Wrecks to Ritches (Kriegheld)

[∬: Erhard Strumfelder]

Country: Nazi Germany
Current Time: 06:45
Weather Conditions: Clear, Dark, Windy, -2ºC

Strumfelder pulled back the leather cuff of his glove and looked at his watch. He’d rolled out of bed only an hour ago and now he stood on tarmac, watching the time pass slowly in the bitter German Winter. It was dark, the sun wasn’t due to rise for another half an hour, and soft white light bathed the camp as soldiers began to mobilise themselves. Looking to the obstacle course, he could see over a company of men being put threw their paces, jogging up and down muddy tracks before throwing themselves over the dirt and frost caked wooden frames. As a medic he’d never had to do anything of the sort, something the Austrian was glad about.

Where were they? He was about to start a tour of duty, and after lending out his Flakvierling, it had return as a lump of Swiss cheese, covered in large aircraft calibre holes. But with the increased risk of air attack, he needed it soon, and therefore it had to be fixed up. He’d enlisted the help of several engineers who would see to it. He’d also invited his commander for the tour along, Mr Kriegheld, to oversee it all, and to better their relationship. When your fighting, you’ve got to know the bloke next to you will kill someone else to save your life. It’s a mutual bond shared between all soldiers, but it never hurts to strengthen that bond.

The engineers were late, something that Strumfelder wouldn’t have minded if he could actually feel his toes! This biting wind tore through the thickest of clothing, and every second Strumfelder’s body temperature was dropping. He could now barley move his fingers. He’d been out here nearly twenty minutes already. Curse those grease dogs. He rubbed his gloved hands together. Come on.

He’d acquired some new equipment recently, which he planned to put to good use, and turn those Allied airmen into Swiss cheese themselves, moments before they would crash into the Earth in a fireball. He’d also been experimenting with his new armoured vehicle, and had six 32cm rockets fitted to it. Each one packed with explosive, capable of ripping a building to pieces. Of course they weren’t the most accurate of weapons, but with something as powerful as they were , who needed to be accurate?

Strumfelder glanced at his watch again. These engineers were really trying his patience now. If they left it much longer, they really would be paying.

[∬Hartwig Kriegheld]

The biting wind was less than pleasant to the German Hauptsurmführer, Hartwig Kriegheld, as he walked across the tarmac of the Luftwaffe airfield. He kept his long grey coat as closed and close as possible. The singe exception was the top where he was obliged to display his Iron Cross, whether he wanted to or not. So many people had them it didn't matter any longer.

He saw the man he was supposed to meet standing outside the repair hangar. He looked as scarred as ever. The man had seen battle, and won every time. Except, perhaps, the day he was mauled by petrol. Hartwig smiled, there was indeed a another fighting man in the 2nd SS.

Kriegheld made his way across the tarmac with two men flanking him and another walking behind him. Schütze Wögel and Schütze Slägener had come with the officer to begin repairs on an anti-air gun that had been damaged. Unterscharführer von Schlesien was behind the Hauptsturmführer with his MP40 held tightly in his hands. He had an immovable look, as if it had been carved in stone. Hartwig swore that one had to have their face muscles removed to be an SS sergeant.

Finally, he arrived at the door and saluted to the medical officer as he stepped into the large tine room. It was much warmer since there was no wind. the temperature was still -2, but it was warm compared to outside. Sitting in the middle aof a number of tool boxes and benches was a damaged flakvierling gun. A remnant of the works of a careless rottenführer that Kriegheld was going to rip apart on their next meeting.

He looked to the engineers next to him and spoke, Diese Gewehr betrieblich erhalten. Du hast heute abend, zum sie zu tun. Unterärtzlichführer Strumfelder ist am Rand. Wenn du irgendwelche Versorgungsmaterialien, Werkzeuge oder etwas benötigst; sie von den anderen Hangars erhalten. Die Berechtigung der SS ist hinter dir. Nehmen, was du benötigst. He smiledas the two men rushed over to the gun and began surveying it.

Hartwig looked over to Strumfelder and started speaking. Unterärtzlichführer, wie geht es Ihnen? Ich entschuldige mich für die Verspätung; sie scheint, daß das Luftwaffe einen korrekten Fluglinienverkehr nicht derzeit laufen lassen kann. Wögel und Slägener sollten die Gewehr haben, in einige Stunden zu laufen, wenn sie nicht auch beschädigt wird. Gibt es irgendein Kaffee ungefähr? Ich bin im dringenden Bedarf. He was being much friendlier than he had been in the cold office of the 2nd SS command when he was in south Germany.

*******

Heinrich Wögel was known as one of the better engineers in the 2nd SS, after he had taken a size 5 nut and fixed it on a size 6 bolt. the bolt held and no one died on the mission. No one else had ever forced the nut onto a bolt with the ability to take it off again. It wasn't much of an achievement, but it was what made him famous to the other engineers. when he came to see the flakvierling, he had not thought it would be in such rough shape. There were a number of bullet holes on the gun, most of them were in the empty ammunition clips on the sides of the barrels as they presented the larger target. One of the barrels was blown in half while another was melted at the end. the barrels were easily replaceable. The damage would have prevented the gun from working before, but not forever.

Luckily, there were no holes in the firing chambers, meaning the gun could be saved. The engineers would have to replace the two barrels and then work on the lower body that kept the gun level. since the legs went out farther, they took on more damage. The joint that kept the gun's movement was also hit with a large round. It would take some welding and oil in order to get it moving as it should. It would take a few hours to get the thing built over. the two engineers went to work. Wögel began removing the barrels from the chambers and the other engineers, Slägener, left the hangar in search of spare barrels that were usually in the Luftwaffe storage.

Translations:
Diese Gewehr betrieblich erhalten. Du hast heute abend, zum sie zu tun. Unterärtzlichführer Strumfelder ist am Rand. Wenn du irgendwelche Versorgungsmaterialien, Werkzeuge oder etwas benötigst; sie von den anderen Hangars erhalten. Die Berechtigung der SS ist hinter dir. Nehmen, was du benötigst.
~Get that gun operational. You have this evening to do it. Unterärtzlichführer Strumfelder will be at the edge. If you need any supplies, tools, or something; get them from the other hangars. The authority of the SS is behind you. Take what you need.

Unterärtzlichführer, wie geht es Ihnen? Ich entschuldige mich für die Verspätung; sie scheint, daß das Luftwaffe einen korrekten Fluglinienverkehr nicht derzeit laufen lassen kann. Wögel und Slägener sollten die Gewehr haben, in einige Stunden zu laufen, wenn sie nicht auch beschädigt wird. Gibt es irgendein Kaffee ungefähr? Ich bin im dringenden Bedarf.
~Unterärtzlichführer, how are you? I apologise for the lateness; it seems the Luftwaffe can't run a proper air service these days. Wögel and Slägener should have the gun running in a few hours if it's not too damaged. Is there any coffee about? I'm in dire need.

[∬: Erhard Strumfelder]

The men began servicing the weapon, rushing around searching force pieces and examining the damage to the weapon. It would certainly take them a while, but as long as the weapon could still function properly, there seemed to be hope. Never again would Strumfelder lend out his equipment to such an unproven novice. War is the only language that is understood worldwide, but is also the language people find hardest to manipulate.

Now they were away from the stuff office, Strumfelder could get a good look at his superior. Superior – a terrible word. This man was at least five years younger than him. An Aryan, who bore a decoration, but if Strumfelder had his facts correct, he had only received it after the death of many of his men. That seemed to be the defining difference, this man attained victories and lost men, Strumfelder attained victories but didn’t. He’d lost just one man in his combat career. What was the point on engaging the enemy close up, when you could rip them to shreds from behind with large artillery pieces? Hopefully this tour of duty would lead to Strumfelder’s first decoration. After all, the Iron Cross was for commanding men with excellence, not merely being brave.

The man’s language reminded him of the British Upper Class. Just the formation of the sentences mimicked the exclusive group which Strumfelder new of all too well at Cambridge. He hoped this man had more brains. Strumfelder saw the world as one massive chess game, where you are constantly trying to achieve an objective through a series of intriguing plans. He saw himself more as an SS politician than a soldier, and barely even acknowledged he was a doctor. Being a medic was just a small bonus which was granted. “Ich bin sehr gut, danke. Ziemlich müde zwar, aber selbstverständlich, das überwunden werden muss. Es gibt Kaffee, obgleich es Zuteilungausgabe ist. Gerade von den Eicheln.”

Strumfelder straightened himself, and though he might as well get the un-pleasantries out of the way first. “Ich nehme an, dass Sie viel über mich gehört haben. Ich habe ein eher entwickeltes Renommee. I' m, das z.Z. unten einen Mann jagt, tourtured ich einige POWs. Ich plane, einiges tausend pathetische Slawen weg vom Gesicht der Erde abzuwischen. Erfahren Sie einfach, dass niemand auf meine Art erhält, und wenn jemand tut, wachen sie mit ihren Kugeln in ihrem Mund und ihren wifes Brüsten, die über ihrem Mund sitched sind auf. Don' T-Kreuzung ich.”

Translations:
“Ich bin sehr gut, danke. Ziemlich müde zwar, aber selbstverständlich, das überwunden werden muss. Es gibt Kaffee, obgleich es Zuteilungausgabe ist. Gerade von den Eicheln.”
~ I am very well, thank you. Rather tired though, but of course that must be overcome. There is coffee, although it is ration issue. Straight from acorns.

“Ich nehme an, dass Sie viel über mich gehört haben. Ich habe ein eher entwickeltes Renommee. I' m, das z.Z. unten einen Mann jagt, tourtured ich einige POWs. Ich plane, einiges tausend pathetische Slawen weg vom Gesicht der Erde abzuwischen. Erfahren Sie einfach, dass niemand auf meine Art erhält, und wenn jemand tut, wachen sie mit ihren Kugeln in ihrem Mund und ihren wifes Brüsten, die über ihrem Mund sitched sind auf. Don' T-Kreuzung ich.”
~ I suppose you have heard a lot about me. I have a rather developed reputation. I'm currently hunting a man down, I have tortured several POWs. I plan to wipe several thousand pathetic Slavs off the face of the Earth. Just learn that nobody gets in my way, and if somebody does, they wake up with their balls in their mouth, and their wifes breasts stitched across her mouth. Don't cross me.

[∬Hartwig Kriegheld]

Hauptsturmführer Kriegheld was taken aback, to say the least. A junior officer talking back to him such a manner with absolutely no provocation was not something he was accustomed to. He frowned and spoke back to the man. "Unterärtzlichführer, und ich weiß Ihre Ruf bei den SS und ich werde sie wissen, daß nicht jeder Mann Befürchtungen sie als Slawen und Juden könnte. Wie es ist, ihre am Rande des beißen die Hand, Fed sie. Ihre Förderung war eine direkte Aktion von mir für ihre angesehenen Maßnahmen. Und, solange ihr unter meinen Befehl und sie tun, was ich Ihnen sagen, es da keine alle Probleme."

The man before him may have killed countless sub-humans and a number of Germans, but he would not strike the fear of death in Hartwig's mind. No. He had had to many bullets fly by him and into him to let a man so crippled as this and mentally daring to threaten him. He had killed Jews and Slavs just as most SS men had. They were all in this together. The SS was there to be the superior fighting force of the Aryan race, not for mindless promotion hunting and medals. He stepped to the side slightly so as to get a better view of the man's face. Half of it was disfigured and the other half sent a glare that would put a normal man to his knees. Not Hartwig; he had grown up giving the look.

He spoke again. Da wir kämpfen zusammen, Sie müssen verstehen, daß wir können Menschen mit bestimmten Leistungen für die Menschen während hinter der Zeile. Während wir auf die Zeile, die Organisation lebenswichtig ist, und wird jeder von uns unsere Arbeitsplätze als Sie sollten geschehen ohne Frage. Sie shell ist der Scheiße aus der Feind und ich mache Sie sie aus. Solange wir haben darauf hingewiesen, und solange wir jeden wissen unseren Platz in der Maschine von Krieg, wird es keine Probleme.

He made no expression. This man in front of him was dangerous, but Hartwig was just as dangerous, if not more. Strumfelder had the lower echelon of the Gestapo and Waffen-SS in his pocket; but Kriegheld knew the upper echelon of the Gestapo well, people Strumfelder had never met. Kriegheld also had connections with the Allegemeine-SS whom had requisitioned him on numerous occasions for defensive purposes.

The final words came to him as he looked the man over, "Nun gut, wenn wir zustimmen können nicht einmal unsere Egos im Wege einer ordnungsgemäßen Kampfführung, ich denke, wir könnten gut zusammenarbeiten. " He took a deep breath; being manhandled was not fun and doing the manhandling wasn't fun either. Strumfelder would gain the man's respect on the field when shells were coming down and tanks were rolling toward them. This bullshit reputation would not get him anywhere in the 2nd SS; they could all commit themselves to the same actions if they wanted to.

*****

The engineers finally came back to the hangar. they had collected all the new parts and gotten the welding tank set next to the gun and all the ammunition clips had been removed. Now it was time to remove the barrels that were certainly tightly attached to the chambers. Wögel pulled out the mallet from his box and began hammering a bend into the broken barrels before he put the tool away and took hold of one of the bent pieces and began turning it.

Slägener took the other barrel and the both of them began pushing and pulling hard on the bent pieces for a few seconds before they loosened and began turning. Soon the berrles were out and Heinrich took a closer look into the chambers. They were dirty from the powder, but they could be easily cleaned by pouring hot water down the barrels once they got the new ones it.

Putting the new barrels in was a simple matter of twisting them in. Since they were new, they went in like a hand fit the perfect glove. Heinrich twisted one in and sent an idle worker to get some boiling water from the mess hall and bring it back in a tea pot. Once they had cleaned it out, they would be able to work on the barring plates that allowed the gun to move.

Translations:
"Unterärtzlichführer, und ich weiß Ihre Ruf bei den SS und ich werde sie wissen, daß nicht jeder Mann Befürchtungen sie als Slawen und Juden könnte. Wie es ist, ihre am Rande des beißen die Hand, Fed sie. Ihre Förderung war eine direkte Aktion von mir für ihre angesehenen Maßnahmen. Und, solange ihr unter meinen Befehl und sie tun, was ich Ihnen sagen, es da keine alle Probleme."
~Unterärtzlichführer, I know of your reputation among the SS and I'll have you know that not every man fears you as the Slavs and Jews might. As it is, your on the verge of biting the hand that fed you. Your promotion was a direct action of mine for your reputable actions. And, as long as your under my command and you do as I tell you, there won't be any problems.

Da wir kämpfen zusammen, Sie müssen verstehen, daß wir können Menschen mit bestimmten Leistungen für die Menschen während hinter der Zeile. Während wir auf die Zeile, die Organisation lebenswichtig ist, und wird jeder von uns unsere Arbeitsplätze als Sie sollten geschehen ohne Frage. Sie shell ist der Scheiße aus der Feind und ich mache Sie sie aus. Solange wir haben darauf hingewiesen, und solange wir jeden wissen unseren Platz in der Maschine von Krieg, wird es keine Probleme.
~Since we will be fighting together, you have to understand that we may be people with certain achievements for the People while behind the line. While we are on the line, organisation is vital and we will each do our jobs as they ought to be done without question. You shell the shit out of the enemy and I shoot it out of them. As long as we have that clear and as long as we each know our place in the machine of war, there will be no problems. As for that, when we are behind the lines, we will respect each other as proper Germans and you won't pull your reputation bullshit up with me. Leave that for lesser persons who may be affected by it.

"Nun gut, wenn wir zustimmen können nicht einmal unsere Egos im Wege einer ordnungsgemäßen Kampfführung, ich denke, wir könnten gut zusammenarbeiten. "
~Now, if we can agree not to let our egos get in the way of proper warfare, I think we could work well together.

[∬: Erhard Strumfelder]

This man wanted to fight back, something which did not surprise Strumfelder. After all, everything is hot air until actions are made. This man probably didn’t think Strumfelder too much of a threat. When the shells began to land far too close for comfort, and his wounded body is left to the Allied pigs, then he may regret this challenge. Most men do not like being pushed into place, but certain actions can convince a man otherwise. Strumfelder would certainly have this man checked out.

As the man spoke, Strumfelder’s lips became thinner and thinner. Strumfelder followed no orders, except the Führer’s. He followed his mind. If this bastard wanted to live, he would respect Strumfelder’s wishes. The doctor would happily leave a man to die, especially this man. After all, with one small accident, one small mistake, a shell in the wrong place, Strumfelder would be commander. So far, the only man Strumfelder respected was Mr Wolfram, after the Führer. Wolfram felt the same pain as Strumfelder, and was a brutal murderer when he wished. Strumfelder and him were very alike.

“Ich schlage vor, dass Sie Ihre Wörter aufpassen, wenn Sie Ihre Kinder bewerten, um zu sein. Informieren Sie dieses. Ich respektiere nur einen Mann, nachdem er dreißig Slavickinder geschossen und enthauptet hat. Sie haben, meinen Respekt, Herrn Kriegheld schon zu erwerben. Ich werde nicht unten an von einem Mann geschaut, der Militärkonzepte über Patriotismus bewertet. Verursachen Sie Mühe mit mir, wenn Sie zu wünschen, aber die SS schützen Sie nicht vor einer Gewehrkugel in der Rückseite von einem gemeinen Verbrecher.” Strumfelder relaxed himself slightly. He was older than this man, and if a leg were to go flying off, which doctor would be saving him? Or not. Strumfelder would let this man do what he wanted to in the battle. If this tour went terribly, it wouldn’t be Strumfelder’s head on the block. He looked at Kriegheld again, before stepping back and heading over to a wall and leaning against it.

He removed a small piece of paperwork. It was an American newspaper cutting, from his English contacts. It discussed a man’s safe return, but did not give a name nor picture. However, it discussed how he had received terrible facial scars and wounds, in the shape of German runes. The man was reputedly safe and sound, but now Strumfelder had just read this, he was in trouble. This American was Strumfelder’s best link to Vlakte, and he would get hold of him no matter what.



Translations:
“Ich schlage vor, dass Sie Ihre Wörter aufpassen, wenn Sie Ihre Kinder bewerten, um zu sein. Informieren Sie dieses. Ich respektiere nur einen Mann, nachdem er dreißig Slavickinder geschossen und enthauptet hat. Sie haben, meinen Respekt, Herrn Kriegheld schon zu erwerben. Ich werde nicht unten an von einem Mann geschaut, der Militärkonzepte über Patriotismus bewertet. Verursachen Sie Mühe mit mir, wenn Sie zu wünschen, aber die SS schützen Sie nicht vor einer Gewehrkugel in der Rückseite von einem gemeinen Verbrecher.”
~ I suggest you watch your words, if you value your children to be. Let this be known. I only respect a man after he has shot and beheaded thirty Slavic children. You have yet to earn my respect, Mr Kriegheld. I will not be looked down on by a man who values military concepts over patriotism. Cause trouble with me if you wish to, but the SS will not protect you from a bullet in the back from a common criminal.

[∬Hartwig Kriegheld]

Arrogance was a simple word that covered many behaviours. However, this man--Strumfelder--seemed to exemplify all of them. It was ridiculous now, how the man was speaking to him. One's achievements meant nothing in the military. If the many who had been brave in combat had command over the few that hadn't, then there would be no civilised society. Strumfelder didn't seem to understand that.

He walked forward to man who had now leant against the wall and pulled out a newspaper scrap. The nerve it took to act like this, Hartwig knew not how one got it. "Strumfelder! Ich warne sie; sie haben an der falschen Ort für Anarchie. Als Mitglieder der Waffen-SS, wir müssen folgen Sie von dieser Struktur. Egal der Grund, warum ein hatte einen Rang oder nicht, sie Befehl die Männer unter ihnen und der Männer unter ihnen zuhören. Wenn jeder Mann von Mut und VALOREN hatte einen Befehl, wir hätten mehr Offiziere als Männer Befehl. He breathed; this man needed to be brought down a few notches. He was violating his oath to the Führer through this insolence. Kriegheld was going to make it clear that he was.

He stepped forward even more. The man was 188cm tall; it allowed him tower over smaller men. Strumfelder was shorter. He spoke again, more fluidly and more loudly. "Erinnern Sie sich an ihre Eid des Führers und seine Agenten, unterärtzlichführer?" He stepped back and walked about two metres from the man before starting in a booming voice that filled the hangar, "Ich schwöre zu Ihnen Adolf Hitler, als Führer und Kanzler des Reiches Treue und Tapferkeit. Ich gelobe Ihnen und den von Ihnen bestimmten Vorgesetzien gehorsam bis in den Tod, so wahr mir Gott helfe." He stopped and let the air hang silent as he clicked his boots forward to the man.

He got to the man's face and whispered just enough that he could hear, "bestimmten Vorgesetzien, Unterärtzlichführer. Das bedeutet, dass alle Offiziere der SS und Wehrmacht wer ernannt dieser Behörde durch die Macht des Führers. Überqueren Sie mir, und sie überqueren Sie die Führers. Ich nehme an, sie sind ein gewidmet nationalsozialistische, wie sie sind ein Mitglied der schutzstaffel. Das einzige, was hält diese wunderbare Welt auf seiner Achse ist die Achtung der Behörde und bedingungslosen Gehorsam gegenüber dieser Behörde als ernannt Die Führers. Wenn Sie Probleme haben, dann sind Sie nicht besser als die Feiglinge der deutschen Widerstand."

This was the last thing Hartwig expected to find when he entered the hangar to have the gun repaired. Now he was dealing with an insolent officer, caught up in his own power that was, in all honesty, far more minimal than he believed it to be. Even if he was breaking his oath of obedience, the majority of the SS and Wehrmacht was not. Obedience and acceptance were the only things that kept the Nazi regime in order.

*****

Heinrich Wögel ignored the noise going on in side of the hangar and continued with his work on the Flakvierling. The gun's barrels were back in order. Now for the hard part: the ball-bearing plates that allowed the gun to move so easily. It was likely that a new plate was needed and it would be a hard piece to find. He turned to Slägener and asked him to find the new plate. Slägener left in search of the hardware as Wögel asked von Schlesien to hold hold the current plate from behind as he got out the bolt-gun.

Ten large bolts held the gun to the ball-bearing plate. Three of the bolts had been blown away form the machine-guns of the enemy plane. The man sighed and put the bolt-gun down. It would be better to deal with the blown bolts first so as to keep the gun up when he pulled out the unharmed bolts. He pulled out the blow torch and pulled down the mask before yelling out to everyone else in the room. "Halten Sie Ihre Augen entfernt, der blowtorch ist da!" The light from the blowtorch could harm eyes.

He began melting the bolts away from the structure. It would require a different attachment piece to get the gun back onto the plate, but he was not going to worry about it yet. The first bolt was soon a pile of cooled metal on t piece of crate wood that was set below to prevent it from becoming one with the floor.

Translations:
"Strumfelder! Ich warne sie; sie haben an der falschen Ort für Anarchie. Als Mitglieder der Waffen-SS, wir müssen folgen Sie von dieser Struktur. Egal der Grund, warum ein hatte einen Rang oder nicht, sie Befehl die Männer unter ihnen und der Männer unter ihnen zuhören. Wenn jeder Mann von Mut und VALOREN hatte einen Befehl, wir hätten mehr Offiziere als Männer Befehl.
~Strumfelder! I warn you; you have come to the wrong place for anarchy. As a members of the Waffen-SS, we need to follow by that structure. No matter the reason one had a rank or not, they command the men beneath them and the men beneath them listen. If every man of courage and valour had a command, we would have more officers than men to command.

"Erinnern Sie sich an ihre Eid des Führers und seine Agenten, unterärtzlichführer?"
~Do you remember your oath to the Führer and his agents, Unterärtzlichführer?

"Ich schwöre zu Ihnen Adolf Hitler, als Führer und Kanzler des Reiches Treue und Tapferkeit. Ich gelobe Ihnen und den von Ihnen bestimmten Vorgesetzien gehorsam bis in den Tod, so wahr mir Gott helfe."
~I swear to you, Adolf Hitler, as leader and chancellor of the nation, loyalty and bravery. I vow to you, and to the representatives appointed by you, obedience unto death, so help me God.

"bestimmten Vorgesetzien, Unterärtzlichführer. Das bedeutet, dass alle Offiziere der SS und Wehrmacht wer ernannt dieser Behörde durch die Macht des Führers. Überqueren Sie mir, und sie überqueren Sie die Führers. Ich nehme an, sie sind ein gewidmet nationalsozialistische, wie sie sind ein Mitglied der schutzstaffel. Das einzige, was hält diese wunderbare Welt auf seiner Achse ist die Achtung der Behörde und bedingungslosen Gehorsam gegenüber dieser Behörde als ernannt Die Führers. Wenn Sie Probleme haben, dann sind Sie nicht besser als die Feiglinge der deutschen Widerstand."
~Appointed representatives, Unterärtzlichführer. That means all officers of the SS and Wehrmacht who are appointed that authority by the power of the Führer. You cross me, and you cross the Führer. I assume you are a devoted National Socialist, as you are a member of the Schutzstaffel. The only thing that keeps this wonderful world on its axis is respect for authority and unquestioning obedience to that authority as appointed by the Führer. If you have problems with that, then you are no better than the cowards of the German resistance. If you stand by your oath, then you won't let personal reputation get in the way of fulfilling it.

"Halten Sie Ihre Augen entfernt, der blowtorch ist da!"
~Keep your eyes away, the blowtorch is out!

[∬: Erhard Strumfelder]

Strumfelder sighed. This man was becoming more and more aggressive, and he was trying to work on something. He might have someone pay this man a visit tonight, show him that Strumfelder wasn’t to be messed with. Maybe the breaks in his car could be cut? This man hadn’t done enough to warrant his death, yet.

He looked up at the man as he preceded to get more and more worked up. Maybe Strumfelder should rise himself above this man’s level. He seemed the type who would only achieve his aims through very controlled means, laid out by the German military. He wouldn’t risk anything else. But delve deep into the underworld, and there are paths to almost any place you want. Even the Gestapo had to operate within the law, but the people who had no restraints did what they want, with an amazing freedom. This man looked pathetic to Strumfelder.

“Herr Kriegheld, sind Sie nichts mehr als ein wilder Hund, der kämpft, um seinen kleinen Satz zu führen. Ein Hund der knowes kämpft er agaisnt Schicksal und Zeit und Schicksal. Ein Hund, der versucht, an etwas zu erfassen, das zu ihm nichts mehr als Fantasie ist. Sie suchen nach einem Stift in einem ständig wachsenden Heuschober, und eher Sie, das zu verwirklichen sind, besser respektieren Ihre Männer Sie.” Strumfelder spoke the words slowly, but calmly. This man could do what he wanted. Strumfelder had hit a man, and although he was paying for the pain, that same man was now a fugitive, being hunted down. Kriegheld had power over a small group of mad men who were either fanatic, or losing heart in life. Strumfelder was watching from the side lines, making a reputation and profit.

Strumfelder shook his head at the man, who was trying to merely seem powerful by drawing attention to his height. This man had tried to challenge him, but failed. However, Strumfelder had far more important things to deal with than an officer who was too big for his boots. He turned back to the news paper, and circled a small line. If his man was in a hospital, he would be there fore some time. He needed Claude badly injured, but maybe nod dead, to send a clear message to Vlakte that if this man was touchable, so was he. There was no way he could have him shot, that would be too hard. A fire was too unpredictable. But… what about “…Eine Bombe…?”

That would work all too well. Many Allied soldiers dead. Many nurses and doctors gone. Claude in shreds. A clear, defined message.


Translations:
“Herr Kriegheld, sind Sie nichts mehr als ein wilder Hund, der kämpft, um seinen kleinen Satz zu führen. Ein Hund der knowes kämpft er agaisnt Schicksal und Zeit und Schicksal. Ein Hund, der versucht, an etwas zu erfassen, das zu ihm nichts mehr als Fantasie ist. Sie suchen nach einem Stift in einem ständig wachsenden Heuschober, und eher Sie, das zu verwirklichen sind, besser respektieren Ihre Männer Sie.”
~ Mr Kriegheld, you are nothing more than a wild dog, who is fighting to lead its small pack. A dog who knows it is fighting against fate and time and destiny. A dog who is trying to clutch at something which to him is nothing more than imagination. You are searching for a pin in a constantly growing haystack, and the sooner you are to realise that, the better your men will respect you.

[∬Hartwig Kriegheld]

This man was ridiculous. How had he ever become a member of the SS? This was madness. The man that was now leaning against the wall, unperturbed by the captain's previous intimidation, was looking at his paper scraps again. Anger flooded through the SS officer. He wondered now what exactly it had been that made him want to promote this blood-sucking rat.

Hartwig contained his anger and walked to the centre of the hangar as the thoughts went through his head. He was sure this man would have a problem with being busted down to Ärtzlichlandser, or what was infinitely better, being kicked out from the SS all together. Oh no, Kriegheld would have the last laugh in this small disturbance. He would have the last word and he would win. Strumfelder was by no means as powerful as he thought he was.

Unterscharführer! von Schlesian soon came to the officer and saluted before enquiring as to why he was called. He spoke more quietly to the man who leaned in to hear him. "Sie mir eine Kopie der Waffen-SS stationären und eine Zwischenablage. Ich brauche eine Überprüfung der Waffe. He stopped and gave a sliding glance toward Strumfelder, keeping an eye on him as he looked for the second engineer.

He then walked closer to the gun and looked it over as the senior engineer began working on a different part of it. Soon, the sergeant had returned with a clipboard and a few sheets of paper with the SS iron eagle at the top and the smaller insignia of the 2nd SS was visible. It was paper from the captain's briefcase that he had left in the plane. now on the clipboard, he wrote:

Reichskriminaldirektor Klauswitz
Gestapo Headquarters, Berlin

I has come to my direct attention that one Waffen-SS officer, Erhard Strumfelder, has come to hold subversive and dangerous views that will surely prevent victory and proper information handling if he were allowed to continue work uninhibited. He has openly threatened superior officers with death of family and death itself. I also have it on good authority that he has usurped the powers of the Gestapo by punishing German officers of equal or higher ranks simply for disallowing him from breaking proper regulation, regulatoin put in place to assure victory in any case.

He has killed German women and men and ordered the murder and rape of German women. It is my opinion that a swift and thorough investigation immediately take place in order to keep this man in place and in respect with authority.

Heil Hitler!

Hartwig Kriegheld
Hauptsturmführer
2nd SS Armoured Division

This was only the beginning. Strumfelder really had no understanding of what the German police state could do.

The Gestapo officer was an acquaintance of Hartwig's, he had been the commander of the officer training school company that Kriegheld was assigned to when he was training for the SS. He had gotten to know the man fairly well and felt in the position to ask a favour.

"Sie mir eine Kopie der Waffen-SS stationären und eine Zwischenablage. Ich brauche eine Überprüfung der Waffe.
~Get me a copy of Waffen-SS stationary and a clipboard. I need to review the weapon.