Liesl was getting tired. She was hot and they had been walking for hours. It was obvious Fraulein Danzig had no idea where they were going. Fraulein Hoffman was huffing beside Fraulein Danzig trying to keep up and read the map at the same time.
"There is a road here. It must be here, it's on the map."
"It's on the map, but it is not here." An angry Fraulein Hoffman shouted. She stopped and stamped her foot. "Face it, Pauline, we are lost."
Fraulein Danzig narrowed her eyes. "I have lived in Hammelburg all my life. We are not lost."
Fraulein Danzig and Frauline Hoffman were both leaders of the Jungmadelbund and Bund Deutscher Madel respectively. A girl joined the Jungmadelbund when she was 10 years of age, the usually transferred at the age of fourteen to the Bund Deutscher Madel until she was married or eighteen whichever came first.
"Maybe we're lost because we're no where near Hammelburg. She's marched us all the way to Berlin," Marguerite, one of the older girls from the Bund Deutscher Madel standing next to Liesl mumbled under her breath.
Heidi, another girl, took her backpack off and sat down on it. "I'm not moving until we know where we're going."
Some of the other girls followed Heidi's lead and sat down.
Fraulein Danzig looked up from the map Fraulein Hoffman had shoved in her hands. "Mutiny? We will not tolerate mutiny! Everyone up off the ground! We will go that way, that's the way back to town."
The girls rolled their eyes and groaned. But they picked up their backpacks again and marched in the direction Fraulein Danzig pointed.
They hadn't gone far when they were stopped by guards. "Halt! What are you doing in this area?"
Now, in Liesl's mind, everything would have been fine if Fraulein Danzig had just explained they were lost and politely asked for directions. But no, Fraulein Danzig had to create a scene and started screaming at the guards for daring even to point a gun in her direction. She cursed them for scaring the girls and for being in the wrong spot. The prison camp was obviously miles away according to the map.
The guards had decided to take them all to the camp, and let the leaders sort out the mess with the camp Kommandant, Colonel Klink.
Hogan and his men were gathered near the door of Barracke 2, enjoying the unseasonably warm weather. Newkirk, Carter and Kinchloe were playing cards using an overturned crate as a table as Hogan and LeBeau were leaning against the wall of the Barracke watching the game. Hogan straightened up when he saw the guards lead in a troop of Hitler Youth girls and two very angry leaders.
"Looks like we've got company."
Newkirk looked up from his game and smiled, "Camp going co-ed then?"
"Hope not, they look a little young," replied Hogan.
"Looks like trouble to me," commented Carter as they all watched Sergeant Schultz race to the Kommandant's office as soon as he saw the leaders.
"More ways than one."
Quickly, Klink and Schultz raced out into the complex as Fraulein Danziger and Fraulein Hoffman began to complain louder. Some girls began to join into the fray; some out of what they considered righteous indignation and some out of boredom.
Hogan and the prisoners stood back and watched the show.
"Too bad we don't need a diversion right now, this would have been great," LeBeau said wistfully.
"Looks like Klink is way out of his depth," commented Kinch.
"Maybe he might welcome some help," Hogan replied while he zipped up his jacket and made his way toward the crowd.
As Hogan approached he could hear Klink screech, "I don't care what is says on your map, you are in the middle of a Prisoner of War Camp. This is Luft Stalag 13!"
Quietly Hogan stepped behind one of the Youth leaders, a big boned woman with non-descript brown hair holding a map. Taking advantage of her animatedly arguing with Klink, Hogan slipped the map out of her hands and studied it.
"Here's the problem, she was holding it upside down."
"What?" Klink's attention was finally taken away from the two Frauleins to notice that Hogan had joined them.
"Here, look, they were holding the map upside down," Hogan stepped next to Klink to show him.
"WHAT IS THIS MAN DOING HERE?" Screamed Fraulein Danziger.
Hogan and Klink both jumped back startled. "Related to Hochstetter is she?" Hogan asked as he turned to Klink.
"I don't know, maybe," replied Klink with a shrug.
Unfortunately this caused Fraulein Danziger, the big-boned one, to scream even louder, "WHAT IS THIS MAN DOING HERE?"
Hogan turned to Klink, "Maybe we would do better to have the—umm—Ladies inside."
"Ladies, please follow me, we can talk about this in my office. Your girls should be safe out here with my men guarding them."
Fraulein Danziger pulled herself up to her full height, "I'm not a lady, I am a Jungmadelbund leader!"
"Knew those two couldn't be combined," Hogan mumbled under his breath as he followed Klink and the two leaders into Klink's office.
Some of the girls tried to follow them into the office but the guards directed them back to the compound. A small circle of guards stood between the prisoners and the girls. Not that it was needed. Most of the prisoners, after figuring out the show was over, went back to whatever they were doing. The girls gathered into small groups, some trying to calm the really scared younger girls, some openly watching the prisoners, and some trying to act that the prisoners did not interest them at all.
Liesl had been standing on the porch of the Kommandant's office, thinking that it was the safest place during the altercation, while giving the best advantage point to watch it. She had watched Hogan as he had come up to the women as they were yelling at the Kommandant and something about him struck her memory. She couldn't recall where, but he looked vaguely familiar and she knew she had seen him before. She had been one of those trying to follow them into the Kommandant's office, but seeing the way barred she tried to go to the side of the building to see if she could watch it from a window. Unfortunately, for her, Newkirk had the same idea.
Curiosity, was always part of Newkirk's personality, and besides, this looked like it could be the best show in town. Taking advantage of the guards attention to the young girls, he rounded the corner, and became face to face with a twelve-year old Jungmadelbund. "You shouldn't be here, you know. It could be dangerous wandering about." Newkirk reprimanded Liesl in German.
The girl's eyes went large and she hurriedly went back and went back to the security of the Kommandant's steps.
"Great Newkirk, you now have a new talent, you have: scaring little girls," he scolded himself. He hadn't meant it to sound like a threat, but only a scolding. Now, what would happen if she told anyone? He'd likely get more than just a few days in the cooler.
Liesl sat down and watched the prisoners across the compound. She could identify a mix of Americans, British, French, and surprisingly a few Russians. There may have been more countries represented, but in the mish-mash of put-together uniforms on some, she couldn't tell. They seemed to be a healthier lot than she expected and didn't look at all like the monsters she had heard about.
"If this is what we are fighting, the war should be over by Christmas," Marguerite was arrogantly telling some of her friends. "They don't even look like they could win a battle between us!"
"I heard in Britain, they are in such dire straits they are even eating their own babies." This was from Gertrude, a small girl with glasses. "They have farms where that's all the women do is have babies so they can eat them."
Katrina, a sixteen year old with red, curly hair stared at Gertrude with an open mouth. "Where did you hear such a thing?"
"My brother," Gertrude proudly proclaimed.
"Your brother is a bigger fool than you."
Marguerite came between the two girls and pushed Katrina, "don't tell her she's a fool. You're the bigger one."
Katrina was about to push back, but another sixteen year-old, Linda, came between them. "Scham Dich! Shame on you! You're putting on quite a show; stop it now. Do you wish to show these prisoners how we fight between us? Straighten up and behave. Now!"
Katrina sat down next to Liesl and said, "Guess who is going to become the next leader?"
Liesl just nodded and continued to watch the prisoners. The Englander had joined his friends again so that must mean that Fraulein Danziger and Fraulein Hoffman must be coming out. His uniform seemed to be in better condition than the others so she wondered if he had only recently been captured. The thin blondish American's uniform looked like it had seen better days ages ago. The leather on his jacket was worn and flaking. His pants looked like they originally belonged to someone much taller and heavier. The Schwarzer's uniform fitted better, but looked like it had been mended and well-worn. But then again, maybe that's the way American uniforms looked: well-worn and comfortable. You could not even tell the small Frenchman was wearing a uniform except for the insignia and patches on his coat. That and the color was that awful khaki. At least he had on some bits of color in his beret and scarf. Was that really part of the uniform? Liesl didn't know, but thought it odd that an army would equip their men anything that cheery of a color.
Suddenly the door opened and everyone began shifting causing Liesl to almost fall off her step. They were coming out of the office. It must have been some meeting, as both Fraulein Danziger and Fraulein Hoffman were smiling at the American officer and thanking him.
"Up everyone, it's time to finish our hike and head for home."
Liesl took up her backpack and joined the rest of the groaning girls in line, glancing back at the smiling American officer who was now talking to the Kommandant. Shrugging the pack to a more comfortable position on her shoulders, she could not get rid of the uneasy feeling that she had seen the handsome officer before.