Opening Moves

Without instruction, all the candidates moved quickly to their seats but remained standing. It was all part of the stage management planned to the minutest detail by Knocke and De Walle. The latter strode confidently in, wearing the dress uniform of a Général de Brigade of French General Staff, laden with more medals than most had ever seen. The smile on his face was partly for the dawning of this momentous day and partly because none of the symposium knew of his real status and rank, and it would be a surprise for all, especially Knocke. As De Walle marched in, Dubois relocated to the right side of the podium. The commando officer saluted him crisply, which salute was extravagantly returned, and De Walle took to the podium.

The group was silent and focussed on him.

“Gentlemen welcome, particularly our distinguished visitors from His Majesty’s Brigade of Guards,” accompanied by a formal professional nod that was returned by both British Majors, “And two decorated members of the United States Army,” followed again by a nod of acknowledgement which was accepted with a mumbled word or two. “You are the first group to attend this facility and are therefore privileged to be the first to take advantage of the opportunity of learning that it represents. This will not be easy, neither will it be conventional, for we are in uncertain times and need to try new methods.”

“The pre-requisites for attendance here are that you must have seen active service, will remain in command of your respective units for at least the next year, and are identified as suitable for promotion. You will appreciate that many of your peers fit those criteria so it is essential that you do not waste the opportunity you have been given here this week.”

De Walle let that hang in the air for a while before pressing on.

“Your instructors have the highest credentials for this symposium, with ranks ranging from Captain to full Colonel. They will treat you with respect at all times and they will be treated with respect at all times. Regardless of what harsh lesson they hand to you, and believe me they will, you will learn much here if you are prepared to accept that those who are here to give you the knowledge, have acquired theirs under very difficult circumstances and know what they are talking about.”

There was no perceptible shift in his posture but suddenly De Walle seemed to be a foot taller and bordering on sinister, his voice taking on an edge of extreme seriousness.

“Understand this Messieurs, we cannot afford to carry people who do not contribute or are disruptive. If an instructor requests that one of you be removed then there will be no appeal, no discussion, and no delay. You will be gone, along with my written report on you and a guarantee of personal attention from a number of very important people who will not have your best interests at heart”.

A snigger punctuated the intended silence.

“That was not humour gentlemen; it was a statement of fact.”

His eyes bored into the culprit, an American Major, who got the message loud and clear.

The moment passed and De Walle relaxed back into his presentation again.

‘So, why are you here and what are we about to do? The question which all of you have been asking yourselves in one way or another since you got your joining papers.”

“It will come as no surprise to you that relations with our Soviet comrades are strained at times. Some of you will already have experience of provocations and regrettable incidents.” At least three officers nodded enough to be instantly noticeable.

“We have no reason to believe that our alliance will fail but we would be foolish not to prepare for such a failure before it is too late.”

A wave of realisation spread through everyone in the room and an anticipated boring week of army lectures on dealing with refugees or similar disappeared in a few well-chosen words from De Walle.

“I will remind you that you may take away the lessons of this symposium but not the purpose or location of it. You may not directly speak of it to anyone, ever.”

The silence and anticipation pervading the room was stifling.

“Gentlemen, you have fought the Axis powers, in some cases since 1939, and fought well, learning and evolving tactics through experience and, at times, others mistakes. It is the considered view that we would not have that luxury should the communists choose to attack us here, in Western Europe. Therefore we propose to use this symposium to give you the means to fight well again against a new enemy should you be called, means which can be trusted as they are the result of other’s learning, experience and mistakes.”

The tension was immense as some of those present grasped the true meaning of the words.

Commander Dubois strode one pace forward, smashed his heel to the stone floor, startling even the experienced combat veterans in the hall. With a voice loud enough to be heard some considerable distance away he roared “Room, room Atten-shun!”