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 10

A burst of air threatened to blow the cards off the table as Schultz entered barrack two. "Where is Colonel Hogan? The big shot wants to see him."

Kinch, Newkirk, LeBeau, and Carter grabbed at the fluttering cards.

"Close the door, Schultz." Kinch called out.

Schultz looked questioningly at the contorted bodies sprawled across the table, "What are you doing?"

LeBeau scowled. "We were trying to have a game of cards until you walked in."

"The gov'nor's laying down Schultzie, I wouldn't go in there if I were you. He doesn't like to be bothered when he's resting." Newkirk rearranged the cards in his hand and asked, "Whose turn is it?"

"If it were up to me I would let him sleep." Schultz answered, while reaching over LeBeau's shoulder pointing at the card he thought he should play.

Annoyed, LeBeau put his cards down and jumped to his feet. "I will get him."

Plodding across the room, LeBeau opened Hogan's door and softly called, "Colonel…Colonel Hogan."

"Yeah…hmm…LeBeau?"

"Oui, Colonel. Schultz says Kommandant Klink wants to talk to you."

"Ok, tell Schultz I'll be right with him." Hogan stretched and rolled out of his bunk. Finger combing his hair, he threw on his cap and headed out the door. ~ This better be good. ~

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"This is Sparrow. - Go ahead Momma Bear."

"Tell Papa Bear – Double wrapped package needs to be mailed back – It contains information needed to clean house. - Over."

"Papa bear is occupied and can't get to post office. - Package is on hold. - Over"

"Then maybe you should send package to dead letter office. – Over"

"Sorry Mama Bear, stamp has already been cancelled, must post at a later date. Sparrow – Over and Out"

"Did you just 'hang up' on London?" Erika asked.

Lutz smiled.

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"You wanted to see me, Kommandant?" Hogan asked, as he stepped around his escort, Sergeant Schultz.

"Yes, Colonel Hogan, sit down." Klink ordered as he stood to walk around his desk.

Hogan looked at the chair that had been placed in front of Klink's desk prior to his arrival. This front and center seat had never been a sign of good things to come.

"Is there something I can do for you, Kommandant?"

"Yes, sit down."

Hogan studied Klink's face as he took his seat.

"Colonel Hogan, you've been with us for over a year and in that time we've forged a good working relationship. Oh, we've had our disagreements, but all in all it's not been bad." Klink paced behind Hogan, rubbing his chin.

"If you mean we've worked together for the welfare of my men, I would agree with that." Hogan gave a quick questioning look over his shoulder at Klink.

"Colonel Klink, what are you trying not to say?"

"We've, shall I say, helped each other through some hard times to our mutual benefit," Klink stammered.

Hogan looked down at his hands as if disinterested. "You're trying to tell me something right?

The Kommandant continued to pace back and forth.

"Look, Kommandant, just come out and say it."

"Colonel Hogan there is going to be an investigation. They are sending interrogators to talk to you and your men. Strasser has made some serious accusations. Now you and I both know that what Major Strasser is saying is not true. It isn't true…is it?"

"Of course not…what is he saying?" Hogan asked, attempting to validate what he already knew.

"You've been accused of making Strasser believe that you were one of his contacts here in Germany, that you acquired information from him, and of somehow giving wrong information to his contacts in return." The words poured out as Klink stared at Hogan's back.

Hogan turned around in his chair to look the Kommandant in the eyes. "You're kidding? Right?"

"No! Why do you always think I'm kidding? Colonel Hogan, these are serious charges. You and your men could be shot just from the accusation. But for some unknown reason, they are taking this a step further, which is strange in itself. Frankly, Colonel Hogan, I'm a little confused about this whole thing. I was hoping you would have some answers for me."

"Kommandant I couldn't even get close to him. How would I pull something like that off?

"I don't knooow." Klink groaned and went back to his chair behind the desk and plopped down.

"All I know is Colonel Knefler is coming here to investigate. And I don't have to tell you that isn't good news!"

"It sounds like a cover up to me Kommandant. Who has the most to gain from this story? The boy's in Berlin are looking for a 'fall' guy and you're it."

"Yes." Klink looked up with resignation written on his face. "That's what they're doing, but how are we going to stop this."

"We?" Hogan exclaimed. "You kept him here, at the 'grand hotel'."

"You're in this just as deep as I am, Colonel Hogan." Klink was shaking his finger at Hogan. "It was your name Strasser gave the SD. He is accusing you of discrediting his story to me and then tricking information out of him."

"I see what you mean." Now it was Hogan's turn to stroke his chin in thought. "They can't prove that!"

"Oh that won't stop them." Klink whined.

"I'll bet he wasn't able to get the information Berlin wanted, so he concocted this whole story to make himself appear above suspicion. He must have had an accomplice meet his contacts and give them the phony information, knowing that being locked in a POW camp would give him the alibi he needed to look innocent. The Allied Offensive would be over by the time he was found, and he's blaming me of passing the information so they won't look for his accomplice."

Klink looked hopeful, "Yes, of course. That would make sense. Colonel Hogan, you have been most enlightening."

"Thank-you, Kommandant. Well if that's all, I'll go back and give my men the news."

"Yes, Hogan, you're dismissed."

Hogan stood and gave what he customarily passed off as a salute and marched out the door. Pausing on the porch, he dropped the care-free charade and let out a worried sigh.

~Well, Klink knows his story. Now all we have to do is sell it. ~

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" Yes, Herr General."

Knefler was on the phone with his Commanding officer, General Kaltenbrunner, Chief of SS Intelligence and had just finished filling him in on his plans thus far.

"You have done an excellent job, Colonel Knefler. I approve of your selection of interrogators and the use of the Gestapo Major. Strasser's accusations and our preexisting project have come together very well. After the American Colonel has passed through the first two phases you have orchestrated for him, he should be physically exhausted. I will meet you for phase three and we'll go over the final arrangements."

"Yawohl, Herr General. I am ready to learn more about this American Colonel. Are others being studied?"

"There were others. Colonel Hogan is one of the few left. We'll see if he remains intact. How is Strasser?

"He is nervous. I have opted to allow him freedom to move around Berlin. It seemed appropriate considering all he has contributed to the Father Land."

"Keep an eye on him, Colonel. His stability is in question. Remember, it was his father who contributed, he is just the vessel and vessels are only good until they break."

"I have him under twenty-four hour surveillance, he can not make a move without us knowing about it."

"Very well, but don't loose him. He still has contributions to make. In the mean time, I will gather the panel, and they can begin their preparations. Keep up the good work, Colonel Knefler. Heil Hitler."

"Danke, Herr General. Heil Hitler." Knefler put the phone back on its cradle. He had done his homework. Everything was in order. Now, it was up to the players he had chosen to extract the truth in the time allotted.

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Dark clouds were rolling across the sky over the streets of Berlin. Hans Strasser watched them tumble over each other in their fury to block out the sun.

~ What a depressing day, or is it just me who's depressed? ~

Pulling his hat down in front he effectively blocked out the wind and the clouds as he made his way to his favorite little eatery around the corner. He was an established customer and was treated with friendly recognition as he entered.

"Ah, guten tag, Herr Strasser," the proprietor called as he took Strasser's coat. "Your favorite table is waiting," he added as he led him to a quiet corner in the back of the room.

At the front of the restaurant another man entered and after a brief exchange with the waitress was ushered to a table near the front.

"Herr Strasser, you are looking handsome today." The waitress Greta, called as she hurried to the back of the restaurant and placed a menu in front of him. They talked and flirted playfully as he placed his order and he was soon feeling much less depressed.

The restaurant was always crowded this time of day and he watched Greta, as she floated around the restaurant taking care of the other customers,until at last she returned with his plate of food.

"Umm, Herr Strasser, you made a good choice today," she said smiling, as the aroma from the food drifted past them. "I'll be back to check on you a little later," she cooed, returning to her work.

Strasser laid his napkin in his lap and reaching for his tableware, noticed the corner of a note sticking out from under his plate. Pulling it out slowly, he opened it and read, "I get off at 10 pm, if you would like to go for a drink."

He folded the paper and smiling put it in his pocket. Greta was a nice "diversion". He did not want to drag Fraulein Wesson, the woman he loved, into this mess, but he was lonely, lonelier than he could ever remember being. A little bit of female company would be appreciated.

The man sitting at the front of the restaurant did not miss the reading and pocketing of the note. Taking a small notebook from his pocket, he made an entry.

Hans Strasser finished his meal and, as was his habit, went to the "men's room", before leaving. The proprietor, seeing the parting ritual begin, went to the coat rack and picked up Strasser's hat and coat. Returning to the front of the restaurant, he waited next to the cash register, talking with the cashier.

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The Major stood at the sink washing his hands thinking about his soon to be meeting with Greta, when he felt a gun being pressed into his back followed immediately by a gag going over his mouth, and as fast as his clothes were being removed another man was putting them on.

The imposter left the men's room, and was helped on with his coat by the waiting proprietor. The new "Strasser" stepped to the register paid his bill, and then pulling his collar up and his hat down opened the door to the cold wind about to accost him. Auf Wiedersehen, Herr Strasser, the proprietor called after him.

The man who had been sitting at the front table was having a discussion with his waitress. "Nein, I do not care for anything more. Give me my bill, bitte. The waitress finished adding the charges and handed it to the man, who took it to the cashier. Looking around, he asked, "Where is the other waitress, who worked the back of the room.

"Greta went off duty, is there something I can do for you," the cashier asked.

"Nein, danke," he hurriedly replied and rushed out the door.

The proprietor walked over and casually hung an "Out of Order" sign on the men's room door.

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Erika had quickly made her way out the back door of the restaurant, when Strasser stood to leave. Her part of the operation, and her role as Greta, was finished. Papa Bears plan was underway. She hoped the owner of the restaurant would me able to convince the Gestapo that he had hired, what he thought, was a good German girl, and that he had no idea she was part of the underground. He undoubtedly would be taken in for questioning. The fact that he had been in business for 20 years, and was a favorite of many German officers, may give him the benefit of the doubt that he would need to survive. They will of course be watching him very closely. We'll have to break contact with him for a while, maybe forever. ~ There are many heroes, fighting this war which the world will never get the chance to know. They will simply do what needs to be done and fade into obscurity. ~

Erika held her arms close to her body and pulling her coat tight around her neck, tried to keep the wind out, as she disappeared into the city.