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“Several things concern me, Herr Reichsführer,” Student began, only to be interrupted by Himmler raising a hand to cut him off.

“Actually, Student, I learned something from you soldiers,” Himmler said, then paused, smiled his undertaker’s smile, and made his little joke: “As hard as that may be to believe.”

There was dutiful laughter.

“What I learned, and it has really proven useful, is that if the junior officer is asked for his opinion first, then one may be reasonably sure that his answers are what he believes, rather than what he believes his superiors wish to hear. Why don’t we try that here? Who is the junior officer?”

“I believe I am,” von Berlepsch said as he stood. He quickly added, “Herr Reichsführer.”

But the delay was noticeable.

“And you are?” Himmler asked.

“Leutnant von Berlepsch, Herr Reichsführer.”

“And what do you think of Brigadeführer von Deitzberg’s . . . excuse me, Hauptmann Skorzeny’s plan, Herr Leutnant?”

Canaris thought: So von Deitzberg has been playing soldier and planning operations? I wonder why he decided to say it was Skorzeny’s plan. Perhaps because, so far, von Deitzberg has yet to hear a shot fired in anger and doesn’t want to give anyone the opportunity to mention that?

Or is there something Machiavellian in play here?

Himmler wants Skorzeny to be a hero, because he has plans for him?

“As I am sure the Reichsführer is aware,” von Berlepsch began, “any type of vertical envelopment operation is very difficult in mountainous terrain.”

“Vertical envelopment means parachutists, gliders?” Himmler asked.

“Precisely, Herr Reichsführer. In the case of the Gran Sasso, the wind conditions are such that parachute envelopment is impossible. The only way to envelop the hotel is by glider, and they will, for lack of a better term, have to be crash-landed.”

“Von Berlepsch, aren’t all glider landings, for lack of a better term, ‘crash landings’?” von Deitzberg asked.

“Yes, Herr Brigadeführer, they are. My point here is that Fallschirmjäger troops are trained in glider crash landings—necessary because, under optimum conditions, one glider landing in four is a crash landing—and I don’t think this is true of the Waffen-SS troops you envision employing.”

“I don’t think I’m following this, von Berlepsch,” Himmler said. “Let me put a question to you: Suppose it was absolutely necessary that a number—say, twenty-five—of the Friedenthal unit participate in Operation Oak. How could that be done?”

Von Berlepsch looked first at Major Moors and then at General Student for guidance.

“I asked you, von Berlepsch,” Himmler said curtly.

“If such a requirement were absolutely necessary, Herr Reichsführer—and I would hope that it would not be—I would put the SS men in the last three gliders.”

“Why the last three?” von Deitzberg asked almost angrily.

Himmler pointed an impatient finger at him to shut him up, then made a Let’s have it gesture with the same finger to von Berlepsch.

“Herr Reichsführer,” von Berlepsch said, “I of course have no idea what Hauptmann Skorzeny has planned, but in our plan—”

“The author of which is who?” Himmler asked.

“Major Moors and I drew it up for General Student’s approval, Herr Reichsführer.”

“Go on.”

“There will be a dozen gliders towed by Junkers Ju-52 aircraft, Herr Reichsführer. The aircraft will be in line, one minute’s flying distance apart. Each will be cut loose from the towing aircraft as it passes over a predetermined spot on the mountain. I can show you that point on Hauptmann Skorzeny’s maps, Herr Reichsführer . . .”

Himmler made a gesture meaning that wouldn’t be necessary.

“. . . which will cause the gliders to land at one-minute intervals on a small flat area—not much more than a lawn, actually—near the hotel.”