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

"What are we doing in here?" Admiral Wilhelm Canaris asked as he-the last man to arrive-walked into the small, well-furnished miniature theater, trailed by Fregattenkapitan

Otto von und zu Waching and Korvettenkapitan Karl Boltitz.

Already present were the Reichsfuhrer-SS, Heinrich

Himmler; Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop;

Parteileiter Martin Bormann; Feldmarschall Wilhelm Keitel; and SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Karl Cranz.

"We are going to see a short film the Propaganda Minister intends to have in every theater in Germany by the end of the week," Himmler said with a smile.

"Do we have time for this?" Canaris asked, not bothering to conceal the disgust in his voice. "What kind of a film?"

"It has a dual purpose," Himmler said. "Goebbels is quite excited about it. He feels that those whose family members have made the supreme sacrifice for Germany can vicari ously experience the honor they would have been paid had circumstances permitted."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, I'm afraid,"

Canaris said.

"Actually, this was Cranz's idea," Himmler said. "A picture is worth a thousand words, so to speak, right, Karl?"

"As I told you, Sir, inasmuch as some of the gentlemen have never seen the people we brought back from Buenos

Aires, I thought seeing what they looked like-how they behaved in this particular circumstance-would have merit."

"The film was shot by Propaganda Ministry cameramen,"

Himmler went on, obviously pleased with himself, "after

Cranz telephoned to Goebbels and suggested that the inter ment ceremonies of Standartenfuhrer Goltz and Oberst

Griiner might well have a certain propaganda value. Goebbels immediately saw the possibilities, and ordered the interment filmed."

"I still don't understand," Canaris said. "But let's get it over with."

"Herr Admiral," Cranz said, "the idea is that many German families who have lost people naturally wonder where they are buried and how. The unknown is often unpleasant. What I suggested to the Herr Propaganda Minister was that this film would leave in the minds of such people images of a dignified ceremony in which the deceased were honored by the

Fatherland."

"Let's see the film," Bormann said.

Himmler snapped his fingers. The room went dark, and after a moment the projector came to life.

"There will be, of course, a narrative, and appropriate music, and some final editing," Himmler said. "Goebbels's people are working on that as we speak."

The film of the funerals played.

The screen went blank, then white, and the lights in the room came on.

"I can see why this excited Goebbels," Martin Bormann said, "but I cannot see what the film has to do with the pur pose of this meeting."

"The Reichsprotektor believes that one can often learn a great deal by looking at people's faces," Cranz said. "And I am convinced he's right."

"To get to the point," Bormann said, "has the investigation turned anything up?"

"Nothing concrete. I think Korvettenkapitan Boltitz will agree with me."

"I'm afraid that's true, Herr Parteileiter," Cranz said.

"In other words, you cannot tell me-so that I can report to the Fiihrer-whether or not Operation Phoenix has been compromised?" Bormann replied, just a little nastily.

"We have learned nothing, Martin," Himmler said, "either here, or from von Deitzberg in South America, that suggests

Operation Phoenix has been compromised."

"You don't think that the murders of the military attache and your man Goltz has anything to do with Operation

Phoenix?" Bormann pursued, sarcastically.

"It is entirely possible that both were killed in revenge for the death of Oberst Frade," Himmler said. "And that those who perpetrated that barbarous act did not know, or even suspect, anything about Operation Phoenix."

"And that's what I'm supposed to report to the Fiihrer?"

"Inasmuch as I was given responsibility-together with

Admiral Canaris-for conducting the investigation, that's what / will report to the Fiihrer," Himmler said. "And I am extremely reluctant to go to the Fuhrer without something concrete."

"Canaris?" Feldmarschall Keitel asked.

"The incident on the beach at Samborombon Bay, Herr

Feldmarschall, is consistent with the character of the Argen tine officer corps. They deeply resented the murder of

Oberst Frade."

"I wondered if that was necessary," Keitel said. "So what are you recommending, Canaris?"

"I will defer to the Reichsprotektor," Canaris said.

"Unless there are objections, I think we should send von

Tresmarck and Gradny-Sawz back to South America,"

Himmler said.

"And young von Wachtstein?" Keitel asked. "Why not him?"

"General Galland wants him assigned to the ME-262 project," Himmler said. "And knowing Galland, he's pre pared to go to the Fuhrer to get him."

"He's not needed over there for Operation Phoenix?" Bor mann asked.

"He knows very little of Operation Phoenix, Herr

Parteileiter," Cranz said. "From everything Korvettenkapitan

Boltitz and I have been able to determine-and from what the Herr Reichsprotektor tells me we have learned in

South America-von Wachtstein believes the material they attempted to take ashore was in connection with

Admiral Canaris's plan to repatriate the officers from the

GrafSpee."

"I think it would be easier to go along with Galland,"

Himmler said, "to let him have von Wachtstein, than to open that can of worms with the Fiihrer."

"You're suggesting, Herr Reichsprotektor," Canaris said,

"that if he was needed later, von Wachtstein could be sent back over there?"

"Yes, that was my thinking."

"I have no objection to that," Canaris said.

"Nor I," Feldmarschall Keitel said.

"And that's what I'm supposed to report to the Fuhrer?"

Bormann asked.

"I am going to tell the Fuhrer, Martin," Himmler said,

"that in my judgment, and that of Admiral Canaris, Operation

Phoenix has not been compromised, and that he no longer has to spend his valuable time thinking about it."

"Obersturmbannfiihrer Cranz and Korvettenkapitan Boltitz are also going to South America, presumably?"

"Only Korvettenkapitan Boltitz, Martin," Himmler said.

"And I'm going to bring Oberfiihrer von Deitzberg back. I need both von Deitzberg and Cranz here, and I have great faith in Boltitz to continue the investigation and institute appropriate security measures in South America. Further more, Boltitz will have the services of Sturmbannfiihrer

Raschner, who will remain in Argentina."

"Then that winds up our business?" Von Ribbentrop asked. It was the first time he'd spoken.

"I think so," Himmler said, and looked around the room.

Keitel got to his feet. "I am pleased, I must say, that we are not going to have to trouble the Fuhrer further with this."

He picked up his field marshal's baton, touched it to his forehead, and walked out of the room.

"I have film of the Warsaw ghetto," Himmler said. "If anyone has time to see it-it's about twenty minutes."

No one had the time.

[FOUR] Cafe Tortoni

Avenida de Mayo

Buenos Aires 1505 25

May 1943

"I don't think this will take long," Coronel Bernardo Martin said to Sargento Manuel Lascano as Lascano stopped the blue 1939 Dodge on Avenida de Mayo in front of the Cafe

Tortoni. "Why don't you go around the block and park across the street?"

Lascano nodded his head vigorously to indicate he under stood his orders. He was still having trouble following el

Coronel's orders not to say "Si, Senor"-much less "mi

Coronel"-when they were in civilian clothing. He had tried

"Si, Senor Martin," but Martin hadn't liked that, either, ordering him not to use his name unless absolutely neces sary.