Opening Moves

The other three took their leave of De Lattre and left less theatrically, departing through the kitchens.

Anne-Marie Valois’ natural beauty drew admiring glances from the kitchen staff, as well as from the Major making his coffee just the way he liked it, fresh ground beans in a glass mug with boiling water added to brew in the cup. It was the Polish way and he had taught himself to do it with enthusiasm he did not feel. Information was his business and kitchen staff the world over know all the gossip and do not mind who they share it with, so drinking the disgusting brew was a small price to pay.

Sipping the coffee and admiring from head to toe the sensual lips, thrusting bosom, perfect hips and shapely legs of the pretty woman striding past, he noticed polished military boots and immaculate gaiters on the figure wrapped in an old raincoat behind her. His senses lit off all at once. ‘She is supposed to draw attention,’ said one side of his brain as the other side shouted ‘Look at the man’!

Snatching a half-second as the figure disappeared through the door Kowalski saw a face that he felt he ought to be able to put a name to.

At 2240, it came to him.

His recent temporary attachment as a Liaison Officer with the 3rd Algerian Division in Stuttgart had disrupted his reporting methods but now he was back with the French First Army, Moscow would know that the French were courting the SS swine soon enough and he might even learn specifics by then.

Ernst Knocke.

“Skurwielu”, the Polish word for bastard slipped easily from his tongue.

‘Govno’, He thought in his native language.

2135 hrs Thursday 9th August 1945, Headquarters of SHAEF, Trianon Hotel, Versailles, France.

Eisenhower waited in his private chamber, his orderly somewhere else in an earnest hunt for a pack of Ike’s cigarettes, the main portion of which seemed to have disappeared in the move to Versailles.

A knock on the door and a relieved Corporal provided a more relieved General with a stack of six packs to keep him going, which became five and a bit before the orderly reached the exit. So important was his habit that a Major was now tasked with ensuring that a steady supply was obtained from the PX.

Having finished telephone discussions with Bradley and Devers some minutes beforehand, covering the next staged withdrawals, Eisenhower wanted to drop back down to the main intelligence room, just to take one last look at the map in case anything needed his attention prior to the intended relieving attacks slated for dawn on Friday morning.

Settling back in his chair to savour the rich smoke, his quiet solitary world was interrupted by urgent knocking on his door, which then opened without the customary niceties. Ike was about to chew the Colonel out but he stayed himself, noting the excited and beaming smile on the man’s face. The older officer was a true Southern gentleman, never flustered and always correct so something had well and truly got his dander up and Ike wanted to know without delay.

“Sir, my apologies to you this fine evening. I have a gentleman outside who I believe you will want to see without delay.”

No amount of movement of mouth and chin could shift the smile.

“Judging from your grin Thomas, I believe you may be right. Enlighten me.”

Colonel Thomas Bell Hood, who was always at pains to state he was no relation to THE General Hood, composed himself and, although failing somewhat to remove the whole smile, spoke formally and with great precision.

“General, outside is Lieutenant-General Agustín Muñoz Grandes, official representative of the head of the Spanish State, His Excellency Generalissimo Don Francisco Franco y Bahamonde, Caudilo de España, por la Gracia de Dios.”

Eisenhower was impressed with Hoods’ perfect recall as well as the impact of the name itself.

“He seeks an audience with you immediately to relay information of vital importance to the Allied cause.”

Now Ike understood why Hood’s composure had evaporated.

Reaching for his cap, he shared Hood’s smile.

“Then I will see him without delay, and once you conduct the Caballero in please contact Generals Bradley, McCreery, Devers, Alexander, and Clark and let them know to stay by the phone.”

Hood conducted the Spanish officer into Ike’s quarters where he stood at parade attention, resplendent in his countries uniform and very noticeably sporting a Knight’s Cross with Oak leaves around his neck. Honours earned on the steppes of Russia as leader of the 250th German Infanterie Division, more famously known as the Spanish Blau Division.

Eisenhower returned an immaculate salute and immediately extended his hand, which was firmly grasped and warmly shaken.

As Ike showed Grandes to a chair, he knew he was about to get some good news at last.

“You have come a long way General. I hope you have had some refreshment?”