Post by Diarist on Dec 1, 2018 6:05:24 GMT 1
Yesterday we flew to Marseille with a refuelling stop in Valencia then this morning we flew to Basel where we said goodbye to Wilhelm Canaris. His plane was waiting there to fly him to Berlin. After a lunch break we flew to München. WO1 Jake Higgins, his wife Pamela, Sam (our mechanic) and I are the only passengers/crew left on board. I say crew because I got some flying time and Pamela was often our stewardess. There was an abrupt change of weather north of the Alps. It is sunny but a crisp -10°C at the airfield. I'm glad that Prinz Rupprecht was waiting for us so we didn't have to stand in the cold too long. It was a 90 min drive to his Schloß so I had plenty of time to thank him for entertaining Sally earlier this month. I received a luxurious room (it's more like a suite) with a view over Starnberger See.
After a very welcome dinner Rupprecht and I retired to his library where we could talk alone. I told him about my visit to Palestine and the unplanned stay in Spain. "So Canaris was with you the whole time," he commented. "I really don't know what to think of him."
"He and I get on well together. I consider him a good friend."
"He was a bit too close to Hitler for my liking but on the other hand the Wehrmacht people think highly of him so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I presume so you still want to talk with BMW about radial engines."
"That's correct. There is also a second firm called Bramo. I've been told that it is also in Bavaria."
"Bavaria is large, Bob."
"They have facilities in the Nürnberg-Fürth-Erlangen triangle - Siemens country. Not too far from Würzburg where Heinz Guderian and the 2nd Panzer Division are. But first I have arranged to visit BMW."
"I've arranged for Oberstleutnant Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen to visit München this coming week. Do you remember him from Hamburg?" Rupprecht asked.
"Of course. An excellent idea. Have you given any more thoughts to a brewery in England?"
"To be honest I haven't had much time but I am in favour of the project."
"I've had lots of time with all this travelling. I'd like to suggest a country restaurant and pub nearby with a beer tent and Oktoberfest all year round. Possibly with live jazz music at weekends."
"Excellent. I'll starting looking for a Braumeister who would like to move to England."
"We need a Bavarian cook too. I'll start looking for a country restaurant which can be converted to a Bavarian style Gasthaus. We'll probably have to build the brewery but I'll try to find one which can be bought and converted."
"It may be easier to build a new one."
"Probably. Rupprecht, if I pay for the English half of the project can we then consider this a 50/50 joint venture?"
"I don't see why not. Have you thought of a location?"
"Indeed I have. The region around TRADOC HQ is ideal. The locals live 'comfortable' and there is a nearby golf course, stables and don't forget the military presence. Officers like to eat well. I also know many VIPs in the area."
"You seem to have everything planned. A handshake to seal the deal?"
"Done. We can decide the details later when you are in England. Any idea when you'll be arriving?"
"Nothing has been decided yet but I expect it'll be in the next few months. I'm looking forward to it."
"A change of subject. What are the chances of Bavaria becoming a kingdom again?"
"Slim but I'm hoping for a certain level of autonomy for Bavaria."
"Adenauer is in favour of a German Federal Republic. An autonomous Bavarian parliamentary monarchy could fit into that."
"I like the idea. We could have a Senate like your House of Lords."
"Yes. Why reinvent the wheel. There are enough good working examples to use as a basis."
"I agree entirely."
"Then Prosit, Your Majesty!"
After a very welcome dinner Rupprecht and I retired to his library where we could talk alone. I told him about my visit to Palestine and the unplanned stay in Spain. "So Canaris was with you the whole time," he commented. "I really don't know what to think of him."
"He and I get on well together. I consider him a good friend."
"He was a bit too close to Hitler for my liking but on the other hand the Wehrmacht people think highly of him so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. I presume so you still want to talk with BMW about radial engines."
"That's correct. There is also a second firm called Bramo. I've been told that it is also in Bavaria."
"Bavaria is large, Bob."
"They have facilities in the Nürnberg-Fürth-Erlangen triangle - Siemens country. Not too far from Würzburg where Heinz Guderian and the 2nd Panzer Division are. But first I have arranged to visit BMW."
"I've arranged for Oberstleutnant Wolfram Freiherr von Richthofen to visit München this coming week. Do you remember him from Hamburg?" Rupprecht asked.
"Of course. An excellent idea. Have you given any more thoughts to a brewery in England?"
"To be honest I haven't had much time but I am in favour of the project."
"I've had lots of time with all this travelling. I'd like to suggest a country restaurant and pub nearby with a beer tent and Oktoberfest all year round. Possibly with live jazz music at weekends."
"Excellent. I'll starting looking for a Braumeister who would like to move to England."
"We need a Bavarian cook too. I'll start looking for a country restaurant which can be converted to a Bavarian style Gasthaus. We'll probably have to build the brewery but I'll try to find one which can be bought and converted."
"It may be easier to build a new one."
"Probably. Rupprecht, if I pay for the English half of the project can we then consider this a 50/50 joint venture?"
"I don't see why not. Have you thought of a location?"
"Indeed I have. The region around TRADOC HQ is ideal. The locals live 'comfortable' and there is a nearby golf course, stables and don't forget the military presence. Officers like to eat well. I also know many VIPs in the area."
"You seem to have everything planned. A handshake to seal the deal?"
"Done. We can decide the details later when you are in England. Any idea when you'll be arriving?"
"Nothing has been decided yet but I expect it'll be in the next few months. I'm looking forward to it."
"A change of subject. What are the chances of Bavaria becoming a kingdom again?"
"Slim but I'm hoping for a certain level of autonomy for Bavaria."
"Adenauer is in favour of a German Federal Republic. An autonomous Bavarian parliamentary monarchy could fit into that."
"I like the idea. We could have a Senate like your House of Lords."
"Yes. Why reinvent the wheel. There are enough good working examples to use as a basis."
"I agree entirely."
"Then Prosit, Your Majesty!"