War Girls Complete Collection Chapter 75

Chapter 20

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nna put on the black two-piece outfit she’d bought with Doctor Tretter’s ration cards. Despite her hatred for the man, she couldn’t afford not to use the single elegant dress suit she possessed.

Professor Scherer had been invited to a social event at the home of the Minister of Science, and had asked Anna to accompany him. As usual, Peter would drive them; Anna waited for the Mercedes to round the corner.

When the limousine stopped in front of her and Peter jumped out to hold the door open for her, her heart leaped. He looked so incredibly handsome in his black uniform suit. A roving glance accessed her body, and an appraising smile lit up his eyes. Everywhere his eyes touched, Anna burned with a smoldering heat.

“You look swell today,” he said as he helped her into the backseat. Her stomach somersaulted as she slid in next to the professor.

“Fräulein Klausen, I’m so glad you found the time to be my companion. If you impress the Minister as much as you impressed me with your intelligence and your charm, there won’t be a limit to what you can achieve,” Professor Scherer said.

“Of course, Professor.” Anna nodded her agreement. She had learned that making a career in science involved as much social mingling and impressing the right kind of people as it involved actual work in the laboratory.

“Be careful what kind of information you divulge, Fräulein Klausen. We don’t want to put all our cards on the table at once and we definitely don’t want Professor Lugauer from Munich listening in and duplicating our research work,” the professor briefed her.

Anna listened carefully and nodded as Peter drove them past the destroyed center of Berlin.

“Where are we going?” she asked as Peter drove along the shore of Berlin’s biggest lake, the Wannsee. This far outside of the city proper, the picture of destruction faded away and Anna almost forgot about the ugly war raging.

“Schwanenwerder Island,” the professor said.

“Really?” Anna gasped. Schwanenwerder Island was the most prestigious location in Berlin. Nazi bluebloods like Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s personal physician Theo Morell, and the Minister of Armaments and War Production Albert Speer made their homes there. Ordinary mortals weren’t granted access to the island.

Peter drove the Mercedes across the bridge that connected the island with the mainland and stopped in front of the gate.

Two uniformed SS men pointed their guns at them, while a third one approached the car to check for their identification papers.

“Professor Scherer, welcome to Schwanenwerder Island,” he said after the obligatory Heil Hitler and checking their invitation.

Anna’s mouth went dry at the prospect of entering the home of the Minister of Science, but at the same time she was curious about his lifestyle. She’d already witnessed how the Nazi elite celebrated major accomplishments. It stunned her that while all of Berlin scrounged and skimped and stole to survive on the meager ration cards, the inner circle of power apparently didn’t lack for anything.

“Professor, if I could ask a favor?” Anna murmured, her palms sweaty.

“Of course, Fräulein Klausen. What is it?”

“A friend of mine, her name is Alexandra Wagner and she wants to volunteer as radio operator to help the war effort.”

“A noble cause, to be sure. We need more active young women like her,” the professor commented.

“Alexandra is orphaned without close relatives and she asked me for a character reference,” Anna said, hemming and hawing; “it’s…she’s a hard worker and I’m sure she would be an excellent addition to the war effort, but…well, I was wondering if you would be able to write one for her? A reference, that is. I mean your word holds so much more weight than mine.”

“Our Führer needs every single person to do his share. I will gladly recommend her to help the total war. During this time where everyone has to chip in, how could I deny my support to a deserving young lady eager to volunteer?”

“Thank you so much.” A sense of relief overcame her, and Anna sank back into the soft leather seat. She wasn’t convinced she liked Lotte’s plan to become a spy, but bullheaded as her sister was she’d find a way, and with Professor Scherer’s recommendation she might be deployed to a less dangerous place. At least Anna hoped this would be the case.

“We’re here,” Peter announced as he pulled into the driveway of a huge mansion.

“Everyone is anxious to meet you, my newest scientific discovery,” the professor said as they walked towards the entry door, Peter a few steps behind.

Throughout the evening Anna found herself being propelled around the room and introduced to so many people, there was no way she could remember all of their names. As always Peter kept a few steps behind the professor. Anna doubted there was a real danger to the professor’s life in the Minister’s house, but she enjoyed feeling Peter’s presence. It grounded her amidst all the important men in gala uniform with beautiful women hanging from their arms.

Waiters in livery flitted about, handing a glass of champagne to the professor and another one to Anna. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed how the waiter stopped in front of Peter, unsure whether to offer him one, too. But Peter shook his head.

“To your career,” the professor said as they clinked glasses.

Anna smiled, sipping the sparkling drink and looking around at the opulence and luxury of the house. “This place is…so nice.”

“The Minister does have great taste,” someone commented. Another person pointed at one of the paintings saying, “This Rembrandt is a gift from Holland.”

The smile on Anna’s face froze over. Anyone knew how voluntary those

gifts

were. Usually the Nazis seized all valuables of their Jewish prisoners before handing them over to whatever fate they had planned for them. But also the churches, monasteries, museums, and art collections in the occupied zones had been persuaded to send treasured items

on loan

to the Reich.

As the evening wore on, the conversations turned to the one topic every single person in Europe was concerned about: the war.

“We cannot let this heinous attack on our livelihood remain unanswered,” a general said. His uniform contained too many decorations to count.

“You can bet that’s so. Hermann has his aces in readiness for a counterstrike,” someone else answered. “The Allies will soon be wishing they’d never sent a single plane to Berlin.”

Anna felt Peter moving closer to her, and when she casually looked around to catch his glance, she found him fixated on the conversation.

Why are men so interested in the details of how best to fight and kill?

She eventually tuned out the war talk and instead examined her surroundings and the people present. Everything seemed so normal and well put together. In this mansion it was as if the razed city didn’t exist. Despair, hunger, and battered humanity – all this was far away from the opulence of the gathering.

“…she has been promoted to the position of research team leader.”

Peter nudged her and he whispered over her shoulder, “The professor is announcing your promotion. Pay attention.”

Professor Scherer made a long pause and pushed Anna to the center of the room, before he clinked a spoon to his glass. The room grew silent and everyone turned their heads towards them. Anna felt her cheeks flush.

“Ladies and gentlemen, Minister: this young lady, Anna Klausen, has been doing exceptional work in my bacteriology research team. After the unfortunate demise of three of our staff members, she was promoted to research team leader. And now…” he glanced at her with excitement, “…in agreement with the Minister of Science, I have approved her enrollment to the studies of Genetics and Medicine at the Charité in addition to her work duty.”

The crowd clapped their hands and Anna’s head swirled. All she could do was hold herself upright and smile. Her dream was coming true right before her eyes.

“I know, this double duty hasn’t been attempted before. And everyone in here knows the work involved, but, in truth, I’m not willing to let my best research assistant leave.” He grinned, continuing, “I’m sure Fräulein Klausen will rise to the challenge.”

“Thank you so much. I will not disappoint you,” was all Anna could say.

An old man holding a monocle in front of his face approached them. “Professor Scherer, you place a lot of confidence in a mere woman. Where will this country end up if we need women to do men’s work?”

Anna sent him a scowl. For the last four and a half years women had been doing the men’s work to keep this country and its citizens alive. They worked in mills, on farms, in hospitals, in schools, in military factories, everywhere. They cleaned debris after air raids, rebuilt houses, paved roads, repaired Panzers. They did everything, because the men had left to kill other men.

“Great talents like Fräulein Klausen need to be promoted. During hard times and with our best men at the front, we must grab hold of greatness and nurture it, wherever it is to be found. Even in a woman.”

The old man bowed his head and retreated. Then a long file of guests hurried to rub shoulders with her, if not to congratulate then at least to snatch up morsels of the esteem pouring over Anna. With every compliment Anna became a bit surer of herself, proud of her achievements and eager to continue on the path of her dream career.

Whatever stress came with her position, she’d handle it. Look at what she’d already handled in her young life! Sacrifice came in many forms, but for the greater good, she would do what was necessary.