The Munich Faction - 1: Courier by Wagher Ward

Author:Wagher, Ward
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-01-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

September 1, 1939; 6 AM

Brown House

Brienner Straße 34

Munich, Germany

One morning in late July, Heinrich Schloss had walked through the basement offices at Brown House. Rainer had told Gerhard that Schloss liked to make inspection trips through the building to make sure everyone stayed busy. As the Deputy Parteileiter walked past Gerhard’s desk, he stuffed a couple of hundred-Reichsmark notes in Gerhard’s pocket.

Gerhard was so surprised he was unable to comment, and by the time he turned, Schloss was already walking down the aisle between the rows of desks and out of the room. Rainer explained that Schloss rewarded accomplishment, and Gerhard was an outstanding employee.

Gerhard spent little beyond rent, clothing, and food. He had accumulated some savings and decided to treat himself. He had purchased a radio for his apartment. Although Schloss made sure newspapers were distributed around Brown House, Gerhard often had little time to do more than just glance at them. But he could listen to the radio as he had his breakfast and got ready for work in the mornings.

He paused in his ablutions this morning when a radio news bulletin announced the invasion of Poland. Hitler delivered a bombastic message announcing that the invasion resulted from border provocations by Polish forces. The Reich needed to teach the barbarians a lesson. Gerhard wondered what the Polish government had been thinking to attack Germany. He had his doubts about many things in Germany, but there was no question Poland would soon resemble a flattened squirrel lying in the street.

Gerhard completed his preparations for the day and hurried to the office. He wasn’t sure what involvement Brown House would have in the war, but he thought he should be available.

“You heard the news, I suppose,” Karl Rainer said as he and Gerhard sat down for their usual morning coffee.

“Yes. I can’t believe the Poles would do something so stupid as to provoke a war with us.”

“Gerhard, try to remember that what you hear on the radio is what Goebbels wants you to hear.”

“What’s that mean?” Gerhard asked.

“You hit upon the key point in your first statement.”

“About the Poles, you mean?”

“Exactly. Would it make sense for the Poles to do something like that?”

“Well, no, of course not. I don’t know what they were thinking.”

“Let me suggest that most of the Polish leadership is at least as intelligent as ours.”

“So, why….” Gerhard hesitated. “Oh.”

“A little slow this morning, are we, Gerhard?”

“Okay, the pieces have snapped into place for me. What will be the extent of our participation in the invasion?”

Rainer smiled and took a sip of his coffee before speaking. “That is the question, isn’t it? I suspect you will be traveling into the war zone to deliver messages. Herr Schloss also needs eyes and ears in Poland. As Deputy Parteileiter, he is responsible for Nazi Party activities wherever that may be.”

“Of course, Herr Rainer.”

“One change we will make is that we will fit you out in a uniform to wear while on duty. It will be an SS uniform with rank badges showing you as a captain.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.