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Post by Donitz on Oct 25, 2015 17:59:56 GMT
KpLt Joachim Ballert U-85 27 Nov 1939 – Kapitan-leutnant Ballert’s Office“Come in” says Kapitan Ballert in response to the knock on the door. Matrose Hermann Becker enters the small room, that serves as the Kapitan’s office whilst he is on base, and salutes. “Ah Becker can you take this to the address on the envelope please. It is on the base” Joachim requests as he seals an envelope and writes the address of Fraulein Klien on the front “Yes sir” Becker responds taking the letter and quickly leaving the office. Now, Joachim thinks, time to write the harder letter to my wife telling her I won’t be home until New Year.
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Post by Donitz on Oct 25, 2015 20:10:15 GMT
29th Nov 1939 – Kapitan-leutnant Ballert’s Office
The four officers of U-85 enter the office which just about accommodates everyone. They know why they are here and expect that one of them will have to stay on base in December and not get to go home for Christmas. They look nervously at each other hoping that it will be someone else and not them.
Kapitan Ballert looks up from his desk and says “Welcome gentlemen. You will have guessed why you are here so I’ll get straight to the point. Some people need to stay on base during December. We need 1 officer and 4 crew the rest will be given a leave pass. I have decided that I will be the officer to stay but I need 4 crew who don’t have small children to stay behind. Christmas is a time for the children. So now can you name the lucky ones that will stay with me?”
“The cook Matrosengefreiter Helmut von Bulow” says first officer Ackermann “Ballast Control Matrosengefreiter Adalbert Weber has no children” offers second officer Schroder “Kurt Clausen would be happy to do it and not have to return to his wife over the holidays.” chuckles my chief engineer Koch
Our medic Clausen seems reluctant to give a name. “Go ahead Hans” I say “your turn” Rolf Keller is a torpedo man who I know has no children” Hans offers.
“Right, so it is agreed. The crew remaining on base are von Bulow, Weber, Kurt Clausen and Keller with myself. So get out and tell them oh and Walter make sure you are back on December 30th so I can get some time at home in January” I add to my first officer. “At least with von Bulow staying we might get a decent dinner”
They all leave the office happy to be going on leave over this period.
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Post by Donitz on Oct 27, 2015 20:01:59 GMT
Note on the door
Off base on leave - Contact my Aide Becker until I return
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Post by crushedhat on Nov 14, 2015 18:38:39 GMT
continued from KKpt Heinrich von Hesse-Neuberger's Office, 29 April 1940 midmorning
Becker knocks then enters. “Someone to see you, Herr Kaleunt.”
Not bothering to wait, Getrude Klein pushes past Kptlt Joachim Ballert’s orderly. She is still in hewr Helferin uniform and clarlyin a state of agitation. If Becker suspects this is anything other than an official call, he wisely refrains from showing so. Backing out of the room, Becker closes the door behind him.
Barely waiting for Becker to leave, Gertrude launches into a replay of her conversation with KKpt Heinrich von Hesse-Neuberger, concluding with her assesment that he is requiring her sexual favors in exchange for her assignment to the new French base when it is established. She concludes with, “What are we going to do?” Gertrude is on the verge of tears.
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Post by Donitz on Nov 14, 2015 22:29:37 GMT
29 April 1940, mid morning
Joachim tells Gertrude to calm down and take hold of herself. “That desk jockey doesn’t know what he’s talking about. I’m not certain but most of the rumours are that the Admiral is staying here in Wilhelmshaven and von Hesse-Neuberger will also be remaining as the Admiral’s aide. Obviously this news hasn’t reached our desk jockeys ears yet, the Admiral must be keeping that as a surprise for him. Still Germany will suit him much better than France since he is such a great Kapitan of a desk and pen” Joachim tells her.
“Really” Gertrude exclaims in relief and smiles “You are certain because that is certainly not what he thinks. But anyway that makes no difference to us you will be going to France and I might not transfer with the flotilla. What are we going to do?” Gertrude asks again.
“I’m not certain. We are at war and things change quickly but that is the current plans that I have heard recently” Joachim says thinking that since he started taking more attention to what was going on in the submarine base so that he was aware of the SS stealing supplies he has also managed to get a few other tit bits of information that are proving useful.
“As far as we are concerned you need not worry about that. I will not be putting to sea again until July so we will have the whole of May together and during that time I will speak to the Admiral and make sure that your orders will be to accompany the 15th to France but not until July.” Joachim reassures her
“Oh you are so great Joachim. You have so much power and influence it’s amazing to be your true love” Gertrude says as she embraces Joachim.
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do to make you happy. Now get back to work” Joachim says smiling at Gertrude
“Of course Joachim” Gertrude replies and leaves his office.
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Post by Donitz on Nov 27, 2015 22:42:18 GMT
4th August 1940
Having spent yesterday supervising stores being loaded onto the Green Sawfish Kapitan Ballert is now is his office catching up on his correspondence.
The first letter is from his wife Annette. It is formal in style and shows little affection. It covers the news from Bamberg about the Mayor, Lorenz Zahneisen, throwing a party for the conquering of France and driving the English back into the channel, along with news about Annette’s father being given a role in the party of Bamberg. It doesn’t ask when he will be coming home. It also tells him about the upcoming Sandkerwa (Sandy Festival) which is the annual beer festival and the town hopes for better results this year for FC Bamberg 01 in the football.
Joachim takes out his pen and starts to write back to Annette. He realises that the situation with Annette is not going to resolve itself if he remains in hiding in France and doesn’t deal with it. He writes about France and how he misses Germany and its food. It isn’t really true but it sounds like it could be. He also genuinely expresses regret at not being able to make the Sandkerwa this year. He says he will be serving the Fatherland shortly, the agreed sign to Annette that he will be on patrol. It finishes by promising to return home in October for a week and wonders if her father can arrange for him to meet the Mayor. He signs it Your Loving Husband Joachim. Well at least that shows more warmth than anything in the letter from his wife he thinks.
He seals the envelope and takes the other personnel letter from his in tray. The envelope is written in the very neat style of an excellent clerk and Joachim knows it is from Gertrude. Gertrude’s letter is short and tells Joachim how she is missing him and that Heinrich Von Hesse-Neuberger has been pushing her for a date constantly. She asks again when she will be coming to France.
Joachim writes in reply that she must be patient and never mention it again in conversation or letter. Things are seen by other eyes and if she is to be moved to France it will be up to Command and not himself. At least this is true he thinks but hopes Gertrude gets the hint not to keep raising it in letters. He signs it affectionately yours Joachim.
Having sealed that letter he calls Becker into the office and hands him the letters for posting. Becker takes them without looking at the addresses and leaves the office.
Joachim wonders how live became so complex. He needs to relax and perhaps calling on the Schmitzer’s might lead to him seeing Madeline again or maybe he should go to night club alone and see what happens. Ah well he thinks, time to get back to the paper work of acknowledging the delivery of the supplies loaded on the boat yesterday.
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Post by Donitz on Nov 29, 2015 22:50:51 GMT
10 August 1940, mid afternoon
Joachim returns to his office having spent most of the day on board his boat making sure repairs and supplies are being handled properly. In his ante room Becker greets him and tells him that Frau Schmitzer called upon him. Joachim’s interest peeks at this news.
“Why was she here” Joachim asks “She wanted to let you know that the Schmitzer’s asked him to join them that evening at the Merveilles de l'Atlantide” Becker responds “Thank you Becker” Joachim says and enters his office.
Joachim wonders about this invitation. He suspects that Valda is trying to set him up with the American writer Madeline again and thinks if she is going to be there then he will too. After all he now has three women in his life and needs to get things sorted but that can’t happen until after his next patrol and he returns home. Who knows, he may never return from his next patrol so what is there to lose. With that he decides to leave the office early and head back to his quarters to get ready for the evening.
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Post by crushedhat on Dec 5, 2015 21:48:41 GMT
26 September 1940, afternoon
Erhardt enters Joachim’s office, motioning the latter not to bother standing. They talk briefly about Joachim’s just completed patrol and then Erhardt launches into the reason for his visit.
“I’ll be taking U-53 out in a week and was wondering if you’d be able to keep an eye on Valda. There’s no official problem,” Erhardt hurriedly adds to allay any fears of further SS or Gestapo entanglements. “I’d just feel better if there were someone to see her safely home after her Wednesday night performances. And I know I can trust you.”
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Post by Donitz on Dec 6, 2015 17:22:11 GMT
“Normally Erhardt it would be my pleasure, however I will not be on base for the first two weeks of your patrol since I have a leave pass to visit my home in Bamberg and I have some personal business to take care of which means I can’t delay it. I will be back mid October and would be happy to escort Valda back from the club for the rest of the month but that’s the best I can offer I’m afraid” Joachim replies
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Post by crushedhat on Dec 6, 2015 18:26:36 GMT
"I understand." Erhardt is pleased that Joachim will presumably be working on his marriage. “And I appreciate whatever you can do later in the month. I hope your trip is productive,” Erhardt adds as he takes his leave, still concerned for Valda’s safety.
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Post by Donitz on Dec 9, 2015 21:56:49 GMT
14th October 1940
Joachim arrives at his office and is greeted by his aide Matrose Hermann Becker.
“Good Morning sir” Becker says and hands his Kapitan his usually coffee. “Thanks and can you bring me the gun oil please” Joachim says as he enters his office.
Becker enters the office with gun oil and sees Joachim dismantling his luger. He places the bottle of gun oil on the desk and says “Been practising your aim again Kapitan?”
“Yes Becker, you should try it yourself. It never does any harm to be prepared. You never know when you might need to use your side arm and knowing that you can shoot straight will certainly help if that situation comes to pass” Joachim tells him whilst using some rags and the gun oil to clean his firearm”
“Of course sir” Becker says backing out of the office before he is forced to attend the firing range with his Kapitan in the future.
Joachim continues to strip and clean the luger with rags and the gun oil. He thinks that the luger might come in handy if he is approached by anyone following him and he has taken to carrying the weapon with him whenever he leaves the base.
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Post by Donitz on Dec 9, 2015 22:04:32 GMT
15th October 1940
Joachim enters his office and Becker hands him his coffee and the bottle of gun oil. Then Joachim goes through the routine, that is now becoming a daily ritual, of cleaning his pistol. When this is done he scribbles a quick note to Valda Schmitzer telling her that he will be at the Night club tomorrow night to escort her home as Erhardt had requested. It will also be a pleasure to see you perform again he adds to the note.
He seals the envelop and gives it to Becker instructing him to see that it gets to Frau Schmitzer that day
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Post by Donitz on Dec 11, 2015 20:40:04 GMT
23rd October 1940 – Morning
Matrosenobergefreiter Hans-Werner Clausen, the medic from The Green Sawfish is shown into Kapitan Ballert’s office by his aid Becker.
“Good morning Hans” Joachim says Hans-Werner salutes and stands at attention before saying “Good morning Herr Kapitan”
“Thank you for coming to see me, please take a seat and be at ease” Joachim says The young medic does so and appears to sit at attention, obviously uneasy in the Kapitan’s office.
“I hear you passed all your recent medical exams with flying colours” Joachim says
“Yes Sir” Hans replies
“I would like to say I hope you won’t need to put the knowledge into practise but I know it will be needed sometime in the future. After our next patrol I will be recommending you for promotion to Matrosen-Stabsgefreiter. To celebrate this fact I would like you to get Paul and Rolf Schroder, our 2nd officer and engineer, to bring you to Merveilles de l'Atlantide tonight to have a drink with me and enjoy the floor show. Can you make that happen Hans?”
“Yes Sir” Hans replies
“I hope you have more conversation in you than that tonight Hans” Joachim jokes “You are dismissed Hans” he adds
“Yes Sir” Hans replies then stands up salutes and walks out of Kapitan Ballert’s office.
Joachim smiles and shakes his head as his medic leaves the office
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