force.’ Hitler’s voice rose and fell as he made his points. ‘We have retaken the Rhineland without a shot being fired. Now we must turn our attention to Austria and Czechoslovakia.’
Baron von Fritsch, Commander in Chief of the army, made the mistake of raising an eyebrow.
‘You look worried, Generaloberst?’ Hitler glared.
‘ Mein Führer , no one doubts the progress we’ve made since you became Reich Chancellor,’ von Fritsch responded evenly, ‘but I would be remiss in my duty to you and the German people if I did not remind you of the risks involved in what you’re suggesting. If the British and the French oppose your plans to invade Czechoslovakia and Austria, a major war would risk disaster for the Third Reich. From the army’s point of view, we’ve made good progress in raising the thirty-six divisions you require, but it takes time to train over half a million men. More importantly, we do not yet have the logistics to sustain such a force in the field. I would urge you, mein Führer , not to move too quickly.’
‘There are always risks!’ the Führer shouted, thumping the tapestry on the heavy table. His face was flushed and his eyes bulged. As his commanders in chief were beginning to learn, the Reich Chancellor could become enraged very quickly. Hitler pushed his chair back, got to his feet and strode over to a large globe of the world supported in an ornate wooden frame. He gave it a spin and it turned soundlessly on its bearings.
‘You obviously don’t know much about history, Herr Generaloberst,’ Hitler sneered. ‘The leaders of all great empires – the Greek, the Roman, even the stupid British – have always been prepared to take risks.’ Hitler paused, then approached the head of the table and leaned on it.
‘The aim of German policy, gentlemen,’ he said more quietly, ‘is to preserve our racial superiority and enlarge it. Germans are the greater people, and, as such, we have a right to a greater living space than others.’
Suddenly it were as if he had withdrawn into a trance. His eyes bulged again and he pounded the cabinet table. ‘The most precious possession on earth lies in our own people! And for these people, and with these people, we will struggle and we will fight! And never slacken! Never tire! Never falter! Never doubt! Long live our movement! Long live our people!’
Hitler stormed out of the Cabinet Room and strode across the corridor towards his study, furious with weak generals like von Fritsch who failed to recognise the genius of his plan. They were irrelevant, he fumed. The swastika would soon fly from the elegant buildings of Vienna, and the streets of that great city would be free of the accursed Jew.
6
TIKAL, GUATEMALA
‘S o, what have you discovered, Professor? And so early in the morning, too.’
Levi jumped back, startled by von Heißen’s sudden appearance from the overgrown jungle of the ball court.
‘Do you normally creep about like this, Sturmbannführer?’ he demanded.
‘That depends, Professor, on whether those around me have something to hide, something that might further the greatness of the Reich. I see you were taking bearings. There is presumably a reason for that?’
‘It’s quite common archaeological practice to take bearings before we grid an area.’
‘Yet you don’t find the need to take any notes? Fascinating. I will watch your progress with interest. Now,’ von Heißen continued, ‘Father Ehrlichmann is keen to make a start. I plan a meeting for after breakfast. If Ehrlichmann is right, we’ll find skulls not far from here.’
‘The ancient Maya were a very proud race, Sturmbannführer, and their victory ceremonies included the sacrifice of enemies. Centuries ago, teeming ranks of painted warriors thundered onto this very ball court, stamping to the rhythm of pounding drums and the scent of burning temple fires. They led their prisoners up those steps over there.’ Levi pointed towards a large stone at the
Baron von Fritsch, Commander in Chief of the army, made the mistake of raising an eyebrow.
‘You look worried, Generaloberst?’ Hitler glared.
‘ Mein Führer , no one doubts the progress we’ve made since you became Reich Chancellor,’ von Fritsch responded evenly, ‘but I would be remiss in my duty to you and the German people if I did not remind you of the risks involved in what you’re suggesting. If the British and the French oppose your plans to invade Czechoslovakia and Austria, a major war would risk disaster for the Third Reich. From the army’s point of view, we’ve made good progress in raising the thirty-six divisions you require, but it takes time to train over half a million men. More importantly, we do not yet have the logistics to sustain such a force in the field. I would urge you, mein Führer , not to move too quickly.’
‘There are always risks!’ the Führer shouted, thumping the tapestry on the heavy table. His face was flushed and his eyes bulged. As his commanders in chief were beginning to learn, the Reich Chancellor could become enraged very quickly. Hitler pushed his chair back, got to his feet and strode over to a large globe of the world supported in an ornate wooden frame. He gave it a spin and it turned soundlessly on its bearings.
‘You obviously don’t know much about history, Herr Generaloberst,’ Hitler sneered. ‘The leaders of all great empires – the Greek, the Roman, even the stupid British – have always been prepared to take risks.’ Hitler paused, then approached the head of the table and leaned on it.
‘The aim of German policy, gentlemen,’ he said more quietly, ‘is to preserve our racial superiority and enlarge it. Germans are the greater people, and, as such, we have a right to a greater living space than others.’
Suddenly it were as if he had withdrawn into a trance. His eyes bulged again and he pounded the cabinet table. ‘The most precious possession on earth lies in our own people! And for these people, and with these people, we will struggle and we will fight! And never slacken! Never tire! Never falter! Never doubt! Long live our movement! Long live our people!’
Hitler stormed out of the Cabinet Room and strode across the corridor towards his study, furious with weak generals like von Fritsch who failed to recognise the genius of his plan. They were irrelevant, he fumed. The swastika would soon fly from the elegant buildings of Vienna, and the streets of that great city would be free of the accursed Jew.
6
TIKAL, GUATEMALA
‘S o, what have you discovered, Professor? And so early in the morning, too.’
Levi jumped back, startled by von Heißen’s sudden appearance from the overgrown jungle of the ball court.
‘Do you normally creep about like this, Sturmbannführer?’ he demanded.
‘That depends, Professor, on whether those around me have something to hide, something that might further the greatness of the Reich. I see you were taking bearings. There is presumably a reason for that?’
‘It’s quite common archaeological practice to take bearings before we grid an area.’
‘Yet you don’t find the need to take any notes? Fascinating. I will watch your progress with interest. Now,’ von Heißen continued, ‘Father Ehrlichmann is keen to make a start. I plan a meeting for after breakfast. If Ehrlichmann is right, we’ll find skulls not far from here.’
‘The ancient Maya were a very proud race, Sturmbannführer, and their victory ceremonies included the sacrifice of enemies. Centuries ago, teeming ranks of painted warriors thundered onto this very ball court, stamping to the rhythm of pounding drums and the scent of burning temple fires. They led their prisoners up those steps over there.’ Levi pointed towards a large stone at the
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