Opening Moves

A burst of steam gave Uhlmann the only stimulus he needed to signal and Moeller and his group bolted from the wagon to the waiting shed. The slow moving train provided another quick opportunity and Krantzschen’s group swiftly followed.

The partially uncovered load on one of the flatbed wagons gave Rolf a moment’s pause but he still managed to get Olsen’s group away.

Before he could order his own group out, the train had passed and the Russian soldiers started to disappear in all directions, their duty, for the moment, done.

Braun sidled up closer.

“Did you see those vehicles Rolf?”

“Ja, I did. Later Johan, for now we have a problem.”

The lorries started up once more and made to move forward until a single soldier stepped forward to halt them with an imperious hand.

This time, coming from the left as Uhlmann looked, emerged the little engine that had brought them through the night and which was about to be hitched to the other end of the train to take another grisly cargo back to be interred in secret around Edelbach.

“Go!” screamed Rolf as the engine puffed across the line of sight.

The group bolted for the huts and in seconds found themselves face down in the dirt gasping for breath, surrounded by their comrades doing exactly the same thing.

All tried hard to control their breathing, especially as the trucks were now moving again and closing on the wagons.

Uhlmann spoke softly, in spurts between breaths.

“Kameraden, those lorries contain our comrades. They are about to be placed onto the wagons we escaped in. We can do nothing for them, for they are dead.”

As if to prove his words, executed German prisoners were already visible through the open wagon door, as the remaining live German soldiers piled the corpses on top of each other.

“The Russians are killing everyone in uniform it seems. It is not enough to win, they must eradicate!”

Uhlmann controlled his speech, as every man was looking straight at him.

“Now we know that we simply must get through to the allies and give them our information.”

There was no dissent, only a grim resolution.

“Braun and I both saw something on that last train which needs to be spoken of. There were American self-propelled guns there,” a pause for effect, “M-10’s… with American markings”

Silent looks were exchanged.

“We know the allies sent equipment to the Soviets. It would seem they intend to use it for mischief, much as our Skorzeny did in Wacht am Rhein. It is very important to pass this on I think.”

“Herr Sturmbannfuhrer, there is more.”

Attention turned to Shandruk, who did not look up from the soiled letter he was reading as he spoke.

“I am holding a letter to our beloved Captain Skryabin. Please note the quality of the paper.” Shandruk rubbed the edge between thumb and forefinger as if to demonstrate the paper’s superior grade. “My Russian reading is a little rusty but I will give you my interpretation of what it says.”

Shandruk looked up waiting for some sign from Uhlmann, who swiftly nodded.

“It is a brief letter dated 17th July. It speaks of rumours of a loose tongue brought to the writer by someone called Chairman Lavrentiy, and how he will do nothing provided Viktor keeps his mouth firmly shut from now on. If Viktor must crow then wait until it all starts. Even he should be able to manage three weeks. Some of the usual pleasantries follow.”

Shandruk looked up.

“It is signed Uncle Vyacheslav.”

More than one present let out an incredulous “Schiesse!”

It was known Skryabin was connected, but now it was glaringly and surprisingly obvious to whom. It required no intelligence to work out whom the Chairman mentioned was, and only modest adding was needed to work out the timescales involved.

“It is soon then kameraden. We must get the message through quickly.”

His eyes took in the awful work in progress outside.

“As soon as it is safe we must start off from here. Grab some rest while you can. My party will keep a lookout.”

The rain suddenly became torrential, and talking over it was a danger in itself considering the proximity of the working party. One bonus of the downpour was the steady stream of clear cool water that flowed through a hole in the roof, and from which they quenched their thirsts.

The men made themselves comfortable in the recesses of the shed, whilst Uhlmann, Braun and Shandruk kept watch, observing the continuing loading of the dead in their scores.

Only those three saw the grisly detail conclude, the guards and live prisoners swiftly dive into the attached carriage and the little train with its awful cargo start off on its journey to the Waldviertel.

Evening was drawing in when Uhlmann woke his sleeping comrades and, with handshakes and comradely hugs, sent each group on its way.

Chapter 34 – THE DANUBE

The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend.

Aristotle

2255 hrs Saturday, 4th August 1945, Ybbs an der Donau, Soviet Occupied Lower Austria.