Chapter 34

What luck for rulers that men do not think.

- Adolf Hitler

Operation Aphrodite.

Aphrodite was the code name for a plan to attack German V1 Flying Bomb sites on the Continent.

A B24 Liberator bomber was stripped and refitted with a remote radio controlled system and a specially designed explosive.

The plan was to have a pilot and a co-pilot fly the B24 close to the target. Near the target site the crew would bail out. Another aircraft would then remotely direct the B24 to the target.

While flying to the target an electrical fault prematurely fired the onboard explosives killing the pilot and the co-pilot.

The pilot? Lieutenant Joseph Kennedy, older brother of John F. Kennedy.

Friday 13^th August 1943.

Pieter, asleep in his rough shelter quickly snapped awake from crunching sounds nearby. Thinking that it might be a wild boar he grabbed for his Luger in his coat pocket. Not hearing any further sounds he crawled out into the open staring straight at a pair of knee high boots. Looking up he saw two other soldiers with their rifles trained on him.

"Drop the pistol!" the unarmed soldier ordered gruffly.

Pieter urinated in his pants from shock. He pushed the Luger away and waited, on hands and knees with his face to the ground.

"Stand up!" the soldier ordered.

When Pieter stood the soldier sneered at him. "Look at you! You filthy swine living like an animal. Turn around!"

As he turned around Pieter saw, from the soldier's insignia, that he was an SS Sergeant. One of the other soldiers stepped forward and tied his wrists together, the tightness of the rope quickly numbing his hands. The soldier roughly turned him to face the sergeant.

"What are you doing here? Are you what we would call 'work shy'?"

Pieter remained silent.

"No I don't think so. Where is your identification?"

Pieter was still in shock and with a movement of his head he indicated the rucksack in the leanto.

The soldier who had tied his hands grabbed the rucksack and emptied it on the ground in front of the sergeant. When it was obvious that the rucksack didn't contain his identification the soldier slammed his fist into Pieter's midriff.

Pieter doubled over and fell to the ground struggling to fill his lungs with air.

Rolling Pieter onto his back the soldier went through his pockets finding his identification and a large sum of money. He handed them to his sergeant and then pulled Pieter to his feet.

"Ah yes, Pieter Reiman the gypsy story teller. Tell me the story you told the farmer yesterday," the sergeant said as he tucked the money inside his tunic.

Pieter kept his expression neutral and remained silent.

Slapping him brutally across the head the sergeant asked again, "Tell me the story Reiman."

Pieter remained silent, his ear ringing from the vicious slap.

The sergeant walked ten metres away; it was the signal for his men to beat an answer out of Pieter.

In his weakened condition Pieter was subjected to a brutal beating. Finally he fell to the ground unconscious. This didn't stop the soldiers who kicked him in the head and body.

"You fools! I don't want him dead! He has much to tell us. When he's conscious bring him up to the road. I'll wait in the car," the sergeant said.

The soldiers took Pieter's water flask and poured it over his head but they failed to rouse him. Vigorously they shook him not realising that he had suffered a stroke. The shaking increased the flow of blood from the haemorrhage in his brain destroying the precious tissue as the pressure mounted. For a brief moment Pieter regained consciousness, he tried to spit at his attackers but one half of his body and face had ceased functioning. Instead his saliva dribbled down his cheek, one of Pieter's eyes closed as his heart ceased to function. Pieter was dead.

Recorded in the sergeant's report was the capture of a dangerous armed vagrant who because of his attempt to escape was shot in the head. There was no mention of money found on the vagrant.

Saturday September 4^th 1943.

Hilda looked for Gerry as the bus neared the stop for Franz's house. He wasn't at the bus stop as he usually was. When she looked out of the bus she saw him across the road, running to meet her.

Stepping onto the footpath she reached out and pulled Gerry's hand around her waist.

"I was worried when you didn't arrive last night with Franz. When he explained that you wanted to phone your mother I knew what you were up to. You were making arrangements for us to visit her, weren't you?" Gerry said.

"I might have been," Hilda replied, teasing him. As they walked up the side street to Franz's home, Hilda's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh. My God!" she mumbled.

"Don't say anything, but Richard's showing off, he's doing well isn't he," Gerry said.

Hilda suddenly realised why Gerry had been running late to meet her. He had been walking slowly with Richard. Her exuberance overcame her; she ran forward to Richard who was walking upright with a cane but he was limping slightly. She threw her arms up. Richard bent as she kissed him first on one cheek then the other while they hugged one another tightly.

"You're progressing so well!" she said excitedly to Richard, "we must have a night out next weekend to celebrate."

"Just you and I?" Richard asked watching Gerry move slightly as if to protest.

"You cheeky man!" Hilda said, "I don't go anywhere without the love of my life," she said squeezing Gerry's hand.

When they reached Franz's home Katrine admitted them and led them through to the living room where Franz and Lorraine were seated.

Hilda, making sure she had everyone's attention said, "Let's have a night out to celebrate Richard's progress."

"When?" Lorraine and Katrine shouted excitedly in unison.

"Next weekend, all of us. I know a sexy night club; it should be a lot of fun!" Hilda said.

Hilda watched Katrine as Richard sat next to her.

"What do you think Katrine?" Richard asked. Before she could answer he turned his attention to Franz, "I would like to have a night out. To thank all of you for your many kindnesses, I'm paying."

"You know how to appeal to my Jewish instincts don't you," Franz said.

They all laughed; it was doubly funny because they all knew that Franz was anything but stingy.

After dinner Franz, Richard and Gerry sat in the radio room. A message headed 'Richard' started which Gerry copied. He then sent a 'please wait' as Richard decoded the contents.

'Pieter and Otto quiet. No responses. Think camps deserted, ' the message from Manfred said.

"Tell Manfred we'll respond later," Richard said as he passed the message to Franz.

"I don't remember but does Luke have a codebook?" Richard asked Gerry.

"Yes he does."

"Just a minute then while I code a message to him," Richard said.

A number of messages flowed back and forth between Richard and Luke.

Richard asked if Luke had seen Kurt. When Richard was told that Kurt was unable to return to the camp because of German patrols, Richard asked to speak to Kurt. Luke told Richard that Kurt was now living with his girlfriend, Richard asked Luke to pass his thanks to his father and to Kurt for their assistance when he was injured.

Messaging was slow using encoded Morse and Richard asked Luke to keep to encoded shortwave communications when information was important. At other times they agreed to use the telephone. Tonight it had taken almost two hours before Richard signed off.

"Pass me the codebook Gerry," Richard asked.

Gerry watched as Richard searched through the back pages. Richard was trying to remember the call sign for the SOE in Bern. His memory failed him; he sat thinking, angry with himself.

"What's the problem?" Gerry asked.

"I'm trying to remember the call sign for Tom Warner of the SOE in Bern. My contacts are all in my private codebook back at the farm," Richard said.

"Let's get Manfred to relay the information," Gerry said.

"We're too late tonight; I'll get on it tomorrow night," Richard said.

"What are you intending to do?" Franz asked.

"You saw the message from Luke that said his brother Kurt, was unable to return to our camp in Meersburg. It's not safe for me to return home while there are such intense border patrols. But there are other things I can do from here; I have a plan rattling around in my head," Richard said.

Gerry leaned across, "I think you have to tell us what you're thinking."

"Yes I suppose I do. However, I wouldn't like our plans to leave this room," Richard said as he pulled his chair closer to the small table in the radio room.

"You know you have my support with what we can do together," Franz said.

"Here's what I've been thinking and what I would like to do about it. The German army will soon be chased out of Russia; the fact that Germany army is strengthening their entire border tells me that they foresee fierce fighting ahead at all points on their border. We've heard about the losses in the Middle East, Italy will be the next country that Germany will lose," Richard said.

Richard stopped talking he seemed to be thinking deeply, "So what resources do we have at our disposal?" Richard asked rhetorically.

"We have eyes and ears at my farm with Manfred and Bernard. At Kruezlingen we have Kurt and perhaps Luke. All of us are linked with communications. What don't we have? We don't have money to fund what we wish to do," Richard said.

Franz sat, his eyes sparkling as Richard detailed his plans. But it was too much for him to remain silent.

"I haven't told you about Lora, my secret society of like-minded Swiss people. We've managed to assist almost a hundred people escape from Germany. The people in Lora are either privately wealthy or highly placed persons in government. Money is not a problem for the society. You should meet them," Franz said.

"I'd like to meet them but I don't wish to share our plans with them. Our personal safety is at risk when there are too many people who know what we're doing. I want to approach SOE in Bern and request funding from them." Richard said.

"I understand, but I've called a meeting of the society for next Saturday, I'll introduce you, perhaps we can talk generally about what we want to achieve." Franz said.

Sunday September 5^th 1943

Hilda rose early and spent time with Franz as they exercised Richard and Gerry looked on.

"From now on you need to continue walking around the district. Increase the distance you walk each day but don't overdo it. How's the pain?" Franz asked.

"It's tolerable now and if anything it's diminishing," Richard said.

Katrine interrupted, "Lunch is ready!"

After they were seated in the dining room Hilda spoke. "I've booked a restaurant for next Friday night. Franz, do you think you could drive to the hospital Friday morning. I've bribed the ambulance workshop manager to fill your tank so we can drive home. With no trains running we need you to drive..." Hilda said but was interrupted by Gerry.

"Bribed the manager! What with?" Gerry asked loudly but he couldn't maintain a straight face as Hilda angrily turned on him.

She punched him in the ribs. Gerry bowed over clutching his chest, acting like he was mortally wounded. She panicked.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry I didn't mean to hit you so hard," Hilda said looking distressed.

Gerry was bursting trying not to laugh, but he straightened up laughing loudly, releasing the tension in his chest.

"Not funny!" Hilda said; her face clouded with anger. She pulled her hands away from him and stared straight ahead.

"Order in the house!" Franz said loudly.

When all turned to him he said, "Carry on Hilda. But tell me what did you bribe him with?"

With everyone laughing Hilda's anger disappeared and a smile flitted across her face.

Then Hilda continued, "Do the arrangements suit everyone for next Friday night? Lorraine, Katrine, Richard and Gerry will have to catch an early afternoon bus to the city, that's the only inconvenience I can see."

"Thanks Hilda, just ignore that ill-mannered man sitting next to you," Richard said.

After dinner Franz led Richard and Gerry to the radio room where Richard sent a short message to Manfred. He told Manfred that it was possible the camps had been raided making them a dangerous destination. He advised Manfred to stay away from the camps unless contacted by Pieter or Otto. He then asked Manfred to double encode the contact details for Tom Warner in Bern.

It took another hour to contact Warner who after learning that Richard was in Zurich asked him to come to Bern for talks the following Tuesday.

Richard then sent a message to Luke asking him if had a telephone number for Kurt. When he received Kurt's number Richard turned to Franz, "May I use the phone?"

Franz had a phone in the radio room and pointing to it he asked, "Would you like us to leave?"

"Not at all," Richard said as he dialled Kurt's number.

Jenny looked at the clock on the kitchen wall, 'I wonder who's calling at nine on a Sunday night, ' she thought as she picked up the telephone.

"Hello?"

"Who? Richard Dannecker... Kurt? Just a moment I'll call him."

"Kurt, phone!" Jenny yelled down the hallway.

"Who is it?" Kurt asked as he entered the kitchen.

"Richard Dannecker," Jenny said.

Kurt shrugged his shoulders, as he picked up the phone.

"Hello? Richard! You're not Richard Dannecker. How are you? You've got a new name?"

"Let's not get too open on the telephone," Richard said.

"How's your leg," Kurt asked.

"I can walk again, it's a great relief. Let me tell you why I called. I want to come and see you. I have a few ideas that you might help me with," Richard said.

"Okay, we won't talk on the telephone but when were you thinking of coming to Kruezlingen?" Kurt asked.

"I'll call you in a weeks time and we'll set a time," Richard said.

"Call me on this number, I'm here most of the time. I can't wait to see you again," Kurt said.

"I'll do that. Bye," Richard said.

Jenny had sat at the kitchen table listening. She noticed the enthusiasm and the change in Kurt while he was speaking with Richard.

"A friend of yours?" she said.

"Yes a good friend. You'll get to meet him, he's coming to see me," Kurt said.

"What's he want?" Jenny asked.

"I don't know yet," Kurt said.

Gerry found Hilda sitting in the dining room with Lorraine and Katrine.

"I'm going with Richard to Bern on Tuesday. Do you know how long it takes by train?" Gerry asked.

"Bern, you're going to Bern?" Hilda said.

"Yes we're going to Bern. Richard's been invited to attend talks with the SOE," Gerry said.

"It takes about two hours," Lorraine said.

"Do you think Richard is capable of making the trip?" Gerry asked Hilda.

"I think so but you should ask Franz to be sure," Hilda said.

"He was with Richard when the arrangements were made. He didn't raise any objections," Gerry said.

Tuesday September 7^th 1943.

Gerry and Richard sat quietly in the steam train as it climbed and descended the mountains and ran through tunnels on its way to Bern. Richard wore a suit borrowed from Franz, they were almost the same size but Hilda and Katrine had made minor adjustments for him. Sitting in the train carriage in a suit and tie Richard felt a sense of renewal. He looked at Gerry dressed in his suit that Hilda had chosen for him and decided that they were a well dressed but conservative pair of businessmen.

The splendour of the Swiss mountain scenery was enthralling, breathtaking.

"Would you like to live in Switzerland?" Richard asked.

"The mountains are more impressive than the flat lands of Holland. Would I like to live here? If Hilda won't move to Holland then I might have to live here," Gerry said smiling broadly.

Richard laughed then he fell silent for a moment. "For me there's no place like home. I want to get home as soon as possible. I'm missing Erika and my family."

Now Gerry fell silent, he didn't speak for some minutes as he reflected on Richard's comments.

"I saw Hilda post mail last week. When I asked if her mail was getting through she told me that her mail within Switzerland was censored but was always delivered. Mail from the hospital to other countries was also being delivered," Gerry said.

"Interesting," Richard said.

"I thought about sending a letter to my parents in Amsterdam to let them know that I was still alive. I gave up the idea when I realised how dangerous it would be with the mail censors reading my message. I don't want to give the authorities any clues to my whereabouts," Gerry said.

"Smart thinking," Richard said.

They left the train at the Bern Central station and slowly made their way to the exit. Gerry opened the back door of a taxi at the taxi stand and they climbed in.

"150 Bundes Platz," was all Gerry said. It was a short trip and they alighted in front of the four-storey office block that had a café on the ground floor.

"Care for a coffee before we meet Tom?" Gerry asked.

Over steaming coffee Richard felt refreshed.

"When I was here with Manfred, Tom Warner refused to meet us in his office. He told us that he didn't want to be seen speaking with German nationals. I wonder what changed his mind," Gerry said.

"The Allies have agreed not to give any assistance to German nationals working in resistance movements. However I have knowledge of Germany's war planning so I think he'll be wanting to talk behind closed doors. Frankly, I'm not looking forward to the grilling that I'm going to get," Richard said.

They walked out of the café and into the arcade where an old fashioned elevator took them to the third floor where they were confronted with a small lobby with a locked door leading from it.

On the door was a notice that said to push the bell button for attention.

A loudspeaker crackled and a gruff male voice answered, "Yes!"

Gerry and Richard were startled by the loudness of the voice but Richard recovered quickly.

"Richard Dannecker and Gerry Lundgrin to see Mr. Warner," Richard said using their newly acquired identities.

Minutes later the door opened and a guard ushered them inside. He quickly searched them then he walked them down a corridor to a meeting room. Pointing to two chairs on one side of a table that had five chairs around it, he waited until they were seated then he left the room.

Richard leaned across and whispered to Gerry, "Remember what we discussed; only answer their questions, don't offer any other information."

Three men filed into the meeting room, "I'm Tom Warner,"

Richard and Gerry stood.

"I'm Richard Dannecker, you know me as Richard Farber," Richard said.

"Yes, of course. And who is the man with you?"

"Meet Gerry Lundgrin," Richard said.

"Allow me to introduce Leigh Brandon and John Hughes," Tom Warner said.

They shook hands and seated at the table.

"I'm pleased that we've been able to renew our contact with you Richard. There'll be no note taking at this meeting, nothing is being recorded so please feel free to have an open discussion with us," Tom Warner said. He sat in the middle of the two men that accompanied him.

Richard did not believe Warner's comments about no recording of the meeting.

Gerry looked at Leigh Brandon sitting opposite him but he refused to hold his gaze.

"Let me be quite frank with you, Richard. We know your background but we would like to know about the production planning that you've been involved with," Tom said.

"Since you know about me I would like to know the organizations that Leigh and John are attached to," Richard said.

"Of course, Leigh is with our American friends and John is with a British surveillance department that reports directly to the Prime Minister," Tom said.

'They're spies, ' Richard thought.

Richard's next question caught Tom Warner off guard, "I would like to know your assessment of Germany's war position," Richard said.

Tom Warner glanced briefly at his colleagues who nodded at him.

"Germany is going to lose. Allied forces have moved into Italy and have occupied Sicily. On the Russian front the German army has been completely surrounded in Stalingrad. We expect that the Russians will now push through Poland and continue until they have entered Germany. The next six months will see Allied forces sweep in from the west. To the victor goes the spoils and if we're to prevent the spread of Communism we need to be ready to occupy as much of Germany as we can," Tom said but he briefly wondered if Richard would be more frank knowing that Germany was losing.

Gerry saw the American shaking his head in agreement.