“Gradny-Sawz’s family,” Himmler began, “has served the Austro-Hungarian diplomatic service for generations, and Gradny-Sawz has followed in that tradition. Sometime before the Anschluss,” he went on, referring to the 1938 incorporation of Austria into the German Reich, which then became the German state of Östmark, “he was approached by one of my men, who solicited his cooperation. Gradny-Sawz not only readily offered it, but was of no small value to us during the Anschluss.”
“From one perspective—the Austrian perspective—that could have been viewed as treason,” Admiral Dönitz said.
Dönitz, the tallest of the group, was fifty-two, slim, and intelligent looking.
“Or enlightened self-interest,” Bormann said, chuckling.
“The man who recruited Gradny-Sawz was Standartenführer Goltz, who himself was recruited by Oberführer von Deitzberg,” Himmler said. “Goltz had been close friends with Gradny-Sawz for years.”
“And the others?” Bormann asked.
“Sturmbannführer Werner von Tresmarck,” Himmler said, “was recruited for this assignment by Goltz. He worked for Goltz here. Goltz had absolute confidence in him.”
“That leaves the aviator,” Bormann said.
“Major Freiherr Hans-Peter von Wachtstein,” Himmler said, “the son of Generalleutnant Graf Karl-Friedrich von Wachtstein…”
“Who is on the staff of the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht,” Dönitz added. “The family has served Germany for hundreds of years.” The Oberkommando was the High Command of the armed forces.
“The boy—I suppose I shouldn’t call him ‘the boy’—received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross from the Führer himself,” Canaris chimed in.
“And whose two brothers have laid down their lives for the Fatherland in this war,” Dönitz added.
“So these three are above suspicion, is that what you’re saying?” Bormann challenged. “Somebody has talked to the Americans.”
“Or to the Argentines,” Canaris said. “Von Ribbentrop may well be onto something. The Argentines are quite capable of taking revenge. I was a little uncomfortable with the decision to remove Oberst Frade.”
“You think that’s possible, do you?” Himmler asked.
“Anything in Argentina is possible,” Canaris replied. “We haven’t mentioned von Lutzenberger himself. I have nothing to suggest that he is anything but wholly reliable. Do you?”
“No,” Himmler said simply.
“So where are we?” Bormann asked. “Two very good men are dead. What we sent to Argentina is now somewhere in the South Atlantic Ocean en route to Cadiz….”
“Everything we sent over there,” Dönitz said. “We should not forget that in addition to the special shipment, the Océano Pacífico was carrying supplies for twenty-seven submarines operating in the South Atlantic.”
“What about a rendezvous at sea?” Himmler asked.
“I began to work on that the moment I saw von Lutzenberger’s cable,” Dönitz said. “Possibly something can be worked out. But it is not easy. And so far as the Océano Pacífico is concerned, it’s out of the question. She is being followed by an American destroyer. And, unless I am being unduly pessimistic, I don’t think the new Argentine government will allow us to anchor a ship in their protected waters again.”
“The more I think about it, the American involvement in this might be less than I thought at first,” Canaris said.
“In any case,” Bormann said, “our own priority, it seems to me, is to make certain that the special cargo of Operation Phoenix is safely landed in Argentina.”
“Safely landed,” Canaris agreed. “Not lost at sea, not falling into the hands of the Argentines. Or, God forbid, the Americans.”
“Do you think the Argentines know—or suspect—anything about the special cargo?” Dönitz asked.
“You will recall, Admiral,” Canaris said, “that one of the American OSS agents was reported to have asked questions on that subject.”
“Reported by von Tresmarck,” Himmler said, “who recommended his removal.”
“That happened, didn’t it?” Bormann asked.
“Von Tresmarck dealt with the problem,” Himmler said.
“We don’t know how much he found out—or passed on—before he was removed,” Canaris said. “And he was a Jew. Jews talk to Jews.”