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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 9
Burkhalter had been called back to Berlin, from Stalag 4, which was his first stop after leaving Dulag. ~ I better call Klink after this meeting and let him know I've been delayed. I wonder what this is about. It must be important for General Kaltenbrunner Chief of SS intelligence, to call an impromptu meeting. ~
General Burkhalter arrived at the meeting, with little time to spare.
"General Burkhalter, I hope this hasn't been too big of an inconvenience for you. I know you were touring your Luft Stalags." Kaltenbrunner was saying, as he ushered Burkhalter into the room, "But I met with Reichsfehrer Himmler last night and we felt you should be brought into the circle.
General Burkhalter's interest was peaked at the mention of Reichsfehrer Himmler. "I must say you have my attention, General Kaltenbrunner."
"Good, I have a lot of information to give you and I'm going to ask that you not interrupt until I have finished."
Kaltenbrunner sat down behind his desk and motioned for Burkhalter to take a seat, and he began.
"What I am about to tell you is classified. Listen carefully. The Third Reich has been conducting experiments in mind control; some refer to it as 'brainwashing'. It is a process of involuntary re-education of basic beliefs and values. All citizens are being re-educated continually, just in the course of their daily living. New information can change one's thinking and values. Everybody has experienced, to some measure, the conflict that ensues when new information is not consistent with prior belief. The experience of the brainwashed individual differs in that the conflicting information is forced upon the person under controlled conditions after the prospect of critical judgment has been removed by a variety of methods.
Germany's study of brainwashing is not a new venture. In the late 19th Century, medical and psychiatric techniques involving 'mind control' were being done at the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute here in Germany. England was studying 'mind control' also, and in 1921, at the Tavistock Institute of Human Relations in London, they began a study of the 'breaking point' of humans. One of our German psychologist, Kurt Lewin, became the director of the institute, in 1932. This was at the same time we began increasing our research into neuropsychology, and parapsychology.
A few years earlier, Heinrick Strasser was performing advanced studies in this field here in Germany. Unfortunately, he was ahead of his time, and his colleagues did not support his methods. Heinrick decided to move his family to Britain, and changed his name to Henry Martin. While in London, he continued his studies in mind control, using his son Hans as his test subject. He shared his information with his friend, Dr. Ulrich Mahler, who brought the study to our attention. We, the Third Reich, recognizing the value of his work, sent Dr. Mahler to assist him and the results were astounding.
In Strasser's method a 'file', a pool of information, is created through trauma, repetition and reinforcement. In order to activate (start) the file, a specific access code or prompt is required from the programmer. In this scenario, the programmer is perceived as "master" and the victim as a "slave". The result of this experiment was that Hans Strasser now had two sides to his psyche that could be utilized as needed by the programmer. He was devoid of fear, with optimal adrenal output and controlled aggression on one side and a normally functioning individual on the other. In Hans Strasser's eyes, by utilizing a prompt, a red apple could be made to look spotted, a dog could become a cat, a total stranger could become a long lost brother, or a beloved brother an enemy.
So in theory, a test subject could be made to believe anything he was told, to the point of total response to suggestion, which was accomplished by disassociation and depersonalization of his mind, causing him to drop his values and beliefs, allowing new dogma to be put in its place. The inherent battle of good and evil, that we, as humans struggle with, was erased because there was no conflict, for the simple reason that there was nothing to compare the new doctrine too. This practice, we have traced back as far as ancient Egypt.
We now have a program in place using Strasser's methods on test subjects, beginning at an early age. Remember, Heinrick Strasser's technique had been performed during the formative years of childhood. That is a long time to wait for results. It is one thing to shape the mind of a child who is still developing his values and morals, and another to strip a man of established dogma and replace it with new. Our scientists have been studying methods to apply these concepts to adults and accomplish the same results in less time. Hundreds of tests have been performed on beta test subjects, in order to perfect a method to accomplish 'brain washing' in a shorter time frame.
A little over a year and half ago, we selected alpha test subjects for actual trials of the processes. These subjects were not used to perfect the method, but to trial the method after it was perfected. We wanted the methods that were trialed to be challenged by men, who had proven themselves to be strong willed individuals.
We started with twelve test subjects.
It was during the testing of these twelve that General Biedenbender dropped Colonel Hogan into our laps. His resistance to interrogation at Dulag caught the attention of the Luftwaffe High Command, who brought it to the attention of the Fuhrer. It was decided to see how an American's mind differed from the superior mind of a German. At this point, Colonel Hogan became test subject number thirteen. Our orders were to 'break' him. Obviously, we didn't, at least not completely.
There have been two additional methods perfected and trialed since Hogan's release from the hospital at Hohemark, bringing the total to three methods that have been trialed. Each of the three methods focused on 3 stages.
The first is basic interrogation, where the interrogator is viewed as having complete control over the prisoner, when and if the prisoner eats, sleeps, his personal hygiene etc. Level two is the "wearing down" stage, his beliefs are attacked, pain inflicted, inconsistent messages are given all to the point of exhaustion. The first two stages have been relatively consistent in all three of the previous methods.
It is the third stage, the drugged induced state that they are fumbling over. The brainwashed subject has to be confused and rational thinking impossible, so that he is open to suggestion and 'replacement" of his doctrine, a stronger dose of medication is needed. This is in contrast to the state of mind needed, when trying to 'gain' information from a prisoner. In that instance, they have to be able to think clearly enough, to give accurate information, but inhibitions must be lowered. This requires a lesser dosage or lower potency drug. This latter instance some refer to as a truth drug.
Disassociation through suffering, combined with drugs is producing some remarkable results. But the drug combination becomes a balancing act. Through trial and error, we believe we have a winning combination of injection and inhalation that, in the right amounts, will provide a short period of time where questions will be answered as when using a truth serum, and then progress to confusion and disassociation enabling placement of a 'file' accomplishing 'brain-washing'. This progression allows the acquisition of information, before it is replaced, thus killing two birds with one stone. This method, method number four also known as Monarch, is now ready for trial.
Unfortunately our test subjects have not always survived the trial. Some died during the drug induction stage. Others simply went insane. We have only four of the original thirteen alpha subjects remaining. Colonel Hogan is one of the four.
Now we add into this, Major Strasser, whose conditioning is now in question. Was it planned that he be taken to the same camp as Colonel Hogan or fate? Is the Major currently under the control of Germany or England? Is our alpha subject, Colonel Hogan, involved in espionage? Or is he a subterfuge to divert our attention? A sacrificial lamb offered to protect the truth. We hope to find these answers as we progress through the brainwashing sequence.
If Colonel Hogan is involved in espionage and we cannot brainwash him, he will be shot. On the other hand, if he is involved in espionage and succumbs to our brainwashing technique, he will be pardoned, become a member of the Party, and be displayed to the world as a man who realized the virtues of the Third Reich.
If Major Strasser is a spy for England, he will be turned over to science to determine where the breakdown in the programming occurred."
Burkhalter, trying to absorb everything he had just been told, sat stunned unable to speak. His mind was still digesting all that was said.
"I was told, that Colonel Hogan's testing at Hohemark was related to tests that dealt with Aviation related medicine, so that was not true?"
"That was true. It just wasn't all the testing he was participating in."
General Kaltenbrunner paused, took a drink, and then looked again at Burkhalter.
"As you know, Colonel Knefler has been gathering information. He has selected interrogators based on the personalities of the prisoners. We will interrogate six POW's at Stalag 13. One of those six we will take beyond interrogation. One we will 'break' once and for all, by order of the Fuhrer!"
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv vvv
"Come," Hogan responded to a knock on his door.
"Just wanted to let you know, Newkirk's leg is healing fine. No infection right now anyway. We'll keep on top of it and there shouldn't be any problems."
"Good. Thanks. I should have had you and Newkirk come in here. I wasn't thinking."
Stress was showing in Hogan's eyes and his voice lacked the usual forceful confidence.
Wilson picking up on the mood swing, went in, and closed the door. "Do you want to tell me about that little incident out there? You looked like you had seen a ghost."
Hogan took in a deep breath, ready to deny that anything had happened and dismiss the Sergeant, but his confusion changed his mind. His face changed from one of anger to puzzlement.
"I don't know. One minute I was fine, listening to your explanation, and the next minute, I'm…I don't know where, feeling out of control, anxious." ~That's a lie, I was panicked. ~
Hogan glanced down at the floor, not really seeing it. "There were images that I can't explain."
Wilson had walked over and sat on the bunk next to Hogan. "What kind of images?"
The medic could see the Colonel's jaw tighten, as he grit his teeth and forced the memories back into view. His eyes took on a far away look and were filled with confusion.
Hogan shook his head forcing the images to disappear, and rubbed his face. "It wasn't so much the pictures I was seeing, as the feelings that came with them."
Wilson took in a deep breath. ~Don't run from me, Colonel~
"Answer my question, Colonel. What did you see?
Hogan paused and swallowed, trying to keep his voice calm. "Needles going into my arm…" Hogan rubbed his forearm as he talked, "…hands attaching…things…to me, and voices echoing words I couldn't make out. I felt trapped."
"It sounds like something is trying to work its way back to your conscious mind. Something I said must have triggered a memory for you. That is not uncommon for people who have 'lost time'. Suppressed thoughts many times work their way back to the conscience mind."
Wilson tried to hide the shock he was feeling. He knew from his first meetings with the Colonel that there was a period of time, before his arrival at Stalag 13 that Hogan could not account for.
Hogan looked back at Wilson and, in a voice just above a whisper, said, "I don't have time for this right now."
"Colonel, I swore to myself, that when it came to your health, I was never going to give you advice again. But I'm going to try one more time. You and those men out there are about to go through hell, and you know it. Add to that roll call every two hours interrupting your sleep patterns, not to mention throwing in a mission from London here and there, and you're on your way to exhaustion. The best thing you can do right now is to build up your strength by getting some rest. It sounds like your going to need it."
Hogan ran his hand through his hair and nodded in agreement. "Ok, Wilson, I'll try to get some rest. Maybe that's all it is."
Wilson stood to give the Colonel room to lie down and walked to the door. "LeBeau would you get Colonel Hogan a glass of water."
"What is it with you and water, Wilson?" Hogan asked while stretching out on the lower bunk.
Wilson, laughing, took the water from LeBeau and looked at Hogan with a smile. "Here take this, it will help you rest. Don't argue."
Hogan hesitated, then took the offered pill and lay back with his arm over his eyes, trying not to think. Finally, he felt himself relaxing as the pill, Wilson forced on him, began to do its job and sleep finally came.
