Fritz's Bakery
Düsseldorf, Germany
November 1944

Day 5

Having struck out twice with trying to spring Major Miller from the hotel, Hogan nixed any further attempts at such a feat and instead decided to focus on the possibility of getting Miller out of the radio station before the broadcast. Back at Fritz's bakery, Hogan, Newkirk, Fritz and a few of Fritz's men were gathered around a table, a floor plan of the radio station spread out before them. In the span of an hour, a plan was laid out, logistics and time table was tentatively set and they would have forty-eight hours to pull it off.

"The broadcast is the day after tomorrow," Hogan was saying. "That's all the time you'll have for you and your men to get a car, Gestapo uniforms and to alert the safe houses along the escape route."

Fritz nodded. "It can be done, Colonel."

"All right. You'll also need something to disguise Miller in. Make you sure you get him out of that Army uniform or he'll be a sitting duck."

"Ja."

"In the meantime, once I get Newkirk and Carter in there, we'll make sure that the broadcast doesn't happen. I'll find out from the Major tomorrow what time the broadcast is supposed to start and the itinerary for it, if he knows it, and pass that back to you for the final preparation." Hogan looked at Newkirk. "Once we get you and Carter in there, under no circumstances are we to allow Miller to be heard on that broadcast in any way, shape or form, if for some reason Fritz and his men can't get in there before this thing goes on the air."

Newkirk nodded. "Right." He looked at Fritz and his men. "Based on what we heard at the hotel, the Gestapo has some interest in this broadcast and all we can think is that Miller is being used as bait of some kind. "

"Exactly," Hogan concurred. "We want to make sure the line gets cut before it's cast." Hogan looked at Fritz. "When the broadcast goes bust, and Miller's out of there, the rest of us will be trucked back to Stalag 13. We'll contact London from there and let them know Miller is on the way."

"And within twenty-four hours he will be back in England," Fritz said. "God willing."

Hogan nodded. "God willing..."

Stalag 13
November 1944
Day 5

"Message came in from London while you were out," Kinch said after Hogan and Newkirk returned to barracks two. The radio man handed the paper to the Colonel. "They want to know what's going on, German news media has been rather quiet about capturing Miller."

Hogan read the message." There's been no report of anything..."

Kinch shook his head. "Not a thing. And Allied headquarters hasn't announced that Miller is even missing, let alone kidnapped, given the possible implications to troop morale."

"Makes sense," Hogan said. "But how are they managing that?"

"SHAEF has the band running all over England doing live shows. The broadcasts have been suspended due to 'technical' reasons and Miller's absence from the performances is being explained that he's 'under the weather.'"

"Well, Miller will be happy to hear the band's still playing for troops, even if it's not on the radio at the moment." Hogan's eyes narrowed in thought. "But why are the Germans being so quiet about it? I'd figure they'd have him splashed across the newsreels by now and on the front page of every German paper."

"Maybe they're waiting until our side announces he's missing?" LeBeau suggested.

"Maybe Goebbels forgot in all the excitement," Carter said with a snicker.

Newkirk rolled his eyes at Carter. "Blimey..."

"No wait," Hogan said, snapping his fingers. "Carter's right. Goebbels' Propaganda Ministry controls the press. Miller's capture is part of some plan of Goebbels. If nothing is being reported in the press it's because Goebbels doesn't want it reported in the press."

"But why?" Newkirk asked. "They've got the most popular band leader in the world. It's a propaganda dream. What are they waiting for, approval from Hitler?"

Hogan shook his head. "I don't know. But I can't help but think that once the press does start reporting on it, it's going to be big. And bad. All the more reason we have to get Miller out of that radio station before that broadcast, or mess it up as best we can."

"Don't worry, sir," Newkirk said with a smile. "Once me and Andrew are in there, we'll mess things up real nicely."

Carter grinned too and then looked at the Colonel. "How do you plan to get me and Newkirk in there?"

"I suggested to Major Miller that he request vocalists. Hopefully tomorrow, somebody from the Propaganda Ministry will be here to pick you guys up. Make sure though that you and Newkirk are the only two that volunteer. I don't want all of Stalag 13 to look too eager to commit treason."