Opening Moves

“Well Meine Herren, now you know. We are here to play teacher to the men that conquered our nation. Yes Jurgen”, he held his hand up to silence the obvious comment forming on the lips of the returning Von Arnesen, “We all know that the Western Allies did not and neither could they have done, but that is how they view themselves. And that is the crux of this as I see it. They are not a threat to our fatherland in the way that the communist is and this proposal, this symposium, this…Colloque gives us an opportunity to instil some of our fighting values in the Western Allies, values which stood all of us in good stead during the difficult years in Russia.”

He stood very carefully and walked to the window next to the fireplace. With his back to the group and oblivious to the countryside of Alsace spread out before him, Knocke carefully tugged at his tunic and straightened his uniform before turning to continue.

“When this matter was first put to me I had little time to consider, but my inner feeling, my blood feeling was that it was a good thing to do for Germany. I have had much more time to consider this than you have obviously but I promised not to reveal the nature of this group before the correct time. My apologies.”

“We have known each other as soldiers in troubled times and relied upon each other on more than one occasion, either face to face or,” he acknowledged Treschow, “More distantly but equally professionally reliant.”

“I am wholly comfortable with doing this, and believe it will serve our country better than rotting in some prison camp, regardless of the route that history takes from this point.”

Around him, positive noises came from every man.

“However, think on this kameraden. Some of you have fought these Western Allies. How do you think they would do against our communist opponents?”

That question was left hanging in the air as each man mentally wrote off the Western Allies in a direct confrontation with the Russians.

“Indeed menschen, indeed,” said Knocke, calling a halt to their imaginative mental destruction of the western allied armies, “So it would be much in Germany’s best interest for our ‘new’ allies to be better prepared to fight the mutual enemy. If we can use what we have learned and preserve what is left of our Fatherland, then we can only be serving our country and honouring our fallen comrades.”

De Walle, listening to the exchange from the ornate wooden musicians’ gallery, smiled to himself. His estimation of Knocke was correct and France had her Colloque for sure. He would not need Dubois to undertake the clean up that was the contingency for non-compliance. He quickly wondered if any of the Germans had considered such a possibility.

“You can see from that brief that our hosts desire a formal structure prepared for examination by 1400 tomorrow.” Even though everyone had read the document it didn’t stop a few knowing grins exchanged, especially those who had worked alongside Knocke before.

“Kameraden”, the punch in that made each man shoot to attention, quite as Knocke intended.

“There is no pressure to stay or to involve yourselves in this. I will remain and undertake this because I believe I serve my country as well as I can at this time. Please consider this and inform me of your decision as soon as possible.”

With the exception of Rettlinger, each man’s heels clicked automatically and each man’s eyes confirmed commitment when contact was made. Except Rettlinger, the only man there other than Knocke who had fought the Western Allies in recent months, which period had seen him bury both his best friend and his brother-in-law, killed by American artillery and aircraft respectively.

“Ah yes Bruno, for you this is a more difficult commitment. You must think it through more perhaps?”

“Not necessary Standartenfuhrer. I was just thinking of Hans and Josef and not fully concentrating on your words. My apologies sir,” and Rettlinger followed suit, clicking his heels, once more under control.

De Walle risked a look down around the stonework and made a mental note to watch that one very carefully.

In the background the sound of a light vehicle approaching grew in volume, but not enough to cause Knocke to raise his voice.

“Then let us have coffee and start to plan for the work ahead. Danke, kameraden. You have your symposium Colonel.”

De Walle heard the words and automatically looked down through the ornate balustrade, straight into the steely eyes of Knocke.

The Frenchman nodded and made another mental note. Lavalle’s briefing document was right. Never, ever, underestimate Knocke.

As coffee was taken, the two missing members of the group arrived and were ushered into the Kaiser’s Hall.