Upfall

Kumm and his staff greeted Globocnik respectfully in the regimental commander's conference room. Kumm had already neatly organized and covered the place in maps. With Kumm were his own operations and intelligence officers, as well as the tough looking 2nd Battalion commander Stadler, and Lieutenant Kaiser from the reconnaissance unit. Globocnik took a seat at the table and Kumm got down to business.

"Yesterday, Herr General, a reconnaissance patrol led by Untersturmfuhrer Kaiser, ran into a rather large partisan concentration, here." Kumm pointed on the map to an area northeast of Lubin, not very far from Sobibor.

"Was there any indication that the British commandos were with this partisan unit?" asked Reder.

"No Major" said Kumm. "But resistance was heavy. We lost men and vehicles. I would like to move against this partisan concentration as soon as possible—preferably tomorrow—with everything I have available."

"Everything?" asked Globocnik dubiously. "You mean the units in Siedice and Belzec too? That's out of the question."

"Well then Herr General, the 2nd infantry battalion based here in Lubin, along with my headquarters assets, armor, and such" responded Kumm, his voice urgent.

"The Waffen SS is up for a fight eh?" chirped Globocnik with a smirk. Kumm glared at Globocnik but held his tongue. "No Kumm" continued the SS General. "I don't want to risk the entire battalion and leave Lubin stripped. You must leave some companies behind." Globocnik had come to like the idea of having the SS around— it made him feel safer.

Kumm wanted to complain. Globocnik had already spread his regiment across the wastes of eastern Poland and now was preventing the concentration of his single available battalion. But he was an SS officer and the enemy Jewish partisans—it it would be unseemly to argue about it further.

"As you wish Herr General. I'll leave behind two infantry companies, but take the rest." Kumm made it sound like a final offer.

"Fine Colonel" said Globocnik pleasantly. "Now, for the issue of how to handle matters at the scene—I assume you will be successful, and that means prisoners."

"The Wajfen SS does not take prisoners."

"Oh I know. I don't expect you to take any partisans prisoner, and that includes all the partisans—without regard to sex or age..." said Globocnik conspiratorially.

"I know the drill Herr General " said Kumm impatiently. "Not this time" hissed Globocnik, fixing Kumm with his policeman's stark stare. "You will not execute any captured adult male partisans until Sergeant Mueller here has had a chance to identify them." Globocnik pointed to policeman, who, like Kumm, looked very unhappy. "Mueller is the only man, still alive, to have seen these foreign commandos, and it is my desire, and I should say General Heydrich's desire that they be take alive, if possible."

"So I'm to transport the prisoners back here for.. "

"No, no, no" interrupted Globocnik. "Sergeant Mueller will travel with you. He will identify the commandos at the scene—if you seize any—and you will return them to Lubin. Everybody else" Globocnik waved his hand idly "pfft!"

"Also" broke in Reder "any captured arms or ammunition."

"Very good Herr General " said Kumm. "Sergeant Mueller can ride with me." Kumm looked coldly at Mueller who turned away from the glaring SS commander. "Would you like to hear my operational plans.?"

"No" said Globocnik, t0 Kumm's relief. "I'll leave the details—and Sergeant Mueller—to you." Globocnik rose to go. "You move out tomorrow morning?"

"Yes Herr General. This business should be concluded by tomorrow night."

"Let's hope so Colonel" said Globocnik as he stood at the door to the conference room, not reassured by Kumm's cool confidence.

After Globocnik's departure Kumm, Stadler and his staff officers got down to the planning the raid. They were all disturbed that Globocnik refused to allow all of Stadler's battalion to move, but not unused to dealing with difficult and even foolish superiors. Kumm especially was distressed—he'd arrived with an entire regiment—less his artillery—only to see it whittled away. After the officers exchanged a mutual glance of exasperation, they went back to work.

Kumm was anxious to get going, before the enemy had a chance to fully react to the reconnaissance probe. But the regiment was still short of fuel and other supplies. Plus, his men had yet to configure the half-tracks for battalion and regimental command and communication —and for an engineering platoon—as well as a hundred other details. Six of the half-tracked personnel carriers would be given to a pair of assault platoons, but most of Stadler's remaining three companies would ride to battle in trucks.