Agents Mitch Garrett and Todd Boswell were indeed two of military intelligence's best undercover operatives. Experienced and skilled interrogators, they could easily pass for German natives. Both men had previously handled several tough assignments in the southeastern part of Germany and had cultivated reliable contacts and sources throughout the area. In their mid-thirties, they normally worked as a team and shared a deep hatred of fascism and a reputation for patience and fairness. They were the ideal men for this operation as they had never before worked in the Hammelburg area, so there would be no chance of recognition.
"There's one more thing," the intelligence officer warned. "The Hammelburg area is a hotbed of Underground activity. Try and stay out of their way, but if it's a dire emergency and you need help, we'll provide you with a radio frequency and a weekly recognition code. They may be able to get you out of Germany."
"To be honest with you, Sir, I'm skeptical." Garrett was leafing thru the file and skimming over the information.
"I was as well, but two incidents that we recently turned up just added fuel to the fire. One of the other prisoners, a British corporal, had an interview with Berlin Betty. The transcript is in there, and then there's also a transcript of Colonel Hogan speaking on Leslie Smythe-Beddoes show."
"He didn't say anything that could ever be considered traitorous." Boswell said."In fact, it looks like he made a fool…"
The intelligence agent interrupted. "We believe he chickened out. He must have agreed to go on the program to begin with, and then at the last minute changed his mind. But our concern is he may do it again."
"Have you considered that he may have been forced?" Garrett wanted to give Hogan the benefit of the doubt. "Were they holding other prisoners hostage?"
"If you read the information on the camp and the Kommandant, you will see that is unlikely. That was my first thought as well. Hogan was trying to protect 900 soldiers. Actually, I was hoping that was the case. I know that sounds awful, but the alternative is not good. We are afraid that Hogan may have already spilled tactical information, schematics, information on personnel. Who knows? There's also the propaganda factor. They've already made one attempt."
"So we go in and investigate this Colonel." Garrett was still uncomfortable with the assignment.
"Use whatever you need and any means necessary, but if you decide he's a problem, he needs to be brought back here for a court martial. If you can't get him back, take him out."
"And if he's not a problem?"
"He'd probably jump at the chance to get out and go back to his unit. I guess either way his tenure as senior POW officer of the camp is over." The military intelligence officer handed the two agents the file and wished them luck.
*******
Garrett and Boswell infiltrated Germany and set up a safe location near Hammelburg, but far enough away so as not to arouse any suspicion or interest from anyone associated with Stalag 13. With them were three trusted men who had worked with them previously. These men would serve as guards and would handle outside activities. The men also helped the agents set up a secure room in the house they would be using. Once set in their location, they then discussed strategy.
Garrett began thinking out loud. "Our first job should be to check out this camp in person. Let's see, Red Cross…no, the tour will be staged. Hmmm. Sounds like this Klink character likes to have his ego stroked."
"Here's something. Look at this. The sabotage records." Boswell pointed to a page in the file. The complete list of recent sabotage had been secretly provided by a friendly contact in the Munich Gestapo office.
"Yeah, they're high, all right. That's it! How about if we go in as Gestapo, inflate Klink's balloon, bring up his record, get a tour and then insist on talking with Hogan about the sabotage?" Garrett said.
Boswell agreed with the plan. The agents then had their men work on obtaining the appropriate uniforms and transportation. Within a few days, they had been outfitted with a Gestapo staff car, the necessary paperwork and two uniforms. Garrett was now Major Schmidt, while Boswell took on the identity of another officer, Captain Weis.
*******
Hogan and his men were enjoying a much needed rest after a busy week. They had successfully completed two small sabotage jobs, sent home three downed fliers, and had photographed a map carelessly carried by a visiting general who finagled a dinner out of Klink. Having run out of cookies to bet with, the boys had given up on poker and were now engaged in figuring out how to make checkers more interesting, when they were alerted to the presence of a Gestapo staff car pulling into the compound.
"Never seen those two before." Hogan had stepped out to take a peek at the new visitors. He went back into the barracks and headed for his office, where the coffee pot was already being plugged in. The men settled in for their eavesdropping session.
"Kommandant Klink, I am Major Schmidt, and this is Captain Weis. Heil Hitler."
Klink returned the salute and nervously asked what he could for the two Gestapo agents.
"We have heard about your camp record and thought a visit was in order, while we were in the area. Perhaps to obtain useful information to pass on to other interested parties." While Schmidt was speaking, Weis kept a close eye on Klink to observe his mannerisms. Upon hearing the word 'record', Klink relaxed.
"Of course. What is it you would like to know?"
"Perhaps a tour might be a good place to start." Schmidt suggested
"A tour, of course." Klink and the two agents left the office and began walking though the camp.
"A tour? How nice!" Hogan joked. "Actually, the Gestapo doesn't usually come to check out a camp. There's another reason they're here."
The two agents walked around the camp listening to Klink prattle on about security and disciplined prisoners, all the while observing the layout and the prisoners' behavior. As had been reported, the camp seemed to be an escape waiting to happen. The area around the perimeter was wooded and the woods were too close to the fence. Guards appeared to be either very young, or old and out of shape. A few were seen fraternizing with the prisoners. Most remarkable were the huts. They weren't raised off the ground, a common layout to prevent tunneling. Klink's presence in the compound was largely ignored by the inhabitants. The Kommandant did not strike fear in the hearts of anyone.
Klink was still rambling on when the three returned to his office.
"Who is the prisoners' spokesman?" Weis asked.
"Oh," Klink replied. "That would be our senior POW officer, Colonel Hogan."
"A Colonel?" Schmidt pretended to be surprised. "In an NCO camp?"
"Yes, well, it is unusual," Klink said. "But, as you can see it has worked out. He hasn't demanded a transfer to an officer's camp, and the orders haven't come down from headquarters."
"Odd," Weis noted. "But don't mess with what works. Correct?"
Klink let out a nervous laugh. "Actually, he watches out for his men. You know," Klink said slowly, "He has actually informed me when some prisoners escaped because he didn't want them to get hurt. They were recaptured," Klink hastily added.
"Really? Most unusual behavior, wouldn't you say, Klink?"
"Well, Major, I…"
Schmidt interrupted. "I've heard from some general who passed through, that this Colonel has had the liberty of being your dinner guest on occasion."
Klink, not noticing that with this observation, the Gestapo agents obviously knew who Hogan was, responded. "Well, yes, he was invited. You see, one of his men is an excellent French chef, so…"
This time Weis interrupted. "You seem to be fraternizing quite a bit with Colonel Hogan, Klink."
"Well, I wouldn't call it fraternizing." Klink's nerves were now being severely tested as the conversation had taken an uncomfortable turn. "I often use this time for interrogating the prisoner."
Klink couldn't interrogate his way out of a box, Weis thought. He continued to press Klink. "But it seems this Colonel has accepted his fate?"
"Oh, yes, most definitely. He's been quite cooperative." Klink tried to reassure the agents.
"I'd like to meet this Colonel. Could you have someone bring him over, Klink?" Schmidt asked.
"Somehow I knew this was coming," Hogan muttered.
"You think they're after Klink, Sir?" LeBeau asked.
"Not sure. They knew I was here."
"That's right, Sir. They mentioned the generals and the dinners."
"Good pick-up, Carter." Hogan got up to leave the room. "Stay on the coffee pot."
"Will do, Sir."
Hogan opened the door moments before Schultz.
"Colonel Hogan."
"Klink wants to see me in his office."
"Yes, how did you know?"
"I…"
"No, don't tell me. I don't want to know. It's two Gestapo agents," Schultz whispered.
"Really?" Hogan said, feigning surprise.
"The big shot. He's falling all over himself. He took them on a tour of the camp!"
"No!' Hogan responded.
Meanwhile, Schmidt and Weis were continuing to get Klink to talk more about his senior POW.
"So this Colonel Hogan is cooperative? How so? Your techniques, they'd be useful to us, and the rest of the camps."
Now that the conversation had shifted away from Klink's fraternization, he again relaxed and was actually flattered.
"Firm but fair discipline," Klink said emphatically.
"Oh, brother," Newkirk said. "Flatter the man and he'll say anything."
"Yes, I can see that." Schmidt pumped Klink some more. "For example, how has Hogan cooperated?"
Klink thought. "He and two of his men agreed to make a propaganda recording, about camp conditions." Klink neglected to mention the trip into Hammelburg that was the payment.
"Ah," the two agents glanced at each other. "I don't recall hearing the broadcast," Weis said.
"The recordings were lost in a fire." Klink explained.
At that moment the door opened and Hogan sauntered in.
"Schultz said you wanted to see me. Oh, I can come back. You've got company!" Hogan started to leave.
"I asked for you, Hogan." Klink said.
"Oh, right. Sorry." Hogan acknowledged the two agents.
"Major Schmidt and Captain Weis are here to investigate our camp record," Klink said brightly.
"Lovely. It's a veritable paradise here." The sarcasm in Hogan's voice was obvious.
"How long have you been here, Colonel?" Weis asked in English, throwing in a fake German accent to keep from giving himself away as an American.
"Just over two years."
"And no successful escapes?"
Hogan shrugged. "Kommandant Klink is just too quick for us. Right, Sir? We've tried."
Schmidt moved over to the map hanging on the wall behind Klink's desk.
"I don't get it. What are these Boche after?"
The men were still listening in.
"I don't like it. 'E's going from Klink to the gov'nor." Newkirk was beginning to get concerned. The two Gestapo agents weren't acting like, well, Gestapo agents.
Hogan was now beginning to get suspicious as Schmidt still stared at the map, while Weis remained quiet.
"I understand there's been an awful lot of sabotage in this particular area, Klink." Schmidt stated.
Klink deflated. Not another Hochstetter. "Well, that's a local Gestapo matter. Major Hochstetter is the…"
"Colonel Hogan?" Schmidt ignored Klink. "This area of sabotage seems to be centered around this camp. Perhaps you have an explanation?"
"Coincidence?" Hogan took a deep breath.
Klink quickly broke in. "He couldn't have an explanation. He's a prisoner here."
Kinch slammed his fist on the table. "They're not after Klink."
"They're sounding like Hochstetter," Carter noted.
"No, they're calmer than Hochstetter." For some reason, that scared Kinch.
"He's right." Hogan said. "Just a prisoner. Can I go now?" Something about these two agents made Hogan nervous.
"Yes." That came from Klink.
"No." Schmidt moved back towards the desk. "We'd like to talk to Colonel Hogan further, Klink. Alone."
Klink responded. "Oh, regulations state that a Luftwaffe officer…"
The agents glared at Klink. "Alone!"
"I'll leave." Klink gave in.
"No, elsewhere, Klink."
"That's specifically against the Geneva Convention," Hogan started to say as Schmidt removed a pair of cuffs from his pocket and moved towards the Colonel.
"If a prisoner has contact with the Underground he is, in my book, no longer a prisoner, isn't that correct, Klink? Besides we have orders," Weis said flippantly. He handed Klink an envelope.
"Orders?"
"It's signed by General Burkhalter."
Burkhalter? What the hell is going on here? Hogan was beginning to panic internally. His gut instinct told him something was off about his whole situation, but he was obviously powerless to stop it and Klink was now useless. His mouth was hanging open like a codfish.
"They can't do that!" The four men listening on the coffee pot were thrown by the turn of events. But they quickly pulled themselves together and started their preset plan in motion. Knowing this was always a definite possibility, Hogan and his men knew how they would handle one of them being taken by the Gestapo. Of course, they had assumed Hochstetter would be the agent hauling Hogan away. Kinch immediately went below to be ready to contact the Underground, while Carter and LeBeau started to notify the Barracks leaders to be alert for evacuation orders. Newkirk continued to man the coffee pot and told Baker to man the phone tap and they waited.
"Let's go." Schmidt roughly cuffed Hogan's hands behind his back and shoved him out of the office while Klink watched helplessly.