Upfall

"They seized and razed two important installations" recounted Globocnik "in addition to overrunning several other positions and killing hundreds of German and allied troops. In their wake, Jewish and Polish partisans are coming out of the woodwork, raiding the countryside."

"What kind of installations?" asked Kumm.

Were Kumm not an SS man Globocnik might have used a euphemism, but he assumed Kumm had killed a few Jews in his day. "Extermination camps. The survival of these camps and their successful operation are national and SS priorities."

Kumm didn't blink an eye. "What do you want my regiment to do?"

Globocnik motioned to Reder. The intelligence officer stood and moved to a small map table, followed by Globocnik and Kumm. "There are other troops moving into eastern Poland now" said the intelligence officer, pointing at the map. "Security troops and Cossacks mostly..."

"Cossacks are good" interrupted Kumm, showing some actual interest. "They are hard to control but excellent against partisans."

"Yes Colonel—the point being that we intend to use these troops, and the other garrison troops already deployed, to find the commando group, at which point one of your battlegroups will destroy them."

"Fine" said Kumm "except that my regiment has no transport. It was entirely destroyed in Russia. We have been waiting months for trucks and armored half-track carriers?"

"That has been taken care of. You will have sufficient motor transport for two of your three battalions, plus a company of half-tracked carriers, and vehicles for your reconnaissance company. Also, two platoons of Stug III assault guns—eight guns total."

Kumm nodded. He was impressed. Obviously somebody had attached high importance to this mission. Still, a battalion remained immobile. "What about my third battalion—is it to remain behind?"

"No" said Globocnik, pointing to the map. "One mobile battalion will deploy in the north near Siedice, the second near our present location, just outside of Lubin. The third—the the non—motorized unit, will deploy further to the south in a fixed position guarding the Belzec extermination camp."

"My men are to guard the camp?" asked Kumm dubiously.

"Yes Colonel—just the one battalion. Is that a problem?"

"My men are combat soldiers. They are trained to attack or to defend critical breaches in the line. They are not camp guards."

"Nonetheless Colonel, you will designate and deploy one battalion as such. This order comes from Reichsfuhrer Himmler" said Globocnik, happy to put the Waffen SS colonel in his place. Kumm squinted and ground his teeth, his instinct to obey wrestling with his distaste for the assignment. Well, at least most of his regiment was getting wheels and tracks.

"Colonel" pressed Globocnik, luxuriating in Kumm's discomfort "Major Kessel here can help explain why this assignment and your deployments are so unusual. Major." said Globo, waiving his hand as if he were introducing a nightclub act. Kessel reached into a small kit bag and pulled out the Uzi, then joined the other officers at the map table. "Have you ever seen one of these in Russia, Colonel?" asked Kessel.

Kumm looked at the weapon with professional interest. "No Major. Is it a new British weapon?"

"Apparently. It is a 9mm submachinegun—a very good weapon. In tests, it is as good as an MP 40, maybe a little better."

"And these commandos are armed with these weapons I take it. Good to know" said Kumm sourly.

"We don‘t believe that this is the enemy commandos' primary weapon" said Kessel. "Look at this." Kessel tossed an empty cartridge casing at Kumm. The SS officer snatched it out of the air and quickly examined it, turning it over to look at the caliber. "5.56 mm—that is interesting. It's a large cartridge for a varmint sized round" said Kumm knowledgably. Kessel handed Kumm a tiny bullet. Kumm attached it to the cartridge and nodded approvingly.

"A clever idea, eh Colonel?" said Kessel, pleased the the SS officer was paying close attention. "Small bullet, lots of power, high velocity. I believe that these commandos are carrying rifles that fire that round."

"We've recovered bullets from the bodies of victims and empty cartridge casings at various battle sites, but no intact cartridges" said Reder. "It‘s strange—more often than not soldiers in the heat of battle will drop an intact round or two."

"Not my soldiers" said Kumm.

"Well then" said Globo as if securing a debate point "these commandos and your men have something in common."

"Kessel is your name?" asked Kumm, ignoring Globocnik.

“Jawohl, Herr Obersturmbannfuhrer."

"It would be a good idea for the ordnance corps to copy this round" said Kumm, playing the complete cartridge between his fingers. "High velocity means accuracy, and because the cartridge is small and light, soldiers can carry more ammunition."

"My thoughts exactly!" said Kessel happily.