Weaving a Web to Freedom, Book 2

Undoing the Past

By Marty Miller

Background information for this story is from the HH Episode "The Meister Spy"

Chapter 5.

Kommandant Killinger was explaining to Colonel Knefler that the rest of the prisoners records were being brought from the confidential files that were sequestered in the Hospital at Hohemark.

"It was the safest place to insure that they did not fall into the wrong hands and yet still kept them available for research."

Knefler's interest was aroused. "Kept them available for research?"

"Yes…isn't that why you are here?"

"Go on." Knefler ordered, without revealing his true purpose.

"I sent for them as soon as you told me you were investigating the American, Colonel Hogan. Had I known you were coming, I would have made arrangements for them to be here when you arrived," Killinger explained.

"Well, while I am waiting, tell me what you remember about Colonel Hogan and his time spent under interrogation." Knefler leaned back in his chair waiting for his answer.

"First of all he did not come straight to Dulag Luft. His first stop was the Hospital. Colonel Hogan's wounds were serious. He underwent surgery for the removal of shrapnel. I was ordered to keep him alive by General Biedenbender, who at that time was Colonel Biedenbender. Colonel Hogan spent almost two weeks heavily medicated while his wounds began to heal and he gained enough strength to be moved to Dulag. On the day of his transfer, he was placed back into uniform and transported with a group of captured prisoners to Dulag. Once here, he was treated as any other prisoner…to begin with.

As you have already read, his resistance to questioning forced us to increase our efforts. However, the sequence of events, were not as recorded. The Gestapo visit began on day 41. The American Colonel was rigorously interrogated daily for four days as the Gestapo attempted to gain information.

On day 44 Colonel Biedenbender learned that the Gestapo was planning to flog the American in a final effort to gain information. He called Luftwaffe Headquarters and informed them that in the American's weakened condition, it was doubtful he would survive a flogging at the hands of the Gestapo and reminded them that the Fuhrer had ordered him captured alive.

Headquarters, and some say Hitler himself, arranged for Colonel Hogan to be transferred back to the hospital at Hohemark for experimental testing. The rumor was that there was a top-secret project underway and Hitler wanted him broken. Successful experiments were being conducted on 'mind control' and it was thought Colonel Hogan would be a good test subject."

Killinger paused as someone knocked on the door to his office.

"Come in."

"These have just arrived Kommandant. Where would you like me to put them?" Killinger's secretary walked in carrying a large stack of files.

Knefler eagerly stepped forward and announced, "I will take those." He weighed them in his hands. ~A substantial amount of information, this investigation could be more interesting than I had anticipated.

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Carter squinted into the noon sun as he waited for Colonel Hogan. "It's been two days since Klink stormed into the barracks. If the SS knows about Strasser, why haven't they come for us yet?"

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Carter. Just be grateful we're still alive." Newkirk answered.

The waiting was wearing on everyone and with the Colonel locked up for the last two days his men had barely slept.

"Hasn't the Colonel been released from the cooler yet?" Kinch asked, as he joined Carter and Newkirk in the compound.

Newkirk shook his head. "No, should be any…"

"Here he comes now," Carter practically shouted.

Hogan exited the cooler and paused at the fence rubbing his eyes at the bright sun while the guard unlocked the gate. Klink stood on the porch outside of his office and watched his Senior POW Officer make his way over to his waiting men before turning and going back into his office.

Hogan looked at his men and shook his head in disgust as he continued walking into barrack two.

"Welcome back, Colonel," LeBeau handed Hogan a fresh cup of coffee, and a plate of food, which Hogan took gratefully and sat down at the table to eat.

Klink had been so irate with Hogan for not telling him the truth about Strasser's orders to Miller that he put him on bread and water rations for two days and assigned Corporal Kohler to guard him. Schultz, they could manipulate, but Kohler followed orders so on bread and water...he stayed.

"Did you see Klink standing outside of his office gloating? I wanted to break his monocle." Newkirk growled.

Hogan nodded and kept shoveling food into his mouth.

Kinch forced himself to keep quiet for a few minutes while the Colonel got some food in him and then gave him London's latest.

"I'm sorry to drop this on you, Colonel, but London has sent us an assignment." Kinch handed Hogan a folded piece of paper.

Hogan swallowed and almost choked. "An assignment? That's just great. Did Schnitzer bring this in when he changed the dogs?"

Kinch nodded, "Yup."

Hogan wiped his mouth and unfolded the paper.

"What is it Colonel?" LeBeau asked.

"There's a small arms factory near Hammelburg that our boys can't get too for awhile. They want us to take it out or temporarily stop production until they can get a bomb crew here to drop some eggs on it."

"Oh brother don't they know we've got enough going on right now?" Carter questioned.

"No, they don't. We haven't told them everything. They might think we're in over our heads." LeBeau explained.

Before Newkirk could comment on LeBeau's statement, Colonel Hogan announced, "OK, we'll go tonight."

"Tonight, Colonel?" Newkirk questioned. "We're still surrounded by SS guards."

Hogan looked at Newkirk, "This may be our best chance. Right now we only have the SS to worry about. Tomorrow, we may have the SS, the Gestapo, and the SD."

"Oh, well there's a lovely thought. I guess your right then. It will be a bloody piece of cake tonight."

Louis put another spoonful of food on Hogan's plate as he asked. "What about Klink, he's going to have his eye on you as well."

Seeing Hogan already had another mouthful of food, Kinch answered, "Naw, Klink is satisfied. He thinks he showed us whose boss. So what time will we go, Colonel?"

Hogan paused between bites. "Right after midnight roll-call."

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"Colonel, do you still want to wait to evacuate now that we know Strasser is free?" Kinch asked, as the other men were getting into their black clothing and darkening their faces.

"What's the matter, Kinch, having some doubts about your Commanding Officer?"

"No sir, it's not that, I just don't know why they haven't brought Strasser's, contacts here to identify you. I mean, they have to know someone met with them, and if it wasn't Strasser, and Strasser is accusing you of duping him, it would make sense that you would be a likely suspect." Kinch was trying to keep his voice low so the others didn't hear and panic anymore than they already had.

"I know, I wondered the same thing. Until I realized it must mean that they are no longer in the picture." Hogan's stared at the floor, thinking.

"You think they're dead?"

Hogan looked back to Kinch, "It would make sense. After reporting the false news I passed to them and the beating their troops took because of it, I don't think Berlin would have given them a medal."

Kinch quietly digested that thought.

"There's too much at stake here, Kinch. I can't just close down if there's a chance we can keep going. We still have fliers being downed everyday that need help getting out of Germany, not to mention our underground contacts that depend on us."

"We're ready Colonel," Carter interrupted, while checking his bag of explosives.

Newkirk and LeBeau joined them.

Hogan looked at his men, "Let's stay focused on the job at hand. We'll worry about Strasser later." He turned and walked determinedly to the tunnel that extended beyond the fence surrounding the compound and exited into the cover of the woods beyond.

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Knefler picked his way through the records of the Gestapo interrogation. The report showed that the American Colonel's tenacity was slipping. He was much less flippant; in fact he was much less talkative all together. Knefler added to his notes. ~ Conserves his energy and brings all of his strength to bear on keeping his senses, when he feels his resolve is slipping. It seems he is able to comfort himself and keep his fears at bay during times of extreme stress. No wonder you were such a "cool headed" opponent for the Luftwaffe. ~

The Final entry in the Gestapo records read:

[Flogging will begin at 1800 hours tomorrow. Dr. Weinzaphel will be in attendance.]

It was required that a doctor be in attendance for floggings with a plan of 30 strokes or more. It doesn't sound like they had high hopes of you breaking your silence under the whip. No, this sounds more like a Gestapo execution with the Doctor present to pronounce death. The Gestapo will not admit to failure, better that you die. Their records are confidential so your death would not mare Dulag Luft's reputation for following the Geneva Convention, Fortunately for you, General Biedenbender took an interest in you, and stood favorable with the Fuhrer. ~

Knefler placed the Gestapo records aside and reached for the records of Hogan's hospital visit. The official records told of treatment for infection of wounds attained during capture.

Nothing out of the ordinary here. Cleaning and dressing of wounds, physical assessment, and release for transfer to the transit camp at Wetzlar.

Knefler closed the official file and eagerly opened the"confidential" hospital records, stamped with the "seal" of the "Third Reich".

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Five black clad figures slipped through the woods toward their target. Arriving at their destination, they silently took their explosives from their munitions expert and separated. All went well with the planting of the charges and after reconnoitering they began making their way back across the open field to the protection of the surrounding woods.

Suddenly voices began cutting through the night air followed by searchlights sweeping through the tall grass of the open field they were crossing. The sound of a truck engine starting was the final warning that someone had sounded the alarm. "Drop!" Hogan called, as the searchlight passed over the top of the grass they were hiding in. "Stay low and keep moving." The men obeyed without thought, listening to the voice they had learned to trust. "Keep going, keep going," they heard him encouraging. Hogan heard the trucks getting closer. "Ok, break for the woods" he called, as the trucks were getting dangerously close.

All five men jumped to their feet and began running as the sounds of machine gun fire echoed behind them. The bullets were impacting into the ground around them, sending pieces of dry grass up into the air as they sliced through it. Hogan, bringing up the rear, saw Newkirk collapse mere feet from the woods.

"Come on Newkirk, now is not the time to rest." Pulling Newkirk to his feet, he draped his arm around his waist pulling him along.

Kinch dropped back to help. "Where was he hit, Colonel?"

"It's my leg." Newkirk panted.

"There's no time to stop now. We've got to make it to the swamp; the dogs won't be able to pick up our trail. Carter, take my spot and help Kinch with Newkirk.

Carter smoothly slipped Newkirk's arm around his neck without breaking stride.

Now, follow me!" Hogan took the lead, keeping a watchful eye over his shoulder to make sure his men were keeping up. At least now that they were in the woods, the Germans would have to abandon the trucks and track them on foot. The ground became spongy under their feet and Hogan stepped aside motioning them deeper into the swamp.

"Head for camp," he commanded, while sneaking a look at Newkirk's pale face. "Louis, take the lead." Hogan slowed his pace and covered the rear. He could hear the dogs barking in confusion at the edge of the swamp. He kept moving but watched for flashlights from the patrols. When he spotted the searchlights from Stalag 13, he quickened his pace and closed in on the tunnel entrance. Taking one last look over his shoulder, his heart sank.

There, coming through the woods, were the flashlights he didn't want to see. Looking back toward the tree stump He could see Louis' hunched figure at the tunnel entrance. Taking his flashlight from his belt he signaled and Louis disappeared into the tunnel. Hogan turned right, away from the tunnel, and calculated his odds.

~ OK, I've got one chance at this…make it work~

Raising his gun in the air, he ripped off several rounds before cutting back to his left and the tunnel entrance. The sirens went off and the woods were filled with searchlights.

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LeBeau waited for a few seconds at the top of the ladder with the lid that hid the tunnel entrance resting on his head. He saw Hogan divert away from the entrance and within a few seconds heard the pistol shots followed by the camp escape sirens and machine gun bursts. He debated on whether to go to Newkirk or to Hogan and decided he had better follow orders and descended the ladder.

Louis joined the others who were getting Newkirk's clothes off. Kinch saw LeBeau and then quickly glanced down the tunnel in the direction they had just come from.

"I saw the Colonel, he's coming." LeBeau offered, in a way meant to end Kinch's concern. But his false calm did nothing to quiet his ownfears.

"How you doing buddy," Carter asked, while gently sliding the bloodied pants off of Newkirk's injured leg.

"I've been better, but it's not as painful as I thought it would be." Newkirk was trying to digest what had just happened to him.

Kinch knew the pain would eventually catch up with him. Right now, he was in shock. "Come on, we've got to get him up to the barracks before they do a bed check."

Carter climbed the ladder ahead of Newkirk and reached back down to help him up, while Kinch assisted from behind.

Looking back, Kinch, saw LeBeau still standing at the bottom of the ladder. "Come on, Louis. Everything is okay. The Colonel will be along."

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The sound of the sirens assaulted their ears as soon as the tunnel door opened into the barrack. Since LeBeau had not shared that the Colonel had fired shots to set off the alarms, this development was a complete surprise.

Kinch stopped in the common room and looked toward the barrack door. Now what? He could tell the spot lights were sweeping the compound even with the shutters closed.

Clearing the ladder and seeing the searchlights, LeBeau announced, "The Colonel deliberately fired some shots. I don't know anymore than that."

Kinch said a silent prayer and then commanded, "Take Newkirk into the Colonel's room."

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Hogan dropped to the tunnel floor and began stripping his clothes off as he ran. He added his wet clothing to the dark pile already on the floor in front of him. Picking up a black smudged rag from the ground, he rubbed the black off of his face and moved to his uniform, laying on the table by the ladder leading up to the barrack. Pants on and shirt still unbuttoned, he grabbed his bomber jacket and cap, and then headed up the ladder. His men were in his quarters and had Newkirk face down on his bunk.

"How is he?" he asked, while tucking his shirt into his pants.

Kinch turned at the sound of Hogan's voice. Relief flooded his face and then he turned his attention back to the man on the bunk. "The bullet passed through his upper thigh, Colonel. I'm no doctor, but it appears it didn't hit bone."

Hogan approached and looking at Newkirk, ordered. "Get the alcohol from the first aid kit and a packet of sulfa. Newkirk, this is going to hurt, but we need to act fast."

Carter returned with the first aid kit and handed the alcohol to Hogan, who poured the alcohol into the wound, followed by the sulfa. Newkirk buried his face into the pillow and groaned.

"Carter, get a dressing on that fast." Hogan walked out of his quarters and opened the barrack door slightly to take a look around. The camp was in chaos. The SS had converged on the woods with the guard dogs and were joined by the patrol that had chased the heroes through the woods. There were men and dogs everywhere. Hogan was assessing the situation, when he heard Kinch come up behind him.

"Do you think you caused enough confusion out there so that the dogs won't be able to pick up our trail?"

Hogan looked at Kinch, "We'll know soon enough. Get Newkirk into his nightshirt and the rest of you get into bed." Hogan grabbed his cap off of the table where he had dropped it and headed back to the door.

"Where are you going, Colonel?" Kinch asked, as if he didn't know.

"I need to go tell Klink, what to think."