Armageddon_ A Novel of Berlin - Leon Uris [215]
“What are you trying to say, Ulrich?”
“The time has come for you to resign as mayor of Berlin.”
Hollweg paled, grew faint. He recovered enough to become indignant.
Ulrich stopped him by throwing before him a copy of the reports that damned him as a Russian collaborator. Berthold Hollweg lifted the first page and began to read, then turned his back and wrung his hands.
“The truth!” Falkenstein demanded.
“They made me sit for hours in an empty office in police headquarters,” he muttered. “Schatz came ... three, four nights a week ... I was followed everywhere ... they threatened to kill my little grandson ... you can’t imagine what it has been like!”
“Yes, I do know what it is like.”
“Great God! All men cannot be like you!”
Ulrich Falkenstein’s final disdain ruled out pity. “Was there nothing left for the things we lived for? Was there nothing left of the memory of our comrades that Hitler destroyed? Was there nothing left to cry out in anger at Rudi Wöhlman? Was there nothing left?”
Hollweg wept.
“Fool!” Falkenstein cried.
“You are the fool!” his friend screamed back. “How long will the Americans stay before they are sick of the German business? How much blood will they spill for us? Do you really believe the Russians can be stopped? You are the fool, Ulrich! I cannot live through it, again.”
Ulrich flopped his arms helplessly. Beneath him writhed a person whose innards were eroded by the political terror of two decades.
Falkenstein unfolded a sheet of paper, placed it before Hollweg, and handed him a pen. “You will sign this. It is your resignation from the Democratic Party and as Oberburgermeister of Berlin.”
Chapter Thirty-eight
IT HAPPENED WITH LIGHTNING speed!
The session of the Berlin Assembly came to order in the red-brick, churchlike structure on Rathaus Strasse. The banner of the city with its symbolic Berlin Bear looked down on the great room from behind the rostrum.
During the early morning hours, Ulrich Falkenstein had quietly marshaled his forces and held secret meetings with the leaders of the Conservatives and Christians. The air was still supercharged by Colonel Hazzard’s broadcast. A new ounce of courage was in them all.
The chief clerk of the Assembly stood, and read the resignation of Berthold Hollweg as Oberburgermeister.
Rudi Wöhlman never knew what hit him! Before he could gain his wits, the free parties had elected Ulrich Falkenstein to the office.
Collaborating with the American guarantee, Sean had used this precious timing to inflict a catastrophic setback on the Russians. It was the first real display of offensive action as against defensive reaction.
General Hansen was too wise not to understand the temper of the moment. He displayed another quality of his many-sided character by the admission that he had made a mistake and he set out to rectify it.
Hansen now took responsibility for Hazzard’s broadcast and argued with the State Department that it was entirely within his discretion and general American policy. Washington now was faced with rebuking their military governor publicly. They backed down with an announcement of their own: THE AMERICAN GARRISON IS REMAINING IN BERLIN.
“General, we have contacted Colonel Hazzard in Frankfurt. He is on the line.”
“Neal?”
“Speaking.”
“Hansen, here.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Neal, on second thought, Berlin needs you more than Kansas City.”
“To hell with Berlin, General.”
“I’m trying to say, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t have to, General. I knew what I was doing. I’m the one who is sorry I had to put you in hot water.”
“Will you come back?”
“No, sir. I’m tired of sleeping with a pistol under my pillow. I’m tired of my wife being threatened. I’ve got children sixteen and seventeen years old. I want to get a quiet job and have enough money to put them through college. General, I’ve got a wife in the next room crying her heart out. She really hasn’t enjoyed the country club we’re supposed to be running in Berlin. I’ve never seen Claire cry before ... not in twenty-two years of this. We’ve just had a belly full.”
Sean lifted the