Newborn Nazi

by Rhoda D'Ettore

  They walked in silence to Hedwig's home. All the while, he dragged her by the wrist. When they entered, she demanded, “What is wrong with you?”

  “What is wrong with me? What is wrong with me?” he bellowed repeatedly. He removed his belt and gun holster, placing them on the table next to the couch. He pushed her down on the couch, and began unbuttoning his shirt as he climbed on top of her. His hands roamed her body for the first time.

  “What are you doing?” she screamed, trying to push him off of her.

  He leaned back and demanded, “Why did you not tell me who you are?”

  She began to cry, “You are scaring me. What do you want from me? I am who I am. I'm Hedwig Schultz.”

  Hedwig looked at the gun and slowly moved her hand toward it. He climbed on top of her, “Yes, Frau Schultz. I now remember that day in this room. Would you like to plead for mercy and beg? What words would you like to utter to save your life?”

  As she grabbed the gun she whispered into his ear, “I love you.”

  With those three little words, his face smoothed out from the rage and confusion filled his eyes. He leaned backward and climbed off of her. Johann tried to take in everything that happened between them.

  She sat up and whispered in his ear again, “I love you. The past does not matter.” As she spoke, she slowly wrapped one arm around him while the other hand moved the gun. She nuzzled against his neck and gently kissed him.

  He stared off into the distance for a moment before he turned to her. His eyes drank in her beauty, and his hand reached for her cheek. “How? How can you love me after the pain I caused you?”

  “It's easy.” She leaned in to kiss him and pulled the trigger. “I lied.”

  Johann grabbed his wound, “You shot me.”

  Laughing Hedwig replied, “Yes, I did. And it felt good.”

  “You will never get away with this.”

  “You poisoned the minds of many children regarding the Jewish people. A Jew broke in to rob me and shot you when you tried to stop him. My lie will be the only way you would ever be a true hero.”

  Johann gasped for breath, barely getting out the words, “I loved you.” A velvet box fell out of his jacket pocket. He begged, “Please, call for help. I won't arrest you.”

  Hedwig leaned over to pick up the box. Inside she found a one carat diamond solitaire. She immediately put it on her finger and admired it. “Perfect. Just what I needed to help me. Thank you, Darling.” She mocked him by blowing a kiss in his direction.

  Johann struggled to get to the phone, “Must get help... must...”

  In a low tone, Hedwig repeated, “Help, oh please, help.” She then kicked him in the face as he crawled on the floor. “I don't think anyone heard me. Do you?”

  “You won't.... get away with.....this.”

  She laughed. “Yes, I will. You and your kind made it easy for me. You blame everything on the Jewish people. It gives me a good suspect for who killed you. Two Jews came into my home and killed my fiance. Boo Hoo.”

  Johann crawled across the floor, grabbed the phone cord and pulled the phone to the floor.

  “This is the operator, may I help you?”

  Hedwig pulled the phone up by the cord and grabbed the receiver.

  “This is the operator, may I help you?” the voice repeated.

  Johann tried to scream but could not.

  Hedwig shouted into the phone, “Operator. Help me. They shot my fiance. He's dead. Oh God, he's dead.”

  Hedwig's shoe pressed tightly down onto Johann's throat, squeezing the life out of him.

  “Ma'am, what is your name and address, please?”

  “He's DEAD. Help me.”

  “Ma'am, I cannot send help without your name and address, please.”

  “Frau Schultz. My address is 212 Moorehouse Street.” She then hung up the phone.

  Johann's lifeless body lay across the floor with a blood trail from the couch to the floor. Hedwig admired the ring on her finger, then looked at the dead officer. “It was one year ago today that you killed Fritz. One year ago that you entered my life. Happy anniversary, Johann. I hope you enjoyed my gift to you.” She danced around the room laughing.

  Chapter 20

  When the police arrived, Hedwig threw her body over Johann's and pretended to cry for him. She swelled up all of her emotions from the loss of her parents and her husband to produce real tears.

  “Ma'am, we need to know what happened here. Can you tell us, please?”

  Hedwig began screaming, “They shot him. They shot him.”

  The officer asked, “Who shot him ma'am?”

  “Two... two... two... Juden. Jews.”

  “Ma'am, you need to calm down so that we can ask you some questions. Please take a few deep breaths.”

  Another officer approached, “Hey, did you get a look at his face? That is Colonel Reinhard's son.”

  The first officer immediately barked orders to a swarm of soldiers. “I want a door to door search. Round up anyone who does not belong. Anyone who is suspicious. Set up a two kilometer radius around this house.”

  Another officer approached Hedwig, “What is your name?”

  “Frau Hedwig Schultz. My husband, Herr Fritz Schultz, died over a year ago.”

  “Can you please tell me your relationship to the deceased?”

  “We planned on marrying next spring. Look, he gave me the ring tonight.” Hedwig cried again, waving her hand to show the diamond.

  “Please, ma'am, I know this is difficult, but I need you to tell me what happened.”

  Hedwig sat with her arms around Johann, his blood covered her. “We attended a party at his parents house, and halfway through the evening he dragged me out of there. He said he could not wait to propose and gave me this ring while promising his undying love.”

  The officer prodded, “Please go on, ma'am.”

  “We came home to find two men in the living room. Johann lunged for them screaming Juden---Jews. The one reached for my hand to take the ring, and Johann struck him. The other grabbed Johann's gun, and it fired during the struggle. They shot him and continued to beat him on the floor.”

  “What happened next, ma'am?”

  “I screamed so loudly they ran. Thank God they forgot about my ring. It is all I have of my poor Johann.”

  “Did you notice if they took anything? What did they steal?” The officer handed Hedwig a tissue.

  “I don't... I don't think so. It happened so fast, and Johann just pounced on them. They stood here in this room when we entered, and suddenly Johann lay bleeding. The men fled when I screamed. Oh dear, God, poor Johann.” Hedwig cradled her face in her hands again.

  “Can you give us a description of the men, please?”

  “They looked to be in their forties. They both had dark hair and big Jewish noses. One was balding on top and swept the hair over. They were short and ugly—you know... Jews.”

  Hedwig never let go of Johann's body. She wanted everyone to witness her crying.

  Colonel Reinhard entered the room, and Hedwig immediately jumped up and hugged him. “Colonel. It's awful. He proposed marriage to me, and then....” She cried into her hands, showing the ring on her finger to those around her.

  The colonel asked one of the officers, “Who is in charge here? I want a full report.”

  The senior officer pulled the colonel into the kitchen. “Sir, it appears as though your son and his fiancee arrived home to find two Jewish men in the living room. Your son thwarted a robbery in progress and probably saved the young woman's life.”

  The colonel nodded, “What about the girl?”

  “She's not sustained any injuries, but she is obviously distraught.”

  “Is there any possibility of her involvement in foul play?”

  The officer wrinkled his forehead in astonishment, “Sir, there are no previous cases where a woman committed--”

  The colonel interrupted, “I did not ask you for precedents. I asked of any possible connect
ion to this event.”

  “To the best of my ability, I would say no, sir. If she conspired with someone to kill him, she is quite an actress.” The officer chose his words carefully before adding, “As a couple they traveled in loyal Nazi circles and appeared to be affectionate. None of my officers reported any sort of discord between the two.”

  This pleased the colonel, “Thank you.”

  Colonel Reinhard walked back to Hedwig, pulling her off his son's body. “Is there someone you want us to call for you?”

  “Heidi. I need to go to Heidi's. I won't feel safe here anymore.”

  Trying to calm her fears, “My dear, tonight this house is the safest place in all of Europe. I can assure you of that. If you need somewhere to reside, you can stay in our home.

  “Thank you, Colonel. I appreciate that.” She threw her arms around him, smearing Johann's blood all over his father.

  Hedwig called her friend. “Heidi, I'm sorry for calling so late. I need you. Can you come over, please? Two burglars killed my Johann. It's awful.” After a moment she said into the phone, “Thank you so much.”

  Heidi walked down the street into the chaos. Military police patrolled every corner and broke down doors. She stopped several times at check points along the way. Each time, she needed to give her identification and destination.

  When she finally approached the house, two armed guards stood at the edge of the path to the house. “The Gestapo confiscated this house until further notice. Any entry is forbidden until the investigation is complete.”

  Heidi inched closer to the men, “But Frau Schultz asked me to visit, we are best friends.”

  The men stood in silence with their legs and rifles stretched across the path. She begged, “Please. I need to talk to my friend. Her fiance is dead.”

  Heidi saw the colonel stepping out of the house. “Colonel. Please tell them to let me pass.”

  The guard pushed her to the ground, “I told you that no one is permitted on this property.”

  The colonel saw the interaction and shuffled to Heidi. He reached a hand to her and pulled her up.

  “This woman is a member of the Nazi Party and one of the women who will give birth to future generations of Germany. Learn to show some respect.” the colonel chastised the guard.

  “Yes, sir. We have our orders--” the colonel interrupted before he could finish.

  “How is this for an order?” The colonel turned to the other guard, “Shoot him the next time he lays hands on a Aryan woman.”

  The second guard shouted, “Yes, sir.”

  Heidi and the colonel headed into the house.

  Chapter 21

  Edmund called Jacob with the news. “Brother. She did it. Remember what I told you? She did it last night. You told me to call if we needed you.” Edmund's voice sounded frantic.

  Jacob tried to comfort him, “It will be all right. Just calm down. I need you to tell me exactly what happened, but be careful of what you say.”

  “A new instructor taught my class this morning, and it is rumored my old one is dead. They said two Jews tried to rob our house, and Lieutenant Reinhard and Hedwig walked in on them.”

  Jacob needed to process Edmund's statements. “Edmund, keep your mouth shut and speak to no one. Do you understand me? No one.”

  Edmund's respiration increased, “They will come for me. They will interrogate me for certain. What should I tell them?”

  “Tell them nothing. I will make some calls and try to get there soon. In the meantime, you don't know anything because you reside at the camp. Both Hedwig and I are loyal Nazi Party members. You will be also when you graduate the Hitler Youth in a couple more years. That gives us some protection.”

  “Okay. Okay. I'll wait for you to call back.”

  The boy hung up the phone.

  Jacob turned to Alois, “We've got trouble.”

  Alois shook his head in horror as Jacob recited the story.

  “I'll call the colonel and discern his version of events. I need to determine if Hedwig is a suspect or not. We'll need to pool our money together for my ticket to go there.”

  Alois shrugged, “I can probably come up with half the ticket. Do you really think she did it?”

  His brother shook his head while he dialed the phone, “I can't be sure. She stared in the distance at times and ranted bizarre things. It's possible. I never expected this or I would not have left her alone.”

  “Operator, I need to place an overseas call.... Yes, thank you.” Jacob waited for the international operator. “Yes, I need to be connected with the Office of Civilian Affairs in Landstuhl, Germany, please.”

  Alois grabbed a chair and inched closer, wanting to hear the conversation.

  “Colonel Reinhard, please. This is Herr Geiger calling from America.”

  The colonel got on the line, “This is Colonel Reinhard.”

  “Hello, colonel. I received a telegram of your son's death, and wanted to wish you my condolences.”

  The colonel took a puff of a cigarette. “Thank you, Herr Geiger. There is nothing worse than the loss of a child.”

  “How is your family doing in this difficult time?”

  “My wife is not doing well. He was our only child, and she is beside herself.”

  “My sister must be disturbed. She and your son had become quite close over the last few months.”

  The colonel chuckled, “That is an understatement. He proposed marriage to her... right before....”

  Jacob's eyes widened, “I was unaware of that, sir. Have you spoken to Hedwig? She must be heartbroken. I called but there was no answer.”

  “Spoken to her? Dear boy, she moved into my home yesterday afternoon,” the colonel stated as if proud.

  Jacob looked at the phone receiver in disbelief. “Staying with you? Why is she staying with you? There is certainly enough money in her fund to pay for either a hotel or special security of her own home.”

  “Herr Geiger, my wife and I have grown very fond of your sister. We are all grieving right now, and my wife thought it best that we do so together. Women are delicate creatures, you know. Let the two women do what they must in this difficult time.”

  “You are not only right, but most gracious, Colonel. I thank you for your assistance. If at anytime you require any sort of payment, the money is available in her account.”

  “Good day, Herr Geiger.”

  “Good day, Colonel Reinhard. And again, my condolences.”

  Jacob hung up the receiver and said to Alois, “Something very strange is going on here. Why is she staying with the colonel?”

  Alois shrugged, “Maybe it is not what you think. Perhaps she did care for the man, and she can't be alone at the moment. Hedwig suffered through many deaths over the last few years, but she is still a young girl.”

  “You did not see that so-called girl. She is a very opinionated and out-spoken woman. What should we do?“

  Alois' eyes got wide, “Well, don't look at me. You are the spy. I am an innocent participant in this family.”

  Jacob scoffed. “Spy? What do you mean? I am no spy.”

  Alois rolled his eyes, “I saw the paperwork stamped Nazi Intelligence you brought home. You would do best to burn such papers, because I am not going to be executed for violation of the Espionage Act for your actions.”

  “You have an overactive imagination. But I do need to makes some calls. I need to make arrangements to visit our brother and sister. They should not be alone.”

  “Yes, brother. Because all hospital orderlies can pick up a phone and arrange for transport and visas to another country. Something has been different with you since you returned from Germany, and I do not like it.”

  Jacob ignored his brother and dialed the phone once more.

  Alois questioned, “What did you mean when you said you and Hedwig are both loyal party members?”

  Jacob did not answer.

  “I do not like any of this. I do not like it at all.”

  Jacob hung u
p the phone out of frustration. “What information could I possibly possess to report to anyone? I am a nobody.”

  Alois was adamant, “I don't know. What do you report?”

  Jacob sighed. “Nothing really. I tell them what I read in the papers. They ask what Americans are thinking about happenings in Europe.”

  Alois was apprehensive, “That does not sound bad. But why would they need you? They can read that for themselves.”

  “Occasionally they send me a message or document that they cannot translate. Most of the members of the group were born in America, and they do not understand certain German dialects. So from time to time, I translate from English to German and vice versa.”

  Alois chuckled, “So you are translating top secret documents from and to whom you are unsure. And this does not make you a spy?” Alois stood in disgust, and walked out of the room.”

  Chapter 22

  The school held a memorial service for Johann, and the flag flew at half mast. Each instructor and several children spoke of Johann's qualities and attributes while family and friends grieved. Colonel Reinhard insisted his office write the speeches.

  Of all the children, only Edmund received permission to attend the actual funeral. That was more for Hedwig's benefit than his own.

  Hedwig sat in a chair next to Johann's mother, both dressed in black with veils. Behind them stood Gustav and Heidi. Edmund stood next to Hedwig, holding her hand.

  Various ranks of officers gave speeches of Johann's bravery and dedication to the Third Reich. A salute of gun fire boomed before the crowd dissipated. Edmund pulled his sister to the side, away from the crowd. Heidi trailed slightly behind them.

  “They will not tell me when I can return home. Tell me now what happened, please?”

  Hedwig lifted her veil over her head and said to him flatly, “Two Jews broke into the house to rob us. Johann tried to stop them, and they shot and beat him.”

  Edmund shook his head. “No, that is not what happened. Tell me, what really happened?”

  “I just did. That is what everyone needs to think happened.”