"Ah! Hauptmann Dietrich. You are exactly on time. I expect punctuality for those under my command."
I was momentarily taken back by Neumann's casual comment of being my commanding officer. I thought his choice of words was interesting since my current orders had me reporting up through a different chain of command. It was my belief that my only contact with Neumann was to be to deliver the supplies from this morning. I found myself growing wary of where the conversation could be heading.
"I have been at my current duty station for little more than a week, Herr Oberst. I was not expecting a change of command so soon after my arrival," I said.
Neumann ignored my statement. "Schnapps?"
Apparently, he wanted to provide me the details and information of where I reported when he was ready and not a moment sooner.
"Yes, thank you, Sir," I replied politely. I was able to restrain myself this time from looking down at my watch to confirm the early hour. Was it this common for drinking to be occurring this early in these remote areas?
He poured two glasses of the schnapps before casually reaching behind him to pick up a pack of American cigarettes.
"Cigarette?" he asked, shaking one out for me.
"Thank you." I tried not to stare at the remaining pack.
He must have noticed me fixated on it. "Here, please accept this pack and a few more." Neumann brought forth two additional packets.
"Thank you again, Herr Oberst. You are very generous." I lit both our cigarettes. I could instantly feel the rush of the nicotine as I took a deep drag. I closed my eyes for a moment to savor it.
"Thank the Americans. They were the ones who so generously left them behind for us to enjoy. I have no use for them as soldiers, but at least they are good at producing cigarettes."
I agreed, the irony not lost on me that the Americans had been the source of my stress that morning. I noticed Neumann quickly taking in my dirty and soiled appearance and I watched as he frowned. It must have been obvious to him that I had not followed through on his orders to clean up from being out in the field.
He started to say something, but apparently changed his mind as he motioned for me to have a seat near a small battered table.
I patiently waited for him to brief me on my command situation and the assignment he had referenced in passing. I didn't have long to wait.
"Hauptmann, you have been temporarily placed under my command to complete a special assignment. It is one that for which your background makes you ideally suited. The mission I am about to assign you is critical for Germany's success in the northern African campaign. Are you aware that Generaloberst Rommel's major offensive will be implemented in the near future?"
"Yes, Herr Oberst. I am aware and I am familiar with it." Although I was now assigned to the far outskirts of the German lines, major planning for the offensive had been nearly completed while I was still part of the main Wehrmacht. However, I was unaware of how much of the specifics Neumann would know as a supply officer. Given the confidentiality of the plans, I could not and would not readily divulge any of the details to Neumann.
Neumann gave an appraising look. "Your integrity and honor are to be admired, Hauptmann. I had heard you were very much traditional Wehrmacht. Now you have confirmed it. I don't believe that you would divulge any details of the plan to me even if I had placed a gun to your head." He grinned. "However, it is quite alright for you to discuss any knowledge you have of the offensive. I have full clearance since I have been ordered to play a major role in its implementation.
"I have been assigned the responsibility of ensuring the delivery of supplies for the offensive," Neumann continued. "As you saw this morning supplies are having a difficult time reaching our areas far behind lines. It is a critical situation for the main divisions of the Afrika Korps. Supplies, especially petrol and ammunition, will be critical factors for the offensive and they are currently at dangerously low levels."
"Yes, Herr Oberst," I agreed. Inwardly, I frowned. I was unsure of where this was heading and how it would involve me.
"Fortunately, there is a cache of essential supplies that are conveniently located well behind German lines. Since this depot falls in the area under my command, I have been the one assigned to manage it. You will have a major role in procuring these supplies." I looked at him curiously. I was unaware of supplies of this magnitude already assembled for the offensive.
Again, I did not understand how this would involve me. I took a small sip from my drink as I waited for him to continue. The schnapps was excellent and I felt it begin to gently course through my body. I had not had schnapps this good since the last time I went home on leave. But given that the oberst was responsible for procuring supplies, no doubt he had helped himself to some of the finest bottles that passed through his area.
"Forgive me for asking, Herr Oberst, but I'm unfamiliar with the supplies to which you are referring. Where are they located?"
Impatiently, Neumann took a rolled map from his desk. He proceeded to unfurl it, using our drink glasses to weigh down the sides. It was a map of German held territory, but I saw no supply depots marked. I looked up at him in askance.
"Here," he said, waving vaguely over the map.
"Perhaps you could be more precise on its exact location, Herr Oberst? I am unaware of a supply depot in this vicinity." I was beginning to sense that there was something out of place here, something that I did not comprehend.
"Ah, Hauptmann Dietrich!" he said with a short laugh. "This is why you are here and why you were assigned to my command. Your new orders are to locate these particular supplies. Simple, yes?"
Nothing seemed simple about it to me. Something was definitely odd here. Neumann's convoluted words were not making sense to me. It was as if he was purposely talking in circles.
"The Wehrmacht doesn't know where our own supplies are located?" I asked tentatively, forcing myself to remain respectful. The vagueness was becoming irritating and I was becoming tired of his game.
Neumann caught me off guard when he burst out laughing. "Ah, Hauptmann Dietrich! That's the beauty of this mission. They are not German supplies, they are British! The Afrika Korps will be using English supplies to fight the Allies for Generaloberst Rommel's offensive." He continued to laugh, but I didn't find humor in his words, only more confusion.
"British supplies? The Allies have secured territory behind our lines for a supply depot and I am to capture it?" This would be rather bold and out of character for the English. There was something underneath the surface of this mission that was very disjointed.
"No, Dietrich, they have not established a foothold in the middle of nowhere. All you have to do is locate and secure their supply depot," Neumann explained as if to a child. The supplies to which I'm referring are a considerable cache from the early days of the desert campaign. The British 8th Army buried the supplies when they were retreating from this area." Again, Neumann motioned vaguely at the map. "No doubt their intention was to retrieve the supplies when they again held this area. With the heavy combat raging back and forth, the region has been too dangerous to allow them the necessary time to retrieve them.
"Their Intelligence has become aware that we also know of the supplies and that we will make a concerted effort to locate them for our own use. No doubt they realize they are critical for Generaloberst Rommel's success. The Allies, of course, do not want us to retrieve them and so will be seeking to destroy them to prevent them from falling into our hands."
"I've heard rumors over the months regarding the English cache. Apparently, they are true," I said more to myself, not expecting a reply from him.
"Yes, they are definitely not rumors." Neumann fixed me with a serious look. "I will repeat the situation and your orders bluntly: Hauptmann Dietrich, you are to locate and secure these supplies before the Allies can locate and destroy them."
"They also are unaware of its location?" I asked with a frown. "I would have thought…"
"Yes, one would think that the British army would have made had note of the location with more precision, but apparently that was not the case."
"That," I said slowly, "is very hard to believe."
"They definitely are not as precise as we would have been. We would not have tolerated anything so sloppy, let alone leaving the supplies behind for the enemy to possibly recover and use."
I had to agree. Such a thing was a failure of the greatest magnitude.
"Since their raid calls for a quick moving operation, your friends the Rat Patrol will most likely be the commandos assigned to complete this mission."
Of course they would be, I thought. "Does German Intelligence have any leads on its location?"
"Not in the slightest. The English have kept this secret very much to themselves. Likely because they still don't have any idea where they left their things." Neumann shook his head in amusement. "Quite the conundrum, no? This is where your language skills and relationship with the natives will be of great use."
"You wish for me to use my connections to see if any of the locals know anything about where the supplies are buried." I couldn't disagree with the logic.
"Yes, that's right. They might have some knowledge of the depot's location or even witnessed its burying."
"When am I to begin?"
"I highly recommend you begin immediately to find this cache, this needle in the haystack. I believe you fully understand the importance of it to Generaloberst Rommel's campaign as well as to your own future." He glanced down at his watch and I knew our conversation was over.
I quickly finished my schnapps and stood, slipping the packs of cigarettes into my pockets. I was ready to take my leave without another word. There was no need for the Oberst to elaborate any further. I had heard enough.
I was beginning to struggle internally about my orders. There was little if any, information as to where the cache was buried. How was I supposed to find it when even the ones who had originally buried it were unaware of its exact location? I forced my analytical ability to the surface, pushing aside any rising doubts which would only cloud my thought process.
Suddenly, the solution dawned on me: It was so perfectly obvious.
It wasn't necessary for me to find the supplies. The Allied commandos would do it for me. I only had to find the Rat Patrol and they would lead me to the cache. I would not be able to find it without them. The challenge would be to arrive there before they had the opportunity to destroy it. It was ironic that both of us had sets of orders which were complete opposites.
I looked at the Oberst, allowing a small smile to creep on my face. My orders would give me the opportunity to accomplish two things at once. I would be able to secure the supplies and rid the desert of the Rat Patrol in one fell swoop. I had already surmised that they were a problem which would only become worse unless it was dealt with quickly. Yes, I was going to enjoy ending their reign in the part of the desert I now claimed as my own. I would ensure I was the last man standing when this was over.
"Thank you again for your hospitality. I understand my orders, Herr Oberst. I will return to my base camp and begin planning the mission immediately."
"See that you do Herr, Hauptmann. I am not a man to be kept waiting. I will be expecting an update shortly on how you to achieve your mission.
I saluted. "I understand."
"And understand this, Dietrich. Anything less than complete success will be considered a failure, and failure is not acceptable in our line of work."