BERLIN by Paul Grant

Author:Paul Grant [Grant, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2021-01-11T06:00:00+00:00

***

Klaus had awoken during the night bathed in a slick of sweat. The nightmare seemed to have lasted the night long. He really had felt like he was back in Stalingrad, among the rats and dead bodies with no escape. After the meeting, he felt utterly dejected, like he would never get to see his family again. It was as if the whole world was conspiring to throw hurdles in his path. By the time he’d had some breakfast, and some hot coffee, things were back in perspective. A lot had happened in two weeks: his release, his journey home and now this. He set off for the veterans’ association, more realistic in his expectations, but determined nonetheless.

The place was a hub of activity: three women in front of telephones, which seemed to be in constant use. They were regularly at huge filing cabinets to finger through cards, the phone handset wedged between chin and shoulder. The place was so busy Klaus was surprised the contact he’d been given could fit him in.

From the first moment, Klaus felt like he was in the presence of a wily fox. Heinrich Reuter was probably only just in his fifties and had the look of a military man, with white hair and a face slightly worn by the ravages of time. Klaus couldn’t help thinking he knew the man from somewhere, but by his voice, not his face. Whatever the case, Klaus felt at ease with him. For the first time, he let out the full story, from Stalingrad to the present day, about Marz, about Burzin and Dobrovsky. Reuter listened intently making the odd note. When he’d finished, Klaus slumped back, finally relieved his past ten years were out in the open. Nobody had interrupted, or doubted him; Reuter had only listened.

He was now studying Klaus intently, as if he was weighing up his next move. Finally he nodded, as if a decision had been made.

‘Be assured, Schultz, I will do all I can to help you.’

‘That’s good to hear.’

‘However, I have to warn you there have been many complaints from returnees. Do you know how many prison sentences have been handed down to returnees from their times in the camps?’

Klaus was surprised. ‘I wasn’t aware.’

Reuter patted a pile of papers. ‘Here are just some of the cases. You’re not the first to complain about another POW.’

Klaus was about to protest, but he waved him down. ‘I don’t doubt your word, man, but unless this Marz turns up on our files somewhere, it will be difficult to bring him to justice.’

‘Believe me, Herr Reuter, this man made false claims against us in 1945. He would have been back in Germany long ago.’

‘We’ll do our best to find him. There’s a strong possibility he could have settled in the Soviet sector if, as you say, he did a deal with them.’

Klaus stewed for a moment. ‘We must have justice.’

‘I understand, but if he is in the Soviet zone, there’s not too much we can do.

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