Opening Moves

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.

Horatio Nelson.

0920 hrs Saturday, 4th August 1945, Persenbeug, Soviet Occupied Lower Austria.

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?”