Post by Diarist on Mar 16, 2017 8:17:10 GMT 1
I'm glad that I went to visit the neighbourhood where Sally grew up. We visited the house where she had lived and the school where she received her Abitur (high school diploma). I noticed a very visible Wehrmacht presence on the streets of Berlin. No hardware but pairs of soldiers with rifles over their shoulders patrolling every street. I asked my escorts how the mood is. "Is there any open resentment to Wehrmacht takeover, Herr Leutnant?" A sergeant (Feldwebel) was driving the car.
"Nein, Herr Minister. The Nazis weren't as popular as most people believe especially after rationing was introduced. The people have hopes that the change will bring an improvement in their living conditions."
"It will but it won't happen overnight. I hope they realize that. It's important to keep the people informed on any progress."
"How is the situation in England, Sir?"
"To be honest I have been so busy that most of the information I have is from the newspapers. There was genuine surprise. On Tuesday the 14th people woke up to learn that we were at war with Germany again and the following evening a peace treaty was announced. Very confusing."
"I was listening to radio that evening and I can tell you, Sir, that we were all very relieved."
"I'm glad to here that, Herr Leutnant."
We left Berlin just before midday and at 13:30 we were on the Admiral Graf Spee. It's a fine ship but not as wide as HMS Nelson. It's main armament is six 11" guns mounted in two triple turrets. One thing I noticed is the shortage of anti-aircraft capability. That would have to be improved. It's the third of its class after the Deutschland and Admiral Scheer.
It was already dusk when we arrived in Gravesend, (where I grew up), then we travelled by train to Charing Cross station in London. A dozen cars from the German Embassy were waiting for the German dignitaries. Wilhelm told them that he already had accommodation so the three of us walked to the MCD where our car is parked. I went to my office before driving home and it resembled a building site. I called the duty officer at the MoD and was told that Secretary Churchill had already left. It was 19:40 now. Before leaving I called John Gort and told him that we would be eating at the hotel in just over one hour if he wants to meet. He would invite Winston.
Mum was pleased to see her Admiral again and the four of us went to the hotel to eat. John was already there with Winston and Rab Butler. "How was Berlin?" Winston asked.
"A lot of Wehrmacht presence on the streets but peaceful. I upset the Kriegsmarine." I let Wilhelm explain what had happened while I ordered some drinks and food. Ten minutes later we relocated to the restaurant. I told them about meeting Crown Prince Rupprecht and that he will be the head of the German delegation to the FDC. "I like him and his family own a brewery near München. He knew King George well and I was surprised that he hadn't been invited to the funeral. I fixed that yesterday evening when I spoke to Edward."
"You mean King Edward," Rab admonished me.
"No, Rab. I asked how I should address him and he answered Edward. We are best of friends, Rab, and he isn't the typical monarch. We are also peers in Winston's MoD. Should I wear my uniform tomorrow. I genuinely don't know."
"You're sitting with the cabinet ministers, Bob."
"Understood. Did I miss anything today? Has General Howard anything for us?"
"No and no but we are inviting General Franco and your Spanish colonel to the Army and Navy Club tomorrow evening."
"Is Wilhelm also invited?"
"Why not? Do you have anything else planned?"
"No. I'll gladly be there."
"Rab, how are things in Belochistan?"
"Why do you ask, Bob?"
"It was a hint, Rab. If my section is interested in Belochistan then you need to be up to date about Belochistan too. So when Anthony Eden asks about Belochistan you already have the answers."
"Thanks for the tip."
"So why are we interested in Balochistan, Bob?"
"Who mentioned we? But you now know that if Belochistan does crop up we'll have a file for you. Or maybe I'm just giving Wilhelm a false trail to follow because I believe that German intelligence will be investigating Belochistan soon." It was a convenient time to give Winston one of my memorandums about Wilhelm and I agreeing to exchange information if something or someone is threatening peace in Europe."
"Excellent. What are your plans for Franco?"
"We decided that we need to talk to Franco first." Wilhelm nodded agreement. "We want to here his opinion. You also need to bring someone who speaks Spanish, Winston."
Just before we left Mum said that she'd been listening to us for almost an hour and had understood nothing. "You're not supposed to know, Mum." I told her. "Didn't Wilhelm tell you that he's a German spy?"
"He said that he's a counter-spy, whatever that is."
"To be a good counter-spy you have to know the spying business too."
"Nein, Herr Minister. The Nazis weren't as popular as most people believe especially after rationing was introduced. The people have hopes that the change will bring an improvement in their living conditions."
"It will but it won't happen overnight. I hope they realize that. It's important to keep the people informed on any progress."
"How is the situation in England, Sir?"
"To be honest I have been so busy that most of the information I have is from the newspapers. There was genuine surprise. On Tuesday the 14th people woke up to learn that we were at war with Germany again and the following evening a peace treaty was announced. Very confusing."
"I was listening to radio that evening and I can tell you, Sir, that we were all very relieved."
"I'm glad to here that, Herr Leutnant."
We left Berlin just before midday and at 13:30 we were on the Admiral Graf Spee. It's a fine ship but not as wide as HMS Nelson. It's main armament is six 11" guns mounted in two triple turrets. One thing I noticed is the shortage of anti-aircraft capability. That would have to be improved. It's the third of its class after the Deutschland and Admiral Scheer.
It was already dusk when we arrived in Gravesend, (where I grew up), then we travelled by train to Charing Cross station in London. A dozen cars from the German Embassy were waiting for the German dignitaries. Wilhelm told them that he already had accommodation so the three of us walked to the MCD where our car is parked. I went to my office before driving home and it resembled a building site. I called the duty officer at the MoD and was told that Secretary Churchill had already left. It was 19:40 now. Before leaving I called John Gort and told him that we would be eating at the hotel in just over one hour if he wants to meet. He would invite Winston.
Mum was pleased to see her Admiral again and the four of us went to the hotel to eat. John was already there with Winston and Rab Butler. "How was Berlin?" Winston asked.
"A lot of Wehrmacht presence on the streets but peaceful. I upset the Kriegsmarine." I let Wilhelm explain what had happened while I ordered some drinks and food. Ten minutes later we relocated to the restaurant. I told them about meeting Crown Prince Rupprecht and that he will be the head of the German delegation to the FDC. "I like him and his family own a brewery near München. He knew King George well and I was surprised that he hadn't been invited to the funeral. I fixed that yesterday evening when I spoke to Edward."
"You mean King Edward," Rab admonished me.
"No, Rab. I asked how I should address him and he answered Edward. We are best of friends, Rab, and he isn't the typical monarch. We are also peers in Winston's MoD. Should I wear my uniform tomorrow. I genuinely don't know."
"You're sitting with the cabinet ministers, Bob."
"Understood. Did I miss anything today? Has General Howard anything for us?"
"No and no but we are inviting General Franco and your Spanish colonel to the Army and Navy Club tomorrow evening."
"Is Wilhelm also invited?"
"Why not? Do you have anything else planned?"
"No. I'll gladly be there."
"Rab, how are things in Belochistan?"
"Why do you ask, Bob?"
"It was a hint, Rab. If my section is interested in Belochistan then you need to be up to date about Belochistan too. So when Anthony Eden asks about Belochistan you already have the answers."
"Thanks for the tip."
"So why are we interested in Balochistan, Bob?"
"Who mentioned we? But you now know that if Belochistan does crop up we'll have a file for you. Or maybe I'm just giving Wilhelm a false trail to follow because I believe that German intelligence will be investigating Belochistan soon." It was a convenient time to give Winston one of my memorandums about Wilhelm and I agreeing to exchange information if something or someone is threatening peace in Europe."
"Excellent. What are your plans for Franco?"
"We decided that we need to talk to Franco first." Wilhelm nodded agreement. "We want to here his opinion. You also need to bring someone who speaks Spanish, Winston."
Just before we left Mum said that she'd been listening to us for almost an hour and had understood nothing. "You're not supposed to know, Mum." I told her. "Didn't Wilhelm tell you that he's a German spy?"
"He said that he's a counter-spy, whatever that is."
"To be a good counter-spy you have to know the spying business too."