Griffin W.E.B. - Honor Bound 03 - Secret Honor

"The more I think about it, the American involvement in this might be less than I thought at first," Canaris said.

"In any case," Bormann said, "our own priority, it seems to me, is to make certain that the special cargo of Operation

Phoenix is safely landed in Argentina."

"Safely landed," Canaris agreed. "Not lost at sea, not falling into the hands of the Argentines. Or, God forbid, the

Americans."

"Do you think the Argentines know-or suspect-any thing about the special cargo?" Donitz asked.

"You will recall, Admiral," Canaris said, "that one of the

American OSS agents was reported to have asked questions on that subject."

"Reported by von Tresmarck," Himmler said, "who rec ommended his removal."

"That happened, didn't it?" Bormann asked.

"Von Tresmarck dealt with the problem," Himmler said.

"We don't know how much he found out-or passed on-before he was removed," Canaris said. "And he was a

Jew. Jews talk to Jews."

"It would seem to me, gentlemen, with all respect,"

Himmler said, "that we have only a few facts before us.

Making decisions with so few facts is counterproductive.

Thus we need to talk to someone who, as von Lutzenberger said, is 'personally familiar' with the incident."

Canaris grunted his agreement, then asked: "Which of them? All of them?"

Himmler did not respond to the question directly. "The first thing we have to do is learn what we're facing."

"I agree," Canaris said.

"And the way to do that," Himmler went on, "is to send people to Buenos Aires to find out, and bring some of the people on von Lutzenberger's list here, to get their stories.

Once we have decided what the situation is, we can decide how to deal with it."

"Go on," Bormann said.

"What I suggest-what I intend to do immediately, unless there is serious objection-is to send my adjutant, Ober fiihrer von Deitzberg, and his deputy, Standartenfuhrer

Raschner, to Buenos Aires. As you know, von Deitzberg is conversant with all the details of this program. Between the two of them they can determine how this disaster came about."

"You mean, conduct the investigation entirely in

Argentina?" Canaris asked.

"Oh, no. The same plane that takes my men to Argentina will bring to Berlin some of the people on von Lutzen berger's list."

"Who, specifically?" Bormann asked.

"If I send von Deitzberg, that would permit me to bring von Tresmarck to Berlin," Himmler said.

"I would like to personally hear what von Tresmarck has to say," Canaris said.

"With that in mind," von Ribbentrop said, "What if I send von Lowzer? And bring back Gradny-Sawz?"

"Who is Lowzer?" Donitz asked.

"Deputy Minister Georg Friedrich von Lowzer," von

Ribbentrop said. "He is also privy to Phoenix. I don't want to leave him over there for long, however. I need him here."

"Our priority is the success of Operation Phoenix," Bor mann said, somewhat unpleasantly. "Whether or not that is convenient for anyone."

"I was speaking of von Lowzer's value to Phoenix," von

Ribbentrop said. "And once we have a talk with Gradny Sawz, I think we'll probably be able to send him back to

Buenos Aires. Then I can bring von Lowzer back here."

"Why not bring von Wachtstein to Berlin as well?" Donitz asked. "If I read that cable correctly, he was physically present on the beach."

"I thought about that, " Himmler responded. "We don't know how much-or how little-he knows about Phoenix.

But yes, I think it would be a good idea to have von Wacht stein come here."

"I agree," Donitz said.

"If von Wachtstein was on the beach when the two men were killed, he has to know something about what was going on," Canaris said.

"And once we have a chance to talk to him," Himmler said,

"we can decide whether to tell him more or eliminate him."

"You have some reason to suspect him of complicity?"

Canaris asked.

"No," Himmler said. "That's my point, Admiral. We need information. And I have suggested a way to get it."

"I agree with the Reichsfuhrer," Canaris said. "But I have a suggestion of my own. We need an immediate replacement for

Oberst Griiner. In both his military and Sicherheitsdienst roles." The Sicherheitsdienst, SD, were the secret police within the SS.

"That's true," Himmler said. "Who do you have in mind?"

"One of my officers, Korvettenkapitan Boltitz-"

"Karl Boltitz?" Donitz interrupted.

Canaris nodded.

"I know his father very well. And the son's a bright young man," Donitz added.

"More to the point, he's a bright intelligence officer,"

Canaris said. "He's been my liaison officer to von Ribbentrop.

I think he would be useful in Buenos Aires. But before we send to him to Argentina, I think we should have him talk, one sailor to another, so to speak, with Kapitan de

Banderano…"

"With who?" Bormann asked.

"The captain of the Oceano Pacifico," Himmler fur nished. "He was also present at Puerto Magdalena." And then he had a second thought. "He wasn't on von Lutzen berger's list."

"An excellent reason to talk to him, wouldn't you say?"

Canaris said.

Himmler chuckled.

"She should make Cadiz on the eighteenth or nineteenth of

May," Canaris said, which told Himmler that Canaris had been thinking of Captain de Banderano before he came to the meeting. "That would mean Boltitz couldn't go to Buenos

Aires immediately."

"I agree that talking to de Banderano is important,"

Himmler said. "I can send someone with Boltitz to Cadiz, to report to us here after Boltitz talks to de Banderano. Then

Boltitz could leave for Argentina that much sooner."

"That's fine with me," Canaris said, then added: "And

Herr Reichsfuhrer, with all possible respect, I have another suggestion for you."

"Which is?" Himmler asked with a tight smile.

"An army officer would draw less attention in Buenos

Aires than a senior SS officer. And the less attention in a sit uation like this, the better."

"You're suggesting we don't send von Deitzberg?"

"I was wondering how convincingly Oberfiihrer von

Deitzberg could wear the uniform of the Wehrmacht,"

Canaris said.

"I take your point, Admiral," Himmler said. "And I would say that Oberfiihrer von Deitzberg would make a convincing

Wehrmacht general officer. Do you think Keitel would object if I seconded him to the General Staff?"

"I think we can explain the situation to the Generalfeld marschall," Canaris said, smiling.

'Is there anything else?" Himmler asked, looking at each of them in turn.

No one had anything to say.

"If there are no objections, I'll send the necessary cable, and arrange for their passage on the Condor," von Ribben trop said.

"And what do we tell the Fiihrer at this time?" Donitz asked.

"I would suggest that the Fiihrer has enough to occupy his attention without bringing this to his table until we know what we're talking about, and what we are going to do,"

Bormann said.

He looked at each man in turn, and each man, in turn, nodded his agreement.

[THREE]

The Chancellery of the German Reich

Wilhelmstrasse

Berlin

2325 27 April 1943

The first of the official Mercedeses lined up on Wilhelm strasse to transport the senior officers who had attended the conference in the Fiihrer bunker was that of Reichsprotektor

SS Heinrich Himmler. The Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler Regi ment knew on which side their bread was buttered.

As soon as the car had moved away from the curb, Himmler turned to Oberfuhrer Manfred von Deitzberg.

"Manfred, how would you feel about going to Buenos

Aires?" he asked.

"Whatever the Herr Reichsprotektor thinks is necessary," von Deitzberg replied.