This story takes place immediately after the story Two Missions for the Price of One in the same universe, and follows certain events in the time span from September 6, 1943 to June 6, 1944. This is the second story in what I call the Operation Deflection series.
The flow of this story may seem a bit disjointed when reading one scene to the next. There are several threads being created by this story, and these threads are not always interrelated. However, the threads all form a part in the weaving of the webs of deception, which I hope you will see by the end of the series.
I would like to extend many huge thanks to Patti and Marg. It's a long story, but they graciously donated the basis for several of the characters and events that are present in this story. And so I give them credit for the birth of some of the plot bunnies contained herein, but I accept all blame for what I might have done to them!
I have opted to go without beta reading this time. All mistakes are mine, and mine alone!
As usual, I make no claims to any characters or events from the Hogan's Heroes Universe, or to any actual dialog or plot details from any episode referenced.
Enjoy!
Berlin, Abwehr Headquarters, Office of Major Hans Teppel
September 6, 1943, 1030 hours
Major Hans Teppel sat at his desk, reviewing the reports that had gathered overnight. Most of them were reports from field agents, reporting on Allied troop movements and preparations. He smiled to himself as he read. He wondered how many of the reports were accurate and how many were Allied attempts at confusing German Intelligence. He had not yet seen any contradictions between the reports of different agents, but he knew that the Intelligence game had two purposes; gain information about the enemy, and feed as much false information to the enemy as possible.
Hans Teppel knew that the Allies had spies planted in the various organizations, just as German Intelligence had spies planted in Allied Headquarters. He knew this first hand. Major Hans Teppel was in fact, Robert J. Morrison, an American of German ancestry who gave up his identity to come to Germany before the war began. Yes, he knew first hand that the Allies had spies within the Abwehr, because he was one of them.
It had been a dangerous act to perform, and he was always in fear of being discovered. Earlier this year, he had had to risk blowing his cover to enlist the aid of the infamous Papa Bear, an important underground leader, to prevent a German plant from Allied Headquarters from telling everything he knew about the German Resistance, including the identity of Papa Bear. Papa Bear was Colonel Robert Hogan, an American POW stationed in Stalag 13, near Hammelburg. At first, Hogan did not believe that a Major from the Abwehr could be spying for the Allies, but he managed to convince him and enlist his help in thwarting the informant.
Traveling to Stalag 13 and requesting several prisoners be transported to Berlin for questioning had been risky. Fortunately, the Kommandant of Stalag 13 was easy to convince. That mission was successful, and Papa Bear was able to return to Hammelburg and continue his successful sabotage and escape operation. Hans Teppel was able to return to his official job of directing internal intelligence operations, as well as his unofficial job of informing the Allies about German Intelligence operations.
The ringing phone jarred Teppel from his thoughts. He picked up the receiver. "Hallo. Abwehr Headquarters, Major Hans Teppel here. Heil Hitler!"
"Heil Hitler! This is Major Hochstetter of the Hammelburg Gestapo," the voice on the phone said.
Teppel was not familiar with Major Hochstetter, but the mention of Hammelburg got his attention. He knew that Colonel Hogan operated in the area, so he was curious as to what Major Hochstetter wanted.
"Yes, Major Hochstetter. What can I do for you?" he asked.
"Two nights ago, my men were transporting a dangerous prisoner from Stalag 13 back to Gestapo headquarters. On the way, the prisoner was taken by four men and a woman claiming to be from the Abwehr and sent by Major Kurt Wagner," Hochstetter said. "This is very unusual, so I am calling for some confirmation."
The mention of Major Kurt Wagner increased Teppel's curiosity. Wagner was also stationed in Abwehr Headquarters, but Teppel had his suspicions about him. He had a feeling that Wagner was at least sympathetic to the Allied cause, but he was not sure if he was part of the clandestine group of conspirators that wanted to overthrow Hitler, or if he was an Allied operative, or if he were a loyal Nazi. But if he were an Allied operative, London would have known about him. Unless ...
"I would suggest you talk to Major Wagner if you have questions about his operations," Teppel replied.
"I have already talked to Major Wagner," Hochstetter said. "He was less than forthcoming in his responses, though he did inform me that the prisoner was shot while trying to escape."
"I see," said Teppel thoughtfully. "You say this prisoner was dangerous?"
"Yes. He was a Russian prisoner being kept in Stalag 13," Hochstetter replied.
"A Russian," Teppel responded. "And that made him dangerous?"
Teppel's mind digested this information. So Major Wagner was interested in a Russian prisoner from Stalag 13? Very interesting. I know that we currently do not have any operatives in the Hammelburg area, so I wonder who would have taken the prisoner from Hochstetter's men?
"You know how dangerous Russians are, Major Teppel," Hochstetter said. Teppel could hear the hostility in Hochstetter's voice.
"I am in the Abwehr, Major. I am sure that I know the true dangers of Russians better than you," Teppel replied.
Teppel heard a grunt over the phone connection. It was all he could do to keep from laughing out loud at the Gestapo Major.
"As you know, it would be inappropriate for me to discuss Abwher operations, Major Hochstetter," Teppel replied. "If Major Wagner deemed it appropriate to tell you even a little information about one of his operations, then I would have to leave it at that."
"So you are refusing to confirm this?" Hochstetter asked, getting more and more agitated.
"I will neither confirm nor deny any Abwehr operations," Teppel said. "I am sorry Major Hochstetter." Teppel smiled as he said that. He was not sorry at all.
"Fools!" said Major Hochstetter under his breath, but loud enough for Teppel to hear.
Teppel's smile grew wider. "Major Hochstetter, I would advise you to be careful what you say and to whom you say it," he said. "The walls, as well as the phones, may have very good hearing. Now if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my work. Heil Hitler!"
Teppel listened as the phone clicked dead. He laughed and shook his head. 'Fools' is right Major Hochstetter. And you seem to be a very big one.
Teppel dropped the receiver into the cradle and sat back in his chair.
A Russian prisoner located at Stalag 13? Hogan must be branching out in his operations. I was not aware of that detail. It does sound like Hogan's type of operation, to rescue a prisoner from the Gestapo, posing as Abwehr operatives. But what would Wagner be doing involved with Hogan? Why would Wagner be interested in a Russian prisoner at all?
Teppel suddenly remembered what Hochstetter said about the squad that took the prisoner from his men, four men and a woman. Hogan did not have any women prisoners. So if Hogan was responsible for this rescue, he had to be working with someone in the local underground. Or ...
Russian. Why does this nag at me? What is the connection? Russian. Woman. Wagner. Hogan. Nothing seems to fit. There has to be some connection to have the Gestapo so worried about a single Russian prisoner.
Teppel sat up in his chair. Of course! Russian woman. There is that White Russian woman, Marya. I know that we last noticed her about a month ago, acting as translator for a Russian rocket scientist that was working on an experiment for General von Rauscher not far from Hammelburg. She could have been the woman that Hochstetter was talking about. If she's involved with Hogan, then she's probably involved in the underground in some way. Could she be part of the RoteKapelle – the Red Orchestra? That would be unlikely; they have been inactive since most of their agents were captured last year.
Maybe the Red Orchestra was simply laying low for a while until the heat died down and now they are starting up again. But what would be the connection with Wagner? Teppel snapped his fingers as another thought came to him. Wagner came here to headquarters late last year, after most of the Red Orchestra leaders were executed. And now I remember what was nagging at me – I've seen Wagner and Marya together before. Not often, but there have been a couple of times.
It seems we might have two foxes here in this chicken house, and one of them is a Red fox. Maybe it is time for the two foxes to work together. Teppel nodded to himself. Yes, if Wagner was a Russian agent, it could be advantageous to work together with him. Teppel knew that he was aware of only a small amount of what went on in Abwehr Headquarters, but if he and Wagner could work together and pool their information, both German enemies could benefit.
But if Wagner was a loyal German ...