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 Marty Miller
Chapter 18
The searchlights resumed their normal sweep patterns in and outside of the compound.
"What was that all about?" Steffan mumbled to himself. His past experience told him that this kind of activity is usually staged for a reason. He decided he would make a wider sweep of the area around Stalag 13, and turned to walk into the woods.
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Colonel Knefler had been called back to SS headquarters after retiring to his home for the evening; an entourage of personnel met him as he arrived. Information had come in from their contact in London that there was going to be some sabotage activities committed by the underground occurring early in the morning. This was criminal activity and that information would be turned over to the Gestapo to investigate.
Their spy in London had also sent Information about the traitor in their midst. This matter the SD would handle. The SD investigated security matters and corruption from within the Nazi structure. Such as plot's to kill the Fuhrer, treason, spies, anything that would threaten the success of the Third Reich, which is precisely why the Colonel was called.
Knefler was aware that the Gestapo had targeted General Burkhalter for involvement with the Underground. To have a General under suspicion of treason by the Gestapo was serious business. But in this case it was especially serious, because this General was is in charge of highly classified post war plans. Knefler would study the information they received tonight and deal with the Gestapo personally.
"Has the Gestapo already been alerted concerning the Undergrounds plans?"
"Jawohl, Colonel, about twenty minutes ago."
Knefler turned to go up to the second floor for the high level meeting he had been called to, when he saw Major Teppel enter the building. Maybe the Abwehr is not as inept as I thought.
"Major Teppel," the Colonel called out. "I see you've heard about the messages we received from our agent's in London."
Teppel approached the Colonel. "We also have agents, Herr Colonel. I had come to share our information with you as we agreed."
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Hochstetter had just finished his late night meeting when he received the call that the underground would be hitting targets in the early morning hours. He had sent troops out to watch for suspicious activity and to question anybody in the area. Now, his staff car was pulling into Stalag 13.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
The ground shook as one giant fireball after another burst upward ripping a whole in the darkness of the early morning sky. Additional thunderous explosions coming from the rail yard followed the explosions from the airfield, then like a perfectly timed ballet the bridge exploded sending up flaming bits of debris, resembling a grand finally on the fourth of July.
The blasts set off the camp sirens and the dogs hearing the sirens began howling and barking as a sweep of warm air and the smell of fire swept through the compound.
In the midst of the chaos, Hochstetter's staff car shrieked to a halt.
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The men in Barrack 2 were enjoying the view from the barrack windows.
"Way to go, Carter!"
All were bombarding him with slaps on the back as he stared completely engulfed by the glow of his explosions.
"I wish the Colonel could see this!" Carter whispered to himself.
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Colonel Hogan sat in the darkness feeling the vibrations rumble through the floors and walls of his cell. The spark was back in his eyes as he smiled broadly imagining the spectacle taking place in the sky above him.
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Hochstetter jumped out of his staff car and joined Klink who was struggling to pull his coat on as he watched the fire and smoke in the sky.
"What's happening, Major Hochstetter?"
"I'll tell you what's happening! The underground has just struck again." Hochstetter turned and bolted across the compound.
"Where are you going?"
"To the cooler to see if Colonel Hogan is still there." He yelled.
Klink followed.
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Hogan's cell door burst open and Hochstetter rushed in followed by Klink.
"Turn on the light!" Hochstetter demanded.
Hogan was sitting on the side of the bed looking as if he had just awakened.
Klink relaxed. "See, Major. He's right there."
Hogan strained to see in the blinding light. "What's going on? Are we being bombed?"
Hochstetter looked down on Hogan. "You have been in your cell all night?"
"Where else would I be?"
"Schultz, have you been awake all night guarding his cell?"
"Jawohl, Herr Major."
"BAH", Hochstetter growled as he spun around and ran out of the cell.
"What's going on, Kommandant?"
"Just be glad you're locked up." Klink turned to Schultz. "And you keep him locked up!"
Klink left and the cell door closed.
Hogan smiled, So far…so good.
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Hochstetter exploded out of the cooler and seeing Colonel Knefler and General Burkhalter in the middle of the compound, stormed up to them.
"General, where have you been tonight?" Hochstetter questioned.
"I have been sleeping in the officers' quarters."
"Can you prove it?"
"What do you mean, can I prove it. Why would I have to prove it?"
"Because, you are under suspicion of being a traitor."
"What!" Burkhalter and Klink exclaimed simultaneously.
Hochstetter looked at Knefler.
"Colonel Knefler, what are you doing here? Have you come to arrest the General?"
"I have come to see Captain Steffan." Knefler said. "I have some questions for him. There have been some new developments, Major. The SD has gained information, that the General is not the man we should be looking for in connection with the sabotage occurring in this area.
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Hogan waited for Schultz to lock his cell door and then slipped out into the tunnels. He was just in the process of slipping into a pair of black pants and a shirt when Kinch came up behind him.
Surprised, Hogan turned around. "Kinch? Is everything okay?"
Kinch nodded, "It appears to be going as planned. What are you doing?"
Hogan reached for his pistol and tucked it into his belt.
"Unless I miss my guess Steffan was planning on staying out all night, I'm going to see if I can find him."
"But why, Colonel? It looks like your message to London worked. The compound is full of Kraut officers."
"Because, if the Gestapo or SD gets him, they will torture and execute him. He's scum, but nobody deserves to be tortured to death." Hogan's voice was firm.
Kinch began changing his clothes. "I've got your back."
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Hochstetter was having difficulty digesting what he was hearing from the SD Colonel. "I don't believe it! I worked with him he was earnest in his desire to catch and put a stop to the underground."
Hochstetter carried on his tirade as Major Teppel's staff car rolled through the gates and came to a stop.
"Ah, the Abwehr, maybe they will make sense!"
Hochstetter quickly approached Major Teppel as he exited his car.
"Major Teppel, are you here for General Burkhalter?"
Teppel looked at Knefler and Burkhalter questioningly. "What?"
Hochstetter impatiently continued, "Colonel Knefler has some strange idea that it is Captain Steffan who is involved with the Underground and not General Burkhalter."
"That fits in with what we found at the rail yard."
"What did you find?" Klink asked.
"We found this medal with Captain Steffan's name engraved on the back. The clasp was broke. He must have lost it in his rush to leave the rail yard."
"Bah! That does not prove anything."
"The Gestapo has hung men on less evidence." Teppel accused and then continued. " But you are correct that is not proof in and of itself. However, our agents in London forwarded information from the U.S. stating that Captain Steffan has been working as a double agent. In addition to that, we have received information from our agents that his name is mentioned in connection with the code name, 'Papa Bear'."
Hochstetter turned white. "Not 'Papa Bear'."
He knew that code name. It was the name connected with the underground in this area. The underground he had been working to uncover. The underground he had suspected Colonel Hogan was leading.
"Where is he?" Hochstetter reached for his gun, "I will shoot him myself." He growled.
"That is what we came to ask you, Major." Colonel Knefler roared. "Put your gun away! The Captain is SD business. The Gestapo would be too lenient with him!"
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Steffan had gone in the direction of the bridge explosion hoping he might get lucky and catch some of the underground.
As he turned to walk back, he found himself starring into the business end of Hogan's Lugar.
"What...So you've decided to show your hand Colonel Hogan. I knew you were involved."
"I've come to offer you a way out of Germany."
"Why would I want to leave Germany?"
"Because if you don't, you re dead."
"You would shoot me in cold blood, Colonel?"
"Don't tempt me. But no, I won't have to shoot you. The SD will do it for me, you see, you are 'Papa Bear'."
Hogan was getting a great deal of pleasure out of revealing this to Steffan.
"What?"
"We have arranged for you to be known as the leader of the underground in this area. Your career in the SD is over. You do not have to worry about any more promotions, nor about finding any more victims to earn those promotions for you."
Steffan made a dive for the gun. Hogan held onto it and with his left hand he had the satisfaction of delivering a punch that landed squarely on Steffan's mouth. Steffan was dazed but still on his feet. Hogan let go of the gun and it fell to the forest floor. He then came back with a right hook, which sent Steffan flying back into Kinch's arms.
"I can't tell you how good that felt."
Kinch smirked and nodded as he pulled Steffan's arms behind his back and Hogan stepped up gagged him, and tied his hands.
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Newkirk, LeBeau, and Carter were in the tunnel looking for Kinch when Hogan and Kinch appeared with their captive.
"Blimey, who have we got here? You're not looking so smug now Captain." Newkirk was enjoying himself.
"Kinch, call the underground and tell them we have a package for delivery."
"You bet, Colonel. Where are you going?"
"I better go back to my cell before I'm missed."
"Hey, Colonel!"
"Yeah, Carter."
"You missed a beautiful show. The bombs went off like clock work!"
"I knew they would, Carter. Good job!"
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Major Hochstetter pulled his troops into the woods surrounding Stalag 13 to look for Steffan.
"General," Klink began, "if Captain Steffan is a traitor, then shouldn't Colonel Hogan be released? We are punishing him for insulting a traitor."
Burkhalter just started to respond, when Hochstetter interrupted.
"No, he should not be released! When he insulted the Captain, he did not know he was a traitor. His crime was against the Third Reich!"
Burkhalter was about to say the same thing, but now that Hochstetter had said it; he did not want to appear to be surrendering his decision to the Major.
"On the contrary, Major, the crime for which Hogan was sentenced was for threatening to punch the Captain in the mouth. It was a statement directed toward the man who had just beat him, who at that time was thought to be a loyal German and worthy of respect. Now that we know he was not a loyal German, but an enemy, I see no reason to continue Colonel Hogan's confinement. You may release him Klink."
"Corporal Kohler, go and release Colonel Hogan."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant."
"Which brings me to my next question, if he was a spy why would he beat one of his own men and accuse him of being involved in the underground?" Klink asked.
"That's easy," Hochstetter said. "A spy's first rule is to remain in character and not 'blow' his cover. Captain Steffan's position as a spy was more important to his government than the life of a POW. Hogan was expendable. It was more important to keep a spy in our midst. Colonel Hogan would have died in the service of his country."
Klink listened and shook his head in agreement, "Of course, that makes sense."
Burkhalter, still enraged that he had been under suspicion of being a traitor demanded to know, "What ever gave you the idea that I was a traitor?"
"Steffan gave them the idea!" Hogan answered as he walked up.
The German officers turned to see whom it was that had just intruded into their conversation. Hogan continued undaunted.
"Yeah, General. Steffan was feeding information back to the SD making you the traitor and taking the heat off of himself. Pretty smart of him." Hogan displayed a broad grin as he praised his false ally, and then noticed everyone was scowling at him.
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to intrude." It was an empty statement and he continued as his smile turned to a frown.
"I do resent him almost getting me killed though." The mesmerized group of German officers still made no response and Hogan decided to go for a more direct approach. "So, have you found him yet?"
That did it. Hochstetter took an intimidating step closer. "No, but we will."
"Well, good luck, Major. He's probably half way to London by now!" Hogan bragged. "You know you guys, really need to keep better tabs on your people."
All but Klink were starring dumb founded as this fast talking American Officer rattled on.
"COLONEL HOGAN!" Klink yelled.
Hogan stared at Klink flashing that insufferable smile on his innocent conniving face. The smile that had somehow become a comfort, a sign that all was as it should be.
And Klink breathed a sigh of relief.
The End.