The Valhalla Exchange - Jack Higgins [62]
Ritter saluted and said in excellent English, 'Sturmbannfuhrer Karl Ritter, 502nd SS Heavy Tank Battalion at present in command of this unit, and this is Herr Strasser.'
'Of the Prisoner of War Administration Department in Berlin,' Strasser put in.
'And I am Brigadier General Hamilton Canning of the Army of the United States, Captain Howard here Second Rangers. Oberstleutnant Hesser, you may know.'
It was all very polite, very formal, except for Jack Howard, whose face had turned deathly pale and who clutched the Thompson gun in his hands till the knuckles turned white. There was life in his eyes again for the first time in days, for he had recognized Ritter instantly.
'What can we do for you?' Canning said.
'Oberstleutnant Hesser.' Strasser produced the Hitler Directive and unfolded it. 'I have here an order from my department in Berlin signed, as you will see, by the Fuhrer himself, ordering you to place the five prisoners remaining at Schloss Arlberg in my care.'
He held out the letter. Max Hesser waved it away. 'Too late, gentlemen. I surrendered my command to Captain Howard on his arrival not more than thirty minutes ago. General Canning is in command here now.'
There was silence for a while. The snow falling harder than ever, a sudden, small wind churning it into a miniature blizzard that danced around them.
Strasser said, 'This is a totally illegal act, Colonel Hesser. To my certain knowledge there has been no general surrender, no discussion of peace terms; cannot be while the Fuhrer still lives to direct the struggle of the German people from his headquarters in Berlin.'
'There has been a surrender here,' Hesser said, 'according to the rules of war. I have done nothing dishonourable.'
'A surrender to three members of the American Army?' Strasser said. 'You tell me there is nothing dishonourable in this?'
'You will speak to me if you please,' Canning said. 'As this gentleman has made plain, I command here now as senior Allied officer present.'
'No, General, I think not,' Ritter said calmly. 'Our business is with the officer in command of Schloss Arlberg, and to us he must still be Oberstleutnant Max Hesser until relieved of that duty by the High Command of the German Army.' He turned to Hesser. 'You took an oath, Colonel Hesser, as did we all, I think. An oath as a German soldier to your Fuhrer and the State.'
'To a madman,' Hesser said. 'Who has brought Germany to her knees.'
'But also to the State, to your country,' Ritter said. 'You and I are soldiers, Hesser, as General Canning here and Captain Howard. No difference. We play the game on our side, they on theirs. We can't hope to change the rules in the middle to suit our personal convenience. Not any of us. Is that not so, General?'
It was Howard who answered him. 'Is that how you see it? A game? Nothing more?'
'Perhaps,' Ritter said. 'The greatest game of all where the stakes are a country and its people, and if a man can't stand by his own, he is less than nothing.'
He turned back to Hesser, waiting. Hesser said, 'It is my information that a direct order has gone to the SS from the Fuhrer himself, authorizing the execution of all prominent prisoners. I consider this order monstrous. A direct violation of the Geneva Convention and a crime against humanity. I will not be a party to it and neither will the men of this garrison.'
Strasser said, 'This is, of course, total nonsense. A tissue of lies. As the representative for this area of the Prisoner of War Administration Department, I can give you my word on this absolutely.'
'Then why do you want us?' Canning asked. 'Tell me that?'
'All prominent prisoners are being brought together in one centre, for their own protection.'
'As hostages against the evil day?'
'A sensible precaution only, Herr General, I assure you.'
'Who for - you or us?'
There was another brief silence. The snow danced around them. Hesser said slowly, 'I stand by what I have done.