by Ward Wagher
Heisenberg's eyes now glowed. “I understand, Herr Partieleiter. I am honored you have given me this responsibility.”
“Understand, Herr Heisenberg, I am giving you this responsibility. In every sense of the word.”
Heisenberg blanched and sat straighter in his chair. “Of course, Herr Partieleiter.”
“Understand also the future of the Fatherland may well depend upon your success. You will also be involved in very dangerous work. Correct me if I am wrong, but you will be manipulating elements which are deadly poisons.”
“That is correct. Some of the elements are incredibly dangerous to work with. A speck smaller than a grain of sand would be enough to kill a man.”
“Then you must ensure that these poisons are controlled and not let loose in our land.”
“Of course, Herr Partieleiter. There is one matter....”
“Yes?”
“Many of our best scientists were drafted into the armed forces...”
“Get me a list of those men,” Schloss interrupted. “I will have them found and returned to your control.”
“And many of the research establishments were pulled into the military.”
“I will speak also with the Reichsmarshall. I will get him to agree to move the other research organizations to your control. Add those to your list. Will there be anything else?”
“That is all that I can think of at this time.”
“Rainer!” Schloss shouted.
Rainer stepped into the room. “Yes, Herr Partieleiter?”
“As you and I have discussed, Herr Heisenberg will be creating a new research project. Please coordinate with him to get things moving. You have drafted the note we discussed?”
“I have, Herr Partieleiter.”
“Very well. Bring it for my signature.” He looked at Heisenberg. “I have drafted a note directing you to create the research organization. As you identify other groups you want to coopt, we will fold their budgets into yours. As the opportunity arises, I will divert more resources to you, but it will never be as much as you desire.”
“Of course, Herr Partieleiter,” Heisenberg said.
“If you require additional funds for major investments, please let me know. I make no promises, but this project is important to me, and to the Reich. Rainer will help you put the pieces together.”
Schloss stood up to indicate the meeting was over. Heisenberg quickly stood up as well.
“Herr Partieleiter, I am very grateful for this opportunity. This is the dream of my life.”
“I do not care about your dreams, Herr Heisenberg. I care about results. Do not disappoint me.”
“Of course not. Of course not.”
Schloss nodded to Rainer, who guided the scientist from his office. He sat back down and pondered at his desk. Realigning German industry towards the outcomes he knew would ensure technical mastery was easier than he expected it to be. Goering was already pressuring manufacturers to use less expensive techniques – such as using stamped parts in rifles rather than precision machined items. He had gotten one of the shipyards to give careful thought to the next generation of submarines. He thought they could achieve orders of magnitude improvements in performance.
He also knew he was avoiding his biggest challenge – the so-called Final Solution to the Jewish problem. The German populists had spent a generation or more convincing the people of the nation that the Jews were the source of all their problems. Schloss wasn't sure he could remove something so tightly integrated into the Nazi party philosophy without destroying the government and him along with it. He also knew he had no choice but to tackle the problem, and he could not afford to fail.
His next meeting was in fifteen minutes. So he left his chair and walked into the outer office. He briefly studied the eighteen party employees who worked directly for him. The other Schloss was a gifted manager, no, he was a genius. Here was a finely honed tool to do his bidding. There was no question the changes Schloss was effecting were succeeding because the people in this office jumped to follow his instructions without question. Not only that, they showed very un-German-like initiative. It seemed as though Rainer could almost read his mind.
He walked over to the desk where the sturdy blond Margrethe Bonet transcribed hand written notes with the typewriter. When she saw him next to her desk, she jumped to her feet. The notepad and pencil fell off the desk with a clatter.
“I'm sorry, Margrethe, I did not mean to startle.”
“How may I help the Partieleiter?”
“Since I have succeeded in completely interrupting you, I wonder if you might bring coffee and pastries to my office for the upcoming meeting? And I would very much like a cup of coffee right now.”
“Of course, Herr Partieleiter. At once.”
He walked over to where another employee, Ludwig Pankow, carefully matched names on two lists. Rainer had reported to Schloss that some of the Gauleiters, or regional party leaders were suspected of falsifying enrollment statistics in the party to further their own fortunes. Pankow was auditing the reports. Based upon some of Pankow's preliminary reports, Schloss was sure several of the Gauleiters would experience some uncomfortable interviews with the Gestapo.
“How are things going, Ludwig?”
Pankow was made of sterner stuff than Margrethe. He looked up at Schloss over the top of his reading glasses, and raised an eyebrow.
“I am continuing to find discrepancies, Mein Herr. This is clearly more than just an oversight on the part of the Gauleiters' people.”
“That is distressing, Ludwig. I fear we shall have to make an example of them. They are supposed to set an example for the people. Party leaders should be above reproach.”
The members of the Nazi party were a notoriously corrupt bunch, Schloss thought. It seemed every one of the leadership had a side business of misappropriation of state property, or theft from the Jews. Schloss had even discovered his analogue was as thieving as the rest of his peers. His bank accounts showed healthy balances far beyond what his salary could justify. But, he simply could not allow the Gauleiters to deceive the central leadership. He hated the corruption, but that problem was not as urgent as the other things he needed to take care of.
“I understand, Herr Partieleiter,” Pankow said. “I expect to complete this task and finish the report by the end of the week.”
“That's good news.” Schloss made himself smile at the other man. “I appreciate your hard work.”
Pankow blushed and looked down, clearly embarrassed and pleased by Schloss's praise. Schloss nodded, and looked around the room. Most of the rest of the team was surreptitiously watching the exchange. If they saw that Schloss was willing to compliment one member for his work, he would praise the others as well. Schloss calculated this would do more to motivate the team than anything else he could think of. As he spun on a heel to return to his office he cursed himself for his cynicism.
After drinking a cup of coffee and visiting the toilet, Schloss waited in his office for the next meeting. He had scheduled this meeting out of curiosity, but also because he wanted to meet the man he had studied from the vantage point of thirty years.
Rainer knocked twice on the door and opened it. “Herr Admiral Canaris, Herr Partieleiter.”
Schloss stood up as the tall naval officer entered the room.
“Herr Admiral, thank you for agreeing to meet.”
Canaris clicked his heels together and bowed slightly before shaking Schloss's hand.
“The honor is mine. It has been, what, four years since we last spoke?”
Schloss considered the question and tried to decide if Canaris was trying to trick him.
“To be perfectly honest,” Schloss said, “I don't remember. But, please, have a chair.”
Canaris nodded and slipped into the chair across from his desk. Schloss also sat down. He motioned to the tray next to Canaris.
“Please, help yourself to the coffee and pastries.”
“Thank you, Herr P
artieileiter, but I have only just had coffee and pastries at the office.”
Schloss shrugged. “Machts nichts.” Or, no matter.
Canaris leaned back in his chair and cross his legs. He folded his hands in his lap and looked at Schloss expectantly. Canaris was a gray-haired, patrician-looking man in uniform. He had served in German intelligence since World War I, and had been the head of the Abwehr since 1935. In the histories Schloss had studied, the man was a cypher. It was fairly clear he was anti-Nazi and made efforts to preserve the Jews, but it was not clear who he truly served. Schloss resolved to treat him carefully.
“In view of the recent events, Herr Admiral, I have been forced to take a more active role in governing Germany's actions with respect to foreign powers.”
Canaris raised an eyebrow and nodded, as if he wished Schloss to continue.
“As our primary source of foreign intelligence, I wanted to make sure you understood our priorities.”
Canaris again nodded, but said nothing. Schloss wondered how the man would react if he threw something at him.
“Let me give you the priorities. In this order, we desire to avoid open war with Russia. Secondly, and at all costs, we must avoid war with the Americans. Finally, we need to reach an accommodation with the Englanders.”
Canaris nodded once again, but then he spoke. “I understand, Herr Partieleiter. This represents a fundamental shift in our thinking.”
“Yes, very much so,” Schloss replied. “I need to know that you have resources in place to support these new priorities.”
“I shall have to shift some assets around, but yes, I believe I can support this.”
“I would like monthly reports from you as to the activities of your group, Admiral. In person.”
Canaris had started to respond, then stopped. “That might be inconvenient, Herr Partieileiter.”
“For me or for you, Herr Admiral?” Schloss put a hint of threat in his voice.
Canaris seemed to hesitate. “I will, of course, arrange my schedule to meet with you monthly. Perhaps you know that I report to the Reichsmarshall.”
“I will speak to the Reichsmarshall,” Schloss said. “He and I are of one mind concerning our priorities.”
“Thank you, Herr Partieleiter.”
Schloss stared at him for several moments. Canaris watched him with a bland face. The man was a master of his own demeanor, even if history had shown him to be a poor spy master for Germany.
“Do you have any other questions?” Schloss asked.
“The Jewish Question,” Canaris stated flatly.
Schloss leaned forward in his chair and glared at Canaris. “What do you want to know, Admiral?”
“Will we continue in our efforts to destroy them?”
Okay, Hennie, Schloss said to himself, how are you going to answer this one?
“Herr Admiral, I invite you to observe my actions.”
There. That should be suitably obscure.
CHAPTER TEN
July 1, 1941, 7 AM
Schloss Residence
Charlottenburg, Berlin
“When does Herr Schloss expect to return?” Frau Marsden asked.
Schloss slipped the straps through the buckles on his travel bag and scanned the bedroom to make sure he had forgotten nothing. Since Frau Marsden had selected the travel items and actually packed his bag, the chance of something being forgotten was vanishingly small. Yet he felt compelled to double check.
“I hope to return home tomorrow night, Frau Marsden. I have a fearful mess to clean up in Munich.”
He wondered why he was telling her this.
“I am sure you will discover plenty of messes to clean up in Germany.”
“You may well be right.”
“And you have a big challenge coming soon, do you not?”
He looked sharply at her. “What do you mean, Frau Marsden?”
“Oh, just that you seem to have a lot on your mind. I believe you are a much fairer minded man than some that you must work with.”
“You may be correct there.”
“You must be very careful.”
“I am always careful, Frau Marsden.”
“See that you are.”
He had time for a cup of coffee and a few minutes with the children before climbing into the car where Rainer was waiting.
“To Tempelhof, Karl,”
“Of course, Herr Partieleiter.”
“You have arranged for the Gestapo to meet us at the airport in Munich?”
“Jawohl, Herr Partieleiter.”
Rainer shifted the car into low gear and eased away from the curb.
“You disapprove of my actions, Karl?”
“I have not said such.”
“Right. You always get formal with me when you are unhappy.” Schloss paused for a moment. “I depend upon you to tell me the things I don't want to hear, Karl.”
Now Rainer hesitated before speaking. “I am surprised you are using the Gestapo to deal with the Gauleiters. I have heard you call them swine often enough. In the past you always took matters into your own hands.”
Schloss raised an eyebrow and nodded. He was sure Rainer was watching him in the mirror. “Just so. Tell me, Karl, who will they be more afraid off, me or the Gestapo?”
Rainer managed a nervous laugh. “I am not sure I can answer that. I would personally much prefer to stay on your good side, not to mention the Gestapo.”
Now Schloss laughed. “Ever the tactful one, Karl. Let me put it this way: since I called the Gestapo in on this operation on my own pfennig, the Reichsprotektor will feel obligated to me. He has not been very happy with me of late.”
“And this will change his mind?” Rainer asked.
“No, it will not. However, he will now hesitate where he would otherwise be inclined to scheme against me.”
“If I may ask, Herr Partieleiter, which of the governing council is beholden to you?”
“Let me turn the question around, Herr Rainer,” Schloss said. “Tell me the lineup in the council?”
In the morning light Schloss could see beads of sweat on Rainer's neck. If the man was foolish enough to put himself on the spot like that, Schloss was perfectly willing to see where things led.
“I must apologize, Herr Partieleiter, I was perhaps a bit forward.”
“Answer the question, Rainer,” Schloss growled softly.
“At the moment, Mein Herr, you own the Deputy Fuhrer. The Reichsmarshall is following you out of self-interest. The foreign minister is following you because he believes you hold the balance of power. Goebbels wants to follow the Reichsprotektor, but in most cases your arguments have swayed him.”
“And what about the Reichsprotektor?”
“I believe, Herr Schloss, that Herr Himmler will try to kill you at the first opportunity.”
Schloss nodded. “Very astute, Karl. The only thing I would add is that Hess and Goering will switch sides at the moment they sense the balance of power has shifted to Himmler. And to be a bit more precise, Himmler's loyalty is to the German state. He has hesitated to move against me because he thinks I may have the same goal in mind.”
Rainer was thoughtful as he drove across Berlin. Schloss studied him as he drove.
“Karl, what about the question so you so obviously want to ask?”
“I believe you have covered everything, Mein Herr.”
“No. I have left a glaring omission on the table, and we both know what it was.”
“But, you have always acted in the best interests of the German state.”
“Wrong, Karl.”
The car eased to a halt at an intersection. Rainer shifted into low gear, then looked back at Schloss.
“I do not understand, Herr Partieleiter.”
“The difference between me and Himmler is thatIwant to preserve the Fatherland.”
“I must think about that, Herr Partieleiter.”
“Don't take too long, Karl. Events are in play.”
# # #
The Focke-Wolf Fw200 Condor floated on to the runway in Munich with the grace of its breed. Waiting at the gate were four Gestapo agents. Each held out a metal warrant disc. This was enough to identify them as representing the Geheime Staatzpolizei, without revealing their personal identity. Schloss looked at them in distaste.
“You are here at the request of the Reichsprotektor?” he asked.
One of the men nodded, and merely said, “Ja.”
“Good. Then you know what we are here for. You have vehicles for me and my guards?”
The Gestapo agent nodded towards the street.
“Very well,” Schloss said. “Allow me to give you your instructions now, before we arrive at party headquarters.”
“The Reichsprotektor has given us our orders.”
Schloss drew his pistol and stuck it in the agent's chest. The four guards accompanying him also had their guns out.
“And the Reichsprotektor has requested you give me every cooperation. Do we have an understanding?”
The agent had turned white. The other three looked bewildered. “Jawohl, Herr Partieleiter,” he finally managed to say. His voice was a squeak.
“Better. Here is what we are to do. We will enter the Gauleiter's office. After I confront him, you will take him into custody. We will then take his assistant into custody as well.”
“And then what?” The Gestapo man seemed to be getting his nerve back.
“You remove them from the office. I will be done with you and them at that time. You may handle the arraignments as you would any lawbreaker.”
“Very well.”
“And remember,” Schloss said, glaring at the man, “The Reichsprotektor desires to make an example of these people. You will see that they are kept in good health while in custody.”
The agent seemed to wilt. “Very well,” he muttered.
“All right, then. Let's go.”
Rainer looked over at Schloss as they rode in the back seat of a Mercedes procured for the operation.
“I worry that the Gestapo might be tempted to come after you, Herr Partieleiter.”
