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What's in a Name
Chapter 33
Klink To the Rescue
I appreciate everyone's interest, in this, my longest story. Thank you for sticking with it!
Hogan felt surprisingly uncomfortable as he headed back to the barracks after leaving Klink's office. Putting the fate of the eight fliers into Klink's hands bothered him. Thinking back to the manipulation of Marceau's transfer, Hogan decided to call a meeting with his operatives and Underground to discuss ways to take control of prisoner movement in the area. After all, they had the ability to forge orders and sneak them onto Klink's desk. If there was a possibility to deal with larger groups of prisoners, Hogan wanted to implement the plan. However, he realized that was not what was bothering him. First of all, the fliers weren't in any danger. Rescuing them would be the best conceivable outcome, but if that was not possible, a transfer to Stalag 13 would still be a bonus. He knew he had noticed, heard or seen something, but he could not put his finger on what it was.
Hogan entered the hut and headed down below to check the progress on the bugging of Klink's office, and to inform the two rescued fliers that the rest of the crew was taken to Stalag 5. He found Kinch standing over a table, examining a coffee pot that was in pieces. Nothing surprised the colonel anymore, but perhaps this was what it seemed-a broken coffee pot-which technically could be considered an emergency.
"It's not what you think, Colonel," Kinch, sensing Hogan's presence, stated.
"Then what is it?" Hogan peered at the wires, and bits and pieces he could not identify.
"Once we finish the wiring to Klink's office, this innocent looking appliance will be our receiver," Kinch explained patiently. "I'm putting it back together, and then we're testing it down here. Broughton is in another part of the tunnel. "Watch you don't trip over the wire." Kinch gingerly picked up a piece of the pot, and installed it in the bottom.
"Better make sure no one tries to make coffee in that thing." Hogan was not surprised at the ingenuity of his men. After all, they managed to install an antenna right under the Germans' noses. Actually, it was above the Germans' noses. Their aerial to London was installed in the flagpole.
"How did the meeting with the Kommandant go, sir?" Kinch asked as he continued to work.
"The eight men went to Stalag 5. Which meant Klink's ego needed inflating. Where are our two guests?"
"Taking a nap," Kinch said.
"I won't disturb them right now." Hogan grabbed a chair. He sat down, and leaned back in a comfortable position. "I planted the idea in Klink's head that he was slighted, and he fell for it. We need to call a meeting to discuss ways to take control of prisoner movement in the area."
Kinch looked up. "Good idea. We can forge orders and sneak them onto Klink's desk."
Hogan smiled. "You read my mind. But, we need to do more, and it may involve posing as Germans, just like the Underground did when they sprang Captain Marceau. There is something else that is bothering me. But I can't put my finger on it," Hogan admitted.
"London, sir?" Kinch knew that the SOE was beginning to put pressure on their new golden boy. The Travelers' Aide society, as contacts in London dubbed the operation, was expanding. Recently, London politely asked Hogan and his crew to send back more surveillance, and to consider sabotaging areas not suitable for bombing runs.
As Hogan made it clear, "asking is a civilized way to give you an order." No one was surprised when the colonel gave London an affirmative reply. After the expected shocked reactions from the prisoners, the main operatives thought it over, discussed it among themselves, and then readily agreed to go one step further. They were already risking their lives to rescue fliers and escapees. So why not do more?
"Nope, that's not it. I'd really like to get that explosives expert in here."
"That would be Andrew Carter. He is tech sergeant from out west somewhere," Kinch told Hogan. "I got all their names written down. So, besides forging transfer orders and getting them over to Stalag 5, what can we do?"
"Right now, we can't get there, and I don't want the local civilians going that far. We'll have to see what Klink can manage on his own," Hogan stated. "It's safer to let him try, and we can't save everyone," he reminded the sergeant. He leaned forward in his chair. The coffee pot was now whole and he was anxious to see if the experiment worked.
Klink thought about calling Stalag 5 directly and demanding the transfer of the eight new prisoners. However, he had second thoughts. Why would the Kommandant, Major Strauss, agree to the request? It was rather unusual, and really did not make sense. After all, the men were already there. If he had word before they were sent off on the longer journey, he could have done something. Yet, he did feel slighted. Klink drummed his fingers on his desk as he tried to think of a way to complete his goal. Calling General Burkhalter was not an option. He would laugh, or worse yet, get angry at Klink for bothering him. The general became more ornery the longer the war dragged on. The Kommandant imagined the general's response.
"Why are you bothering me about prisoners already delivered to another POW camp, Klink? If you don't have better things to do, I can see that you are sent where they can really use your body, I mean skills."
Klink involuntarily shuddered at the imaginary thought of being given a one-way ticket to the Russian Front.
The German bureaucracy, while efficient in many ways, seemed to be inefficient in this one regard. Prisoners were sent all over the place, and the personnel, trucks or train cars could be put to better use. Klink assumed that desk officers had taken over the reins, and were not considering factors such as timing, location, and operations. He sighed. No, these men should have been his, and he was not going to give them up without a fight. There was something he could do. Bribery. Klink reached for the intercom. "Helga, come in here please."
Helga grabbed her steno pad and knocked on the door of the Kommandant's office. She was also wondering about the men sent to Stalag 5, and hoped that the Kommandant could get them transferred. Perhaps they could be rescued and sent back to England; but she had no idea how that could be accomplished.
"Come in."
Helga entered, but before she took a seat, the Kommandant told her the steno pad was not necessary.
"I need to know if we have any extra supplies," Klink told her.
"Kommandant, should I call for the supply sergeant?"
"No, not those supplies. The other ones, you know..." Klink had quite a stash. Most of the food and liquor was stored in his quarters, but Helga had a prepared inventory of the various gifts brought by visitors, plus misdirected deliveries of various items stored in the office closet, credenza and VIP quarters.
"I will get my list." Helga ran back into the outer office, and brought back a file. She placed it on Klink's desk and sat down. "Everything is up-to-date. I also added the large map we received in error last week." She wondered what the Kommandant had in mind.
Fortunately, he told her. "I want to see if we can do a prisoner exchange. Stalag 5 has prisoners that rightfully should have been brought here. Major Strauss is cordial, but he is stubborn, and I am sure he will not give them up unless I provide something in return. I do not want to give them the map. It will look much better behind my desk, and it is easier to read. The other one is too small. We can certainly give them that one, and let's see what else we have to offer."
A short while later, Klink was on the phone with the Kommandant of Stalag 5.
"I am very well, Strauss. And you?
"Splendid.
"I understand you took in eight prisoners from a British plane that was shot down last night.
"You did. Oh, I did not know there were several Americans on board as well. Since we have relieved your overcrowding in the past, I am ready and willing to take them off your hands.
Klink's face fell. As expected, Strauss told him he did not need Klink's help.
"I see. You are aware a patrol captured these prisoners not too far from here, and protocol states they should have been brought to my camp.
"You weren't aware that made a difference." Klink let out a sigh. "Yes, they should have gone to the interrogation center, and I do agree that goodness knows where they would be sent afterwards."
Klink listened for a moment. "Yes." He nodded. "I see, and no, I don't know what makes this group of men so special." He has a point. Klink had a vague recollection of Hogan putting thoughts into his head, but he then dismissed the notion, which was ludicrous. These prisoners were his and he wanted them, no matter how ridiculous the effort.
"I will tell you what. I have some extra items I can do without. Perhaps we can make a trade?" Klink nodded at Helga and smiled. In his line of work, supplies often acted as currency. "Here is a partial list. A nice map of our country, plus the occupied territories, with all the POW camps in the system clearly marked.
"Yes, it is framed. We have four large crates of French cigarettes, and a carton of record albums." Klink owned an extensive collection; these were duplicates and the prisoners refused to listen to them.
"What else? You drive a hard bargain. I can throw in a few canned French goods, and typewriter ribbons." Helga said they did not fit the models in use at camp. "Oh, and about 10,000 tongue depressors." There was still a lot left from the original shipment. "You will? The tongue depressors sealed the deal? Wonderful. Of course, a large camp such as yours can never have enough tongue depressors. When can I expect the prisoners to be ready?"
Klink jotted a note and handed it to Helga. She immediately went outside and told the guard to fetch Colonel Hogan, and to have the boxes of tongue depressors removed from the recreation hall. She was jubilant. She knew the colonel had planted the idea of transferring the prisoners in Klink's head, and yet, she was proud of her boss for handling this without Hogan's help.
She went back into the office and noted that Klink looked very proud of himself. "We will soon be getting more prisoners, Helga."
"Shall I start packing the items, Kommandant?"
"Not yet. Unfortunately, there is short delay. A few of them are receiving medical treatment. They will bring all of them to us at the same time. And then, they will take the items back."
"Very good, Kommandant." Helga heard the door to the outer office open, and she poked her head out. "Colonel Hogan is here."
"Send him in." Klink, now feeling quite satisfied with himself, was about to take his seat. Remembering the map he promised Stalag 5, he went over to the wall and took it down.
Hogan and Helga exchanged pleasantries, and then he entered the office. "You sent for me, sir?" he said, noticing Klink looked rather pleased. Hogan hoped this had something to do with the eight prisoners taken to Stalag 5.
"Yes, Colonel Hogan. Please, sit." He pointed to the chair.
Hogan took his seat and waited.
"I have some good news for you. We will shortly be receiving eight more prisoners. The ones from the British plane shot down last night."
Hogan watched in astonishment as the Kommandant gleefully clapped his hands together.
He nodded. "You get what you deserve, sir. Well-done."
"Thank you. You know, I actually had second thoughts about pursuing this action. It seemed so, so...petty. But then, I realized it was not right. It was not an efficient use of resources."
He actually has a point, Hogan thought. "True. I'll get quarters prepared right away."
"We have some time. They will not be coming for several weeks. The Kommandant of Stalag 5-and I will confess he is a reasonable man-told me several of the men are in need of medical care. Once they can be released, he will send the eight here together."
"That sounds fair," Hogan stated. "How much did you have to give him?"
"Oh, not much. Some phonograph records, typewriter ribbons, the rest of the tongue depressors and...How did you know I had to offer goods?"
"I'm a career man, sir. I know how the military works. Food and supplies are the best currency." Hogan glanced up at the wall, and saw that the map was missing. "Where is the map that was behind you? That's an awfully big space to keep blank." He quickly glanced at the other wall. Thankfully, the photo of Hitler, the bug hidden behind it, was still there. Once all the wires were attached, the prisoners would be able to eavesdrop on Klink.
"Oh, that is going to Stalag 5. We received a much bigger map several weeks ago. It was meant for the other camp, but I kept it." Klink smiled. "I've been meaning to have maintenance hang it, but never got around to it. Now it will be done."
Hogan smiled. "I'm sure a larger map will be easier to use." He reminded himself to ask Newkirk to sneak in and take photos of the new map.
"It will give me extra room to mark the locations of new POW camps. We are building more and more. In fact, I will show you." Klink went over to the credenza, reached behind it, and pulled out the map. There was no harm in pointing out the reach of the Third Reich to Hogan. After all, he often announced victories to the prisoners at roll call. This was just as relevant.
Klink brought the map over, and moved some items off his desk. He then placed it on top, while Hogan helpfully put items on the corners so to stop the edges from rolling.
"I see what you mean," he admitted. Hogan had perfect vision, but this map was easier to read. "So, I know we are here." Hogan pointed to their camp. "And the other Stalag 13 is down here."
"Correct." Klink pointed to Stalag 5. "This is where the eight prisoners are being held. You can clearly see how far that is. As I said, it was a waste of petrol and manpower to bring them there."
Hogan entered buttering up mode, as some of the men dubbed his manipulation. "Well, now the other Kommandants will get word that you mean business, sir, and that you drive a hard bargain." It was not easy; buttering up Klink reminded the colonel of pancakes slathered with butter and syrup, and his stomach began to growl. A potato pancake, or latke as the Jewish prisoners called the frequent dish, was not an appropriate substitute. Although, they admitted that LeBeau's version was not bad.
As Hogan was dismissed, he realized something about the map piqued his interest, but he still could not pinpoint it. Once the photos of the new map were developed, Hogan would get a better look, although he decided it was probably not important. He definitely would have remembered seeing something critical. Right now, there were two fliers to process and send on their way, and with several weeks to go before the arrival of the prisoners from Stalag 5, perhaps he could hatch a plan to send them to England as well.
At this early stage in the operation and Hogan's command, I feel it is conceivable that their reach would not extend as far as the other Stalag (which I made quite a distance away), nor would they have the experience and manpower at this point to track the transport and stage a rescue.
Major Strauss is the Kommandant of Stalag 5 (thank you, Sgt. Hakeswill for your fantastic memory) and appeared in Standing Room Only.