“There were several incidents while he was in Italy and Germany. He had diplomatic immunity, of course, and they were all kept quiet. But photographs are available, if they should ever be needed.”
“I’m shocked,” Peter confessed. “Does he know you know?”
“He knows he was arrested; he’s not stupid. He knows there is a record somewhere. I don’t think he knows I know. And I certainly don’t intend to play that card unless it’s necessary.”
He smiled at Peter. “As I say, von Wachtstein, you should make an effort to cultivate Oberst Perón.”
Peter nodded.
“Grüner mentioned nothing of this to you?” von Deitzberg asked.
“No, Sir. This is the first I’ve heard of it.”
“What about Operation Phoenix?” von Deitzberg asked.
“Standartenführer Goltz told me something about that, Herr General, but not Oberst Grüner.”
“And what did Goltz tell you?” von Deitzberg asked.
Peter did not reply. Instead he pointed at Günther Loche in the front seat.
“Quite right, quite right,” von Deitzberg said. “We can get into that later.”
“Jawohl, Herr General.”
On 6 May 1943, in three separate thrusts, American infantry and armored divisions in Tunisia broke through the German defensive line and attacked toward Bizerta, Ferryville, and Protville.
Elsewhere in Tunisia, following a massive artillery and air bombardment, the British destroyed what was left of the German 15th Panzer Division and broke through the German defensive positions to strike toward Tunis.
[TWO]
The Embassy of the German Reich
Avenue Córdoba
Buenos Aires
0915 6 May 1943
Fräulein Ingebord Hässell pushed open the door to the private office of Manfred Alois Graf von Lutzenberger, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the German Reich to the Republic of Argentina, and very loudly and importantly barked: “Your Excellency! Baron Gradny-Sawz is here with Deputy Foreign Minister von Löwzer and General Major von Deitzberg!”
You really should have been a man, Inge. You would have been a splendid Stabsfeldwebel. I can just see you on a parade ground, screaming orders at conscripts.
“Ask the gentlemen to come in please, Inge,” von Lutzenberger said, and got up from behind his desk.
Deputy Foreign Minister Georg Friedrich von Löwzer came into the office first and rendered the Nazi salute. “Heil Hitler!” he barked.
Was that preposterous gesture rendered in deference to Himmler’s adjutant? Or has von Löwzer become yet another zealous convert to the New Order?
Von Löwzer was followed into the office by von Deitzberg, then Gradny-Sawz, Standartenführer Erich Raschner, and finally, von Wachtstein. They all wore civilian clothing.
“Heil Hitler,” von Lutzenberger replied. “How are you, Friedrich?” Without waiting for a reply, he walked to von Deitzberg and offered his hand.
“Welcome to Argentina, Herr Generalmajor,” he said. “I presume Gradny-Sawz and von Wachtstein have been taking good care of you?”
“Splendid, thank you. Last night von Wachtstein fed me the best steak I have ever had.”
“There are some compensations attached to being in this barbarous outpost,” von Lutzenberger said. “The food, the women, and the pastry, not necessarily in that order.”