were engaged in an exercise this afternoon. Object: to explore methods of dealing with scattered hostile groups in a built-up area."
"How did fighting break out?"
"Quite simple," Kahlenberge went on. "General Tanz's troops had just started their exercise when, according to Major Sandauer, they were suddenly fired on by members of the Polish Resistance. In consequence, the units engaged returned their fire."
"Entirely understandable," declared the G.O.C. without hesitation. "It amounted to a case of self-defence, which takes the matter out of our hands."
"Certainly, providing someone like Major Grau doesn't try to put forward his own version of the story. It could, for instance, be painted as a piece of deliberate provocation which we tolerated almost without a murmur."
"We needn't worry on that account, my dear Kahlenberge. " The G.O.C. beamed contentedly across the desk. "I did a little telephoning myself just now. As you're aware"--here he winked confidentially--"I cherish the highest regard for Major Grau. His achievements on behalf of local counter-intelligence are beyond dispute. I have therefore impressed upon the appropriate authorities that Major Grau has an unrivalled claim to be transferred to a wider and more important sphere of duty."
"And?" Kahlenberge inquired eagerly. "Have you really managed to get him kicked upstairs?"
"Major Grau is to be promoted lieutenant-colonel and will receive an immediate posting to the Abwehr in Paris. He is to be congratulated--and so are we."
INTERIM REPORT
DOCUMENTS CONCLUDING THE FIRST PART OF THIS BOOK
Recorded remarks of ex-Sergeant Lehmann, long-time batman of General von Seydlitz-Gabler.
Place: Berlin.
Date: 17th February, 1962.
Lehmann on General von Seydlitz-Gabler, with special reference to his private life. Reproduced in heavily abridged form: "The General was one of the best, you can't get away from that. A proper gentleman in any situation.
"Here's a typical example. Just after the fall of France we were quartered in a villa somewhere. I came in late--saw a light still on in the General's study--thought: he's working himself to death. Then thought: maybe he needs something--a sandwich or a glass of soda water or a bottle of burgundy. Knocked and went in. Saw the General sitting there brooding in an arm-chair, medals and all. Then saw a woman stripped to the buff and doing a sort of dance in front of him. Nice bit of stuff. Said: 'Excuse me, sir,' and the General said: 'I'm afraid you're in the way for the moment, my dear Lehmann.'
"Do I remember Melanie Neumaier? I should say so. She was potty about the General. Not that she showed it of course, but I could read her like a book. She used to get hot pants whenever she'd been near him for any length of time. Once she led me on--me! We had a roll on the General's bed--he was in conference at the time. She puffed like an engine going up a gradient and babbled: 'Herbert, oh Herbert!' My name's Alfons--Herbert was the General's Christian name.
"Frau Wilhelmine was a right one. She just about did for us, the way she kept us all on the hop. Sometimes I was almost as worn out as the General--and I didn't have to sleep with her. But she was a real lady, I will say that. No one ever got a sniff there, not even the people she encouraged--not even Rainer Hartmann, I'd stake my oath. He just acted as a sort of lap-dog for a while--wagged his tail nicely too, but that's as far as it went.
"Her ladyship always spoke to me in the third person. Something like this: 'I'm sure our faithful Lehmann will take care that...' or: 'Seeing that our Lehmann is so reliable, I hope that he will...' and so on.--Our Lehmann! It wasn't long before everyone on the staff was calling me that. Even a girl who was keeping the General happy called me 'our Lehmann.' She had a point, too. The General wasn't getting any younger, you see. Too much red wine and worrying about his work didn't help--so, to cut a long story short,
"How did fighting break out?"
"Quite simple," Kahlenberge went on. "General Tanz's troops had just started their exercise when, according to Major Sandauer, they were suddenly fired on by members of the Polish Resistance. In consequence, the units engaged returned their fire."
"Entirely understandable," declared the G.O.C. without hesitation. "It amounted to a case of self-defence, which takes the matter out of our hands."
"Certainly, providing someone like Major Grau doesn't try to put forward his own version of the story. It could, for instance, be painted as a piece of deliberate provocation which we tolerated almost without a murmur."
"We needn't worry on that account, my dear Kahlenberge. " The G.O.C. beamed contentedly across the desk. "I did a little telephoning myself just now. As you're aware"--here he winked confidentially--"I cherish the highest regard for Major Grau. His achievements on behalf of local counter-intelligence are beyond dispute. I have therefore impressed upon the appropriate authorities that Major Grau has an unrivalled claim to be transferred to a wider and more important sphere of duty."
"And?" Kahlenberge inquired eagerly. "Have you really managed to get him kicked upstairs?"
"Major Grau is to be promoted lieutenant-colonel and will receive an immediate posting to the Abwehr in Paris. He is to be congratulated--and so are we."
INTERIM REPORT
DOCUMENTS CONCLUDING THE FIRST PART OF THIS BOOK
Recorded remarks of ex-Sergeant Lehmann, long-time batman of General von Seydlitz-Gabler.
Place: Berlin.
Date: 17th February, 1962.
Lehmann on General von Seydlitz-Gabler, with special reference to his private life. Reproduced in heavily abridged form: "The General was one of the best, you can't get away from that. A proper gentleman in any situation.
"Here's a typical example. Just after the fall of France we were quartered in a villa somewhere. I came in late--saw a light still on in the General's study--thought: he's working himself to death. Then thought: maybe he needs something--a sandwich or a glass of soda water or a bottle of burgundy. Knocked and went in. Saw the General sitting there brooding in an arm-chair, medals and all. Then saw a woman stripped to the buff and doing a sort of dance in front of him. Nice bit of stuff. Said: 'Excuse me, sir,' and the General said: 'I'm afraid you're in the way for the moment, my dear Lehmann.'
"Do I remember Melanie Neumaier? I should say so. She was potty about the General. Not that she showed it of course, but I could read her like a book. She used to get hot pants whenever she'd been near him for any length of time. Once she led me on--me! We had a roll on the General's bed--he was in conference at the time. She puffed like an engine going up a gradient and babbled: 'Herbert, oh Herbert!' My name's Alfons--Herbert was the General's Christian name.
"Frau Wilhelmine was a right one. She just about did for us, the way she kept us all on the hop. Sometimes I was almost as worn out as the General--and I didn't have to sleep with her. But she was a real lady, I will say that. No one ever got a sniff there, not even the people she encouraged--not even Rainer Hartmann, I'd stake my oath. He just acted as a sort of lap-dog for a while--wagged his tail nicely too, but that's as far as it went.
"Her ladyship always spoke to me in the third person. Something like this: 'I'm sure our faithful Lehmann will take care that...' or: 'Seeing that our Lehmann is so reliable, I hope that he will...' and so on.--Our Lehmann! It wasn't long before everyone on the staff was calling me that. Even a girl who was keeping the General happy called me 'our Lehmann.' She had a point, too. The General wasn't getting any younger, you see. Too much red wine and worrying about his work didn't help--so, to cut a long story short,
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