W. IV - Honor Bound 05 - The Honor of Spies

"They began to acquire their legendary reputation as warriors right from the beginning, when, the year after they were formed, they engaged and soundly defeated Napoleon's best at Grenoble in 1815. Subsequently they served--with equal distinction--in the Crimean War and performed admirably in the wars of Italian Independence, Eritrea, and Libya.

"In this war, the Carabinieri have fought with valor in Greece and East Africa under impossible odds."

General von Wachtstein nodded his agreement. Von Deitzberg saw this and his lips tightened even more.

Canaris thought: Student is certainly aware that it's unwise to challenge Himmler's right-hand man.

But he's also aware that rescuing Il Duce is his last chance. And that Himmler wants this rescue operation for the SS. And he can't let that happen.

So--with the old principle that the best defense is a good offense--he's going to take on von Deitzberg.

Good for him.

"So, von Deitzberg," Student went on, "while I am second to no one in my admiration for the SS, I submit that your Special Unit Friedenthal--it is approximately of company strength, as I understand it?"

"A reenforced company, Herr General. A little over three hundred men--"

"All of whom, I am sure, are a credit to the SS and Germany. I doubt, however, that even such a splendid body of men can take on a battalion--six or seven hundred strong--of the Carabinieri who have been personally charged by their king with guarding Il Duce."

Von Deitzberg glared at him. His face showed that he was preparing a sarcastic, perhaps caustic, reply.

He ran out of time.

"Then, may I tell the Fuhrer, Admiral Canaris," General von Wachtstein asked, surprising Canaris, who hadn't expected him to open his mouth, "that you and General Student are agreed that the attempt to liberate Mussolini should take place after he is moved to the Campo Imperatore Hotel rather than on the Isle of Ponza, or when he is being moved from one to the other?"

That wasn't a question.

Von Wachtstein was telling von Deitzberg that he agreed with Student.

"Yes," Canaris said.

"Concur," Student said.

That makes three of us who have crossed von Deitzberg. Not only Student and me, but also von Wachtstein, for asking the question.

Why did he do that?

One general supporting another against the SS?

Or maybe to show von Deitzberg that there are only three senior players in this little game, and von Deitzberg is not one of them?

Well, he had his reasons and he's no fool.

And that means he knew I wouldn't support von Deitzberg.

"Can we now get to the details of the operation itself?" von Wachtstein asked. "I hate to rush any of you, but the Fuhrer is waiting to hear what you have decided."

Well, that I understand: He's making the point to von Deitzberg that he represents the Fuhrer.

Von Deitzberg said: "I believe Hauptsturmfuhrer Skorzeny has a very good plan--"

"I'm sure he does," Student interrupted him.

"If I have to say this," von Deitzberg said, "Reichsfuhrer-SS Himmler feels the SS Special Unit Friedenthal should play a significant role in this operation."

"The Fuhrer has honored me with the responsibility for carrying it out," Student said.

"Let's hear what the SS has to say, General Student," von Wachtstein said.

"Certainly," Student said.

"Skorzeny," von Deitzberg said.

Skorzeny popped to attention, then opened his briefcase and took a large map and a number of large photographs from it. He unfolded the map and then laid it on the table.

In front of von Wachtstein, which means he acknowledges that von Wachtstein is really in charge.

"I have personally reconnoitered the Campo Imperatore Hotel by air," Skorzeny said. "In a Fieseler Storch. If you will notice, gentlemen, the map has keys to the photographs."

Canaris examined the map and the photos with interest. All he had previously seen was a prewar advertising brochure for the hotel. It wasn't that he was disinterested but rather because, before Hitler had involved him in the rescue of Il Duce, he couldn't imagine being involved himself.

As both Gehlen and von und zu Waching had heard him often say, "Effective intelligence is far less the gathering of information than being able to find the two or three tiny useful bits in the mountains of useless data."

Canaris simply hadn't the time to try to learn anything but the two or three useful bits: where Mussolini was being held, and when and where he was going to be moved.

Looking at the map and the photographs now, Canaris understood why the Carabinieri had chosen the Campo Imperatore Hotel as the place to confine Il Duce. It sat atop the Gran Sasso, the highest mountain in the Italian Apennines, accessible only by cable car from the valley. Mussolini would not only have to escape his captors but also somehow use the cable car to get down the mountain. And cable cars were not like automobiles; one could not operate them by oneself.

More important, no one trying to free him could do so without using the cable car. All the Carabinieri would have to do to thwart a rescue attempt was disable the cable car and call for help, which could get there--even from Rome--long before the rescuers could scale the Gran Sasso.

"Simply," Skorzeny said, "my plan is that 108 members of the SS Special Unit Friedenthal, under my command, will land in a dozen of General Student's DFS 230 assault gliders. Once the Carabinieri have been dealt with, and Il Duce freed, a Fieseler Storch will land, and Il Duce and I will get in it and fly to Rome."

"I find a few little things in your plan that concern me," Student said sarcastically. "For example, the Storch is a two-seat aircraft. Or are you planning on flying it yourself, Herr Hauptmann?"

The door opened and Frau Dichter, Canaris's anemic-looking secretary said, "Forgive the intrusion, Herr Admiral, but . . ."

Reichsfuhrer-SS Heinrich Himmler pushed past her into the room.

". . . Reichsfuhrer Himmler."

Everyone rose quickly to their feet.

Himmler's right arm shot out in the Nazi salute.

"Heil Hitler," he announced softly. "Take your seats, gentlemen. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Would you like to sit here, Herr Reichsfuhrer?" von Deitzberg asked.

"This will be fine," Himmler said as he took one of the chairs lining the conference table.

When he had seated himself, the others sat back down.

"Actually," Himmler announced, "I came to have a word with Admiral Canaris. But since I am here, and we all know how important Operation Oak is to our Fuhrer, perhaps this is one of those fortuitous circumstances one hears so much about. Please go on."

Von Deitzberg shot to his feet.

"Herr Reichsfuhrer, General Student was about to tell us what he finds wrong with Skorzeny's plan."

"Which is? Skorzeny's plan, I mean."

"Admiral Canaris has learned that Mussolini will shortly be taken to the ski resort--the Campo Imperatore Hotel--on the crest of the Gran Sasso," von Wachtstein said. "It was just agreed that that is where the rescue will take place. Skorzeny proposes that 108 men of the SS Special Unit Friedenthal under his command land by glider and free Il Duce, who will be then flown to Rome in a Storch."

"And General Student finds weaknesses in that plan?" Himmler said. "I'll be interested to hear what they are."

"Several things concern me, Herr Reichsfuhrer," Student began, only to be interrupted by Himmler raising a hand to cut him off.

"Actually, Student, I learned something from you soldiers," Himmler said, then paused, smiled his undertaker's smile, and made his little joke: "As hard as that may be to believe."