War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 173

Chapter 28

J

ohann was having lunch with the commanding officer of the Warsaw Garrison. He’d been tasked with making strategic plans for the time after this rebellion ended. Johann had had enough time to think during his captivity and he’d come to the conclusion that the insurgents couldn’t be defeated with cruelty. Those stubborn people were determined to fight to the last drop of blood.

In his point of view there was only one way to stop the shedding of innocent blood while keeping at least some of the residents alive.

“Sir, we might want to cede the partisans the status as soldiers—"

“Hell no, they’re criminals and deserve to be shot on the spot,” the Kommandant said.

“I know, and I fully agree with your opinion, but…may I present an idea, please?” Johann tried again.

“Speak.” His superior took another forkful of minced meat.

“For whatever misleading reasons the partisans think they can still win their little revolt. And to tell the truth, they have been more than a mere nuisance for us. Instead of turning our focus to pushing back the Red Army, our men are engaged in house-to-house fighting in this damned city. If we offer the insurgents the military courtesy extended to soldiers of a regular army, and that means taking them prisoner instead of shooting them, they might be inclined to surrender. And…” Johann paused to put his ace on the table, “…our country needs laborers. These men will be of better use to us working in the Reich than dead and buried here.”

The Kommandant glanced up from his plate of food, snapping his fingers. Several moments later, a servant appeared. “Yes?”

“Bring me wine!” The commander turned to scrutinize Johann. “That’s actually a brilliant idea. It’s about time the depraved

Kampftruppe Reinefarth

unleashed their terror against the Red Army instead of harassing civilians.”

“Thank you, sir,” Johann said, sipping the wine. He wondered how he could broach another topic that weighed on his heart. Since his liberation from captivity, Johann had discreetly inquired about Alexandra Wagner.

Nothing. She was like a ghost, only the bare essentials known about her. A person who’d never appeared in public until the day she turned eighteen about six months ago. Incidentally, that was around the time Richard Klausen’s sister, Lmotte, had died.

“Sir, you may remember that when we were captured by the insurgents, there was a Blitzmädel with us. Did you ever find out what happened to her?”

The Kommandant looked at Johann as if he’d seen a monster. “Why on earth would you inquire about

her

?”

Something was awfully wrong. Johann’s stomach churned, and judging by the commander’s menacing tone, he was treading on thin ice. “It’s just that I feel guilty, because she got captured on my watch. I couldn’t protect her.”

“You don’t have to feel guilty. Our friends from the Gestapo captured a woman named Ewa Gusten who works as a spy for the British. Fräulein Wagner was a mole. She’s been seen visiting her frequently.”

Johann suppressed a gasp hearing the name of Alexandra’s piano teacher and willed his features to remain neutral, as he answered, “Has this Ewa Gusten confirmed names?”

The Kommandant shook his head. “Unfortunately not. Our lads were a bit too enthusiastic with their interrogation and she died before she could spill names. We only have her frequency and call sign.”

“I see…” Johann didn’t see anything except that Alexandra was in deadly peril.

“…the Blitzmädel is a spy. For the Polish. Or the British. It really doesn’t make a difference. The whole capture by the partisans was staged by her just so she could escape punishment. But the Gestapo never loses a guilty offender. She’ll get what’s coming to her and then some. In fact, you might find pleasure in punching that traitorous bitch in the face.”

Johann tuned out every emotion and said, “I’m glad the Gestapo arrested her. And if you think I might be of use to the interrogation, I’m more than willing to do my bit…while taking my personal revenge.”