported supplies will be fewer, and the German authorities will be more oppressive.”
Marian bowed her head, shaking it with eyes closed. “And I urged our people to stay on the island. I hope they can forgive me.” She looked up suddenly, gazing at Stephen with despairing eyes. “How do you think this will affect Lance?”
Stephen did not reply. He moved close to her and embraced her. They sat without moving until they heard their poodles barking. The servant hurried in to reassure them that there had been no cause for alarm. A neighbor had stopped by to find out if the household had heard the news.
Oflag IV-C, Colditz, Germany
In the highest, most secret niche of Colditz Castle, a small group gathered. Among them were the operators of the hand-fashioned radio assembled by brilliant and creative engineers using bits of wire and parts smuggled into the camp in family parcels, bribed from willing guards or civilian workers and vendors, or stolen from German equipment.
With the operators were the leaders of the British contingent, including Guy, Pat, Chip, and Lance. Around them were the “reporters,” British POWs who each morning gathered to receive the day’s news from the BBC, and then made rounds to the various barr
acks rooms to disseminate it to the rest of the British POW population. Similar procedures were practiced by each nationality.
On this morning, the British POWs eyed each other somberly as President Roosevelt finished speaking and they waited to hear from Prime Minister Churchill. Then, amid whining electronic noises, the statesman’s voice resounded.
“As soon as I heard last night that Japan had attacked the United States, my first feeling was that Parliament should be immediately summoned. We are fighting for the maintenance of a parliamentary system, and it is indispensable to our system of Government that Parliament should play its full part in all the important acts of the state and on all the great occasions in the conduct of the war. The great number of members who attended in spite of the shortness of the notice shows the zeal and strictness with which the members of both Houses attend to their duties.
“You will remember that a month ago, with the full approval of the nation and of the Empire, I pledged the word of Great Britain that should the United States become involved in a war with Japan, a British declaration would follow within the hour. I therefore spoke to President Roosevelt on the Atlantic telephone last night with a view to arranging the timing of our respective declarations. The President told me that he would this morning send a message to Congress, which of course as you all know is the instrument, the constitutional instrument, by which alone a United States declaration of war can be made.
“And I assured him that we would follow immediately. However, it soon appeared that British territory in Malaya had also been the object of a Japanese attack, and later on it was announced from Tokyo that the Japanese High Command—not the Imperial Japanese Government—but the Japanese High Command had declared that a state of war existed with Great Britain and the United States.”
The prime minister’s speech was longer than Roosevelt’s had been, but the gathering listened with rapt attention as Churchill summarized the history of relations with Japan and the patience with which the United States had attempted to resolve their differences. Then he entered into his final remarks.
“We have at least four-fifths of the population of the globe upon our side. We are responsible for their safety—we are responsible for their future. And as I told the House of Commons this afternoon, in the past we had a light which flickered, in the present we have a light which flames, and in the future, there will be a light which will shine calm and resplendent over all the land and all the sea.”
The speech ended, and the group began dispersing amidst concerned discussion. As Pat and Lance made their way back down into the main areas of the castle, Pat asked Lance what he thought of the situation.
“I dunno,” Lance replied. “I’m still trying to absorb what just happened. Japan and Germany are formal allies, so I suppose Hitler will declare war on the United States, in which case America will join the war in Europe on our side. I can see where that might make our guards a little fidgety. Things might become more difficult for us until we and the Germans see how things play out for them on the ground. Control of the Suez Canal just became much more crucial, which probably means that fighting in North Africa will become more intense. And of course, there was that map that Roosevelt referenced a couple of months back about Hitler’s plans for South America. With this new twist, that’s got to make the Panama Canal a critical piece of geography too.
“How all of that will affect us here is hard to say. We’re removed from the hard fighting by a considerable distance, but as resources are spread thin, we’re likely to feel it.”
When Lance had finished speaking, Pat glanced at him in surprise. “That was quite a soliloquy, Sergeant, and an impressive analysis. You must have been paying more attention in school than you let on.”
Lance grinned back at him. “No, sir, plenty of my mates can attest that the opposite was the case. Here there’s nothing to do but learn, and any tidbit that gets us closer to being out of here lodges in this thick skull.” He tapped his temple. “Facts and figures take their time to get inside my head, but once there, they stay. Then they bounce around until I can make use of them.”
Pat laughed. “It’s good to have you around, Lance Littlefield. Here we are, the two of us, aching to get out more than most and with the skills that increase our probabilities, and we’re acquiescing to SBO’s pitiful plea for us to stay.”
“Yes, sir. Some would call us daft, but there it is.”
Epilogue
December 11, 1941
Afrika Corps Headquarters, near Tobruk, Libya, North Africa
“It’s so good to see you here and healthy,” Field Marshal Erwin Rommel greeted Oberst Meier warmly. “How’s the leg?”
“Probably as good as it’s going to get, but at least I can fully exercise now.” He glanced around the operations tent where they stood. “And I’m released for combat duty. It is my honor and privilege to serve with you again, Herr Field Marshal.”
“Let’s take a walk in the desert where we can talk,” Rommel said. “Have you heard this morning’s news?” he asked as they moved outside the tent and past myriad panzers, troop carriers, antennas, and other war materiel.
“The driver informed me on the way in from the airfield. Germany and Italy declared war on the United States?”
“Yes.” Rommel glanced around before continuing. “That was a mistake. There is no combination of nations that can match America’s industrial might, and they proved during the last war that they can mobilize quickly.” He stared out over the desert toward British forces.
“Did you know that Prime Minister Churchill sent his entire tank force down here to North Africa on the same day that the French government vacated Paris?”
“I hadn’t put that together, sir.”
“Churchill plays to win,” Rommel said. “His seasoned veterans were trapped at Dunkirk, and he evacuated them. But they had barely arrived in England when he was already sending a tank force to Egypt. The logistics and timing alone would tell you that the troops he sent to Africa were newly recruited, poorly trained, and unseasoned, and in fact, that’s what we found. Our forces rolled over them.
“But that’s no longer the case. The British soldiers here now are veterans. They’ve fought us for eighteen months, they were reinforced by the regular army that was rescued from Dunkirk, and their replacements are better trained. Here at Tobruk, they’ve taken everything we’ve thrown at them since last year, and now their 8th Army has come to relieve them.”
Rommel exhaled. “That American lend-lease program brought the British better equipment and supplies with remarkable speed, and the re-supply is more frequent. And soon, they’ll be joined by American soldiers.” He paused and swung around with a slight smile. “Do I sound like a pessimist?”
“You sound like a combat leader taking stock of the lay of the land, mein Herr, without which victory is impossible.”
Rommel sighed. “Almost the entire high command advised Hitler against this declaration, but he was livid about a report our agents in the US intercepted called the Victory Program.”
“I’ve heard of it, and generally know its content.”
“Since Germany has already pulled the trigger, I expect that Roosevelt will ask Congress very soon to declare war on us, probably today. A runner will bring me a transcript if that happens. And when it happens, the scales will be weighed against us. We can only hope that the Japanese will wear America down in the Far East sufficiently for us to do the same in the west. Then, maybe we have a chance to win.”
“I fear, sir, that this man from Austria could bring about the destruction of our fatherland.”
Rommel swung around sharply in front of Meier. “I fear the same, but we will speak no more about it today.” He chuckled. “There is one bright spot in our favor.”
Meier listened expectantly.
“The Americans have an overly ambitious military attaché in their Cairo embassy, a Brevet Colonel Fellers. He’s a West Point graduate, no less, and he likes to go into the Brit
ish combat lines, attend their staff meetings, gather information, and send long, detailed reports to his bosses in the United States, encrypting it with what the Americans call their Black Code. Undoubtedly, they think it’s unbreakable.
“What Fellers doesn’t know is that last month, Italy’s military intelligence sent two of their paramilitary police and two embassy employees into the American embassy at night—a burglary. They came away with the Black Code and all the documentation needed to use it. They quickly photographed it and returned the materials, so the Americans didn’t know they had it.
“The Italians suddenly knew the enemy dispositions from these Feller reports as soon as they were sent. They kindly shared them with us but would not provide the actual code material. What they don’t know is that, within the past weeks, we’ve broken the Black Code too. Now, we can read the reports as fast as the Italians do, or for that matter, as fast as the Americans can. That’s how, for the past week, I’ve known each morning the positions of British forces from the night before.” Rommel laughed. “It’s a tremendous advantage to exploit until the Americans figure out that we’ve got their code or until they routinely change it. We also have some of the British codes, which has been a big help.”
“It’s funny you should mention that,” Meier interjected. “When I was at Dinard, I sometimes had this strange sense that Great Britain knew what was going on inside our headquarters. We’d move troops, ships, stores, and they’d bomb them. I sometimes wondered if they had broken our codes, but when I went to study our Enigma, I could see that was impossible.”
