The T.V. show Hogan's Heroes belongs to Bing Crosby Productions.
No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is implied or inferred, (except for the 7 new characters introduced in this story) and no infringement is intended.
Weaving a Web to Freedom,
The Truth is What We Make It
By MLM 13
Chapter 15
"Colonel Hogan!"
"What is it, Carter?"
"Kinch sent me to tell you that General Burkhalter just drove into camp."
Hogan sat up on his cot and reached for his shoes. Except for a few sore spots he was starting to feel pretty good. Wilson wouldn't let him take off the binding around his ribs yet and he had to admit it did help reduce the discomfort.
Wilson looked out the barrack window. "It appears that the party's over. Schultz is coming this way from the Kommandant's office."
Hogan reached for his jacket as Schultz opened the door and stepped inside.
"Colonel Hogan…"
"I know Schultz; the Kommandant wants to see me."
"Jawohl"
"Okay." Hogan sighed and grabbed his hat.
Shultz had an apologetic look on his face. "Sorry, Colonel Hogan, I'm just following orders."
"I know, Schultz. Come on lets get this over with."
"Bye, sir." Carter mumbled.
"Colonel." Wilson called.
Hogan paused, "Yeah?"
"Try to stay out of trouble this time."
"I wasn't looking for trouble the last time." Hogan answered as Schultz opened the door and ushered him out ahead of him.
"Colonel Hogan, you will be good won't you?" Schultz asked.
"Schultz I promise I won't say anything…"
"Good"
"…unless they start something."
"Colonel Hooogaan!" Schultz groaned.
They climbed the steps to the Kommandant's office and went inside.
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"Herr Kommandant, Colonel Hogan is here."
"Send him in, Schultz."
Hogan stepped in and removing his hat, saluted.
"You wanted to see me, Kommandant."
General Burkhalter was sitting beside Klink's desk with his hands folded on his chest. Looking down his nose and with an air of superiority, he answered,
"Colonel Hogan, Kommandant Klink shared your Red Cross report with me."
Hogan straightened and the General paused as he noticed he seemed to have Colonel Hogan's undivided attention.
Hogan's mind raced through scenarios. Why would he care about the Red Cross' report? Had something gone wrong? Had they been found out? Maybe Steffan resurfaced and found a way to prove his allegations? Or perhaps the General has come to the realization that Steffan had just beat me without reason and my lashing out was justified.
Burkhalter continued and soon put an end to any hope of a reprieve.
"However, you appear to be recovered now, so we are reinstating your 30 days of solitary confinement. Your sentence is to begin immediately. Disrespect of a German officer will not be tolerated."
Burkhalter looked at Hogan purposefully and continued, "The sooner you learn that lesson, the easier your life will be."
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Hogan's men were glued to the "coffeepot" holding their breaths.
"It's so quiet." Carter whispered.
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Hogan could feel his anger growing. It was an unjust sentence and he could have talked Klink out of it…if Burkhalter hadn't shown up. It seemed to Hogan that from the time he was first shot down Burkhalter was always showing up and getting in the way of his plans. But then, this was a Luftwaffe camp.
Klink could see the flush of red start on Hogan's neck and quickly ordered, "Schultz, take Colonel Hogan to the cooler, lock him in solitary and post a guard,"
Hogan exploded. "A guard! Where do you think I'm going to go?"
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Louis threw his hands up and looked at the ceiling. Carter had a surprised look on his face. Kinch merely closed his eyes. But Newkirk smiled and shook his head, enjoying the Colonel's defiance.
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Burkhalter's smile disappeared and his nostrils flared.
Klink shook his fist. "Silence!"
It was a spontaneous response. He knew his mistake as soon as he said it. "Yes, sir, sorry sir," Hogan answered apologetically while trying not to choke on his words. He looked at the floor and hoped Burkhalter would let it go.
Burkhalter's features softened…a little.
"That's better," Klink answered, willingly accepting the apology.
Klink was also hoping the General would let it go. Because prior to Burkhalter's arrival, he had decided that being taken by the Abwehr for questioning had been punishment enough for Hogan. However, he couldn't share that information with the General. The Abwehr had warned him not to talk to the General about their visit. And as long as the General didn't ask a direct question, he would comply with their request.
But Burkhalter was not as forgiving.
"Klink, I want him on bread and water for the first 5 days of his confinement."
Looking back at Hogan, Burkhalter asked, "Care to try for thirty, Colonel Hogan?"
Hogan knew it made little difference. The guys would supply him with food, but he didn't want to provoke the General any further. Who knew what other tricks he might have up his sleeve and there was always the risk of being transferred.
"No, sir."
Burkhalter's smile returned. "See, you are learning already." Burkhalter had purposely baited him. "Shultz, take him away."
"Jawohl, Herr General." Opening the door, Schultz beckoned, "Colonel Hogan."
Hogan hesitated.
Schultz stiffened. "Colonel Hogan…please."
Clenching his teeth, Hogan did a right face and marched out of the room.
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It was a silent march across the compound as Schultz guided him back to the same solitary cell he had started out in. The door was already open waiting for him when they got there. Hogan went straight in and stopped. Instead of the bed being a plain wood frame, as it was the first time he was placed in this cell, someone had brought a mattress and blankets in. Hogan turned around.
"Thanks, Schultz."
Schultz just waved him off while stepping out of the cell and locking the door.
Hogan sat on the bunk and rested his chin in his hands looking at the floor. Although they did know a little more about Captain Steffan, they were still in a mess. He had been trying to sort some of it out when Schultz had come for him.
Ok, what have we got? Burkhalter is under suspicion of treason. Steffan is an SD officer and we don't know what he is up too at the moment. But why did he give his information to Hochstetter?
Hogan stood up and began pacing.
If I had to guess, I'd say he was using Hochstetter to get into the Gestapo undercover of being a Luftwaffe officer. But was he under orders of his superiors to infiltrate the Gestapo or was there something he wanted to accomplish on his own. If it was his idea, I'm sure it would have been an easy sell to his superiors. The SD would love to have eyes and ears inside the Gestapo.
I think Steffan is using Hochstetter to gather information, so he can stay in the background and maintain his anonymity. Hochstetter must have implicated Burkhalter and the Abwehr caught wind of it. There's no love lost between the Abwehr and the Nazi SD.
Hogan stopped pacing and thought out loud. "I wonder if London has any ideas yet."
Just then there was a grating sound.
A large block at the head of Hogan's bunk slid out and Louis poked his head through.