Meine Ehre heißt Treue [My honor is true Pt.I] (A)

[Deleted]

Country: German-occupied Czechoslovakia
Area/Setting: Prague 8-Libeň. Zenklova street. City of Prague.
Current Time: 10:10 am
Weather Conditions: Clear. 58°F

Scharführer Friedrich Hautt was in a fine mood. He had just had a wonderful meal, the name of which he could not read, the contents of which he did not know, in a restaurant whose name he could not pronounce. He had entered the restaurant at random, and had ordered at random. The man did not speak German, and Hautt did not speak Slovakian, so he had pointed at several items on the menu and mimed eating and drinking. Vepřo-knedlo-zelo had turned out to be roast pork with dumplings and sauerkraut, and slivovice was found to be a unique plum brandy. His dessert of vánoční cukroví turned out to be frosted cookies. The meal had been fine, but the cookies, which were in the shape of trees, had been stale.

After a minute of trying to explain, he had lost his patience and began yelling and gesturing wildly at the dessert. The waiter, fearful of the tall, brooding aristocratic SS man, tried offering his apologies, but Hautt was in no mood. Removing his cap and placing it on the table, he proceeded to cudgel the man several times with his engraved fine-wood cane-umbrella. When the man passed out, blood running off his brow, Hautt helped him into the seat, dropped a small tip in the table and left with his hat and umbrella, the eyes of many angry Czechs boring into the back of his head.

What a fine start to a day.

He and many other SS members, Waffen as well as Sicherheitsdienst, were heading to Prague Castle later in the day for a short briefing. Enlisted men were usually not invited to interact in such functions, but in rare circumstances and if the men were of outstanding quality and service, they were permitted. He and a few other Enlisted would listen to the most elite, high-ranking men of the entire Reich. The main speaker would be the rising star and acting Reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia, SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich.

While he didn't know what things would be discussed, the list of speakers gave hint to the severity of the meeting. SS-Oberst-Gruppenführer und Generaloberst der Polizei Kurt Daluege, Chief of the Ordnungspolizei would speak, as would Standartenführer Dr. Josef Witiska, Chief of SIPO and SD in Slovakia, and Einsatzgruppe H, Slowakei.

Obersturmführer Friedrich Peter was the person who was accompanying Hautt and the other NCO. He was to keep them in line and make sure they did not speak unless spoken to, and answered in a manner befitting a member of the SS.

As Hautt left the restaurant, he turned left and headed for the bus stop at the corner just down the road. He didn't have very long before he had to leave for the Castle, but just as he turned to walk, he bumped into a uniformed man. "Ich entschuldige mich. Ich habe beobachtet, wohin ich ging," He then saw something that made his heart leap. The Untersturmführer had a small black diamond cloth on his left sleeve, 'SD' lettered in white.

"Ein Mitglied des Sicherheitsdienstes. Was für eine Überraschung! Sag mir, gehst du auf die Prager Burg für das Briefing durch Zufall?" he asked calmly, his slender eyes looking the man over. It would be a welcome change to actually meet his briefing partner beforehand. The past few times they had been complete imbeciles, but there was something different about this one. He didn't appear to be malicious, or cruel. He was not weak, nor did he hesitate to follow orders. Ice cold.


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Translations:
"Ich entschuldige mich. Ich habe beobachtet, wohin ich ging,"
"My apologies. I should have been watching where I was going."

"Ein Mitglied des Sicherheitsdienstes. Was für eine Überraschung! Sag mir, gehst du auf die Prager Burg für das Briefing durch Zufall?"
"A member of the Sicherheitsdienst. What a surprise! Tell me, are you going to Prague Castle for the briefing by any chance?"

[Franz Albrecht]

SD Untersturmfuhrer Franz Albrecht was was enjoying his time in the old city of Prague. Its medieval Cathedrals and castle areas were stunning pieces of architecture. Franz had arrived from Poland two days ago and had been staying in a local hotel. He and other members of the Sicherheitsdienst were accompanying the Inspektor des Sicherheitspolizei und SD from Warsaw. The highlight of the trip would be seeing Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich give a speech at Prague castle later on that day. Franz was very happy to have the opportunity to see his esteemed leader in action. Heydrich was a man Franz admired, his presence alone commanded respect. The conference had many important guest speakers, security in the area was tighter than ever.

Military patrols and vehicles crowded the streets, along with all the civilians carrying out their daily business. Franz marched alone down the sidewalk with a German Newspaper in his right hand, his left arm was straight and had a slight swinging rhythm. The SD man’s eyes were fixed on the small black text of the paper. Franz wore a stone grey SD uniform with tall black glossy jackboots that cut off just below the knees. He stood tall while moving at a military pace, civilians seemed to part in order to let the officer pass between them. Albrecht was returning to his car which was parked just down the street. He had ventured to the market for a coffee, also to have his boots shined at a local shop he had been told about by friends. All of a sudden he made contact with someone else, it took him completely off guard as they collided. Franz instantly spoke offering words of apology, “Es tut mir leid!. His eyes then focused on the uniform of a fellow service member. Franz was not angry but welcoming toward the NCO he now identified as a Scharführer.

In response the SD officer patted him reassuringly on the arm, “Es war wirklich alles meine Schuld”. He folded the paper in half and tucked it under his right arm. Franz straightened his posture, in the same movement he rested his left hand behind his back in a gentleman like pose. He smiled and responded to Hautt’s question about the briefing, “Ich werde an der Konferenz als eine Angelegenheit von einer Tatsache”. The man standing before him appeared to be a devoted member to the SS, loyal to the interests of the 3rd Reich. Franz had some friends within the lower ranks of the SS and SD. Many officers had been NCO’s before their commission, Franz had great respect for the Non-commissioned officer.

“Wirst du da sein Rottenführer?”

Translations:

"Es tut mir leid" - "I'm sorry"

"Es war wirklich alles meine Schuld" - "It was all my fault"

"Ich werde an der Konferenz als eine Angelegenheit von einer Tatsache" - "I will attend the conference as a matter of a fact"

“Wirst du da sein Rottenführer?” - "Will you be there Rottenführer?"

[Deleted]

As apologies were exchanged, it was revealed that this was the man he was supposed to accompany to the conference. "Ja, ich werde zur Konferenz bestellt," he admitted, managing to hide his excitement. He hesitated to correct a superior, but he could not be spoken to as a lowly Rottenführer the rest of the evening, so he spoke. "Und es ist, eh, Scharführer, Herr Untersturmführer." It was a common enough mistake, for he did not wear the usual SS collar tabs. Ordinary SS, if there was such a thing, wore two tabs on their collar, the left denoting rank, and the right the lightning runes of the service. He was no ordinary soldier, however, and wore the Totenkopf, or "death's head" of the 3rd Division. It was feared, hated, and respected with equal measure.

He saluted crisply, the old Army salute rather than the one used by party members. "Ich bin Friedrich Hautt, ehemaliger Sicherheitsdienst älterer Unteroffizier-Papier-Streber," he began, offering his hand in a firm shake. "Ich erbat mir eine Übertragung zur Waffen aber und wurde für die 2. Teilung mit dem minderwertigen junioren Rang von Scharführer eingeteilt," he stated simply, his voice toneless at the mention of his low rank assignment. "Ich sah dort etwas Kampf und bin jetzt mit der 3. SS Division 'Totenkopf', bereit und das wollend den Sowjets einen schnellen Tritt im Münze-Geldbeutel geben." He never questioned why he had been assigned such a low rank, but he suspected it had been due to his low level of physical fitness at the time of the request. The only reason he had been approved for transfer at all was his high scores in other fields.

"Nehme ich nicht an, daß Sie wissen, warum sie wollen, daß wir bei dieser Funktion erscheinen? Sie waren über dem Thema sehr mysteriös. Muß etwas haben, den Krieg im Osten zu gebrauchen, ist meine Vermutung," he guessed. His role in the conference would be minimal, if he was involved at all. He would likely be asked one or two questions of a technical nature. How the halftracks would fare in frozen mud, or what the troops on the front would need and what they could do without. As if I know what the front is like, he thought bitterly. It was being said that the Hakenkreuz would fly over Moscow before October, but Friedrich doubted it. Still, it would be nice to have the opportunity to rid the world of a few Bolsheviks before war's end. As for the Untersturmführer, Hautt wasn't sure. He didn't seem the type to be involved in such menial functions. Time was running short as they spoke, and looking at his watch, Hautt motioned down the street.

"Würden Sie jetzt zur Bushaltestelle gern zusteuern? Ich habe kein Fahrzeug, und öffentlicher Transport ist immer hier interessant," he said with a grin, and meant it. Public transportation was something to experience. He liked seeing the face of the driver go sour as the door was opened to him, and the furtive glances as the entire bus silenced at his presence, as if he were death itself, dark and unwelcome amongst them. He would often pick out someone to sit next to. Sometimes a beautiful yet inferior Czech woman, who he would ogle without shame as the rest of the bus ignored him. Other times a rough-looking street worker heading home for the day, his sloppy, tired appearance in stark contrast to Hautt's sharp intensity. If a rider spoke German, they would sometimes strike up a conversation, though it was rarely anything of substance. Football or women, usually.

"Sie sind normalerweise langsam, aber alles, was Sie haben, zu machen, ist, den Fahrer zu belästigen oder bittet um einiges nicht-existente Genehmigungen oder etwas Unsinn, und sie bewegen sich schnell genug," he continued, a twinkle in his eye. He was as bad as a schoolboy when it came to tormenting the locals. A priest had once chattered at him in Slovakian for spitting. He was a short, red-faced little man with no neck, and impossibly green teeth. Hautt had turned to walk away, but the priest had grabbed his arm. So he punched him, first in his gut, then in his ugly face, whipped out his kielbasa with all the grace of a choreographer, and the proceeded to piss all over the fallen man. "Kohlkopf-furzen Liliputanern, die Tschechen," he added, earning him a scowl from a passing businessman. Hautt stuck out his tongue and thumbed his nose in return, and the man's pace quickened as he walked away. He didn't care if the locals hated him, so long as they knew not to defy him.

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Translations:
"Ja, ich werde zur Konferenz bestellt,"
"Yes, I am ordered to the conference."

"Und es ist, eh, Scharführer, Herr Untersturmführer."
"And it's, uh, Scharführer, sir Untersturmführer."

"Ich bin Friedrich Hautt, ehemaliger Sicherheitsdienst älterer Unteroffizier-Papier-Streber,"
"I am Friedrich Hautt, former Sicherheitsdienst Senior NCO paper-pusher."

"Ich erbat mir eine Übertragung zur Waffen aber und wurde für die 2. Teilung mit dem minderwertigen junioren Rang von Scharführer eingeteilt,"
"I requested a transfer to the Waffen, however, and was assigned to the 2nd Division with the inferior junior rank of Scharführer."

"Ich sah dort etwas Kampf und bin jetzt mit der 3. SS Division 'Totenkopf', bereit und das wollend den Sowjets einen schnellen Tritt im Münze-Geldbeutel geben."
"I saw some combat there, and am now with the 3rd SS Division 'Totenkopf', ready and willing to give the Soviets a swift kick in the coin-purse."

"Nehme ich nicht an, daß Sie wissen, warum sie wollen, daß wir bei dieser Funktion erscheinen? Sie waren über dem Thema sehr mysteriös. Muß etwas haben, den Krieg im Osten zu gebrauchen, ist meine Vermutung,"
"I don't suppose you know why they want us to appear at this function? They were very mysterious about the subject matter. Must have something to do with the war in the East, is my guess."

"Würden Sie jetzt zur Bushaltestelle gern zusteuern? Ich habe kein Fahrzeug, und öffentlicher Transport ist immer hier interessant."
"Would you like to head to the bus stop now? I don't have a vehicle and public transportation is always interesting here."

"Sie sind normalerweise langsam, aber alles, was Sie haben, zu machen, ist, den Fahrer zu belästigen oder bittet um einiges nicht-existente Genehmigungen oder etwas Unsinn, und sie bewegen sich schnell genug,"
They are usually slow, but all you have to do is harass the driver, or demand some non-existent permits or some nonsense, and they move quickly enough.

"Kohlkopf-furzen Liliputanern, die Tschechen,"
"Cabbage-farting dwarves, the Czechs."