Mila 18 - Leon Uris [230]
Water and electricity would be shut off the same night his troops moved into position.
It was a marvelous, simple, and efficient foolproof plan.
Everything was ready at Treblinka to give “special treatment.” The entire process would take three to four days. Five at the absolute most.
Now, about the Jewish Forces, he thought. He wanted them to open fire first and commit themselves to combat. This way he could clean them out in a few hours. Once they were gone, the liquidation of the rest would be much easier. But would they fire at heavily armed troops? Damn it, no—they’d cower.
If these Jews did open fire it would cost him troops. Ten or twenty casualties. Should he send in Ukrainians the first day and let them take the casualties? No. The honor had to go to the Reinhard Corps! Shame to risk blooding the Elite Corps, but such were the fortunes of war. They would be insulted if they did not enter the ghetto first.
He ran over the map again, replaced his tanks for reserve, and set his artillery in positions to effect better cross fire, then set the magnifying glass and picked up the roster of troops being placed at his disposal.
SS UNITS
SS staff and officers, Warsaw
Reinhard Corps, Warsaw
Special Waffen SS, Trawniki and Poniatow
SS Panzer Grenadier Battalion
SS Mobilized Cavalry Battalion
SS Police Regiment, Lublin
SS Dog Company, Belzec
All Gestapo units, Warsaw
WEHRMACHT UNITS
Battalion, Infantry
Engineer companies, detached
Flame-throwing companies, detached
Battalion plus battery, artillery
Special detachment anti-aircraft searchlight units
Medical Corps company
LOCAL UNITS
All companies, Polish Blue Police
All companies, Polish fire brigades
FOREIGN RACIAL GUARDS
One battalion mixed, Baltic guards
One battalion, Ukrainian guards
Alfred Funk sighed with contentment. His special brigade of eight thousand men was being assembled rapidly. Those from outside the Warsaw district were en route. It was a nicely rounded force. He muttered his unhappiness at having to expose SS people to the first fire, but ... no choice ... simply no choice.
Horst von Epp returned from his regular four-day monthly trip to Krakow with the knowledge that Oberführer Funk had been in Warsaw for three days. The instant he entered Funk’s office the Oberführer snapped up from his desk. “Aha!” Funk cried with obvious delight. “Aha! Enter Neville Chamberlain, the great negotiator. The great appeaser!”
“From the tremors of joy in your voice, I should say that you have come on a mission of annihilation.”
“Look!” Funk said, proudly pointing to the map. “I am grateful for this chance to vindicate myself.” He clasped his hands behind his back snappily and paced with a jaunty step. “The instant I returned from Denmark, Himmler called me in. ‘Enough of this nonsense,’ Himmler told me. ‘Der Führer commands you to obliterate the Warsaw ghetto immediately. This symbol of Jewry must be wiped off the earth. You, Alfred, have priority on all troops in the General Government Area.’ ”
Horst von Epp grimaced and swung open the liquor cabinet.
Funk had his knuckles on the desk and bent forward rigidly, his blue eyes alive with vehemence. “You know, Horst, you actually had me fooled for a moment with your silly talk. Negotiate with the Jews, indeed! I was a fool to listen to you. I should have carried out my orders to the letter in January.”
One quick jigger of scotch roared down Von Epp’s throat, and a second followed, and a third was poured. Then he turned and faced Funk and began to laugh ironically. Funk’s face quivered as his expression changed from anger to puzzlement.
“ ‘With reasonable men, I will reason; with humane men I will plead; but to tyrants I will give no quarter ...’ ”
“What in the name of hell are you babbling about, Horst?”
“As a good propagandist, I studied the art of another good propagandist. We should all study our predecessors, don’t you think?”
“I don’t recall the phrase, nor do I see the occasion for