Armageddon_ A Novel of Berlin - Leon Uris [165]
“Comrades,” Rudi Wöhlman said, smiling his toothy smile to all sides of the conference table, “we have requested this meeting to put forth a proposal which we know will benefit Berlin and help clarify the political confusion. We are now pulling in separate directions. Soon, a new Constitution will be granted. It is time for us Berliners to work together to put this city on its feet.”
Berliners, indeed, Falkenstein thought. None of the four Communists remembered Berlin, they had been in Russia so long.
“It is our proposal that we form a single political group ... one great anti-Fascist front. With such solidarity and strength, the Nazi elements will never again be able to rise and destroy the German people.”
So that was it! It was so transparent, Ulrich had all he could do to keep a straight face as Hirsch and Eck added their voices. When they were done, Ulrich quickly averted an open discussion. “We will talk about it and reach you,” he said.
The three remained after the Communists left.
“It is an outrageous attempt to swallow us up,” Hanna Kirchner said, “under a guise of unity. Oh, certainly, they’ll put us in a few posts as window dressing.”
“Why must we suspect the worst,” Hollweg said.
“Because this is the worst,” Ulrich answered.
“But what can we do to stop it?” Hollweg retorted. “You know the pressure we are going to come under. We are not strong enough to stand against the Russians and the Americans are not going to lift a finger in our behalf.”
Berthold Hollweg had come out of a shack on the Teltow Canal to assume an important role in the rebirth of the Democratic Party. Much of his old iron had been taken by the humiliations of the Nazi years, but still Ulrich knew that he spoke truth.
When Ulrich and Hanna left, Heinz Eck, the deputy mayor, came to his office.
“It was a good meeting,” Eck said. “I have a feeling you see the merit of the plan.”
The gambit had begun. Hollweg knew they were to be singled out now and brought under pressure. Heinz Eck was an automatic functionary, a robot—a man with neither mind nor soul.
“It would be comforting for us to know you intend to support the anti-Fascist front,” he pressed.
“I must think it over carefully.”
“By all means, examine all aspects. Only then can you realize it is the only way for Berlin. How else are we to build? How else can we stop the rebirth of Nazism which the West fosters in our midst. May I say more? We in the People’s Proletariat Party have long recognized you as the true strength of the Democrats.”
A detestable lie, Hollweg thought. I am a relic of the past, living on past glory.
“Speaking with frankness, Comrade Hollweg, we would support your candidacy as Oberburgermeister again in the election.”
No doubt with you as my first deputy, Hollweg thought. “A fair price for services,” he mumbled.
“Can we say that we can depend on you?”
“I said, I would think it over.”
Immediately following the meeting the Action Squads, supported by the political section of Schatz’s police, began to single out Democrats to “convince” them of the merit of the unity plan. Those who were “convinced” set up a demand for an open meeting of delegates to vote in the form of a referendum.
Ulrich and Hanna knew that such an open meeting staged in the Russian Sector of the city would put a rubber stamp on the anti-Fascist front and be the death warrant of the Democrats.
Neither the Christian nor Conservative parties were in a position to do anything but follow the Democrats. They were too weak by themselves and Wöhlman had maneuvered to lop them off one at a time.
When Berthold Hollweg announced he supported the open meeting, Ulrich knew he was being brought under heavy, heavy pressure. He also knew he was out of maneuvering room.
Sean greeted Falkenstein at American Headquarters. Each made half-hearted apologies for not seeing more of the other since they had been