“Let’s see the film,” Bormann said.
Himmler snapped his fingers. The room went dark, and after a moment the projector came to life.
“There wil
l be, of course, a narrative, and appropriate music, and some final editing,” Himmler said. “Goebbels’s people are working on that as we speak.”
The film of the funerals played.
The screen went blank, then white, and the lights in the room came on.
“I can see why this excited Goebbels,” Martin Bormann said, “but I cannot see what the film has to do with the purpose of this meeting.”
“The Reichsprotektor believes that one can often learn a great deal by looking at people’s faces,” Cranz said. “And I am convinced he’s right.”
“To get to the point,” Bormann said, “has the investigation turned anything up?”
“Nothing concrete. I think Korvettenkapitän Boltitz will agree with me.”
“I’m afraid that’s true, Herr Parteileiter,” Cranz said.
“In other words, you cannot tell me—so that I can report to the Führer—whether or not Operation Phoenix has been compromised?” Bormann replied, just a little nastily.
“We have learned nothing, Martin,” Himmler said, “either here, or from von Deitzberg in South America, that suggests Operation Phoenix has been compromised.”
“You don’t think that the murders of the military attaché and your man Goltz has anything to do with Operation Phoenix?” Bormann pursued, sarcastically.
“It is entirely possible that both were killed in revenge for the death of Oberst Frade,” Himmler said. “And that those who perpetrated that barbarous act did not know, or even suspect, anything about Operation Phoenix.”
“And that’s what I’m supposed to report to the Führer?”
“Inasmuch as I was given responsibility—together with Admiral Canaris—for conducting the investigation, that’s what I will report to the Führer,” Himmler said. “And I am extremely reluctant to go to the Führer without something concrete.”
“Canaris?” Feldmarschall Keitel asked.
“The incident on the beach at Samborombón Bay, Herr Feldmarschall, is consistent with the character of the Argentine officer corps. They deeply resented the murder of Oberst Frade.”
“I wondered if that was necessary,” Keitel said. “So what are you recommending, Canaris?”
“I will defer to the Reichsprotektor,” Canaris said.
“Unless there are objections, I think we should send von Tresmarck and Gradny-Sawz back to South America,” Himmler said.
“And young von Wachtstein?” Keitel asked. “Why not him?”
“General Galland wants him assigned to the ME-262 project,” Himmler said. “And knowing Galland, he’s prepared to go to the Führer to get him.”
“He’s not needed over there for Operation Phoenix?” Bormann asked.
“He knows very little of Operation Phoenix, Herr Parteileiter,” Cranz said. “From everything Korvettenkapitän Boltitz and I have been able to determine—and from what the Herr Reichsprotektor tells me we have learned in South America—von Wachtstein believes the material they attempted to take ashore was in connection with Admiral Canaris’s plan to repatriate the officers from the Graf Spee.”
“I think it would be easier to go along with Galland,” Himmler said, “to let him have von Wachtstein, than to open that can of worms with the Führer.”
“You’re suggesting, Herr Reichsprotektor,” Canaris said, “that if he was needed later, von Wachtstein could be sent back over there?”
“Yes, that was my thinking.”
“I have no objection to that,” Canaris said.