Nazi Magician: Inventor

by Ward Wagher

  When he arrived at the office, Dieter laid the two Brötchen on his workbench and hung his coat on the row of hooks along the wall. He then walked over to the coffee pot. One of the perks of working for Ignatz Schneider involved his great love for coffee. Ignatz had provided the percolator and was generous with his supply of coffee. The employees of the lab were free to drink as much as they liked, the only rule being whoever emptied the pot was responsible for brewing a fresh batch.

  “Ho, Dieter!” Ignatz shouted as he walked up to lift the coffee pot from Dieter’s hand. “I imagine you have the new device completely designed in your head, nu?”

  Dieter shook himself mentally to consider Ignatz’s question. He had been pondering the events in the alley as he walked to work and was preoccupied.

  “Um, well, yes,” he replied. “I think I can rough something together within a couple of days. I would suggest that we get the whole lab together to design the production machine. I can build the internals of the thing, but I am not good at fabricating the case.”

  Ignatz nodded gravely. “I understand. Konrad does nice sheet metal work. He is a little disappointed that he cannot make the apparatus work. Perhaps this will make him feel like he is contributing to the project.”

  Dieter nodded. “I think that is a good idea. Can you talk to him? He has been barely civil to me for the past week.”

  “I will talk to him,” Ignatz agreed. “We have a good team here, and I would like to keep it that way.”

  Dieter walked back to his workbench and began sketching out the ideas he had developed over the weekend. He marveled once again at the relative simplicity of his device. It shouldn’t work, but it did. He was curious to see if his new design would also work. The most challenging part was building the feedback circuit that would draw enough power from the output so that he wouldn’t have to keep the battery connected once it had initiated. The immediate application for the device that he had thought of was to power the electric motors on a U-Boat. It seemed to him that his invention would drive a U-Boat underwater at much higher speeds than the batteries were capable of doing. And they could spend an indefinite amount of time underwater.

  He turned his thinking to land vehicles and even aircraft. As a power source, the only limitation in its usage was the relative rarity of individuals who were capable of making the thing work. He also pondered his theory about magic being somehow responsible for the device’s operation and wondered if there were other tricks within the realm of imagination. Was it possible that he could somehow accomplish anything that he might imagine? He needed to think about it.

  By the late afternoon, Dieter had succeeded in bread-boarding a new device and had a feedback circuit in operation. He also did some informal testing to see if the machine would quit working if he moved away from his workbench. And, the equipment continued to work as long as he was anywhere in the building.

  He shut the device down and then asked Florian to fire it up. Per Dieter’s instructions, Florian walked upstairs and exited the building. The swarthy man quietly started the device, waited for things to stabilize, and then walked out of the room. Dieter watched the output gauges and saw the power output gradually decrease until it stopped altogether. About ten minutes later, Florian returned to the laboratory carrying a sack of pastries.

  “How far did you go?” Dieter demanded.

  “I walked down to Klaus’s and picked up a snack. What happened to the device?”

  “It gradually faded out and did not power up again when you returned. See if it will start again for you.”

  “Very well,” Florian said.

  He stepped over to the machine and flipped the switch off and then on again. The gauges immediately sprung to life as the device started working.

  “Now that is very interesting,” Florian said.

  “Indeed,” Dieter responded. “I think we are going to have to have a long conversation with Ignatz to see the best way to test this accurately.”

  “From what you are saying,” Florian responded, “I got about twenty meters outside of the door when the machine stopped working, as a guess.”

  “That sounds about right,” Dieter replied. “But, we need to get some tight measurements.”

  “Very true,” Florian said. “But I don’t think Ignatz will want to do that here in Frankfort. We need to get out into the country somewhere without other people around.”

  “But where would you buy your pastries then?” Dieter asked with a small grin.

  “We would simply have to suffer for the Reich,” Florian deadpanned.

  “I’m pretty sure Ignatz has been thinking about things like that,” Dieter replied. “It’s his job, after all.”

  “True,” Florian agreed. “I do wonder what practical use this will have if one of us has to stay near it all the time to keep it in operation.”

  “We may end up having to test the entire population to find the people who can make the things work.”

  “Is that even possible?”

  Dieter shook his head. “I have no idea.”

  The excitement of building and testing the equipment had caused Dieter to forget all about the events of his morning walk to the lab. When he walked into his rooming house, he was reminded about the new tenant upstairs and wondered if Frau Hohltaube was home. And he was curious about what had happened to that poor woman in the alley who had been assaulted by the Gestapo.

  The smell of cooking sausage reminded him that he had worked through lunch and was very hungry. He made his way quickly up the stairs to visit the toilet and the bathroom. After washing his hands, he prepared to walk back downstairs for supper. As he stepped into the hallway, Frau Hohltaube opened her door and looked out at Dieter.

  “Could you come in for a minute, Herr Faust?” she asked.

  Without a word, he walked over to her door and followed her into her room. It was much smaller than his turret room with space for a bed, two chairs, and a small table. Propped up on the bed was a thin woman with blond hair. It was hard to see what she looked like because of the bruising on her face.

  “This is Jette Meier,” Frau Hohltaube said.

  “I want to thank you for rescuing me this morning,” she said in a slurred voice. “They were talking, and they planned to kill me when they were… finished.”

  Dieter quickly walked over and knelt by the bed. “I am so sorry you had to endure those animals. I don’t know what this country is coming to. I just wish I had come sooner.”

  “I am glad you came at all,” she said. “And Frau Hohltaube as well. You could have been arrested yourselves for what you did.”

  “There is nothing to worry about on that matter,” Frau Hohltaube said. “I believe we convinced them that they would be in trouble if they stayed around.”

  Dieter certainly hoped so, although, as he thought about it, there was something very strange about that morning’s event. Frau Hohltaube was mysterious and scary.

  “It is not necessary to say anything to Herr Becker about my guest,” the old woman said. “She will remain here for a couple of days to recuperate and then move on.”

  He stood up and faced the old lady, and then looked back at Jette. “I will say nothing.”

  “Perhaps you should make your way to supper,” Frau Hohltaube said. “I will be down shortly.”

  “Very well,” he said.

  He nodded to Jette and then to Frau Hohltaube and left the room.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  October 24, 1939

  Dieter made his way along the dark hallway and down the stairs to the bathroom. He had a busy day planned and had awakened early. One benefit of his early hours was the shorter line at the bathroom. Only one man was ahead of him. He was able to quickly shave and clean himself before heading downstairs to gather his breakfast. While he washed, he had hung his towel on the glass rod. As he reached for the towel, he studied the rod and pondered the possibilities.

  The Beckers always served breakfast at 7 AM. Early, as usual, he stuf
fed two rolls in his coat pocket and munched on the third as he left the rooming house. The walk to the lab was without incident. He walked the opposite side of the street from the alley, where the Gestapo men had assaulted the Jewish girl. He has always ignored the Nazi propaganda about the depredations of the Jews in Germany. But there was no question in his mind that some of the Germans were willing to take advantage of unfortunate people. He could imagine the terror the little Jewish girl experienced when those three Gestapo agents dragged her into the alley.

  As usual, Ignatz had arrived earlier than anyone in the lab. He walked out of his office as Dieter retrieved his first cup of coffee of the day.

  “So, Dieter, what are your plans for the day?” Ignatz asked.

  “I have the breadboard assembly of the power module completed. It awaits having Konrad assemble the case. Then he can build a proper chassis for it. That being said, can you get me a glass rod?”

  “A glass rod?” Ignatz appeared slightly confused.

  “Yes, well, I had an idea this morning that I would like to try.”

  “A glass rod?” Ignatz repeated.

  “You know, nobody really knows whether light is a waveform or a particle, correct?”

  “I believe it to be a waveform,” Ignatz replied, “but I understand what you are asking.”

  “I would like to see if I could use the glass rod to focus a beam of light. Something like using a magnifying glass to scorch things with the sun.”

  “And you want to use the Faust Generator to provide the power for the experiment.”

  “When did you decide to name the device?” Dieter asked.

  “Just this moment, Dieter.” Ignatz slapped him on the shoulder with a laugh. “You want to receive credit for your invention, don’t you?”

  “I honestly never thought about it,” Dieter replied. “I’ve been so wrapped up in this thing I just assumed you would figure out a way to make money off of it.”

  “There is that,” Ignatz chuckled. “I think this device will make all of us very rich. But I am interrupting you. Let me see if I can find a glass rod in one of the catalogs. If there is something here in Frankfort, I will go pick it up for you.”

  “You shouldn’t have to do that,” Dieter said. “I can pick it up.”

  “But, no. You must stay here and work. With your wonderful ideas, I cannot allow you to wander around the city when you could be inventing important things.”

  “Uh… thanks, I think,” Dieter commented. “I don’t know if something like this would work, but I thought it would be worth a try.”

  “I will go look for a glass rod,” Ignatz said, “You get to work.”

  Dieter nodded. The lab manager was pretty easy-going, but when he gave specific orders, he was serious about it. Dieter turned back to his workbench and studied the device he had assembled the previous day. He wondered if his idea would prove out, but something told him it would work well.

  A half-hour later, Konrad walked into the lab. After hanging up his coat and grabbing the obligatory coffee, he moved over to Dieter’s bench.

  “All is well, Dieter?” he asked.

  “Yes. I have the device breadboarded. What do you need to fabricate the chassis and case for the device?”

  “I believe I can handle most of it myself,” Konrad said. “I will probably want to consult with you on the exact placement of the components. Since I cannot make the device work, I will have to rely upon you to get it exactly right.”

  Dieter chuckled. “You are an artist at putting things like this together. I’m not sure I can give any helpful advice.”

  Konrad blushed slightly. “Well, we try. It really bothers me that I cannot make the device work. But that is not your fault.”

  “I don’t believe it’s anybody’s fault, Konrad. It is what it is. But I do appreciate your help.”

  “Right. Very well.” He began sketching on a clean page of his lab notebook. “I think we can put this device into a compact case, and it would be portable. I have wondered if you will find it necessary to gang the devices to provide adequate power for heavy loads.”

  “That has bothered me, too,” Dieter said. “We need to determine the maximum level of the power the device can generate. I think we’ll have to talk to Ignatz on how to conduct that experiment.”

  Konrad chuckled. “It would not do to melt the building.”

  “Exactly,” Dieter laughed in return. “That might ruin our whole day.”

  Konrad continued sketching, and the two scientists worked on how to place the components in the case. Later that morning, Ignatz stepped over next to Dieter and held out a glass rod.

  “Is this what you were looking for?”

  The rod was about a meter and a half long and about two centimeters in diameter. Dieter took it from Ignatz and studied it carefully.

  “Yes, I think this might work.”

  “What do you have in mind if I might ask?”

  “I think we might be able to produce a beam of light that can be seen at great distances. Something like that might be useful as a navigation device, or perhaps for signaling.”

  Konrad shook his head. “I just don’t know where you come up with these ideas, Dieter.”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Dieter laughed.

  “Try me.”

  “I noticed the towel rack in the bathroom this morning. It is a glass rod. It got me thinking.”

  “You’re right,” Konrad laughed, “I don’t believe you. But let me give you room to work.”

  Konrad picked up the apparatus and the sketch and moved over to his bench. Dieter laid the rod on the workspace and studied it. It seemed natural for him to visualize what he wanted to do. But he would need help with this one.

  “Hey, Florian!” he called.

  “What do you want?”

  “Take a look at this and see if you can help me.”

  Florian left his bench and walked over.

  “Glass rod. What will it do?”

  “I think it will give us a beam of focused light.”

  Florian raised an eyebrow. “I suppose it might if you think so. What do you need help with?”

  “Can you polish the ends of the rod perfectly flat? Then maybe dip one end in molten silver. The other should have silver as well, but it shouldn’t be opaque.”

  “The first is easy. The second? I think we’ll need a vacuum chamber of some kind. Let me think about this.”

  “Right,” Dieter said. “I’ll give you fifteen minutes.”

  “Ha! It may take twenty.”

  “Now that you mention it, you are probably correct. You are a layabout.”

  “Your lack of respect for my immense abilities is astonishing.”

  “Oh, I respect your abilities. It’s your personality and work ethic that bothers me.”

  “Obviously, you are not perceptive,” Florian rejoined.

  He grinned. “In this case, I don’t need to be.”

  Dieter spent the afternoon sketching and writing ideas in his lab notebook. If any of them worked as he thought they might, it would be of massive value to Germany. Though he left at his usual time, both Konrad and Florian continued working.

  Dieter felt weary after the day’s work and wondered why. All he had done was sit at his workbench and sketch ideas. And it was a lot of fun. The walk home was uneventful, and he retreated to his room on the third floor to relax a bit before dinner.

  He stretched out on his bed and picked up the electrical engineering textbook and continued reading. Some of the chapters were hard to understand, and his eyes grew heavy. The book started to slip out of his hands when a knock at the door halted his slide into sleep. He slid out of bed and walked over to the door. Pulling the door open, he found Frau Hohltaube and Jette Meir standing in the hall.

  “Please come in,” he said.

  “I would like to arrange a safe position for Fräuline Meier. She has no home or job.”

  “No home?” Dieter asked.


  “Her parents were picked up by the Gestapo and her house confiscated,” the old woman explained. “I am assigning the task to you of helping her.”

  “What?” he exclaimed.

  “You must help her find a job. Herr Richter moved out today, so I believe his room is available. I will speak with the Beckers.”

  “Thank you,” the girl said softly. “You are so kind. Why does the nation want to destroy us?”

  “Some evil men control this country,” Frau Hohltaube explained. “They have conspired to blame every problem on the Jews. And that is grossly immoral.”

  Dieter looked at the girl. “Jette, what kind of skills do you have? Can you use a typewriter?”

  “Yes, Herr Faust,” she said softly.

  Dieter gazed at the waifish blond and felt the urge to protect her. The so-called guardians of this country had attacked her and violated her. She was now an orphan for all intents and purposes.

  “How old are you, Jette?” he asked.

  “I am seventeen.”

  He shook his head in anger. “Very well, Frau Hohltaube, I will do what I can. Jette, will you walk to work with me tomorrow? I will introduce you to my manager. Hopefully, he will recognize the need for clerical help. His office is simply a mess.”

  “Thank you, Herr Faust,” she said.

  “My name is Dieter. You can call me that.”

  “But that would be disrespectful to someone older than me.”

  “I am twenty-four. I am not that much older than you.”

  The Beckers kept a handbell in the dining room and rang it when meals were ready. Dieter looked up suddenly when he heard the bell ring.

  “That would be supper,” he said. “Have you arranged for Jette to eat in the dining room?” he asked the old woman.

  “Yes. I introduced her to Herr and Frau Becker. She will be able to sleep in her new room tonight. And she can eat with us at the table.”

  “That’s good,” Dieter said. “We should maybe head towards the dining room before the best food disappears.”

  The old woman snorted. “I will see to it that we all have plenty to eat.”

  Dieter wondered if Frau Hohltaube frightened the Beckers as much she did him. He thought she was a scary old bag. Yet he saw another side of her, regarding her concern for the girl. Apparently, she had the same urgent need to protect Jette, much as he did. He hoped he did not run afoul of the Gestapo by helping her. Regardless of the risk, he was going to make sure she found a job and that he could protect her from the evil men in this country.