The Berlin Tunnel
Page 21
“That solves one of my primary problems—making sure that I’ve found the right pipe,” I said. “It would be a travesty, if after spending all this money and time, we tapped into one of the main East German water supply lines.”
“This is all courtesy of your local friendly CIA agent and the guys in the CIA lab back in Washington.”
A little later, the buzzer rang. I admitted my senior NCOs to the tank. After explaining the situtation, I asked, “Do either of you have any idea who the spy might be?”
“Can’t be any of the ‘Polish Option’ people; they’ve all conformed to their restrictions. Of that, I’m sure,” the Chief replied.
“So that leaves how many?”
“Twenty-seven. Nine of the Air Force people and eighteen of my Army guys, including me,” Sergeant Loring replied.
“Can we think about it and get back to you tomorrow?” the Chief asked.
“This guy apparently hasn’t revealed any damaging details about the tunnel yet, but they’ll be badgering him for more information,” Kurt said. “Get back to us soon. We can’t wait until the men are off duty again this weekend.”
“Chief, as long as you and Sergeant Loring are here, please give me a status report,” I asked as the meeting began to break up.
“Sir, during the two weeks you were gone we completed almost 200 feet of tunnel, and we’re now on the upward incline at about 40 feet below the surface.”
“Any problems?”
“We recently started encountering debris from buildings destroyed in the war,” Chief Weber said. “The boring machine has moved right through everything so far, but we’ve had to slow down the tunneling rate.”
“We’ve assigned one additional man to each shift. It’s his job is to monitor what the boring head is encountering,” Sergeant Loring said. “The master shutoff switch is constantly in his hand.”
“How does he determine when to use the switch?” I asked.
“Sound. The noise level increases dramatically when the machine hits hard objects like concrete.”
“Keep up the good work, and keep me informed. I’ll be over to the building later today for a look-see.”
Feet of Tunnel Completed: 1187 Days until Deadline: 115
Chapter 75
Wednesday, June 7, 1961
“The traitor has to be one of three men,” Chief Weber said. “Unfortunately, all three are some of our best workers.”
“Sorry to hear that. Can we spare all three?”
“With a few adjustments, we’ll get by,” Sergeant Loring replied.
“All three have German girlfriends, despite the fact that two of them are married.” The Chief shook his head in disgust.
“Ok. I’ll declare that we need to cut staff to save money and send those three home. You two need to see that all three leave Berlin ASAP.”
“Hopefully that’ll solve our problem,” Sergeant Loring added.
“Thank you, Sergeant, Chief,” I said. “We need another all-hands meeting to reiterate the importance of maintaining secrecy about tunnel construction.”
Feet of Tunnel Completed: 1216 Days until Deadline: 112
Chapter 76
Friday, June 16, 1961
I was called to Colonel Morgan’s Office and surprised that Mark, Kurt, and Scott were waiting there. The Colonel signaled for me to be seated. “I have news from General Harrison on your request to be allowed to marry Miss Anna Fischer. This was not an easy decision. Your outstanding job performance and Anna’s integral part in our ongoing cover and deception efforts against the Stasi are viewed as mitigating factors in what would have normally been an easy negative decision. At my request, Kurt and the CIA conducted an extensive background investigation into Anna and her family—we have determined they are not a security risk. Our only concern now is that the communists could use threats against Anna or her family to get you to reveal information about the tunnel. The risk of this happening is viewed as no greater if you are married or maintain your current status. In summary, you have our permission to marry Miss Fischer.”
Shocked, I jumped to my feet, grabbed the Colonel’s hand and shook it vigorously. My friends gathered around me and offered heart-felt congratulations.
Kurt followed me to the tank. Once we were alone, he said, “It would be best if you could persuade Anna’s family to immigrate to the West. That was a condition they wanted to impose, but my investigation indicated that her parents will probably not willingly leave the East. Perhaps you could persuade them to do so.”
To celebrate my birthday, Anna invited her entire family to our apartment for a party. Most of the afternoon was spent discussing our wedding.
Before supper I presented a slide show of our recent vacation in California. I started with numerous photos of my grandparent’s farms and the old ranch house. “This is where Anna and I will live when we move to California.”
The presentation also included photos of Anna and the barbed wire fence as well as San Francisco, Berkeley, Big Sur, San Simeon, Santa Barbara, Hollywood, Disneyland and the beach in Southern California.
Bernard, Emma, Anna and I lingered in the living room after the others left. I mentally struggled with how to introduce the subject of the immigration of the entire Fischer family to the West into the conversation. Then out of the blue, Bernard said, “Two days ago, Walter Ulbricht had a news conference with Western reporters. One asked him if ‘the rumors that the East/West Berlin border would be closed soon were true.’ Herr Ulbricht replied that ‘no one has any intention of building a wall.’ ”
“I read about it. No one mentioned anything about a wall, so why did he mention a wall?” I asked.
“Many people from the East now believe that the border will soon be closed permanently. Several families from our area have recently left for the West,” Emma told us.
“Yesterday, the Berliner Morgenpost stated that the number of applications at the reception center in West Berlin has more than doubled.” In pleaded voice Anna added, “Papa, don’t you think it’s time for our whole family to immigrate?”
“Anna, dear, you’re lucky. You’re already in the West. Perhaps three months from now, when Derrik is out of prison, we’ll all go. Even your mother and me.”
“Mama, Papa, you must think what is best for the whole family. You don’t want your grandchildren to grow up under that terrible totalitarian regime, do you?”
“No. You’re probably right. Its just…our home is there,” Emma’s chin quivered and tears filled her eyes. “And my parents in Dresden still need our help and financial support. They are both so frail.”
“We both know you are right.” A pensive Bernard observed, “It’s in our hearts that we have problems—so many people rely on us.”
Supporting Anna’s argument, I said, “Bernard and Emma, you are dear to both Anna and me. My parents or grandparents would sponsor you, and you could immigrate to America a few months after you move to the West.”
Anna exclaimed, “Then we can all be close to each other. That would be wonderful.”
Neither Bernard nor Emma responded further to our pleas that they leave the East now.
Over the next few days, we managed to schedule our civil ceremony for the 3rd of July and reserved the small chapel in the northeast corner of the new Kaiser Wilhelm Church in West Berlin for the next day. Since the 4th of July was an American holiday, all of our friends from the base could attend the church service.
Chapter 77
Friday, June 23, 1961
Tunnel building was proceeding so well, it was inevitable that something would disrupt our progress. When we encountered a storm drain, it caused a minor delay. However, it ultimately turned out to be a highly consequential occurrence.
TOP SECRET LUMAR—RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION—US EYES ONLY
Memorandum #28 from Captain Robert Kerr Berlin, June 23, 1961
On Wednesday afternoon, June 21, the TBM cut a clean hole across the top of a storm drain. It did not appear on the p
ublic works drawings we’d been given. They were last updated in the 1930s.
During our survey of that drain pipe system, we found an access shaft in the courtyard of an abandoned industrial complex. This system had been designed to drain part of the boggy flatlands of Friedrichshain, the primary industrial area of East Berlin.
Two of our German-speaking Seabees went down into the drain and constructed a semi-circular form. We installed rebar and poured quick-drying concrete into the hole, thus generating what we believe will be a strong, virtually invisible, repair in the drain pipe.
The men disassembled the form, transported it to the surface, and hid it beneath some debris in one of the abandoned buildings. They returned to West Berlin using their American passports.
The tunnel is now only 317 feet from the juncture with the communications pipe.
Signed,
Robert T. Kerr, Captain USAF
TOP SECRET LUMAR—RESTRICTED DISTRIBUTION—US EYES ONLY
Feet of Tunnel Completed: 1529 Days until Deadline: 96
Chapter 78
Monday, July 3, 1961
“Robert, old buddy, you won’t believe what just happened!” Scott declared over the telephone.
I envisioned all kinds of problems with security at the tunnel site.
Scott continued, “Thomas Lane just left my office. He’s demanding that I lift your security clearance and have you shipped out of Berlin ASAP.”
“Did you inform him that General Harrison has approved my marriage?”
“He retorted that the CIA director views you as a huge security risk.”
“What’s he doing in Berlin? He’s no longer part of the triumvirate!”
“More bad news. He’s the new Senior Deputy Director of CIA Berlin Station. He’s Kurt Altschuler’s new boss!”
“Oh, shit. Are you kidding me? So, what are you going to do?”
“I’m sending an Eyes-Only message to each member of the triumvirate and General Harrison’s head of security telling them that I have no intention to follow orders from the CIA Berlin Station. Thought you’d want to know that your worst nightmare is in town.”
Chapter 79
Monday, July 3, 1961
“Come on Robbie. Hurry or we’ll be late!”
“Wow!”
“You like my new dress!” She twirled around in the living room of our apartment.
“Yes, and what’s inside it, too,” I replied, trying to kiss her.
“Don’t, you’ll muss my make-up. Your mother helped me select this floral print dress while we were in LA. We both thought it to be very appropriate for a summer wedding in a town hall.”
The Justice of the Peace’s chamber at Charlottenburg Town Hall was crowded with fifteen people—my parents, both sets of my grandparents, Aunt and Uncle Gibson, and Anna’s parents and paternal grandparents. Anna and I stood before the justice, hand in hand.
He said, “You posted the banns fifteen days ago in accordance with the law. Do you both certify that you are free of any encumbrances that would prevent you from marrying?”
We both answered in the affirmative.
“Are each of you marrying of your free will?”
We both answered yes.
“Does anyone know of any reason that these two should not be married?”
Silence reigned.
“Then please sign the Marriage Certificate.”
Neither Anna nor I hesitated. We both knew that after everyone signed the official document, we would be legally married and everything that followed would be celebration.
After my father and her mother signed as witnesses, I took Anna into my arms. We kissed for a long time. I heard the Justice of the Peace clear his throat. Apparently our 15 minutes were up, and it was time for him to welcome the next happy couple.
Chapter 80
Monday, July 3, 1961
Anna looked radiant as we posed for a variety of photographs on the front steps of the town hall. My Uncle Jimmy had appointed himself chief photographer for the wedding. At his urging, I kissed Anna again.
We arranged for our group to occupy a long table outdoors under the Linden trees at a nearby restaurant. After much banter in both English and German, everyone ordered their drinks and lunch.
I stood, placed my hand on Gunther Fischer’s shoulder. “Anna’s grandfather is a man of high principles. Several times in 1938, he preached from his pulpit that what the Nazis were doing to the Jews was morally wrong. The Nazi’s answer was to send him to prison for two years. Since 1945, he has been active in the efforts to undermine the communists in East Germany by organizing a Christian youth movement.”
My family looked on, speechless. Finally, Grandfather Hunter stood. “I’d like to quote one of the most brilliant men of this or any generation. Almost thirty years ago, Albert Einstein observed; ‘The world will not be destroyed by evil men, but by those who watch them without doing anything.’ ” Raising his glass, he continued, “I propose a toast, to the bravest man any of us has ever met.”
“Here, here!” and “Prost!” were heard from all present as glasses clinked.
Bishop Fischer rose. In a somber voice he told us in English, “I’m now 77. Marie and I have had a long and eventful life, but we are finished with the East. I have again been threatened with prison for my activities against the foul communists.”
With tears in his eyes, he took his wife’s hand. “I will not survive another stay in prison. This gathering gave us a good excuse to come to the West. We will stay with Edger, our son, who is a minister in Darmstadt, until we can find a home. Our suitcases contain few clothes. We packed mostly the photos and other family memorabilia we could not leave behind. I will get a pension from the church and another from West Germany, so we will get by.”
Anna turned to her parents and said in German, “Mama and Papa, all of our family should join them in the West.”
The Polterabend (broken pottery) party was held in the large private dining room at the Neu Ratskeller. Barmaids in traditional dress served drinks and German food.
After he arrived, Scott shook my hand and gave me a teletype message from General Harrison’s Head of Security. “Reference the marriage of Captain Kerr to a German national. The Director of the CIA has been informed that granting of security clearance to members of the military is a DoD responsibility.”
I heaved a sigh of relief and said, “I hope this closes this matter, at least for now.”
People were soon dancing to the oom-pah band’s music.
At precisely 9 p.m., Bernard took the floor, made sure everyone had a drink and proposed, “A toast to the happy couple—long life and happiness.”
The entire gathering cheered. Additional toasts in both German and English followed.
“According to my wife, who is an English professor, there is no word for Polterbend in English. The closest we can come is ‘evening of the broken pottery.’” Taking a sip of beer, he continued, “Anna and Robert, please stand just here.” Now if everyone is ready, smash your porcelain at the happy couple’s feet. We heard ‘Scherben bringen Gluck’—‘Broken crockery brings you luck’ again and again as a line formed and people passed by us throwing their cups, plates, saucers, and platters on the floor at our feet.
Papa Bernard then announced, “Just so, such an incredible mess. The bride and groom will show that they can work together to clean this up.”
Scott carried in two large rubbish bins. Sophia brought in a broom and large dustpan with ribbons tied to their handles.
“Good luck, Robert. That’s a real jumble,” Scott shouted in both German and English, which elicited laughter from the crowd.
As our friends and relatives coached and berated us, we cleaned up the broken dishes.
Finally, Papa Bernard ran his hand over the floor and announced “It is clean! May nothing in your house ever be broken and may you both always have good luck.”
Everyone shouted their congratulations in both English and German.
&
nbsp; Late in the evening, Anna and I were dancing to a slow number when Bernard tapped me on the shoulder. “Anna must go home to our house tonight. We intend to conform to the American tradition that the bride and groom do not see each other before the ceremony.”
“We’re already married!” I protested.
“Only in the eyes of man,” was Bernard’s retort.
Conceding defeat, I said, “I have a few things in the office I need to take care of. Anna, you and your parents can lead the tour tomorrow morning, and I’ll see you at the wedding,” giving her a hug, kiss and a gentle pat on the behind.
Chapter 81
Tuesday, July 4, 1961
After I completed some paperwork, I caught the Chief and Neal Loring in the barracks, and asked them to accompany me to the tunnel building.
Once we reached the basement, the Chief gestured to our surroundings, “As you can see, we’ve fabricated all of the tunnel sections and started to remove the sand. We’ve also started to return the equipment we no longer need to our construction yard.”
“Next week, we’ll move in the lumber, and some of our men will start building the exploitation center walls and ceilings on the other end of the basement,” Sergeant Loring said. “We may beat the deadline for this facility by several weeks, sir.”
“Plus, our target is just 177 feet on the other side of the tunnel boring machine,” the Chief added. “We should finish tunneling in ten days, Friday the fourteenth.”
“Hey, why aren’t you getting ready for the wedding?” Neal asked, looking at his watch.
“The wedding isn’t until 1600. I’ve got plenty of time.”