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.

Chapter 12

The Encounter

I had to come. I had to see for myself how you handle the rigors of interrogation, before you're released to the humdrum existence of a POW camp and allowed to lick your wounds. If General Burkhalter is going to include me in this decision to send you to an enlisted man's camp, I want to know how big a risk you are.

Biedenbender's thoughts were interrupted as he looked at the faces of the enemy that were staring at him as he walked with Zurbruck to the building housing the solitary cells and interrogation rooms

It's one thing looking into one enemy face, but all of these eyes staring at you is…is…

He looked back at them arrogantly, trying to mask how uncomfortable he felt.

"…unnerving, isn't it, General?"

"Huh?" Biedenbender answered in a daze before shaking the annoying effect off and falling back into proper military stance. Clearing his throat, he rephrased his response. "What did you say?"

"I said it's unnerving, isn't it?" Zurbruck nodded toward the prisoners. "Seeing all of these enemy faces looking at you at one time, some full of hate and anger, some just scared. I had only minimal contact with the enemy before I was assigned here. By that I mean I saw them only one or two at a time as I would fly past them attacking their planes. It took me a while to get used to being constantly surrounded by them.

Biedenbender stopped walking and scanned the tattered broken men before him. "Have any of these men given you useful information?"

"Yes…a few," Zurbruck answered softly as he stood next to Biedenbender looking at his prisoners. Those with visible and bandaged wounds were leaning against the buildings or each other for support. Others had wounds that could not be seen, minds that would never heal.

Biedenbender tore his gaze away from the prisoners and looked at Zurbruck, who was still staring at the men. "Are the ones that are talking the same ones that talked at the Dulag?"

"Ja, more often than not they are repeaters. There are a few who breakdown here, if they think their ordeal is starting over again. But generally, we don't spend a lot of time on interrogations unless specifically ordered to do so. We are not set up for long-term stays. The food rations we give are less than they will be once they reach their prison camps. And since the prisoners here are all recovering from either wounds, the shock of being shot down, interrogations, or as in Colonel Hogan's case, all three, they need nourishment to heal…to live. We would end up with more deaths if we kept them too long. Also, at the prison camps there are men who are, for the most part, recovered and can care for the new-comers and help them to survive." Zurbruck turned and again began walking toward their destination.

"I didn't know we were that concerned about their survival."

"We aren't, but the Red Cross keeps tabs. We have to supply them with the names of those who die. And," Zurbruck snorted, "…it's extra paper work."

"Tell me Kommandant, do you really expect to get anything out of Colonel Hogan?" Biedenbender asked.

Zurbruck smiled. "Not unless he becomes delirious, and in his babbling he lets something slip." Then looking at Biedenbender simply answered, "No."

Well, Kommandant, you're not blind. Now, what do you know about escapes. Biedenbender continued his questioning."Have you had any escape attempts from here?"

"Ha, I suppose so, if you want to call them that. There have been a few feeble attempts to go out with the garbage. I guess we have an advantage over the Luft Stalags. The short time the majority of the prisoners are here does not allow for any seriously planned attempts."

"Hmm, I suppose that's true, but of the men that do make the attempt, is there anything to make you suspect they will try?" Biedenbender asked, trying to judge if Hogan fit the profile.

"No General, if there were signs, there would be no attempts. We would stop them before hand."

"Of course you would." No useful information learned there. "Well, I guess we will all have to just stay on our guard won't we?"

"Jawohl, Herr General," Zurbruck answered, as they reached their destination. Zurbruck opened the door to the building housing the solitary cells and a slight smell of sweat, blood and other bodily excrements confronted them. Stepping back he offered, "After you, Herr General."

vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv

The door opened on a room full of desks. A buzz of voices could be heard from the officers, who were compiling their reports, comparing information they obtained, or suggesting techniques to be tried. Zurbruck and Biedenbender's presence quickly pulled them to attention saluting and chanting, "Heil Hitler!"

"At ease gentlemen," Biedenbender ordered, returning the salutes. The reaction to his presence delighted him. Scanning the room, he asked, "Who is interrogating Colonel Hogan?"

"It's been a joint effort," Zurbruck answered. "They've all been taking a crack at him. He is never alone…unless we are waiting for him to revive." Turning to the officers still standing at their desks, he asked, "Who's with him now?"

"Major Albrecht, Herr Kommandant."

"He will be downstairs, Herr General," Zurbruck stated. "Our isolation cells are downstairs, as are the interrogation rooms. It keeps the prisoners in the dark bothliterally and mentally. They don't know if its day or night. The only light they see is what we grant them, which can be a gift or a torment." Zurbruck led Biedenbender to the back of the room and the stairway leading down.

As they approached the stairs, Biedenbender took his kerchief from his pocket and placed it over his mouth and nose as a pungent odor snaked its way up from below. Grimacing, he began to make a remark when his eyes caught sight of a sign, written in English, prominently hanging over the stairwell, "Swine Cellar". The interrogation officers were all standing, anxiously watching for the General's reaction.

Biedenbender smiled at the play on words. "Appropriately named…judging from the smell."

Laughter erupted.

Stepping off the bottom step, Biedenbender waited for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting. Gradually two corridors began to come into view. The hall to his right was lined with heavy metal doors. Each door contained a small five inch by five inch covered opening at eye level. The sides of the hallway sloped toward the middle where a large grate-covered drain ran down the length of the passage. The other hallway was similar, but there were fewer doors and they were spaced further apart.

It was quiet. Surprisingly quiet. Those doors must be soundproof, Biedenbender decided. Looking around he asked, "You keep no guards in the hall?"

Zurbruck shook his head. "A waste of staff." With a sweeping wave of his hand he added, "They're not going anywhere. Even if they managed to escape from their cell…and they can't…the only way out is the stairs leading to their interrogators."

Following Zurbruck down the second hall, Biedenbender lowered his kerchief and breathed in shallowly, testing the air. The initial shock had worn off and although the odor was still offensive, it was tolerable. He put his kerchief back in his pocket.

Shaking his head, Biedenbender asked, "Does it always smell this bad?"

"No. The cells, occupied or not, get hosed down once or twice a week, and of course when we are expecting a visit from the Red Cross." Zurbruck assured and then added, "It must be about cleaning time. If we had known you were coming, Herr General…"

"Tell me what kind of treatment Colonel Hogan has received," Biedenbender interrupted. He did not want to explain his impromptu arrival. He wasn't entirely sure of his reasons for this detour himself. He had originally told himself it was concern for his implication in Hogan's placement, but now he admitted that was only part of it. You supply a strange fascination to me, Colonel Hogan. Maybe it's your steadfast determination and ability to keep your secrets…or…perhaps it's your annoying ability to stay sane and pompous after all we have put you through.

Stopping in front of a door the Kommandant turned and answered. "As I said earlier, I don't expect to get any information from him. But he angered General Burkhalter and the General lengthened his stay, while turning him back over to us to continue the interrogations."

"So I heard," Biedenbender nodded and rubbed his chin. "He picked the wrong person to be disrespectful to. We both know he was turned over to the interrogators more for discipline than interrogation. General Burkhalter wanted to teach him a lesson. He demands respect…and he will get it. Now, tell me-- how are you teaching it to him?"

"The Luftwaffe is not the Gestapo. We use standard techniques here."

"Yes, I know that, but what kind of treatment has he endured?" Biedenbender asked again pointedly looking Zurbruck in the eye. If I am to know the measure of this man, I need to know what he has faced. General Burkhalter will be here later today to take him to Stalag 13. And before he goes, I must know that he will stay there.

Zurbruck straightened with the intensity in which the question was asked. "Colonel Hogan was first given the opportunity to tell us what he knows, and then encouraged to do so. We first used water submersion. Followed by endurance techniques, where he was kept on his feet and ordered not to move…at all…for extended lengths of time. When he did, inevitably, move, he was struck. We played this game until he could no longer stand, then he was dragged down to his cell and allowed to recover…somewhat. During all of this he has only been given small amounts of water and a meager amount of food."

"And what is your opinion of the effect this is having on him?" Biedenbender asked.

Zurbruck thought for a moment, "You are correct, Herr General, no one, not even General Burkhalter expects to get any information from him. The real issue, at this point, has been his insolence. I know this doesn't sound like much, but he has quit correcting us when we don't acknowledge his rank."

"You mean when you didn't address him as, Colonel Hogan he corrected you?" Biedenbender asked incredulously, not hiding his mirth.

"Jawohl, Herr General. It took us days to wear that impertinence out of him."

I wonder if you have yet, Kommandant. He may just be conserving his strength, picking his battles. I seriously doubt that once he regains his strength you will find you have broken him of demanding the respect due his rank. You are a devil, Colonel Hogan. Even now you are manipulating these officers into thinking you have succumbed to their tactics. But I know you, and I will not be as easily fooled.

"We believe he is beginning to understand that to get respect he has to give it. So we are increasing our efforts." Zurbruck paused before continuing, "Now, if Major Albrecht is sticking with his methods, He is probably…" Zurbruck reached for the knob, "…well, it is easier to show you."

An echo bounced off the concrete walls of the hallway as the latch disengaged and merged with the high pitched squeal of the door hinges. Biedenbender tensed with anticipation; Here I come Colonel Hogan, ready or not!