David Perkins - Hitler's Astrologer

“Mein Führer, it was shown he contacted Himmler’s offices on November 2 ndgiving the warning to a Herr Fesel, but somehow this was filed away and forgotten. The Gestapo questioned Herr Krafft extensively and Himmler himself found him innocent.”

Hitler had already seen Himmler’s report on Krafft’s arrest and interrogations. Not known to Zangemeister was that Reichminister Rudolf Hess – also an astrologer – verified to Hitler the planetary positions Krafft found on Hitler’s chart – verifying that indeed in the practice of horoscope interpretation – Hitler’s personal chart indicated an assassination attempt during this period.

Zangemeister remained at attention, but began to loose his composure. He had never been with the Füher for this amount of time alone. Does this mean he is in trouble?

After staring out the window for several minutes, Hitler turned around. “Will he fit in the party ?”

Zangermeister picked up another folder and flipped two pages. “All recorded statements and logs of his activity show he follows the party line. Completely.”

“For example..?”

The captain flipped through two more pages.

“For example…” Zangemeister paused while he pulled one page halfway out. “…here is a copy of a letter from Herr Krafft dated October 18, 1935 to a Marguerite Panchaud of Stuttgart. He warns her of international freemasonry and Jewry, and that Switzerland would be absorbed by Germany if the Swiss press prints anymore unjustified criticisms of the Party’s actions and policy.”

Hitler laughed to himself. Even he, Adolf Hitler, never thought of annexing Switzerland, although in the back of his mind he considered this German speaking country technically already part of the Reich.

Captain Zangemeister could tell by the expression on the Führer’s face the right example was given. Despite the inner joy he had somehow pleased the Führer he remained at attention.

“Tell me Captain,” Hitler now turned facing the captain directly, “what is your impression of this Karl Krafft fellow?”

Zangemeister did not expect such a question. All his previous contact with Adolph Hitler was conducted merely to relay facts, this was the first time the Führer ever wanted his opinion . The fear running through every organ did not let him experience the honor of what had just happened. An honor he would tell his wife and certainly his children and grandchildren, should he ever have any.

To answer, the captain’s mind began to rehash all what he had read in the report, and merely reworded the opinions of Himmler, Goebbels, and General Osterkamp.

“I believe he will serve the Reich well , mein Führer!”

A good half an hour before his 11 a.m. meeting with representatives from Hungry and Rumania was supposed to finish, the Count began looking out the huge bay windows. His presence was not actually needed at this particular phase of business being transacted, which was the usual way he conducted business. All factors were already decided before the meeting was even set. In this case his presence was needed to ensure trust on both sides. Count von Hoogerwoerd was the only thing each side had in common, and unknown to both sides, the Count was the only one who was really making profit by their joining together.

The need that brought these representatives to join forces in order to survive was actually engineered by the Count and his son in a business deal seven years earlier in Austria. A business deal creating a problem that only the Count & Prince Hoogerwoerd could solve.

“The execution of the Briest matter will occur on February 12 th, and should be concluded by the 15 th. Then, gentlemen we will…”

The Dutch-Hungarian-Rumanian deal was also one that, on the surface at least, would mutually benefit the economies of all three nations – and of course the individuals present. Needed oil from the Rumanian refineries would go to Holland and a major portion of the unreported profits would then go to an obscure operation in Hungry. The Count’s Hungarian organization would then assist in the elimination of 14 certain individuals within certain institutions in Budapest who were preventing an even bigger Hoogerwoerd deal in banking from being finalized with factions in Russia.

“Gentlemen,” the Hungarian representative concluded, “I believe we have a satisfactory offer for each of your concerns… if you’ll look on page 11.”

All parties were now nodding their heads with approval. The Count got what he wanted… again.

Looking out the window, Count von Hoogerwoerd noticed an attractive young woman – just ending her teenage years – setting up a flower stand across the street. Even through the window three stories up one could see she was stunningly beautiful, the way many eastern European woman are at that age. She did not look at all the kind of person the Count would do business with.

“Would you gentlemen excuse me for a moment?” The Count bowed to each member before leaving the room.

In a matter of moments the Count was down in the street below looking over the flower stand. “Did you see it being delivered?” The Count asks while appearing to examine the variety of flowers. The question concerned her previous assignment.

“Yes, sir.”

“Did Herr Krafft arrive on time?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. Kriederman will have your tickets to Warsaw in the usual place. Mail me a post card when you finish.” The Count appears to choose a bunch of flowers. “Then go to Stettin, I will meet you at the Atlantic during the Sea Days Festival.

“Yes, sir.”

“And Milena…”

The young girl reacts in surprise. Never has she heard him utter her name before.

Be neat this time. It’s said Moretti’s blood was all over the inspector’s hallway in Trieste. “Please, use poison, or at least make it look like an accident this time.”

“Yes, sir.”

The girl dipped her head in thanks and gratitude as if this was one of the few sales she had this day, then gave him the mixed bundle of flowers chosen.

“I love you.” She whispered as the Count entered the front door across the street. Like many who worked for the Count, she was completely devoted to her boss, and would kill for him should he request it, which he had done on several occasions.

The Count would never know of her love for him, but he could image her gratitude of being saved from a life of prostitution from one of the most abusive houses in Warsaw where he bought her. It is this type of gratitude that instills devotion, a characteristic the Count demanded, in order to fulfill the types of jobs his ‘employees’ did for him.

As with so many schemes throughout the ages in history devised by the Hoogerwoerd family, this assignment for the dark haired beautiful Polish girl would affect most of the populations within six European countries, yet will never show up in the history books. It would not be until December 22, 1941 at the three week conference named Arcadia in Washington D.C. where Roosevelt, Churchill and their advisors met that the effects of this particular example of the Count’s cunning would bear fruit. Yet in only three weeks after young Milena fulfilled her assignment, the Count would be the only one left alive who had any knowledge or connection with the scheme she was a key player.

Even those who loved the Count were expendable.

Captain Best Payne was fluent in German, but pretended not to understand a word.

“Has the Luftwaffe been informed of the speed and course of the drop plane?”