Germanica by Robert Conroy

Author:Robert Conroy [Conroy, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781476780566
Amazon: 1476780560
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2015-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

The sight of German soldiers marching down a street might not have shocked many people in Nazi-occupied Europe, but this was Arbon, Switzerland, not Poland or what had been Vichy France.

Ernie had been told to sit tight in Arbon, do nothing to aggravate anyone, especially the Nazis so close across the border, and observe. This morning he was sitting with Winnie and enjoying a coffee. She had just returned from another junket to Bern where she had met with Allen Dulles. He knew better than to ask why. Someday, he thought wryly, he’d have secrets to hold tightly as well.

She had also given up wearing her fat outfit, at least for this day, and was stylishly dressed in very modern slacks and a jacket, and Ernie greatly appreciated the fact. It was she who first saw the column of soldiers approaching.

“Ernie, look. Are they Swiss? They don’t quite look Swiss.”

Ernie turned and saw the coal-scuttle helmets. He tried to remember if the Swiss wore them as well. After a moment, it didn’t matter as the swastikas on the sides of their helmets became obvious. All he and Winnie could do was sit and stare in disbelief as the column marched by. The residents of Arbon were just as shocked. A few Germans tried to look stern but most of them were clearly enjoying themselves.

“Should we follow them?” Winnie asked. Ernie nodded and they let the column lead them to the very small train station that serviced Arbon. In recent weeks, a couple of spurs had been added and these led to fields just outside of town.

Along with a number of other people, they tried to get closer to where a locomotive pulling a number of freight cars had pulled up on one of the spur lines. Swiss police and German soldiers kept them at bay. Whoever or whatever was on the train was not for public view. The two of them pushed to the front of the crowd and presented their credentials proclaiming them as accredited diplomats. The Swiss police were adamant.

“Those documents will keep you from getting arrested, but not from being detained if I feel you are disobeying my lawful instructions,” a police corporal said. When Winnie tried to say something, the policeman silenced her with a steely glance and a reminder that women in Switzerland were third-class citizens, and had not even risen to the level of second class. They could not vote and many jobs were closed to them.

“Will you stop me from taking pictures?” she asked.

“I wish you wouldn’t,” said the Swiss cop, “but I suppose I can’t stop everyone.” A number of Arbon’s residents were taking their own photos of the incredible sight.

Ernie looked over the column of Germans and estimated their number at at least two hundred. “Is Switzerland being invaded?” he facetiously asked.

The policeman actually smiled. “I like to think it would take more than this to conquer my country.”

A column of trucks was heard approaching. They arrived and pulled alongside the parked train.

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