Hammelburg, Gestapo Headquarters, Office of Major Wolfgang Hochstetter
June 20, 1944, 1615 hours

Captain August Dorfmann handed the reports to Hochstetter as the Major sat behind his desk. He dreaded Hochstetter's reaction to the news – it would be the same reaction it had been for the past three days. The news was the same. Underground sabotage activity was on the increase and no there was clue as to who was responsible. Actually, it was Hochstetter who had no clue as to who was responsible for the sabotage … Dorfmann had a very good idea.

It had been almost three months ago when Dorfmann had stumbled upon a meeting of the Underground in the area. He had been shocked to discover that the meeting was being held at the farm of Friedrich Wagner, the father of Ilse Wagner, who he had fallen in love with. Even before this discovery, he had had suspicions that Ilse's brothers, Hans and Karl, were responsible for some of the sabotage activity in the area, but discovering the meeting being held at their farm was proof positive.

At first, he believed that Ilse had been simply using him to discover information on the Gestapo investigation of all of the activities, but after a couple weeks of not seeing her, he had begun to reconsider that thought.

After handing the reports to Hochstetter, Dorfmann turned to leave.

"Captain, wait here," Hochstetter ordered.

Dorfmann cringed before turning back to face the Major. He knew what would be coming. Hochstetter would read the reports, complain that nothing was being done to find those responsible and then begin yelling and screaming like a spoiled school child. "Is there anything else, Major?" he asked as politely as he could.

Hochstetter was reading the first report. "Have you discovered anything new on the destruction of the rail bridge?" he asked.

"Nein, Major," Dorfmann replied. "It is still destroyed, and the wrecked railroad cars will still not tell us what they know." Dorfmann was being facetious, which he knew was a mistake with Major Hochstetter, but he was getting tired of the same questions every day.

Hochstetter looked up from the papers. "Captain, I do not like that attitude," he warned.

And I don't like your stupidity, Major! Your idea of an investigation is to round up everyone in town and torture them until they confess to anything you suggest. Dorfmann remained silent.

"Have you interrogated anyone else today?" Hochstetter asked.

Dorfmann nodded wearily. "Ja, Major," he replied. "We talked to several people, and none of them knew anything about the rail bridge, or the mined roads, or the other three bridges over the Düsseldorf River."

"Bah, you do not try hard enough!" Hochstetter screamed. "You should have found out something by now! We know it is Papa Bear who is responsible for all of this. We should be able to discover just who he is?"

"We did get some information, Major," Dorfmann said. "But it wasn't anything connected to the recent sabotage activity."

"Captain, do I need to remind you that Berlin wants results?" Hochstetter asked, rising from his chair to stand in front of Dorfmann.

"Nein, Major," Dorfmann replied. "I am quite aware of what Berlin wants."

"If that is the case, then you had better try harder," Hochstetter growled.

"Am I to arrest people for the sabotage even if they are not guilty?" Dorfmann asked. He tried hard to keep the sarcasm from his voice, but as soon as the words were out, he knew he was not successful.

"Everybody is guilty of something!" Hochstetter screamed.

Dorfmann's patience had finally run thin. He didn't like Hochstetter. He didn't like the way men like Hochstetter operated. And he no longer liked the Gestapo, mainly because it was run by men like Hochstetter. "And just what are you guilty of, Major?" he asked coldly.

Hochstetter's eyes widened when he heard the question. With sudden viciousness, Hochstetter lashed out and struck Dorfmann hard in the face. "I can have you shot for that comment," Hochstetter said menacingly.

Dorfmann's head twisted around at the force of Hochstetter's blow. He tasted blood and he reached up to wipe his mouth. His fingers came away with red streaks from the cut on his lip. He turned around and faced the Major, looking down upon him with a look of contempt. Hochstetter was a short man, and not only did Dorfmann have at least twenty centimeters height advantage, he outweighed him by at least a dozen kilos. He balled his fists by his side. "Ja, you can have me shot, Major Hochstetter," he said calmly. He was surprised that he was able to control his anger. "But it would not be because I am not doing my duty."

Hochstetter stared back at Dorfmann for a long moment and then broke eye contact and began pacing the room. "Captain, you and I do not always agree on the best methods of performing our duties," he said.

"Major, we have never agreed on that," Dorfmann admitted.

Hochstetter stopped to glare at Dorfmann. "You are correct, Captain," he replied. "And I am starting to wonder if we even agree on what the duties are."

Dorfmann returned Hochstetter's glare. "My duty is to the Fatherland," he replied. "And to punish those who seek to bring it to ruin." He did not add that he thought it was men like Hochstetter who were bringing his beloved Fatherland to the brink of ruin.

Hochstetter nodded slightly. "I am glad to hear you say that, Captain," he replied. "Maybe we are working towards the same goal … and maybe now you will try harder to find those responsible for the recent sabotage. They must be executed for their actions."

"And if we execute the wrong people, Major?" Dorfmann asked. "The sabotage will continue."

Hochstetter smiled. There was no warmth in the smile – only evil … pure unadulterated evil. "Then we will find more people to execute."

"When will it end, Major?" Dorfmann asked.

"It will end when we rid the country of the traitors who wish to bring the glorious Third Reich to ruin!" Hochstetter said forcefully.

Or it will end when you run out of people to murder. Dorfmann dared not mention that thought to Hochstetter. Instead, he simply asked, "Is that all?"

Hochstetter nodded. "Ja, ja, return to you duties," he said dismissively.

- - - - -

When Dorfmann closed the door to Hochstetter's office, he leaned against the wall. More than ever, he wanted to leave this assignment. He knew that his options were limited. He could, of course, do something drastic, like kill the Major. That would earn him an appointment with a firing squad. I suppose that's one way out of this mess, he thought. But killing someone in cold blood was not in his nature, even if the person was someone like Major Hochstetter.

No, his options were very limited. He could request a transfer, but he knew that would most likely mean a combat assignment. He had no desire to become a target in the sight of a Russian soldier. If he were lucky enough to be reassigned to another Gestapo office in Germany, he was sure that he would be working for a man just as bad as Hochstetter … if not worse. Is it possible to find someone worse than Hochstetter?

He pushed himself away from the wall and walked towards his office. He knew that if he transferred away from Hammelburg, he would not see Ilse again. Would she care? Maybe she would simply become friendly with my replacement and use him as she had been using me. He shook his head. No, she has not been using me. I refuse to believe that. It is true that she and her brothers are involved in the local Underground, but when we are together, I can tell that her feelings are genuine.

He entered his office and dropped down hard in his chair. Maybe I can move to another city and take her with me. That thought, regardless of its improbability, cheered him slightly. But as quickly as it had come, the good feeling disappeared. But if I am replaced here, what if it is someone who thinks like Hochstetter? If he found any evidence that Ilse's brothers are responsible for the sabotage, he wouldn't hesitate to arrest them.

Dorfmann put his head on his desk. I hate this! It seems that no matter what I decide, the outcome will be unpleasant for somebody. After a moment, he straightened up. He knew he really didn't have any choices. He would simply have to keep doing his job … but he vowed that if it were within his power, he would make sure that no harm came to Ilse and her family. And just how the hell I am going to do that is something I don't know.