In the end, he returned the salute by raising his arm from the elbow.
That arrogant kid would’ve reported me for not saluting.
But he’s not going to complain that my salute wasn’t as crisp or enthusiastic as he thought it should’ve been.
Capitán de Banderano came back to his cabin moments after von Dattenberg had put on the new uniform, still smelling of camphor mothballs.
He smiled and raised his hands in a gesture that said, Well, what a change!
Von Dattenberg smiled back.
“When the fuel’s running low, the first thing that gets shut down is the seawater distiller,” von Dattenberg said.
De Banderano nodded his understanding.
“Is there anything else I can get you?”
"I don’t suppose you have a well-breasted blonde—or two—who just loves sailors?”
De Banderano chuckled as he shook his head.
“Thank you very much for all you’ve given me so far, Capitán.”
"My privilege, Kapitän,” de Banderano said. He looked at the young U-boat captain for a moment—he had liked him from the moment he saw him in the conning tower of the U-405—and decided to go ahead with what he had just about decided to do somewhat later.
“I have your orders, Kapitän,” de Banderano said. “I’m familiar with them. Would you like to have them now, or wait until Sturmbannführer Kötl, to whom the orders also apply, can join us?”
Without hesitation, von Dattenberg replied, “I’d prefer to have them now, if you don’t mind.”
De Banderano went to a wall safe, took three large gray manila envelopes from it, and handed one of them to von Dattenberg.
“Sir, the seal is broken,” von Dattenberg said.
“My orders gave me the authority to open yours,” de Banderano said.
MOST SECRET
Oberste Hauptsitze der Kriegsmarine
Berlin
2 June 1943
Kapitänleutnant Wilhelm von Dattenberg
Commanding U-boat 405
(One): You have been entrusted with a mission of great importance to the Reich. You will be informed of the details thereof as considered necessary. The details of this mission will be shared with as few people as possible, consistent with executing the mission.
(Two): For the purposes of this mission, inasmuch as Kapitän Jose Francisco de Banderano, master of the motor vessel Ciudad de Cádiz, is acting at the direct orders of the undersigned, and despite his civilian status, he will be considered the senior officer of the German Reich present.
(Three): You will receive from Kapitän de Banderano a special cargo which you will in absolute secrecy see safely ashore at a location in Argentina to be later identified to you. Attached are chart overlays and signal cryptographic matériel to be used in this connection.
(Four): Sturmbannführer Kötl will board the U-405 together with a small detachment of SS to protect the cargo until it is safely ashore. If the discharge operation is successful, the SS will remain ashore. If the mission encounters difficulty, the priorities are (1) to return the special cargo to the U-405 and (2) return the SS to the U-405.
(Five): Sturmbannführer Kötl’s responsibility and authority is limited to the protection of the special cargo. The decisions to attempt to land the special cargo, the methods of doing so, and, should it be necessary, to break off the attempt are entirely your responsibility.
(Six): The packaging of the special cargo is not to be opened under any circumstances.
(Seven): From the time the special cargo is placed aboard U-405, you will not engage any enemy warships or merchant vessels under any circumstances until the special cargo is safely ashore. Similarly, if the landing attempt is unsuccessful, and the special cargo is taken back aboard the U-405, you will undertake no hostile action of any kind until the special cargo is placed back aboard the Ciudad de Cádiz or other disposition of same is made.
Doenitz
Karl Doenitz
Grand Admiral
Concur:
Himmler
Heinrich Himmler
J. v. Ribbentrop
Reichsprotektor Joachim von Ribbentrop
Foreign Minister
Canari’s
Wilhelm Canaris
Rear Admiral
MOST SECRET
Kapitänleutnant von Dattenberg looked at Capitán de Banderano.
“What is this ‘special cargo’?” von Dattenberg said.
“Six wooden crates, each a meter long, three quarters of a meter wide, and three quarters of a meter deep.”
“And in them . . . ?”
“When we tried this the first time, I was told they contain radios and civilian clothing and other items intended to facilitate the escape of the officers from the Graf Spee from their internment.”
“When you tried this the first time?”
De Banderano nodded.
“Obviously without success,” von Dattenberg said. “What happened?”
“The Argentines were waiting for us. Oberst Grüner, the military attaché in Buenos Aires, and Standartenführer Goltz were killed.”
“But you managed to save the special cargo, obviously?”
“God spared Major von Wachtstein and me; we were able to get the crates off the beach.”
“Who did you say? Von Wachtstein?”
“A distinguished Luftwaffe officer. He received the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross from the Führer personally.”
Von Dattenberg smiled. “He was not always that respectable, Capitán.”
“You know him?”
“We were almost sent down from university together. I mean, he was sent down, and I was lucky. He went into the Luftwaffe and became a corporal pilot. He flew in Spain with the Condor Legion. I’d heard, after he got the Knight’s Cross, that he’d been commissioned, but I didn’t know he’d been promoted major. One of the world’s good people, Capitán. And he’s involved in this, whatever it is?”
De Banderano was pleased to hear that von Dattenberg and von Wachtstein knew each other, that they were friends. He thought they were both fine young officers.
“I think his role was much like yours, Capitán, to assist in getting the special shipment ashore. Not more than that.”
“Radios and clothing to help the Graf Spee officers escape sounds fishy,” von Dattenberg said, making it a question.
“That’s what I was told; I didn’t ask questions.”
“An SS-sturmbannführer to guard some radios and clothing?” von Dattenberg pursued.
De Banderano shrugged.
“If I may offer a suggestion, Kapitän. It might not be wise to express your questions to Sturmbannführer Kötl.”
“I am young, Capitán, and inexperienced, but not stupid.”
“Shall I ask the sturmbannführer to join us?”
Sturmbannführer Alfred Kötl looked up after having read his orders. “This is highly unusual,” he objected, “subjecting an SS officer to the orders of a foreign citizen.”
“Perhaps that is why Reichsprotektor Himmler personally signed the concurrence of the SS to the Grand Admiral’s orders,” von Dattenberg offered.
“If you wish clarification of the orders, or confirmation, whatever, we can radio Berlin and get that in perhaps ten or twelve hours,” de Banderano said.
“When will the replenishment of your submarine be finished, von Dattenberg? ” Kötl asked bluntly. “Certainly that won’t take an additional ten or twelve hours.”
“There will be time to send a message, Kötl, if that’s what you want to do,” de Banderano said. “It is my decision that the crew of the U-405 should not undertake this mission until they have had twenty-four hours to recuperate from the ordeal of their voyage so far. Several hot meals and a night in a real bunk should do wonders for them.”