Trapped

Trapped

Suzanne Marsh

Schloss Hauk 1940

"Hans, come with me, we must talk now!" Heinrich Hauk; ushered his younger son Hans toward the library. Rows and rows of books some dating back to the fifteen hundreds when Schloss Hauk construction was begun. Heinrich, showed Hans a small lever located near the marble fireplace. He began the descent. A labyrinth of tunnels reminded Hans of the catacombs in Rome. He wondered if perhaps there were ancestors of the von Hauks down here. Heinrich took Hans into a large room, with all stone walls. There were several chairs, table, things that Heinrich had known would be needed when the time came...the time was now.

"Have a seat Hans, there is something I must tell you. You and Karl are not biological

brothers, we adopted you. Your are Jewish, not Aryan. Your Mother worked for us,

she became pregnant. She could not care for you so asked us to adopt you. Hans

you know that Karl is a Nazi, he has been since Adolph Hitler came to power. Karl

will be ruthless if he discovers who you really are. I have plan, with tunnels down

here, you will be safe to hide here. Karl knows nothing about the tunnels. In the

next few weeks, while Karl has gone to Berlin, we must get you and whatever

you need down here. I love you son, and your Mother and I are going to protect

you."

"Father, all I can say is thank you. I want to join the resistance, Hitler has

to be stopped before Germany is completely destroyed. I can do that from

down here. Show me how to come in and out without being detected."

"Hans, follow me, and pay very close attention. Should anything happen to

your Mother or I the Schloss will be divided between you and Karl. Now,

let us return upstairs."

On a sunny April morning, Karl von Hauk departed Schloss von Hauk for Berlin. Once Heinrich was sure his son had departed; he began preparations for Hans' disappearance. Something Heinrich knew was becoming very common place. He knew as long as Hans remained in the tunnels, he would be safe, or at least he hoped he would. Heinrich hated deception but there was no other choice. His biggest issue was how to explain Hans' disappearance. He would just have to think of something.

Karl arrived home three weeks later, his black uniform with the insignia of Captain SS. This was more than Marta von Hauk could bear. Her son was Gestapo. There was going to be a great need for secrecy; since Karl was Gestapo. She feared for herself, Hans and Heinrich. Karl, strode over to his parents, who were seated in chairs reading:

"Father, Mother I am home. I enlisted in the SS, look see the skull and crossbones?

I am a Captain; very soon I will be leaving for Berlin again, this time I have no idea

how long I will be. Where is Hans?"

"Hans went to visit Aunt Margot in Austria, he will home in a few weeks."

"I see, perhaps next time."

Resistance

Karl returned several months later to find his parents waiting to greet him:

"Son, it is wonderful to see you. How have you been, what have you been

doing."

"Father, I am here on Reich's business. I am going to be an instructor here for

Adolph Hitler Schule for Gestapo. I made it available while I was in Berlin."

"Karl, it is not yours to give, it is my home at the moment."

"Father, either you hand over the Schloss to me or suffer the consequences."

"Are you threatening me Karl?"

"Take it as you wish. I want the Schloss now Father; do you understand me?"

"Do not threaten me Karl."

Heinrich glared at Karl:

"You have no right to take our home Karl, none at all."

"I do not care Father, the Reich needs it. It is our patriotic duty to der Fuhrer."

"I will not bow to you or Hitler. I am a German, not a Nazi."

"Father be careful of what you say."

Karl returned to Gestapo headquarters where he informed General Heinrich Muller that his Father had denied the Gestapo the use of Schloss Hauk. General Muller glowered at Karl:

"You know what must done with traitors to the Reich Karl. You will take care of

the situation now."

"Yes, General." Karl sent for several of his minions:

"We are going to arrest my Father and Mother. We will bring them here where they

will be deported to Buchenwald."

Hans returned to Schloss, entering through the passage disguised as boulders piled high. Just as was entering he heard the screech tires, he knew something was wrong. Suddenly he heard a piercing scream, his Mother. What had Karl done? Hans knew there was nothing he could do except keep the resistance going in the area of Schloss von Hauk. The thought that Karl had betrayed his parents forced Hans to rethink how the resistance could be of more benefit in the area. They had blown several bridges, and one train thus far, but that was not enough. Hans knew there was a huge ball bearing factory near the Schloss, yes that would be an appropriate target. He stalked into the tunnel, made two left turns and into the sitting chamber. There sat his girlfriend Greta, and his entire resistance team. Hans spoke softly with great sadness in his usually strong voice:

"My parents were betrayed by my brother Karl. I know both my parents would never

disclose our safe house here. We have two objectives. The first is the ball bearing factory.

The second is to attempt to rescue my parents provided they are not take to one of

the camps before we get there. Any questions? Good let's formulate our plans."

The schule for the Gestapo began the following day. Hans had to make a difficult decision, to stay and keep an eye on the schule or blow it up along with their safe haven. Common sense dictated they watch the schule.

Karl, unknowingly began to give information to the resistance. There were peep holes as well as places to listen. They blew the ball bearing factory first. Hans was listening as Karl informed General Muller that his parents were sent to Buchenwald. Hans knew that was a death sentence. He vowed he would see Karl dead, even if it meant sacrificing his own life. This was not right, Karl deserved to be punished.

The war continued the hard cold facts emerged that Jews were dying by the millions in the camps. Hans knew if he were taken prisoner he would either be sent to one of the camps or executed. One evening the opportunity presented itself, it was time to confront Karl. Hans slipped out of the tunnel, as if he had returned from visiting Aunt Margot. Karl knew that Hans was in the Resistance but he played dumb:

"Hans, how are you? The Schloss is now a Gestapo school. I am sure you did not know

that Mother and Father no longer live here."

"Really, Karl, where are they?"

"I don't know, the Gestapo came and took they away."

Hans, decided to play along:

"Karl, you must know something, you wear the Gestapo uniform."

"Hans, my superiors tell me nothing. Would you like a drink?"

"No, Karl, I want to retire to my bedroom, I need some sleep it was a long journey from

Austria."

"All right I will see you in the morning."

Hans headed toward his bedroom. He knew there was an exit into the tunnels. He disappeared once again into the tunnels. Karl, had already surrounded the Schloss, Hans would not escape him again. Darkness enveloped the Schloss. Greta, upon her return to the Schloss, waited until the darkness of night to enter the tunnel. Hans met her at the entrance. Greta, followed Hans into the meeting room, as they termed the huge area:

"The Gestapo are asking questions about us. The villagers are suspicious. Hans, perhaps

we should disband at least for a short time. That would at least through them off for a short

while."

"Greta, I hate to say this but yes I think that would be wisest. Karl is very suspicious, but

has no proof. If we watch our activities more closely we will remain safe. For now, let us

see what the Gestapo do next to find us."

"Hans, I love you, you know that, but I can not continue. Karl, will figure out that you

are here in the tunnels, he is not stupid."

"It is a chance I must take, I owe that much to my Father and Mother. They were

murdered in Buchenwald. They went to the ovens. If you wish to go then go."

Greta left, angry. She made a decision, she would turn Hans in on the condition that she would not be harmed.

The Betrayal

She climbed the stone stairs leading to the front door. A young Gestapo officer answered:

"what can I do for you Fraulein?"

"I came to see Captain Karl von Hauk. I must see at once."

Karl, hearing his name:

"Yes Fraulein, how may I be of assistance to you?"

"No Captain but I can be of great assistance to you. I know where the resistance is hiding, and

I will tell you if you will put in writing that I will not be punished with them."

This was to much for Karl:

"We have ways of making you talk Fraulein, but I will put it writing that you gave

me the information, and that no harm will come to you. Now, where are they?"

Greta gave him a seductive grin:

"There are labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Schloss, they are there."

Karl gave the orders. Greta, forced to show them the exact location of the tunnel. The Gestapo, hurriedly entered the tunnel entrance. Hans and the others heard the loud voices. They began to move out into another section of tunnel. Finally the Gestapo, led by Greta caught them. Hans saw Greta standing there tears running down her face. Karl stepped forward:

"Hans, I should have know you would be the leader of this resistance unit."

Karl turned toward Greta, shooting her in the face. Hans did not flinch:

"You've made your point Karl."

"Good, Hans now we will go to Gestapo headquarters in Berlin."

Several black BMW's drove quickly to Berlin.

The Execution

Karl, went to see Hans the day of his scheduled for his execution in Plotzensee Prison.

"Hans, I truly am sorry. I thought they would send you to one of the camps but

your sentence is beheading."

"I have one question Karl, why did you kill Greta."

"She betrayed you, I am still your brother."

"No, Karl you aren't. I was adopted my real parent was Jewish."

"That makes this even worse."

Karl began to feel tears streaming down his cheeks:

"I am sorry Hans, I mean really sorry."

"I forgive you Karl, Father and I both knew this could happen."

The guards came for Hans:

"Hans von Hauk, you will come with us."

Hans walked out the door with the guards. Karl walked behind them. The guards stopped at the shed:

"This is far as you go Colonel."

"He is my brother, I want to be there."

"Sorry, orders."

Hans entered the shack, it was a plain shack that was now an execution chamber. He saw the guillotine. The executioner was a sparse little man; dressed completely in black. The guards led Hans to the guillotine. He was forced to lay face down on the table, his head on the block. The angled blade, made a slight whir as it descended.

Karl, tears glimmering in his eyes thought about how he had betrayed his Mother and Father, how Greta had betrayed Hans. Where did it stop? he thought: "How many more?" He walked away from the shack. He wondered if he would ever be able to live with all the things he had done as a Gestapo Colonel. As he walked across the brick walk, he pulled out his pistol, shooting himself in the head.