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.
Weaving a Web to Freedom, Undoing the Past
By Marty Miller
Background information, for this story, is from the HH Episode "The Meister Spy"
Chapter 2
General Burkhalter was at his home preparing to leave for Dulag Luft. This was where practically all Air Corp personnel captured in German occupied Europe were interrogated before being assigned to a Luft Stalag. The interrogation center was at Oberusal, the hospital was at Hohemark, and the transit camp was at Wetzlar. The evaluation Center West, Auswertestellle West, was north of the main Frankfurt-Homburg road and was the third-stop after Oberusal. The Luftwaffe processed about 1000 POW's a month through this four-step system. No U.S. staff existed at Dulag Luft. Under the terms of the Geneva Convention it was not required, since POW's were held in solitary confinement, and only for limited periods of time. The entire camp was surrounded by barbed wire fence but had neither perimeter floodlights nor watchtowers.
The Kommandant of Dulag Luft, Oberstleutnant Erich Killinger, lived on a nearby farm. The General would stay with Killinger for a day or two and discuss the effectiveness of their interrogation techniques at Dulag, before leaving to tour his Luft Stalags. Killinger ran the camp with calculated efficiency, he kept a close eye on the expenses and the bookkeeping was exact. Dulag had an able staff of interrogators and he did not interfere with their "work". Interrogation records were normally sent to him at the completion of the process, unless information had been garnered requiring immediate action. For the most part, the sequence of events from the time a POW was brought to Dulag, to the time of their being passed on to a Luft Stalag, was a systematic "ebb & flow" of events. Only occasionally would a rare prisoner step outside of the norm to require and receive "special" attention. These very rare occasions prompted the creation of a "classified" file divided into subsections on interrogation techniques used, information obtained, endurance of the POW, and duration of confinement. The records were then passed on for scientific study and evaluation in an attempt to improve interrogation techniques and further evaluate the limits of human endurance. Gestapo and SS interrogation methods had greatly benefited from the results of these studies.
The phone rang and the General answered, "Heil Hitler, this is General Burkhalter." The steady ticking of the hall clock permeated the air, reminding the General of the peace that, until recently, he found inside the walls of this historic structure he called home. In the distant past, the General may have only given his first name, Albert, when he answered the phone, but now it seems he received as many official calls at home as he did at Luftwaffe Headquarters. As the voice on the other end of the line answered, he felt the muscles in his hand involuntarily tighten around the phone and press it hard against his ear.
"General Burkhalter, this is Colonel Knefler of the SD," a very formal level voice informed the General. "I will meet with you concerning an investigation involving one of our agents, Hans Strasser. He was posing as an American officer when the Wehrmacht picked him up in the woods near Hammelburg after his plane made a "forced" landing in a field. Strasser was held, at Stalag 13, for a brief period of time prior to his transfer to Stalag 6 and eventual release. Strasser has relayed a story, detailing some peculiar activities, which require investigating. Where would you like to meet, to discuss Herr Strasser's allegations?"
"I was just leaving for Dulag Luft for a one to two day briefing." Burkhalter stated, while wondering what this was about. Before Burkhalter could ask for more information, he was cut off by Knefler's reply.
This couldn't be better, Knefler thought. "Excellent, I will meet you there. Heil Hitler!" The conversation abruptly ended. Dulag will be a good place to begin my study of the American Colonel. Know your enemy is the first rule for obtaining information. Expose his weaknesses is the second. Knefler was known for being able to get under the "facade", and into the thoughts of enemies of The Third Reich who had fallen under his scrutiny. He prided himself on his ability to not only think as they think, but to know the emotions, pain level, and mental stress experienced by them, as a result of their mental or physical duress. I'm looking forward to getting to know you, Colonel Hogan!
The General slowly put the phone back on the receiver and pulled his collar from his neck, where it seemed to have a strangle hold on him. Knefler's reputation was well known. He was every bit as cunning and calculating, as you would expect a Colonel in the SD to be. Some believed his abilities were supernatural and the fact that he was held in high regard by the Fuhrer only added to the apprehension the General felt about their upcoming meeting. The Allied prisoners from that downed plane were Major Martin and Lieutenant Miller, which one was Strasser's cover? "What has that idiot Klink done now?"
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"Sorry for the interruption Lutz," Hogan began, "just tell London we have a radio detection truck in camp and are on radio silence temporarily. I don't want them jumping to conclusions and shutting us down. Tell them, it seems to be a routine sweep of the area. We can at least hope that is true." At least, if we think along those lines, it won't be an out and out lie we are telling London. I mean we could be lucky and it be no more than…, Hogan's thoughts were interrupted as his demolitions expert spoke.
"With SS troops outside?" Carter questioned. It would never occur to Carter to manipulate London by stating a half-truth.
Hogan snapped his head in Carter's direction and gave him a stern look.
Carter timidly added, "Sir," while trying to melt into the background.
Newkirk starred at Carter for a long moment before shaking his head and turning back to the conversation between the Colonel and Lutz. It amazed the Briton how easily Carter could put his foot in his mouth.
Lutz shook his head in the affirmative and said, "Okay, Colonel, I'll tell London about the radio detection truck, but how long do you think that will keep London pacified."
"Hopefully long enough for us to find out, for certain what this is about, and decide what—if anything—we can do. We'll send you back out with Schnitzer when he comes to change the dogs. Until then, make yourself comfortable."
"Colonel!" Kinch called through the opening into the tunnel from the barrack above. "Schultz is making his way to the barrack from the Kommandant's office."
"Got to go Lutz, I think the "Iron Colonel" has requested my presence." Hogan was already half way up the ladder leading to the barrack.
Schultz entered just as the bunk lowered and the trap door underneath it closed, hiding the tunnel entrance. "Colonel Hogan, the Kommandant wants to see you and oh boy is he mad."
"Okay, Schultz, let's go." Hogan glanced back at his men, "I'll see if Klink has any more information about what's going on around here. Mind the store Kinch, keep everybody away from the SS. They're trigger-happy right now. The warning shots have already been fired and the next shots may find their targets."
Kinch took a step toward Hogan, "I understand, Colonel, I'll keep an eye on things." The tall muscular sergeant glanced around at the men in the barrack, giving them an unspoken warning about not disobeying the Colonel's orders.
Hogan nodded while placing his crush cap in a casually tipped back position on his head and marched out the door, followed by Schultz.
The over weight German guard, following the Senior POW Officer, looked the younger man up and down with concern. Schultz liked and even respected the men he was assigned to guard. He was old enough to have sons their age, and the tone of his voice was now more in the nature of a father giving advice than a guard talking to an unruly prisoner.
"Colonel Hogan, the Kommandant doesn't like these frequent roll calls anymore than you do, and your antagonizing won't make it any easier for you, your men, or him." Schultz quietly stated.
"Sound advice, Schultz," Hogan quickly replied, as they climbed the steps and entered the outer office. Hogan's quick wit and sharp tongue had kept him, his men, and a select German or two, out of trouble more than once. The trick was in knowing when to use his gift of gab. Unfortunately, as with any God-given gift, that decision was left to the mere mortal blessed with it, and this mortal's Irish temper sometimes got in the way.
I know you hate conflict, Schultz, but if I can get Klink angry, maybe he'll let slip some information on the reason we are hosts to the SS.
Schultz gently pushed Hogan aside and knocked on the Kommandant's door, entered, and closed the door behind him. Hogan rocked back on his heels and glanced in Helga's direction, letting loose that innocent smile she knew so well.
"Colonel Hogan, have you been bad again? I heard the Kommandant telling Schultz to bring you and he didn't sound too happy," Helga asked, as she stopped her typing and gave him her full attention.
Hogan's face had just changed to that, "who me?" look, with his arms giving a shrug, when the door to Klink's office opened.
Schultz, with sad eyes fixed on Hogan, announced, "Colonel Hogan, the Kommandant will see you now."
Hogan bounded past Schultz and cheerfully said, "You wanted to see me Kommandant?"
Klink's face was crimson, and his eyes were on fire, "What was the meaning of that outburst in the compound during roll call?" Klink stood and came around the desk, walking up and into Hogan, forcing him to take a step back. "I..." Hogan began.
Schultz closed his eyes.
"Degrading a German soldier is a punishable offense." Klink took another step toward Hogan, forcing him to step back and tumble into the chair behind him. "Kommandant…" Hogan began and was cut off again.
Schultz had one eye open now.
Klink continued his tirade, "We have a compound full of SS guards, who are watching our every move and action, and you mouth off demanding I make an example of you!" Klink threw his arms up in the air and brought them back down slapping his legs in a gesture of surrender.
So that's the angle, save face in front of the SS. I better get humble here, and diffuse Klink, before he does something we both may live to regret. Hogan sat with his head down starring at the floor, his crush cap in his hands. "Sorry, Kommandant, I wasn't thinking."
Schultz had both eyes open again, looking at the American who sat submissively apologizing in the chair in front of him.
"That's the problem with you, Colonel Hogan, you act before you think things through," Klink replied, exasperated.
Hogan had to repress a smile. Practically every word and every action that came from Hogan was calculated. Looks like I made him angry, all right. Now let's see what he knows.
"It's just the stress of the SS being in the guard towers and around the camp. I have the safety of my men to consider. Come on Kommandant, what are they doing here?" Hogan looked up at Klink with a worried and questioning look on his normally cocky self assured face.
Schultz glanced from Hogan to Klink feeling sympathy for the two men before him. Both were trying to do the right thing, even though they were at odds on what was the right thing to do, and both had an unrelenting sense of duty, Colonel Klink to the men under his command and under his charge, and Colonel Hogan to the mixed band of Allied prisoners he led and protected. What Schultz didn't know was that the American Colonel, also, was the elusive Papa Bear, and that the presence of the SS could mean more than just trouble for his men. It could mean the end of the underground in this part of Germany, and a trip to the Russian front for Klink…or worse.
Klink could see the tension in Hogan's eyes. I seldom realize that Hogan feels the stress of command. He seems flippant and arrogant most of the time.
Klink plopped on the desk in front of Hogan and exchanged glances with him. The questioning brown eyes staring back at Klink prompted him to respond in a softer voice than before. Sighing, he said, "Colonel Hogan, they have not explained the reason for their being here; however, the fact that they're here is enough. It says to me that they are gathering information and that they want to make certain that you…we…remain here until they're done. Roll call every two hours, though it may seem excessive, keeps us in view and restricts our activity."
"You mean you, the Kommandant of the toughest POW camp in Germany, have not been given any explanations for their being here? What does General Burkhalter have to say about all of this?" Hogan prodded for more information.
"I haven't been able to reach the General. He is in route to Dulag Luft." Klink saw a frown briefly sweep over Hogan's face at the mention of Dulag. I don't imagine Dulag holds any fond memories for you, Colonel. You spent quite a bit of time there when you first arrived in Germany. Your accompanying file showed a rather…rigorous interrogation.
"Do you think his being at Dulag has anything to do with what's happening here?" Hogan asked out loud, though he was mainly posing the question to himself. Hogan refused to give his time at Dulag more than a passing thought. He had managed to get through that rigorous ordeal and dwelling on it was not going to help.
"The General visits Dulag once or twice a year for routine evaluation on the running of the Luft. I don't see it as being unusual, if that is what you mean." Klink mused.
After a brief pause, the Kommandant asked, "Colonel Hogan, you and your men did not see any classified information while you were helping to clear the road of debris from the bombed air field did you?"
Hogan thought back to a month ago, when he had bartered himself and his men for that work detail. They wanted to get a closer look at the devastation that their sabotage of the airfield had caused. "Kommandant, the debris we cleared was so mangled that there was no way to identify airplane parts from building structure. Don't worry; we didn't learn any top secret information from that detail."
Hogan sat silent for a moment. I guess Klink is as much in the dark about all of this as we are. Having gotten the information he wanted out of this encounter, Hogan attempted to bring it to an end.
"Well Kommandant, if that is all, I'll inform my men to keep worrying." Hogan stood as if to leave.
"Just a minute, Colonel Hogan, you have not been dismissed yet." Klink's voice changed back to one of authority. "There is still the matter of your punishment for your little show of force in the compound." Klink stood and readjusted his monocle as he thought.
Schultz straightened, waiting for the orders he had been told would follow this brief chastisement of Hogan's actions during roll call.
Hogan turned back toward the Kommandant sighed, and stood waiting. He hasn't forgotten why he brought me here, even after our little heart to heart. He must view it as more serious than I had thought. I guess the SS guards and the Kommandant's lack of information have made him cautious about how he is perceived to be running his camp.
"I had Schultz stay because I thoroughly intended to give you a week in the cooler, but in view of your concern for the safety of your men, I can understand the stress that prompted your outburst. However, I can't let it pass without consequence." Klink straightened and looked at Hogan, "Colonel Hogan, you are confined to barracks for one week, no privileges. You are to leave only to line up in formation for roll call and to be escorted to and from the latrine. Any further breach of discipline and you will spend a month in the cooler." Klink's face took on a deadly serious expression, "Is that understood, Colonel?"
Hogan glanced at Schultz, so that is why you were so sad big fella, you knew when you came for me, what Klink had in mind. "Perfectly sir," Hogan replied solemnly, but with a slight bite in his voice. So we're putting on a little show of force for the SS at my expense.
"Schultz escort Colonel Hogan to his barracks and if he puts one foot outside, except for the reasons I stated, bring him to me."
Hogan was just about to make a comment about the injustice of his punishment when he was saved by the bell.
Ring! Ring!
"Dismissed!" Klink waved Hogan out of his office at the same time he reached for the phone. Schultz stepped next to Hogan, turned him by his right arm, and directed him out the door. The last thing Colonel Hogan heard was Klink's "Heil Hitler" followed by "General Burkhalter, I have been trying to reach you."
