Fire and Steel, Volume 6 by Gerald N. Lund

Author:Gerald N. Lund
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Deseret Book Company
Published: 2019-07-15T18:04:23+00:00

June 17, 1935, 8:10 p.m.—Alpine Biergarten,

Steinhöring, Bavaria

Arnie Klempke had been born and raised in Hamburg in an upper-class family where military service was a three-generation tradition. He had graduated with a degree in civil engineering from one of the technical universities there and received his commission in the SS the same day, starting his military training immediately thereafter.

Yet in spite of all of that, he proved to be charming, funny, attentive, intelligent, and clearly sensitive to the fact that his partner for dinner was less than thrilled to be there. By the time they arrived at the restaurant and ordered drinks, Lisa found herself relaxing a little. Not a lot, but some. He even got a laugh or two from her as he regaled them with stories from his time in boot camp.

In fact, if she were being perfectly honest with herself, one part of her found herself marveling at her situation. Arnie was, in her opinion, even better looking than Major Reidell. His hair was thick and a lighter shade of brown than her own, and she liked how he brushed it straight back. His large, wide-set eyes were an attractive bluish grey, his cheekbones high, his nose pleasantly formed, and his ready smile revealed straight, white teeth. He had to be in his upper twenties, she decided. Had Miki told him that she was not yet seventeen? Almost certainly. Yet he was treating her like a woman, and she had to admit that was a little intoxicating. “Lisa?”

She snapped up as she realized that Arnie had spoken to her and was now looking at her quizzically. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled. “What did you say?”

“I was asking about your father. Miki tells me he was a high official in the Nazi Party.”

“Oh?” She recovered from her surprise quickly. “Yes. Yes, he was.”

“But now he is a university professor?” There was the slightest hint of disdain there.

“Yes, for the last two years. He was shot in the back during the Beer Hall Putsch and—”

Major Reidell whipped around. “He was there at the Putsch?” he asked incredulously.

“Ja,” Lisa said proudly, glancing at Arnie, who was also staring at her. “He was shot while trying to help the Führer get to his car and escape. He’s been in pain ever since, and the traveling he had to do for the party made it worse. So Joseph Goebbels”—she tossed the name out casually—“helped him get hired at a university, where he can sit as he lectures.”

“So your father knows Goebbels and Hess and Goering personally?” Arnie asked, clearly awestruck.

Miki was clearly miffed by the attention Lisa was suddenly getting. “Yes. The Führer came to my grandfather’s funeral,” she interjected. “I got to shake hands with him too.”

The lieutenant barely heard her. “So have you ever met the Führer personally, Lisa?”

“Of course.” The new respect in his eyes was pleasing to her. “My father and Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party together. He came to our house several times to see my father when I was young.

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