Inconsequential Nazi by Ward Wagher

Author:Ward Wagher [Wagher, Ward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781070980676
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2019-07-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY

February 23, 1943; 12:15 PM

Opel Werke

Russelsheim, Germany

Wilfrid Vogel looked across the polished tile floor at the prim-looking man eating his lunch in corner of the room. He turned back to the older man sitting across the table from him.

“You can ignore Verlin Schechter, Anton. The Nazis don’t seem to be paying attention to the German Labor Front anymore. It’s time we do something about the miserly wages that Opel pays us.”

“But the labor front and the KdF have taken good care of us,” Anton Keller protested. “They have provided this cafeteria and our wonderful vacations. Of course, the pay is not too good, but it seems to me that the other benefits from the government offset that.”

“But you can’t eat a summer vacation, Anton. The cruise ship to Norway won’t pay for your apartment. And none of us could dream of even purchasing an automobile. We are doing all the work, and the capitalists are reaping the rewards. We should be receiving some of it. It is our right!”

Keller laid his hand on Vogel’s arm. “Not so loud, Wilfrid. I don’t want Schechter to hear us. He could still make trouble for us. This is the best job I’ve ever had.”

Vogel lowered his voice. “Listen, Anton,” he hissed. “We’ve rented the Wehrmacht Retirees Hall for a meeting this evening. Why don’t you come? There are some people there I think you would like to hear.”

“What so we can go out into the streets and have the Polizei break our heads? I have four children at home. If I got caught in a workers’ riot, I would lose my job. My children and Odetta would be out on the street.”

“Nothing is going to go wrong, Anton. Besides, it won’t cost you anything to come and listen. It will be educational.”

“And if I end up in a jail cell for being disorderly, that will be an education, too. Thank you just the same, Wilfrid.”

That evening Anton sat next to his friend Wilfrid in a meeting along with about 100 Opel employees. They watched as another fellow worker, Klaus Freime, climbed onto the platform in front of the room.

“My friends,” he began, “thank you all for coming here tonight. We have a very special visitor who would like to speak to you. Please welcome Comrade Aurick.”

The group politely applauded as a tall, blonde, thickly-hewn man stepped up on the platform. Keller leaned over to whisper to Vogel.

“What have you done, Wilfrid?” Keller whispered loudly. “You brought a communist in here to speak to us?”

Vogel put a finger over his lips. “Ssshhh… ssshhh. Quietly, Anton,” he whispered. “Just listen to the man.”

“We are all crazy,” he whispered back. “We will all be in trouble. I cannot believe you, Wilfrid.”

“Just relax, Anton. Everything will be okay.”

Keller folded his arms in disgust. He had had serious doubts about attending this meeting anyway, not to mention having a communist as a speaker… Although things were much more relaxed under the new Reich Chancellor, the Nazis were still death on communism.

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