Bettina translated the question, which set the general off into a rather long oratory, where Goebbels heard Mussolini mentioned 7 times. When he finally finished, Bettina turned to Goebbels, but it was Goebbels who spoke first.
“Let me guess. Mussolini approves of everything he does, and Mussolini thinks he understands propaganda better than anyone in the world.”
Bettina joked. “I thought you didn’t speak Italian, Herr Goebbels.”
“Of course I don’t. But he’s not the first lackey I’ve run across in an Italian uniform who only knows how to praise that snot Mussolini. I’ve heard this all before, and to think all these little Latin playboys think Mussolini is as good as our Führer.” Goebbels turned to the Italian general and smiled. “So what did our Italian friend say about his wonderful, beloved, know-it-all boss?”
Bettina was in the middle of sipping a glass of juice, and quickly put it down to answer Goebbels.
“The General said that only Mussolini truly understands how to move the Italian public, so any other method would be a let down. He said all leaders around the world could learn how to move the emotions of their own public by watching and learning from Mussolini’s gestures and speaking on newsreels. He also said he would be happy to supply you with any such newsreels should you not have any.”
Goebbels sighed. “Thank-you, we have enough, and I believe I have the idea.” Goebbels turned and looked out the window. “Stupid pig. How in the world did we get allied with these idiots?” Goebbels looked at Bettina upon realizing what he had just whispered under his breath. Such a comment would have greatly insulted one man – Adolf Hitler – who was in fact the only one responsible for Germany’s alliance with… these ‘idiots’.
Bettina began to tidy things on the table and wisely changed the subject.
“Would you like some more coffee, Herr Minister?”
When Goebbels refused, she queried the same question in Italian to the General, who also refused.
“I think I’ve had enough of him, kindly let him know I have an appointment in fifteen minutes and we can speak further at the conference this evening.”
Goebbels returned to his desk when the Italian left and began reading through a stack of documents. Bettina immediately began the task of clearing the table.
“Sharing, ha! That little meatball just wanted my time to hear himself talk! I could learn from him. I could learn from Mussolini. The nerve of those people!”
Even though Bettina knew Goebbels was talking to himself – he did often – she did know him well enough to sense when he wanted a response from an audience – which she did.
“Yes, the nerve!” She echoed.
A brief knock came and a thin face appeared through the slightly opened door.
“Ah, Lt. Schiller! Come in! I was just going through your reports. Have a seat!” Goebbels gave a glance to Bettina that meant ‘go-do-something-else-in-the-adjoining-room’, which she promptly did. When Bettina closed the door, Goebbels continued, “Now, what do you have for me?”
“My brother told me there is an investigation about some calls made from the lodge in Hoff to Berlin.”
“Calls? Goebbels’ mood suddenly changed.
“It seems a one Elka Meyer…” the Lieutenant then pointed at the door Bettina went through and silently mouthed the word ‘cousin’ – “…had tried several times to contact a certain radio technician here in Berlin.”
“And?”
“Nothing yet, it’s just that it is being investigated, and I thought you should know.”
“Bettina!” Goebbels put his elbows on the table and rested his chin within his joined hands as she quickly entered the room. “Are you connected to these telephone calls made by an Elka Meyer in Hof?”
“Yes, Herr Minister.”
“And what is this about?”
“She is my cousin, Herr Minister. She wanted to call my boyfriend to let him know I was OK.” Bettina said truthfully. She wondered if such a small act could get her in trouble.
“She wanted to call your boyfriend?”
“Well, Herr Minister, I wanted to let him know I was okay also.”
Had Goebbels known this information during the trip to Hof, or even a few weeks after, he might have beaten her in rage. However, now his simply smiled understandingly – like a father just learning his daughter had her fist innocent kiss by the door at the end of a date. Bettina saw a complete change in Goebbels after the fall of France, as well as in many others who worked in these halls. Did this military victory affect their personal relationships as well?
“Alright Bettina, you may return to your work.” Goebbels spoke matter-of-factly.
A relieved Bettina turned and began towards her door.
“Oh, Bettina.”
“Yes, Herr Minister?”
“While this is, of course, a minor matter, I should inform you that because of this you are being investigated by the Gestapo.” After a long pause, Goebbels continued. “Do you have anything to hide, Bettina?”
“Oh no, Herr Minister!” Bettina looked at the file cabinet where she knew the folders on her were kept. “You have my entire life!”
“Indeed I do.” Goebbels said, not needed to remind her he actually did have her entire life in the palm of his hand. “And what about your boyfriend. What’s his name?”
“Otto.”
“Otto. Hmmm. Is Otto a good boy, Bettina?” Goebbels said with a cocky smile.
“Yes, of course, Herr Minister!”
“And what does he do?”
“Something with radios, a specialist of sorts.”
“A specialist. How interesting.” The tone of voice by Goebbels revealed jealousy over the fact she had a boyfriend, a subject never having come up before. Would this be an issue later? Goebbels knew in dealing with Heinrich Himmler, anything and everything could be.
“Fine, Bettina, you may go.”
Once Bettina disappeared, Goebbels turned to Schiller. “So Lieutenant, what else does your brother say is going on over at Himmler’s Gestapo?”
“Several things, Herr Minister, not only top secret, but developments the Führer himself does not know… yet.” Indeed, it was a mark of honor to know something before Adolf Hitler, and Lt. Shiller wanted to milk the moment for all it was worth. “Some papers were discovered in the offices of Reichminister Hess, created by Karl Ernst Krafft several years ago, from 1933 in fact. Krafft predicted that in Germany’s war that will start in 1939, if peace is not made with England by the summer of 1941, the tide will begin to turn against Germany.”
Goebbels thought for a moment. “Krafft wrote this in 1933?”
“Yes, Herr Minister.” Schiller was aware of Krafft’s work with Goebbels, as well as Kraft’s other correct predictions, such as the November 8th, 1939 attempt on the Führer’s life. All the more reason he wanted Goebbels to receive this date Krafft marked as to when the war needed to be won.
“Hmmm.” Goebbels began to wonder other ways Krafft might be useful than altering Nostradamus predictions. “Unbelievable, 1933… for him to see that far in advance…” Goebbels took a deep breath, then appeared to come out of his trance. “Anything else?”
“Die Glocke.”
Goebbels sat up. He had only heard rumors of such Wunderwaffe, this one, the Bell, was being developed somewhere in the mountains of Lower Silesia. Even Himmler had difficulty getting any information on this project, and of course would never share what he had. Luckily Goebbels had a spy in the Gestapo through Schiller’s younger sibling.