Upfall

"It will take time just to boot up the computers. Then it will require a lot of guessing and calculation, which will not be resolved today, or probably for several days. And we can't run the machines indefinitely, or we'll drain too much power. Plus, we have to work upside down. Why don't you wait with Nir outside?" Mofaz's dark eyes bore into Feldhandler. Instead of challenging the Major, Feldhandler reached into his backpack and withdrew a small metal can. "Here's the last of my loof. We missed breakfast and had a long hike. Share it with Nir - please."

"Go on" pleaded Perchansky, anxious to avoid another argument between the two.

Mofaz took the loof barely suppressing a smile, and climbed out of the capsule. Outside he happily blurted just three words: "Nir. Come. Loof”

Later that evening, after Mofaz and his group returned from the capsule, they buried Itzak Belete and Dov Feld, the boy killed with him. It was late for burial under Jewish law, which stipulates the dead are to be buried Within a day, but it was as early as necessity allowed. A rabbi from Lodz presided. Mofaz tossed in the first clump of earth onto Itzak's grave.

Chapter 33

According to Feldhandler's history books, on June 4, 1942, Reinhardt Heydrich died. Instead, on this day Heydrich awoke early, drove to his office in Prague— with an armed escort—to personally smooth the transfer of the prized Der Fuehrer Regiment to Poland. By midday, the first units of the regiment had been alerted at their training ground in Lueneburg Heath in Germany. The same day, well ahead of his troops, Der Fuehrers regimental commander, Obersturmbannfuhrer Otto Kumm, flew into Lubin.

Globocnik had mixed feelings about meeting the SS officer, although Globo well outranked him. On the one hand Kumm, a ruthless and aggressive commander, might finally rid Globocnik of his partisan problems. On the other, it would have been better had Globo been able to resolve the problems himself. That seemed unlikely now. Patrols by aircraft and motorized units showed no sign that the enemy commandos had headed north to the British drop zones or a submarine rendezvous. To make matters worse, a Polish police patrol found Samsonov's lifeless body, those of his men, and his considerable storehouses emptied. The enemy commandos had disappeared, even as groups of amateurish but combative partisans raided targets throughout the eastern Polish marches.

Wirth was at Belzac working feverishly to expand the death camp, assisted by an extra detachment of ordinary SS guards and 1000 Jewish slave laborers. Globocnik hoped Belzec would survive until the SS arrived. All in all, it had been a bad few weeks. Globocnik was drinking beyond his already considerable excess, and suffering arousal problems to boot. It was in this state of distracted agitation that his aide ushered in Colonel Kumm.

Kumm was a tall, slim, pleasant looking man in his early thirties. Like many SS officers he wore his peaked cap, adorned with the SS death‘s head insignia, at a deliberately jaunty angle. Around his neck hung the Ritterkreuz, Germany's highest military honor, won that February for action in Russia. Kumm smartly clicked his heels and saluted Globocnik upon entering the office. Simultaneously, Majors Kessel and Reder, who were seated with Globo, jumped to their feet and saluted Kumm. Globocnik returned Kumm's salute and when everybody had finished the formalities, bid Kumm to sit. Kumm took his seat, removed his cap and smoothed his hair.

"Colonel, to your left is Major Kessel of the ordnance corps" said Globocnik "and next to him, Captain Reder, from intelligence." Kumm sat ramrod straight in the chair and moved his head just slightly toward the two junior officers, but said nothing. The pair were unimpressive looking staff officers thought Klum, even if Reder wore an SS uniform—mere policemen and functionaries, not combat soldiers.

"Do you know why you are here colonel?" asked Globocnik condescendingly.

"To hunt partisans" said Kumm curtly, ignoring Globocnik‘s tone.

"Do you know why your regiment was selected for this mission?" continued Globo in the same tenor.

"Not precisely Herr General " replied Kumm betraying a hint of annoyance. "I assume because we did it in Russia."

"That's part of it Kumm. It is also because we need the best troops available. This mission is of the utmost importance."

"Killing partisans is not so difficult General. It is like destroying ants. You find them, cut them off, and burn them."

"Certainly" smiled Globocnik. Kumm was a typical SS officer thought Globo—he really seemed to believe he was an Ubermensch. "However, these partisans might be tougher to kill than ants. They are accompanied by a unit of British commandos, possibly made up of Palestinian Jews. They not only have proven difficult to track down, but they are quite destructive."

Kumm had fought some remarkably tough Russian troops over the past year and remained unimpressed. "In what way General?"