Chapter 40

March 1944

In the Battle of Berlin the British carry out the final bombing.

Consisting of 811 bombers, 71 are shot down, killing 392 crewmembers.

From August 1943, 10,000 sorties were flown, dropping 30,000 tons of bombs. The battle was considered an operational defeat for Britain.

June 1944

American forces capture Rome, Italy.

D-Day

Operation Overlord begins, with British, American, and Canadian forces landing on Normandy beaches in northern France the Germans were deceived into believing that the attack would take place further south. The landings were difficult but successful and by the end of the day, 175,000 men landed over 90-km of coastline, sustaining 4,900 casualties.

Germany begins launching V-1 flying bombs at London.

V-2 Rockets

The V-1 was easily intercepted due to its lower speed compared to the V-2, which flew at 3,500 mph reaching suborbital speed. The V-2 carried an explosive payload of 2,000 pounds. Launched from Éperlecques, a small village in northern France, it was fortunate that by this time the Allies had air superiority and were able to attack and destroy the launch sites diminishing the V-2's potential for damage.

July 1944

Adolf Hitler is slightly wounded in an assassination attempt by Claus von Stauffenberg. Several high-ranking Germans planned the assassination plot.

Manhattan Project

During 1944 the USA development of the atomic bomb was nearing completion.

Codenamed the 'Manhattan Project' it required huge investments in people and plant. The research, development and construction phases were assigned to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Large plants were built for the separation of U-235 and the production of Pu-239.

The scale of the 'Manhattan Project' was unprecedented requiring a work force of more than 100,000 people and nearly three years to complete.

Friday 24th February 1944. Bern, Switzerland.

Gerry and Richard had been urgently summoned to Tom Warner's office in the Special Operations Executive organization in Bern.

'What's upsetting you Warner?' Richard thought as he eased himself into his chair, 'From the look on your face something terrible has happened.'

Tom Warner placed a folder in front of him on the table as he sat. Richard tried to read upside down to get a clue to the reason for the meeting but there were only headings on the front of the folder that didn't make sense to him.

"First I must tell you that the intelligence services here in Bern are undergoing major changes. The Allied forces have relied on our British intelligence services for two reasons: one, the abundance of our information and two the accuracy of this intelligence. We had a recent meeting with an American, Mr. Alan Dulles who told us that the American's have outlined a plan for combining our efforts for the duration of the war. But of course they intend to have their own intelligence service after the war, provisionally their service will be known as the OSS." [Office of Strategic Services. Later to become the CIA.] Warner said as he poured a glass of water, "The Americans have accumulated much information from the Middle East, Italy and now the Pacific war theatre. In Europe, SOE will continue to be the intelligence service's reference because of our accumulated data."

Warner glanced down at his notes then looking up he said, "These changes will have no impact on our relationship with you or Gerry."

"The Allies, more specifically the US Air Force has conducted hundreds of bombing raids on targets within Germany trying to stem the manufacture of war equipment, so far without affecting the fire power of the Axis armies. During our meeting we were asked to devise schemes whereby we could slow German manufacture. In the mix were your reports on Langer Engineering, which were tabled together with reports on two other Swiss manufacturers. These reports highlighted the best places for us to take action," Warner said.

"But..." Richard said but was interrupted by Warner.

"Let me finish," Warner said angrily, "I'm exposing myself to grave consequences telling you this. Next Monday Langer's factory will be burned to the ground. This operation will be carried out under the cover of darkness as will the attacks on the other two manufacturers." Now his voice was low and confidential.

"Wait a minute!" Richard exploded angrily. "Jorge Langer has people working around the clock; many civilians will be killed. And this a declaration of war on a neutral nation!"

"I've voiced all of those objections and nobody is listening. I've formally been warned against telling you any of this, that's why John Tristran is not present at this meeting. Instinctively, I trust you because we've had a long working relationship and you have always acted according to your word. You haven't hesitated supplying information that I've asked you for. But I warn you you're not to reveal any of this to anyone outside of this room. Being a friend I don't want to lose you if you were in the factory at the time of the attack. If you betray me I'll find out Richard; believe me your life won't be worth living. Do you understand me?" Warner asked bluntly, loudly.

Gerry tried to control his breathing, he felt nervous and all energy drained from him.

Richard banged his fist on the table, the glasses on the table tray rattled.

"This rotten bloody war..." Richard said loudly. He looked as if he was about to weep.

"That's all I have to say to you. This meeting is over," Warner said. He rose waiting for Richard and Gerry to stand. Then he showed them to the elevator.

Downstairs, Richard grabbed Gerry's arm, "I don't want to go to Lillian's apartment just yet. Let's get the car and find a café well away from here."

Two kilometres away, in a warm café Gerry waited while Richard calmed down. He sipped his coffee and glanced at Richard a few times but Richard's mind seemed to be elsewhere.

Ten minutes later they had not talked. Richard was remembering back to his time in Berlin when Byron Jensen, a friend of Erika's, had mentioned an American, Allan Dulles in Bern. He said that he had been very helpful to resistance fighters. He wondered briefly if he should try and contact him to avert the raid on Jorge's factory. But now he realised how futile this would be because Tom Warner had mentioned him at the meeting. 'I don't know Dulles or what his position might be on this destruction of the factories.'

Richard stood, reaching for his walking stick, "Let's go," he said.

When they arrived at Lillian's, "I'll wait in the car," Richard said.

"But..." Gerry said.

"Say goodbye to Lillian for me. I want to get back to Zurich quickly," Richard said curtly.

Gerry returned to the car accompanied by Lillian and Hilda.

"Goodbye Richard; bye Gerry," Lillian said, "Remember you're welcome here at anytime."

"You're not feeling well Richard?" Hilda asked as she seated in the back seat of the car.

"No," was all Richard said.

Gerry glanced in the rear vision mirror and saw Hilda shrug her shoulders. For four hours on the drive back to Zurich Richard looked straight ahead, there was no conversation.

'They must have had a terrible meeting, ' Hilda thought.

They arrived in Zurich at Franz Muller's house at 4PM. Richard hurried from the car and when Katrine answered the door he brushed past her and went straight to his room.

Katrine was taken aback by Richard's behaviour, as she closed the front door, "Would you like coffee?" she asked Hilda.

"I'm hungry, we haven't had lunch," Hilda said. Turning to Gerry, "Are you hungry darling?"

"Yes I need something to eat," Gerry said.

"Well come with us to the kitchen and we'll make something; okay Katrine?" Hilda asked. "I'm sure Richard is hungry too, despite his bad mood."

"It's not a bad mood, Hilda," Gerry said softly, his tone sharp, "I'll be in the sunroom. Gerry walked past them, down the corridor to the sunroom.

In the kitchen, "Something is wrong with Richard," Katrine said.

"Yes something is terribly wrong with both of them but I don't know what it is. We travelled all the way back from Bern and neither Gerry nor Richard said a word," Hilda said.

Later at dinner, the mood was sombre. Franz was quick to detect that something was worrying both Richard and Gerry. When the meal was over Franz stood.

"I want you and Gerry to talk with me in the radio room," turning to the women, "please don't interrupt us."

In the radio room Richard averted his gaze and Gerry slumped in his chair; his hands clasped in his lap.

"What do I have to do to get you two to tell me what is going on?" Franz asked.

Richard exhaled loudly, "Franz what we have learned today has shocked us, I really don't know..."

"Try telling me in simple words what is going on," Franz said. His voice sharper than he intended.

"I just wish Warner hadn't told me..." Richard said. Leaning his elbows on the table, his hands covering his face.

Franz looked at Gerry but he looked away and kept staring straight ahead.

"Listen to me, Richard! I can't help you if you won't talk to me," Franz said.

"We've been sworn to secrecy by Warner. If I reveal anything about what we learned today our lives are at risk," Richard said slowly removing his hands from his face.

"Do I need to assure you of my principles? I'm a doctor who is trained to maintain anything that is told to me in strict confidence. Now tell me what is going on!" Franz said angrily, loudly.

Richard sat back in his chair, "Today Warner told us that on Monday 28th of February Jorge's factory will be razed to the ground. Nothing I could say will stop this happening. The Allies are determined to stop the German war machine operating at the level they display now. This means that there are three Swiss factories, all manufacturing munitions for the Germans that will be wiped out on Monday."

"They intend doing this knowing that Switzerland is a neutral country?" Franz asked.

"Yes," Richard said.

All were silent until Franz spoke again, "I'm sure that you've thought of this but the fewer people that know about this the better. I suggest that we do not reveal anything to the women for their own safety."

"Yes. But I don't know what I should do." Richard said, "Jorge has started a third shift and there'll be about two hundred people working inside the factory at that time; they'll surely be killed."

"I think we should tell Jorge..." Franz said.

"For Christ's sake Franz! Think!" Richard yelled. "All of our lives will be at risk if Jorge takes this information to the authorities!"

"No you think Richard! Jorge is a wealthy man; he can lose this factory and the building would mean next to nothing to him. What he wouldn't condone is his employees being killed. And this is the angle that you should seriously think about," Franz said.

Richard now saw a way out, "I'm sorry Franz, I'm not thinking coherently tonight. You're right of course. Do you have any suggestions as to how I might approach Jorge? The attack on the factory is only three days away."

"I believe in being direct. Let's get Jorge over here tonight and let him know," Franz said.

"I hope that Jorge acts more sensibly than I'm doing right now," Richard said.

Gerry smiled. He knew Richard was recovering from the shock. He knew too that Richard had invested a lot of effort helping Jorge, but he thought that Jorge's production data that Richard had supplied to the SOE might also be playing on his mind.

"I'll go and call Jorge now and organise coffee," Franz said as he left the room.

"What do you think?" Richard asked Gerry.

"I think Franz has the correct approach. I also think that you should give Jorge room to think and recover from the shock when you tell him. I don't care how wealthy he is, that factory is still his pride and joy. The Germans deal with him for his manufacturing expertise and Jorge delights in that," Gerry said.

"Yes he does, even though he curses them to hell. That's good advice. Thanks," Richard said.

Franz was away from the radio room for fifteen minutes and Richard started to think that there was a problem.

Franz entered the radio room, "I had to calm the ladies down. Their curiosity is running at fever pitch. I told them that they should stop any questioning of us and forget today and the way you and Gerry are behaving. Jorge will be arriving shortly. I told him nothing on the telephone."

When Jorge arrived Richard found himself unable to start telling him about SOE's plans. Franz looked to Richard prompting him to begin but when Richard's face clouded with confusion Franz started talking.

"Jorge, Richard's meeting in Bern today did not go well. Let me explain. There are three Swiss companies manufacturing munitions for the Germans, all of them are allowing Hitler's armies to maintain their constant firepower. The Allies have determined that this situation must be reversed. As a consequence these factories will be destroyed next Monday," Franz looked away feeling downcast.

"They can't do that! Switzerland is neutral," Jorge said loudly.

"Jorge, please remain calm," Richard said, "It was a great shock to me too. But all of us are under threat if you try to resist and go to the authorities. In the greater scheme our lives are worthless and I've been warned not to divulge this information to anyone under pain of death. The only reason that I was told is that Warner is a friend and wants me well away from the factory when the attack starts," Richard said.

"Could I get you a drink?" Franz asked Jorge.

"Yes, the stronger the better!" Jorge said.

Franz left the room, Jorge was quiet his head in his hands. Richard was about to speak when Gerry frowned and shook his head causing him to be silent.

Franz returned with cigars, glasses and a bottle of cognac. He poured four drinks, seated himself, lit a cigar and drank half of his cognac in one gulp. Jorge picked up his glass, looked as if he was about to talk but sniffed his cognac then downed it all. He held his glass out and Franz refilled it. Sipping from his glass he looked at Richard.

"This must have been a great shock to you," Jorge said.

"The greatest. I've tried to think of a way out. I tried to think of the way this will affect you, worried that you might go to the authorities and put all of us at risk..."

Jorge interrupted, "You can put that worry out of your mind, like you I'm shocked but I would never put any of us in danger, but I need to think and I'm not thinking very well at the moment. I'll come back tomorrow so that we can plan a way out without putting any of us at risk. Thanks, Richard for being open with me. You could quite easily have said nothing," Jorge said downing the last of his cognac.

Jorge stood then all stood with him, "Can we meet here tomorrow, Franz?"

"Yes, of course. I'll show you out," Franz said.

Saturday, the next morning Jorge arrived mid-morning. Katrine greeted him at the door and as she had been instructed she showed him to the radio room where Franz, Gerry and Richard were waiting.

Franz directing Jorge to a chair, asked, "Do you have any plans on how to proceed?"

"Only blurry outlines so far. My overriding responsibility is to protect my employees. Their engineering expertise will outlast this war. If I'm to recover after the war I will need their skills. Here's what I'm thinking: tonight I'm going to cancel the third shift, I'll tell my men that we have a supply problem which means that they will be stood down for the next week until more supplies are delivered by the Germans," Jorge said.

"Will your workers accept this?" Richard asked.

"Of course they will. I'll keep paying them. God knows what I'll do after the factory is destroyed. There is no way I can continue to provide wages for six hundred men. The Department of Labour will surely launch an inquiry so I'll have to be very careful how I conduct myself," Jorge said.

"I understand," Richard said. "What do you want me to do?"

"We should be there, working as we would normally, until Monday afternoon," Jorge said.

"Would you mind if Gerry comes with us today?" Richard asked.

"Not at all," Jorge said. "I'm so pleased with your handling of this problem; trusting me as you've done."

"Would you like coffee?" Franz asked.

"Why not; another fifteen minutes isn't going to matter," Jorge said.

Later Jorge left Franz's house, Richard and Gerry following in the SOE car.

"I wanted you to come with us today, I'll show you where the old radios are but Jorge has many small tools and soldering equipment that will be helpful to you in designing your new radio," Richard said.

Gerry started laughing loudly.

"What's funny?" Richard asked.

Gerry forced himself to stop laughing, "In the middle of all of this critical drama you're still thinking of minute details like my needs."

"You're worth it Gerry," Richard said smiling broadly.

Gerry kept close to Richard while he worked around the factory. He made notes on equipment that he saw, sometimes inspecting items closely. At 8 PM when Richard was preparing to go home, Gerry handed his notes to Richard.

Strolling to Jorge's office Richard read the list. At the door Richard knocked and entered.

"When are you announcing the suspension of the third shift," Richard asked Jorge as he seated at his desk. Gerry pulled a chair to the desk.

"At 10 PM when the shift starts. The suspension will be effective from tomorrow," Jorge said.

"Do you want me to stay?" Richard asked as he placed Gerry's note on the desk.