You Are My Sunshine: A Novel Of The Holocaust (All My Love Detrick Companion Novel) (40 page)

Dr.
Goebbels left two Reich marks on the table and motioned for Manfred to follow him.

“How have you been”
Goebbels asked as they walked.

“I’ve managed.”

“Dirty business, those camps.”

“Yes.”

“Unfortunately, they are necessary if we are ever to achieve our goals of a perfect Aryan world.”

Manfred nodded but he wondered how Joseph
Goebbels would feel in his position. How the minister of Propaganda would cope with the daily doses of death, and disease, he’d been forced to put up with. It was a nasty business.

“Anyway, this meeting
that we are going to attend is top secret. You must never reveal anything that is said here to anyone. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Doctor
.”

“Good. It took a great deal
of convincing on my part to secure your invitation. There is still great mistrust for you in the party.”

“You realize that it was never me, it was my father in law. I had no idea.”

“I know that. But the others…”

“Yes, and no matter how hard I work for the party, they never seem convinced.”

“Things have become rather ugly. Party members are constantly looking for reasons to turn on each other. Manfred…we are losing the war.”

“I know.”
And even though he knew it, the reality of what Goebbels said hit him like a slap across the face. If Germany lost the war, what would become of him?

They walked in silence for several moments. An automobile honked, as a driver yelled an obscenity out the window
of his car at another driver who’d cut him off.

“This meeting i
s about the parties plans for the future.” Goebbels said. “There was a meeting a couple of years ago, I’m sure you received the memo, distasteful stuff… like the final solution.  That was the beginning of what we must discuss today.”

“You are talking about
the memo to step up the exterminations?”

“Yes. We must try to complete this mission as quickly as possible.”

“Yes, I got the memo and we have increased the gassings. The ovens are working at full capacity. Did you attend the meeting? The one concerning the final solution?”

“No, I wasn’t invited.”
Goebbels frowned. “I was told it was given by Heydrick. Took place somewhere in Wansee.”

“It has certainly
increased the work load at the camp. The guards complain about their additional hours.”

“First y
ou were at Treblinka and now you are at Auschwitz?”

“Yes. You heard what happened at Treblinka?’

“
Of course I heard. We were forced to close it down. Inmates got out of hand. It did not reflect well on you or the other officers in charge. Losing control like that.”

“Yes.
I know. I am sorry.” Manfred turned away. Another catastrophe he was to be blamed for.

“How is
Auschwitz?”

“It’s run well.
I am in charge of work details. However, because of the elimination process, there are less and less prisoners available to work.”

“Well, we must finish this
Final Solution business before the end of the war.”

“Is this what the meeting is about?” Manfred asked.

“No. That has already been decided. Enough talk on the street. We will talk more when we arrive at our destination.” Goebbels seemed jumpy. He kept looking in all directions. Manfred worried that someone at this meeting might decide to rehash his father in laws treason.

Silently the two men walked down the dimly lit street. It was dusk. The sun had left the sky and with it most
of the light of day. Following Goebbels lead, they turned down Wilhelmstrabe and into the garden of the old Reich Chancellery Building.  Manfred cast a side-glance at Goebbels. He could not imagine why they had entered a garden at night. Goebbels did not look back. He walked to the back of the building. Manfred followed. Then Goebbels looked around him.

“Come.”
Goebbels said to Manfred. “Follow me.”

They entered the back
of the old Reich Chancellery through a hidden door. A single light bulb lit the dark damp room. 

Manfr
ed followed Goebbels down a long metal staircase their heels clanking as they went. It seemed like an endless walk. Manfred was frightened. Even though he trusted Goebbels as much as he could trust anyone in the party, he could not be sure that his demise was not at hand. 

Twenty-eight
feet below the garden of the old Reich building, they entered a series of rooms surrounded by thick concrete.  The rooms were lit with lamps and well furnished. Other party members walked through the rooms greeting each other and drinking schnapps. It was actually a meeting and not his execution, Manfred had begun to worry. Manfred breathed a sigh of relief.

Hitler’s secretary a slender woman with dark wavy hair greeted them.

“Heil Hitler.”

“Heil Hitler.”

“Good evening Dr. Goebbels. Would you gentlemen care for a drink?”

“Yes. Would you like a drink Manfred?”

“Yes, that would be very nice.” Manfred said, the alcohol would calm his nerves.

“This is my old friend Manfred Blau.
Manfred, this is Truadl, our Füehrer’s secretary.”

“I recall your name. Didn’t the Fuehrer attend your wedding?” the secretary asked.

“Yes. You have quite a memory.”

“I have to. It’s my job.
” She smiled at him.

The woman
took a decanter of carved crystal off the shelf. The crystal sparkled in the light where a large swastika had been etched on the side. She poured them both a drink.

“Make yourselves comfortable, the meeting will begin
in a few minutes.” She said as she handed them the glasses. “Right over there in the Fuehrer’s study.”

“Thank you, Truadl.”
Goebbels said.

“Very nice t
o finally meet you,” Traudl said to Manfred.

“Likewise
,” Manfred smiled.

“
Come; let me introduce you to everyone.”

It was warm
in the underground bunker, very warm, the air was thick and stifling. Manfred felt the sweat beneath his uniform as Goebbels made introductions.

“This is Dr. Claubrerg. He is doing some fascinating work with some
of the subjects from the camp where you are working, Manfred.”

“Heil Hitler, nice to meet you Dr. Clauberg.”

“You work at Auschwitz?”

“Yes, I am Manfred Blau, the
Arbeitsführer.”

“Very good
, I have been composing a museum of sorts. You see once the Jews are extinct there will be little left to show our people what we were force to eliminate in order for the world to be as it should. So, I’ve put together a skeletal collection from Block 10 at Auschwitz.  I have approximately 115 examples. By the examples, you can see for yourself why the Jews are an inferior race.   If you are ever in the area drop by, it’s on display at the University in Strasburg. Fascinating stuff, if I must say so myself.”

“Sounds fascinating,
” Manfred said.

“Yes. You see the Jew’s have a different skull structu
re than the regular person. In fact they are not like us in any way.”

“I am aware
of this although I’ve never seen an actual comparison of skulls.” Manfred said.

“Do you think this is what makes them so cunning and dangerous?”
Goebbels asked.

“Possibly, t
hey are that. Cunning and dangerous, I mean. They certainly cannot be trusted. I suppose the bottom line is that they are inferiors. ”

“For certain,
” Goebbels said.

“The meeting is
about to begin.” Traudl entered the room. “Gentlemen, please, if you would, make your way into the study and be seated.”

“We will talk later,
a pleasure to meet you, Manfred.” Dr. Clauberg said.

A large oil painting of Fredrick the great framed in cherry wood hung on the wall behind a well-constructed desk made from the same wood.  A plush sofa upholstered with fine embroidered fabric of green with gold trim and matching chairs had been set up to accommodate the guests. An ashtray made from a human pelvis sat on the marble table with cigars placed along the edges. Only a handful of men were present. As Hitler’s secretary clapped her hands to bring the meeting to order, the men took seats around the room.

“It wa
s a feat for me to obtain permission for you to attend this meeting.” Goebbels whispered as he leaned into Manfred.

Manfred turned to thank him. But before he could
speak, the entire group rose up as the Fuehrer entered the room.

“Heil Hitler.” They raised their hands and voices in unison.

Hitler walked through the group and stood behind his desk. He raised his hand in answer to the group.

“Thank you for attending
,” Hitler said, his voice calmer than usual when he addressed a crowd.

“I’ve gathered you here tonight
because I am sad to say, that there is a possibility that we may be facing some rough waters ahead.  I deeply regret this, but the Reich may lose the war.”

A gasp came from somewhere in the back
of the room.

“However, we must remain firm in our belief that we are the superior race and we will rule the world.
We may just need to restructure a bit.”

A roar
of applause followed.

“In the near future,
we may be forced to flee Germany and regroup elsewhere where we will rebuild. I’ve made agreements with several countries in South America who are willing to allow former SS officers to migrate there in order to restructure the Reich. Once the Reich is strong again, we will return and reclaim Germany.”

Another round
of applause, less enthusiastic, the men glanced around the room meeting each other’s frightened gazes.

“I am afraid that the world will not understand what we have done here. There is a good possibility that we may face prosecution.
Therefore, I have discussed our predicament with several doctors who have proven themselves loyal to our cause and who are able and willing to reconstruct the faces of those who will be going to South America. Your hair will be made dark brown or black. Photographs will be kept as records of your original faces with photos of your newly constructed faces so that there is no confusion as to your true identity when you arrive at your new homes. You will look like Jews and therefore will pass easily as survivors of the camps. Only top SS officials who have been cleared for this work will have access to the original pictures and information, so your security will be safe. I have also begun having papers forged for you that will identify you as Jewish refugees. Do not be offended. This, I feel, is the best way for us to hide. We will hide in plain sight!  Now, I am planning to join you. I will not be having my face reconstructed until I am sure that we cannot recover Germany at this time. Then I will do what must be done. Once you are relocated, you will receive a contact that will ask you to meet at a specific location. Remember these words for they are the pass code, letting you know that the contact is legitimate.  This is the beginning of the message that you will receive in South America; “Won’t you please join my wife and I for a glass of wine to celebrate our wedding anniversary. It will be signed, Julio, which is a common name among our Spanish and Portuguese speaking friends. This is your indication that the message has come from the Nazi organization. You will follow the instructions as to time and place. Once you arrive, you will find that we are together once again. And then we will begin to make plans to re establish our control of our country. Is this understood?”

“Yes, my Fuehrer.” The men answered.

“What we do, we must do for the preservation of the Fatherland,” Hitler said

“Yes, my Fuehrer.” The room vibrated with the echo.

“Close your mouth.” Goebbels whispered to Manfred. “You look like your trying to catch a fly.”

Manfred glanced sideways at
Goebbels his face could not conceal the shock at what he’d just heard.

“You should see your expression.”
Goebbels said, “It’s almost laughable.”

“And
you’re not astonished?”

“I am, in a way
, I suppose. But I’ve known for a while that we were losing the war. And I was just waiting for our brilliant Fuehrer to come up with a solution, a way for us to regain power. I think this is genius. Don’t you?”

“Oh
…yes.”

“You don’t sound convinced.”

“I am stunned; I mean it’s a lot to absorb, South America, reconstructive surgery to make ourselves look like Jews. Overwhelming.”

“Yes, I suppose so. B
ut at least, with my insistence, you have been selected to join us.”