Father of France

Chapter 102 Arrival in Berlin
"Who are you going to hand over my mother and me to?" Gudrun Himmler asked in a low voice after getting out of the car, glancing around but not finding anyone to contact.

“Our unit has been converted into a military court, so I’m handing you over to myself.”

Koeman wasn't lying; with the passage of the law imposing military control over Algeria, the French Youth Division had found a new home. The Youth Division's Jerusalem Regiment had already been deployed to North Africa to establish a military court to oversee Algeria's judicial affairs.

In other words, Koeman's entire unit now has a new way out. He can now legally take charge of interrogating Gudrun Himmler. There's no need for an interrogation; he has already completed it. He can simply submit the interrogation records to General Duval to close the case.

The final step would simply be to publicly disclose the case of Gudrun Himmler and her mother, Margaret, and the fact that they had not fled Germany.

Since they were all comrades from his own unit, Coman didn't need to trouble anyone when he arrived in Baden. He followed the French soldiers to the prepared house and escorted his mother-in-law and the lady of equal status to his wife inside.

The conditions weren't particularly good, but Gudrun Himmler knew things were different now, so he didn't nitpick too much and asked Koeman, "Will you stay in Baden?"

Gudrun Himmler had to admit that she had indeed relied on Koman's care during this time, and that she might have felt somewhat uncomfortable if Koman had left.

“I’m planning to go to Berlin, but I’ll let you know when I leave.” Koeman asked in a low voice with a smile, “Don’t you want me to leave? If so, just say so. I can’t read minds.”

“A little,” Gudrun Himmler reluctantly admitted, his voice barely audible. “But don’t misunderstand, I’m a very strong person.”

"I see!" Koman nodded solemnly. "Unless it's an order from an Allied organization, I can guarantee your life won't be disturbed."

After spending some time in the house that had been arranged for him, and seeing that Gudrun Himmler had no complaints, Koeman gave a few instructions and then left, as he was going to get a pass to the Soviet-occupied zone.

Berlin was the heart of the Soviet-occupied zone, and ordinary soldiers could not enter the Soviet-occupied zone at will; they needed a pass to enter Berlin by road.

Another option was to fly in, but Koeman didn't even consider it and opted to get a pass directly.

Baden is now an administrative city of the French army in the German-occupied territory, and General Duval, the commander of the Young Division, is also here. It would be easier for Coman to achieve his goal by coming to find the number one person in his unit.

“This matter requires your father to handle; I am merely a division commander. What are you going to Berlin for?” General Duval said with difficulty, for a division commander was certainly not a low-ranking position.

However, in present-day Germany, with several countries combined, there are over a hundred commanders at the division level, which is insufficient to secure a permit.

“Continue with the Black Expedition Plan,” Koeman replied in detail. “Once the Soviet Union agrees to divide the occupation zones in Berlin, it will be a loophole. Many important German military technologies are still in the Soviet-occupied territories, and the Soviet Union has not discovered them all. These technologies are what France needs now.”

The Black Expedition is the name given to France's current technology plunder operation, which is still ongoing and has already achieved considerable results. Engineers from Messerschmitt in the French-occupied territories have been recruited.

Some of the German nuclear researchers have been located and will be transferred to the French Atomic Energy Commission.

The Volkswagen production line was dismantled by the French army and transported to France. Fabben Chemie's patents were confiscated by France, and Rhône-Poulenc was allowed to reopen its production line for imitation.

Although France failed to secure the German rocket research team, it still managed to gather research data on German V-1/V-2 rocket technology. In the pharmaceutical field, France acquired a significant amount of research data and production lines from Bayer AG. Overall, the Black Expedition was a great success.

The Youth Division's performance in Operation Black Expedition was recognized by the provisional government, and a regiment from the Youth Division had also arrived in Algeria, so it seemed unlikely that it would be disbanded immediately after the war. Koeman used the division command's phone to call Paris, but General Dragon was not there, so they arranged a time to talk, and the call was finally connected that evening.

Knowing that Koeman was going to Berlin, General Dragon promised to develop a pass, "Actually, there is another way, we can transfer you to the French army in Berlin."

“Father, I’m only going to Berlin temporarily. It’s more important for you to transfer me to Southeast Asia than to Berlin.”

At this point, Koeman couldn't help but remind them, "Germany is at war during the spring planting season, and a famine may break out in the second half of the year. The provisional government should prepare for this. I don't know if there are any food reserves in French Indochina."

Koeman had some knowledge of Southeast Asian colonies, especially Vietnam, where food shortages had only occurred in modern times when Le Duan adopted the Soviet planned economy.

Food shortages in other periods were similar to those in India, caused by the export of all food. During Le Duan's reign, the issue was not about exporting to earn foreign exchange; Vietnam had to import all its food.

"Indochina hasn't been taken back yet." Admiral Dragon chuckled, seemingly reminding Coman that he was thinking too far ahead.

"Japan can't hold out for more than a few months. Isn't the Battle of Okinawa almost over?" Of course, Koeman knew that because of the huge casualties on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, the US military was afraid to land in Japan. Then, two atomic bombs taught Japan a lesson, and the World War officially ended.

Koeman only hung up the phone after learning that Admiral Dragon had resolved the passport issue; the situation in Berlin was actually a little better than in Vienna.

Although all were occupied in separate districts, Berlin's higher profile made the four occupying forces more willing to pretend that all was well, and the movement of people within Berlin was not difficult.

Vienna was much more complicated. If a person wanted to cross an occupied territory, they needed a pass issued by all four countries—Britain, France, the United States, and the Soviet Union—to enter other occupied territories.

During his three days in Baden, Koeman would only go to Gudron-Himmre's residence after sunset to chat with the little dragon riders, and then leave after a short while.

On the third evening, Koeman told Gudrun Himmler, "Paris will send an investigation team to question us, but don't worry, the team will also need our troops' cooperation. Just answer their questions normally when they arrive. I'm about to leave for Berlin and may not be back for a month."

"Keep your word." Gudrun Himmler was reminding Koeman to cherish the trust they had worked so hard to build.

The Soviet troops in Berlin had already ceded the western part of the city to the British, French and American troops as ordered. For the citizens of Berlin, the days of living under the roof of others were far from over. Everywhere was in ruins, and it was unknown how long it would take to clean up the debris.

When ordinary Germans learned that occupying forces from other countries had entered the country, they no longer had the will to resist; nothing else mattered.

The once-oasis is now riddled with bomb craters and charred tree stumps. A group of children are playing football in an open field; the ball is made of rags, and the goal is two piles of bricks.

The rules differed in different occupied territories: the Soviets gave the darkest bread but in large quantities, the Americans gave the hardest canned food but it was high in calories, the British were the most punctual but often forgot to bring can openers, and the French would occasionally give a little red wine.

Hunger remained a serious problem for Berliners. Someone suggested that French soldiers began distributing soup and bread, one serving per person, which immediately caused a large crowd to surge in.

"General Pierre König, Lieutenant Koeman reporting for duty." Koeman arrived at the French headquarters in Berlin and reported to General Pierre König, "The journey was not easy. The Soviet soldiers were very vigilant, and I was checked at least twice."

"Your unit's mission should be checked a few more times," Pierre König joked. Wasn't the Youth Division just scavenging for spoils of war? And they thought they'd made a mistake checking everything?
(End of this chapter)