Upfall

"So and attacker armed with this weapon would not have any significant advantage over German troops?" asked Heydrich, glancing at Wirth, who stood at ease but looked extremely uncomfortable.

"Well, yes if our men were armed with Mausers, but not if they had MP 4os. This is a nice machine-pistol with some interesting ideas" said Kessel coolly. "but it is not a technological breakthrough by any means."

"What about the sighting system" pushed Heydrich. Kessel extended the stock again and sighted the weapon. "Well made but ordinary, sir. Ordinary iron sights."

"Thank you Major" said Heydrich, with an appreciative grin.

"That will be all."

Kessel stood at attention, but didn't move. "May I fire the weapon, sir?"

"Be my guest Major" said Heydrich. "General Globocnik will have it sent to you for testing. Dismissed." Kessel repressed a smile, delivered a ordinary Wehrmacht salute and walked out.

"Impressive officer, if a bit heavy" said Heydrich, looking at Globocnik.

"Yes General" said Globocnik defensively. "He is not really under my command."

"As you say" said Heydrich offhandedly. "The point is that while Major Kessel's demonstration was interesting, it was not completely illuminating. The debriefings of Lieutenant Wirth and Sergeant Mueller describe enemy commandos who can see in the dark, and kill silently." Heydrich paused and built his long fingers into a tent over his papers. "But it appears what we really have is a bunch of Palestinian Jews shooting weapons no better than our own. Yet they rampage unimpeded through the countryside, stoking rebellion and wrecking the Reich's most important endeavor. Have I summed things up correctly?" Heydrich asked rhetorically. Nobody answered.

"Wirth!" said Heydrich. The SS man snapped to attention. He felt faint and wiggled his toes in his boots, trying to hang on, half expecting Heydrich to shoot his then and there. "Leave us" ordered Heydrich. "Wait outside."

Wirth stepped out of the office and rushed to the latrine.

"What to do gentlemen?" asked Heydrich.

"Foremost, Herr General " said Eichman "we must start the trains running again. The ghettos are bursting. With Sobibor and Treblinka out of commission we must run everything to Belzac. However, it cannot now handle the extra 'business.‘ Belzac must be expanded and then operated around the clock— at least until Auschwitz is up and running."

"Who is the best man to get the most out of Belzac?“ said Heydrich, turning to Globocnik.

"Wirth" said Globocnik. "I don't know what happened exactly at Treblinka, but I do know he is our best man when it comes to the technical aspects of gassing Jews. If we are going to double or triple Belzac's production, we need him there."

"Alright" said Heydrich, with distaste. "We‘ll promote him and put him in charge of Belzec."

"Not everybody can be a hero I suppose" he said, puffing out his chest to emphasize his own decorations.

"We must protect Belzac as well" said Globo gloomily "in addition to securing the countryside. I do not have sufficient resources to accomplish either mission."

Heydrich considered this. What Globo said was true. Heydrich ran his own sub-empire within the greater Reich— one of particular interest to the Fuehrer, and yet he, like every other officer had to beg for resources. The war in Russia consumed enormous quantities of everything. Rommel incessantly demanded men, machines and supplies in North Africa, and much that was sent out to him ended in the bottom of the sea doubling the drain on the Wehrmacht. And with the United States now in the war things would only get worse.

Germany had to win in Russia and North Africa, sink America's merchant fleet, and defend itself from increasingly worrisome air raids. Killing the Jews was a priority, but Heydrich was expected to do it on a shoestring. Himmler would have to give him more, much more. Germany could not afford a revolt in Poland with the Wehrmacht already stretched in Russia.

"I'll take care of that Globocnik" said Heydrich projecting a confidence that he did not really feel. "You will get the men you need." He turned to Eichman. "Find Wirth and give him the good news."

Eichman hurried out, and after casting about the anteroom, eventually found Wirth down the hall on the toilet. He passed on word of the promotion then and there.

Chapter 30

The sayeret now pushed due east on rough roads. This move across the broken countryside, though hard, took them outside of Heydrich‘s net for the time being. By the time dawn broke on May 30 the weary band found themselves in a forested area near the village of Kozohty. Staying well clear of the hamlet the column pulled into a dense wood.

The Israelis hid the trucks before posting a few bone tired sentries so that everyone else could drop to sleep. The sayeret carried this burden alone—Fliegel‘s Bears had shot their bolt.