Sunrise was seemingly delayed by the rain but the gradual arrival of the morning sun seemed to turn off the tap and both wind and rain disappeared in an instant.
After a longer than normal delay, their little train slowly started chugging its way onwards and, now that there was sufficient natural light, Moeller tried to draw a map in the dirt on the wall of the truck to help them all work out where they were and where they were going. Four men were detailed to keep an eye open, especially as the train had slowed down and was making extremely slow progress now.
Kloss, the Kradschutzen Leutnant positioned at a hole on the offside front corner swore audibly and called Rolf to him with some urgency. The hole was large enough for two to look out of and so they both had a grandstand view of a heavily camouflaged railway siding within a wood adjacent to the mainline. Both noted that the trains that they had seen slide past them that very morning were concealed under the vast green awnings.
Of as much interest was the fact that there were at least forty such trains in total, parked in what was rapidly appreciated as a huge area of clear land which was intended to represent woodland. Certainly, any aerial view of the site would see nothing but a vast wooded nature reserve for birds and deer, and no aerial observer would have any idea of the huge amount of tanks, guns, and men underneath the canopy of natural leaves and camouflage netting. Large numbers of Russians were moving about the area, obviously stretching their legs and enjoying an early breakfast. Kloss pointed out a cooking facility that produced no smoke, supplying a line of eager riflemen and tank crew.
It was also apparent that the Russians even removed the spur of rail track that led into the sidings, as Rolf glimpsed a pile of track under a roof on what was supposed to look like a cottage from above. At the other end of the site, a similar building had been erected, obviously where the track was stored prior to being put in place so the trains could continue their onward journey. The switchgear for the dismantled points clearly lay under some false bushes constructed adjacent to the track.
In total, the watchers considered that they had just seen the entire tank, anti-tank and artillery strength of a Guards Mechanised Corps, parked up trying hard to look like a harmless Austrian wood. That was being done for a reason. Uhlmann consulted with the Brandenburger and a 12th SS Division staff Hauptsturmfuhrer, both of whom had intelligence credentials.
It did not take them long to arrive at the conclusion that what they had seen was a clandestine all-arms attack force moving up towards its start position, wherever that may be. The lack of visible facilities to disembark the vehicles made them believe that the final destination was further forward. In addition, no facility such as that secret area would be built just for training purposes. That was something put together for the real deal.
The inescapable conclusion was that the Soviet Union was definitely about to carry the war forward and assault the other half of Germany, and probably beyond. Bringing in the Austrian, the conversation continued regarding where exactly the Russians intended to attack but quickly moved into how this might affect their possible transit into a zone held by more friendly and understanding enemies, and then, by natural progression, came once more to their obligation and duty to pass on this knowledge.
By common assent, after long years of combat in the name of Fuehrer, Fatherland and Folk, their temporary respite as prisoners was brought to a stunning halt. Without a doubt, they now did have an obligation to carry this news to the Western Allies in order to protect the part of Germany that lay under their control. Any German government that existed would be bound to resist the Russians and certainly would assist the Americans and British in any way they could as the lesser of two evils.
Rolf called on everyone to listen in, and summed up the situation in a few direct sentences. To the credit of every man present, they all instantly understood the responsibility they held to get through with this intelligence, no matter what.
The moment of decision was interrupted by the jolt of their train as it came to a halt. The watchers quickly allayed any fears and reported nothing of concern. One even spotted the name of the town on the front of a shop some way off the track.
It was Persenbeug, a fact reinforced by the lofty presence of the grand Schloss Persenbeug perched atop its rocky outcrop, with its well-known almost eastern style dome sitting atop the grand tower, on which the clock indicated 0520 hrs.
Schloss Persenbeug was directly to the south of the small siding in which their train had stopped. Unchanged from the pictures most had seen of it, its sheer white walls and red rooves stood guard over the river that ran alongside it.
The sweetness of seeing such a welcoming structure was swiftly lost as Braun urgently informed the group that the engine was being uncoupled. They had reached the end of the line.
Chapter 33 – THE RAILYARD
Desperate affairs require desperate measures.
In the wagon, the summer temperature, combined with its effects on the detritus of the former occupants, was making the atmosphere unbearable.
There was little by way of Soviet military traffic, but there was enough sporadic movement to keep the group tucked away in their hiding place until they had formulated a plan.
Save for the four watchers, they huddled together, deep in discussion. As Braun listened, he opened letters from the mailbag and used both envelope and contents to remove ‘unsavoury’ items from his clothing and footwear.
“I agree that we cannot sit here forever comrades, that’s for sure.” The last of their cigarettes was being passed from hand to hand. The foodstuffs had long gone.
“From what we picked up during our time in the camp, we cannot be that far from where the Allied lines are, or at least, were.”
In the habit of men throughout the ages, Rolf grabbed his chin and thought hard.
“We must split up into small groups and try to make our way to the allies with the information we have. That duty is definitely clear.”
Even Braun nodded along with the others, his previous concerns having been thought through now.
A moment of pause was thrust upon them as a flight of Soviet single-engine fighter aircraft raced overhead. Rolf waited for the sounds to fade before continuing.
“Moeller, you know this area best of all of us. What alternatives do we have?”
“Herr Sturmbannfuhrer, we have few alternatives as I see it. Bear in mind kameraden, it is some time since I visited here. Firstly, there is the obvious one of the railway on which we presently sit. Without a doubt, there will be other traffic in due course, going the right way. Over the other side of the Donau there is another track; I think it’s a place called Ybbs, which could take us to Salzburg, but equally into Northern Italy or back in the direction of Wien. Into Italy should still see a meeting with the Allies obviously.”
His face split into a grin in an effort to lighten the moment.
“Obviously, crossing the river will not be without its interesting moments!”
There were some smiles but mainly inner thoughts on swimming a river in their condition or having the audacity to cross a bridge undoubtedly guarded by watchful Soviets.
“There is always river traffic; boats plying their trade up and down.”
A grateful puff on the last cigarette doing the rounds and he continued.
“Road is a possibility but would not be without its problems, particularly with security obviously.”
“Lastly, there is always walking to fall back on, but I’m sure we are a minimum of twenty-five kilometres from the probable border as we understand it, so not for the faint-hearted.