Vengeance 10

Heydrich sipped his drink, eyeing them carefully. ‘What I am about to tell you must go no further than this room.’ Both nodded solemnly.

‘Then understand this. We will not prevail in Russia this year and perhaps not the following year either. Our tactics are incorrect as you have heard me state before. The Ukrainians are anti-communist for the most part and could become our strongest allies, but we persist in oppression. I have slight hope of changing the Führer’s mind concerning this policy.’

Heydrich paused, and again Bethwig had the feeling that he was gauging their reaction, much as an actor would ‘feel’ the house. ‘I am to be made commander of all SS in France, a position from which I will command unlimited funds, material and manpower.’ He smiled at their surprise. ‘Now you know why Peenemunde will soon receive levies of POWs. But that is not the point. I have had occasion to examine our defences in France, and I find them quite inadequate in the event of a major invasion. In fact, no matter what is done to fortify our position along the Atlantic, it will be insufficient. Unless our policy concerning conquered peoples changes, which I seriously doubt, eventually we will be overwhelmed from inside as well as without. To prevent that inevitable day, we must cause the Americans and their English allies to leave the war. As long as the Americans are safe from the ravages of war on their own soil, they will continue to contribute material and men to the Allied effort. After all, it is good business. But let them have a taste of bombing and killing across the Atlantic and they will soon fall out.’

Bethwig squirmed on the sofa. He had made this very point to Heydrich some months before. Obviously the man had forgotten the source.

‘Our uranium-bomb project is going ahead at a good clip. We expect to receive large shipments of heavy water from Rjukan, ‘Norway, before the autumn. The Allies made a desperate attempt to destroy the hydroelectric plant, but all of their commando troops were killed. In spite of such annoyances, my planning staff informs me of the following: one, the first uranium bombs will be available for testing by late 1943 and operational in 1944, somewhere about mid to late spring; two, the Allies will not be in a position to invade Europe until May of 1943 at the earliest, with the most likely date of invasion in the autumn of 1944 or the spring of 1945. Gentlemen, we must be ready to knock the United States out of the war by the beginning of 1944.’ This last was punctuated by Heydrich’s fist descending on the arm of his chair. ‘And that, gentlemen, can best be done by throwing the uranium bomb at them from the moon. It is nothing less than the survival of the Reich of which we are speaking!’

Bethwig was surprised by Heydrich’s emotion. Perhaps he had misjudged the man. Maybe he was more than an opportunistic gangster after all?

‘Therefore, gentlemen, it is time to stop pussyfooting around.’ Heydrich favoured them with a cold smile and stood up to pace for a moment, hands clasped behind his back. A tall figure in black. The perfect Aryan, Bethwig thought admiringly in spite of himself, the essence of the Germanic spirit.

‘You came to me because you were unable to gain backing for your project from your own employers, the army. You convinced me that farfetched though your ideas seemed, they had a great deal of merit. I therefore placed myself in some jeopardy in backing you. Certain people have been promised results, results based upon a very rigid time schedule.’ He paused to stare at them both, and Bethwig knew what was coming next. From von Braun’s grunt, it was clear that he did as well.

‘Now you both tell me that perhaps it was not such a good idea after all. That more time is needed, that the problems are of such magnitude that time schedules cannot be met.’

‘Herr Heydrich,’ von Braun began, but the reichsprotektor cut him off.

‘Please, no excuses. We allow no excuses in the SS. Only success is recognised. There is no such thing as failure, is that clear? You two gentlemen have deceived me…’

That was too much for von Braun. He jumped up and advanced on Heydrich who backed away a step in surprise. The aide came slowly to his feet, one hand on his pistol. ‘Just one moment, Herr Reichsprotektor.’ Von Braun’s voice was cold and his face pale. Bethwig had never heard him use that tone of voice before, and he stared, fascinated by this new aspect of his friend’s character.

‘We presented to you a technological concept, not a finished product. Our proposals made it perfectly clear that this was the case and that rigid time schedules had no place in the development plan. Obviously your so-called planning staff has chosen to ignore — ‘

‘That is enough!’