The Berlin Tunnel

by Roger L Liles

  “You’re right. I’ll make that happen. Good catch. What else?” he asked.

  “Virtually all of Berlin is built on sandy, boggy soil. Here are reports on coring samples submitted by builders in the area surrounding our building.”

  “Where’d you get these?

  “At my request, Kurt picked them up for me at the building department.”

  “How can this be important? It should be easier for us to dig through sand to get to our objective,” Mark asked.

  “Excavation in sand is difficult, because sand has no natural cohesion.”

  “Cohesion?”

  “You’ve been to the beach. When you try to dig a hole in sand, it just falls back in. Even with a tunnel shield, the sand will collapse before the supporting structure can be installed. Our TBM can be equipped with a system which sprays a processed clay compound and water out the sides of the boring head to stabilize the sand. A hard surface several inches thick is formed, which prevents cave-ins and water leaks.”

  “I still don’t understand why this is important just now,” Mark said.

  “It’d be best if we had the factory install the equipment instead of trying to add it ourselves.”

  “Make out the purchase order. I’ll have our purchasing agent at Rhein-Main send it to the manufacturer before the original equipment is shipped.”

  “That’s all for now, sir.”

  “Robert, I think you’re doing an outstanding job. Keep it up.” He shook my hand.

  “I guess that means General Harrison thinks I can do the job.”

  “You wouldn’t still be here if he or I had any doubts.”

  I suppressed the urge to ask Mark what he and Colonel Morgan had decided about my relationship with Anna. If you can’t stand the answer, don’t ask the question.

  Feet of Tunnel Completed: 0 Days until Deadline: 343

  Chapter 18

  Saturday, October 22, 1960

  Making surreptitious contact with Anna proved relatively easy. Each morning I went to the bookstore to purchase my copy of the Stars and Stripes newspaper. Every Thursday morning, she opened early and was by herself until 0900. This became our time to discuss our plans for what had become our regular Friday evening date.

  The previous night, a Stasi agent followed us to the restaurant and movie theater. Afterward, I thought, I’m glad the Stasi aren’t reporting my activities to Colonel Morgan.

  Neither of us liked the first two apartments we saw on Saturday morning. We held hands and enjoyed clear skies and balmy temperatures as we walked to the third apartment. “This one is almost a mile north of the base. I’ve been told it overlooks a park and a subway station is close by,” Anna said.

  As the landlord escorted us up five flights of stairs, she jokingly observed, “Remember, Robert, you’re an American. Everything must go up and down these steps. Are you sure you can manage?”

  “I’ll get much-needed exercise. Remember, I have a desk job.”

  Once we entered the apartment, she declared, “It is perfect! Huge and very nicely furnished.”

  “Anna, it rests directly under the roof. The ceiling in each room intersects the walls less than two feet from the floor. All of the furniture is located at least five feet out into each room.”

  “These large windows are located in alcoves all the way around the apartment. We…you will be up above the trees. See how light and airy it is up here.”

  “And I can hit my head every time I enter or leave one of the alcoves!”

  “You’ll learn to avoid them. Believe me, you’ll not do any better.”

  In English, I divulged, “My housing allowance covers the rent, and it’s vacant.” Turning to the landlord, I asked in almost perfect German, “Can I rent this apartment month-to-month starting the first of November?”

  In English that would put an Oxford Don to shame, he replied, “It would be my honor for you to live here. Herr Doctor Fischer is one of the finest men I have ever known. And he certainly has a lovely daughter.”

  After we concluded the rental agreement, I paid the first month’s rent, and we walked out to the street in front of the apartment building.

  “I must leave soon. I’m going to spend the night at my parent’s house in the East,” Anna announced. “I don’t want to be late for the evening meal with them.”

  Unable to hide my disappointment, I protested, “I was counting on a pleasant day with you. The weather is ideal.”

  “I’m sorry, but I promised my parents.”

  After a brief hug, she kissed me on the cheek again, “I’ll see you next week, Robert. Auf wiedersehen.”

  Before she turned to leave, I took her in my arms. We exchanged a long, caring kiss. As she slipped out of my arms, I looked up and recoiled. Dieter Holburg stood five feet away, staring at us.

  Although she didn’t say anything, I could tell Anna knew he was a Stasi agent—she’d grown up in the East.

  Chapter 19

  Thursday, October 27, 1960

  “The Stasi know we are up to something new, and they’ll monitor our activities until they learn what it is,” Mark announced without emotion at the start of the second meeting of the security committee.

  “They follow me every time I leave the base,” I advised my associates. “They also accompanied me on my night out last Friday, and Dieter Holburg followed me to my new apartment on Saturday.”

  “I made a big mistake taking Robert into East Berlin his first Saturday here. Now the Stasi want to know what he’s doing in Berlin,” Scott grumbled.

  “Unfortunately, Kurt’s been given a special assignment and won’t return for several weeks. Perhaps he’d have some idea how we could counter the Stasi harassment,” Mark said. “For now, their activities will do little harm.”

  “How will we prevent the spies and informants in Berlin from finding out what our sixty new arrivals are doing here?” I asked.

  “For that problem, I have a solution.” Scott placed a set of plans on the table. “Here’s a layout of the spaces we control within Tempelhof. I suggest that everyone who goes to the tunnel building, including us, leaves Air Force controlled spaces via the airport arrivals hall!”

  “How’s that possible?” Mark asked.

  “Here’s the room we currently occupy. At the end of this hall, we’ll establish a new security checkpoint, which will be manned full-time. We’ll install a cipher-locked door into an existing locker room located beyond the checkpoint.”

  “Keep going,” Mark encouraged. “I like what I’m hearing.”

  “Once in the dressing room, everyone changes into German clothes appropriate to the season. The hall outside that room leads down these stairs. At the end of the corridor is a door into the arrivals area. It’s currently sealed. We install cipher locks on both sides of that door, and only our men will be given the combination.”

  “Brilliant. Airports all over the world use those cipher locks to keep passengers from entering restricted areas.” Mark smiled, obviously pleased.

  “Once in the arrivals hall, each man becomes just another newly arrived passenger.” I said, marveling at the simplicity of Scott’s plan.

  “I like it,” Mark agreed. “Scott, make it happen.”

  Feet of Tunnel Completed: 0 Days until Deadline: 336

  Chapter 20

  Friday, October 28, 1960

  Our regular Friday meeting between Mark and me started at 1300. When Mark didn’t mention my relationship with Anna, I remained mute on that topic.

  After a lengthy summation of the number of disadvantages of the elevator solution, I told him, “In conclusion, we’d miss the desired date by at least four months. I have an alternative to suggest.”

  “Shoot.”

  “The entrances to most tunnels under bodies of water start several hundred feet back from the water’s edge. The top of the tunnel passes twenty to thirty feet below the bottom of the river.”

  “We can’t do that here because we need to hide the tunnel entranc
e.”

  “Exactly. My concept would involve building a ramp along the west wall. It can be completed less than a month after the construction crew arrives. Then, we commence tunneling.”

  “But we’re starting a lot further from our ultimate objective.”

  “The overall length does increase by about 360 feet.”

  “So, you’re suggesting that all that distance, the tunnel will be inside our building between the south wall and the first row of pillars.”

  “That’s my concept.”

  “How does your concept impact the overall schedule?”

  “Let’s review the detailed project schedule I’ve generated.”

  Ten minutes later, Mark put his index finger on the last line. “I like the fact that your plan shows that if we adopt the ramp tunnel concept, we’ll be a full ten days ahead of our required date.”

  “That’s correct. If we don’t encounter any problems, we can complete the first tap into that communications tube on September 3, 1961.”

  “Two of your major milestones in the schedule are the installation of pressure doors. What are they, and why do we need them?”

  “Every tunnel constructed under a body of water in the last century has employed air pressure to support the surrounding soil and keep water out during construction.”

  “Really?”

  “Works every time. The last thing we want is for the River Spree to flood our tunnel anytime during construction,”

  “Do we need high pressure?”

  “A little over two atmospheres. Air pressure at sea level is 14.70 pounds per square inch. We’ll need to maintain about 30 psi in our tunnel—perhaps a little more.”

  “How do we increase the pressure?”

  “Put in a pressure bulkhead and use an air compressor to pump in additional air. Just like inflating a tire.”

  “Why two doors?”

  “Two doors will allow us to maximize the construction rate. One crew removes excavated soil and replenishes tunnel support sections by opening the first door and returning that area to normal pressure levels. The second door remains closed and the second crew operates the TBM without interruption at the desired pressure level.”

  He nodded. “I understand. Go on.”

  “There’s one important thing you need to know.”

  “What’s that?”

  “This added pressure creates problems for the construction crew. Moving too quickly from an area of high pressure to normal pressure can produce nitrogen gas bubbles in the body. It’s commonly called the bends, which can obstruct blood flow, can also be very painful and is sometimes fatal.”

  “Sounds like a construction delay,” Mark observed.

  “Yes. Five to six hundred feet of our tunnel under the river will be constructed at higher pressure levels. We’ll install a decompression chamber to slowly bring the workers back to normal surface pressures.

  “So, for a significant percentage of each shift, the workers will need to be in the decompression chamber. Correct?”

  “Yes. The one data point I remember off the top of my head is three hours of work at 30 psi requires almost two hours in a decompression chamber.”

  “Won’t we be tunneling under the damaged part of the building?”

  “Yes, but the tunnel will pass safely 20 feet under the lowest part of the foundation and bottom of the columns in that area.”

  “Looks like you have a strong case for the changes, Robert, but you don’t have to convince me. You must convince two Washington bureaucrats and General Harrison. I’ll arrange for you to meet with them next Tuesday.”

  Feet of Tunnel Completed: 0 Days until Deadline: 335

  Chapter 21

  Friday, October 28, 1960

  After a delicious meal at a traditional German restaurant, Anna and I walked over to Kdamm Street as some of the locals and most of the Americans called it. We reached the “The Swing Point Club,” where they played recordings of the latest dance tunes from America, alternating between rock-and-roll and slow dance ballads.

  I held Anna close during the Theme from a Summer Place, The Drifter’s Save the Last Dance for Me, and Elvis’s It’s Now or Never. We twisted with Chubby Checker and did the bop to Elvis’s Stuck on You. Sometime during the night, we joined a conga line for the “Bunny Hop” and the “Hokey Pokey.” Neither of us were ready to quit when they closed at two a.m.

  Since it was so late, I hailed a taxi. We snuggled in the back seat, indulging in restrained kisses with an experimental meeting of tongues.

  As we neared her apartment, I said, “Anna, I’ll be flying back to the States on Sunday. I’ll only be gone a few days. When I return next Friday, we’ll go out for a special meal and to a movie or dancing, whichever you would prefer.”

  “I’ll look forward to it all week.”

  I told the driver, “Please wait. I want you to take me to Tempelhof Airport.”

  A car pulled up. A tall, thin man who had followed us the previous weekend got out.

  I glanced in his direction as I escorted Anna to her apartment door. We exchanged several goodnight kisses and fervent embraces. Before I turned to leave, Anna whispered in my ear, “Why is an obvious East German Stasi agent following you?”

  “I’m not sure.” I shrugged and walked back to the taxi.

  Chapter 22

  Tuesday, November 1, 1960

  Standing in the shower that morning in the motel in Laurel, Maryland, I felt a panic attack coming on. It hit as I was reviewing my arguments for the use of the ramp to solve the tunneling problem.

  By the time I toweled off, I was hyperventilating. I stretched out on the bed. Deep breaths…use your diaphragm to bring the good air in…relax…just relax…good air in…bad air out…..

  Despite the panic attack, I managed to arrive at nearby Fort George G. Meade Army Base a few minutes early. The National Security Agency Headquarters, a nondescript two-story building, sat near a massive new headquarters building under construction. After a few minutes in the badge and identification office, I was escorted into Mr. Scherman’s outer office.

  A balding, overweight, friendly man in an obviously expensive suit emerged from his office. With a broad smile and firm handshake, he said, “I’m Gerald Scherman.”

  I followed him to a tank similar to the one at Tempelhof, where I met another individual.

  “Captain Robert Kerr, this is Thomas Lane. He’s here representing the CIA on this joint CIA/NSA program.”

  Mr. Lane offered his hand with the palm down and frowned, indicating his disdain for a lowly Air Force captain. He had a well-groomed mustache and more hair than Mr. Scherman. These guys could’ve been twins—middle-aged men of a similar medium height, pin-striped suits, white shirts with button-down collars, thin dark gray ties, and rotund bodies.

  “Thomas, I and your Security Service commanding officer, General Harrison, are responsible for your tunneling efforts,” explained Gerald Scherman. “The General is in the Far East, so only the two of us will meet with you this morning.”

  I’d counted on General Harrison’s support. Now, somehow, I needed to convince two strangers of the merits of my plan.

  “We’re hoping we’ll be able to talk out all the issues, reach unanimous decisions and work as a team. Do you think meeting every two to three months will be sufficient?”

  “Construction is a fluid environment,” I replied. “We may need to communicate more often.”

  Gerald Scherman said, “Couriers are available at both ends to carry voluminous written correspondence and documents back and forth….”

  “—For most communications, double encrypted messages will be used,” Thomas Lane interjected. “You’ll be required to submit a weekly progress report to all three of us every Friday via that means.”

  “Where would we meet?” I asked.

  “Primarily here in my tank. We might travel to Berlin on occasion,” Gerald replied.

  Thomas added forcefully, “Robert, we expect you to keep us i
nformed of all problems and your progress weekly, or more frequently, as required. Anything that impedes progress must be reported to us immediately! Is that clear?”

  I nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “Gerald and I are the decision makers. You’re the individual who implements our instructions. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, sir,” I replied, wondering what had happened to the ‘we’re a team concept’ Gerald described earlier. Thomas apparently didn’t agree with his previous statements. More importantly, what about General Harrison’s role as a decision maker?

  “You received this assignment because my good friend, Phillip Jeffers, one of your Cal professors, highly recommended you.” Gerald smiled at me.

  “We’re concerned though. You’ve been in Berlin for just three weeks and you’re already changing things we thought were settled,” Thomas thundered.

  Using the plans and other documents couriered to D.C. over the previous weekend, I spent the next hour providing the rationale for the ramp tunnel option.

  When I explained the need for pressure doors, Thomas again became combative. “This is the first we’ve heard of this need to keep water out while we dig under that river. You’re telling us that this will dramatically slow progress and increase the number of needed personnel. Why are we just learning about this now?”

  “Sir, you’d have to ask my predecessor.”

  “How many people will you need?” Thomas demanded.

  “I’ve completed a time and motion study, using the excavation rate of our TBM. I believe that at least sixty-two individuals with substantial construction experience will be required.”

  “What’s a time and motion study?” Gerald asked.

  “It’s a new method which determines how long it takes to perform individual tasks. Then the tasks are aggregated, and the number of men required to perform a program, in this case building the tunnel, is determined.”