Secret Honor (Honor Bound 3)

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CLASSIFICATION: MOST URGENT

CONFIDENTIALITY: MOST SECRET

DATE: 23 APRIL 1943

FROM: AMBASSADOR, BUENOS AIRES

TO: IMMEDIATE AND PERSONAL ATTENTION OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE GERMAN REICH

HEIL HITLER!

DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU THAT STANDARTENFÜHRER JOSEF LUTHER GOLTZ AND OBERST KARL-HEINZ GRÜNER WERE KILLED BY GUNFIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 0945 19 APRIL 1943 NEAR PUERTO MAGDALENA, ARGENTINA. MAJOR FREIHERR HANS-PETER VON WACHTSTEIN NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH IN THE SAME INCIDENT.

INASMUCH AS BRINGING THE MURDERS OF THESE MEN TO THE ATTENTION OF THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE MADE IT NECESSARY TO EXPLAIN THEIR PRESENCE AT PUERTO MAGDALENA, THE UNDERSIGNED HAS INFORMED THE ARGENTINE GOVERNMENT THAT BOTH OFFICERS, IN COMPLIANCE WITH ORDERS, HAVE RETURNED TO GERMANY, AND HAS ARRANGED FOR THE TRANSPORT OF THEIR REMAINS TO CADIZ, ABOARD THE SPANISH MOTOR VESSEL OCÉANO PACÍFICO, WHICH AS THE RESULT OF UNSUPPORTED CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED SMUGGLING HAS BEEN ORDERED TO LEAVE ARGENTINE WATERS IMMEDIATELY.

CAPTAIN JOSE FRANCISCO DE BANDERANO, MASTER OF THE OCÉANO PACÍFICO, WAS DENIED PERMISSION TO OFF-LOAD ANY OF HER CARGO, AND NONE OF HER CARGO OF ANY KIND WAS UNLOADED IN ARGENTINA.

ABSENT SPECIFIC ORDERS FROM YOUR EXCELLENCY TO THE CONTRARY, THE UNDERSIGNED IS RELUCTANT TO ENTRUST OTHER DETAILS OF THIS TRAGIC INCIDENT TO A RADIO TRANSMISSION. THE UNDERSIGNED SUGGESTS THAT A FULL REPORT OF THIS INCIDENT COULD BEST BE MADE TO YOUR EXCELLENCY AND OTHER OFFICIALS BY SOMEONE PERSONALLY FAMILIAR WITH THE INCIDENT.

IN ADDITION TO THE UNDERSIGNED, LISTED IN ORDER OF THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF THE INCIDENT, THESE ARE:

MAJOR FREIHERR HANS-PETER VON WACHTSTEIN

FIRST SECRETARY ANTON VON GRADNY-SAWZ

STURMBANNFÜHRER WERNER VON TRESMARCK OF THE EMBASSY OF THE GERMAN REICH IN MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY.

THE UNDERSIGNED BEGS TO REMIND YOUR EXCELLENCY THAT A LUFTHANSA CONDOR FLIGHT IS EXPECTED TO REACH BUENOS AIRES IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, AND RESPECTFULLY SUGGESTS THAT ANY, OR ALL, OF THE ABOVE-NAMED OFFICERS TRAVEL TO GERMANY ON THE RETURN FLIGHT SO THAT YOUR EXCELLENCY MAY BE MADE PRIVY TO THE DETAILS OF THIS UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT, AND OF OTHER RECENT DEVELOPMENTS HERE OF IMPORTANCE TO GERMANY.

THE UNDERSIGNED RESPECTFULLY AWAITS YOUR EXCELLENCY’S ORDERS.

HEIL HITLER!

MANFRED ALOIS GRAF VON LUTZENBERGER

AMBASSADOR OF THE GERMAN REICH TO THE REPUBLIC OF ARGENTINA

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Reichsführer-SS Himmler looked up from the document and fixed his gaze on Deputy Minister von Löwzer, who was now sitting in the center of a small couch, his hands folded on his lap, his briefcase at his feet. “You are aware of the contents of this message?” he asked.

“I am privy to the details of Operation Phoenix, Herr Reichsführer-SS,” von Löwzer replied solemnly.

So von Ribbentrop has told him of Phoenix? Is he smarter than he looks? Obviously, you don’t get to be a deputy foreign minister unless you are bright.

I wonder how many others I don’t know about are privy to Operation Phoenix?

“You may inform the Foreign Minister that I appreciate his entrusting the document only to someone like yourself, and that I will hold myself ready to meet with him at his earliest convenience.”

“I will relay your message, Herr Reichsführer-SS.”

Von Löwzer rose to his feet but made no move to leave the office.

“Something else, von Löwzer?”

“The message, Herr Reichsführer-SS. You still have it.”