Chapter 38
Klink stormed into his inner office, and slammed the door shut with a bang. He shrugged off his outer coat, hung it on the coat tree along with his cap. He followed by walking to the liquor cabinet and poured himself a glass of Schnapps. He downed it in one gulp and poured another. He downed it in one gulp as well before pouring a third. He carried the glass to his desk and sat in his chair.
He was still angry by the deception of the men. How dare they! Klink took a sip of the liquor and his face softened. He couldn't forget the look in Hogan's eyes. The look of intense hatred directed at him by the American. As he took another sip, he recalled Hogan looked as if he had no idea what was happening to him mentally. He finished his drink and reached for the receiver of his phone. Then his eyes fell on the slip of paper in front of him on the desk. Klink replaced and the receiver, picked up the paper, and read the message in Hilda's handwriting:
'General Burkhalter called while you were out of the office. He has been summoned to Berchtesgaden by the Furher. He will be unavailable. As for the information he ordered you to get, he will get in touch with you when he returns. He orders you to not give the information to anybody else.'
Klink crushed the paper and threw it in his wastebasket. But in reality, he was glad because despite everything, he hoped Hogan could recover before Burkhalter returned. This way Hogan will be fine. The alternative made Klink shudder. The Furher's edict on anybody suffering from mental problems, among other things, was well known. Hitler was known to be in favor of killing those whom he judged to be what he considered 'unworthy of life.'The Nazis considered this form of euthanasia, or 'mercy killing,' of people 'not worth living' a murderous program in Nazi Germany. This made Klink cringe. He understood once he informed Burkhalter of Hogan's current condition, the American's fate will be sealed. The General, being a staff officer, will make one phone call and get someone to come and collect the American officer. And once it happened, Colonel Robert Hogan was a dead man.
Klink was aware by 1940, there were six killing centers designated as euthanasia institutions. And while these places were kept secret from the world and the German people, the Nazis knew the truth.(1) Klink chewed his thumbnail at the thought of Hogan being sent to one of these places for 'treatment.' Knowing what will happen to Hogan there, Klink couldn't help but experience two emotions; compassion and regret. Regret things had come to this point; and compassion because despite being an enemy, Hogan was the closest thing to a friend he had. Klink debated lying to Burkhalter and hoping Hogan came out of it before Burkhalter or Hochstetter showed up in camp. But Klink understood should he be caught in a lie, he will be on his way to the Eastern front. Or the firing squad. No, he will pray whatever Hogan was going through will resolve itself within the next forty-eight hours.
Kinch, Wilson, Wilkerson, Newkirk, LeBeau and Carter gathered in Hogan's office after the guards had left. Wilson shut the door so they could be alone.
"We've got a huge problem," Kinch said pointing out the obvious. "The Colonel losing it in front of Klink didn't help. In fact, it made things worse. Much worse."
"Question is, what are we going to do, mon ami?"
Kinch crossed his arms across his chest while leaning against Hogan's desk. He rubbed his chin with one hand. "I have an idea which might work. Unfortunately, we can't do a thing until Burkhalter makes a decision." Carter, LeBeau and Newkirk began arguing at the same time.
"Hold it, guys!" Wilkerson demanded but was ignored.
Kinch whistled loudly silencing them. When he again had their attention, the radioman continued. "When I said we need to wait for Burkhalter, I meant it. We overheard Burkhalter's phone call when Hilda took the message, so we have at least twenty-four hours, forty-eight if we're lucky. We can't be sure which. But however long it is, we need to know what Burkhalter will do about Colonel Hogan before we make our move."
"But what if Klink decides on his own to handle things?" asked Carter, hands stuffed in the pockets of his worn leather jacket.
"He won't," Kinch assured him. "Not unless he wants a transfer to the Russian front. No, I'm positive Burkhalter will make the decision as to what happens to the Colonel." His eyes shifted to the Englander. "Newkirk, I want you to watch the switchboard for any incoming and outgoing calls to and from Klink's office. I don't want to take a chance Burkhalter might call with orders for the Iron Eagle."
"Consider it done," said Newkirk.
Kinch nodded. "Carter, I want you, Olsen, and LeBeau to do damage control. I'm sure what happened has spread throughout the camp. We need to downplay things as much as we can."
"What do you want us to tell 'em if somebody asks?" asked Carter.
Kinch mulled it over for a few minutes and looked at Wilkerson. "Any suggestions, Matt? You're the expert here."
Wilkerson sighed. "If anybody asks you what happened with the Colonel, just tell them he is still dealing with Carpenter's death, he lost his temper with Klink, and said something he shouldn't have."
"Sure thing," Carter agreed.
Wilson leaned against the Colonel's footlocker. "Kinch, do you think you can find a way to get me inside the Colonel's cell? I need to keep an eye on him while he's under sedation."
"I'll check first if he's in a cell with tunnel access. If not, I'll try and convince Klink to allow you access." His eyes shifted to Wilkerson. "What is it, Matt?"
Wilkerson shook his head. "Only thing I can think of what are we going to do if Burkhalter rules against Colonel Hogan. Have you given that any thought because it could happen?"
Kinch exhaled and sat on the edge of the desk with a frown. "I have. We have to have a back-up plan just in case things go to hell."
Carter looked at the radioman curiously. "You want to ask a question, Andrew?"
"That's the second time you said that. Just in case what? I think we need to know what could happen to Colonel Hogan if Burkhalter rules against him as you said."
Kinch chewed his lower lip and looked at Wilkerson; his eyes indicating he didn't want to explain this to Carter. Wilkerson sighed.
"Carter, Hitler has been in favor of getting rid of those he deems undesirable. The mentally ill for an example. In other words, the Krauts will consider the Colonel's words and behavior a sign he is mentally ill. The Nazis consider what they do a form of 'mercy killing'. But in reality, they are cleansing the Aryan race of those they consider undesirables."(2) Carter's eyes widened and his jaw dropped.
"You mean he orders 'em killed?" the young Sergeant asked.
"Yes."
"Y'see, Andrew…" Kinch continued. "The Nazis make sure old Scramble Brains orders are carried out to the letter."
"Mon Dieu," LeBeau said, not liking where this was going.
"Yes," Wilkerson said. "But they could take Colonel Hogan out of camp, take him to a remote place, and execute him. Right now the Colonel's in no mental state to know what's going on either way."
"We must do something!" LeBeau exclaimed.
"Blimey! We can't let them put the Gov'nor to death."
"And we won't," Kinch replied. "We are going to do something. Soon as we know Burkhalter's decision. I'd just rather not wait until the last minute to think of something."
Carter's lower lip trembled and his eyes bright with unshed tears as he looked at the radioman somberly. "They will kill Colonel Hogan because he's sick? How can they do that? The Colonel will get better. He will, Kinch."
Kinch allowed a grim smile to appear. "Yes, he will. But the Nazis might not give him the time he needs. So we need to be ready to move and fast. Now do you understand?"
Carter sighed. "Yeah. Boy, every time you think you know what the Nazis are capable of, they come up with some new form of cruelty."
"Get going you guys," Kinch added.
Newkirk shook his head sadly. "Blimey. I hate thinkin' the Gov'nor's life depends on a Kraut."
LeBeau exhaled. "Oui. I agree with you, Pierre. But we cannot, as mon Colonel might say, 'get ahead of ourselves.' And Kinch is right. We must wait and see what Burkhalter does first."
"What are you going to do, Kinch?" asked Wilkerson.
"First I'm gonna check if the Colonel's cell has a tunnel entrance. If not, I'll speak to Klink. I have to talk with General Butler and let him know we might need a plane on very short notice, and finally the underground. I want everything on standby. Matt, as Acting Senior POW, I want you to come with me should I need to speak with Klink."
Wilkerson nodded. "You know where to find me."
Kinch allowed a small smile to appear. "Let's get a move on, guys. We've got work to do."
The next two days had Kinch feeling he was in a fog. So much had taken place in the past forty-eight hours. First, he discovered Hogan's cell had no tunnel access. So, he and Wilkerson had gone to the Kommandant who gave them a somewhat chilly reception. It was obvious Klink was still upset at the deception. Kinch nearly pleaded for Wilson to be allowed to check on Hogan once a day. Klink, while doing his best to stand firm, denied the request. Wilkerson then added Burkhalter will be angry if something happened to the Colonel. Klink's body stiffened at the mention of the General's name, and at once reversed himself. He will allow Wilson to check on Hogan once daily in the presence of a guard. Satisfied, both men exchanged salutes with Klink and left the office.
Right away, Wilson was allowed to examine the still sleeping Hogan with Corporal Langenscheidt standing guard. When he finished, the medic asked for the Corporal to open the cell door.
"How is Colonel Hogan, Sergeant Wilson?" the German asked, concern on his face.
"He's fine right now. I'll be back to check on him again tomorrow. Make sure somebody comes and gets me if something goes wrong."
"Jawohl, Sergeant."
Wilson informed the men in barracks two afterwards.
Next, Kinch got on the radio and contacted the underground. He spoke to a contact they had worked with before named Blue Sky explaining they needed four men Klink had not seen. He asked for these men to be on standby as they might be needed on short notice. When pressed, Kinch said Papa Bear might have to be gotten out of Germany for his own safety.
The most difficult call was to General Butler. Kinch felt he needed to be completely honest with Butler now as he explained Hogan's problem. Butler had listened patiently until Kinch finished.
"I'm sorry to hear this news," Butler said. "Are you sure there's no chance he could recover given time?"
"Anything's possible, General. We are monitoring things. But I don't want to wait until the last minute requesting a plane to get the Colonel out of Germany. I'm sure you can understand that, sir."
"I can. How soon will you know for sure?"
"Within the next two days barring unforeseen circumstances."
"I will have a plane ready. Should you need it, contact me at once. Use Code Red if anybody gives you a problem when you call. I will make sure to send it with one or two medics on board along with whatever they require so we can get Hogan to London safely."
"Thank you, sir. Papa Bear out."
Several hours later, Carter, Olsen and LeBeau reported to Kinch and Wilkerson they had calmed the other prisoners. Many of the men had questions, and a few questioned Hogan's sanity given his actions since the death of Lieutenant Carpenter.
Finally, Newkirk monitored the switchboard. Every four hours Baker relieved him. It was during one of these times as Baker sat in the chair at the switchboard, he looked up at the Englander.
"Newkirk, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, mate. You can ask me anything that's on your mind."
"What's gonna happen to Colonel Hogan? I guess what I'm trying to ask is, if something was seriously wrong with him, you and the others wouldn't keep it from us, would you?"
Newkirk took in and let out a deep breath. "What's gonna happen to the Gov'nor? I can't say right now 'cause I have no idea. You know as much as we do. The Gov'nor's having a rough time. But we have to believe he'll snap outta it and come back to us with time."
"So do I," Baker admitted. "This place will not be the same without Colonel Hogan. You better rest. You have to relieve me in four hours."
"Right. Catch you later, mate." Newkirk turned and headed for the ladder leading up to the barracks. He rested both hands on one of the upper rungs, and one foot on a bottom rung. He let out a deep breath. "You got that right, Baker," he muttered to nobody. "This place will not be the same without the Gov'nor." He proceeded to climb up the ladder.
Klink, bent over the open middle drawer of his file cabinet, filed several reports. He heard the door of his office open and close. "Fraulein Hilda, I told you I cannot be disturbed for any reason," he said with his back to the door. "Tell whoever is waiting I'm busy and to go away. I just don't have the time."
"Then you'd better make the time, Klink."
Klink shut the drawer, caught his finger in it, and yelped. He sucked on his injured finger as he turned around and saw the smirking face of General Burkhalter. "Are you regressing back to your early childhood, Klink? Or do you have a new habit?" Burkhalter looked genuinely amused at the sight in front of him.
"I'm sorry, Herr General," Klink explained shaking his hand as he walked around his desk and sitting in his chair. "It's just that I was expecting you to call instead of showing up."
"I never said I will call when Fraulein Hilda took my call. If memory calls, I believe I said I will be in touch." He sat his large bulk in the chair against the wall under the framed photo of Hitler which housed the hidden microphone for barracks two. "Now, Klink, what have you to report on Hogan? And don't lie or leave a thing out if you know what's good for you." Klink shuddered.
Klink thought how best to help Hogan. He thought of lying to the General. But deciding against it, he slowly began to explain what had happened including his last run-in with the American.
"So Hogan is still in the cooler?"
"Yes, Herr General. He is allowed no visitors, and I have a guard posted. I thought it best for the protection of my guards. Our camp medic, Sergeant Wilson, sedated Hogan before I had him put in solitary. I allow Sergeant Wilson to check Hogan once a day to make sure he is fine." Klink waited for the General's reaction. When Burkhalter struggled to his feet, so did Klink.
"Come with me, Klink."
"Yes, sir," Klink said as Burkhalter opened the door. He grabbed his coat and cap and put on his coat. "Where are we going, Herr General?"
"To the cooler, where else? I want to see Hogan for myself. Afterward, I will make my decision." The two men walked out of the office and left the building.
Kinch, LeBeau, Carter and Wilkerson stood around Hogan's desk with grim expressions. They looked at each other.
"You were right, Kinch," Wilkerson said.
"Oui. Burkhalter will have Colonel Hogan taken away to protect himself and the Luftwaffe. But mainly himself."
"What are we gonna do now?" asked Carter, his eyes moist. He choked back a sob.
"We're gonna do what we were making arrangements for yesterday," Kinch explained glancing at each man. "We're gonna send Colonel Hogan to London and have the Krauts think he's dead."
(1) There were six euthanasia centers disguised as psychiatric hospitals in November 1940. This information was kept top secret and didn't come to light until after the war. Between 1940 - September 1941, about 70,273 people were killed in all six euthanasia centers. Hadamar alone claimed 10,072 lives. This operation was temporarily halted in August of 1941, but the program was reinstated in 1942. Hadamar, from 1942 until the end of the war took the lives of an additional 4400 victims.
(2) Patients were given quick 'examinations' by doctors who participated in the euthanasia program. Those killed were people considered incurable by these doctors. Hitler was in favor of killing those whom he judged to be "unworthy of life." The mentally ill were among that group.