1545 17 April 1943
The interoffice communications device on the ornately carved desk of Reichsfiihrer-SS Heinrich Himmler buzzed discreetly.
Though he was wearing his customary ornate black uni form, the forty-three-year-old Reichsfuhrer's round spectacles and slight build gave him the look of a low-ranking clerk.
It would have been a mistake to act on that assumption.
Without taking his eyes from the teletypewriter printout he was reading, Himmler reached for the box and depressed the lever that allowed his secretary, Frau Gertrud Hassler, to communicate. The Reichsfiihrer-SS had had the device rigged in that manner. He was a busy man, and could not afford an interruption every time his secretary had something to say. If he was busy, he simply ignored the buzzing and she would try again later.
"Herr Reichsftihrer," Frau Gertrud Hassler announced.
"Herr Korvettenkapitan Boltitz, from Minister von Ribben trop's office, is here." Korvettenkapitan was the German
Navy rank equivalent to major.
The Reichsfiihrer-SS was not busy, but that did not mean he was prepared to be interrupted by the woman every time a messenger arrived in the outer office.
"And?" the Reichsfuhrer-SS said impatiently.
"He insists that you personally sign for the message, Herr
Reichsfuhrer-SS."
"Mein Gott! Well, show him in, please, Frau Hassler."
Himmler rose from his desk and walked toward the double doors to his office. A moment later, one of them opened; and a tall, blond young man in civilian clothing stepped inside. In his hand was a briefcase. He raised his arm straight out from the shoulder. "Heil Hitler!" he barked.
Himmler raised his right arm at the elbow. "Korvet tenkapitan Boltitz, how nice to see you," Himmler said.
"Herr Reichsfiihrer," Boltitz said. "I regret the intrusion on your valuable time, Herr Reichsfiihrer, but I was directed to give this to you personally."
Himmler knew that Boltitz's assignment to the office of
Foreign Minister Joachim von Ribbentrop meant that he was really Admiral Wilhelm Canaris's man-read spy-in the
Foreign Ministry. Canaris was Director of Abwehr
Intelligence. Neither he nor von Ribbentrop was really a member of Adolf Hitler's inner circle, and Himmler wasn't entirely sure either of them could be completely trusted. "I understand," Himmler said, and put out his hand for the message.
Boltitz opened the briefcase and took from it a clipboard, whose clip held an envelope. He removed the envelope, and then handed Himmler the clipboard and a pen. Himmler scrawled his name, acknowledging receipt of the message, and the young man then handed him the envelope.
"Thank you, Herr Reichsfiihrer."
"Are you to wait for a reply?" Himmler asked. "No, sir, but I am at your disposal if you wish to reply." "Just a moment, please," Himmler said, then tore open the envelope and read the message.
CLASSIFICATION: MOST URGENT
CONFIDENTIALITY: MOST SECRET
DATE: 15 APRIL 1943 1645 BUENOS AIRES
TIME
FROM: AMBASSADOR, BUENOS AIRES
TO: IMMEDIATE AND PERSONAL ATTENTION
OF THE FOREIGN MINISTER OF THE GER MAN REICH
HEIL HITLER!
STANDARTENFUHRER-SS JOSEF GOLTZ RE QUESTS THAT APPENDIX ONE ATTACHED
HERETO BE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO THE
ATTENTION OF REICHSFUHRER-SS HEIN RICH HIMMLER.
MANFRED ALOIS GRAF VON LUTZENBERGER
AMBASSADOR OF THE GERMAN REICH TO
THE REPUBLIC OF ARGENTINA
BEGIN APPENDIX ONE
TO: REICHSFUHRER-SS HEINRICH HIMMLER
FROM: SS-STANDARTENFUHRER JOSEF
GOLTZ
SUBJECT: OPERATION PHOENIX, PROGRESS
REPORT
HEIL HITLER!
THE UNDERSIGNED HAS THE HONOR TO
REPORT TO THE HERR REICHSFUHRER-SS THE
FOLLOWING:
(1) ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO
OFF-LOAD THE SPECIAL CARGO ABOARD THE
MOTOR VESSEL COMERCIANTE DEL OCEANO
PACIFICO EARLY IN THE MORNING OF 19
APRIL 1943.
(2) ALL ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO
TRANSPORT AND STORE THE SPECIAL CARGO
UNDER THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE SECURITY
ONCE IT IS ASHORE.