Upfall

"He only knows about his own company, which is a recon detachment. And we pretty much already know what that is. But he did say the regiment had at least some tanks or assault guns."

"Artillery?" asked Yatom.

"Doesn't know."

"Any good news?" asked Mofaz biliously.

"Yes" said Feldhandler proudly. "Their radios didn't work. His sergeant couldn’t communicate with the platoon leader, and he had the impression that the platoon leader was also out of communication —at least before he got blown up—which means our little electronic warfare station is working."

"I am glad you and your men are still here" sighed De Jong. 'You are not going to leave us in the lurch are you?"

"No. We're not going anywhere until Lieutenant Shapira and Sergeant Ben David return" said Mofaz sourly. "Besides, our arrangements are not made anyway." He looked bitterly at Feldhandler.

With nothing more to say, the Israelis left De Jong, Jezek and Sobel to their own devices in the town hall and assembled the rest of the sayeret in the yard. They were down to nine, with Itzak's death and the departure of Shapira and Chaim. Mofaz briefed the men as to the quality of the SS as Yatom had asked. The young commandos took it in stride— they'd fought Hezbollah and the Revolutionary Guards hadn't they?

"These guys are probably better" said Yatom "but we are better still. And we cannot let this town fall. You know what will happen." The soldiers nodded soberly. Looking at Roskovsky Yatom said "Tonight put out the EFPs, your claymores and the rest of the mines. We expect they will have armor." Roskovsky nodded.

"Rafi you still have two rounds for the B-300?" asked Yatom.

"Yes."

"You'll carry Dr. Feldhandler's Galil tomorrow. It has four anti— armor grenades. If you expend your B-300 rockets, switch to that."

"What about the mortars?" Rafi had worked with the two mortar teams.

"Help the teams set handle the fire missions."

"I’ll take Rafi's Tavor" said Feldhandler "since you've given away my rifle - or give me Itzak's."

"I have Iztak's" snapped Mofaz. "I'm not wasting a 40mm in your hands."

"Okay then" said Feldhandler "give me yours."

"Enough!" growled Yatom. "Doctor, you'll man the MG42 we picked up today from the main bunker on the hillock. You'll support Ilan and Mike who will be in their sniper nest nearby. Use your pistol for backup. Now give Rafi the Galil."

Feldhandler turned over the big rifle and his sack of grenades.

"We'll keep your Tavor with the mortar crew" Yatorn told Rafi.

To avoid another surprise Yatorn ordered Bolander to ride the captured BMW to the end of the Lubin road and watch for enemy movement. Bolander was to report any contact, then ride like hell back to a carefully camouflaged bunker where he would join Ilan. There the two snipers would pursue their grim work, focusing on the SS leadership. The four newly trained Jewish sniper teams would be spread both the main ridge and the hillock and try to do the same.

Roi was annoyed by all this, as he considered the motorcycle personal property, but was now bereft of his bike and relegated to duty in the main bunker on the central ridge, where he could best employ his Negev, and a backup MG 34. Yatom told Ido to fight in the line with the rest of the sayeret leaving medical care to Biali's capable teams of doctors and nurses. When he was done Yatom told the men to gather their equipment and move out. After the men were away Yatom and Mofaz turned to Feldhandler.

"What is the status of the Device?" asked Yatom. "Perchansky is working on it now. We are making progress."

"How do we know that?" snarled Mofaz. "Ask her yourself" said Feldhandler. "She wants to get away as much as you do—maybe more. Besides, we're not going anywhere until Shapira and Chaim return— right colonel?"

"Until they return" said Yatorn carefully "or we know that they cannot."

"Fair enough" said Mofaz. "We are going to fight this battle one way or the other. From a professional standpoint, it should be interesting."

"You sound like you're beginning to enjoy this" said Feldhandler hopefully.

"Not a chance doctor—I want to go home. But it's nice to work without having to worry about rules of engagement." Mofaz paused and looked at Yatom. "I'm going to join the men" he said leaving them, cradling Itzak's old rifle.

"Mofaz is best off when he's fighting, or planning a fight" said Yatom. "He just doesn‘t like to acknowledge it."

Chapter 37

Globocnik posted Der Fuehrer's headquarters group to an old Polish army base just outside of Lubin. Eager to get out of his own office on a fine summer morning, the SS General agreed to meet Kumm and his staff at the junior officer's HQ for a briefing. Globocnik’s motorcade included his own chauffeured staff car, and another that carried Major Reder and Sergeant Mueller. Both cars were escorted by motorcyclists and a dozen Ordnungspolizei in a truck. Globocnik wasn't taking any chances, even in Lubin.