centrally, topped off with an electric lamp and an ashtray.
He sat down at the table and reached for the file on top of the pile. This file had drawn his attention the moment it arrived in his office, for it was one of very few which were red, and one of only six he had seen that had a blue ribbon around it. That made the person described therein very special indeed. This man was also the reason Lavalle was conducting his business on a Sunday, when the rest of the section was off enjoying the high-life in Karlsruhe. The name on the file had been known to Lavalle long before his involvement with the clandestine operation that brought the document into his possession.
He had read it previously of course, three times in fact, and fascinating reading it was too, now supplemented by additional witness statements from German prisoners and newly arrived Soviet Intel files adding to what the allied intelligence services had scrounged up during six years of war. The man described in these pages was a real legend, both in his own army and in that of his enemies, and that was a rarity. Rommel had achieved it of course, but this man had fought his war exclusively in Europe, and most of it in the bloodbath that was the Eastern Front.
The door opened and the guard gestured the arriving prisoner inside.
Lavalle looked up and his immediate reaction was to stand and salute, a reaction he only just managed to suppress in time, although the man who stood opposite him saw the faint twitch of movement.
The German in front of Lavalle was the most impressive soldier he had ever seen, the more so as he was stood at the attention in immaculate full uniform, his medals shining and resplendent, eyes calm and firm.
He invited Knocke to sit, which Ernst did with a lithe and graceful movement.
The lack of any formal introduction from his interrogator was not lost on Knocke.
Lavalle opened the folder and, in perfect German, read aloud through the family details, list of unit assignments and general service record, pausing only to confirm a date here, an award there.
“Well you seem to have been very thorough,” ceded Knocke after ten minutes of solid listening.
“You even have my two weeks at Zossen recorded, which was extremely secret and not even my divisional commander knew I had been there. Also I congratulate you on your mastery of my language”.
“Thank you Herr Knocke. I am from Alsace of course. Now, let me be frank and get to the point. My main purpose is normally to interview members of the defeated German army with a view to recruiting them into the Foreign Legion and sending them to fight for France in Indo-China. You are not seen in that role, partially because of your age but partially because of your speciality being with tanks.”
“War is a young man’s business for sure Colonel, and panzers are not a jungle weapon,” and delivered with a quizzical inflection, "So why am I here?”
“That is a good question.”
Lavalle brought out his Gauloise cigarettes and offered one up. Ernst did not comment on the fingers missing from the hand holding the packet. Veterans did not do such things. When both men were enjoying their first puffs, he continued.
“I am here because it would seem that you fought a fair and chivalrous war and are not tarnished with excesses such as are some of your countrymen. Neither are you in anyway directly involved with the extermination camps.”
Lavalle straightened a little. “Had you been so involved then we would be having a very different conversation right now. Instead, I am here to make you an offer. Many of your comrades find the lure of fighting communists too much to resist, some wish to hide in the legion to evade responsibility for what they have done and others sign up simply because they have nothing better to do. I do not see you agreeing to serve France in any capacity for any of those reasons Herr Knocke. Not even ego I suspect”, which was said in such a way as a listener
He sat down at the table and reached for the file on top of the pile. This file had drawn his attention the moment it arrived in his office, for it was one of very few which were red, and one of only six he had seen that had a blue ribbon around it. That made the person described therein very special indeed. This man was also the reason Lavalle was conducting his business on a Sunday, when the rest of the section was off enjoying the high-life in Karlsruhe. The name on the file had been known to Lavalle long before his involvement with the clandestine operation that brought the document into his possession.
He had read it previously of course, three times in fact, and fascinating reading it was too, now supplemented by additional witness statements from German prisoners and newly arrived Soviet Intel files adding to what the allied intelligence services had scrounged up during six years of war. The man described in these pages was a real legend, both in his own army and in that of his enemies, and that was a rarity. Rommel had achieved it of course, but this man had fought his war exclusively in Europe, and most of it in the bloodbath that was the Eastern Front.
The door opened and the guard gestured the arriving prisoner inside.
Lavalle looked up and his immediate reaction was to stand and salute, a reaction he only just managed to suppress in time, although the man who stood opposite him saw the faint twitch of movement.
The German in front of Lavalle was the most impressive soldier he had ever seen, the more so as he was stood at the attention in immaculate full uniform, his medals shining and resplendent, eyes calm and firm.
He invited Knocke to sit, which Ernst did with a lithe and graceful movement.
The lack of any formal introduction from his interrogator was not lost on Knocke.
Lavalle opened the folder and, in perfect German, read aloud through the family details, list of unit assignments and general service record, pausing only to confirm a date here, an award there.
“Well you seem to have been very thorough,” ceded Knocke after ten minutes of solid listening.
“You even have my two weeks at Zossen recorded, which was extremely secret and not even my divisional commander knew I had been there. Also I congratulate you on your mastery of my language”.
“Thank you Herr Knocke. I am from Alsace of course. Now, let me be frank and get to the point. My main purpose is normally to interview members of the defeated German army with a view to recruiting them into the Foreign Legion and sending them to fight for France in Indo-China. You are not seen in that role, partially because of your age but partially because of your speciality being with tanks.”
“War is a young man’s business for sure Colonel, and panzers are not a jungle weapon,” and delivered with a quizzical inflection, "So why am I here?”
“That is a good question.”
Lavalle brought out his Gauloise cigarettes and offered one up. Ernst did not comment on the fingers missing from the hand holding the packet. Veterans did not do such things. When both men were enjoying their first puffs, he continued.
“I am here because it would seem that you fought a fair and chivalrous war and are not tarnished with excesses such as are some of your countrymen. Neither are you in anyway directly involved with the extermination camps.”
Lavalle straightened a little. “Had you been so involved then we would be having a very different conversation right now. Instead, I am here to make you an offer. Many of your comrades find the lure of fighting communists too much to resist, some wish to hide in the legion to evade responsibility for what they have done and others sign up simply because they have nothing better to do. I do not see you agreeing to serve France in any capacity for any of those reasons Herr Knocke. Not even ego I suspect”, which was said in such a way as a listener
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