could have been so close to
finding it out and still ...
And still could never have
found that out at all.
Now he knows it. This is the
main thing now.
He now realized that pastor's
release was planned in advance
and that the pastor will
be used as a scapegoat,
and that Shellenberg decided
everything in advance.
Now, once he knew all of that,
it was possible to act.
Now he needs to drawn correct
conclusions and act according to them.
Shellenberg believes, that the pastor
will become a false figure in the game,
a scapegoat. What game? What operation?
Shtirlitz didn't know that yet.
One thing is clear that the pastor is
a bait, a cover up, a scapegoat.
That's how Shellenberg had planned
everything. But he did not consider
that the pastor Shlag has in Switzerland
good strong connections. Which means,
it is necessary to force pastor Shlag,
to use his influence against those,
who will send him to Switzerland,
-thought Shtirlitz,
Shtirlitz was hoping to use the
pastor as an extra channel of
communication with the Center.
Now the pastor was going to play.
a different role, a more critical one.
For the pastor it is now necessary
to prepare such a legend, which
will cause a serious counter-interest
toward other Germans, who arrived
or who will be arriving
to Switzerland for negotiations.
But the pastor alone means much and
means nothing. Extra insurance is necessary.
It is still necessary to send
there someone else.
Someone like professor Pleishner, who
was helping him for many years.
But Karl Pleishner died, and
connections with the group of
German resistance were broken
with his death.
To find a person like him was extremely
hard or simply not possible for one evening.
Hans!
Here is your, coffee. Please.
It is clear that an additional
person was required.
An extra insurance was necessary.
Also was clear the other thing.
Shtirlitz wanted to use Himmler
in his game as a powerful cover,
now he became the main opposing power.
And it is again necessary to search for
another powerful person whose support
will help Shtirlitz in his fight.
February 23, 1945
Today will be a day off,
thought Shtirlitz.
If not a whole day, then at least
an evening off. Today is February 23,
the Red Army Day. This was the day,
which colonel Isaev celebrated always.
He celebrated it differently,
depending on the circumstances.
Leningrad, 1942
Stalingrad, 1943
Moscow, 1944
February 23, 1945, 21:35 = 09:35 PM
For several days Aysman was
occupied by the papers of Shtirlitz's work.
He's been through a pile of documents,
but in no way he could understand,
why Shtirlitz fell under the suspicion?
"under the cap", as it was called
in the department.
File of Fritz Shlag. A catholic priest.
Arrested 23 June 1944
Accused of hating the regime and
trying to kill the Fuhrer.
A decision to arrest the pastor
receded by two denunciations.
both of them were from the
parishioners of his own church.
In the denunciations was indicated that
the pastor calls for the peace and the
brotherhood with all the peoples.
He condemned the barbarism of wars
and unreasonableness of bloodshed.
Investigation discovered that the
pastor met with the former minister
Krauze, who has emigrated and lives
now in Switzerland. They had
strong friendly relations.
However there were no indications on
political connections of former Minister
Krauze and the pastor. There was
nothing about that in the pastor's file.
Aysman was puzzled. Why the pastor was
transferred to the intelligence?
Why wasn't he sent in the Gestapo?
Why he became interesting for the
Shellenberg's people? He found the
answer in a short note, attached to the file.
"Pastor Shlag twice actively
participated in pacifist meetings abroad."
-"They were interested in his
foreign connections", understood Aisman.
They were interested in his contacts
and that's why the intelligence took him.
Therefore he was transferred to Shtirlitz.
And