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Post by blaird on Oct 26, 2015 1:04:48 GMT
KpLt Wilhelm Hartmann U-73
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Post by crushedhat on Nov 18, 2015 2:36:58 GMT
2 June 1940, morning
Kptlt Erhardt Schmitzer enters the office of Kptlt Wilhelm Hartmann. The latter, though present, seems the worse for war after his night of heavy drinking. Erhardt hopes it wasn’t so heavy as to erase any memory.
“Erhardt?” Wilhelm seems puzzled by Erhardt’s presence.
“I’ll be leaving for Liepburg shortly,” Erhardt starts. Then, deciding to go for the direct approach, “Last night you warned me there were those around me ‘not to be trusted.’ Would you care to elaborate?”
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Post by keyboy on Nov 18, 2015 10:09:38 GMT
2 June 1940, morning
Kptlt Erhardt Schmitzer enters the office of Kptlt Wilhelm Hartmann. The latter, though present, seems the worse for war after his night of heavy drinking. Erhardt hopes it wasn’t so heavy as to erase any memory.
“Erhardt?” Wilhelm seems puzzled by Erhardt’s presence.
“I’ll be leaving for Liepburg shortly,” Erhardt starts. Then, deciding to go for the direct approach, “Last night you warned me there were those around me ‘not to be trusted.’ Would you care to elaborate?”
"Well Erhardt, I may not be the best listener, hence I am not married. I may not be the best judge of character, hence I prefer my own company and keep myself to myself. However, I see everything, which is why I am a great U-boat commander." "I can't remember everything I said last night, but I know I finally had the courage to warn you." "There are party officials, spies, informers and individuals acting against their own will at this base. I have seen the notes passed, the whispered conversations, the furtive glances of both men and women and the comings and goings of certain individuals. As I said, I see everything and keep my mouth shut". Nobody notices a quiet KptLt in a bar, in an office, smoking a cigarette near others conversations, who appears to have total respect for his crew, flotilla and country and sinks ships regularly and that is the way I hope to keep it." "Erhardt, you are a good commander, who is popular and has a bit of a following, but how many really true friends do you have? I suspect not that many," "I am going to get through this war, no matter what it takes or whatever I have to do to get through it, however I want to take those good people around me with me on this painful journey and watch us come out the other side to live long lives in a peaceful Germany." "I cannot tell you what to do, nor would I want too, but I can give you some good advice from one friend to another and I do hope you see me as a friend. I could tell you exactly who to trust and who not to trust that is around you, but in the end it will not help, for as one enemy is identified, another is put into play, therefore it is better to accept your situation and change their perception of you." "Erhardt, go to the odd meeting, like me and that shuts up some of the talk. Really get to know your crew, can you fully trust all your officers? Listen more carefully and try to observe more closely, conduct yourself with professionalism and above all sink as many ships as you can, in fact on very rare occasions be a little more reckless." "Always remember Erhardt, it will be us that will shorten the war, not the damn Gestapo or SS."
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Post by crushedhat on Nov 19, 2015 1:27:48 GMT
"If the Gestapo and SS still wield power when the war is over we will have lost whatever the military outcome. In the meantime I will consider what you’ve said, Wilhelm. Good day.” Erhardt takes his leave.
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