General Mast nodded with a smile. “I cannot say we dine this way every day, Mon General, Yet for a special guest, a little civility is warranted. It reminds me of France, and the life we had… before the war.”
Manteuffel could not help but notice the certain inflexion in the other man’s voice. It wasn’t a longing for the better times of the past. There was a certain recrimination in his tone, well masked, but there. It was just the sort of thing the General was there to look for. He had been briefed on this man, and told his host had long been suspected of collaboration with the Allies. Now he was here to ascertain his reliability.
“Well General,” he said. “You and your troops have not had a bad posting here in Algeria. I daresay it is much preferred to the duty I had in Russia. Now, however, the war is coming in your direction. Can you say your men are ready to deal with that?”
“My men will always be ready to defend France,” said Mast, and Manteuffel noted that there was wide latitude in that careful statement. “But tell me,” Mast said quickly. “This 5th Panzer Army—it is coming from Germany?”
“From Rommel, for the most part. I am forming a division here as units arrive at Tunis, but the guts of the army will be the panzer divisions Rommel sends us. There will be more troops arriving very soon.”
“I see… Then Rommel can afford to detach these divisions in his present position? It was my understanding that he has been rather hard pressed since the battle on the Gazala line.”
“He still holds the line at Mersa Brega, and I am told that is very good ground for defense.”
“Ah… Then he is no longer planning another move east. Lord knows we sent him more than enough trucks to get him to Alexandria.”
“And for that we are very appreciative,” said Manteuffel. “But you and I both know that Rommel will never get to Alexandria. General Mast, let me be clear about what is now happening. As you may well know, the British have landed in Spain and the Americans already have Casablanca. It is a pity that all our good troops out west were in Southern Morocco and the Canary Islands when this invasion began, but they have already been withdrawn north—three divisions under General Kesselring. In fact, My division will be subordinate to his headquarters with 1st Fallschirm-Armee North Afrika. General von Arnim will command 5th Panzer Armee with the troops Rommel sends him, and the whole lot with be renamed Armee Group Afrika. Now then, that fight in Morocco will soon be coming here, and both Oran and Algiers will likely become principle objectives of the enemy. You and your men will soon be put to the test.”
“Then you are taking your men west to Oran tomorrow?”
“Those are my orders.” Manteuffel lied.
“Well then rest assured, Algiers will be kept secure for France in your absence. Have you noticed our other distinguished guest out in the harbor? I extended an invitation to Admiral Laborde to join us this evening, but he was otherwise engaged. Yet with the Normandie sitting out there, I do not think the Allies will be coming here by sea—and not while you still hold Gibraltar. Have no fear, I will meet with the Admiral tomorrow and we will determine how best to proceed. In the meantime, I do hope you enjoy your battle in Morocco. I never liked the place. Too many flies, even this late in the year. Yes… big grey flies….”
Manteuffel heard more in that than he wished. He was a very astute man, and could see through a brick wall if he sat before it long enough. One thing he clearly saw here was that this General Mast had no love of the German Army. He had no doubt that those big grey flies were the Luftwaffe troops holding the line in Morocco. And what might this man be cooking up with Admiral Laborde tomorrow, he thought?
What he would do next would be very risky. He had four battalions of infantry in the city, all down near the harbor. In the morning, when his men failed to board the trains again for their supposed journey west, this General Mast will not like that news over his breakfast. But the Normandie is the key. Its guns could pound my troops to dust if the French had the backbone to fire on this city. The next train in from Tunis will have a thousand navy men, all that Admiral Raeder could send us from Germany and Southern France. I am told Vice Admiral Hellmuth Heye is getting a big promotion and a seat in the Kapitan’s Chair of the Normandie, and of course, that ship will have to be renamed.
But all of this awaits my decision here, and my order to take that ship. That will be work for the Brandenburgers. A full company is seeded in those Marsch Battalions near the harbor—excellent troops under Friedrich von Konen. The rest come on the U-boats, and if we cannot take that ship, they have orders to sink it rather than see it break out into the Med.
An aide from his headquarters staff came in precisely at 11:00pm, as ordered, whispering something in his ear. Manteuffel looked at his watch, noting the time and realizing that the moon would be down in precisely sixteen minutes. “Well General Mast,” he said. If you will excuse me, I have yet another appointment this evening, and it will be a very long day tomorrow. I thank you for your hospitality, and I hope we can repay your courtesy in the days ahead.”
Mast smiled, not knowing that Manteuffel had whispered a pre-arranged phrase to the aid, who departed with a salute, only to return a moment later with three armed men.
“Your escort?” said Mast, raising an eyebrow. “I can assure you that the area is completely secure.”
“No, Mon General, this is your escort. If you will be so kind enough to remain here, I must be off to make certain this area is indeed secure.” Manteuffel pulled on his gloves, smiled and turned to leave. He stopped, turning briefly. “My adjutant will ask you to order your men to stand down here. If they do not, then hostilities will commence immediately.”
“What is the meaning of this? Hostilities? What do you intend here? This is outrageous! I will do no such thing!”
“I was afraid that would be your answer.” Manteuffel strode out, his footsteps hard and fast in the outer hall.
Even as he did so, his aides had already transmitted the code name “Amsel,” or “Blackbird” to all the four Marsch Battalion commanders. They were already setting up defensive positions around the harbor, while other units were fanning out, intending to surprise as many unwary French units as possible and disarm them before they could be formed into any force for real resistance. They were moving to secure the rail yards and station at the harbor, where feeder lines extended onto all the docks and quays. Others burst into the Provisional Government offices on Rude d’ Isly, while a full company was dispatched to seize control of Fort L’empereur on a low hill overlooking the city, while another moved to surprise the barracks at Caserne d’ Orleans.
The Brandenburgers were already on the move, with Konen dispatching one platoon to the long cement breakwater. The appointment Manteuffel had alluded to with General Mast was a visit he had planned to the Normandie, to meet briefly with Admiral Laborde, ostensibly to deliver a personal letter from Admiral Raeder. Of course, he would never make that appointment, for his aim was to quickly reach KGs Witzig and Hauer only now arriving by truck outside the city. That unit would be tasked with securing roads from Blida to Algiers, and the headquarters units of General Mast. In his place, Konen would arrive with an escort, dressed out in a Wehrmacht General’s uniform, and posing as Manteuffel himself. His aim was to be escorted deep into the heart of the battleship, and get as many of his men on the deck of that behemoth as possible.