Beyond the Shield

by Nachman Kataczinsky

  ***

  The Israeli and Soviet ambassadors, General Wilson, and Jean Moulin, the representative of the Free French government, were discussing procedures when Wilson’s secretary opened the door to announce, “Mr. Goerdeler is waiting.”

  Wilson nodded. “We are almost finished. I don’t think it will be long now.”

  Ambassador Mizrahi smiled. “Gentlemen, we’ve covered everything, except the question of occupation and the exact composition of the occupying forces. If you agree, we can discuss that at a later date.”

  Ambassador Maisky nodded agreement, as did Wilson. Wilson, seeing that there were no more issues to discuss, pressed the intercom button. “George, please invite Mr. Goerdeler in.”

  Carl Goerdeler, the temporary chancellor of Germany, entered the conference room. Wilson pointed to a chair positioned separately from the others. “Chancellor, would you like tea or coffee?” Wilson asked.

  Goerdeler smiled. “I’ll take tea, thank you.”

  Wilson informed the secretary of the German’s choice and continued, “The four of us present here are fully authorized by our respective governments to negotiate with Germany. Are you authorized by the German government to negotiate with us?”

  “I am. Since I am not a dictator I will have to refer back to the full government before coming to an agreement.”

  The others nodded agreement and acceptance. Maisky said, “As you know, we joined the other allies and stopped military operations against German forces. We will resume such operations if the negotiations are stalled.”

  Ambassador Mizrahi added, “This statement is correct for all of us. We will negotiate only so long as these negotiations bear fruit. I hope that Germany has accepted that it lost the war and is in no position to pose any conditions. Our governments agreed to negotiate only with the view of saving lives, but this is a limited objective.”

  “We understand the situation,” Goerdeler said quietly. “The military understands it very well. The civilian population is eager for peace. The bombing of our cities has led to terrible losses.”

  Wilson shrugged. “We didn’t start that practice. You should blame Hitler and those of your compatriots who supported him. But that is neither here nor there.

  “These are our terms.” Wilson gave Goerdeler several typed pages, which the German started reading.

  Goerdeler looked up. “Am I to understand that you want us to retreat to the Soviet border of 1938, stop there and, while the Soviet Army takes up positions in front of us, train and arm forces of the national armies of the Baltic countries and Poland?”

  Wilson nodded.

  “May I inquire why?” Goerdeler asked.

  “Certainly. Germany attacked Poland in 1939 and dissolved the Polish state. It also caused the Baltic States to be dissolved and later occupied them. It is our view that Germany is responsible for restoring these states and their ability to defend themselves.”

  Mizrahi thought about the real reason for this demand: to create an obstacle for Stalin, who might be tempted to cross the old border if there were no organized entities on the other side. It would be a more difficult proposition if the Baltic States and Poland were reconstituted and rearmed.

  Maisky fidgeted in his seat. “I wouldn’t say that this is a rigid requirement. The Soviet Union is not going to protest if your soldiers just go all the way back to Germany.”

  Wilson smiled. “As you may have guessed there is a difference of opinion on the relative importance of the various paragraphs in the proposed agreement. It’s enough that two of the three allies think that a paragraph is of vital importance.”

  Goerdeler was serious. “Is Germany supposed to pay for the arms and training it provides?”

  “Oh yes. It will bear all the costs,” Mizrahi responded, “which is only a minor part of the reparations that will have to be paid. Since you will not need most of the arms you have now, arming your neighbors to the East should not be difficult.”

  Goerdeler continued reading. “I’m not sure I can agree to move the border with Poland to the Oder-Neisse line. This is ceding a lot of territory to Poland.”

  “Mr. Chancellor, if you need the approval of your government we will wait a reasonable time for you to get it. Just as long as you understand that this is not negotiable,” Wilson said.

  Maisky added, “You can understand the legitimate concern for providing your neighbors with natural and defensible borders since you attacked them twice in a couple of decades.”

  The meeting ended several hours later and resumed the next day, this time with several experts present on both sides. Goerdeler was concerned about the demand that Germany pay reparations to the countries damaged during the war.

  “France and Britain declared war on Germany so we should not be required to pay reparations. It was those countries’ choice to make war on Germany.”

  Jean Moulin responded, this being his first contribution to the discussion. “Yes, I understand that Germany would have preferred that we ignore our obligations to Poland. It was Germany that started this war and Germany has to pay.”

  Mizrahi nodded at Goerdeler. “You have noticed that the amounts of the reparations are not stated. Those are subject to a separate agreement. We have no incentive to bankrupt Germany. The Versailles treaty was too one-sided. We all want to preserve a democratic and peaceful Germany. Abject poverty will not be conducive to this purpose.”

  Goerdeler shrugged. “It may make political sense for both the Allies and Germany to pay some reparations, as long as they are not ruinous.”

  Maisky responded, “Some of the things you did can’t be repaid with money. Germany will have to cooperate in finding and severely punishing the criminals among you.”

  Goerdeler nodded. “We are already eliminating the Nazis. We have no choice if we want to survive.”

  “It’s not only the Nazis. They had many willing collaborators. We all fully agree with Ambassador Maisky,” said Jean Moulin.

  ***

  The books, in Russian, - Stalin, by Soviet journalist Edward Radzinsky, and Stalin’s Last Crime by Jonathan Brent and Vladimir Naumov - arrived with the morning diplomatic pouch from Jerusalem. Molotov, after reading the ambassador’s note and looking at the pertinent chapters, brought them to the leader. He told Stalin that the books came from a store in Israel and pointed out the chapters he had marked in each book.

  Stalin dismissed Molotov and looked at the books. He was only mildly interested in what future corrupt capitalist historians thought about him and leafed quickly until he reached the bookmarks left by Molotov.

  Stalin was slightly disappointed that he had only ten years left to live and was about to close the book when a short phrase caught his eye: ‘It is not clear to what extent Poskrebyshev was complicit in Stalin’s death. Beria’s complicity is certain.’ The great leader read the chapter again, very carefully.

  Apparently his trust in his secretary and confidante was misplaced. But Stalin congratulated himself on his decision to liquidate Beria. He locked the books in a drawer of his desk and considered how to deal with his secretary and the head of the NKVD.

  Stalin left the office early, at about two in the morning. On the way out to his Kremlin apartment he nodded to Poskrebyshev, who was still hard at work at his desk.

  Poskrebyshev had been eagerly waiting for the boss to leave. Earlier in the evening Molotov had showed the secretary the books he brought with him. “I need to see the leader now,” and added in a much quieter voice, “Chapter 22 in this one and 12 in the other one.” Now Poskrebyshev unlocked the office door, went inside and unlocked the desk drawer with a duplicate key he had made in secret. He took out the books and looked at Chapter 22 and then Chapter 12 in the thinner book. It took him almost ten minutes of reading and re-reading the chapters to realize he was doomed. He also realized that he wasn’t alone. Beria was doomed as well.

  Poskrebyshev returned the books and went back to his desk. After hesitating for a couple of minutes, he mad
e a call.

  Beria took less than ten minutes to arrive. Poskrebyshev told him about the history books Stalin had been studying. The head of the NKVD wasn’t a trusting man and demanded to see the books. After reading the pertinent chapters he thought for only a short time. “Alexander Nikolaevich, we are both dead men and it will be a very unpleasant death. Will you back me up? I promise that I will save both our lives if you do.”

  “Do I have a choice? Sure, I will back you up.”

  “Good.” Beria displayed an unpleasant smile. “Tomorrow, when he asks for his tea, pour this liquid in it.” He took a small vial from the inner pocket of his jacket, a vial he always had ready in case he was arrested. “But be sure to do it only after he asks you to taste it, assuming he does that.”

  Poskrebyshev took the vial. “I usually pour a glass for myself and one for him from the same kettle. I drink from my glass and he waits for ten minutes before touching his. I’ll pour the liquid on the sugar cubes in the bowl. What does it do?”

  “A very small amount of this will kill you. It’s prussic acid, also known as cyanide. The liquid smells slightly of peaches. I hope that’s not a problem.”

  “It shouldn’t be. He always has some preserves served with the tea. As long as the smell isn’t very strong…”

  Beria shrugged. “It’s slight. Just make sure that some of the preserves are peaches and we will be fine.”

  “Lavrentiy Pavlovich, I didn’t realize you carried such stuff with you.”

  “One can never know,” Beria responded and was gone.

  ***

  Lior Lapid was impatient. He had been waiting for almost forty minutes for a meeting with the President. It seemed to Lapid that after he and Halifax requested the cessation of lend lease to the Soviets, FDR was annoyed with both of them and displaying his annoyance in a petty way. Viscount Halifax, who sat next to him, didn’t look happy but said nothing.

  Finally the door opened and a military officer invited them in. For this meeting, at the two ambassadors’ request, the Secretary of State was also present. Harry Hopkins was there as well.

  “Gentlemen, it’s a pleasure to see you again,” FDR said in greeting. “I understand that you want to report on the talks in Teheran and discuss other issues.”

  Halifax explained to the Americans the basics of the agreement with the Soviet Union and Germany. He then continued, “Regarding a future world order. We understand that the U.S. is interested in reviving the League of Nations. Is this correct?”

  Secretary Hull responded, “We wouldn’t call it a League of Nations. Too much baggage is connected to that name. We prefer to call our initiative ‘The United Nations’. It will be an organization different from the old League. Every nation on earth will be eligible to join and every nation will have an equal vote in the World Parliament or as we call it ‘The General Assembly’.”

  Lapid nodded politely. “Do you envision an executive body with some power behind it?”

  Cordell Hull smiled. “Of course we envision an executive body with coercive and even military power. We would also like to ensure that a world war never happens again. For this purpose the organization would have a World Security Council on which the current allies in the fight against Germany and Japan will have permanent seats.”

  Edward Wood, Viscount Halifax, smiled. “Am I correct in my assumption that every nation will be admitted to this organization with no constraints whatsoever?”

  “That’s what I said,” Cordell Hull responded.

  “This means that Hitler’s Germany would also be admitted,” Viscount Halifax stated.

  “Hitler’s Germany doesn’t exist so why should we concern ourselves with it?” the President responded somewhat impatiently.

  “But the U.S. would admit existing and future dictatorships into this organization?” Lior Lapid asked.

  “We certainly would,” the Secretary of State responded. “I’m not saying that we should but there are no dictatorships as vicious as the Nazis or Imperial Japan so the question is moot.”

  “Is that so?” Viscount Halifax asked. “You don’t consider the Soviet Union to be as vicious as the Nazis?”

  The President looked annoyed.

  Harry Hopkins answered, “How can you compare a state where the people are the sovereign to Nazi Germany? I’ll grant you that there are some excesses in the Soviet Union but their system is moving a very primitive country into the 20th century.”

  “Did you ever ask yourself at what cost they’re advancing?” asked Lapid.

  Hopkins just shrugged.

  Viscount Halifax nodded. “In that case I can say with certainty that Great Britain will not join such an organization.”

  Lapid nodded, “Neither will Israel. Our governments will reconsider their position if the organization is open only to democracies or democratic republics. Actual democracies, not those in name only.”

  ***

  Jacob Hirshson knocked on the door. Esther opened it almost instantly and invited him inside. Jacob was only slightly surprised to see his sister Sheina, who shared the apartment with Esther, and Esther’s brother Wolf.

  “Hi, everyone,” Jacob pronounce cheerfully. “Are you guys joining us for dinner?”

  Sheina smiled. “If we do, it might spoil the evening for you two love birds.”

  “Not more than it would spoil it for you two,” Esther responded with a smile. She turned to Jacob, “Yes, they’re joining us. Wolf has some news which none of us has heard yet.”

  “Good, let’s go then. I found a very nice place a short drive away.”

  The restaurant was indeed nice, with white table coverings, flowers and candles on every table, and dim lighting.

  After they settled in and placed their orders Wolf asked Jacob, “How’s your new business venture going?”

  “Apparently I can sell many more computers than I can make. We’re now negotiating with several parts suppliers and will start assembling our own machines.”

  “I thought you were already assembling them,” Esther said.

  “Well, we kind of did but not really. We bought standard parts on the open market and assembled them to customer specifications. There’s nothing special or unique about that. Anybody who has basic knowhow can do it. The margins are very slim. The business exists on the difference between wholesale prices and retail prices, with after sale services being a crucial part of profit. I’m establishing a different model: parts made to my specifications and branded accordingly. The next step will be to manufacture as much as I can in-house.”

  Jacob turned to Wolf. “What’s the news you wanted to tell us?”

  “Next week I’m going to graduate from the Armor NCO School. They already told me that I qualify for officer’s school and I’m thinking about going.” Wolf looked at Jacob. “What’s your opinion?”

  Before Jacob could respond Sheina said, “I keep telling him that there’s no point in spending time and effort on officer training unless he wants to become a professional soldier.” Esther nodded agreement. She also didn’t like the idea of her brother being an officer. From what she learned during her time in wartime Russia, this was a much more dangerous position than a sergeant.

  Jacob thought for a moment. “Are you thinking of a career in the army?”

  Wolf shrugged. “I thought about it a lot but don’t have enough information to make a decision. I definitely would not like to become a professional if I’m not an officer. If I do become an officer, my options are open and can I decide later.”

  He turned to his sister. “The stories we heard at home and you witnessed in Russia are not relevant to the Israeli army. True, we lead by example and the order is always ‘Follow me!’ but that applies equally to officers and noncoms. On the other hand, we’re speaking about armor. We have the best tanks in the world and officers are protected as well as sergeants and privates.”

  “That’s true.” Jacob agreed. “In the battle I witnessed there was never any danger to anyone in tan
ks, officers or privates. You’re also right about having more opportunities as an officer. Just don’t forget that if you choose not to join the professional army you will have to serve two months every year as a reservist. As a noncom it will likely be between a month and six weeks.”

  Sheina was surprised. “I didn’t know that officers serve so much longer every year. This is definitely a reason for you to stay a sergeant.”

  Again, Esther nodded agreement. “I’m sure that our parents will not be happy with you gone two months every year.”

  Wolf smiled. “Yes, I’ve heard that argument a thousand times. I’ll think about it.

  “Just to add to your worries, both you and Sheina are exempt from service while studying, but after graduation, Esther, if you become a doctor, you’ll have to go to officers’ school and all these bad things will apply to you as well. Sheina, being smart, will be a computer specialist someplace safe and likely not called up for reserve duty at all.”

  “Or we could get married. The IDF doesn’t take married women, unless they volunteer,” Jacob said with a smile.

  “Am I hearing a proposal here?” Esther asked with a smile.

  “Yes. Will you marry me?”

  Esther’s smile widened. “I’ll have to think about it after you propose properly, with a ring, on one knee.”

  ***

  Ambassador Kirk finished reading the latest missive from the State Department. This was the fifth such document in the last several weeks. His question about restoring the citizenship of up-time Americans stranded in Israel had provoked a storm. The President got involved and messages were flying back and forth at a distressing rate.

  The one he just finished reading said, “We rely on your judgment regarding citizenship in individual cases. The President as well as the Department of State oppose a blanket admission of former citizens into the country.”

  Personally Kirk thought that this was a mistake and resented that the responsibility was left to him to admit these people. Up-timers had knowledge the current U.S. needed. Kirk was aware of the influence living in Israel was having on him and could understand that people in the U.S. didn’t see what was obvious to him. He also understood the position of the President: admitting large groups of blacks and Jews would cause serious problems for FDR. Especially among his strongest Democratic supporters in the Southern states. FDR appeased them, by segregating the armed forces for instance. Kirk could see how an influx of thousands of citizens brought up in an advanced society similar to the Israeli one would undermine the current American culture which he liked and approved of.