by Gee, Colin
As they had waited for Knocke to finish the others relaxed and took in the surroundings, the ornate wood panelling and painted walls and ceilings, each eye eventually being drawn to the ceiling and its central feature, an Imperial Eagle.
The sharper eyes were able to make out the inscription ‘Gott mit uns’ in the aureole surrounding the eagle’s head.
A polite cough brought all back from their reveries and to the business in hand.
“Well Meine Herren, now you know. We are here to play teacher to the men that conquered our nation. Yes Jurgen”, he held his hand up to silence the obvious comment forming on the lips of the returning Von Arnesen, “We all know that the Western Allies did not and neither could they have done, but that is how they view themselves. And that is the crux of this as I see it. They are not a threat to our fatherland in the way that the communist is and this proposal, this symposium, this…Colloque gives us an opportunity to instil some of our fighting values in the Western Allies, values which stood all of us in good stead during the difficult years in Russia.”
He stood very carefully and walked to the window next to the fireplace. With his back to the group and oblivious to the countryside of Alsace spread out before him, Knocke carefully tugged at his tunic and straightened his uniform before turning to continue.
“When this matter was first put to me I had little time to consider, but my inner feeling, my blood feeling was that it was a good thing to do for Germany. I have had much more time to consider this than you have obviously but I promised not to reveal the nature of this group before the correct time. My apologies.”
“We have known each other as soldiers in troubled times and relied upon each other on more than one occasion, either face to face or,” he acknowledged Treschow, “More distantly but equally professionally reliant.”
“I am wholly comfortable with doing this, and believe it will serve our country better than rotting in some prison camp, regardless of the route that history takes from this point.”
Around him, positive noises came from every man.
“However, think on this kameraden. Some of you have fought these Western Allies. How do you think they would do against our communist opponents?”
That question was left hanging in the air as each man mentally wrote off the Western Allies in a direct confrontation with the Russians.
“Indeed menschen, indeed,” said Knocke, calling a halt to their imaginative mental destruction of the western allied armies, “So it would be much in Germany’s best interest for our ‘new’ allies to be better prepared to fight the mutual enemy. If we can use what we have learned and preserve what is left of our Fatherland, then we can only be serving our country and honouring our fallen comrades.”
De Walle, listening to the exchange from the ornate wooden musicians’ gallery, smiled to himself. His estimation of Knocke was correct and France had her Colloque for sure. He would not need Dubois to undertake the clean up that was the contingency for non-compliance. He quickly wondered if any of the Germans had considered such a possibility.
“You can see from that brief that our hosts desire a formal structure prepared for examination by 1400 tomorrow.” Even though everyone had read the document it didn’t stop a few knowing grins exchanged, especially those who had worked alongside Knocke before.
“Kameraden”, the punch in that made each man shoot to attention, quite as Knocke intended.
“There is no pressure to stay or to involve yourselves in this. I will remain and undertake this because I believe I serve my country as well as I can at this time. Please consider this and inform me of your decision as soon as possible.”
With the exception of Rettlinger, each man's heels clicked automatically and each man's eyes confirmed commitment when contact was made. Except Rettlinger, the only man there other than Knocke who had fought the Western Allies in recent months, which period had seen him bury both his best friend and his brother-in-law, killed by American artillery and aircraft respectively.
“Ah yes Bruno, for you this is a more difficult commitment. You must think it through more perhaps?”
“Not necessary Standartenfuhrer. I was just thinking of Hans and Josef and not fully concentrating on your words. My apologies sir,” and Rettlinger followed suit, clicking his heels, once more under control.
De Walle risked a look down around the stonework and made a mental note to watch that one very carefully.
In the background the sound of a light vehicle approaching grew in volume, but not enough to cause Knocke to raise his voice.
“Then let us have coffee and start to plan for the work ahead. Danke, kameraden. You have your symposium Colonel.”
De Walle heard the words and automatically looked down through the ornate balustrade, straight into the steely eyes of Knocke.
The Frenchman nodded and made another mental note. Lavalle’s briefing document was right. Never, ever, underestimate Knocke.
As coffee was taken, the two missing members of the group arrived and were ushered into the Kaiser’s Hall.
Both men were warmly welcomed, given their folders and time to read them. Cigarettes appeared again and were greedily consumed by the newcomers. As they studied carefully, they occasionally paused, either to look at one of the ensemble or to consume one of the array of sandwiches that had been set before them. When they were done, they listened. Knocke’s obvious commitment to the programme, as with the others present, was sufficient for them to agree involvement.
The requested writing materials arrived with the new officers and the symposium started to put together the way it would work. Lunch was taken in snatched bites in between discussions as each group of two officers wrestled with their own issues as dictated by Knocke, who moved easily between the groups. Once one group established a programme it was critiqued by another group, usually over a cigarette, until slowly a format took shape that satisfied the military requirements of the Western Allies and the professional requirements of the Germans.
It was mid-afternoon when De Walle ventured into the room to find out how much progress had been made. His question drew a familiar wry smile.
“We have a format on which we are agreed Colonel. One that fits your requirements, although we have felt it necessary to alter some matters and included Kreigspiels as essential learning opportunities for all participants.”
De Walle smiled at the inclusion of the famous German wargame training.
“The training package we present will ensure your commanders leave here with valuable knowledge in the event that our enemy, our mutual enemy, attempts to spread communism even further across Europe.”
In his hand Knocke held a modest sheaf of paper, neatly hand-written, outlining the format. De Walle was surprised and actually checked his watch to confirm that in just over five hours these Germans claimed to have sorted out the entire Symposium. That was singularly impressive, provided it was fit for purpose he cautioned himself, although somehow he never doubted that it would be precisely what had been intended when the concept of the symposia was first considered last Christmas.
“How long will it take you to present this so I can make a judgement Herr Knocke?”
Without stopping to consider his answer Knocke indicated seven minutes, but did permit a subtle but none the less very apparent grin to alter his face.
“Impressive mein Herr, very impressive” said De Walle genuinely, and again underlined his mental note on not underestimating the soldier in front of him.
Another look at his watch reinforced a decision he had just reached.
“I suggest that we take a break now so that you gentlemen may enjoy the grounds or take some rest. It is now 1512 so I suggest that we enjoy our dinner, which I will arrange for 1900 sharp and then, once we are rested and comfortable, the presentation may be made.”
There were no dissenters and so, with their official business done, the group visibly relaxed.
“I will arrange for Dubois to take you two gentlemen,” i
ndicating Von Hardegen and Menzel, “And show you around our little Château. One more thing Herr Knocke. If I may take the document, I will arrange for our clerking service to type it up and have copies ready for 2000 hours.” The papers changed hands without a word.
“I will have the armoury set up for our after-dinner work. I think that will suit us nicely. Until dinner gentlemen”
“Until then Colonel.”
1520 hrs, Saturday, 7th July 1945, Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, French Alsace.
Once De Walle reached the ‘clerks’ office within the middle level of the Château, he sat on a desk and started to read the document, and without comment passed each page in turn to the stunning woman sat at the typewriter, who swiftly transformed the written word into roman text in carboned triplicate.
Anne-Marie Valois was a tall brunette, twenty-six, extremely and classically beautiful as well as being the deadliest shot with a pistol De Walle had ever met. Typist was a role she slipped into solely because she could type, whereas her mind had all the sharpness of a successful intelligence operative and her physical abilities in matters other than typing were impressive. Like all four senior members of 'Deux' that worked in the Château, she was cleared for any secret of the state, and she knew where all the skeletons were buried. She had even buried some of them herself.
Valois’ weapon of choice was the Walther P38 German army handgun but, unlike most pistol specialists De Walle knew, she spent time with all different types, learning the subtleties of each in turn.
By the time he had finished reading, he was convinced that the symposium would have great value, if the attendees permitted themselves to be taught of course.
Anne-Marie, publically his personal secretary and privately de facto bodyguard, had similarly finished, but repeated the exercise until six originals and twelve carbon copies lay in a neat pile ready for their respective destinations. As she worked, De Walle speedily typed out his own letter on an adjacent table’s machine, matching the woman for speed and accuracy.
When both had finished the room was suddenly silent.
Valois arranged her copies and placed them on De Walle’s desk.
“Impressive.”
She patted them gently, and moved to the stand where she poured a Perrier for herself and her boss.
De Walle could not help but agree with Valois’ simple assessment.
“Very much so. However, on another matter, Rettlinger may not be as committed as the others. Let everyone know please Anne-Marie.”
“Yes Chef.”
Four originals and eight carbons respectively were placed in an envelope, complete with the hand-written original, ready for delivery to the armoury. One triplicate set was then given its own envelope and also included was De Walle’s letter, all then handed to a dispatch rider summoned specifically for the purpose. He knew his destination and so immediately left the Château safe in the knowledge that, his Sergeant permitting, he would enjoy his girlfriend in Baden-Baden later that evening.
The final set of documents went into a small but impressively secure safe that had recently been fitted in the same office.
With the carbons in his hand, De Walle strode down the Hexagonal Stairs into the inner courtyard area and approached a small brazier lazily burning adjacent to the stone water cistern. Within a second, they were alight and would never give up the secrets they contained.
Great ability develops and reveals itself increasingly with every new assignment.
Balthasar Gracian
Chapter 11 – THE SYMPOSIUM
2000 hrs Saturday, 7th July 1945, The Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg, French Alsace.
Dinner was excellent and the symposium members had eaten heartily, as well as availing themselves of a pleasant bottle of Edelzwicker. More than a bottle if the truth was known, although Knocke had but one glass. As the dining room was cleared around them, the party moved downstairs into the armoury and eased into the comfortable chairs arranged there. Around them was the paraphernalia of wars past, from halberds and pikes, swords and crossbows through to uniforms and armour.
De Walle took his allotted place, sitting at the front and Knocke stood, as always imposing in his black panzer uniform, and waited for everyone to settle. The evening sunlight softly illuminated the stained-glass window at his back, its armour-clad figure overseeing proceedings.
“Meine Herren, you may smoke if you wish.” A suitable pause later, he launched into his delivery from memory. “I will begin. Colloque Biarritz is a programme devised to provide experienced input on Red Army tactics across a range of disciplines to officers of the Allied armies up to and including Brigadier-General rank. The brief stated that the requirement was to deliver as much knowledge on Soviet tactics, specifically relating to ground combat and Soviet response and behaviour in combat as is possible in five days to a group of allied officers not exceeding eighteen. To do that successfully we are expected to deliver lectures.” Knocke’s voice took on the slightest of edges. “This is most unsatisfactory as a standalone method of learning and in our view must be accompanied by practical exercises or Kriegspiels. In order to focus the candidates on the task to hand it is proposed to clarify their learning needs and overcome their natural reluctance to accept input from such as us by conducting a gaming exercise. This will make each candidate more open to the concept that he has something to learn here. That is important.”
And for the first time Knocke displayed a small element of humour, albeit laced with the certainty that comes with absolute confidence in your own and others ability, “We are assuming our victory in the first round of Kriegspiel obviously”.
De Walle suddenly felt everyone focus on him but controlled himself to an acknowledging raised eyebrow and no more reaction than that.
“The specifications of four different all-arms scenarios will be available as soon as we are in possession of military maps of any area you choose. We suggest that we are given maps relative to the regions of origin of the candidates attending, again to help focus their minds on the task in hand.”
“We recommend that attending officers have a balanced skill and qualification range and definitely come from a good balance of arms. For example, it would not be advisable to have fourteen artillery officers and four from supply attend this course on the same cycle.”
A gentle nodding of De Walle’s head indicated that had already been considered but he logged the thought as it would not hurt to confirm that.
“We will then undertake a rolling programme of lectures, delivering to two to three candidates at a time, each of us dealing with Soviet tactics and doctrine in our area of specialist knowledge, and of course, how to defeat them. Each is a stand-alone lecture, so the order they are given in should not matter, therefore ensuring we can all be employed at the same time, giving more time for other matters.
“To clarify,” and proceeding without visible thought Knocke reeled off everyone’s remits, ‘Schmidt – Soviet divisional and corps set-up, logistics and control, Dr Von Arnesen – Soviet infantry tactics, Treschow – Soviet air force ground attack and close air-support tactics, Matthaus – Soviet tank tactics as applicable to infantry, Rettlinger – Soviet infantry cold-weather tactics, use and capability of ski and mountain troops, Von Hardegen- Soviet tank and anti-tank tactics, Menzel – Soviet artillery tactics and myself – Soviet military weaknesses. There is an absence in that list of a delivery on Soviet paratroops. Unless you possess significant intelligence to the contrary, it is our understanding that most Red Army paratrooper units that were jump qualified have committed to land action and can therefore be discounted. It is an obvious omission from our brief. In any case, we do not have the knowledge base here on that subject. If that needs to be addressed we can supply the name of a suitable addition to this group.” Another quick note made it onto De Walle’s mental list.
“Perhaps lecture is too strong a word, as this will be done as an informal face to face discussion and dissection of the enemy’s methods of war.�
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A subtle change in Knocke’s posture clearly illustrated the importance the man placed on his next words.
“It is absolutely essential that discipline is maintained during the symposium and the absence of assurances in your documentation is noted, We request that each and every candidate is made to understand that we undertake this as volunteers through choice and have not been coerced. Also that our reasonable requests should be observed and all members should be correctly treated. We accept that it would be too much to ask for rank structure here.”
Knocke paused and waited for an indication of understanding.
Very carefully De Walle said to the wider audience, “Every allied officer attending this Colloque, regardless of his rank or nationality, will be informed that he is required to treat you and your comrades with full courtesy and afford the respect due to proven fellow professionals. Neither you nor I, gentlemen, would expect to give or receive less.”
It was a fair answer and so Knocke proceeded.
“The specifics of each officer’s lecture have been discussed already and we estimate a maximum of two and a half hour’s for any session, including questions and answers.”
Looking around at his assembled comrades in a way that challenged them to fail Knocke went on.
“Whilst we have already moved forward with the lectures as you will have seen from the initial document, we need more time to complete in full detail. The final specifics of those lectures will be available in hand-written form by 1300 hrs tomorrow but we understand that your requirements may not necessarily be those we anticipate, and so change may occur once the symposium has had the opportunity to review.”
“Given that candidates arrive by 1000 hrs on the first morning, we can safely assume that we will be able to commence by 1030 hrs. This permits an introduction to the aims of the symposium and to the personnel running it, namely us.”
