Chapter 10: Off To Fight

"General, we have a problem." Kinch said as he came running into the Kommandantur.

"What is it Kinch?" Maria asked concern about the urgency in his voice.

"I just intercepted a German message. All able body Germans are to gather behind the advancing Allies."

I don't remember this in history class; of course there is a lot I don't remember from history class. At the time I didn't think it was important enough to remember beyond the test. I wish I had paid more attention. "If Hitler has forces at Berlin and he is asking for Germans to come behind the Allies…"

"The Allies will be sitting ducks." Kinch finished. "I tried to reach London, but no response. We have no way to warn them."

"We might not be able to warn them, but we can help them. I think it is time for us to re-enter the war. Can you ask Robert to come here please?" Kinch saluted and left to do as ordered.

When Hogan showed up, Maria explained the situation to him. "We have to do something! We just can't sit here." Hogan exclaimed.

"I know. I am going to have to make a call that I regret doing. But as a general it is my job. I am going to order all able body Allies to intercept the Germans. Robert, can you please get the men in formation for me to address."

It took Hogan fifteen minutes to assemble over 1,000 men. Maria explained the situation to them. It wasn't hard to motivate the men to fight. "Colonel Hogan will be in charge. You have one hour to get ready and move out. May God guide you and protect you. Dismissed"

Everyone scrambled to get ready. Maria was watching the last of the trucks leave. Klink walked up behind her. "I hate sending men off to die. Especially those I am close to and love."

"As long as there are people who are power hungry, that decision will always have to be made. God will protect them."

AT THE BATTLE

Hogan and a group of men had come across a camp of Nazi's. "You men go around that way and I'll take this group this way. Place the explosives where you think they will do the most damage. Be careful" Hogan ordered. The men move swiftly and quietly placing the explosives. When Hogan's group was done, hewaited by the plunger to attach the wires. The last group was bringing Hogan their wire, when one of the men tripped and fell. When he did his rifle discharged waking up the entire Nazi camp. "Hurry and get back into the woods!" Hogan ordered. He got the wire attached and pushed the plunger down. Nothing. He followed the wire and saw that the bullet had broken the wire. Hogan disconnected the plunger and reconnected it by the brake.

Carterran up to him and said, "You can't set it off here, your too close!"

"Sergeant I gave you a direct order now get back!" Kinch ran to get Carter. They were running back to the woods when they heard someone yell "Hault!" The two men stopped and turned around in time to see a Nazi shoot Hogan. His body fell to the ground.

"NO! We have to help him!" Carter yelled. It took both Kinch and Newkirk to hold him down.

With the dim light of dawn shinning, they could see their CO lift up his hand and place it on the plunger. "Lord, protect my men and give us victory. Maria, I love you." His hand pushed down on the plunger as the Nazi was standing over him and ready to shoot again. There was a huge explosion as vehicles and ammunition blew. The force of the explosion knocked the Nazi soldier to the ground, snapping his neck in the process.

STALAG 13

Maria paced in the compound. It has been a week now. Why haven't we heard something from them?

Klink and Shultz sat in front of his quarters watching Maria. "Poor Maria, she has had such a hard time. Fist she looses her first husband and now possible Colonel Hogan." Klink commented.

"At lease her children are safe." Shultz said with a smile.

"The problem is there is a good chance she will have to raise another child by herself."

"Mom you want to join me for lunch?" Misty asked Maria pulling her out of thought.

"No thank you. I'm not hungry."

"When was the last time you ate?"

"Don't know."

"If you are to run this camp, you need your strength. Please come and have something to eat. I am sure you will be notified when they get here. You pacing and starving yourself is not going to help them get here any sooner. I miss dad also and the rest of the men. I have placed it into God's hands."

Maria looked at her daughter. So young and yet so wise. Why can't she be like this all the time. "You are right. So what are we having?" Maria and Misty went into their quarters and had lunch.

About a half hour later, Sergeant Walker ran into the living room where Maria and Misty were sitting. "Ma'am, please forgive the intrusion, but they are coming down the road!" Maria and Misty went running outside and heard the sounds of the truck coming.

"Open the gates!" Maria ordered as she saw the first truck turn the corner. A big smile came across her face. She went running up to the first truck, not waiting for him to get out, she threw her arms around him. "Robert, your alive! Praise God for answering my prayers." Then they kissed. Misty went running toward the rest of the gang. "Are you all right?"

"Fine luv, thanks…" Newkirk started to answer, but Misty ran past him.

"I shall live, thanks…" Was all LeBeau said.

Misty ran up to Carter and put her arms around him and gave him a big kiss. Misty ran her finger gently across the bandage on Carter's head. "Does it hurt much?"

"'Ow do you like that? Your arm is in a sling and I'm on crutches and Carter gets all the attention. Women, I will never understand them."

"Oui. Me neither."

"Are you all right Robert? You have a bullet hole in your jacket." Maria asked concerned

"It is the most amazing thing. The bullet went through the leather, but not the lining. I only got a broke rib and a nasty bruise and welt."

Maria smiled. Thank God it worked. "What about your head and arm?"

"Falling debris from the Nazi camp going boom. Wilson said I would be okay."

KOMMANDANTUR

Maria was sitting at her desk starting to organize the paper work for when the war ended. She glanced at the calendar. Hum… April 30, 1945. I Know that date is important but I can't remember what. "Misty do you remember anything from history class?" Maria yelled into the outer office.

Misty walked in "A little why?"

"Did something important happen today?"

Misty looked at the calendar and thought for a moment. A big smile crossed her face. "Yea. If I remember correctly, it is the day Hitler commits suicide."

"I think this calls for a celebration. Can you ask LeBeau to come here? Don't tell any one about Hitler until they announce it on the radio."

A short time later, LeBeau knocks on Maria's door. "Come in"

LeBeau entered. "You wish to see me Madam General?"

"How is the food holding up?"

"We could use some supplies."

"Get a list together and take a few men with you and pick up what you need. Also get something to make a really good meal for everyone for tonight."

"Oui." LeBeau saluted and left.

About an hour LeBeau walks back into Maria's office upset. "What's wrong LeBeau?"

"They will not sell me anything. They say the Allies are not welcome there."

"Even Max?"

"Oui. No one."

"Give me the list and I will find out what the problem is." Maria left her office and went to the cooler.

"Well hi there pretty lady." Huckaba said

"Can it, I want answers. What did you and your men do to the people in town."

"Nothing sweet cheeks"

"Look here dilatant, I am in no mood to play games. Answer the question now."

"You know you are sexy when you are angry."

"That's it. No more Mrs. Nice General. Guard! Open the cell. If I have to beat it out of you I will." The guard on duty came in and opened the cell door. "Hold this." Maria handed him the jacket and stepped in the cell. Huckaba threw a punch at Maria. She dodged it and grabbed his arm twisted it behind his back and forced him to the ground. Maria had his arm just about to the breaking point.

"Hay that hurts. Let go." Huckaba cried

"Not until I get some answers." Huckaba just squirmed trying to get free. "Be careful you don't squirm too much, you could cause your arm to break."

"You can go to…"

"Watch your language! Answer me or I will break it for you" Maria twisted a little bit further.

"Why do you care? They are a bunch of dumb Krauts."

"They are human beings who were just trying to survive. Many of them are sympathetic to the Allies."

"It was just some harmless fun."

"Your harmless fun is costing us supplies. They will not sell any food to us and we are running low."

"So just take it."

"That is NOT how things are done around here." Maria let him go and started to walk out the cell. While she was putting her jacket back on she turned to Huckaba and said, "You better pray I can reverse the damages you have done. If not we are going to starve."

Maria walked out of the cooler. "Colonel Hogan and Colonel Klink can you please come here?" The men came walking up to her. "That idiot in there has caused some problems in town. I want you to come and help me fix them." Maria went into her office "Misty get the Burgermeister on the phone and tell him that I am coming with Colonel Klink and would like to have a talk with him to try and solve the problem. Robert you are in control while I am gone."

They went to the town hall and met with the Burgermeister. He explained to them how Huckaba and his men treated the people worst than the Gestapo ever did. "I am truly sorry for what they did. I will see to it that they are punished. I just need evidence to support what you are telling me. Even affidavits will work." Maria said calmly

"You Americans are all alike. Nothing will be done but a slap on the wrist."

"I give you my word, that they will be punished, I just need to have some evidence. Is there anything that I can do to rectify this problem?"

"Your word is meaningless to me."

"I give you my word Burgermeister." Klink interjected.

"You are now a prisoner, how are you going to do anything to make sure justice is done?"

"You trust me and you would take my word. I trust General Crockett. When she says that she will punish the people involved, she will do it. It will also be more than a slap on the wrist. I have seen here severely punish her own men for disobeying orders." Klink informed.

"The only reason why you want to fix things is so you can have supplies. If it wasn't for that, you wouldn't care about our problems."

"I know that is what it seems like. If I had known about the problem sooner, I would have taken care of it sooner."

"Since Colonel Klink will vouch for you, I will get you the information you need. Get all the supplies you need though, because until I see justice done, we will not do any more business with you."

"Thank you very much Burgermeister"

Burgermeister informed the business people to allow us to get supplies this one time." Maria informed LeBeau and had him take a truck and get everything he needs.

A couple of days later at Stalag 13, they were getting ready to make the announcement about Hitler on the BBC. Maria had Kinch hook up the PA system so everyone could here the broad cast. "Attention! Auctung! We are interrupting the program to bring you a news flash. This is London. Here is a news flash. The German Radio has just announced that Hitler is dead. I repeat the German radio has just announced that Hitler is dead." There were cheers in all languages going on all over camp.

Klink and the rest of the Germans just stood there. Maria walked up to Klink "Something wrong?"

"Is it the truth? Does that mean the war is over? What is going to happen to us?"

"As far as Hitler's death, that is the truth he killed himself and Eva. Sorry no word on the war being over. I heard that Grand Admiral Karl Doenitz is now leader of Germany. As for what is going to happen to you…I can's answer that. You know Robert and I will try to put in a good word for you, but considering we are in trouble also, I don't know how far that will go."

Klink hung his head, "At least this war is almost over. I am tired of fighting" Kink turned to walk away.

"You're not the only one Kommandant."