Over the next half hour James told Carter everything he could, and answered all the questions he was able to. The policeman took few notes. James wasn’t stupid. To warrant him being questioned by a Chief Inspector, something serious must have happened. He knew that his relationship with Magda must be known. Whatever was going on, he would look bad if he tried to cover anything up.
Finally Carter appeared to be satisfied.
“Am I now allowed to ask what is going on?”
The policeman looked him in the eye, and a couple of seconds said, “The lady is a Russian spy.”
Later that evening, still in shock, James sat quietly in his study at home, alone, sipping a whisky and re-playing the earlier conversation through his mind.
According to Carter, Magda was a highly trained Russian intelligence operative who had been inserted into one of the German speaking areas of Czechoslovakia as a ‘sleeper’ just before it was absorbed into Germany in 1938. Her adoptive ‘family’ there had also been good communists under Moscow control. In 1940 she had moved first to Berlin, then later to the town of Dessau, the home of Junkers Aircraft. Her orders were to infiltrate the aircraft manufacturer and report on new developments, aircraft production numbers, and anything else that could be useful to Soviet intelligence.
Unknowingly, James had helped her to accomplish this.
Two days earlier, Magda had walked into the unassuming London headquarters of Britain’s MI6, and to the surprise of all there, had asked to see personally the head of the Soviet section, who she knew by name. She wanted to defect to Britain. Apparently the emotional and mental strain of the past couple of years had taken their toll. She could no longer carry on acting the part of the loving girlfriend of a decent and respectable British banker, who was in an unhappy marriage.
Carter had told him that she would be ‘debriefed’ by MI6 over a long period of time, after which she would be given a new identity and disappear.
James would never see her again.
The special branch officer had cautioned James to say nothing to anyone. He would be in touch in a few days. He left a badly shaken James sitting in the pub.
Five days later - it seemed like an eternity to James - Carter phoned. It seemed that James was highly regarded and trusted in Germany and in his home country, and was doing useful work for them both. The Germans were completely unaware of the true identity of Magda.
MI6 had decided that it was in nobody’s interest to reveal Magda’s spying activities. This would expose James’ unwitting part in them. They were going to ‘let sleeping dogs lie’.
James felt an immense wave of relief wash over him. The past five days had been hell. The least that would have happened to him would have been the sack from his job, followed by the cold shoulder from everyone he knew. The worst that could happen didn’t bear thinking about.
Chief Inspector Carter had the last word. He swore James to silence about the affair, reminded him of the Official Secrets Act, and sternly told him that if the matter should ever surface as a result of any disclosures by him at any time in the future, he would end up in jail.
An hour after this conversation, and after James sixth celebratory - or was it commiseration - whisky, he went to bed drunk!
BERLIN - APRIL
The debated changes within the German Governing Council had now been made, and today was their first day under the new ‘regime’, even if it was quite similar to the old one.
There was still no appetite in Germany for an elected national government, for democracy, so the current Governing Council system would continue as before. The question had been asked within the Council what was to prevent a future, possibly inept or corrupt council, becoming self-perpetuating? Or even descending into totalitarian dictatorship?
There had been many hours spent debating this particular question. It seemed nobody had a complete answer. It was Foreign Minister von Altendorf who had summed up the situation at the last session.
Currently, new Council members were nominated and elected by, and with, the unanimous consent of the existing members. He saw no problem with this, provided existing members had a proven record of performing their duties efficiently and with integrity. And any member not pulling his weight could be dismissed from the Council by a majority decision of the remaining members. Unanimity was not required in this case.
The German Governing Council had, fortunately, continually made good decisions, and with the minimum of delay, for the good of Germany. They had developed a governing body over the past five years that was the envy of the world. The system was working. You do not fix something that isn’t broken.
He did however, have one suggestion. The political leader of Germany had traditionally bore the title of Chancellor. Von Altendorf thought it was the right time for this to be re-introduced and the President of the Governing Council to be named Chancellor.
The Council was aware that Field Marshall von Brauchitsch had always insisted that he was not a politician and only stayed within the Council at the urging of the other members.
Von Altendorf had looked directly at von Brauchitsch. “Walther, it was your courage in 1940 that saved Germany. Since that time you have guided this Council and our country to the point where we are the most prosperous, peaceful, and militarily strongest nation in the world. You are actually that extreme rarity, a consummate politician with integrity. I personally would like to see you as German Chancellor.”
Before a concerned von Brauchitsch could answer, he had carried on. “You have brilliantly combined the duties of President of this Council and Defence Minister for nearly six years. Perhaps as Chancellor, your burden could be lightened by appointing a new Defence Minister? This way, we, your colleagues, would be reassured that such a new minister would have the benefit of your experience and knowledge, and our country’s defence will remain in good hands.” Von Altendorf sat back in his seat and waited for a reaction.
After only a moments silence it was Albert Speer who spoke first. “I fully support the idea.” He had nothing further to say.
Then everyone started speaking at once. This soon stopped, as over the years they had learned to be patient and allow others to say their piece. It was however, apparent that everybody was in favour of the idea.
Von Brauchitsch had sat there, silently considering the matter. He was now sixty five years old, and lately had started to feel the pressure of his work. The idea of a new appointee as Defence Minister was sound. He himself could remain as a guiding hand to the Council, as well as to a new Defence Minister.
He thanked von Altendorf for his kind words and proposal. He asked why he had decided on the title of Chancellor? Was there not a risk of people associating it with Adolf Hitler?
Von Altendorf answered. “I do not believe so. While Hitler was officially Chancellor, he always preferred the title of Fuhrer, and that is how he came to be known. In any case I always connect the word Chancellor with the name of one of Germany’s greatest statesmen, Otto von Bismark, Chancellor for almost twenty years before the end of the last century. He was a man described as ‘the undisputed world champion at the game of multilateral diplomatic chess’. He unified Germany and kept the peace in Europe through his adroit diplomacy”.
What could von Brauchitsch say? He was flattered and pleased to be compared to the great ‘Iron Chancellor’. Von Bismarck, like himself, was no respecter of politicians. A well-known quote of his was, ‘People never lie so much as after a hunt, during a war, OR BEFORE AN ELECTION’.
He accepted von Altendorf’s proposal. He would officially retire from the army and accept the post of Chancellor of Germany.
Now they were here today, he in his capacity of German Chancellor for the first time. Two more ministers had been appointed to ease the huge burden of Albert Speer’s varied portfolios. Surprisingly one of them, the new Health Minister, was a woman. The newly appointed Defence Minister was also present.
The eleven person Governing Council now consisted of:
Walther von Brauchitsch Chancellor
Werner von Altendorf Foreign Affairs
Albert Speer Interior,transport, industry, energy
Albert Kesselring Aviation
Ludwig Beck Intelligence services
Erich von Mannstein Defence
Ludwig Erhard Economics & finance
Julius Buch Justice
Hans Dietrich Agriculture
Karl Dortmund Education
Hildegard Klein Health
The Chancellor declared the meeting open.
The first item for debate was a request by the USA that Germany once and for all, defines its attitude towards the concept of the United Nations. Since the idea had originally been floated by the United States, the German position had been one of disinterest, despite American pressure to join the proposed body. Von Altendorf suggested that the time had come to officially decline the invitation, but at the same time state they would be willing to co-operate with the body ‘where deemed appropriate’. The German position could be reviewed in future years after the United Nations had had the opportunity to prove its worth.
Nobody on the Governing Council had any enthusiasm for participating in what they regarded as ‘another ineffectual League of Nations talk shop that would allow second and third rate countries with inept or corrupt governments, and with inflated opinions of their own worth, an inordinate say and influence on world affairs’.
It was left to the Foreign Ministry to respond diplomatically. If the Americans took exception to this rebuff, it was their affair.
The Minister for Industry informed the council that the car manufacturer, Volkswagen, had produced over one hundred thousand vehicles the previous year. Considering its Nazi politically motivated, (and financially unfeasible) origins in 1937, the company had overcome great obstacles to become the success story it now was. Volkswagen believed their sales and exports would continue to expand dramatically. Another German success story.
Mercedes Benz were also producing record numbers of motor cars and trucks. Exports to the United States in particular, were climbing sharply.
The smallest of the motor manufacturers, BMW, were now increasing sales rapidly, but from a low base. Their motorcycles were still in great demand worldwide.
The Aviation Minister, as always, gave an enthusiastic report on the industry.
The Focke-Wulf Starflight airliners were being produced at the rate of three hundred a year. The forecast was that the volume of sales would sustain this rate for perhaps another two years before starting to taper off. Most of the Alliance countries had also ordered the military version of this aircraft.
The Focke-Wulf engineers were confident that the prototype of the new jet airliner, the Komet, would have its first test flight before the middle of next year, a year ahead of schedule. A truly commendable achievement.
The same company had recruited some highly qualified and experienced personnel, some of them from Britain, to re-energise its moribund helicopter business. They were designing a helicopter that would challenge the American Sikorsky, currently the best in the world.
The Messerschmit factory was also working at full capacity producing the ME262. This wonderful jet fighter was now used by twelve air forces, and sought after by other countries. Messerschmit had also initiated research into a vertical take-off and landing jet fighter. But this was not expected to produce significant results for some years.
Junkers, working in co-operation with the British, would soon have finished a prototype of their high altitude medium bomber/photo reconnaissance jet aircraft. It would use the same Rolls Royce engines that the Komet would have. It’s design specifications were, a speed of nine hundred and fifty kilometres per hour, and an operational ceiling of over fifteen thousand metres. It would fly higher than any other aircraft in the world. Making it impossible to intercept. The first flight was expected early next year.
Junkers were also working on a design for a short/medium haul, twin engine jet powered airliner. Potential sales for this should make it an economic proposition.
And the smallest of the German aircraft manufacturers, Dornier, had designed a new seaplane. However, while it should enable the company to survive in the short term, the Minister personally thought it was unlikely to be a great commercial success.
General Beck advised that his spies had picked up a rumour that one of Stalin’s closest advisers, Nikita Khrushchev, had proposed to Stalin a summit meeting with Germany with a view to ending the distrust between the two countries. His motives appeared to be that he saw this as leading to lower spending on Soviet defence, thus allowing more money to be spent on industrial renewal.
The outcome of this was, as yet, unknown.
“In South Africa, my source within the new Nationalist Government tells me that they are about to approach us about re-equipping their armed forces. I am sure everybody here is aware of some historical animosity between the English and Dutch speaking citizens of that country. The National Party government was recently elected mainly by the Dutch speakers, and now, probably out of spite more than anything, they are about to snub Britain and buy equipment from ourselves. I have already informed General von Mannstein so that he can prepare himself and his officers.”
Von Brauchitsch added, “Please also remember that, as in the case of Bangladesh, he should solicit the tacit approval of the British before negotiating a final deal. South Africa has been part of the British Empire since Napoleonic times. Germany would love to sell arms to countries such as this, but not at the expense of British friendship.”
The Defence Minister detailed the status of the ME262 squadrons within the Alliance. Denmark, Norway and Portugal had only one squadron each. Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania Holland, and Spain had three squadrons each. Italy had four squadrons, Poland and France had six, while Germany had fifteen, one of which was carrier based. Approximately one thousand two hundred aircraft in total.
In a wartime scenario this number would not be considered sufficient for the Alliance’s defence needs. However, certain of the Alliance countries were so pleased with the aircraft, and the prestige it apparently gives them, five of them were currently considering further acquisitions.
France was still in the throes of re-establishing a viable aircraft industry, but acknowledged that it would be a few years before they would have anything equal to the ME262. In the meantime, to honour their military commitment to the Alliance, they had no alternative but to purchase the German combat aircraft. And learn from it!
Much the same situation applied with the mobile artillery and tanks. There were now about nineteen hundred Panther and Tiger tanks, and nine hundred mobile guns/rocket launchers within the Alliance, and these numbers were still steadily increasing.
The military forces of Germany and the European Alliance were in good shape.
The Economics Minister gave his usual heartening news of the continued growth of the economy, and of the country’s increasing monetary reserves. Germany was now in the envious position of being able to lend money to other nations at favourable interest rates. However, he had drawn up strict guidelines for doing so. Only countries with suitable histories, stable economies, approved governments, and with the undoubted ability to repay, would be considered for any such loans. Also, no loans would be given to any country whose total indebtedness exceeded twenty percent of its Gross Domestic Product, other than in exceptional circumstances.
Minister Erhard also mentioned, with a big smile, that he believed he was witnessing the start of a new form of ‘German imperialism’. In response to the quizzical looks of his audience he explained that German banks had started to acquire interests in American banks to take advantage of that booming economy. “It is a development I fully support and should pay high dividends in the future,” he said.
The remaining four Ministers had nothing of great import to contribute. All was well within their domains.
The Chancellor thanked everybody and closed the meeting.
BERLIN - MAY
General Sieckenius had been busy since his appointment in his new job. He had completed the military assessment of the needs of the Bangladeshi and Serbian armed forces. Copies of these had been forwarded to the Defence Minister for his consideration, before he in turn, looked for approval of the finance and trade aspects from those respective ministers.
He had then turned his attention to the South African armed forces. German intelligence had given him a fairly complete picture of their structure and equipment. They had also been able to give him a few hints as to what the South Africans might be looking for.
The South African Ambassador in Berlin had been amazed when a detailed reply to his country’s enquiry about re-equipping their armed forces, was delivered to him only two weeks after their own letter had been delivered to the German Defence Minister. German efficiency at its best!
The German Peace Page 33
