Hitler had won the Iron Cross First Classan unusual decoration for a lowly corporalin the First World War, and was fond of reminding his generals that, unlike many of them, he had been tested under fire.
"Hello, Goltz," von Wachtstein said, returning Goltz's salute with an equally casual raising of his arm from the elbow, palm extended. "What can I do for you, beyond offering you coffee?"
"Coffee would be fine, Herr Generalleutnant," Goltz replied. "It was a long ride from Berlin."
Von Wachtstein mimed raising a coffee cup to his lips to his chief clerk, Feldwebel (Technical Sergeant) Alois Hennig, a tall, blond twenty-two-year-old.
"Jawohl, Herr Generalleutnant," Hennig said, and left them alone.
"Reichsleiter Bormann is in conference," Goltz said. "I thought I would pass the time paying my respects to you."
"Bormann is a busy man," von Wachtstein said.
"I'm about to go to Buenos Aires."
"I'd heard something about that."
"I thought of your son, of course, when I received my orders."
"I'm sure he would be delighted to show you around Buenos Aires," von Wachtstein said. "By now I'm sure he is familiar with everything of interest. Most of that, unless he has suddenly reformed, will be wearing skirts."
"He does have that reputation, doesn't he? Have you heard from him lately?"
"Not often. The odd letter. He was apparently asleep in church when they went through that 'Honor Thy Father' business."
Goltz chuckled.
"And then the mail is erratic, isn't it? I thought perhaps I could carry a letter for you."
"That would be very kind, but irregular," von Wachtstein said.
"Even if it came to anyone's attentionand I can't see how it wouldI don't think there would be any serious questions about someone in my position doing a small service to an old friend."
"I would be very grateful, Goltz, but I don't want to impose on our friendship."
"It would be no imposition at all."
"When are you leaving Wolfsschanze?"
"Whenever the Heinkel leaves. The Herr Reichsleiter got me a seat on it."
"There is something," von Wachtstein said. "In one letter he complained that he has only one set of major's badges . . ."
"That's right, he was promoted, wasn't he?"
". . . and spends a good deal of time carefully moving them from one uniform to another. I could probably get a set or two here. . . ."
"I'd be delighted to carry them to him."
"Thank you."
Feldwebel Hennig appeared with two cups of coffee on a wooden tray.
"The African coffee, Herr Generalleutnant," he said. "Unfortunately, about the last of it."
"You're a bright youngster, Hennig," von Wachtstein said. "I have every confidence that you will be able to steal some more somewhere."
"I happen to have a source of coffee, good coffee," Goltz said. "I'll tell my office to send you a couple of kilos with the next messenger."
"And I was not really glad to see you, Josef, when you walked in here. I shamelessly accept."
"Friends should take care of one another, shouldn't they?"
"A noble sentiment."
As Hennig was setting the tray down, one of the three telephones on von Wachtstein's desk rang. Hennig moved to answer it but stopped.
"It's the red line, Herr Generalleutnant," he said.
A red-line telephoneso called because the instrument was redwas another symbol of status in Wolfsschanze. There were only fifty red-line instruments. The special switchboard for these had been installed so that Hitler and very senior officials could talk directly to one another without wasting time speaking to secretaries. Those who had red-line telephones were expected to answer them themselves.
"Heil Hitler, von Wachtstein," he said, picking it up.
"Canaris," the Chief of the Abwehr identified himself. "I understand Standartenf?hrer Goltz is with you?"
"Yes, he is. One moment, please, Herr Admiral," von Wachtstein said, and handed the phone to Goltz. "Admiral Canaris."
"Yes. Herr Admiral?" Goltz said, listened a moment, and then said, "I ask the Herr Admiral's indulgence to finish my cup of the Herr Generalleutnant's excellent coffee." There was a pause, and then, chuckling, "I'll tell him that, Herr Admiral. Thank you."
He handed the telephone back to von Wachtstein.
"Admiral Canaris said that if you have excellent coffee, you have the only excellent coffee in Wolfsschanze, and it is clearly your duty as an old comrade to tell him where you found it."
"Actually, Peter got that for me in North Africa. He ferried a Heinkel over, and brought that back with him."
"Maybe he wasn't asleep in church after all," Goltz said. "May I suggest you get your son's rank badges as soon as you can, and if you're going to send a letter, write it as soon as possible. Within the hour."
"You're very kind, Josef."
"Not at all. After all, since you served me the last of your African coffee, it is the least I can do."
"Please give my regards to the Admiral," Generalleutnant von Wachtstein said.
[FOUR]
Admiral Canaris was preoccupied. He did not acknowledge Goltz's salute, and although he looked up when Goltz entered, Goltz felt that his mind was far away.
But then, suddenly, he felt Canaris's eyes examining him coldly.
"This won't take long, Standartenf?hrer," Canaris said. "But I have a few things to say to you before you leave for Argentina."
"I will be grateful for any direction the Herr Admiral may wish to give me."
Canaris ignored that too.
"One. I agreed to the elimination of Oberst Frade with great reluctance. But in the end, I decided the risk that he would assume the presidency was unacceptable. It was entirely possible, in my judgment, that he might well have had sufficient influence to obtain a declaration of war against usespecially in the period immediately following the seizure of power by the Grupo de Oficiales Unidos. The implications of that should be obvious. Not only does Germany need Argentine food and wool, but as Argentina goes, so will go Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, and probably Peru."
"I understand, Herr Admiral."
"His elimination, Standartenf?hrer, was not without price. I know the Argentine Officer Corps. While the great majority of Argentine Army officers are sympathetic to the National Socialist cause, they will deeply resent the elimination of Oberst Frade. Not only was he a popular figure, but the Argentines are a nationalist people. They understandably resent an action like that occurring on their soil. Meanwhile, it is to be hoped that in time the necessity of our act will be understood, and later accepted. The goodwill of the Argentine Officer Corps is an asset we cannot afford to squander; and I admonish you, Standartenf?hrer, to do everything possible to avoid further antagonizing them."
"I understand, Herr Admiral."
"For that reason alone, I did not sign your mission order until after the elimination had taken place. I did not want you suspected of any responsibility for it. That, in my judgment, would have been the case had you been in Buenos Aires at the time the elimination was carried out."
"I understand, Herr Admiral."
"Two. Regarding the Reine de la Mer incident. The Portuguese government has protestedhas von Ribbentrop gone into this with you?"