Stalag 13
Day 8
While Emery was scrambling to figure a way to send out a warning message, and Major Miller and the boys were settled in for the night in Varel, Colonel Hogan and his men were gathered around the radio in the tunnel below barracks two. At a little after eight, the radio came to life with a voice transmission. "Goldilocks calling Papa Bear. Goldilocks calling Papa Bear. Come in Papa Bear."
Kinch glanced at Colonel Hogan and the others. They had been waiting all day for this radio transmission. Kinch adjusted his headphones and spoke into the mike. "This is Papa Bear, go ahead Goldilocks."
"Papa Bear, I have half the flock. Repeat, I only have half the flock. No Bluebird. Please advise on whereabouts of Bluebird. Over."
The change in Kinch's expression sent up a red flag with the others looking at him. He looked at Hogan. "They only have some of the kids. Miller's not with them."
"What!" LeBeau exclaimed, with Newkirk and Carter equally concerned.
Hogan gestured for the headset. "Goldilocks, this is Papa Bear, could you please repeat?"
"I only have half the flock, Papa Bear. No Bluebird. Whereabouts of Bluebird are unknown. Can you advise?"
Hogan felt like he was going to be sick. "Negative," came his reply trying not to sound shaky. "We will inquire and get back to you, Goldilocks."
"Acknowledged, Papa Bear."
Hogan removed the headset and handed it back to Kinch. "Get the Underground. I want to know where the hell he is."
Kinch nodded, putting the headset on and changing the frequency to hail the Underground.
"I can't believe it!" Carter said.
"Do you think he was caught?" Newkirk asked.
"If he was caught I think we would have heard about it by now," Hogan replied.
"They may have decided not to wait for us to watch and they have already killed him," LeBeau said with a low growl.
Hogan held a hand up. "Let's try to think positive here. Maybe they weren't caught but they're in trouble somewhere. They may have fallen behind schedule for a lot of different reasons. Mechanical problems, an impassable road..."
"Too many bloody roadblocks," Newkirk added.
Hogan gave a nod to Newkirk's direction. "Depending how thick Hochstetter's coverage is of the area, that's possible. For all we know they're pinned down somewhere."
Kinch looked at the Colonel. "The Underground's not responding."
Hogan sighed. "Terrific. Guess we'll have to go knock on their door." He looked at his watch. "After lights out, I'll go."
"Maybe one of us should go with you..." Kinch suggested. They were all restless.
"Any volunteers?" Hogan asked. Immediately all four hands went up.
"LeBeau."
"Merci, mon Colonel."
Hammelburg, Germany
The number of people in the Hofbrau after nine o'clock was typical. Things were busy enough so that two additional people coming in was hardly noticed, yet not so busy that the bartender could not take extra time with these two customers.
Hogan and LeBeau, dressed as German civilians, seated themselves at the bar and the Colonel dropped German marks on the counter. Immediately, two beers were delivered along with a slip of paper. The bartender, Bruno, then left to tend to other customers.
Hogan unfolded the paper. Truck has broke down and there is concern that the goods can not be delivered before they spoil.
LeBeau was looking at the Colonel expectantly. Hogan sighed, tucking the paper into his coat. "They're in trouble..."
"Caught?"
Hogan shook his head. "More likely pinned down somewhere. Depending how old this message is."
LeBeau drew in a deep breath. "Punaise..." he growled softly. Damn. He picked up the beer mug and took a drink.
It was several minutes before Bruno returned.
Hogan looked up at the bartender. "Where?"
"Garrel."
"When?"
Bruno glanced at the clock and looked at the Colonel apologetically. "About four hours ago. I am sorry that we could not get that to you sooner. The play this evening..." The play...an Underground operation.
Hogan was extremely disappointed but merely nodded. "When do you expect the play to be over?"
"They should be on their way back now, as it was a long distance show. Probably a couple more hours."
Hogan nodded again. He took one last drink of the beer and then said, "We'll be back later..."
Bruno nodded. Suddenly the telephone rang. He turned to answer it as Hogan and LeBeau headed for the door.
"Hallo?" the bartender listened to the voice on the other end and looked toward the door anxiously. Hogan and LeBeau had already left. He asked the caller to hold for a moment and put the phone down, hurrying around the bar and heading for the door.
"Gentlemen! Just a moment..." he ran a little to catch up to them, darting around a few people. Hogan and LeBeau stopped and turned to him. "I think I overcharged you." Bruno said, "Please, come back inside I want to make sure I tallied your order right..."
Hogan and LeBeau followed the bartender back into the Hofbrau. Bruno returned to the phone and resumed the conversation.
Hogan listened to what Bruno was saying. He realized he was talking to Fritz.
After a moment, the conversation came to a close. "Ja...ja, I will tell him..." There was no goodbye and Bruno merely hung up the phone. He turned to Hogan and LeBeau and picked up his order pad scribbling a few short words on it. He then tore it off and handed it to Hogan.
Varel. Will need help delivering the goods.
Hogan read it and looked at Bruno with a nod. "We'll be back later."
Stalag 13
"London's been screaming for you on the radio," Kinch said as soon as Hogan and LeBeau returned to camp. "They want to know where Miller is. Now."
"He's in Varel. Would they like to send a couple of divisions in and go pick him up?" Hogan said sarcastically. He then held a hand up and closed his eyes a moment. "Sorry."
Kinch nodded.
"Is he okay, Colonel?" Carter asked.
"For now. They're pinned down. Fritz did manage to get a message out tonight while LeBeau and I were at the Hofbrau. They're going to need help getting out of Varel."
"Which means we're going to Varel," Newkirk said.
"We're going to Varel. I don't know how yet, but I'm going back to Hammelburg a little later and figure that out."
"What do you want me to tell London in the meantime?" Kinch asked.
"Tell them the Major's run into a SNAFU and we're working on fixing it."
Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Emery, meanwhile, was dealing with a communication issue in his efforts to get a message out to the rest of the Underground. Finally, a discreet phone call allowed for the short, two word message to be passed along the Underground network. Hopefully it would reach Fritz if he stopped somewhere, wherever he was, and let those back in Düsseldorf know what the conditions were in Wilhelmshaven. It was a warning, clear and concise.
Nest der Viper.
Viper's nest...
Hammelburg, Germany
A little after eleven, Hogan returned to Hammelburg alone, having told his men they should try to get some sleep while they could. There was no sense in staying awake all night anyway. There was no guarantee they were going to be able to do much to help Fritz. Varel was at least a hundred and sixty-fives miles north. To get there in any reasonable amount of time, they would have to travel by rail.
It was a long shot. Conning Kommandant Klink into allowing Hogan and his men out of Stalag 13 was the easy part. Conning a train conductor into thinking they were being transferred or escorted somewhere by orders of the Gestapo or German High Command, was questionable.
Hogan knew he had to try. Major Hochstetter had pulled out all the stops in his pursuit of Major Miller. Frankly, the bandleader had more combined Gestapo and SS troops after him then he probably would have cared to know about. But the point was the High Command was making a very big deal out of what the Major had done. To them, Miller represented everything the Nazis hated and his act with the radio broadcast, a proverbial rude hand gesture, had enraged them. Yet they knew what Miller represented to the Allies. Patriotism, duty, honor and self-sacrifice. His efforts with music helped build morale. His capture and subsequent end, the High Command felt, would deal a crushing blow to the Allies.
Maybe not a crushing blow, Hogan thought. But it would certainly piss a lot of people off. Myself included.
So now it was time to pull out all the stops against Hochstetter. Assuming Hogan could pull a plan together with the local underground, he could already hear London warning him of the potential exposure of the operation should things go wrong.
Every escape risks exposure to the operation. If we weren't willing to accept the risk, why the hell are we in this business?
This was the last thought Hogan had when he arrived at the Underground meeting place. Maurice Dubois was there, along with several of Hammelburg's Underground regulars, all ready to do whatever they had to, to help their comrades.
Dubois greeted the Colonel as he came in. "Mon, Colonel. I apologize for the message from Fritz not being delivered earlier. Our operation earlier this evening we had been planning for several weeks and we just could not deviate from it."
Hogan shook his head, waving off the apology. "Were you successful?"
"Oui."
"Okay then. Now let's figure what we're going to do for Major Miller..."
Within the span of an hour, a plan was developed that consisted of three phases. The first phase was getting Colonel Hogan and his men out of Stalag 13 which, as Hogan knew, was the easy part. The second phase was getting on board a train to travel north. That part would be a little tricky, but not entirely impossible. The third phase was dependent upon what they found once they got into Varel.
Phase one was set into motion immediately. Hogan hurried back to Stalag 13, while the Underground pulled together what they needed for the con. Things were going to move very, very fast. The Colonel could only hope that it was going to be fast enough for Major Miller…
Stalag 13
At twelve-thirty, Hogan had returned to camp only to find his men were still awake. None of them had been able to sleep. He told them what was happening and that the Underground would be coming for them within the next thirty minutes or so. He then went with Kinch down to the tunnel to send a message to London, requesting that Goldilocks be on standby the next day for a pick up at anytime.
"Papa Bear, what is going on? What is this situation Bluebird has run into?"
"There's no time to explain. Just have Goldilocks on standby for a pick up. We're heading into the field ourselves."
"Papa Bear, that's not recommended. Security issues..."
Hogan ignored it. "We have no other choice, Mama Bear. Unless you don't want to see Bluebird fly again."
There was a long pause on the other end of the radio. A very long pause. Hogan was starting to think the transmission was lost when the voice returned.
"Goldilocks will be on standby, Papa Bear. We'll await further information."
"Acknowledged Mama Bear. Papa Bear out..."
A "Gestapo" staff car, with three Underground men in it, came through the gates of Stalag 13 just after 1am. They demanded to see Klink at once and the Kommandant was rustled out of bed. Klink didn't bother to change into uniform and prepared to meet the officers in his office in his pajamas and robe. After all, this was his camp. What could they possibly want that can't wait until a more decent hour?
The "Gestapo" officers stood up when Klink entered his office. They each looked surprised by Klink's attire.
"All right, all right," Klink said, marching to his desk. "What could you possibly want at this hour?"
The ranking officer approached the desk and held out a piece of paper. "These prisoners are to be taken to Berlin immediately."
Klink looked at the list. Carter, Hogan, Kinchloe, LeBeau, Newkirk.
"What for?"
"It is in relation to the incident at the radio station in Düsseldorf." The officer took the paper back from Klink and folded it back into his pocket. "They are to be questioned, amongst other things."
Klink looked at the officers. "What other things?—" He suddenly thought of something. "Major Miller...has been captured?"
"He is surrounded. We have no time for your questions Kommandant. We must take the prisoners at once."
"I find this very unusual, Oberleutnant. I think I should check with Major Hochstetter before---"
"Major Hochstetter is the one who ordered us here to pick up the prisoners! Now, if you would be so kind Kommandant as to tell us what barracks they are in, we will not trouble you any further. We will take the prisoners and be out of your way." The officer leaned on the desk. "Unless you would prefer we shake down this entire camp..."
Burkhalter's words about Hogan and the others bearing witness to Major Miller's final punishment were echoing in Klink's mind. Hogan and his men would have no idea what it was they were going to see and he could not forewarn them. He also had no choice against the Gestapo. The Kommandant's posture slumped a little. "That won't be necessary," he said. "They are in Barracks Two. Directly across the compound."
The officer nodded and stood back from the desk. "Danke, Herr Kommandant." He then saluted. "Heil Hitler."
Klink returned a half hearted salute. "Heil Hitler. Schultz, accompany these officers to Barracks Two."
"Jawohl, Herr Kommandant."
The "Gestapo" officers exited the office with Schultz following. Klink returned to his quarters to get his heavy overcoat.
Although Hogan and his men knew the "Gestapo" was coming, a convincing act was put on as they were all rustled out of bed. Schultz had all he could do to keep the barracks from erupting into a riot and the "Gestapo" officers finally quelled everything with the pointing of weapons. Hogan and his men were ordered to dress quickly. When they were escorted from the barracks, Klink was outside waiting.
Hogan stopped, continuing his act. "What's going on, Kommandant? Why are we being taken to Berlin?"
"Yeah, what's the deal here? I need my beauty rest ya know…" The rest of the heroes chimed in as well.
"I am sorry, Colonel Hogan. Major Hochstetter's orders."
"Hochstetter? What he's too lazy to come here and interrogate us now? He has to have us dragged out of bed at one o'clock in the morning?"
"If the circumstances were different, Colonel Hogan, I am sure Major Hochstetter would come here for any further interrogation."
"Circumstances? What circumstances?"
Klink shook his head. "I am sorry, Colonel. I can not say anymore."
"You can't say anymore?" he said. "What's the big secret here? What--?" Hogan paused, acting like he suddenly thought of something. "Miller. This has to do with Major Miller doesn't it?"
Klink said nothing and looked away.
Hogan was a little surprised. Obviously he thinks we're being led off to witness Miller's end and he really feels bad! Will wonders never cease...
"It is!" he exclaimed. "That's what it is! They've caught him! They're gonna...they're gonna..." Hogan appeared to not be able to say it. The "Gestapo" gave Hogan's arm a tug and he and his men were led across the compound to the waiting car, although Hogan continued his vocal protest with the rest of the boys shouting with him. They were all silenced once the car doors closed.
Kommandant Klink didn't look at the car again as it headed for the gate. He just walked back to his quarters in silence.