Stalag 13, Office of the Kommandant
July 27, 1944, 1315 hours

Colonel Klink heard the door to his office open and felt a presence as someone walked in. Without looking up from his paperwork, he said, "Hogan, whatever it is, it will have to wait. I am much too busy. Dismissed!"

"Colonel, I came here to complain about your cooks," Hogan said.

Klink put down his pencil and looked up at the American officer. "And what did they do this time, Hogan – forget the after-dinner mints?" he asked.

Hogan laughed. "Good one, Kommandant," he said lightly. "You know, if you keep trying, you might even be funny some day."

"Hogan, I do not have time for this," Klink said impatiently. "What exactly is your complaint against my cooks?"

"Can't you smell it?" Hogan asked. "It's hard to miss."

"For your information, Colonel, my cooks are not responsible for that terrible odor," Klink replied. "You can blame your Underground for that."

"My Underground?" Hogan asked. "When did they become my Underground?"

Klink waved dismissively. "They are fighting for your side," he said.

"What, have they started using a secret stink bomb or something?" Hogan asked.

"The other night they blew up a train," Klink said.

"That's hardly earth shattering news around here, Kommandant," Hogan replied. "It seems to be open season on trains in this area."

"As Major Hochstetter has repeatedly reminded me," Klink muttered.

Hogan laughed. "Yeah, you can't pull much over on old Hochstetter," he said.

"Hogan, can I get back to my work now?" Klink asked.

"But blowing up a train doesn't explain the horrible smell," Hogan said.

"It wasn't the train, it was what the train was carrying," Klink replied. "Twelve hundred barrels of sauerkraut."

Hogan stared at the German. "Excuse me, did you say sauerkraut?" he asked, not believing what he had heard.

"Yes, sauerkraut!" Klink replied.

"Why would they …" Hogan started.

"I do not know, Hogan," Klink interrupted. "But Major Hochstetter will find those responsible!"

"He likes sauerkraut that much?" Hogan asked lightly.

Klink glared at Hogan. "If you have a problem with the smell, write a letter to the Red Cross!" he exclaimed. "Now get out of here and let me get back to work!"

- - - - -

Hogan was angry as he left Klink's office. The malodorous aroma that wafted over the entire camp had put him in a bad mood, and now he finds out that it was caused by the destruction of a train carrying sauerkraut. He wouldn't have to ask Erich who would have done such a thing … he knew immediately. He slammed the door as he entered the barracks, causing the men to jump.

"Did you find out what was causing the smell, mon Colonel?" LeBeau asked.

"Yeah, sauerkraut," Hogan huffed as he headed to the stove to pour a cup of coffee.

"The camp cooks have never been this bad," Carter observed.

"It isn't the cooks," Hogan said. "A train carrying over a thousand barrels of sauerkraut was blown up on the rail line outside of town the other night."

"That's bleedin' crazy!" Newkirk exclaimed. "Who would do a thing like that?"

"I'll give you three guesses … and the first two don't count," Hogan replied.

"You think Hans Wagner is responsible, Colonel?" Kinch asked.

"Who else?" Hogan replied. "Erich wouldn't have done that. He would have coordinated with us first. And besides, he knows a supply train from a munition train."

"What are you going to do about it?" Carter asked.

Hogan shrugged. "Nothing at the moment," he replied. "Kinch, are our visitors ready to go tonight? I have a feeling Hochstetter is going to be scurrying around after this. It will be risky to get them out tonight, but I have a feeling the next couple of days will be even more difficult."

Kinch nodded. "Marya and Wagner are set to rendezvous with their contact," he replied. "And the sub will be waiting for Teppel and Heidi tomorrow night – so they'd better move out tonight as well."

Hogan nodded. "Good, let's make sure they all make it home safely," he said. "I could use some good news for a change."