We are ushered in, and the doors close behind us.
Any number of staff officers are there, poised readily with notebooks or files in hand.
We see him. Hunched over a huge 'bird table' of what seems to be Eastern Europe. Demanding reports and map overlays angrily from a harassed staff.
The orderly coughs politely
"Officers of U-46 and U-467 to see you, mein Fuhrer"
The crowd of lackeys parts, and we get a better look.
In a drab dun-coloured tunic and trousers, with an SS Eagle on his left sleeve, a diminutive man turns from the map table. A lock of lank dark hair falling down from his forehead. And that unmistakeable moustache.
"Yes, yes of course, our heroes of the deep!"
He pumped our hands with great excitement. Whatever land war forgotten for the moment.
"And which of you saved the other?"
"Well, Mein Fuhrer..." Reuben started..
"..Never mind, never mind! The German people salute you! Bring me those medals!"
He pinned them onto our chests. The Oak Leaves. A huge honour, but I couldn't help noticing as the Aide de Camp tidied away, that there was a whole box of them.
Obviously heroes of the Reich come cheaper by the dozen.
"Great work against the English. Soon we will send our finest battleship to smash their naval power, and you will all be home soon. Now we have bigger fish to fry!"
A number of the staff tried to intervene discreetly at this incaution, but Hitler would not be stopped.
"England was never our enemy in the long term, oh no! We have sent her running back to her shores, and you must keep it that way. But here....!"
He made a grand gesture at the map. Stabbing his finger at Moscow.
"Here is where Germany's destiny lies!
"Russia, mein Fuhrer?"
"Yes, Russia, Leutnant! We have only to kick in the doors and the whole rotten building will come crashing down! At dawn tomorrow, the Bolsheviks won't know what hit them!"
"Yes, my Fuhrer"
We were clearly not meant to hear any of this, and were even kept under armed guard by OKW until H-Hour was reached.
Reuben turned to me
"Russia?"
I pulled a small face.
"Well maybe we can pull it off. We have done so far"
"What about that stuff about going home, Sir?"
"Trust me, Reuben, I reckon that we'll still be dodging destroyers this time next year. And when it happens we can explain that we have it on Herr Hitler's authority that we shouldn't be there. Now, what are we going to do with the rest of our leave? God help me I'm already missing U-46 after this madness. Any ideas...?
Lt de Bunsen, U-46
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