‘Not so long as you are in control, Herr Reichsführer.’
She was not lying. As long as overconfident and totally misguided idiots were in control of German strategy, defeat was staring them in the face, even if they seemed unable to see it. She remembered Baxter’s calm certainty that the RAF could deal with the V-bombs. He had never been wrong in his judgements before, however unlikely some of them had appeared in the early days of the war.
After a month even the High Command started to realize that the Normandy landings had not been a feint, as the Allies poured more and more men and materiel across the Channel. The Wehrmacht fought desperately, and at this stage were retreating only step by step, but they were retreating, and everyone knew that once the open country beyond the bridgehead was reached, the Allies’ superiority in planes and tanks would explode.
Could it really be the end? Anna wondered. It was a scenario that she had never expected – that the Allies might get into and across Germany and reach Berlin from the west before the Russians got there from the east. In that case, she and hers would be saved. So was it worthwhile continuing the plot against Hitler? Or was it more important than ever, because as long as he remained in control Germany would fight to the last man, and in the process be utterly destroyed?
As she had heard nothing from the conspirators, and Himmler still paid regular visits to either Rastenburg or Berchtesgaden – as, presumably, did Göring – and always returned unharmed, she had to wonder if the conspirators had been drawing the same conclusions as herself. But then, at the end of the first week of July, with the resistance in the west at last beginning to crumble, Himmler paid one of his visits to her office, carefully closing the door behind himself.
‘Herr Reichsführer!’ Anna rose from behind her desk.
‘Herr Reichsführer!’ Katherine rose from behind her desk.
‘At ease.’ Himmler frowned at Katherine, as if he could not remember who she was.
‘My sister, sir,’ Anna explained. ‘You placed her on my team.’
‘Oh, yes. I remember. Leave us.’
Katherine glanced at Anna, and received a quick nod. She hurried from the room.
‘Is she proving a success?’ Himmler inquired.
‘Yes, indeed. She is a very hard worker.’
‘Well, the time for work is over. Now we must have action.’
‘Sir?’
‘Things are not going well. You know that.’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘The Führer has come to the conclusion that there is a severe lack of enthusiasm in our commanders on the Western Front. He smells treachery.’
‘Sir? But . . . Field Marshal von Rundstedt? Field Marshal Rommel?’
‘Even them. What have you got on them?’
‘On Rundstedt, nothing. On Rommel . . . His name has been mentioned in some of our monitored telephone calls, but I have no proof that he is actually involved, only that his involvement is desired by the conspirators.’
‘Well, as I said, we must act, now. The Führer has summoned me to the Berghof on Sunday, and I know he is going to inquire about the state of our investigation of the conspiracy. I must have something for him. If he were to find out that we have been accumulating all this information for months and made no arrests – well . . . it might be difficult to explain. I wish a list of names to give him.’
My God! Anna thought; I have finally run out of time. ‘Including the two field marshals?’
‘Well, Rommel, certainly. And anyone on whom you have any information at all. Bring Nebe into your team if you think that will help.’
Think, think, think. ‘I have to advise you, Herr Reichsführer, that we do not actually have sufficient proof against any of them to stand up in court.’
‘You are thinking of an ordinary court in ordinary times. But these are not ordinary times. If the Führer gives the go-ahead, we will put them before one of Freisler’s people’s courts. He’ll find them guilty, with or without sufficient evidence. Once he does that, and we get them into our interrogation chambers, we’ll soon get all the proof we need. Don’t forget, Anna. I want that list by Saturday afternoon to take with me.’
Catastrophe
He left the room, and Katherine hurried in. ‘He seems very upset.’
‘He is very upset.’ So was she. She dared not create any further delays. Steinberg had told her that Nebe was in the conspiracy, but as he did not know that she was in it, it would be sticking her neck out unacceptably far to approach him except in strict accordance with Himmler’s instructions. On the other hand, the conspirators had to be warned, and immediately, that they would be liable to arrest by the beginning of the next week. Once again she had to risk everything. She picked up her telephone. ‘Put me through to the Foreign Ministry.’
Clicks and bumps. ‘Foreign Office. Who is it speaking, please?’
One of Ribbentrop’s arrogant innovations, which never ceased to annoy her. ‘This is the Countess von Widerstand. I wish to speak with Count von Steinberg.’
‘I will just see if he is in his office, Countess.’
More clicks and bumps. ‘Anna?’
‘I wish to see you, Count,’ Anna said in her coldest tone. ‘Immediately.’
‘Ah . . .’ He was obviously taken aback. ‘You mean now?’
‘That is what immediately means, Count. Would you like me to send a car for you?’
‘Are you placing me under arrest?’
‘That depends on what you have to say to me, Count. I will expect you in fifteen minutes.’
She hung up, and looked at Katherine, who had never seen her sister in full flow before.
‘I think I had better see him alone,’ Anna said.
‘Are you going to arrest him? I thought he was your friend.’
‘No one is my friend, Katherine, if they turn out to be an enemy of the Reich. Now off you go.’
Katherine gulped, and left the room, and Steinberg arrived a few minutes later, looking anxiously left and right as he came in, as if expecting SD agents to be waiting for him.
‘Come in, Freddie,’ Anna said. ‘Sit down.’
He obeyed. ‘What is the matter?’
‘I am hoping you are going to tell me that. You haven’t been in touch for two months.’
‘There has been nothing to report. Stauffenberg has twice been to Berchtesgaden with the bomb in his briefcase, but on neither occasion has either Göring or Himmler been present.’
‘I warned you that such a stupid reservation would cause trouble.’
‘Our time will come.’
‘No, it will not. Your time is just about up. Listen.’ She outlined her meeting with Himmler, watched his face pale, and then, to her surprise, glow again.
‘Then as you say, we can wait no longer. Well, Stauffenberg is also summoned to the Berghof on Sunday. Göring is going to be there, and now you say Himmler as well? He’ll do it then.’
‘You realize that will be too late to stop me giving Himmler that list.’
‘That is not relevant, if both he and Hitler are dead before they can act on it.’
Anna regarded him for several seconds. ‘It could just work,’ she agreed. ‘What exactly will be your plan?’
‘Stauffenberg will attend the meeting and place his briefcase as near as possible to where Hitler is standing. This meeting always assembles at eleven. I am to telephone and ask to speak with him at ten past. He will leave the room to take the call but not do so. Instead he will get into his car and wait. The moment the bomb explodes, and he sees the entire conference room go up, he will call me back and we will set everything in motion here. Stieff has his men ready, and will take over the city the moment I call him. Stauffenberg will return here as rapidly as possible, but by then the coup will have been completed.’
‘And if something goes wrong?’
‘If he answers the call I will know he has been unable to plant the bomb. In which case I will abort all troop movements.’
It is too
elaborate, Anna thought. ‘What about the people left here?’
‘What people?’
‘Well, Goebbels, for starters.’
‘That little cripple?’ Steinberg said contemptuously. ‘He is Hitler’s creature. Without Hitler, he is nothing.’
I hope you’re right, Anna thought.
‘I suppose Essermann might be a nuisance,’ Steinberg mused. ‘But you can handle Essermann, can’t you, Anna?’
‘I can handle Essermann,’ Anna said, thoughtfully.
*
‘Thank God for that,’ Essermann said. ‘I thought he was never going to make up his mind.’
‘He hasn’t made up his mind,’ Anna pointed out. ‘He wants the Führer to do that. The list of names we have, if acted on, would just about tear the heart out of the Wehrmacht.’
‘But if they are in any event traitors . . .’
‘It’s not our business to make judgements, Hellmuth. Our business is simply to supply facts. Let me see your list.’
He handed it to her, and she scanned it. ‘General Stieff?’ she inquired. She had deliberately kept him out of the investigation. ‘What is his name doing here?’
‘Well . . .’ Essermann looked embarrassed. ‘He commands the Berlin garrison.’
‘And that makes him a conspirator? I would have said the fact that he has been given such a responsible position must mean that he is the most trustworthy officer available.’
‘But don’t you see, Anna, that holding such a command, were he to be a member of the conspiracy, he would be in a position to take over the city, take over the government, in a matter of hours.’
Anna leaned back in her chair. ‘Really, Hellmuth, your paranoia is beginning to disturb me.’
‘But—’
‘Tell me, who at this moment, and in the absence of the Führer, is the most powerful man, militarily, in Berlin?’
‘Well . . . I would say the Reichsführer.’
‘I agree with you. Then why is his name not on this list?’
‘What?’
‘You say that Stieff’s name is here simply because he is in a position to subvert the government, not that you have any proof that he intends to do so. But you have just agreed that the man who is in the best of all positions to subvert the government is the Reischsführer. Ergo, his name has to be on your list.’ She held it out. ‘Write it down.’
Essermann gulped. ‘I could not possibly do that.’
‘Why not?’
‘Well . . . it could not be true.’
‘You are too selective in choosing your truths. But you are correct. The only truths that matter here, where we are dealing with life and death, are those supported by positive proof. You have no evidence that General Stieff is engaged in any subversive activity, and there have been no inexplicable telephone calls from his office. Therefore . . .’ She placed the sheet of paper on her desk, picked up her pen, and struck out Stieff’s name. ‘Now, all these others – you are sure that you have sufficient proof for each one?’
‘I have recorded telephone conversations that are highly suspicious.’
‘Hm.’ She could see no way out of virtually condemning all of them.
‘May I see your list?’ Essermann asked.
‘I have told you that it ties in with yours, in most aspects.’
‘Is Steinberg on it?’
‘I do not see him on yours.’
‘I have not been allowed to investigate him. You have not allowed me to investigate him.’
‘Because he is not worth investigating. I have told you this.’
‘You are protecting him.’
‘Oh, really, Hellmuth, why should I do that? I do not even particularly like the man.’
‘Is he not one of your lovers?’
‘That is absurd, and insulting. Now kindly leave me. I have work to do.’
She waited until he had stamped from the office before allowing herself to find her handkerchief and dab sweat from her neck.
*
How slowly the week passed. Anna deliberately hung on to the list for as long as possible. She could not say why. Perhaps she was hoping for a miracle, although hourly she expected her phone to ring and Himmler to summon her to his presence to demand it. But he never did, and when they met in the corridors he gave her his invariable benevolent smile.
But as he had certainly told her he wanted the list ready by Saturday afternoon, she felt she had to deliver. If he was going all the way to Berchtesgaden, he might well be leaving tonight. Besides, she was curious as to the reason for his sudden lack of interest after such a direct order. She went to his office, found him seated at his desk reading a report. He looked up. ‘Ah, Anna. Are you off?’
‘I have that list you asked for, Herr Reichsführer.’
‘The list? Of course. Keep it for the time being, will you? I’ll look at it next week.’
‘Sir? Aren’t you due at the Berghof tomorrow?’
‘Oh, that’s been cancelled. Something must have come up.’
Almost Anna sat down without being invited: her knees felt weak.
‘Instead I am to join him at Rastenburg on Thursday. You’ll never guess why?’
He was absolutely right; Anna’s brain was still overwhelmed by this sudden reprieve. But was it a reprieve? It meant that the assassination would have to be postponed yet again, and every postponement increased the risk of betrayal or discovery. ‘No, sir,’ she said. ‘I cannot.’
‘The Führer is to be joined by Il Duce, to discuss the formation and operation of this new Fascist republic. He wants all of us military departmental heads to be present. What a bore. You know my opinion of this new idea – of Italians in general.’
‘And the list, Herr Reichsführer? You will present it then?’
‘I will take it with me, and see if I have an opportunity to present it. But I am sure you appreciate that it is something that is going to need a good deal of discussion.’
‘Of course, sir.’ Anna could feel the relaxation slowly seeping through her system – although there remained a lot to be done. But that would be Freddie’s business; all she had to do was contact him.
She returned to her office, sat at her desk, and telephoned the Foreign Ministry. ‘I am sorry, Countess,’ the girl said, ‘Count von Steinberg has already left the office.’
Shit! Anna thought. ‘Then kindly tell me his home telephone number.’ This was undoubtedly tapped, which was why she had never used it before; but all she had to do was summon him to her office.
‘I do not think that the Count has gone home, Countess. I understand that he was leaving Berlin for the weekend.’
Shit, shit, shit! Anna thought. But what was she getting so upset about? So Stauffenberg would go to Berchtesgaden tonight or tomorrow – supposing his visit had not also been cancelled – find that neither Göring nor Himmler was there, and answer Freddie’s call. So he would then do his duty as a staff officer, and come home again. She just wished it hadn’t all been so elaborate.
*
She had an early dinner, went to bed and slept soundly. As it was a Sunday, she was not required in the office; and as she couldn’t get hold of Freddie, there was nothing she could do about the conspiracy either. So she remained in bed after breakfast, reading a novel to occupy her mind. When she got up, she had a bath, dressed, and was disturbed by the sound of tramping boots in the street above her head. ‘What is going on, Birgit?’ she asked.
‘I do not know, Countess. There are soldiers marching about the place.’
My God! She thought. Can he have gone ahead and done it? Remaining hidden away was out of the question. She went upstairs. There was only a skeleton staff on duty, and these were mostly gathered at the windows, looking out. ‘What is happening?’ she asked.
‘I do not know, Countess,’ said one of the female secretaries. ‘They seem to be expecting trouble. Look, over there?’
On the street corner, overlooking the headquarters, a machine-gun post had been set up
, a mini-fortress of sandbags. Anna felt quite cold. This could only be happening by Stieff’s orders, therefore . . . But Himmler was at home in his apartment. She had no idea where Göring was, but in view of what Himmler had told her, it was very unlikely that he was at the Berghof either. But if Stauffenberg had gone ahead anyway . . .
She realized that she could be in considerable danger. Freddie had sworn that no one knew of her part in the conspiracy other than himself – and Johannsson, of course. But Johannsson was undoubtedly safely in Stockholm, and to the average German, certainly everyone in this building, she was the most fervent upholder of the regime in the country. Her execution would be at the top of every hit list, at least until Freddie himself turned up.
She returned downstairs to her apartment, to find that Birgit had gone out – obviously to find out what was happening. Well, the woman would have to fend for herself; she had no intention of tamely presenting her neck to an executioner’s sword: her business was to stay alive until Freddie came for her. She locked the door, checked that her new Luger was loaded and placed her two spare magazines on the table before seating herself behind it, facing the door.
She sat there for two hours, never moving, her brain totally concentrated on what might lie immediately ahead. Then there was a rasp of a key in the lock, but as Anna had left her key in place, whoever was out there was unable to make an entry. On the other hand, the only other person who possessed a key to this apartment was Birgit.
Not that Anna intended to take any risk. She got up and stood beside the door, gun resting against her shoulder. ‘Who is it?’
‘Countess? It is me, Birgit.’
Anna turned the key. ‘It is open.’
She wrapped her left hand round the butt of the pistol on top of her right, and levelled the weapon. Birgit opened the door, stepped inside, and closed it behind her, only then turning to look at Anna. ‘Countess!’ she cried.
‘Just being cautious,’ Anna assured her, lowering the gun. ‘What is happening up there?’
‘It is all so strange, Countess. There were all those soldiers, soldiers everywhere.’
Angel in Jeopardy: The thrilling sequel to Angel of Vengeance (Anna Fehrbach Book 4) Page 26
