The 34th Degree

133

At Hitler’s holiday house in Obersalzberg, the Fuhrer and his generals had just viewed footage of Wernher von Braun’s A-4 rockets when a grim-faced Himmler walked in on the weapons conference.

“Reichsfuhrer,” Hitler observed. “You don’t look happy.”

“I regret that I must be the bearer of bad tidings to my Fuhrer.” Himmler presented the signal from Berlin that said SS general Ludwig von Berg had been killed during an Allied air strike on Corfu. Himmler concealed his delight behind a mournful facade.

Hitler’s fury was evident as he crumpled the paper in his hand. “And what has become of Dr. Xaptz?”

“Killed as well by the enemy.”

“And the research von Berg was eager to show us today?”

“Lost, I’m afraid.”

Hitler sighed and looked at the A-4 rockets on the screen. “No matter,” he told the generals in the room. “We now possess the decisive weapons of the war. Production will begin immediately. Soon hails of fire will rain upon London.”

Everybody in the room murmured their agreement except Admiral Canaris, who was lost in sobering reflection at the news of von Berg’s death.

“As for this air strike on Corfu,” Hitler went on, “it can only affirm that my intuition was right and von Berg’s intelligence wrong about the Allies’ intentions in Greece. General Jodl?”

The chief of staff of the Armed Forces High Command sat up in his chair. “Yes, my Fuhrer?”

“The 194th Jager and the First Gebirgs Divisions are to join the German First Panzer Division in Greece immediately.”

“Two more divisions?” asked Jodl. “That makes five additional divisions you’ve deployed to Greece in recent weeks.”

“Yes, Jodl, I know that,” said Hitler, glaring. “How often must I repeat myself around here?”