Opening Moves

“This war is over and you will not take to a uniform again to oppose the enemies of your country, or mine for that matter. You will not bear arms again I am sure, but you have priceless knowledge and skills. I do not understand precisely where you would fit in within the greater scheme of things but I do know that you will not be allowed to fade away and that you will be asked to bring your skills to serve again.”

‘So basically you have nothing to offer me, and no idea of what you might want me to do. How can I refuse,” with a chuckle that fell short of amusement.

“Au contraire Herr Knocke. I am empowered to offer you and a selected group, removal from this facility within the week, unofficial paid employment based in pleasant surroundings and a guarantee that you will not be asked to do anything that would harm your comrades or country.”

“A lot is expected with little by way of definite information. I cannot entertain any advance from an enemy of my country in any case.”

“We are no longer enemies, surely that is clear?” Lavalle left that hanging in the air but received no acknowledgement from Knocke. “The war is over, the peace is signed. We must all now stand together in the face of the communists.”

Knocke leant slightly forward.

“As we Germans were saying for years; years in which we stood alone against them! We have already shed much blood, and suffered much loss, and I saw too many of my men die in the cause you now conveniently wish to champion. You have just read out that I grew up in a small village called Metgethen, Herr Oberst; does that mean anything to you?” The emotion was controlled but none the less there, and again the force of Knocke gave Lavalle pause, and his reply was obviously sincere and heartfelt.

“Yes, I know of Metgethen Herr Knocke, and I am truly sorry for your loss, but you know as well as I do that Nazi Germany could not have been allowed to stand, and that the Western Allies could not have fought alongside a nation driven by Hitler and his band. I have been to a quiet but dreadful place called Natzwiller-Struhof, where the reasons for the need to remove Nazism were made very clear to me by my own eyes There are other, much more awful places I have not seen but about which I have heard nightmare stories. The people of a nation always pay the price of the policies laid down by its politicians and undoubtedly Germany has suffered much in that regard, that is true.”

Lavalle placed an envelope he had been holding gently on top of the folder.

“Surely Herr Knocke, you must see that the best hope of salvation for your homeland, your Fatherland, lies with a joint approach to prevent the spread of communism westwards. What happened at Metgethen is still unclear but what I do know is that none of us wants that to be visited upon any other village, town or city. That surely must be something for you to consider? It is too late for you to act in preservation of your own family, but you can assist in protecting the rest of your country, and in so doing, preserve mine too. You have skills and knowledge which may become much in need.”

Such a speech required a considered response and so Knocke paused to order his thoughts before replying.

“Again, I have to say that a lot is expected with little information to go on. I will grant you that we may no longer be active enemies but don’t expect that a political end to the war will just make our enmities go away over night.”

Lavalle assessed Knocke’s response as much in his poise and tone as in his words. It was obvious to Knocke that the Frenchman’s mind was working out the next move. It was equally obvious when the decision was reached.

“You have said enough for me to go further.”

Lavalle took up the envelope that had appeared in his hands previously.

“I am permitted to show you this document and solely request that if you do not wish to be associated with the project outlined in it, that you do not speak of it further. I am empowered to make certain threats in that regard but out of professional courtesy, my understanding of their pointlessness in your case,” he looked Knocke directly in the eye to stress his earnestness, “And through personal choice, I do not. I will ask for your word as an officer.”

Knocke digested the words and understood that in Lavalle he was encountering a soldier such as himself. Between two such men, honour still had a place.

“That is given Herr Oberst.”

The envelope changed hands and Knocke read the title.

“Colloque? This means what exactly Colonel?”

“Ah, apologies Herr Knocke, my error. In your language, it would say symposium. “

A few moments pause which hid a burst of deep thinking by Knocke, ended solely by a softly spoken “Danke” as he extracted the contents,  one translation set in German, the original in French, reading slowly and without expression.