The German Peace

by Derek Pennington

  The British had pledged that their national airline, British Overseas Airways Corporation, (BOAC), would order an as yet to be determined number of the new aircraft, which had been given the name Flightstar.

  Lufthansa had already delivered a Letter of Intent to Purchase. Their initial order would be for twenty airliners but with options for a further twenty. The other European airlines were expected to follow suit soon.

  The first stage in the battle for civil aviation supremacy was over. But this had been the easy part!

  The technical director of Focke-Wulf, the brilliant Professor Kurt Tank, was working like a man possessed. Lockheed had several years head start on them, but he and his team were determined to build this new world-beater, with its superior specifications, in time to challenge the Americans.

  Tank was an aeronautical engineer who had led Focke-Wulf’s design department for the last eleven years. During that time he produced an excellent fighter aircraft, the FW190, which was superior to the Luftwaffe’s main fighter, the ME109. Unfortunately for Focke-Wulf, the end of the European War resulted in this project being terminated.

  Of more practical use to the current airliner project was Tank’s other success story, the FW200 Condor. This was a four engine long range aircraft originally designed to Lufthansa specifications for passenger use. This was first produced in 1937, but from 1939 onwards only military versions were produced. While acting as a long range bomber/reconnaissance aircraft during the Battle of the Atlantic in 1940, Condors were successful in sinking a large tonnage of ships. Winston Churchill had once described them as the ‘Scourge of the Atlantic’.

  In August 1938 Lufthansa had flown a Condor between Berlin and New York non-stop. The first aircraft ever to do this.

  Tank was now incorporating lessons learned from the building of the Condor into the Flightstar.

  ENGLAND

  Rolls-Royce executives had the new Aviation Minister breathing down their necks. Had they studied the Focke-Wulf plans? What were their plans for the engines? Was everything on schedule? This was his pet project and he expected their dedication. Time was of supreme importance.

  After the Minister left, one of the harried company directors wailed, “Can’t we just go back to making motor cars?”

  LONDON

  James Blackstone peered down at the baby held by his wife. It was a boy. ‘Ugly little bugger’ he thought, although he would never say it out loud in front of Fiona. She seemed thoroughly worn out by the ordeal of delivery. He hoped the beautiful bouquet of flowers he had placed in her hospital room had cheered her up at least a little bit. He left her as soon as he decently could. Let her sleep.

  He hurried back to his office.

  The Managing Director of Bradlington Thornberry bank had welcomed James’ idea of aircraft finance like a breath of fresh air. He saw the possibilities immediately. One or two of his fellow directors were a little slower in embracing the concept, and another, who should have put out to pasture long ago, was definitely hostile. Nevertheless it was now about to become reality.

  The bank had been in existence for over one hundred years, but its innate conservatism had meant slow growth. A few years of modest expansion in the years after the Great Depression had been quickly curtailed by the onset of the European War.

  Nigel Thornberry, aged fifty three, had been appointed Managing Director only the previous year. He was the great great grandson of one of the founders. He had joined the bank immediately after finishing at Cambridge University, and had worked his way up through every department of the bank at the insistence of his late father. He now wanted to ‘Bring the bank into the twentieth century’ as he put it. Hiring James Blackstone had been his idea. He was backing him to the hilt.

  Documentation, accounting, credit assessment procedures and legalities were finally in place for the new Equipment Finance Department. They were ready for business.

  Now it was up to James to make it work.

  BERLIN - NOVEMBER

  Katherine was on yet another of her many visits to Berlin. She and Jamie exchanged visits every month. ‘I wonder when they will get serious?’ Jeremy said to himself with a smile as he thought of his sister.

  While Katherine was in Berlin, Erica and Jeremy took the opportunity to announce that they were expecting a child the following July. The Blackstone family was growing.

  Erica caught Jamie surreptitiously looking at Katherine a lot. He was obviously thinking a great deal about something. What is on his mind? We all know that the two of them are in love. When is he going to pop the question?

  BERLIN - DECEMBER

  Letter to President Roosevelt from Jamie.

  Greetings Mr President

  I don’t seem to have a lot of news for you this month. I sometimes think that Germany is entering a new, more settled phase. Perhaps my usefulness here is coming to an end, Sir. I have now been in Berlin for exactly two and a half years.

  I was told yesterday that Italy will once again be making a formal application to join the European alliance early next year. From what I hear, they are making progress in improving the economy, but less impressive performance with their military, which is still too big and inefficient. I was in Italy last month and I noticed a definite measure of acceptance by the people that the government is at least trying, and that things are slowly coming right. I saw few traces of fascism.

  A source within the German military has confirmed to me that their intelligence services report almost zero communist activity in Albania these days. I think this is due to a combination of firm police and military action, in conjunction with the increased benefits from investment in the country by the Italians.

  As you are aware, after some prevarication on the part of the more conservative elements in Italy, it was finally decreed that Libya would be given independence. Talks are underway with the exiled Libyan King, Idris I. It is the Italian’s aim to withdraw most of their people over a three year period. As they amount to fewer than twenty percent of the population, they are bowing to the inevitable.

  The Greeks have again quietly raised the question of them joining the Alliance. The German Foreign Minister assured them that there is a place for them – once corruption and nepotism in Greece are brought under control. Privately I think Baron von Altendorf believes the Greeks are incapable of meaningful change.

  An incredible, almost frantic, effort is being put into the new Anglo-German airliner by the manufacturer, Focke-Wulf. They are worried that we Americans could monopolise world aircraft production in the future, and they see it as such a potentially huge industry. They want a part of it for themselves. I can’t say that I blame them.

  Norway has finished re-writing its constitution. It is expected to release copies of it in a couple of months. Once I have read it, I will give you my thoughts.

  Have a merry Christmas, Mr President

  Yours respectfully

  Jamie MacLellan.

  1943

  LONDON - FEBRUARY

  James believed that he now knew as much as any other banker in England about the airline and aircraft industry. Over the past months he had read every publication he could get his hand on, and spoken with airline officials and aircraft manufacturers across the country. Now he just needed his first deal!

  It was his sister who unknowingly provided him with the opportunity he was looking for. Katherine and her American boyfriend, Jamie, were in London for the weekend, and they invited James and Fiona to meet them for lunch. Fiona declined because of their young baby. Since becoming a mother she had changed. She doted on the child. She had matured and preferred to stay home more. She had even become less extravagant! James confirmed that he would love to meet them for lunch but he would be coming alone.

  The venue was a pleasant Thames-side pub well known for its traditional fare and fine ales. They were midway through their meal before James started talking aircraft and airlines to Jamie. He had become almost obsessed with his work. When he paused for breath, Jami
e innocently asked if he was working on any particular deal?

  James stared into the distance for a moment, then leaned back into his seat and let out a drawn-out exaggerated sigh. “I am as ready as I could possibly be, Jamie. My bank is pushing me to sign deals. We have the money burning a hole in our vault. I have talked to everyone remotely concerned with aircraft in Britain. And - nothing…..” He lapsed into silence. He was despondent. If he didn’t put a deal together soon he suspected the bank might let him go.

  Without thinking, Jamie made an observation. “You know, James, that the workhorse of the German air force is the three engine Junkers JU52.” James nodded. He knew the aircraft.

  Jamie continued. “The Luftwaffe took delivery of about two thousand of them for the war. With the unexpected quick ending to the war they now have many surplus planes.”

  “I know.” James interrupted, “But even if a buyer were to be found for them, our bank is precluded from financing military equipment.”

  “Fair enough. But that is not at all what I am suggesting. The pre-war civilian versions of these aircraft have been used by national airlines and small charter or cargo carriers for some years now. They have established a good reputation.

  Why don’t you get yourself across to Germany and go see Junkers, and maybe the Aviation Minister. Perhaps Junkers would be interested in acquiring the surplus units from the Luftwaffe and refurbishing them to civilian standards. You could offer to finance the deal.”

  James stared at him. Bloody hell. It was so simple! He had not heard even a whisper of anyone else in the industry coming close to something like this. It was bloody marvellous!

  Katherine, amused, said, “Well say something, James.”

  And say something he did. He was agitated. “Jamie, I don’t know to thank you. You have just hit me between the eyes with a corker of an idea. Look, I am so excited I cannot possibly finish my meal. Can I be terribly rude and leave? You have just given me a lot of work to do.”

  Laughing, they both excused him. He swallowed the remains of his drink and literally ran out of the pub. Katherine was giggling uncontrollably. She had never seen her brother in such a state.

  “I do hope I haven’t sent him off on a wild goose chase.” Jamie moaned. Then after a couple of seconds pause, “But he sure as hell is fired up.” He joined in the laughter.

  BERLIN - THREE WEEKS LATER

  James had studiously looked into all aspects of aircraft refurbishment. It wasn’t exactly commonplace at that time, but neither was it unknown. Only after a major war, such as the recent European War, would prime military aircraft, perhaps originally designed for civilian use, come onto the open market in quantity. He was facing a unique opportunity.

  Two days after Jamie had put the idea in his head he decided to go to the top in Germany and seek the blessing of the Aviation Minister, Albert Kesselring, after which he would immediately meet with Junkers.

  Kesselring’s secretary was protective of her boss’s time. She always did her homework before accepting requests for appointments with the Minister. As a result of her enquiries Kesselring now knew that James Blackstone was the brother of Baron von Altendorf’s son-in-law, and that he had been a member of the British Parliament before becoming a bank director. He also knew that James’ father was a respected senior civil servant within the British Government. His credentials were in order. The Minister was curious as to what an ex-politician turned banker could want with him! He would allow the man fifteen minutes of his time out of courtesy to the von Altendorf connection.

  Their meeting lasted an hour. In the best banking tradition, James did not allow any emotion to show, but inside he was ecstatic. Kesselring had grasped the principle of repositioning the surplus JU52s, very quickly. He liked it and the timing could not have been better!

  The General read from a document he requested from his secretary. “Following our latest armed services review, we counted just over one thousand one hundred JU52s still operational with the Luftwaffe, although many of these are actually in storage. With no war at present, or even on the horizon, we consider six hundred fully operational JU52s as quite sufficient for the Luftwaffe’s requirements.

  We intend to keep these aircraft in service for the foreseeable future. They are good workhorses and by the time they are ready for replacement, I have no doubt that transport aircraft a great deal bigger and a lot faster will be available. Who knows, maybe jet powered!

  I will need to discuss the details with my staff, of course, but it is my opinion that the Luftwaffe would be willing to consider disposing of maybe five hundred JU52s, Mr Blackstone.”

  They discussed various details and the prices involved. It was a lot of money! James wondered how this would go down at his bank. At one point Kesselring excused himself to make a telephone call. He was away for ten minutes before he returned.

  They talked closely for another fifteen minutes. All items had been covered. It was time for James to go.

  After he left Aviation Ministry building, James found a small café where he indulged himself with a small celebratory cognac. He had cleared the first hurdle! Now for Junkers.

  Jeremy had loaned his car to James for the one hundred and twenty kilometre drive from Berlin to Dessau, the headquarters of Junkers. As he drove south after breakfast the next day, James could not help marvelling about the fact that he was here today, driving in the heartland of Germany, yet only three years earlier the Germans and British had been at each other’s throats.

  Junkers was founded in 1895 by Hugo Junkers. It had prospered from the mid-1930s due to huge production orders from the Luftwaffe for three particularly successful models. The JU52 transport, the JU87 dive bomber – the famous Stuka - and the JU88 bomber, one of the European War’s most versatile combat aircraft.

  The Managing Director of Junkers was Hans Schneider. Originally an aeronautical engineer, he had worked for the company continuously for nearly thirty years. The company was his life. Lately his biggest worry was the complete cessation of orders for military aircraft. And nothing on the horizon.

  Schneider’s English was just not quite good enough for a meeting such as this, and an interpreter had been hired. She was about thirty years old, good looking, slim, perfect figure, and smartly dressed. Her name was Magda Reinhardt.

  Schneider had been telephoned in advance by no less a person than the Aviation Minister, to inform him that Blackstone had an interesting proposition. The Ministry, on its part, was supporting the project in principle. Kesselring recommended that Junkers should seriously examine Mr Blackstone’s idea.

  Between James’ bad German, Schneider’s poor English, and Magda’s fluency in both languages, they got through the meeting without too much trouble or delay. The Junkers Managing Director grasped at what was on offer as a drowning man will grasp at a straw. Schneider called in his General Manager, and later the chief designer. Different scenarios and ideas were thrown around in a storm. Even Magda was pulled into the general enthusiasm that manifested itself.

  The half hour scheduled meeting ended up being two hours long. But it was worth it. Before he left, James was handed a hastily typed letter confirming Junkers’ serious interest in James’ proposition.

  James now wanted to draft a proposal to his bank while everything was fresh in his brain. He decided to find a hotel in Dessau for the night. He would motor back to Berlin early in the morning and catch the first available flight to London. He informed Herr Schneider of his intentions and said his goodbyes to the group.

  Magda accompanied him out of the Junkers building. He asked her if she could recommend a hotel for him. During the meeting, they alone had addressed each other by the first names. The others had remained on formal terms. “Certainly, James, It is near where I live. I will show you if you will give me a lift.” She did not work for Junkers. She was a freelance translator and was now also on her way home.

  It was no more than ten minutes to the hotel and in that time they chatted like old frien
ds. James discovered that Magda was a widow, her husband having been killed in France in the last week of the war. They had a three year old daughter. ‘Bloody rotten luck’ thought James. ‘Seven more days and he would have been out of it’.

  He stopped the car outside the hotel to which Magda directed him. It looked acceptable. Respectable but not five star. She went in with him to assist with the reception formalities, which took no more than five minutes. On an impulse he turned to face her. “Magda, today was a very special day for me. Would care to you join me in a celebratory drink? Unless, of course, you are in a hurry to get home.”