Thunder Point

“The Windsor Protocol,” Hitler said simply.

“Can this be true?” Borma

“Himmler himself vouched for it. He had the Duke approached by his agents in Portugal at the time.”

Or said that he had, Borma

“A mad world.” Borma

Hitler came back to life. “Quite simple. You will fly out using the East-West Avenue. As you know, Field Marshal Ritter von Greim and Ha

“But where, my Führer?” Borma

“In that huge garage at Goebbels’ house near the Brandenburg Gate. From there he will fly you to Rechlin and refuel for the onward flight to Bergen in Norway.”

“ Bergen?” Borma

“From where you will proceed by submarine to South America, Venezuela to be precise. You’ll be expected. One stop on the way. You’ll be expected there too, but all the details are in here.” He handed him an envelope. “You’ll also find my personal signed authorization in there giving you full powers in my name and several false passports.”

“So, I leave tonight?” Borma

“No, you leave within the next hour,” Hitler said calmly. “Because of the driving rain and low clouds there is no air cover at the moment. Captain Neuma

There could be no arguing with that and Borma

“Then there only remains one more thing,” Hitler said. “You’ll find someone in the bedroom. Bring him in.”

The man Borma

“My Führer,” the man said and gave Hitler a Nazi salute.

“Note the resemblance, Borma

It was then that Borma

“General Strasser will stay here in your place,” Hitler said. “When the general breakout occurs he will leave with the others. He can stay out of the way until then. In the confusion and darkness of leaving it’s hardly likely anyone will notice. They’ll be too concerned with saving their own skins.” He turned to Strasser. “You will do this for your Führer?”

“With all my heart,” Strasser said.

“Good, then you will now exchange uniforms. You may use my bedroom.” He came round the desk and took both of Borma

Cynical as he was by nature, Borma

“I know you will.”

Hitler shuffled out, the door closed behind him and Borma

Precisely half an hour later Borma

It was dark in there and a voice called, “Stay where you are, hands high.”

Lights were switched on and Borma

“Captain Neuma

“General Strasser?” The young man looked relieved and holstered his pistol. “Thank God, I’ve been expecting Ivans ever since I got here.”

“You have orders?”

“Of course. Rechlin to refuel and then Bergen. A distinct pleasure, actually.”

“Do you think we stand a chance of getting away?”

“There’s nothing up there to shoot us down at the moment. Filthy weather. Only ground fire to worry about.” He gri

“Always.”

“Excellent. I’ll start up, you get in and we’ll taxi across the road to the Brandenburg Gate. From there I’ll take off toward the Victory Column. They won’t be expecting that because the wind is in the wrong direction.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?” Borma

“Absolutely.” Neuma

There was broken glass and rubble in the street and the Storch bumped its way along, passing many astonished refugees, moved across the Brandenburg Gate and turned toward the Victory Column in the distance. The rain was driving down.

Neuma

The Storch roared down the center of the road, here and there people fleeing before it, and suddenly they were airborne and turning to starboard to avoid the Victory Column. Borma

“You must live right, Herr Reichsleiter,” the young pilot said.

Borma

“I’m sorry if I’ve said the wrong thing,” Neuma

Borma

“Twilight of the Gods, Reichsleiter,” Neuma

It was the second part of the journey which was particularly arduous, cutting across the east coast of Denmark and then up across the Skagerrak, refueling at a small Luftwaffe base at Kristiansand for the final run. It was pitch-dark when they reached Bergen and cold, very cold, a little sleet mixed with the rain as they landed. Neuma

Neuma

“You did well,” Borma