The Generals (21 page)

Major von Peters
: Night exercise.

Velder
: A code-signal that was the same as for the other sealed order I’d been given. We stood there drinking our beer and Oswald was absolutely dead calm. He said he didn’t need me any more for the moment, as he was thinking of going to headquarters and staying there overnight, but that I should take the new instruction, with the old one, and go to a place called Checkpoint C—that was a military post east of the town, usually unmanned—and take command over the men there and stay until I was given further orders. As he said that, he began to take off his suit and change into uniform, a brand new one, by the way, which I’d never seen before. When he’d put on the cap, he clamped his dentures in and stood for a moment—probably only a few seconds—looking straight ahead. As if to himself, he said—he’d often done that together with me during the past year, talked to himself, I mean. ‘I’ve waited for this moment for years,’ he said. Then he seemed to wake up and said to me: ‘See you tomorrow. I rely on you to follow these instructions if anything happens. And you should think again about that business
of becoming an officer. The offer is still open.’ We shook hands and parted outside the building. I went to the place where we’d parked the jeep, down in one of the car tunnels, and it was still warm and a little damp in the air. The town was quite empty and silent now and there was hardly a light to be seen in any of the windows. When I got to that post, Checkpoint C as it was called, there were thirty men there all ready for action. They had two large trucks full of materials, troop transports, automatic weapons and two walkie-talkies. I didn’t know a single one of them. They belonged to some recently set up force. I got there at five minutes past one and at exactly half-past one, the ’phone rang in the office. It was headquarters and I gave the code-word ‘Night exercise’, which the major here said quite correctly. I took out the two envelopes and opened them. One was an action-order, which was to be carried out immediately, and the other was a message I was to pass on as soon as the measures in the action-order had been taken.

Captain Schmidt
: You can stop there, Velder.

Colonel Orbal
: Good. He sounds like a gramophone record from the turn of the century.

Captain Schmidt
: The contents and wording of both documents named by the accused are extremely important. A copy of the action-order has been kept in the Army archives and the message written personally by the General has also been retrieved. Both are included in the Appendices of the preliminary investigation marked V V/17xx and V V/17xxx. I request that the officer presenting the case should read them both.

Major von Peters
: Without all those formalities, may I suggest.

Lieutenant Brown
: Appendix V V/17xx. Secret action-order, reference Operation Night Exercise, sent 5th December. Concerning Corporal Velder and his subordinates. Marked Secret according … sorry … the text is as follows:

At Checkpoint C troops collected shall at 0200 hours on 13th December proceed to point on north road between Oswaldsburg and Ludolfsport three hundred yards east crossroads by inn in square forty-seven. Two road barriers to be constructed fifty yards apart, the western facing Oswaldsburg, the eastern facing Ludolfsport. Apart from blockade materials already issued, it is appropriate that
vehicles form part of the barriers, which must be a hundred per cent efficient. The barriers shall be of a depth of at least fifty yards north and south of the road. Only military personnel with passes of enclosed type may go through. Every effort to force or circumnavigate the barriers is to be met with decisive and effective action. The road barriers are to be held until further instructions are given. Radio silence until 0230 hours.

Colonel Orbal
: Yes, we really were that short of men. Thirty men and a corporal, what?

Lieutenant Brown
: Appendix V V/17xxx. Instruction and secret message from General Oswald, entrusted to Corporal Erwin Velder, 13th December, 0015 hours. The text is as follows:

… I should perhaps insert here that the first part is in the form of a letter from the General to Velder, the second part in the form of a proclamation. Velder—when you’ve carried out the measures in your action-order you must do the following. Put someone in command of the whole barricade area and a second-in-command for each separate barrier. The men you’ve got under your command are guaranteed trustworthy, so there’s no risk. Then take the jeep and go to Radio Headquarters in Oswaldsburg, which should then be in the hands of loyal troops. See that the text of the enclosed manuscript is broadcast over the radio, television and the entire loudspeaker network every half hour from half-past eight in the morning today onwards. As soon as you’re convinced that this will be done, return to the road barriers. I need hardly point out that I am relying on you. Signed. P.O.

Colonel Pigafetta
: Highly informal, I must say.

Major von Peters
: A forgery, of course.

Lieutenant Brown
: General Oswald’s message to the nation runs as follows:

Citizens. The attempt via democratic and rational means to make the government of the country understand and act according to the serious and exposed situation the nation is in, has failed. By infamous underground propaganda and systematic election frauds, yesterday’s referendum became of such a character that it can be declared totally invalid. Supported by the Army and an overwhelming majority of right-thinking citizens, I have decided to accept the responsible task of Chief of State. Until a legal government can be
appointed through public elections and according to democratic principles, I shall also undertake the position of head of the interim government. I see my task as one of leading the nation out of its present depraved and dangerous state. The Army has taken over the responsibility for the personal safety of the individual in our new national democratic state. In return, it is up to every citizen to follow carefully the instructions issued by the military authorities. Complete calm reigns over the whole country. Every attempt from the side of the traitors or from foreign powers to rob the nation of its newly won freedom will however be dealt with with all strength. Long live our new fatherland, founded on the triumvirate Religion—Morality—Dignity. Paul Oswald. General. Chief of State.

Colonel Orbal
: Very forceful.

Captain Schmidt
: The contents of both these documents show to what extent the General and the new State relied on Erwin Velder. Naturally it did not occur to the General that a man who had for years served in his immediate proximity and who had him to thank for everything, would turn out to be a simple deserter and a cold, calculating traitor. We shall now hear Velder’s own story of how he carried out his responsible task. Captain Endicott, has the accused grasped what has been said?

Captain Endicott
: I think so.

Major von Peters
: Think!

Captain Schmidt
: Well, Velder, go on with your story. You’ve just opened your sealed orders and find yourself a responsible military officer at Checkpoint C.

Velder
: Oh, yes. Of course I remember the text. I shut myself in the office at the guard-post and read through the different papers over and over again. In spite of everything that had happened, I hadn’t really believed that this could ever happen. I couldn’t believe, either, that people like Aranca Peterson or Janos Edner—despite their pacifist attitude—would just give in to this sort of change of régime. Not even Tadeusz Haller, although he’d taken the General’s side during the preparation for the referendum. I saw at once that I wouldn’t obey the instructions I’d received. What forbade me to do so, I don’t know, perhaps something which at that time I thought was my conscience, but which in fact was probably my general attitude.

Colonel Orbal
: I don’t understand that.

Velder
: My first thought was to go to headquarters at once and try to convince General Oswald of the absurdity of his actions. But on second thoughts, however, I saw that this wasn’t possible, mostly because of what I knew about the General and his gradual change of attitude. I also considered the possibility of large numbers of the militia, like myself, refusing to obey orders. After a few minutes, I realised that this, too, was unlikely. The new Army could in no way be compared with or considered equal to the militia such as it had been only six months earlier. And also by that time, I was one of the few remaining militiamen and had been in it since it first started. Through new recruiting, which I knew quite a lot about, at least two thirds of the men were now what could be more or less regarded as professional soldiers. I had no illusions about them. As far as the others were concerned, presumably the last six months’ strict discipline and hard training had been enough to change their attitude. I remember how time and time again I read through those papers lying in front of me in that bare office. The window had an ordinary fine mosquito net of steel wire. Outside it was as black as ink and quiet, but I heard the men moving about and rattling their arms in the guard-room. I should perhaps also say that I understood very well that although the task I’d been given was important, it was not the most important of all. There were two roads between Oswaldsburg and Ludolfsport, and of these two, the northern one was the oldest and least used. It must have been much more important to barricade the southern road, which was a large motorway with double four-lane roads, and also to advance directly into the towns to take over points like telecommunications centres and depôts. And naturally to stop armed counter-action and neutralise untrustworthy groups of people. And yet the barrier on the northern road was naturally a key position. It did not surprise me that the General had given me this task, though most people would have found it more natural if it had been entrusted to an officer. And yet I was a little surprised …

Major von Peters
: Oh, yes. That’s nothing to what I and the others here have be …

Velder
: Of course, I thought about my wives and children in town and about how things would go for them if I … well, I
was thinking about their safety.

Major von Peters
: Now the man is interrupting me again. I really can’t be responsible for the consequences. Isn’t it soon time to stop, anyhow?

Velder
: As late as five to two, I still didn’t know what to do …

Captain Schmidt
: I suggest that we leave Velder and his thoughts for a moment and …

Major von Peters
: … and end for today. This has all been a bit much for an honest man all in one day. Adjourn the session now, Mateo.

Colonel Orbal
: Of course. This extra-ordinary court martial is adjourned until tomorrow at eleven o’clock.

Lieutenant Brown
: Members of the presidium present: Colonel Mateo Orbal, Army, Colonel Nicola Pigafetta, Air Force, Major Carl von Peters, Army, and Commander Arnold Kampenmann, Navy. As adviser, Justice Tadeusz Haller, Ministry of Justice. Officer presenting the case, Lieutenant Arie Brown, Air Force. Prosecuting Officer, Captain Wilfred Schmidt, Navy, Defending Officer, Captain Roger Endicott, Air Force. At today’s session, Assistant Prosecuting Officer, Lieutenant Mihail Bratianu, Army, will also be present.

Major von Peters
: What about listing our ages, weights and years of service while you’re at it, Brown? Just to extend the pleasure, I mean.

Lieutenant Brown
: To tell you the truth, sir, I have received a reprimand for irregular presentation of the case.

Major von Peters
: To tell the truth? What sort of expression is that?

Colonel Pigafetta
: Who issued this reprimand, Brown?

Tadeusz Haller
: Perhaps I’m best qualified to answer that question. The comment probably emanated from the Joint Commission from the Ministry of Justice and the General Staff Judicial Department which is at present occupied with formulating the verdicts which will form the basis of the sentences of the court martial in the case against Velder.

Commander Kampenmann
: Are the sentences already being worked out?

Tadeusz Haller
: Verdicts. Yes, naturally. Otherwise it would take months, perhaps years after the session is over before they could be laid before the presidium for consideration.

Colonel Pigafetta
: Shouldn’t any complaint against one of my officers be put through the usual channels?

Commander Kampenmann
: Isn’t Lieutenant Brown attached to the Operational Department of the General Staff?

Colonel Pigafetta
: Nonetheless, he’s an Air Force officer. The matter should have gone through service channels.

Tadeusz Haller
: I’ll look into the matter.

Colonel Orbal
: This is going to be an extraordinary day. The heat! Like cutting through cheese.

Major von Peters
: Good to see Bratianu again, anyhow.

Colonel Orbal
: I say, Pigafetta, I was lying awake last night thinking about something. The air in here is absolutely bloody awful and if you switch on the fans, you’re almost blown away. For several days, I’ve had a draught down my neck. Well, I was lying there thinking and finally something came to me.

Colonel Pigafetta
: Yes?

Colonel Orbal
: Well, it came to me suddenly. As there’s no middle way with the fans, they’re absolutely useless. I’ve asked the Commander of the Engineer Corps and he says the only thing you can do is change the whole fan system and that would take at least two weeks, perhaps longer, because the most suitable type of fan isn’t in stock and has to be ordered from elsewhere.

Colonel Pigafetta
: What was it that came to you?

Colonel Orbal
: Well, that there is in fact a middle way. You could open the windows. I’ve checked that they open inwards, so we could leave the shutters closed in any case. If, for instance, you open one half of the windows over there in the corner and then the other window to the right, the one diagonally behind Kampenmann, then you’d get an even and satisfactory movement of air. Don’t you think so, Carl? Of course, if the wind …