its past link with the traitorous Abwehr. But the Führer liked Faust, and that might allow Fegelin a moment’s consideration.
Hitler folded his hands in front of him and slowly nodded his head. The room was silent as the assembled waited to hear which way the Führer would decide. Fegelin clasped his hands behind his back, hiding his nervousness. He desperately wanted permission to leave Berlin, preferably headed west, away from the Russians. A tour of POW camps might do the trick.
“It would be a magnificent moment,” Hitler said somewhat dreamily, “but I refuse to be tempted by the statements of half a dozen Englishmen. If you can bring proof of more men willing to fight with us, Fegelin, then perhaps we can do something.”
It was a characteristic Hitler response. He did not say yes or no, but left the idea open in case it could work. Fegelin would now have to prove his case alone, as none of the others would wish to ally themselves with an idea the Führer might discount in the near future. They had not earned themselves a presence in these comfortable leather chairs, surrounding their beloved leader, by sticking their necks out.
Fegelin was trying to figure out how best to respond, when Faust spoke for the first time.
“There is another way to bring about that magnificent moment.”
In combat, there were times when Faust could see clearly and exactly what needed to be done to carry the day. No matter how loud the explosions or how fierce the enemy fire, he could find the exact moment to act. This was one of those moments. The chance would not come again. He knew exactly what to say next.
“I can make it happen.”
Fegelin moved back a half step to look at Faust, astounded by the calm pronouncement. Goering let out a sharp laugh, and Bormann never took his eyes off of Hitler.
“So a colonel will win the war for us?” Goering asked sarcastically.
“Only the Führer can win the war for us,” said Faust, looking directly at Hitler. “But I can put a plan in his hands to hasten the day.”
Faust stood still and waited. Hitler looked up from his seat and studied him, his eyelids heavy and hooded over his dark eyes.
“Tell us your plan, Colonel Faust.”
“Of course, my Führer . As you have pointed out, it would change everything to have the British and Americans engage the Russian forces in combat, but we know that recruiting volunteers from POW camps is a fantasy that will gather nothing but a few malcontents.”
“Faust, I must protest!” Fegelin shouted, waving his arms in frustration.
“Quiet, Fegelin!” Fegelin visibly winced at his Führer’s remonstrance, then shrank back. “Faust is correct. We should not expect anything from efforts to recruit these volunteers. Now, continue.”
“If the British and the Americans will not come to us to fight the Russians, then we must bring the Russians to them.”
“Are you seriously suggesting we allow the Allied forces to join together?” Goering said incredulously.
“Not precisely. Instead of dreaming about British volunteers, we simply need to look to our own forces for ample Russian troops. We have large numbers of Hilfswillige serving with our divisions on the eastern front. I propose we select a sufficient number of Hiwis, led by German officers, and train and outfit them as Russian troops. This will not be difficult, since they are already familiar with Russian weaponry.”
“And these Russians will engage the British?” Burgdorf asked.
“No. The Americans.” It was Hitler who answered, anticipating the response.
“Exactly my Führer ,” Faust smiled. “That is the only area of operation where we have the required room to maneuver.”
The others in the room were confused, but Hitler seemed to be reading Faust’s mind.
“Show me,” Hitler said, jumping to his feet and going to the map table.
Faust considered his next move very carefully. The central point of his plan was to channel the American and
Hitler folded his hands in front of him and slowly nodded his head. The room was silent as the assembled waited to hear which way the Führer would decide. Fegelin clasped his hands behind his back, hiding his nervousness. He desperately wanted permission to leave Berlin, preferably headed west, away from the Russians. A tour of POW camps might do the trick.
“It would be a magnificent moment,” Hitler said somewhat dreamily, “but I refuse to be tempted by the statements of half a dozen Englishmen. If you can bring proof of more men willing to fight with us, Fegelin, then perhaps we can do something.”
It was a characteristic Hitler response. He did not say yes or no, but left the idea open in case it could work. Fegelin would now have to prove his case alone, as none of the others would wish to ally themselves with an idea the Führer might discount in the near future. They had not earned themselves a presence in these comfortable leather chairs, surrounding their beloved leader, by sticking their necks out.
Fegelin was trying to figure out how best to respond, when Faust spoke for the first time.
“There is another way to bring about that magnificent moment.”
In combat, there were times when Faust could see clearly and exactly what needed to be done to carry the day. No matter how loud the explosions or how fierce the enemy fire, he could find the exact moment to act. This was one of those moments. The chance would not come again. He knew exactly what to say next.
“I can make it happen.”
Fegelin moved back a half step to look at Faust, astounded by the calm pronouncement. Goering let out a sharp laugh, and Bormann never took his eyes off of Hitler.
“So a colonel will win the war for us?” Goering asked sarcastically.
“Only the Führer can win the war for us,” said Faust, looking directly at Hitler. “But I can put a plan in his hands to hasten the day.”
Faust stood still and waited. Hitler looked up from his seat and studied him, his eyelids heavy and hooded over his dark eyes.
“Tell us your plan, Colonel Faust.”
“Of course, my Führer . As you have pointed out, it would change everything to have the British and Americans engage the Russian forces in combat, but we know that recruiting volunteers from POW camps is a fantasy that will gather nothing but a few malcontents.”
“Faust, I must protest!” Fegelin shouted, waving his arms in frustration.
“Quiet, Fegelin!” Fegelin visibly winced at his Führer’s remonstrance, then shrank back. “Faust is correct. We should not expect anything from efforts to recruit these volunteers. Now, continue.”
“If the British and the Americans will not come to us to fight the Russians, then we must bring the Russians to them.”
“Are you seriously suggesting we allow the Allied forces to join together?” Goering said incredulously.
“Not precisely. Instead of dreaming about British volunteers, we simply need to look to our own forces for ample Russian troops. We have large numbers of Hilfswillige serving with our divisions on the eastern front. I propose we select a sufficient number of Hiwis, led by German officers, and train and outfit them as Russian troops. This will not be difficult, since they are already familiar with Russian weaponry.”
“And these Russians will engage the British?” Burgdorf asked.
“No. The Americans.” It was Hitler who answered, anticipating the response.
“Exactly my Führer ,” Faust smiled. “That is the only area of operation where we have the required room to maneuver.”
The others in the room were confused, but Hitler seemed to be reading Faust’s mind.
“Show me,” Hitler said, jumping to his feet and going to the map table.
Faust considered his next move very carefully. The central point of his plan was to channel the American and
Similar Books
