“Fredrich Stadt.”
“Well Fredrich, you know the danger?”
Fredrich straightened confidently. This was something he wanted to do. “Jawohl, Herr Dresner.”
Dresner smiled and patted the boy on the arm. “Then let’s be at it then. Welcome to our unit,” he said.
Dresner’s group, led by Fredrich Stadt, made their way back down the stairs into the cellar. Fredrich opened the cask and then the door beyond. Surprisingly, no one was met as the group quickly, but quietly made their way down the corridors. They stopped at each intersection and looked carefully before continuing. Within minutes they were at the armory door.
Dresner turned to Betz. “Sergeant, post some men down the corridor to warn us if someone comes. No shooting unless necessary. I suggest we turn off some of the lights in the corridor so it is a bit darker,” he said as they went inside.
The armory held more weapons that Dresner had seen since the war. There was a little something of every type of hand held weapon, boxes of ammunition, several cases of explosives and the equipment to detonate them. The men spread out and rearmed themselves, discarding their rifles and each gathering a new pistol and an MP 40 submachine gun. Commonly called the “Schmeisser” by the Americans, it was one of the best submachine guns produced by either side. Nearly every man got one along with a pistol and holster. Some even found silencers for the pistols and handed them out. They also loaded up with plenty of ammunition.
There was a muffled exclamation from the back of the armory. Dresner turned to see Corporal Wagner come around the corner carrying a Panzerschreck. Also called the Ofenrohr or “stovepipe” by the men who used it, it was the German equivalent of the American Bazooka. Eric followed him carrying two wooden cases of projectiles.
“This ought to do the trick,” Eric said.
“It isn’t going to be very subtle,” said Dresner.
“Yes, but it will punch through six inches of concrete,” said Eric.
Wagner was nodding and grinning behind him. “He has a good idea, Herr Major. I can help him do it.”
“Alright, what is your plan, young Eric?” asked Dresner.
“Corporal Wagner and I go up to the gazebo on the lake and punch holes in the concrete under what we thought was a patio. It is actually the tops of the four silos down there. If we can hit them just at the waterline…”
“The whole place would be under water in a matter of minutes! I like that much better than shooting at the missiles themselves. But there are some things we must do as well. I must try and get those men out of there. They have broken laws and if I can bring them out alive I will do so. But if not…” Dresner let the meaning hang in the air.
Otto tapped him on the shoulder. “Pardon me, Herr Inspector. You need to know there are several young men our age there. They are like us. Our fathers have made us attend these meetings for the last year or so. I doubt they have really broken any laws and if they are like us, we didn’t know the whole story until tonight. If I go with you, we might be able to get them out without a fight,” he said quietly.
Dresner hadn’t thought about young people being there. He saw the sense in what the young man was saying. “Very well, come along. But if we start shooting, you make it back up to the house as fast as you can. You’re not trained for this and you have already done your share,” Dresner said. “Now tell me your name.”
“Otto Haldebeck.”
“Very good, Herr Haldebeck. You stay with me. Now tell me, is there another way into this place?”
Fredrick stepped up. “Yes, Herr Inspector. There is another tunnel which opens from the road just below the one for the house. My father told me and we came in by it. I can take you there.”
“Good. Wagner, you and Eric take one man and make your way to the lake. Betz!” he called out. Betz came around the door. “You take eight men and young Fredrick here and go in the other entrance.” He turned to face Fredrick again. “This other entrance, does it lead to the rocket chamber or to the house?”
“To the main chamber. It comes out just below the control room. There may be some people guarding it.”
Dresner turned back to Betz. “You heard him. Go back to the house and get a car. Drive it down and see if you can get in. As best you can, make your way to the main chamber and be ready.” He looked at the group. “I’ll give you ten minutes. I know that’s not much time, but we can’t wait until they launch those things. When ten minutes are up, Wagner, you start making holes in concrete. Betz should be making his way up the entrance tunnel and I will take the rest of the men and go in from this side. Try and take people alive and get them out of this facility. If you can’t just make sure we get all our people back out of this place. Once the water starts coming in, we need to get out fast. Our primary goal is to get Müller and Kammler. I want those two most of all. Any questions?”
The men looked at each other and then back shook their heads. Eric was surprised at the men. They each had a very determined look. There was even a sort of professionalism in the way they handled themselves which was different from the time he had met them before. He had to remind himself that these same men had survived a much larger conflict together and were thinking like the old days — as one unit.
Dresner nodded and glanced at his watch. “Very good. We all start the assault ten minutes from now. Good luck,” he said.
The men snapped to attention and began rushing to their assigned place. Wagner, Eric and a man named Stephen made their way as fast as they could back to the house. The going was difficult with the heavy load of the Panzerschreck and its ammunition. By the time they reached the front door all three men were sweating profusely.
Eric saw Anna and Helga sitting at the table. “Get in a car and get out of here. I’ll call your place when we’re done,” he said.
He saw Anna put her hands on her hips defiantly and yelling out, “No!”
Eric smiled at her and yelled back, “Wait for me then!”
Crossing the courtyard and exiting through the gate, Eric led the men down the side of the lake and onto the short pier out to the gazebo. Glancing at his watch he told the men, “There’s no time to lose.”
Wagner gave instructions on how to load the weapon as Stephen broke open the wooden cases with the ammunition. After only a minute a round was in the end of the tube and Wagner kneeled beside the wooden rail. Using the rail to steady the tube, he took aim at the exact point where the water met the concrete. Looking at his watch again, there was only one minute left to wait.
Fredrich, Betz and the other men were quicker getting up to the house because they didn’t have as much to carry. They grabbed two of the cars and tore out the gate and down to the tunnel. It only took two minutes to be out the other side and down the 100 meters to where Fredrick said the door was. Fredrick stepped out of the car and walked to the edge of the concrete sill. Reaching behind the sill he pulled something and then pushed the door inward.
There were two students in the underground garage. As the door opened, they turned to see who was coming in and saw the two cars enter followed by Fredrich who was pushing the door closed. With Fredrich there, they did not expect trouble and sat their rifles down and leaned them against the wall. Suddenly the cars raced up and screeched to a halt. A group of eight men with guns jumped out, pointing them at the students. The two immediately threw their hands into the air. One of them even wet himself as the others rushed towards them.
“Take them and tie them up beside the cars. Karl, you stay with them until we return. If there is trouble, get them to safety,” Betz said. He turned to look at the garage. Sitting in it were about twenty cars of different makes and sizes. But two things caught his eye. The first was a row of four Tiger tanks and other armored vehicles sitting against the far wall. The second was a large truck marked “US Army.” A smile crept across his face. “One case solved,” he said to himself.