War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 74

Chapter 19

I

t seemed like Anna worked around the clock since Professor Scherer had promoted her. Driven by the need to succeed, she didn’t mind that her social life had been reduced to zero. It wasn’t like there were many fun things to do anyways. Since Stalingrad a year ago there had been more or less a permanent ban on dancing. Approved motion pictures were usually disguised propaganda, and one never knew if the favorite restaurant would still be standing the next day.

Due to her workload, she hadn’t visited Mutter and Ursula for an entire week, and even going out with Peter had taken a backseat to her work. On the one hand she longed to spend more time with him, but on the other hand she knew she’d have to confront her inner demons first, should she spend more time with him. He wouldn’t stay content with a kiss here and there forever.

The clock on the wall ticked loudly in the otherwise silent laboratory. After having dinner with Peter, she’d returned to her work station to finish just

one more

analysis. Suddenly the shrill noise of a ringing phone disturbed her train of thought.

She eyed the black apparatus, wondering who could be calling at this time of night. All the other employees had already gone home. Sighing, she picked up the receiver, expecting to hear the voice of one of the doctors in charge.

“Anna Klausen,” she answered the telephone.

“This is Alexandra.“

Alexandra? I don’t know anyone called Alexandra.

Then her tired brain clicked and put a face to the voice. Her sister Lotte. Oh yes, she lived now under the false name of Alexandra Wagner.

“Is everything alright?“ Anna asked, wondering how Lotte had gotten her number.

“Your sister Ursula gave me your number. I hope it’s okay,” Lotte said.

“Yes. Usually we are advised not to use this line for private calls, but I guess since it’s way past ten o’clock, it’s fine. How are you? Are you getting enough to eat?”

Lotte sighed, saying, “Enough is relative. But I’m gaining weight if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Now, tell me why you’re calling.” Anna knew her sister didn’t make social calls.

“I need a favor,” Lotte said.

“Tell me.” Anna’s heart froze over. Knowing her sister, she knew she wouldn’t like what would come next.

“Please promise to listen first, will you?”

“Fine.” Anna was now sure she wouldn’t like the favor her sister was asking for.

“I applied to become a

Wehrmachtshelferin

and be trained as a radio operator. But since I don’t have family to vouch for me, I need a recommendation. Preferably from a well-respected person who has a high standing with the Party. Someone like Professor Scherer.”

“But…you can’t become an assistant to the Wehrmacht unless you’re eighteen.”

“You forgot my birthday!” Lotte said with mock indignation. “I turned eighteen last month.”

“What?” Last time Anna checked, Lotte’s birthday was in September. “Sorry, I forgot. Belated congratulations.” Anna held up the charade just in case the line was tapped. But she cursed Ursula for making Lotte seven months older in her false papers. She should have made her not one, but five years younger to keep her out of trouble.

“You still there, Anna?”

“Yes…Alexandra. Are you sure you want this? Radio operators follow the front line, helping the war effort by gathering information and sending it to headquarters…oh dear…don’t tell me this is your plan! It’s too dangerous!” Anna gasped. Knowing Lotte’s hatred for the Nazis, this could only mean one thing. She wanted to work as a spy for the Allies and send them secret information.

“That is exactly my plan! Anything to shorten this war. We all have to chip in and do our share. Isn’t that what our

Führer

says?” Lotte spat out the words, and Anna could clearly hear their true meaning.

“It’s suicide. Wouldn’t your mother rather see you safe at home?” Anna argued, trying to convince her sister.

“I don’t have family left. They all perished in the air raid over Cologne two years ago.” Lotte was recounting her cover story. Again, Anna cursed Ursula. She should have made Lotte a stupid farm girl with ten siblings she couldn’t leave alone. Not an orphaned girl fending for herself.

“What if the enemy captures you and sends you to a prisoner-of-war camp?” Maybe the memory of her time in Ravensbrück would change Lotte’s mind.

“Can’t scare me. I want to help rescue what is left of my beloved Germany. Now will you help me, please?” Lotte begged.

“Stubborn as a mule, why does that remind me of my dead sister?” Anna murmured and then sighed. “Since I’m sure you won’t give up on this idea, I’ll see what I can do. But I won’t make any promises.”

“Thank you. You’re the best friend anyone could ever ask for. Anna…” Lotte paused and Anna could hear the unmistakable effort to hold back tears. “That doctor…did he? After that day…” Lotte couldn’t complete her sentence.

Anna clenched her hand around the phone receiver. Clearly, Lotte was blaming herself for the abuse Anna had had to suffer at Doctor Tretter’s hands. Anna closed her eyes and then forced her voice to remain even as she lied. “Just that one time.”

“Oh, Anna! I was so afraid…”

“That’s all in the past,” Anna said, unwilling to delve into that painful memory.

“We need to move on, every one of us,” Lotte whispered into the phone.

Anna finished the conversation, thinking that each of the sisters had her own burden to carry. Lotte had suffered immeasurable evil, and yet she had jumped right back on her feet, willing to do whatever it took to rid her country of its nefarious government.

Anna tidied up her workplace, guilt spreading through her. Both of her sisters were so much more valiant and upright than she was. Ursula risked her life every day to smuggle Jews out of the country and Lotte wanted to become a spy. Either one would be hanged as traitor should she ever be exposed.

And what am I doing?

She grabbed her coat and switched off the lights in the laboratory. A tepid breeze greeted her as she stepped out of the building. After this long and hard winter, everyone in Berlin embraced the coming spring. It was a promise of new beginnings, of another chance at life.

Not for everyone, though. Not for the poor children used as guinea pigs.

I’m just following orders. There’s nothing I can do to help these children

.

It wouldn’t make a difference for them if I stopped.

Anna’s stomach churned and she walked faster. Within two minutes she stood in front of the entrance to the employee housing. She turned around and walked past the lecture hall and the Pediatric Clinic, to the far end of the campus where the makeshift tent-hospital stood.

Moaning, whining, and screams of pain cut through the air like knifes. On top of being sick and wounded, the patients were in danger of contracting an infectious disease like typhus, cholera … or tuberculosis.

You’re doing the right thing. This vaccine can save so many people.

Millions were dying in this war; what difference did a few handicapped children make? Deep down she knew it was wrong, but she brushed it away, preferring to listen to the voice of reason. The voice that said the end justified the means. In war, everyone had to do things they wouldn’t do under normal circumstances. Soldiers had to kill.

And she had to accept unintended side effects of her research.