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

"It's not important, Sir."

"I didn't ask if you thought it was important," Canaris said.

"I have not had lunch, Sir."

Canaris nodded. "Neither have I," Canaris said. "The brain requires sustenance, a fact I frequently forget."

Boltitz didn't reply.

The door opened.

"Herr Admiral?" Canaris's aide asked.

"One, I thought I asked you to remind me to eat at twelve o'clock."

"I did, Herr Admiral. The Herr Admiral's response was

'Later. Not now.' "

"Two, get Boltitz and me something to eat. Sandwiches and milk and coffee will do, as long as we can have it in five min utes."

"Jawohl, Herr Admiral."

"Three, ask Fregattenkapitan von und zu Waching to come in."

"Jawohl, Herr Admiral."

Fregattenkapitan Otto voq und zu Waching appeared in

Canaris's office less than two minutes later. When Karl

Boltitz started to get out of his chair, von und zu Waching waved him back into it.

"Have you had your lunch, Otto?" Canaris asked.

"Yes, Sir."

"Boltitz and I have not," Canaris said. As if on cue, a white-jacketed steward appeared with a tray of sandwiches.

The aide had them waiting outside; there's no way they could have been prepared this quickly.

Canaris signaled for the tray to be laid on his desk in front of

Boltitz, and then for Boltitz to help himself.

"Thank you, Herr Admiral."

The first bite of the leberwurst mit sempf was in his mouth, but he had not had time to chew when Canaris ordered, "Begin with the master of the Oceano Pacifico,

Boltitz."

He saw that I was chewing. Is this a reproof for thanking him?

Nearly choking with the effort, he managed to quickly swallow the liverwurst. "Kapitan de Banderano," he reported,

"stated very clearly that von Wachtstein was in his presence when von Wachtstein learned where the Oceano Paciftco's boat was to land on Samborombon Bay. And that that information came from Standartenfuhrer Goltz, who used the phrase 'it's time for you to see where we're going,' or words to that effect, before telling him-or actually showing him on a chart."

"Is there an implication that Goltz did not trust von

Wachtstein?"

"I asked that question, Herr Admiral. Kapitan de Banderano felt that Goltz had confidence in von Wachtstein. Goltz introduced von Wachtstein to de Banderano as 'my assistant in this undertaking,' or words to that effect. Kapitan de Ban derano felt that Standartenfuhrer Goltz was simply being careful. He also said that it would have been impossible for von Wachtstein to communicate with the shore from the time that Goltz showed him the landing spot to the time of the landing."

"Somebody told the Americans or the Argentines-one or the other, or both-where the landing was to be made,"

Canaris said.

"Kapitan de Banderano also stated with great firmness that von Wachtstein's behavior on the beach after the shootings was heroic. According to de Banderano, many shots were fired-this differs from von Wachtstein's account that there were not more than four or five-and that despite this fire, von

Wachtstein carried both bodies to the Oceano Paci-fico's boat, and then returned for the two crates which had been put ashore."

"How could de Banderano know this?" Korvettenkapitan von und zu Waching asked. "Could he see it? How far off shore was the Oceano Pacificol"

"Kapitan de Banderano commanded his ship's boat him self," Boltitz said. "He apologized profusely for the cow ardly behavior of his crew for not helping von Wachtstein."

"Then you are satisfied that von Wachtstein is not the man who informed the Argentines-or the Americans?"

"I believe, Herr Admiral, that he is less likely than

Gradny-Sawz and von Tresmarck."

"Let's hear what you have on them," von und zu Waching said.

"Let's finish with von Wachtstein," Canaris said. "He went to see von Stauffenberg?"

"Yes, Sir, he and Generalleutnant von Wachtstein."

"A purely personal question, Boltitz. How is von Stauf fenberg?"

"He's badly injured, Sir."

"He will live, would you say?"

"Yes, Herr Admiral. I don't think there's any chance of his dying now."

"Good. Germany needs officers like him," Canaris said.

"And you would say they-he and young von Wachtstein, I mean-are close?"

"Yes, Sir. When von Wachtstein was drunk at

Augsburg-"

"Tell us about that," Canaris interrupted.

"Well, he's apparently sort of a protege of General Gal land, Sir-the general put him up in his quarters, and told both Cranz and myself that he intends to have von Wacht stein assigned to the ME-262 project-"

"Von Wachtstein getting drunk, Boltitz, if you please,"

Canaris interrupted again, somewhat impatiently.

"Yes, Sir. There was a good deal to drink, apparently, in the General's quarters, and von Wachtstein got very drunk."

"You were there?"

"No, Sir, but General Galland told me not to judge him harshly. He had come from Oberstleutnant von Stauffen berg, and was terribly upset by his condition. General Gal land believed that was the reason he got drunk."

"Galland is another good man," Canaris said. "We might be a good deal better off with more very young general offi cers who've earned their rank in battle. Was there anything unusual in von Wachtstein's behavior when he was with

Hauptmann Griiner? Did he look guilty, in other words?"

"I thought his behavior was what one could expect,"

Boltitz said.

"Now tell us what you have learned about Gradny-Sawz and von Tresmarck."

"Very little, I'm afraid, Sir. Obersturmbannfiihrer Cranz put it to me that the SS had assets in place to observe them; that I didn't; and that to attempt to set up some sort of sur veillance would not only be unnecessary but might tend to alert them."

"And you agreed with that?" Canaris said.

"I didn't think I was in a position to argue with Ober sturmbannfiihrer Cranz, Sir. And in this case, I think he had a point."

"Do you think Galland will be able to have von Wacht stein transferred to him, Sir?" von und zu Waching asked.

"If he goes to the Fiihrer, and the Fiihrer is in the right frame of mind, he might. And actually, that might be the best solution to the situation. I'm sure von Wachtstein would rather be flying than doing what he's doing. I wonder… do you know, Boltitz… if having him assigned to the ME-262 project was von Wachtstein's idea, or Galland's?"

"I don't know, Sir. I know he flew the ME-262, what they call a check ride, with General Galland."

"And did he pass the check ride?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Then I would tend to think that Galland really must have a high opinion of von Wachtstein's skill as a pilot," Canaris said. "The Fiihrer has ordered that he be informed-by Gal land-of the loss of each ME-262 in training. What is that phrase aviators use? 'Pilot error'? I don't think our Fuhrer believes there is any excuse for it."

He looked at Boltitz. "Eat your sandwich. We have to leave shortly."

"Jawohl, Herr Admiral," Boltitz said, and reached for the liverwurst sandwich.

[TWO]

The Office of the Reichsfuhrer-SS

Berlin

1455 22 May 1943

SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Karl Cranz marched into the office, came to attention, gave a stiff-armed Nazi salute, and barked, "Heil Hitler!"

Without rising from his desk, or even straightening up,

Himmler returned the salute with a casually raised palm. "I understand there was aircraft trouble," he said.

"We had to make an unexpected landing at Leipzig,

Herr Reichsprotektor," Cranz said. "But the reason I am this late is that I have been at the Propaganda Ministry's film laboratory."

"What's that all about?"

"The funeral service was filmed by Propaganda Ministry photographers. I arranged with General Galland to have it flown here in a fighter so that it could be processed immedi ately. It was ready-a rough cut, they called it-by the time I got here." He exhibited a small black can of film.