The T.V. show Hogan's Heroes belongs to Bing Crosby Productions. No ownership of the Hogan's Heroes characters is implied or inferred, and no infringement is intended.
The Flattery Challenge:
You're challenge is to take your favorite fic and, with permission from the author, write a new fic inspired by that one. Perhaps it's a sequel, a "what happened next" story. Perhaps a missing
scene, like an episode addition. Perhaps it a totally new fic based on the old one. Whatever it is use that fic as a jumping off point for something new!
My thank you to L J Groundwater for her permission to expand on her story
"Once Upon A Time: Papa Bear"
and present the same events as they occurred to the Axis fighter pilot,
Oberst Biedenbender.
In answer to the Flattery Challenge I offer:
More Than an Enemy
By ML Breedlove
Chapter One
For Love of Country
Heinrich Biedenbender closed the door behind him and slammed his cap onto his head. The American daylight-bombing raid had rained havoc over Leipzig, and Biedenbender had just been accused of inefficiency in allowing it to occur. How do they expect me to know what the Americans are planning? His face was red hot with anger and embarrassment. Shouldn't the Fuhrer's astrologer have told us what the Americans were planning? Such treacherous thought was quickly abandoned, as he barreled down the hall trying to put some distance between himself and the High Command.
Calm down! He concentrated on slowing his breathing, as he thought back to the previous day. He grimaced at the memory and chastised himself for being off base that fateful morning. The German Oberst had been back from his own nightly skirmish with the enemy for only a few hours, and was in town with his wing-man celebrating attaining another record kill, and earning yet another medal, when the air raid sirens sounded. The Allied bombers had already dropped their bombs and turned for home by the time he made it back to base.
I knew better! Celebrating a victory before it is official is bad luck! And now, the American pilot may have just negated that victory for me with his daylight bombing. Biedenbender shook his head and laughed sarcastically at himself. He may have negated my whole career…maybe even my whole life! He slammed his right fist into his left palm. It was not the target he wanted but it would have to do…for now.
"Heinrich! Over here!" A voice called out as Biedenbender exited the building. Major Rolf Schinner, Biedenbender's wingman and friend, was anxiously waiting to hear what had happened. Rolf could see by the look on Biedenbender's face that it had not gone well.
If Rolf was anything, he was loyal to his friend. They had flown together since they were Lieutenants. Currently Oberst Biedenbender held the title of Geschwaderkommodore, and was a Jagdgeschwader commander with all the power and authority that went with it. But Biedenbender's authority had not changed how he treated Rolf. They were closer than brothers, and the privileges of a higher rank would never be pulled on Rolf. Guarding each other in the sky forged a bond that knew no rank.
As a Kommodore, Biedenbender's Geschwader was comprised of three Gruppen of 36 planes. The three Gruppen of a Geschwader operated together from adjacent airfields with one Gruppen per airfield. All totaled, Kommodore Biedenbender had one hundred and eight planes under his command.
"Was it as bad as you thought it would be?" Rolf asked, already knowing the answer.
Biedenbender's eyes took on a faraway look as a vision of the Allied commander's plane flew into his thoughts, "I'm going to stop him, Rolf! If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to bring him down!"
Biedenbender yanked his eyes away and looked down the street. He didn't like Rolf seeing him this angry, and he didn't like having to stand in front of the Heads of the German Luftwaffe in defeat. The fact that this daylight raid, led by the American Oberst, was a first for the Americans and a complete surprise to the Luftwaffe, held no weight for the High Command. The plain truth was, the American led his squadron over airspace guarded by Biedenbender's Geschwader, penetrated the Kommodore's defenses, dropped their three tons of bombs, and made it back to England with only minimal losses. This sort of failure would bring repercussions. Oberst Biedenbender knew he had to redeem himself, and quickly.
The German Oberst had already targeted the American for defeat prior to this last intrusion into German air space. Biedenbender came from common lineage. There was no aristocracy in his family, just salt of the earth, hard working, loyal German citizens. Because of his background, he would make a point of driving through the countryside, following an air raid, to see the pain of the German people as they tried to cope with the destruction and maintain some order in their lives. It gave him the justification he needed to kill. The men he shot down deserved to die. It was retribution, an eye for an eye. And the American commander had come to epitomize the calloused Allies, and their dealings of indiscriminate carnage. Biedenbender vowed to lessen these attacks on the good people of Germany, by eliminating at least this one, flying menace. To this end, he had been studying Commander Hogan's attack plans, formations, target approach, defensive maneuvers, departure from target, and abilities to keep a heavily damaged B-17 flying when the only thing holding it together was pure dogged determination. Biedenbender would not be caught off guard again. The next time he met his adversary he would bring enough firepower to bear on him that the hand of God Himself would not be able to keep Commander Hogan in the air.
"Let's get back to base. We're going to go over all of the information I have on this American menace. That devil needs to learn the consequences of dropping bombs on the Fatherland, and I'm going to be the one to teach it to him."
"You want to include me in that, too? After all, you're not in this alone." Rolf reminded.
Biedenbender quickly turned to look at his friend and smiled, "I'm sorry, Rolf, of course you're included, you and the other hundred and seven pilots. Together we will put an end to this American commander." Biedenbender wrapped his arm over Rolf's shoulder and they made their way to the train station.
Biedenbender leaned back in his seat as the train jerked to a start. Like his American counterpart, Biedenbender was an expert pilot, and had been awarded the Iron Cross, second and first Class, the Honor Cup, the German Cross in Gold, and with his forty-fifth kill newly under his wing, he had been anticipating the award of the Knight's Cross. His medals were hard won and were awarded on a point system. Scoring of points was on the basis of "One pilot – one victory." A fighter pilot, to win points, must separate an Allied bomber from its formation for the kill. This was a more difficult task then the mere final destruction of a damaged straggler. And there must be a wingman, squadron mate, or a ground observer who witnessed the kill. The Luftwaffe rule was "no witness – no victory credit".
Kommodore Biedenbender closed his eyes to dream of yet another victory. I am not without skill, Commander Hogan, as you will soon learn. We have fought before and each time I've learned a little more about you. You're good, I'll give you that, but you're not unbeatable. I thought I had you twice previously but I couldn't cut you out of formation. Although just you being brought down might be enough to appease the High Command and put me back in good standing, it wouldn't be enough for me! I will cut you out of your formation, Colonel Hogan, and I will cash in fully on your demise.
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
Biedenbender had barely closed the door on the officers of the High Command, when the Reichsminister der Luftfahrt, Herman Goering, looked around at the assembly. He Grasped the podium with both hands, and took in a deep breath, as perspiration popped out on his brow. Leaning toward the faces watching him, he began, "I do not have to tell you of the Fuhrer's displeasure over this latest incident." The force of these words was deafening, but not as deafening as the brief silence that followed. "It is a slap in the face to German Superiority and it must not be allowed to continue!" Goering paused again and looked around at the Chiefs of the General, and Operations Staff, as well as, the Directors of Signals, and Training and Intelligence that were gathered before him. "Another failed encounter, such as we just discussed with Oberst Biedenbender must not…" Bam! Goering's fist hit the podium and a sudden echo reverberated through the room, "…will not…happen."
The German forward echelon, code-named Robinson, had been following the exploits of this American Commander. This sought after Allied flyer was originally identified by the number on his plane, but his exploits demanded a name. And so, military and civilian history was collected on this American commander of the 504th Bomb Squadron. Soon the name of Colonel Robert Edward Hogan was being bantered around the inner circles of the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL), which was the formal name for the forward and rear echelons of the High Command. The Allied commander had earned himself a spot on the Luftwaffe's "Most Wanted' list, as well as the Fuhrer's attention.
Prior to the daylight raid, Adolph Hitler had ordered that the American Commander be "…brought down. Alive if possible, but brought down!" This latest escapade, during broad daylight had raised the price on the American's head. Goering continued,
"The German pilot that puts an end to this Allied flyer's bombing career will be decorated by the Fuhrer himself." Goering paused to give emphasis to this important statement. "The Fuhrer grows weary of this American." Goering looked warningly at the men before him and continued, "It will be in everybody's best interest if this ends soon!" The Reichsminister turned and marched toward the door, as his last word hung in everybodies mind. Soon, they all knew, was not soon enough
The officers of the High Command squirmed in their seats. There was no doubt about what was expected. Many ultimatums would be handed down through the German ranks today. Ultimatums designed to fulfill the Fuhrer's decree, and to not only bring honor to the pilot who succeeded, but to defend Germany's claim of Superiority.