Rastenburg, East Prussia, Farm of Tadeauz Malewicz
July 20, 1944, 1300 hours
Vladimir was walking to the barn when he saw a car had stopped along the road and a man was bounding hurriedly across the field. As the man drew nearer, he noticed that it was General Stauffen, and he looked to be in an excited state.
"We must talk," Stauffen said breathlessly as he came alongside Vladimir. "In the barn, out of sight."
Vladimir followed Stauffen to the barn and closed the door behind them. Stauffen had stopped in the middle of the barn and Vladimir walked around in front of him to lean on a small pile of hay bales. "What do we need to talk about?" he asked.
"It is done," Stauffen said excitedly. "Hitler is dead."
"Are you sure?" Vladimir asked in disbelief.
Stauffen nodded. "I am sure," he replied. "I set the bomb near him myself, and he did not have a chance to move before it exploded."
"You saw his body?" Vladimir asked again. If the news was true, it was a great relief and The Center would want to know. But if it wasn't true, he didn't want to send an incorrect report to Moscow.
Stauffen shook his head. "No, but the explosion was so great that the whole room must have been destroyed," he replied. "He could not have survived."
"But you are not positive," Vladimir said.
"I am as positive as I can be," Stauffen said. "I am on my way to Berlin to put Valkyrie into action. By tonight, Germany will have new leadership!"
"I must report this to my friends," Vladimir said. "Who will be in charge of the country?"
"They will know," Stauffen said. "We will make the announcement tonight. The Allies will know who they will be dealing with then."
"Will it be you?" Vladimir asked.
Stauffen shook his head. "I am in charge of the Home Guard," he replied. "I will be busy rounding up the remnants of the current corrupt government."
Vladimir thought about the news. From their conversations before, he knew that Stauffen and his people wished to end the war as quickly as possible. They seemed to be under the impression that if Germany asked for peace, the Allies would be happy to give it to them, and also to allow them to keep the territory they had already conquered. Vladimir knew that it was an idea that the Allies would never accept.
"I said I would tell you when it has occurred, and I have done so," Stauffen said, bringing Vladimir up from his thoughts. "You can tell your friends that there is about to be a new Germany – a Germany that can take its rightful place among the great countries of the world."
Vladimir doubted that and was about to say so when the door to the barn burst open. He froze as he saw an SS Major standing in the doorway.
At the sound of the door crashing open, Stauffen whirled around, his hand on the butt of his holstered pistol.
"Do not move or you will die!" the Major ordered. "General Stauffen, please throw your weapon to the ground." Stauffen hesitated. "Now!" the Major screamed, raising his own pistol to fire. Stauffen carefully withdrew his pistol and tossed it on the ground.
"Your plan did not work, General Stauffen," the Major said.
"Who are you?" Stauffen asked. "And what are you talking about?"
"I am Major Gerstein, SS Security" Gerstein replied. "I have just come from the Wolfsschanze where your explosive device has done a great deal of damage."
"My explosive device?" Stauffen bluffed. "I think you are mistaken."
"No, Herr General, it is you that was mistaken," Gerstein replied. "Your plot has failed. The Führer lives."
"That cannot be!" Stauffen exclaimed. "I placed the briefcase …" He stopped, suddenly aware of what he had just admitted.
Gerstein smiled. "A confession," he said calmly. "Very convenient. I could shoot you now … both of you … because of what you just said."
Vladimir had remained silent. He was scared – more scared than he ever had been in his life. Major Gerstein had them and he didn't see any way out. He knew that Tadeauz was due back from town soon, and Vladimir hoped he wouldn't return to find two dead bodies in the barn.
"But you are lucky today, General Stauffen," Gerstein said. "I will not shoot you now."
Stauffen studied the Major closely. "You are letting us go?" he asked.
Gerstein laughed. "On the contrary," he said. "You will be held until I can round up the rest of your conspirator friends." He removed a folded piece of paper from his pocket. "I have a list of names here – all of them are as dead as you. And you will all be killed together."
"But," Stauffen said, and fell silent.
"But you are innocent?" Gerstein said mockingly. "You have already admitted your guilt."
Vladimir had been watching Gerstein. The Major had relaxed noticeably once Stauffen had tossed away his weapon. He now held his pistol casually at his side. Without moving his head, Vladimir searched for Stauffen's pistol. It had landed about a meter away from Vladimir. He did some quick thinking … was it close enough?
"I still do not believe you," Stauffen said. "The Führer must be dead. Nobody could survive the blast."
Gerstein shook his head. "I saw him with my own eyes," he replied. "He is alive … and he will have the pleasure of seeing you executed."
Vladimir saw his chance. Gerstein was fully engaged with Stauffen and was not paying him a bit of attention. As quickly as he could, he dove towards Stauffen's pistol. After grabbing it, he continued to roll.
Gerstein saw the movement and reacted quickly. He raised his pistol and fired at the ground where Vladimir landed. The bullet hit the ground in the exact spot where Vladimir had been a split second earlier.
Before Gerstein could adjust his aim and fire again, Vladimir stopped rolling. From his belly with his arms extended in front of him, he fired three quick shots from the Luger. He saw Gerstein jerk violently as each bullet hit home. After the third shot, Gerstein fell – blood oozing from three holes in his chest.
Vladimir got up carefully, keeping the gun aimed at the lifeless body of the SS Major. Stauffen had not moved, his face frozen in a mask of shock. Vladimir walked slowly towards the body, bending down to roll it onto its back. Gerstein stared back at Vladimir with vacant eyes – Vladimir knew at once he was dead.
"You killed him," Stauffen said.
"You are very perceptive," Vladimir replied sarcastically. "Maybe you do know what a dead person looks like after all."