The 34th Degree

SECRET.

“Listen to this, Franz,” von Berg said, beginning to read the order aloud. “‘In the opinion of the naval war staff, the possibility of enemy landings in the eastern as well as the western Mediterranean must be reckoned with.’” He paused. “Now, that’s a novel thought.”

He skimmed several more paragraphs offering the revelation that the enemy would probably make an initial landing where there would be the least resistance and where the greatest results could be expected in the shortest time.

“‘Landing attempts are most likely to be made in the Greek west coast area, where the Corfu-Arta-Pyrgos region offers the greatest prospects of success,’” he continued. “‘The German admiral commanding the Aegean is ordered to take over control of the minefields the Italians are laying off the western coast of Greece. German coastal defense batteries also are to be set up in a territory under Italian control. German R-boats are to be sent from Sicily to the Aegean.’”

“Motor torpedo boats to Greece?” asked Franz, busy with the Sonlar. “For what purpose, Herr Oberstgruppenfuhrer?”

“To establish R-boat bases, command stations, naval sea patrol services, and other safeguards, now that almost the whole coast of Greece, as well as the Greek islands, are threatened.” Von Berg crumpled up the report. “No wonder Buzzini is so edgy. He doesn’t want German company, and neither do I at this point. With the Flammenschwert reaching the crucial assembly phase, the last thing we need is the attention that more divisions in Greece will attract from the Allies and Berlin.”

“I have it, Herr Oberstgruppenfuhrer.” Franz held out the decoded signal, and when von Berg read it, he felt a sensation of surprise he hadn’t experienced in a long time. TO SS OBERSTGRUPPENFUHRER VON BERG,