Author's Note: Others own the Hogan's Heroes characters.
Beyond the End – Part 4
By Diane Maher
It wasn't until that moment that Klink realized the enormity of what he'd done. He felt his hands trembling and involuntarily clenched his fists behind his back to prevent Hogan from seeing his weakness. Forcing his inner fears aside, Klink stood tall and proud. What will Hogan do if someone comes to enforce Hitler's order? Surely it will only be a matter of time before that happens?
Klink wondered whether Hogan would show the Germans in Stalag 13 mercy. He knew that his own people wouldn't be merciful to himself or the prisoners if they found out what he'd done. After all, he had committed treason. And Hogan knew the prisoners were dead if he didn't do something. Klink never thought he'd see the day that he would put his life into someone else's hands, yet he had done just that.
Looking at Hogan's expression, Klink watched it pass from stunned disbelief to acceptance and finally joy as that annoying impish grin came over Hogan's face. Seeing the light dance in Hogan's eyes, Klink decided with a rueful sigh that it was time to inform the camp.
Klink sat to his desk and signed a piece of paper. "This makes the surrender official. I've noted it in the camp records."
Hogan looked at him and replied, "Okay. You will make the official announcement at this formation and then order your men to surrender their weapons to us."
"Colonel Hogan, do you mind if I have a few moments to myself to consider what I'm going to say to the men?" asked Klink. Hogan nodded and silently left the office.
Klink picked up the spiked helmet, which had belonged to his grandfather and held it, lovingly stroking the brass eagle adorning the helmet. He remembered what his grandfather had told him just prior to his death, "Be brave and true to your heart, no one else's." He could hear the old man's voice and Klink knew at that moment that he had made the right choice.
It had been easier than he thought it would be to surrender to Hogan. Especially after all the anguish he'd put himself through needlessly after receiving Hitler's order.
Klink stood, went to the window, opened it, and bellowed, "SCHULTZ!!!!"
The fat sergeant came into his office several minutes later panting and asked, "Is there something wrong, Herr Kommandant?"
Klink replied, "No. Call a special formation of all off-duty guards. Everyone must attend. And see to it that there is a microphone set up and connected to the camp's PA system. The men on duty need to hear my announcement too."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant," Schultz said, looking confused.
As far as what he would tell his men, Klink decided to keep it simple. There were no more speeches to be given; the war was over for all of the Germans now. He straightened his uniform, put on his cap, grabbed his riding crop and strode outside.
Klink considered what would happen next. The prisoners would be ecstatic and he prayed that his men didn't decide to stage their own riot. As the men of his command began assembling in the compound, he doubted there would be any problems from them. All that many of these men wanted to do was to go home to their families.
Hogan came up and stood next to Klink as he fiddled with his riding crop and cleaned his monocle. "Are you nervous?" asked Hogan.
Klink stopped and in an anxious whisper, replied, "Of course I'm nervous!" Hogan grinned. Suddenly, Klink felt less nervous as he replaced his monocle on his eye.
The prisoners were lining up in their usual casual manner for the formation and the guards were lined up for a formal inspection. Klink and Hogan strode down the steps together and stood in the center of the compound. Schultz handed Klink a microphone.
This would be his last speech as the Kommandant of Stalag 13. As Klink went to speak, the PA system let out a squeal. Schultz fumbled with the controls until the speakers were quiet. Clearing his throat over the microphone, Klink found the system had settled down.
"I'm sure that you're all wondering why I've called this formation," Klink began.
"Yeah, what's bloody goin' on?" shouted Newkirk.
"Maybe the Krauts are going to surrender!" replied LeBeau.
"Pipe down!!" commanded Hogan.
Klink flinched at Hogan's commanding tone. Only Major Hochstetter or General Burkhalter's voices sounded like that, Klink thought. He continued, "As of this moment, I am announcing that I have surrendered control of Stalag 13 to Colonel Hogan." There was a loud cheer from the prisoners.
"Herr Kommandant, you're surrendering?" asked Schultz, bewildered. "Why?"
Klink looked at Schultz and then at the men of his command. Covering the microphone with his gloved hand, he replied to Schultz, "Because the war is going very badly for our Fatherland." Klink continued into the microphone, "Men, I order you to lay down your weapons and walk away from them. We are now the prisoners in Stalag 13."
The German soldiers gaped at their superior officer in shock. Klink looked at the expressions on the faces of the soldiers in his command. Captain Gruber's mouth stood open and his eyes were wide with amazement. Some of the guards stared blankly into space; others were whispering amongst themselves or possibly praying. Schultz made the first gesture and stepped forward, saluted Klink and pushed his rifle to the ground in front of Klink and Hogan and it clattered noisily in the now silent compound. Corporal Langenscheidt and then the other men followed suit moments later.
The guards mumbled amongst themselves, and were amazed at this turn of events. "So what will happen to us?" Schultz asked.
Klink looked towards Hogan and asked, "Well Colonel Hogan? What will happen to us?" The sound of the weapons clattering to the ground in the center of the compound wasn't as ominous as Klink imagined it would be. Many of the guards dropped their gun belts as well. The prisoners armed themselves and waited for Hogan's order.
Hogan said, "We'll have to confine the Germans to their quarters. There's not enough room in the cooler for all of the Germans." Klink stared at Hogan, utterly dumbfounded. Hogan continued, "However, if any of your men give us trouble, they will be punished."
"How do we know that some of the prisoners won't try to abuse us?" one of the guards asked.
"You deserve it after the way you've treated us!" one of the prisoners shouted.
"PIPE DOWN! There will be no abuse of the prisoners. You will be treated according to the Geneva Convention," Hogan replied loudly.
"And if these men ignore you?" demanded the same guard.
"If I hear that anyone isn't being treated accordingly, I will see to it that the offender is punished. Are there any more questions?" asked Hogan. No one replied, so Hogan dismissed the men.
Hogan went over to Sergeant Kinchloe and said something to him. Klink didn't hear what it was, but the black Sergeant nodded and went into the administration building. He watched as Hogan gave orders to some of the other prisoners to take over the duties of the various stations in camp.
Klink marveled at Hogan's demeanor. The man had an unmistakable air of command about him. Klink realized now that it had always been there, but in all Hogan's time as a prisoner in Stalag 13, he had rarely seen it.
"Foster, Carter and Newkirk take Schultz and some of our men and see to the confinement of the Germans who are on duty and that we have an accurate count of them. Then see to it that those posts are manned. There should be eighty men, not counting Colonel Klink. Schultz, will you help us make sure that everyone is accounted for? And fellas, don't get trigger-happy. This is a peaceful surrender."
"Yes sir!" Schultz replied with a smart salute towards Hogan.
Klink rolled his eyes skyward and shook his head in frustration. He then shook a balled fist towards Schultz. "Schultz!! You're still under my command!" Klink whined.
Schultz shrugged and replied, "But Herr Kommandant, you're not in command anymore."
Klink's eyes closed in amazement that Schultz would say such a thing to him and then his shoulders slumped as the reality that he was a prisoner hit him like a brick. He opened his eyes and said in a defeated tone, "You're right, Schultz. Go ahead and do what Hogan has asked you to do."
"And what do I do?" LeBeau asked Hogan.
Klink looked pleadingly at the diminutive Frenchman. "I don't suppose you'd be willing to cook me a nice dinner?"
LeBeau scowled and muttered something in French. Hogan looked towards the Frenchman and replied, "We need you to help feed everyone. Choose some people to help you in the kitchen."
"What happens when we use up the food in camp?" inquired LeBeau.
Hogan thought for a moment and replied, "I'm sure that Schultz would be happy to help you buy some food. I hope that an Allied unit arrives here before we run out of food. See how many days we can stretch what we've got and let me know later after you've served a nice dinner to the Kommandant and me in his quarters."
Klink was utterly amazed at Hogan's reply and LeBeau looked stunned that Hogan would give him such an order. LeBeau muttered another protest in French. Hogan touched LeBeau's shoulder and said softly, "Do it for me, Louis." LeBeau nodded and headed for the kitchen.
It was still early in the morning and Klink turned and headed back to his quarters. Since Hogan was now in charge, then he wasn't needed in the office. Dragging his feet as he walked, Klink glanced up at the guard towers and the main gate out of habit; he noticed that his men were still at these posts. Hogan's men hadn't confined everyone yet. He guessed that it was taking a while for Schultz to convince some of the guards that what their Kommandant said over the PA system was true. He now understood why Hogan asked Schultz to go with his men.
Hogan interrupted his reverie and asked, "Kommandant?"
Klink stood straight, turned to face Hogan and replied, "Yes Hogan?" There was a look of concern on Hogan's face as though the American really cared about his ex-captor's fate, Klink noticed. Hogan's eyes told him another story. They were the eyes of a man who was tired and wanted to return to his home and family.
Hogan opened his mouth to continue, but never got a chance as a car approached the main gate. The two men watched as the guards opened the gate and admitted the car. Klink shrugged and looked at Hogan as the car pulled up and parked in front of them. He wondered what was about to happen.
