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Praetorium Honoris

Saturday, March 16, 2024

The Border

Bundesarchiv
(Source)
The two men ate quickly, Herbert making the excuse that they had to get back to the farm before sundown.

"Ah, afraid of the patrols, are you?" Rudel scoffed.

"No, Herr Rudel, afraid of stumbling in the dark and breaking my only leg. Now, if you will excuse us? Danke, Frau Rudel, the food was excellent. My cousin and I must be off." Herbert stood up, getting his crutches under him, he made for the door.

Rudel grabbed von Lüttwitz's arm, "Remember Junge, I can help."

Von Lüttwitz shook himself free of Rudel's grasp, "I am no man of influence, but I can pass your name along."

At that, Rudel's face went pale, "Not really necessary, just, well, if you know someone."

Von Lüttwitz turned to look at Rudel, with a look that froze Rudel's blood, "Like I said, I shall make inquiries, if you might prove useful, someone may, or may not, contact you. But we were never here, and you never saw me. Is that clear?"

He had barked that in a voice he hadn't used since he'd commanded a battalion. Rudel snapped his heels together and gave a short bow, "Jawohl, Herr Major! Zu befehl!"


When they were out of earshot, Jürgen turned to his cousin, "Well, for all his bluster and self-importance the man was, at some time, a soldier. Did you see him snap to?"

Herbert chuckled, "From what I understand, Herr Rudel was a supply sergeant, a good one mind you, but not a fighting soldier. Do you really think he knew Hauptwachtmeister der VP Keller's father?"

"I'm sure he did, dropping the names of senior police officials is not a healthy practice here in the East."

"What is this Gehlen Organization he mentioned?"

"An organization one does not mention, here or in the West. Very secretive they are, and they wish to remain that way. If you have further conversation with Herr Rudel, tell him to mind his manners when he speaks of things the Stasi¹ would be very interested in."

Herbert visibly shuddered at the mention of the Stasi, 'Real bastards that lot, they'd inform on their own parents. Rumor has it that some of them have."

Jürgen shook his head, "Enough of that, it's too nice a day to trouble our thoughts with such things. We're almost to your farm."


"Are you sure you won't stay the night, Jürgen?"

"I'm afraid I cannot, Tante² Elsbeth. I've spent too much time here already."

"Well, you're in luck then, Junge. That train you boys saw in Dresden? It's been delayed, some big shot from Berlin wants to see them set up the checkpoint. Of course, die Bonzen³ can't be bothered to be on time. So the train, and the troops, sit at the siding and wait. So you can go back via Bayern," the elder Lüttwitz explained.

"Still a long haul, must be 150 kilometers." Jürgen said.

"Closer to 170 if you go with my friend Wittelsbach."

Jürgen looked closely at his uncle, "There are already far too many people who know I'm here, Onkel⁴ Kurt."

"Nonsense Junge, Wittelsbach has a trucking company, he runs goods down to the border every day. I have already arranged it, he should be here any minute."

Von Lüttwitz would have to report all of this upon his return, if he returned. The country people tended to believe that politics was for the city and that the authorities would leave them alone. They all seemed rather lackadaisical concerning the new regime in the DDR.

Before he could say another word, everyone turned as a heavy vehicle pulled up outside near the gate. Von Lüttwitz half-expected to hear the crash of a tailgate followed by the crunch of hobnail boots and the shouting of sergeants. He was relieved to hear instead ...

"Lüttwitz, you old bastard! Why aren't you in the fields where you belong?"

The elder Lüttwitz got to his feet, laughing, "That would be Wittelsbach. Wait here Jürgen."


Some hours later the truck carrying von Lüttwitz and a load of potatoes for the Red Army pulled over at a wide spot in the road deep in the forest.

"I'm afraid you'll have to walk from here, Jürgen. The village of Föhrig is roughly two and a half kilometers from here, due west. If you pay attention, you might see the old stone border markers which marked the boundary between the Kingdoms of Sachsen and Bayern. Not a word of this to anyone, ja? My job is hauling produce, not spies."

Von Lüttwitz did a double take at the word "spies."

Wittelsbach grinned, "Who else would go traipsing through the forest to cross the border. If you're not a spy, then you must be a smuggler. If that's the case, look me up next time you're in Sachsen, I'm not averse to making a few extra marks!"

Wittelsbach then thrust his hand out, which von Lüttwitz took.

"Geh mit GottHals und Beinbruch!⁵"

"Danke, Herr Wittelsbach, gleichfalls⁶!


Föhrig was small, but it had a post office, which had a phone. After calling his superiors, von Lüttwitz repaired to the local pub. The proprietor, used to seeing all sorts of odd things near the inter-German border didn't blink an eye at Von Lüttwitz's torn trousers and badly scuffed shoes.

"Beer?" he asked.

Von Lüttwitz nodded, "Danke."

"Next time maybe dress like a laborer, you'll blend in better over there."

"I'm sure I have no idea what you mean," von Lüttwitz protested.

Laughing, the proprietor walked to the other end of the bar to serve one of the locals, "I was born in the morning, Junge, but it wasn't this morning!"

As he drank his beer and waited for his ride, von Lüttwitz realized that the man had a point. He'd put that in his report as well!



¹ Stasi = Staatsicherheit, the Ministry for State Security. A very dangerous east German organization.
² Aunt
³ Big shots
⁴ Uncle
⁵ Go with God, break a leg
⁶ The same to you!

36 comments:

  1. Ah, the joys of Socialism! The goal of Socialism is Communism! Your current tale is rife with undercurrents Sarge, am enjoying your efforts.....:)

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    Replies
    1. Sometimes my writing reflects my concerns of the moment. Socialism is not a road we want to go down.

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    2. We're way down that road already, just haven't taken it all the way. Look at our government and you'll see it's, well, national socialistic, government control of private and public business, government control of education, government control of water, power, light and dark, what you eat and drink and drive and read and and and...

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    3. We haven't even left sight of the on-ramp yet. The Feds aren't nearly that competent, nor are the state governments. If you think what we have is similar to Nazi Germany or Soviet Russia, you need to update your information.

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    4. @ Beans
      TNX
      at least I know I'm not the only one who doesn't require lenses to see what's currently happening
      with my current prescription, I'm finding we're long past that point
      if I may I'll refer anyone to any good history of the Third Reich
      I don't particularly care which flavor of socialism you may (dis)like
      The latest appears to be American Democrat-Progressive Socialism
      Anyone care to make a side-by-side comparative list?

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    5. So is January 6th our Reichstag Fire? That's the way the progressives want to go, come talk to me after the elections. If nothing changes, then you're right.

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    6. OldAFSarge have you ever read the story about catching the wild pigs?

      http://www.targetofopportunity.com/catching_wild_pigs.htm

      You don't startle them with big changes, subtle changes to entrap them by their own wants.

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    7. Pretty easy to trap humans the same way.

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  2. A spy in on the job training it looks like.
    The only other place I heard of the Gehlen Organization was in the W.E.B Griffin The Brotherhood of War series.
    I really look forward to these mornings when your muse is active! Again, thanks for sharing!!

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  3. "The country people tended to believe that politics was for the city and that the authorities would leave them alone. "

    Holodomor wasn't talked about. Still isn't.

    ""Next time maybe dress like a laborer, you'll blend in better over there.""

    So often it's the little things that trip someone up. Clothing of the wrong cut. Ring on the wrong finger. Some habitual phrase that doesn't go with the public persona. How a cigarette is held. Details, details, details.

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    Replies
    1. Do you know the scene in Inglourious Basterds where the Brit posing as a German orders beer and holds up two fingers, if you were German (or had lived in Germany) you would expect to see thumb and forefinger for two beers. Gets him killed in the movie.

      Details!

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    2. Details, aye! Good that the regime hasn't gotten themselves as organized as they will be.
      Clandestine work is very different from soldiering. Jurgen has been fortunate so far and made it back to BRD territory. Always better to be licky.
      Boat Guy

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    3. BG #1 - Well, Jürgen does have some experience being behind enemy lines.

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    4. BG #2 - When I saw "better to be licky" I sprayed my monitor ...

      But yeah, the old "I'd rather be lucky than good ..."

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    5. Sarge, E&E behind enemy lines as a soldier is quite different from clandestine ops. Either can cost your life or freedom but "playing a role" requires different skills and a different mindset; there's a reason that cover stories were referred to as "legends". Little things like " pocket litter" need to be authentic or the result is disaster.
      Boat Guy

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  4. The city folk gotta remember that the country folk tend to not like them very much and are the ones that feed them. Food production drops immensely after farmers are shot and people farm with a gun to the back of their heads.

    Good story, please keep it up.

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    Replies
    1. Country folk don't actively dislike city people, just city politicians. Most city folk don't venture into the real country, too many mosquitoes and other inconveniences.

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  5. I'm thinking about the title for the book

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  6. This story line is so good. 🔥

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  7. Crusty Old TV Tech here. Excellent. In looking up Föhrig on the googly mappy thingy, I noted that there is a modern day historical marker sign on Autobahn 72, near there. The sign notes the former location of the inter-German border. Also, one can still make out the pattern of the border fortifications in the land around there. Any story that requires, nah demands I immediately go look up a map is a good one. Also went to look up futher DDR history, see what may have been going on in 1950. That got me reading and digging. I look forward to more of this tale, and danke schoen mein herr!

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  8. The end game that is planned for us has me worried. And, most of my friends and co-workers are not even concerned....that worries me more.

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    1. November will see the rebirth of our Constitutional Republic, or the beginning of a long slide into darkness. We should be concerned.

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    2. OldAFSargent, great writing, great story. You are smart As Phuque! Sorry, wicked smart would be more appropriate for your family guide lines. I lose track of Bloggers demographics, but I'm pretty sure that as a 1951 model, I have some years on you. Even though I'm retarded, I have come to figure out that we are further down the Stasi road than you think. I think you're suffering from normalcy bias while over focused on Clown World aspects of our current regime, think the movie Brazil. However, the Satanic forces behind Clown World are truly wicked smart, backed up by beyond quantum computers with algos and AI beyond anything hinted at, outside of sci fi.
      My written prediction, next election will be stolen like every election since 2016. The rigged Dominion Selection System is owned by "Them". Their vote stealing algos simply, massively, under estimated the electoral rejection of Clown World Kilory. FJB lost by millions of votes to Orange Man Bad, they under estimated by how much again in 2020. Hence, they stopped voting in 5 captured states for days to gin up enough fake paper ballots to steal the election again, and got caught, like 2000 Mules.
      It's too late to vote our way out and too early to shoot our way out. My opinion of USA INC's future is grim. I believe that many areas, maybe regions, will fare fairly well when the collapse comes. Why would there be a collapse? Maybe the competency crisis will contribute to stupid business and political decisions, contributing to supply chain issues, lack of confidence in the financial house of cards, etc. So, I hope I haven't insulted you, but I am suffering from years of poisoned food, medicine and air. So, I have that going for me.
      If this doesn't get posted, I understand, no hard feelings. Thanks for bringing your writing skills to us proles out here, it's appreciated.

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    3. I reckon it depends a lot on where you live. I can understand why people have completely lost hope in California, Colorado, Illinois, New York and some other states where the Left has pretty near seized control. While it seems that New England is completely in the grip of the Left, most New Englanders don't give a damn about what their government wants. Unless you live in Burlington, VT or Providence, RI. Then you might as well live in Moscow.

      If the election appears rigged this go-round, expect bad things to happen.

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    4. The state of Washington is controlled by the population along the I-5 corridor, there is a LOT of the state that doesn't like that.

      Have you seen anything done to fix the way the votes were counted with no one watching like last time in key cities in swing states? Anything to fix the computers (especially the ones that were wiped the night before the audits) that were allowing contact with the internet?

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    5. Go back to paper ballots, fill in the gorram little circles, circle ain't filled, vote doesn't count, require ID. Absentee ballots for military only ...

      We have allowed the corruptible to corrupt damned near everything.

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    6. I remember the picture of an Iraqi lady who voted in the election, she was proudly showing her thumb that had been dipped in ink after she voted. She was only going to vote once! That was an honest election!
      We don't have that.

      Delete

Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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