This story takes place immediately after the story Weaving the Webs of Deception, Part 2 in the same universe, and follows certain events in the time span from June 9, 1944 to August 28, 1944. This is the fourth story in what I call the Operation Deflection series, the previous three being Two Missions for the Price of One and Weaving the Webs of Deception, Parts 1 and 2.
The flow of this story may seem a bit disjointed when reading one scene to the next. There are several threads being followed by this story, and these threads are not always interrelated. However, the threads all play a part in the weaving of the webs of deception, which I hope you will see by the end of the series.
I would like to extend many huge thanks to Patti and Marg. It's a long story, but they graciously donated the basis for several of the characters, events and story lines that are present in this story. And so I give them credit for the birth of some of the plot bunnies contained herein, but I accept all blame for what I might have done to them!
I have opted to go without beta reading again this time. All mistakes are mine, and mine alone!
The opening of this story takes place soon after the close of the story Weaving the Webs of Deception, Part 2 and several days after the events in the episode D-Day at Stalag 13. Portions of the first chapter of this story have previously appeared in my story, D-Day Plus Three.
As usual, I make no claims to any characters or events from the Hogan's Heroes Universe, or to any actual dialog or plot details from any episode referenced. This story contains scenes and dialog from the episodes Operation Briefcase, written by Laurence Marks and Klink vs. the Gonkulator, written by Phil Sharp. These have been used without permission.
Enjoy!
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Hammelburg, Luftwaffe Regional Headquarters, Office of General Albert Burkhalter
June 9, 1944, 2230 hours
The General flipped through the reports that he had been given and smiled. The beachhead from the Normandy landings appears to have taken hold, he read from one report. Another reported that there seemed to be no unified German counterattack. Still another reported the German units were not coordinating their defense.
The General filled his glass from the bottle on his desk and glanced at the last report. He read the contents and felt satisfied. The delay of the Germans to bring the Panzers up to defend the landing had been the key to its success.
"I have to give Colonel Hogan credit," the General said. "If anyone could have delayed the German General Staff, it would be him. But this succeeded far better than I had hoped for."
General Albert Burkhalter stood and raised his glass in the air. "Here's to you, Colonel Robert Hogan," he said. "You've accomplished more than I had hoped when I convinced the General Staff to meet at Stalag 13." He drained his glass.
"Colonel Klink, the new Chief of Staff," he muttered, shaking his head in disbelief. He began to laugh as he poured himself another celebratory drink from his schnapps bottle.
"Colonel Hogan certainly does come up with some very interesting ideas," Burkhalter said to himself as he sipped his second drink. "It took quite a lot of wrangling for me to clear Klink of any charges from the Führer on this. Hitler was incensed that a Luftwaffe Colonel would dare assume command of the Army operations." Burkhalter drained his glass before refilling it. He reflected on that morning's meeting at Berchtesgaden.
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"Mein, Führer, how could a lowly Colonel manage to take control away from General von Scheider unless he wanted it to happen?" Burkhalter asked.
"What?" von Scheider exclaimed. "Are you accusing me of complicity in this Allied landing?"
Burkhalter shrugged. "I am just saying that Colonel Klink could not have taken your command without your support."
"But I received a call from the Führer himself!" von Scheider exclaimed hysterically.
"I made no such call, General," Hitler replied, his manner unusually calm for a situation of this sort.
"That cannot be!" von Scheider said. He opened his mouth to continue but was silenced by an icy glare from the Führer.
"If you did receive a phone call, it could have been a trick by the Underground," Burkhalter suggested.
"The reports I have obtained from our intelligence department have indicated that Underground activity has been high since the invasion began," Himmler suggested.
"Are they being investigated?" Hitler asked.
"General Schlesinger has informed me personally that Major Hochstetter, the local Gestapo head in the Hammelburg area has investigated and found no such evidence to back up the General's assertion in this case," Himmler replied.
"But I tell you, I did receive a phone call!" von Scheider insisted. "Just ask the rest of the Generals on the staff."
"We have," Himmler replied. "They tell us that they do not know exactly who you talked to on the phone. They only have your word that it was the Führer."
"Maybe it is the General himself who organized this plan to sabotage our response to this invasion," Burkhalter said. "And at the same time, try to pass the blame to an innocent officer."
"How dare you make that accusation!" von Scheider replied angrily. "I am a loyal officer!"
"Loyal to who, General von Scheider," Hitler said. "Colonel Klunk's record is very exemplary. He is a fine officer and would never conspire against me."
Burkhalter had to hold back a laugh. Aside from never getting his name correct, the thought of the Führer calling Klink a fine officer was laughable. Klink was a babbling buffoon with an over inflated ego. Come to think of it, that's just the kind of officer the Führer wants on his staff.
"But …" von Scheider started.
"But nothing!" Hitler shouted. "I am tired of Generals who think they know better than me how to win this war. And I am also tired of the incompetence shown by those Generals."
Von Scheider cringed noticeably. "Jawohl, mein Führer," he replied meekly.
"Von Scheider, you are dismissed," Hitler replied.
Von Scheider released the breath he had been holding, seemingly relieved that nothing had happened to him. His relief was short lived.
"You are dismissed from your duties as Chief of Staff," Hitler continued. "And you will be held here pending your transfer to a unit in the Ukrainian Army."
"The Russian Front?" von Scheider asked in shock. "But sir, a combat …"
"If you utter another word, General, I will rescind this order and simply have you shot," Hitler interrupted. "Do I make myself clear?"
Von Scheider nodded before giving a disheartened salute.
Hitler turned to Burkhalter. "General, you are to inform Klunk that I have determined that he is not to blame for his actions," Hitler said. "He is to continue with the fine job he is doing to keep the Allied prisoners in line."
"Jawohl, mein Führer," Burkhalter replied.
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Burkhalter sipped his schnapps. It had been a close call for Klink, but in the end, it had been General von Scheider who took the blame. Before Burkhalter had left the Berghof that morning, he had heard that General Adolf Heusinger would be taking over as the Chief of Staff of the OKH and von Scheider was to be shipped out to the Russian Front in the morning.
Burkhalter raised his glass in salute again. "Hogan, not only did we manage to confuse the German army, we were ultimately able to remove one of the most capable military planners on the staff," he said, taking a drink. "We make a very good team … even if I am the only one who knows it!"