Germanica - Страница 3

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At forty, Albert Speer was the Minister of Armaments and War Production. An architect by profession and education he had excelled at providing the weapons the Third Reich needed to fight the long war. Despite Speer’s efforts, the war appeared to be winding down and defeat was staring at them.

Two other members of Hitler’s clique were not present. Heinrich Himmler, head of the SS, was trying to lead Army Group Upper Rhine, while the Hermann Goering was in his mansion at Carinhall and doubtless trying out some new narcotic. Himmler would be kept abreast of the discussions, while Goering’s existence would be ignored.

The men were nervous and could not stop shifting in their seats. Enemy bombers were not overhead but they could be at any moment. There had been suggestions that the Party headquarters be moved to the vast underground military complex at nearby Zossen but Hitler had so far vetoed it.

Bormann tapped lightly on the table. “Let’s get on with it. Once again, the Fuhrer has changed his mind and not a moment too soon. It is becoming apparent that our offensive in the Ardennes will not be as successful as anticipated.”

Goebbels lowered his head at that comment. His analysis of the Ardennes offensive was a gross understatement. The offensive had involved much of the Reich’s military reserves and was rapidly becoming a total disaster. The defeat of the German armies west of the Rhine meant that so much less would be available to confront the Red Army as it approached from the east. It also meant that the defenses along the Rhine would be that much weaker against the resurgent Americans. It was a dismal situation.

Bormann continued. “The Fuhrer has decided that the German government must move to the National Redoubt in the Alps, and that includes everyone in this room.”

Speer looked up in disbelief. “We have no such redoubt. I was not permitted to go beyond the planning stages.”

Bormann eyed him coldly. “Knowing you, Herr Speer, you doubtless exceeded your authority and are farther along than you would like to admit at this time.”

Speer flushed. “In a manner of speaking, your words are true. What I did was prepare to move critical production facilities to new areas as we have been doing for some time and yes, that does include the Alps. We have dispersed our factories to protect them from Allied bombers. I also identified and developed storage areas to provide supplies for large numbers of refugees, and we have built living quarters for those who will work and live there.”

Bormann actually laughed. “And would the German army be defined as a large number of refugees?”

“It could,” Speer admitted, “but that’s not for me to decide.”

Goebbels was in turmoil. He and his wife had pledged to die in Berlin with his beloved Fuhrer. They had no wish to live in a world without Nazism. Now he was being given a chance to survive. No, he was being ordered to survive. “If it is the Fuhrer’s decision we will, of course, honor and obey it. Will he come with us?”

“Most emphatically no,” said Bormann. “He is determined to die in Berlin if the army is unable to hold off the Red Army’s hordes. Should that need arise, the Fuhrer feels that he should die for the cause of Nazism. He feels that today’s Germany does not deserve him or the Nazi Party and should be destroyed. However, he has decided that the seed of Nazism should endure and that it should be nurtured and grown in a national Alpine Redoubt.”

“Has he decided who should be the person in charge?” asked Goebbels hopefully. He and his wife had six small children. They had decided that they all should die and would not even think of surrendering. He already had the cyanide pills that would end their lives.

Bormann smiled knowingly. “You and I will go to the redoubt and run Germany together. You, Herr Speer, will also be there, and you will leave immediately to begin developing a new country.”

Speer shook his head. “This is a vast undertaking, or it could be. I will need to coordinate with the army.”

“Of course,” said Bormann. “Logistics and geography will rule the size of the redoubt as well as the population that can be sustained. To assist you, I have requested that General Warlimont be assigned to the group.”

Speer and Goebbels were surprised. Warlimont was considered a master at planning operations, but he was not thought to be totally trustworthy by Hitler. Even though he had been wounded in the July 20, 1944, assassination attempt, there were those who thought his support of the war had become lukewarm at best. Perhaps, Goebbels thought, this was a way of getting the general out of Berlin. He also had never served in combat. He was an archetypal staff officer. A brilliant man perhaps, but very limited in his experience.

“Then who will have overall military command of the redoubt?” asked Goebbels. He was clearly annoyed that he didn’t have this information in the first place.

“The Fuhrer will be getting recommendations from Field Marshal Keitel. It is obvious that military exigencies will play a large part in making that decision. Generals Schoerner, von Vietinghoff, and Rendulic are strong possibilities. They too have the advantage of being in the south, which means they could be appointed safely.”

“Yes,” said Goebbels drily. “It wouldn’t do for the new leader of the Alpine Redoubt to be killed en route to his new assignment.” Quietly, he approved of Schoerner commanding the armies in the Redoubt. Schoerner was a friend and a supporter.

The irony was lost on Bormann. He didn’t change expression while Speer turned away. “Schoerner will probably be selected. Hitler likes him and Schoerner is slavishly devoted to him. I believe he will soon be promoted to field marshal. Whoever it is, Herr Speer, it will be up to you to provide for a very large army.”

“Not too large,” said Speer.

“What do you mean?” asked a surprised Bormann.

“Any army that goes to an Alpine Redoubt will have to confront various realities. That army will need food, shelter, clothing, weapons, and ammunition, and the Alps will have none of those. Right now, that area imports much of its food from Austria, which is about to be overrun by either Devers’ Sixth Army Group or the Soviets. If we send too many men to the redoubt, they might just starve to death. Similarly, I have identified a number of areas where large amounts of weapons and ammunition can be stored, but nothing that could sustain a large army in combat for more than a year or two.”

“How large an army could be sustained?” asked Goebbels.

Speer shrugged. “Perhaps a quarter of a million, and don’t forget that there will be thousands of Party elite sent to the Redoubt along with their families.”

Goebbels was shaken while Bormann paled. A quarter of a million soldiers was a drop in the bucket. The Russians and Americans, along with their French and British allies, each had more than ten times that number.

“Then we will make do with what we have,” Bormann said softly. “But it must be done and done quickly. And painful though it will be, we must limit the number of civilians and party functionaries no matter how loyal they have been. So too with very high-ranking military officers. We cannot have a rump state that is top-heavy with generals.”

Goebbels nodded. The last time he had seen his beloved Fuhrer, the great man had been pale and sickly. His arm had shaken uncontrollably and Goebbels had wondered if Hitler was dying. He was only in his mid-fifties but looked decades older. Clearly, the stress of running the nation and the war had overwhelmed him. Goebbels had urged Hitler to rest for a few days, but had been waved off. He had faith in his personal doctor, Theodor Morrell, a man whom Goebbels considered a quack. Morrell treated Hitler with concoctions containing narcotics. If Hitler died, Goebbels would try to have Morrell prosecuted for murder. Or perhaps he would just have him shot.

But that was for the future. Now he and Magda and the children would have to get out of Berlin and south to the Alpine Redoubt. There they would set up a bastion that would ensure the survival of Nazism. If they were forced out of the mountains, they would cross into neutral Switzerland and wait for the proper time to go elsewhere, probably South America.

“One last thing,” said Bormann. “The Fuhrer is adamant that at least a couple of his wonder weapons programs be shipped to the Alps. Of primary importance is the nuclear bomb being designed by Doctor Werner Heisenberg. He and a number of his fellow physicists will travel south as well, along with what equipment can be moved. He has assured me that he is on the brink of a major breakthrough.”

Of course he would say that, Goebbels thought. To tell Bormann anything else would guarantee a trip to Dachau. Well, we shall see what comes of his nuclear bomb.

* * *

When Lena Bobekova looked in a mirror in her small room in the Schneider house, she did not see the attractive and vivacious young woman who once had dreams of being a ballerina. That Lena Bobekova died several years earlier when German tanks and troops rolled through her native Czechoslovakia and ended her life. The Germans had taken her parents, her brother, her first and so far only lover, and her home.

She was a slave.

Physically there was little difference between the Lena of today and the previous young woman. She was a little thinner perhaps, but food rationing had put everyone in Germany on a diet. Even though she’d been assigned to work in the house of a Nazi functionary, there was still only so much food to go around. Gustav and Gudrun Schneider and their two children, Astrid and Anton, did not care that Lena was always hungry. Why should they? Lena was a slave because her grandmother had been a Jew. Lena’s light brown, almost blond, hair was still attractive. She washed and bathed as often as she could. Water was one thing that was not in short supply.