The Proposition
Another headache to deal with was the POWs housed in Stalag 13 and the officers camp down the road. There were several hundred officers and enlisted men of the Royal Yugoslav Army awaiting their fates. Were they to be returned to their homeland, they would likely be executed as Chetniks by Tito's government.
The Partisan Major who was in his office a few days ago asking for their extradition was annoying. And looked suspiciously like Hochstetter.
General Hogan thought about it. And told the Partisan major to leave his office.
"Those Yugoslavs are a tough bunch," thought Hogan.
He knew Serbians from his days living in Cleveland. They were loyal to their friends and would protect them to the death.
He visited his friends in their homes often and there was always food on the table and a bottle of rakija at the ready. Most of the time 2 bottles.
Even the poorest people in the neighborhood would offer hospitality. They would do without for the next few days, but a visiting friend had to be fed. And plied with alcohol.
And to refuse such hospitality would be an insult. For any person who entered the home of a Serbian family was an honored guest and would be treated as a family member, regardless of where they were from.
The food was good. The rakija gave him a headache.
His forces were stretched thin. It would not be a bad idea to use the Yugoslavs as a police force to augment the Hammelburg police and his motley crew of German Feldjäger. He needed to keep order in his region and those officers and men would serve loyally.
"Lieutenant Colonel Boscovic, I kicked out that Partisan major from my office."
''Have a drink. Scotch is all I have. Not rakija I'm afraid. Have a cigar please. And we will have lunch after our meeting.''
"If you and your men are sent back to Yugoslavia, there will be hell for you to pay. As obviously your loyalties are to King Peter and General Mihailovic."
"I have a proposition for you. I am pretty stretched thin maintaining law and order in this district with what few men I have. I have 30 German civilian police, 10 German military police, and my men who have volunteered to remain in Germany as my most reliable force. At most I have 50 or so men to rely on. And there is a full armored regiment and 2 infantry regiments in this area not under my command.''
"I have to deal with military crimes as well as any problems with the local population. I have at most 1 full company of American military police to deal with any issues."
The Yugoslav Lieutenant Colonel was wondering what the American General had in mind.
Although his mention of King Peter and the leader of the Chetniks with a measure of respect and telling a Partisan officer that he would not extradite his men to an uncertain fate piqued his interest.
Lieutenant Colonel Nicola Boscovic heard a lot about the American officer. That he was a man of honor and would not go back on his word once it was given.
"That incident in Heindorf and the aftermath. I had just 2 of my men and 2 German medics defend over 200 doctors, nurses, and patients in the Hammelburg Hospital from a platoon of drunken GI deserters out for blood.''
"Will you and your men volunteer to be my police force under my direct command? As long as you are with me, you will be safe."
"You will be paid in military scrip for now, but it can be converted to dollars."
"Your men will be wearing American uniforms, but armed with captured German weapons for now. I can't spare any of our weapons for the time being."
''Your men will have the same rations as us. You will still be quartered in your former camp, I'm afraid. But I will have local civilian workers renovate things so that conditions will be bearable. My men will supervise the work. The Germans will cooperate. I'm paying them with extra food rations and occupation marks at twice the usual rate for labor.''
"And I'll make discreet inquiries about your families. I know some things and have contacts. If they are alive, I'll make sure they end up in Austria or Italy."
''Once you are in my service, you will have free access to all the towns in the area. You will treat the German population with respect. No harming of civilians.''
"And after your service is complete, I'll have papers made for you stating that you served in the US armed forces and you will be free to immigrate to any country."
Lieutenant Colonel Nikola Boscovic of the former Royal Yugoslav Army looked at General Hogan. Then he smiled and shook the General's hand vigorously.
"General Hogan, we will follow you. And obey your every command to the death if necessary! We have no King or Fatherland now, but you will be our General Mihailovic and Vozhd. Liberty or Death!''
"And General, a question for you. You seem to understand our traditions of hospitality and loyalty very well. You don't have Serbian blood in you?"
''No Colonel, but I know Serbs at home. You are a brave nation of very honorable people. And not to be taken lightly.''