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 7

The underground working with the men of Stalag 13 had explained to London the reason for radio silence from Papa Bear, just as Papa Bear had instructed. In addition to relaying information, the underground asked for information that had been learned about Hans Strasser after he was exposed as a double agent. London knew that an attempt to kidnap Strasser and send him back to England had failed, and hoped that sharing the information they had gathered might still help accomplish that goal.

Upon receiving London's documents, Armin, a member of one of the underground units working with Stalag 13, was assigned to study the information. Armin had been going through these documents for hours learning some fascinating background material about Hans Strasser's childhood. It turns out Strasser's father, Heinrick, had been involved in some controversial studies while living in Germany. Studies that did not, at the time, meet with the approval of his medical colleagues. So Heinrick Strasser moved his family, which included Hans, to England and changed his name to Henry Martin.

Heinrick had learned from his past experience living in Germany, to keep his experiments on the process of dissociation, which is the separation of ones emotions from an event, and its association with "reprogramming" of a man's mind, confidential. Therefore, because he did not want to risk disapproval of his new British colleagues and forfeit his standing in the scientific community his son, Hans, had become his test subject. He decided when the time was right and he had undisputable, proof that his process worked, he would reveal all.

Heinrick had not severed all ties to his past life. He stayed in touch with a close colleague still living in Germany. Unknown to Heinrick, this colleague was providing his documentation on mind control to the growing Nazi Party.

When London began revealing all of this, "Dr. Black" was created. Dr. Black was a code name given by London to a group of Allied doctors and scientists who were assigned the task of assimilating the information being gathered on Hans Strasser and his father Heinrick.

Among the documents sent to the Underground was a lengthy explanation on the technique of "Programming" that had been used by Heinrick based on the information being uncovered on Hans Strasser.

Heinrick Strasser's work was far from being original. It was learned that the basis for the technique could be found in the Egyptian "Book of the Dead".

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"Armin, you have been studying that information for hours. You need to take a break and eat. You'd think, being a doctor, you would know that," Lutz admonished.

Armin looked up, eye's wide, " I had no idea…. I mean, I knew there were studies currently being done, but I had no idea, it went all the way back to ancient Egypt."

"What are you talking about?" Lutz, now curious, stood from the table, where he had been eating and walked over to Armin.

"Right here," Armin pointed to a section on the page that he had underlined.

Lutz leaned in and read, the Egyptian Book of the Dead, a compilation of rituals explicitly describing methods of torture and intimidation (to create trauma), the use of potions (drugs) and the casting of spells (hypnotism),ultimately resulting, in the total enslavement of the initiate.

"Are you telling me that "brain washing" goes all the way back to ancient Egypt?" Lutz looked incredulously at Armin.

"That is exactly what I am telling you."

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"Roll call, everybody up, up, up!" Schultz walked around pounding on the bunks where the sleeping men were struggling to their senses.

"It's four a.m. Schultz, for crying out loud," Carter groaned.

"The Kommandant let you sleep through the two a.m. roll call. You should be grateful, now, everybody outside, schnell!" Schultz ambled over and opened the door letting the cold air into the barrack.

LeBeau walked up behind the bulky guard and pushed him through the door as he made his way to his place in the line up. "Come on Schultzie, how do you expect us to get out if you are standing in the doorway."

The other men from the barrack followed suit and slowly ambled outside, keeping the doorway blocked, as Kinch and Hogan helped Newkirk dress in the next room.

"Do you think you can walk, Newkirk?" Kinch asked.

"I think so. I won't win any races, but if I take it slow I'll be ok."

Newkirk slowly headed for the door followed by Kinch. Hogan walked out in front of Newkirk to "run interference" if necessary.

"Hurry, Colonel Ho… what happened to you?" Schultz asked, staring at the bruise on Hogan's jaw.

"What?" Hogan paused in front of Schultz allowing Newkirk to slip behind him and make his way to his spot in the line-up.

Schultz pointed at the left side of Hogan's face.

"Hey, that reminds me, where were you last night, when all the commotion was going on?" Hogan asked in an accusing tone, changing the focus of the conversation and moving toward his assigned position. His subterfuge worked.

"I was outside the fence, helping with the wounded men. It was terrible! The SS mistakenly fired on a patrol in the woods that was chasing the underground."

Schultz began counting and finished just as Klink demanded,

"Repooort".

"All present and accounted for, Herr Kommandant."

Klink yawned. Nodding he waved his hand in dismissal and began to move on to the next barrack, but stopped suddenly when he noticed the angry purple mark Hochstetter left on Hogan's jaw.

"Colonel Hogan, Major Hochstetter is a dangerous man. It does not pay to antagonize him. He does not forget. Stop antagonizing him!"

Hogan's eyes hardened at the chastisement but before he could respond, the Kommandant had moved on to the next barrack. ~Major Hochstetter is a "sick" man, Kommandant, and I am very much aware he has me in his sights.~

The men outside of barrack two broke rank and began to make their way back inside.

"Hey Schultz." Hogan, regaining his composure, stopped the big burley guard. "Who fired first last night the SS or the patrol?"

Schultz frowned. "Nobody knows for sure, things happened so quickly."

Carter joined in the conversation, "Did they catch the underground unit they were chasing?

"That is what is so sad, they weren't even sure they came this way. They lost them in the swampy area of the woods and decided to divide their search efforts. They thought the dogs had just picked up their trail when they started firing on each other."

"Well, we're glad you weren't shot big fella." Newkirk remarked. "We'd need a hoist to get you outta there," Newkirk laughed while patting Schultz on the belly.

Schultz skewed his face and turned to follow the Kommandant.

Hogan's men gathered around him. "It looks like your gamble paid off, Colonel." Kinch affirmed.

The Colonel nodded, "Yeah, we got lucky. Come on, Newkirk, let's get you back inside and off that leg."

LeBeau looked at Hogan's injured jaw. "Colonel…" LeBeau hesitated unsure how to broach Hogan's encounter with Hochstetter.

"Yeah, LeBeau."

"Did Hochstetter… "

Hogan bristled at the mention of Hochstetter's name.

"… say anything about the factory we sabotaged?" LeBeau really wanted to ask what instigated Hochstetter to strike out but seeing the Colonel's apprehension decided now was not the time to ask.

"Only that the underground had sabotaged it."

There was a moment of silence and then Carter asked what everyone wanted to know.

"What made him hit you, Colonel?"

Hogan's jaw clinched.

"We…a….had a disagreement on who would still be alive when Patton's troops came through the gates," Hogan finally admitted.

"We take it that he didn't like your answer." Newkirk smiled, lightening the mood.

"You could say that." Hogan returned the smile and ended the discussion. "Ok, let's get a little more sleep. Newkirk, you're welcome to use my bottom bunk. It might be easier than trying to climb up into yours."

Carter stepped forward. "Or I'll swap you bunks, Newkirk, until your leg heals."

"Thanks, Carter, I'll take you up on that. No offense, sir, but your tossing and turning all night makes it hard to sleep."

"You ought to try it from my end." Hogan laughed and turned to go to his room.

"Night fellas," he called as his door closed.

"Night, sir." They answered.

LeBeau turned and looked at Newkirk. "So the Colonel was restless last night?"

"Louis, if he sleeps like that every night, I don't know how he gets any rest at all." Newkirk sighed, stretching his injured leg out on Carter's bunk.

"Well, it's no wonder. We may have side stepped this run in, but there is still the Strasser thing," Carter reminded everyone as he plopped into the top bunk.

"Get to sleep you guys. We have another roll call in an hour and half." Kinch said, finalizing the jabbering. "And who knows what today may bring."

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"Eight a.m.! Why do we have to meet this early in the morning?" Klink grumbled. "After the night I had last night and the roll calls every two hours, I haven't had more than four hours sleep."

Juggling the arm full of files, Klink knocked on Knefler's door and as the door opened, attempted to salute.

"Heil Hitler. I have brought the documents you wanted to see."

"Aaaah, Colonel Klink, come in. Let me help you with those."

Knefler took the files and briefly looked them over as he laid them on the desk. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"Danke, Colonel," Klink said, "Coffee would be nice." Klink began unbuttoning his coat.

"I'm sorry to have called you so late last night. I had just finished dinner and decided to drive back to Berlin, when I thought this morning would be a good time for us to meet."

"Oh, don't worry about the late night call, I was awake anyway."

Knefler took Klink's coat, hung it by the door and then proceeded to pour a cup of coffee.

"These are the records of the men closest to Colonel Hogan?" Knefler asked, while handing Klink his coffee.

"Colonel Hogan is friendly with all the men in camp, but these men are the ones he has chosen as his 'aides' and Sergeant Kinchloe is his second in command."

Nodding his head, Knefler asked, "Colonel Klink, have you wondered why Berlin is devoting so much time and man power to this matter?"

"Well, frankly, I have been curious. It seems these things are usually dealt with quickly and….shall we say, permanently."

"You're absolutely right, Colonel. In fact, Herr Strasser's contacts have already been dealt with. But we have a special interest in Major Strasser. He has been a prototype for a long-range program. It is important to know if there is a flaw in that program. Tell me how has Colonel Hogan adapted to prison life?"

Knefler changed the subject abruptly intending to catch his subject off-guard. It was a tactic he employed to acquire spontaneous answers to his questions.

Setting his coffee down, Klink looked thoughtfully at Knefler. "He has calmed down considerably since his first angry months in camp. Once he learned that escape was impossible, he resigned himself to prison life and began to adapt. Oh, he still has his moments, but time spent in the 'cooler' soon puts a stop to his resistance and brings him back in line."

Without missing a beat, Knefler immediately responded. "I understand Major Hochstetter encountered some 'resistance' in him last night."

Almost choking on his coffee Klink dabbed at his mouth with his napkin while attempting to hide his surprise.

"News travels fast!" Klink looked at Knefler appreciatively and then continued."Yes…well...Major Hochstetter seems to bring that out in people. And Colonel Hogan can be a little too verbal at times." Klink finished in exasperation.

"I see. Kind of a 'battle of wills' would you say?" Knefler smiled, disarmingly.

"More like 'will' against 'power'. Colonel Hogan can be outspoken at times. Last night was an example. He verbally responded to what Major Hochstetter dished out and paid the price. I have repeatedly punished him for his insolence over the past 16 months but…"

Knefler nodded, "That fits. From what I have read about Colonel Hogan, even at Dulag, he was free with his opinions."

"I'm just glad Major Hochstetter had other things on his mind last night or Colonel Hogan may have felt the extent of Hochstetter's power sooner rather than later." Klink's voice trailed off.

Knefler noticed the far away look in Klink's eyes. "Does that disturb you, Colonel?"

"Hum, what?" Alarmed at being caught with his guard down, Klink quickly responded. "No, no, not at all. Except in the sense that it would disrupt my camp. Colonel Hogan has kept his men in line with few exceptions. I would not want to break-in another senior POW."

"Of course." Knefler wondered if that was the only reason. "I will see you in a few days, Kommandant. At that time, I will be bringing six interrogators with me. You will remain in command of the camp under my orders."

"You will interrogate at Stalag 13?" Klink was surprised. This was a different approach.

"Yes, Colonel, is there a problem?"

"No, but that might cause a stir among the prisoners. As I said, Colonel Hogan and his men are well liked by most of the prisoners."

Knefler leaned forward.

"Don't worry Kommandant, I will have enough SS to squelch any uprising that may occur. I want to keep the camp off balance, out of the routine, that is when we learn the most."

Knefler stood and walked across the room. "Well, Colonel Klink, you are a busy man. I won't keep you. Your record at Stalag 13 is impressive, and I know you want to get back."

Picking up Klink's coat he held it open for him.

"Danke, Colonel Knefler." Klink slipped the coat on and headed for the door. He was ready to put some distance between himself and Colonel Knefler. He couldn't help feeling he had just been placed under a microscope.

Closing the door, Knefler thought over what Klink had told him. ~Well, it seems you have an adversary, Colonel Hogan. I think we can make use of that! ~

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Major Hans Strasser, looked out over the streets of Berlin and took another sip of morning tea, while listening to his clock chime the hour.

~ Ten a.m., he thought. And then looking at the cup in his hands, he began to worry, ~Tea is a bad habit to have in Germany.

He knew his freedom was guarded. The SD was investigating his story. He also knew his German contacts had already been executed, as a result of false information they passed on to Berlin. And now, he was under suspicion, as well as the man he accused of being the conspirator. ~ You may be clever, Colonel Hogan, but you'll not outfox the Sicherheitsdienst. Colonel Knefler is under the direct Command of Kaltenbrunner, Chief of SS Intelligence. ~

Chief of SS Intelligence, Ernst Kaltenbrunner, had only been in his position since June, following the assassination of the former Chief of SS Intelligence, General Reinhard Heydrich, but was already the right hand man of Reichsfuehrer Heinrich Himmler, the founder of the SS and the second most powerful man in Germany.

A sudden knock on the door caused Strasser to jump. He had been on edge, since he heard of the deaths of his contacts. He felt like a man perched on the lip of a gallows waiting for that final push. Even if he was exonerated by proving Colonel Hogan's guilt, he was not sure he would escape execution.

Reaching for the door handle, he paused, "Yes?" he questioned.

"This is Colonel Knefler of the SD, open the door."

Opening the door, Strasser came face to face with Knefler, the man who held his life in his hands. The SD Colonel looked younger than Strasser had imagined, with a muscular build, strong blue eyes, and a not unpleasant smile.

"Colonel." Major Strasser acknowledged as he saluted. "Heil Hitler".

The Colonel casually looked around the apartment as he returned Strasser's salute. "Major. I hope I am not interrupting anything."

"No, sir, please come in." Strasser gestured to a chair and asked, "May I get you something to drink, perhaps some coffee.

"Knefler looked at the odiferous tea sitting on the table in front of him. "Tea will be fine, thank-you."

Strasser blushed, embarrassed to have been caught imbibing in this British "weakness".

"Major, I have just come from Dulag luft, where I have been going over the rather extensive records of the American Colonel, whom you have accused of plotting to keep you a prisoner. I have read your statement of the event and now I would like to hear it from you."

Strasser finished pouring the tea and taking a seat across from the Colonel, handed him his tea.

"I doubt I can tell you any additional information. My previoius statement was quite complete."

"As I said, Major, I would like to hear it from you, personally." Knefler said, unwaveringly.

Strasser, uncomfortable with the firmness of the statement, cleared his throat and began.

Colonel Knefler watched Strasser's demeanor and listened to the inflection in his voice as he told his story.

Strasser knew he was being studied. It made him uncomfortable. When he had finished, Knefler began talking about trivial things, the weather, the cost of food, how Berlin compared to London, until finally he stood.

"Herr Strasser, it was good to meet you. I will be going to Stalag 13 to interview Colonel Hogan. I will send for you, when I am ready. Until then, relax, you are free to move about Berlin at your will.

"Danke, Herr Oberst." Strasser saluted.

Knefler approached the door and turning back returned the salute and added, "Of course, we will be keeping our eye on you. Auf Wiedersehen."

And the door closed.

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Colonel Knefler returned to his staff car and took out his note pad. ~ Strasser shows little passion. Even when describing the events of his capture and incarceration his face remained expressionless. He has had good training or is it programming? Outward emotions are exceptionally controlled. Visual outward signs of anxiety not readily apparent but heart rate quickened with sudden stress, evident in the carotid artery in his neck. Examples – embarrassment and surprise. Other involuntary autonomic reflexes not obtained. ~

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The underground leaders had been called together to discuss the information London had provided. Dirk was trying to comprehend all that had been told to them.

"Ok, lets see if we've got this straight, Armin. Hans Strasser, alias Captain Martin, was his fathers 'guinea pig' for his mind control studies?"

"That's right, Dirk. And the information, having been shared with the Nazi Party by Heinrick Strasser's close friend and colleague, was used to turn Hans Strasser into an agent for Germany."

"Who pulled the strings on this 'marionette'?" Dirk, wanted to know.

Armin pointed at the stack of information laying on the table in front of them, "London intelligence has evidence that it became a joint effort. Nazi Germany sent one of their own scientist to Heinrick and together they turned Hans into the man we know today."

"Does Papa Bear know?" Dirk asked.

Lutz, who had been standing off to the side, watching as Armin explained the information sent from London to the various underground leaders, approached the group.

"He does now. We sent word in 'Heidi's' dog collar two day ago. We're waiting for a response."