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The Uneasy Allies Raid

"Guten Morgen mein Lieber," (Good morning, my Love.) Hauptmann Hans Dietrich said softly to the small girl who lay sleeping on her bed. He bent forward and kissed her forehead. She stirred slightly then settled back, a smile on her delicate features.

Dietrich stood from beside his daughter's bed and looked around her room. Despite being in Berlin the house had not sustained much damage from allied bombing attacks. He was glad of this. The place held so many memories, both good and bad...but mostly good. Like bread baking in the stone oven, his wife kneeding dough, flour on her nose and a few whisps of blonde hair escaping her bun. The sunlight streaming through the large window in the greatroom as he played with Marta, teaching her to walk...

Shaking his head sadly at the thought of leaving once again, Dietrich strode quietly out of Marta's room. His wife, Lennore, met him in the kitchen, her green eyes full of tears.

"Ich wünsche Ihnen musste nicht gehen," (I wish you did not have to go,) she said as she wrapped her arms around him.

Dietrich pulled her tightly to him and they stood there a long time, he could smell her hair...he wished he could stay as well. Finally he pulled back from her and looked her straight in the eyes, "Ich kann meine Pflicht nicht entziehen . Ich werde wiederkommen , nicht fürchten. Aber ... Dinge können sich ändern ..." (I can not shirk my duty. But do not fear. I will return...but things may change...) Lennore's face showed her confusion at the last statement.

"Was nehmen Sie ?" (What are you talking about?) She asked.

Dietrich smiled softly, "Nach seiner Rückkehr nach Berlin , bin ich von den Schrecken erinnert durch die Nazi-Partei verpflichtet . Ich kann nicht blind bleiben die schrecklichen Dinge zu den Menschen hier getan wird ..." (Upon returning to Berlin, I am reminded of the horrors commited by the nazi party. I can not remain blind to the terrible things being done to the people here...)

Lennore nodded, "Ich bin damit einverstanden , Liebe, aber was kann man tun, um ihn zu stoppen ?" (I agree, Love but what can you do to stop it?)

"Ich weiß noch nicht , was zu tun ... vielleicht werde ich den Alliierten Kontakt ..." (I don't know yet what to do, maybe I will contact the allies...) Dietrich explained, his finger gently tracing Lennore's jawline. "Das heißt , wenn ich sehe, dass Sie und Marta sind sicher aus Deutschland." (That is after I see that you and Marta are safely out of Germany." He kissed her then, with passion. He knew this plan might fail. He knew this could be the last time he ever saw his family. But he also knew he could no longer wear the swastika and call Hitler Führer. Lennore melted into his embrace and kissed him back. They stayed that way for several minutes, neither wanting this moment to end. But knowing that his time was running short, Dietrich pulled away from his wife and then walked out of the house, willing himself not to run back to her. As he strode purposefully away from his home he slipped off his wedding band and once again hid it in a velvet pouch he carried in an inner pocket of his shirt. It was better for the men he commanded not to know he had family and so he had kept them a secret to all but a few.

As he walked down the street towards the escort waiting to take him to the airfield he tried not to look at the damage and devastation to what had once been his home. All around him were burned buildings, ruins of old homes that had once houses friends. War is hell, Dietrich thought to himself. He reached the truck and after saluting the corporal driving, he stepped inside and they sped off, away from the destruction...away from Berlin...away from his home.