This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any actual resemblance to persons or historical persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The Hogan's Heroes characters, settings, ect. are owned by other entities who have not endorsed this fic nor have they given permission for their use. Author makes no claims to these characters and is not making any profit off their use.
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© Copyright: 2004. Lisa Philbrick
Stalag 13
November 1944
Day 2
Kinch was waiting outside the door of the barracks with the other heroes when Hogan came back. "Shultz just went into the guest quarters," he said.
Hogan turned to look. "Guess we wait," he said.
"Did Klink say anything?" Carter asked.
Hogan shook his head. "Not really. Only that Miller is a prisoner of the Gestapo and is not being treated as a POW. He did not however, mention the involvement of the Propaganda Ministry. Hilda only admitted it was an American officer."
"Not much ol' Klink can do anyway," Newkirk said, "with Hochstetter running the show."
"And the Propaganda Ministry," Kinch added. "Klink's going to be under a lot of pressure to make sure that none of us see Glenn Miller in this camp."
"Exactly. I also have a feeling that if they knew that we know Miller's here, they'll move him out fast and we'll be sunk." Hogan said. "On the other hand they may just be waiting for the right time to show him to us. For propaganda purposes of course."
The door of the guest quarters opened at that point and Shultz came out. The sergeant of the guard headed to Klink's office.
"But we're not waiting..." Hogan turned to his men and a quick plan of diversion was brought together. Newkirk ducked into the barracks to retrieve his playing cards and then came back out. He, LeBeau and Kinch went in one direction, while Hogan went the opposite. Carter headed towards another group of prisoners. The idea was for it to look like Newkirk, LeBeau and Kinch were merely walking around the yard, all the while Newkirk was demonstrating some card tricks. Hogan merely looked like he too was just strolling around the yard. Carter looked like he was joining a game of football in progress.
Newkirk, LeBeau and Kinch paused near the guard by the guest quarters.
"I'll show you again, I'll show you again..." Newkirk said. He held his hands up. "Nothin' up me sleeves, nothin' in me coat, nothin' under me hat. Under 'ere I have a pretty lady with diamonds..." He held up the top card with the Queen of Diamonds on it. "But she's a little shy, you know, isn't sure what to do with all these fellas hangin' around and when they knock on 'er door all they find..." Newkirk put the card back down and with motion quicker than the eye, when he turned the card back up he had the Ace of Spades. "...is nothin' but spades."
"I'd think those boys would get tired of knocking on her door all the time," LeBeau complained.
Newkirk chuckled. "'Ere, I'll show you 'nother one..." Newkirk shuffled the cards and then fanned them out. "Here, Kinch, pick a card, any card..."
The guard watched as the card trick progressed. He didn't notice as Colonel Hogan casually made his way the other side of the guest quarters. The one guard in the tower that would have seen Hogan, didn't, as he was suddenly distracted by the sudden boisterous noise of the Allied prisoners in their football game. Hogan paused only to look up at the tower and make sure he wasn't being watched. Seeing his opportunity, Hogan quickly went to the backside of the guest quarters.
He went to the window and worked it open. He then lifted himself up and in through the window.
Major Miller heard the voices outside the front of the guest quarters and then heard the noise of the window being opened in the bedroom. He took a few cautious steps toward the door of the bedroom, which was closed. He stopped when the door opened.
Hogan looked at the Major and saw the look of momentary alarm. He put a hand up in a gesture of wait. "It's okay. I'm Colonel Robert Hogan, I'm the senior POW officer in this camp."
Miller let out the breath he'd been holding. "I take it despite your rank, they won't let you in the front door?"
Hogan put his hand down and approached the Major. "No. They don't want anybody in this camp to see you. Despite that tho', we have to figure a way to get you out of here."
"That's a tall order."
"Tell me about it." Hogan paused, looking at the band leader, noticing he looked rather worn. "Major Glenn Miller I presume?"
Miller made a face, wishing he could say no. After all, that was why he was in the predicament he was in was because of who he was. "Glenn who?"
Hogan chuckled softly, understanding. "Are you okay, Major?"
Miller nodded. "I'm fine, thank you."
"How'd the Gestapo grab you?"
"There were two of them," Miller said. "They were dressed as American Army officers. They paraded me right out of the BBC Broadcasting House and into a car."
"Did you try to run for it?"
Miller was caught in mid-drag on his cigarette. He blew a string of smoke out away from the Colonel. "I got as far as turning around. The second one pulled a gun on me."
"Where'd they take you?"
Miller shook his head. "I don't know. They blind folded me after I got into the car and didn't take it off until I got into Germany and into a Gestapo interrogation room."
"You were interrogated?" Hogan was suddenly concerned.
"For a couple of hours. Song and dance stuff, really, I didn't say much more than name, rank and serial number. Finally though, I learned it's not the Gestapo that wants anything with me anyway."
"I know, it's the Propaganda Ministry. I just wanted to make sure they didn't try to rough you up or anything."
Miller shook his head. "They didn't."
"Good."
Miller paused for another smoke. He then suddenly realized what the Colonel had said. "How'd you know the Propaganda Ministry wanted me?"
Hogan grinned. "We have a bug in the Kommandant's office. We over heard General Burkhalter and Major Hochstetter talking when they brought you in."
"You have a ...?" Miller blinked, not sure he heard the Colonel right. "Really?"
"The Kommandant likes to think he runs this camp. He doesn't."
Miller chuckled. "Perhaps the Germans have made a mistake in bringing me here."
"You bet they did. Tho' they made a mistake in nabbing you, period." Hogan's grin faded and he hesitated a moment. "I also know that London has suspended the AEF broadcasts...."
Miller sighed. "Figured they would be." Although he knew why, he wondered if the Colonel knew too. "Do you know why?" he asked.
Hogan nodded grimly. "That's why we have to get you out of here and back to England."
Miller neither agreed nor disagreed. Instead he looked away slightly from Colonel Hogan and stood quietly for a moment, smoking his cigarette. He didn't know that Hogan really could get him out of Germany, and figured the Colonel was making a well intended promise that he would have a hard time keeping. However, Miller detected from things Hogan just said, that the Colonel was very well informed of things that were going on both inside and outside of the POW camp. But the band leader wasn't sure about the optimistic insistence that Hogan could get him back to England. Quite frankly, he didn't believe it. Thus, he wasn't counting on getting back to England and instead considered making a request of Hogan. He looked at him.
"Colonel, based on what you've told me, I'm guessing you have contacts outside of this camp don't you?"
Hogan nodded. "I do."
"Would it be possible for you to get a message back to London?"
"I can."
Miller hesitated, considering his words. He would not admit to the Colonel that he didn't believe he could get him out of Germany. But he couldn't let the broadcasts remain suspended. "I don't mean this to sound melodramatic," he said, "but I knew the risk when I put on this uniform. I especially knew the risk when I came to England. My only purpose in doing all this was to bring the music closer to those who were fighting. I've been told that what I've done as one man has been extraordinary, and I appreciate knowing that. But if one man's life is going to stand in the way of those broadcasts continuing, I'd rather it not. My fear is that if those broadcasts remain suspended because of my life, what does that do for morale? The Germans knew exactly what they were doing when they grabbed me, but I refuse to let them have the satisfaction." Miller paused and straightened his shoulders, knowing he was addressing a Colonel. "If possible, sir, I'd like for you to tell London to resume those broadcasts, that I want them to resume the broadcasts, regardless of my well being."
Hogan hesitated, struck by the Major's willingness to accept sacrifice. "Can the band play on without you?" he asked.
"Yes. They're more than capable of continuing without me."
"Can they do it knowing they would be sealing your fate?"
Miller paused. "If they know that I want them to continue, they'll get through it."
"Are you willing to make such a sacrifice?"
"Isn't that a question that's asked of every good soldier?" Miller chuckled softly. "I don't consider myself much of a soldier...but I am a patriot. There's more at stake here than just my life, Colonel. You understand what I mean?"
Hogan understood. He understood all too well. He too was a patriot, and a soldier. He knew what Major Miller was talking about. After all, wasn't that the reason he was doing what he was doing now? Remaining a prisoner while helping others to escape, because so much was at stake?
But Glenn Miller was the biggest morale booster next to pinups of Betty Grable, the humor of Bob Hope and a letter from home that the Allies had. However, Hogan knew what the band leader was saying. Losing me might be unfortunate, but to lose the music would be devastating.
Hogan wasn't arguing that, but still he felt a duty to try to get Miller out of the Nazi's grasp and back to England. He had to at least try.
He looked at the Major and nodded. "I understand..." He paused, considering what he was about to say next. "Major, what I'm about to tell you is to be held in the strictest confidence. What you see here at Stalag 13 is not your ordinary POW camp. I, and a small group of men, work covert operations, sabotage, from here and we help Allied fliers and POW's escape and get back to England so they can fight another day. I don't reject what you're asking me, but given what my purpose here is, and what your purpose has been, you have to at least let me try and spring you."
Miller was astonished. Covert operations? Out of a POW camp?? "Colonel..."
"I'll make a deal with you," Hogan said. "The Germans aren't going to keep you here at Stalag 13 or in this area for very long. If I can't spring you before they move you to somewhere where I can't reach you....I'll send your request to London and I'll insist they adhere to it."
Miller considered this for a moment and then nodded, grateful. "Fair enough. But Colonel, how--?"
Hogan shook his head. "Trust me. I can get you out of here...if you'll give me a chance."
Suddenly Hogan and Miller heard somebody whistling a song outside. That was the Colonel's cue.
"I'm out of time. But trust me, I can get you out of here." Hogan took a step back and turned, disappearing back through the bedroom.