“Ah yes,” Himmler said rustling through some papers on his desk,
“Here we are. You are appointed commander in North Africa in command of the Afrika Korps answering directly to Von Arnim.”
Von Brockhorst was surprised at Himmler’s knowledge though he didn’t show it. This was the head of the German police and soon to be minister of the interior, head of the SS, the secret police and supervisor of the final solution, the elimination of the Jews. The second most powerful man in Germany. Von Brockhorst was Wehrmacht, army, and nothing to do with the Gestapo and certainly not answerable to them or this man, unless of course a crime had been committed which there hadn’t.
Himmler put the paper down. Von Brockhorst followed it with his eyes. It had been personally signed by Adolf Hitler. Himmler was now looking across his desk at the General, light flickering off his pince-nez.
“I am surprised Herr Reichsfuhrer that our beloved Fuhrer would trouble you on so trivial a matter as to the posting of one of his Generals.”
Himmler took his glasses off , put them on his desk and rubbed his eyes.
“The Fuhrer knows that I am merely interested in his interests. My job is not a very pleasant one but it is necessary…. No…. vital to the fatherland. All non believers must be removed. I need just one name from every family in Germany just one. This morning I signed an execution order for an SS General. A General Vorgsburg,” Himmler continued reading the name from his out tray. He looked up. “Do you know him?”
“Yes Herr Reichsfuhrer.”
“He has been found guilty of treason and will face the firing squad. Shocking a man in his position.”
Von Brockhorst felt dread. He looked at the evil man sat in front of him in his high backed chair and half expected to see a black eagle perched either side of his head.
“Like I said,“ Himmler continued “I need just one name. Why I’d wager that if I dug deep enough I could even uncover some dirt on you General,” he said with a smirk.
Von Brockhorst remained quiet and stared at the man unafraid now. Himmler suddenly snapped the file on Vorgsburg shut.
‘That’s his life’ Von Brockhorst was thinking ’snapped shut just like that’
“Like I said it’s an essential job. One which the Fuhrer has entrusted to me. Now tell me my friend what can I do for you?”
The General undid his briefcase, took out a letter and slid it across the desk.
“I need a man from you. A special man for the task ahead.”
Von Brockhorst sighed with relief when he sank back into the comfortable rear seat of the Mercedes once again.
“Wehrmacht headquarters,” he said to the driver not even noticing that it was the same one as before.
Von Brockhorst and Himmler had talked for over two hours and the General had felt that there was more to the man than the cold policeman he had first thought. There was warmth in the man to be found if you scratched the surface deep enough. Himmler had been very interested in the meeting the previous week at the Fuhrers country retreat the ’Berghof’ in Bavaria.
Von Brockhorst cast his mind back. He had been the last of the Generals to arrive and was greeted well. They were there to receive orders from the Fuhrer. Only Himmler and Goering were not present. Goering having already been debriefed and approved of the plan.
Von Brockhorst greeted them each in turn. Gerd von Runstedt, Alfred Jodl, Albert Kesselring. The tall elegant young General helping himself to punch he hadn’t met but knew.
Reinhard Heydrich.
Then Von Brockhorst had spotted a friend.
Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, head of the Abwehr, naval intelligence.
The two men exchanged pleasantries. Then during their conversation a gap in the crowd appeared and they found themselves across the room from Eva.
Eva Braun.
Hitler’s special lady.
She smiled sweetly at Von Brockhorst and he crossed to her. She held out her hand for him to kiss the back of. She smelled faintly of perfume and when he guessed its name she giggled prettily. Now as all conversation in the room subsided she was the centre of attention. All of the men in the room envious of Hitler for possessing such a beauty. She stayed in the room with them for a while and against their protests she left. Her perfume lingered.
The door burst open and Hitler stormed in.
The Generals instantly threw themselves into trying to put salutes together but Hitler