Hammelburg, Johann Mueller's Shoe Shop
December 22, 1943, 0900 hours
Johann Mueller had just opened his shop for business and was about to begin work when Ilse Wagner arrived for work. As soon as Johann saw her, he knew that something was troubling her. Poor girl. She's been up and down ever since she was attacked. But every time I say something to her, she just smiles and says that it's nothing and she'll be fine.
Ilse made a half-hearted attempt at a smile and said "Guten morgen, Johann."
"Guten morgen, Ilse," he replied. "Is there something wrong? You look a little concerned this morning."
She shook her head. "Nein, nothing is wrong," she replied. "I'm just feeling a little under the weather today."
"Maybe you should go home and rest," he suggested.
Ilse smiled kindly at him. "Danke, but it's nothing really," she said. "I'll be fine."
Johann watched her walk into the back room to put her coat away. Something is bothering her today, but she's too proud to say anything. I just wish there was something I could do for her.
His thoughts were interrupted as his outer door banged open and Major Hochstetter walked in, followed by a Captain and two other guards. The abruptness of the entry made Johann jump in surprise.
"Major Hochstetter," Johann said. "What can I do for you today?" He looks angrier than usual. Something must have happened, or else he would not have come here with so many other people.
"Herr Mueller," Hochstetter acknowledged with a small nod of his head. He was glancing around the shop, as if looking for something. "Last night, there was an incident that claimed the life of two of my guards out on the road leading to the old Siemens factory."
Johann let his surprise show. "Oh my, that's terrible!" he exclaimed.
"My thoughts exactly, Herr Mueller," Hochstetter replied dryly. "We are asking everyone in town if they know anything about the incident."
Johann shook his head. "Nein. What happened?" he asked.
Major Hochstetter sneered as he responded, "I prefer not to say. But I would also like to look around your shop, if you have no objections."
Very cute, Major. If I object, I am automatically suspected. And if I do not object, then you have free reign to ransack the place. "Nein," Johann replied. "No objections at all. If it is all right, I will continue working."
"By all means, Herr Mueller," Hochstetter replied. He gave a signal to his guards, who immediately began walking around and looking everywhere.
As they were searching, Ilse walked out of the back room. "Johann," she said, and then stopped abruptly when she saw the Gestapo in the room. "Oh," she gasped in surprise.
Johann looked up as Ilse entered. "Major Hochstetter, this is Ilse, she works for me," he said.
Hochstetter nodded his head towards Ilse. "Fräulein," he offered. "We are asking everyone if they know anything about an incident last night that occurred near the old factory outside of town."
Ilse shook her head immediately. "Nein," she replied.
Johann was watching Ilse. Since he had known her for so long, he could tell that she was holding something back. For Gods sake, Ilse, if you are holding back information from Hochstetter, do not let him realize it!
Hochstetter looked satisfied with that answer, as if he didn't expect a young woman to be involved in whatever had happened.
As Hochstetter's men looked around, searching inside drawers and under everything, Johann returned to the boots that he was mending. He kept a covert eye on Major Hochstetter, who seemed to be content to stand in the middle of the room watching everyone. Johann noticed that the Captain had walked over to Ilse as she sat at her desk and was conversing with her. Johann couldn't be sure, but it seemed like Ilse was blushing a little as they talked. Hmmm, it seems that the Captain is a little smitten with Ilse, and judging by her reaction, she might just be a little smitten with him.
After a while, Hochstetter was satisfied that the men had searched enough. He motioned them towards the door. "Herr Mueller, sorry to have inconvenienced you," he said.
"No trouble at all, Major," replied Johann. "If I learn anything about the incident last night, I will be sure to inform you right away."
"That would be very wise of you, Herr Mueller," Hochstetter replied as he was heading for the door. "Captain Dorfmann, please come along."
The Captain said goodbye to Ilse and followed Hochstetter out of the shop. As he walked past the front window, he looked back in and waved at Ilse.
Johann walked over to the desk where Ilse was sitting. She was still a little flushed from talking to the Captain, and he knew that he was right; Ilse was smitten. But he also knew that she was aware of what went on last night near the factory.
"It seems like the Captain likes you," he said with a smile. Ilse's face reddened as she blushed. "And it seems as though you might like him too!"
Ilse looked away in embarrassment. "He seems nice," she said softly.
"Ah, it's so nice to see young love," he said, laughing softly.
Ilse waved at him as if to say there was nothing to it, but at the same time she reddened even more.
When Johann stopped laughing, his face grew serious. "Ilse, I was watching you when the Major was asking you about last night," he said. "You were not truthful with him."
Ilse's eyes widened in fear for an instant. She recovered and said, "Johann, I do not know what you are talking about."
"I think you do," he replied. "Two of Major Hochstetter's men were killed, and you were also attacked by two of Major Hochstetter's men." He paused as he saw Ilse look away from him. "Your brother was very insistent that the men responsible for attacking you would pay."
"I know nothing about it," she said meekly, still looking away from him.
"I think you do," he repeated. "But I also think that if they were the men that attacked you, then they got what they deserved." She finally looked up at him. Her eyes were moist and Johann could see that she was afraid. "But I also know that revenge is a very dangerous business ... one that Major Hochstetter is very good at. I do not want to see anything happen to you or your family."
Ilse was silent for a while. Johann could sense that she was wrestling with her conscience – trying to decide whether to confide in him or not.
Finally, Ilse nodded her head. "Ja, I do know what happened last night," she said softly, looking down at the table in front of her.
"Tell me," he requested.
"I don't think I should," she said.
"Ilse, you know I will help you in whatever way I can," he said. "I just want to make sure you are safe."
Ilse sighed and said nothing. After a few moments, Johann sat in a chair beside her and said, "Ilse, I can help you."
She looked up at him with tears in her eyes, and told him everything. Johann listened without comment to the entire story. When she was finished, he patted her on the shoulder and smiled at her.
"It's over now," he commented.
Ilse shook her head. "Nein, it is not," she replied. "Hans and Karl do not want to stop. They want to do more."
"Those foolish boys," he said. "Sometimes I think that they have never grown up."
"I'm scared, Johann," she said. "I'm scared that something will happen to them and it will all be because of me."
"There, there, my dear," he said softly. "It is not because of you. It is because of their own anger that they cannot control."
But Johann was alarmed himself. He knew the dangers of what they were involved in, and knew that it would be just a matter of time before something happened to them, unless ...
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Around noon, Johann stopped work and put on his coat. "I have an errand to run, Ilse," he said. "I'll close up the shop and you can eat your lunch now."
"Danke," she replied.
Johann flipped the sign that said the shop was open, and locked the door behind him. His errand was to see Oskar Schnitzer to tell him what he had learned. He knew that Oskar would be able to get word to Erich Jonach.
When Johann arrived at Schnitzer's kennel, he found that Erich was there as well, finding out what Oskar had seen the night before. He greeted the two men.
"Hello Johann," Erich said. "Oskar was just telling me of the trouble he had last night."
"I heard about it," Johann replied. "Major Hochstetter was by the shop this morning, searching for something."
"I imagine that he's pretty worked up about this," Erich replied.
"But I have some other news about that as well," Johann said.
"Oh?" replied Erich.
"I know who was responsible," Johann stated. "Ilse Wagner said that it was her brothers."
"Hans and Karl?" Erich said with surprise. "What are they doing messing with the Gestapo?"
"I don't want to say the reason that they started," Johann replied. Erich raised an eyebrow in question. "I have made a promise not to talk about that part. But I will tell you what Ilse has told me about last night ... and the automobiles that were blown up."
"They did that too?" Oskar asked.
Johann nodded and then proceeded to tell the two men what Ilse had related to him. When he was finished, he lapsed into silence.
"So she says that Hans' group does not want to stop?" Erich asked. Johann nodded. "This will cause some problems in our operations and those of Papa Bear." He stared at the floor, thinking of the issues this had caused.
"I think Colonel Hogan needs to know," Erich said finally. "He also needs to be the one to talk to Hans and Karl in order to get them to stop, for the good of the Underground." Oskar and Johann nodded their agreement. "Oskar and I are to meet with Colonel Hogan tonight at my farm. I think Hans and Karl should also be there."
"They will be at my shop when it is time for Ilse to go home tonight," Johann said. "One of them usually is there, but lately both of them have been coming to walk her home."
"Good," Erich replied. "We can talk to them at that time and impress on them the importance of this."
"That would be good," Johann responded. "Ilse is scared that something will eventually happen to them."
Erich looked grim. "If they keep messing with the Gestapo, something will eventually happen not only to them, but to other innocent people," he said.
---------------
Johann sat talking with Ilse, waiting for her brothers to arrive to escort her home. He had told her that someone was to come and talk to them about their activities, and that had seemed to put her mind at ease.
After a while, the door to the shop opened and both Hans and Karl entered. Johann was glad to see both of them this time, so that Erich could talk to them both at once.
"Herr Mueller," they both said, greeting Johann.
"Hello Hans. Hello Karl," he replied.
"Are you ready Ilse?" Hans asked.
Ilse shook her head. "Nein," she replied. "Johann has arranged for someone to come and talk with us."
Hans' eyes narrowed. "About what?" he asked hesitantly.
"About your activities last night," Johann replied before Ilse could say anything.
A look of surprise fell across Hans' face. "I don't know what you are talking about, Herr Mueller," he said innocently.
"Hans, I told him. He knows," Ilse responded.
"Ilse, How could you?" Hans bellowed.
Before Ilse could answer, the door to the shop opened and Erich Jonach entered. Seeing that Hans and Karl were already there, he locked the door and leaned against it. He wanted to make sure that they wouldn't try to leave before he had a chance to say what he came to say.
"Hello boys," Erich said.
"Herr Jonach," Hans and Karl said in reply.
"Is this who wants to talk to us?" Karl asked.
"Ja," Erich replied. "I need to talk to you about what happened last night." Seeing the look of innocence that the Wagner brothers were trying to keep on their face, he added, "There's no need to pretend. I know the details."
Hans looked at Ilse. "Is there anyone in town you didn't tell?" he asked angrily.
"But Hans," Ilse protested.
Erich cut her off before she could say anything further. "Hans, there's no need to be angry with her," he said. "Johann told me, and it will go no further than I allow it."
"And who are you to decide who should know our business?" Hans asked indignantly.
Erich sighed. Hans was not going to make this easy. "I am the leader of a group of people that are affected by your so-called business," he said. "And I am acquainted with others who can be affected to an even greater extent."
Ilse's eyes widened. "The Underground?" she gasped, looking at Johann.
Hans glared at Erich. "So if you are the Underground leader in this area, then you understand what we are doing," he said. "And why we are doing it."
Erich shook his head. "No, actually I don't," he replied. "I know what you did, but not why you did it. Frankly, I don't care why. But I do know that messing with the Gestapo in this manner will accomplish nothing other than making them angry. Then other innocent people will pay the price for your foolishness."
"Foolishness?" Hans shouted. "You call this foolishness when you are involved in the same thing?"
Erich met Hans' glare with one of his own. "What I am involved in is not the same thing. What I do is to hinder the functioning of the German forces involved in fighting the Allies. What you did was nothing more than an ambush and murder." He saw that Hans was about to reply, so he raised his voice and continued speaking. "Why you did this, only you know. But now that you have done it, I am asking you to stop this sort of harassment against the Gestapo before any of my men, or any of my acquaintance's men, get hurt because of your actions."
"And if I do not stop, will you stop me?" Hans asked icily.
Erich shrugged. "It is not my decision, but if I am asked, yes I will," he replied.
"You will try," Karl retorted.
Erich fixed his glare on Karl. "Nein, Karl," he said. "I will."
Karl tried, but he could not meet Erich's glare. There was something in Erich's eyes that told Karl that he meant what he said. Karl looked away and said, "Come on, Hans, let's leave. He's already said it's not his decision."
Erich returned his gaze to Hans, who was glaring angrily at the man. "You can leave, as soon as I know where you stand," he said calmly.
Hans let out a low growl as he began to reply. "Herr Jonach," he growled. "What's to stop me from agreeing to your request and then turning you into the Gestapo for being an Underground leader?"
"Nothing except the fact that I can name you as the person responsible for the murder of two Gestapo men last night," Erich replied.
"You have no proof of that," Hans laughed.
"Nor do you have any proof of my involvement in the Underground," Erich replied calmly. "But since when has the Gestapo required proof?"
Hearing this, Ilse let out a little gasp. "Hans," she exclaimed.
Hans waived his sister to silence and continued glaring at Erich. "You said you are not the one to make the decision," he stated. "I want to meet the person who will."
Erich nodded slightly. "I had anticipated that," he replied. "There will be a meeting tonight in the barn at my farm at 2200 hours. You and your brother should be there."
"Or?" Hans asked.
Erich shrugged and held his hands out. "The decision maker will decide," he stated flatly.
After a moment, Hans nodded. "All right, we will be there," he said.
"I'll be there too," Ilse blurted out.
"Ilse, no," Karl replied. "You are not to get involved."
"Karl, I am already involved," she replied. "And as long as you are involved, I am too. You cannot keep me out of this."
"Ilse," Hans commented. He stopped when he saw the fierce glare from Ilse. He knew that when she had that look in her eyes, she would not be denied.
"The three of us will be there, Herr Jonach," Hans replied.
Erich nodded and stepped away from the door. He watched as Karl unlocked the door and stepped outside. Hans waited for Ilse to put on her coat and start towards the door before he left the shop. Ilse stopped in the doorway and looked back at Johann.
"Danke, Johann," she said. "Danke for trying to help."
"Of course, my dear," Johann replied and watched her close the door behind her.
"Hans is the one that we must be concerned about," Erich said after a few moments. "From the looks of it, Karl will do whatever his brother says."
"I'm concerned for them all," Johann replied. "They do not know what kind of world they stepped into last night."
"Let's pray that Colonel Hogan can convince them that they do not want to find out," Erich said with a heavy sigh.