Armageddon_ A Novel of Berlin - Leon Uris [237]
When Hanna did not arrive, Ulrich Falkenstein was conveniently present for the speech, but when neither appearance nor word came from Hanna by the end of the ceremonies, there was cause for concern.
It was not until late that night that she arrived at Ulrich Falkenstein’s apartment and he immediately called Neal Hazzard, Sean, and the British and French commandants.
The woman was obviously shaken as she told her story.
She lived in Prenzlauer Berg Borough in the Soviet Sector. The Russians knew she planned to participate in the American Independence Day Celebrations.
“Schatz and four of his SND came to my door and ordered me into a car. I was driven to the Magistrat Building and kept in a file room with guards both inside and out. An hour ago, General Trepovitch came and handed me these documents.”
There was a Russian order to Oberburgermeister Kirchner advising the Magistrat to stop paying occupation costs to the Western Allies.
A second order for the Postal Department of the Magistrat to stop all mail delivery to the Western Sector.
A third order stated that all municipal salaries would be paid in Soviet currency.
These papers were signed by Trepovitch in a new role, as “Military Governor of All Berlin.”
The next morning Sean and twelve of his people went into the Soviet Sector to their liaison offices in the City Hall and the Magistrat. Sean called together the Magistrat department heads.
“The Soviet Union yesterday attempted to claim sole authority in Berlin. We are increasing our liaison in all offices in the Russian Sector. If you are accosted in your office by Soviet officers you are within your province to demand the presence of an American, British, or French officer.”
The move did much to stop the harassment of the German officials during working hours, but a steady campaign of sheer terror was mounting against those who lived in the Russian Sector. Yet, the Germans were showing increased resistance as the West became more and more committed.
Having failed in the “workers’ Putsch” and now meeting stiffening resistance from German officials, the Russians turned their efforts to an attack of the hated B marks.
All along the sector borders search stations were set up. People were pulled off trains, off the streets, out of restaurants, and dragged into shacks and searched for B marks. The round-ups were particularly evident on payday in West Sector factories. Some fifty Berliners were given severe prison sentences for carrying “illegal” Western money.
Despite growing unemployment in the Western Sectors, the further reduction of power to a quarter of normal; despite the diminishing coal and food stores, the B marks were clobbering the Russian currency until it took ten to buy a B mark. The Russian money became known as “wall-paper marks.”
The Soviet Union had a vast coal store on the West Harbor and other depots and dumps along the canals, mainly in the British Sector. One day, shortly after the Fourth of July, the Russian guard was ejected and a British guard placed on all Soviet dumps.
With no formal contact between them, General Trepovitch, who advertised himself as sole ruler, tore over to British Headquarters to speak to T. E. Blatty.
The Englishman handed the Russian a receipt for the precise inventory of the dumps they had seized.
“We aren’t taking them, General Trepovitch. We are merely borrowing them until you lift the blockade.”
Anger over the blockade grew. Every night in the Western Sector there were a half-dozen meetings of the three political parties. These gatherings drew thousands of people ... solemn, orderly, and now able to protect themselves from agitators. Along with Falkenstein and the indomitable Hanna Kirchner a whole new crop of stubborn leaders emerged.
A counteroffensive was launched. The Berlin Assembly, on a bill by Falkenstein,