Author's note: Others own the Hogan's Heroes characters. All other characters are my creations. This story follows from the events of Episode 82: Sticky Wicket Newkirk, written by Richard M. Powell.
Accident of War - Part 2
By Diane Maher
The truck transporting Hogan to Stalag 7 stopped once during their journey. One of the black uniformed men left the truck. Hogan looked out the back of the truck and saw that the sun had gone below the horizon. When the guard returned, the other guard next to Hogan turned on a flashlight so he could see what his comrade had brought. Hogan saw in the light that the guard had brought some sandwiches and his eyes grew wide. He hadn't eaten since the night before. The man next to him saw his expression in the light and smiled, amused at the prisoner's hunger.
"Our friend here is hungry, Fritz," the man sneered.
Fritz grunted. "He's no friend of mine, Walter. The filthy Americans bombed Düsseldorf again just the other day and my sister is missing. I fear she's dead."
"I hope you're wrong. Your sister is a lovely woman," Walter said and then bit into his sandwich.
Fritz frowned. "I hope I'm wrong too, Walter."
Walter turned off his flashlight when the truck's motor started and they continued their journey to Stalag 7. Hogan looked toward the cab of the truck for the hundredth time. There was a slab of wood between the cab and bed of the truck. There was no way for him to overpower the driver.
"What do you think, American?" Fritz asked, interrupting Hogan's thoughts. "Would you take a German woman?"
Hogan replied, "Not against her will."
"You filthy liar!" Fritz shouted and backhanded Hogan.
"Enough Fritz!" Walter exclaimed, restraining his fellow guard. "Soon this man will be locked up again like all our enemies should be!"
Hogan kept himself from showing any overt reaction, but inwardly he was furious. It's better if they think I'm harmless, he thought as he felt his cheek sting from Fritz's blow. "Where are we?"
Walter laughed. "Listen to him! He's anxious to get to the Stalag. We should be there soon."
Hogan knew that he needed to escape. He considered his limited options and then the truck hit a pothole and jolted the occupants. "Nothing like getting there in one piece," Hogan muttered.
"Shut up!" Fritz snarled as he pointed his gun at Hogan.
Suddenly, several explosions shook the ground. The truck sped up and swerved to and fro, hitting more potholes and Hogan didn't know how much more of this punishment his tailbone would take.
Hogan grabbed hold of the bench he sat on and heard the whistle of bombs just before they impacted with the ground. After a particularly close call with an exploding bomb, the truck swerved one last time before it slammed into a tree. Hogan dove to the floor and was stunned as he hit his head on the bench as the truck rolled onto its side. His guards didn't react as quickly as he had and were thrown about the truck.
When Hogan opened his eyes, he smelled gasoline. As he carefully crawled from beneath the bench, he winced at the pain on his forehead. He looked back at the guards and saw that one was unconscious and the other was skewered on a sharp tree trunk that the truck had rolled over. He shuddered when he saw that the dead man was the one named Walter that had sat next to him. He pitied the man for an instant before the other man groaned as he started coming to.
Hogan scrambled out of the truck, hoping that Fritz didn't suddenly shoot him in the back as an escaping prisoner. Hogan stumbled forward to the front of the truck. He saw the driver's blood covered body draped awkwardly over the steering wheel. On closer inspection, he saw that the steering column had impaled the man when the truck collided with the tree.
Hogan turned away and headed for the forest along the side of the road. The bombs started falling again. He paused and listened to where the bombs were hitting and they were very close. His heart raced as he headed away from the truck.
Just as Hogan made it to the edge of the forest, the truck exploded and the force of the explosion threw him to the ground. He quickly pushed himself up on his arms, rolled over and sat up. He saw the flames engulf the truck in a matter of seconds and heard Fritz's howl of agony as he burned alive in the wreckage. Hogan closed his eyes and realized just how close he had come to dying.
Hogan cautiously made his way towards Heidelberg even as the bombs continued falling. He hoped to find the underground contact's home. Before leaving Stalag 13, Hogan had gone over the maps of Heidelberg and the surrounding area, including Stalag 7, with Kinch. Hogan had memorized the underground contact's address and they found its approximate location on the map. He kept to the trees as best he could and moved cautiously to keep from injuring himself.
When Hogan finally reached the edge of town, he carefully made his way through the dark alleys and shadows of the trees and bushes until he found the street where the contact's house was located. When Hogan finally found the house, he quietly went around to the rear. He reached up with both hands and softly knocked on the door.
The door opened slightly and a female voice asked in German, "Who is it?"
Hogan pressed his lips against the crack in the door and replied quietly, "A friend."
The woman opened the door a crack, and shone a flashlight in his face as there was no outside light fixture. "I don't know you," she said in English as she glimpsed Hogan's face. "Who are you?"
"I'm one of Little Bo Peep's lost sheep," Hogan replied. That was the code phrase for an escaped prisoner who needed help.
She recognized the code phrase, opened the door, allowed him in and quickly closed it again. "Come this way," she said as she led him to a small, windowless, inner room. She turned on the light and said, "Sit down. What happened to you?"
Hogan sat on the couch and took in his benefactor's appearance. She was in her early thirties, medium height, and slim, with dark hair and gray eyes. He replied, "I was being taken to Stalag 7 as a prisoner. During the raid, several bombs exploded close to the truck. The driver and one of the men guarding me were killed when the truck crashed into a tree. The other guard and I were knocked unconscious. I came to first and escaped out the back of the truck to the woods along the side of the road. A moment later the truck exploded." He closed his eyes and looked at his cuffed hands in his lap as he saw the scene play back in his mind's eye. It disturbed him more than he thought it would.
Her voice was soft when she said, "Rest now, you're safe here."
Hogan opened his eyes, looked up at her and replied, "Can you help me?"
She glanced down at the handcuffs on his wrists and with a nod, replied, "Unfortunately, I have no way to remove those handcuffs. I'll bring you an ice pack to put on your forehead. You must have quite a bruise from the wreck."
"Thank you Fräulein," Hogan replied.
She came back shortly with an ice pack, helped him lay on the couch and applied the ice pack to his head. "I'll get you some food," she said and left the room again.
Hogan closed his eyes as the ice pack rested on his forehead. It eased the throbbing that he had ignored until now. Soon, he smelled something cooking. He didn't care what it was; he was hungry enough to eat anything. The woman brought some plates, utensils, glasses and a pitcher of water into the room, set them on a small coffee table, and then left to bring some food. Hogan sat up and removed the ice pack as she appeared with a plate piled with what looked like freshly prepared potato pancakes. "I know it's not much, but eat, you need your strength," she said.
Hogan nodded, thankful. He smelled her perfume when she pulled the tray table close so he could eat his food. He watched her every movement as she placed the food on the table and sliced the pancakes into small pieces for him.
She consumed some of the food with him and between bites asked, "You are an American?"
"Yes, I am," Hogan replied. After swallowing another mouthful of pancakes he commented, "Mmmm, these are delicious."
She replied, "Danke. I am Fräulein Lisel Schmidt. And you are?"
Hogan was more at ease now and replied, "I'm Colonel Hogan, U.S. Army Air Corps."
"Well, Colonel, my friends in the underground will help you to get to a place where you will be outfitted with the appropriate papers, money and clothes so that you can escape from Germany. I'll contact them when we've finished eating and make arrangements for them to pick you up in a little while."
"Thank you," Hogan said, relieved.
When they finished eating, Lisel cleared away the dishes. She then went to her bedroom, uncovered her hidden radio and turned on the transmitter. Pressing the button on the microphone, she said, "Hello, Snowman, this is Silk Stockings, come in. I repeat, come in."
When she released the button on the microphone, there was a moment of static before she heard a male voice respond, "This is Snowman. Go ahead."
Lisel said, "I have a package here that needs to be mailed. Can you pick it up?"
"Jawohl. We can be there in an hour," the man said.
"Gut," Lisel replied. She shut off the radio, stood, smoothed her dress and hair and went back to the room where she found the handsome American officer awkwardly trying to drink the water she had given him with his meal. She sat next to him on the couch and said, "Here, let me help you with that."
Lisel took the cup from Hogan, held it to his lips and tilted it so he could drink. When he was finished, she took the napkin from his lap and gently patted his lips and chin dry.
Hogan looked at Lisel and whispered, "Thank you Lisel."
"You're welcome, Colonel," Lisel replied. She added, "The people in the underground will be here in about an hour. You may rest until then."
Hogan took her hands in his and felt their warmth. Lisel gently stroked his hands, lifted them to her face and Hogan lightly touched her cheek with his fingers.
She was curious about Hogan and asked, "Are you married?"
"No," Hogan replied, putting his hands back in his lap.
"Did you have a girlfriend before the war?" Lisel asked.
Hogan sighed wistfully. "Yes, but she probably found someone else when she was told that I had been shot down."
Lisel said softly, "You're a very attractive man. Attractive men are hard to come by these days."
Hogan asked, "Do you have a husband or boyfriend?"
"Nein. It's been a lonely war for me," Lisel said softly.
Hogan nodded, understanding. She took his hands in hers, lifted them to her lips and kissed them. "Mmmmm." She then put her arms around his neck and kissed him. When she pulled back, he carefully looped his bound arms around her, pulled her close and held her for a moment before kissing her tenderly.
When they separated, Lisel gazed into his dark eyes and said, "You must be very lonely."
"Whatever gave you that idea?" Hogan smiled and they laughed.
Lisel reached up, took off Hogan's cap, ran her fingers through his dark, wavy hair and said, "I don't want you to leave, but I know you have to and soon."
Hogan nodded. "Will you stay here with me until it's time?"
"Yes," Lisel replied as Hogan held her close.
An hour later, a small truck pulled up to the rear of the house. Hogan heard the sound and was instantly silent. Lisel carefully slid out from his embrace, stood and before leaving the room, whispered, "I'll go see who's here."
Hogan thought, Lisel seems to be a gentle, caring woman. If I ever get married, I hope she's like you, Lisel and just as good-looking too.
Lisel returned then and said, "It's time for you to go." Hogan saw his cap sitting on the table. Lisel reached over, picked it up and placed it on Hogan's head.
"Did I get it right?" she asked.
Hogan nodded. "Where am I going?"
"Your next stop tonight will be another safe house. You will spend the night there before continuing your journey," Lisel replied.
"I thought I was already at a safe house," Hogan whispered with a wink.
Blushing, Lisel replied, "It's in a city called Mannheim, northwest of here." She led him to the back door. Before opening it, she embraced him and they kissed one last time. "Good-bye, Colonel Hogan."
"Good-bye, Lisel. And thank you for everything. Especially for keeping me company," Hogan said.
"You're welcome. It was my pleasure," Lisel replied. Then, she opened the door and they headed down the steps to the waiting truck. The back doors of the truck were open and the motor was running. Hogan paused and looked back. Lisel smiled warmly at him and gave him a small wave.
"Come quickly," a male voice whispered anxiously from within the rear of the truck.
Hogan turned and climbed into the truck. The driver closed the door, went back up front, put the truck into gear and they were on their way to their destination. There was a man inside the truck with him; Hogan knew that from his voice but he couldn't see the man's face.
"So, you were being sent to Stalag 7?" the man asked.
Hogan replied, "Yeah. It's been a long day."
The man chuckled. "The safe house is about an hour's ride from here. If you want, go to sleep."
Hogan leaned against the wall of the small truck and closed his eyes. The truck swayed back and forth as it went down the road and Hogan soon dozed off. The truck jolted to a halt some time later and someone opened the rear doors. Hogan climbed out of the truck and the man outside took him into the house. Hogan was escorted to an inside room where there was a small bed. No one offered to remove his handcuffs. Hogan lay down on the bed, closed his eyes and fell asleep.
Back at Stalag 13 that same night, Kinch led the unit on a mission they had previously planned with Hogan to destroy a munitions train due to pass within two miles of the camp. They found no one guarding the bridge that the train was to go over, so they quickly planted the explosives, and ran the wires from the track to the bushes where Kinch was waiting with the detonator box. He wrapped the leads around the screws on top of the box, and tightened down the wing nuts.
A train whistle sounded in the near distance. Newkirk had the binoculars trained on the track. At his signal, Kinch held the box down with one hand, pulled up the plunger and then pushed it down, setting off the explosives as the train came rumbling across the bridge. The explosion lit the night sky as it ripped through the train, destroying the train, tracks and bridge.
That one's for you, Colonel Hogan! Kinch thought with satisfaction as he ripped the wires from the detonator and then picked up the box.
They didn't encounter any patrols as they headed back to Stalag 13. They returned to the tunnels beneath camp, cleaned themselves up, and changed back into their uniforms.
"That's what those bleedin' Krauts deserve," Newkirk commented triumphantly.
"It felt strange not having Colonel Hogan there," Carter replied.
"You said it, mate. Even so, we still pulled off the mission without a hitch," Newkirk said with a grin.
"Just wait until London sends us a replacement for le mon colonel," LeBeau commented with a frown as he came into the room.
"Yeah. We'll have to train another bloomin' officer!" Newkirk shook his head in amused disgust.
Carter and LeBeau laughed as they followed Newkirk as he headed for the ladder to go above for the night. Kinch was the last one in line at the ladder. He decided to go to the radio room and contact London. He asked a few questions about the man to be sent, listened to their reply, scribbled down a few details, signed off and then went above to go to sleep for the night.
It rained heavily the next morning, and Schultz conducted the morning roll call quickly. After the prisoners returned to the barracks, Carter asked Kinch, "Did headquarters say who they were sending to replace Colonel Hogan?"
"Yeah. They're sending an RAF officer. He's a Wing Commander and his name is Clive Blackman. He's to be dropped nearby and will make his way here tonight," Kinch replied. "He's been briefed on what to expect. They also gave a description of him so we'll know him when we see him."
Just then, one of the prisoners came into the barracks and said, "Gestapo just arrived!"
Kinch went over to the sink, raised their periscope and looked out through the driving rain as a black car with flapping Gestapo flags entered camp. Carter, Newkirk and LeBeau stood around him. Major Hochstetter climbed out of the car and strode into the administration building. Kinch pushed down the periscope, turned and went into Hogan's old office to plug in the coffee pot to see what Hochstetter was doing in Stalag 13. Carter, Newkirk and LeBeau followed. A moment later, they heard Klink greet Major Hochstetter.
"Ah! Major Hochstetter, how nice to see you!" Klink stood and greeted his guest.
"Save the pleasantries, Klink!" Hochstetter barked.
"What can I do for the Gestapo?" Klink asked.
"Have you considered defecting?" Hochstetter asked sarcastically.
"No, I..." Klink stuttered.
Hochstetter stripped off his gloves, and then raised them in his clenched fist and said, "Klink! Be quiet and listen to me!"
Klink sat in his chair, subdued. He waited anxiously for Hochstetter to make his next demand.
Hochstetter placed his hands on the edge of the desk, leaned forward and said, "Klink, I want you to have Colonel Hogan brought in here immediately!"
Klink's eyes widened. "Uh, Major, I can't."
Hochstetter slammed his fist down in front of Klink and asked in a menacing tone, "What do you mean, you can't!"
Shrugging, Klink replied, "I transferred Colonel Hogan to Stalag 7."
Hochstetter's surprise quickly turned to rage. "You WHAT?"
Klink grasped the arms of his chair and his knuckles turned white. His tone was almost a whimper when he replied, "I transferred Colonel Hogan to Stalag 7. The truck he was on left here just after yesterday morning's roll call."
"KLINK! You bumbling, incompetent IDIOT!" Hochstetter shouted, fuming mad now. "Why did you do that?"
"I did it because of my newly reinstated policy of transfer for any infractions of the rules. I just didn't tell the prisoners and Hogan was the first one to break the rules after I reinstated the policy." He thought for a moment, frowned and then asked, "Why do you want to see Colonel Hogan?"
Hochstetter leaned closer and replied, "I suspect his involvement in the destruction of a munitions train not two miles from this very camp. The sabotage took place last night."
"What do you want me to do?" Klink asked, perplexed.
Hochstetter rolled his eyes to the ceiling before snarling, "I want you to call Stalag 7 and get Hogan sent back here, at once!"
"But, but, but..." Klink stammered.
"No BUTS, Klink! NOOWWW!" Hochstetter shouted.
Klink picked up the phone and said, "Fräulein Hilda, get me the Kommandant of Stalag 7, Major Horst." A few minutes later, the phone on Klink's desk rang.
Klink picked up the receiver and asked, "Yes?" He listened, and then said, "Put him through." There was a pause before the call was connected and Klink continued, "Major Horst, this is Colonel Klink at Stalag 13. I would like to discuss the transfer of an American prisoner with you. The prisoner's name is Colonel Hogan."
Klink listened intently to Horst's reply and frowned. Klink said, "The truck left here yesterday morning. It should have arrived there last evening."
Klink listened and nodded before replying, "I see. Major Hochstetter of the Gestapo is here and he wants to speak to Colonel Hogan."
Another minute passed as Klink listened. "Danke, Herr Major. Auf Wiedersehen. Heil Hitler," Klink replied and hung up.
"Well, Klink?" Hochstetter demanded.
"Major Horst claims that the truck with Colonel Hogan in it never made it to Stalag 7," Klink replied.
"What? What do you mean, the truck never arrived there?" Hochstetter asked, incredulous.
"That's what Major Horst said," Klink replied.
Major Hochstetter grunted, and then picked up the phone. To Hilda, he said, "Get me Gestapo Headquarters in Heidelberg; I need to speak to the officer in charge."
A minute later, Hochstetter was connected to Gestapo Headquarters in Heidelberg.
"Hello, Major Hochstetter here. I will be coming down to Heidelberg to investigate a missing person in your area. He's an American prisoner of war, who possibly escaped during his transfer to Stalag 7. I suspect this man to be involved in the destruction of a munitions train just outside of Hammelburg."
Hochstetter listened, then nodded and said, "Jawohl. Wiedersehen. Heil Hitler."
Hochstetter then hung up the phone and said, "Klink, I'm leaving for Heidelberg immediately. Inform the Kommandant of Stalag 7 that I will be arriving there as soon as I can. Don't you even consider transferring any more of your prisoners until HELL freezes over! Is that understood?"
"Jawohl, Herr Major," Klink replied gloomily.
Hochstetter nodded once in satisfaction and then turned and left the office.
Kinch calmly unplugged the coffeepot and put it away. "Well, wherever Colonel Hogan is, he isn't in the clear yet. Not with Hochstetter on his tail."
"Yeah. I wonder how he managed to escape?" Carter asked.
Kinch shrugged and replied, "I don't know."
As they went back to the next room, Kinch thought, I have a bad feeling. As though Hogan didn't make it to Stalag 7 because he's dead.
Kinch went down to the radio room. He contacted London to find out about any raids that might have hit Heidelberg. His suspicions were confirmed a short while later. There was a raid on a factory near Heidelberg last night. Closing down his equipment, Kinch returned to the barracks.
When Kinch came up out of the tunnel, Newkirk must have seen the gloomy look on his face and asked, "What's up, mate?"
Kinch looked at Newkirk and replied, "I just got word from London that there was a raid near Heidelberg last night."
"And you think that Colonel Hogan was killed during that raid?" Carter asked, incredulous.
"After hearing that the truck taking Colonel Hogan didn't make it to Stalag 7, I..." Kinch replied, shaking his head. "I didn't want to say anything until I confirmed the raid with London. Andrew, we have to accept the fact that there's a good chance Colonel Hogan is dead."