Shadow * Axis: Turkey in WWII AAR

[Valentinan]

Goal: This narrative AAR is designed to show elements of spying system and its influence on game-play.

What's different? In my last AAR I simply discussed a recent save-game on naval strategy without much regard to subscriber comment. Not too much fun. So, this time I thought, why not let the direction of inquiry depend on subscriber comment? In other words, you tell me what you want to see. To this end I've accumulated a myriad of screen shots that allow me to go back and retrieve all kinds of information. I've even got some battle action to make this an interesting experience. THREAD ALERT. THREAD ALERT. A shout out here to Turkish Paradox Players' Club! This is your AAR alert.

Game Spec: HOI3 v1.2 Turkey; '36 The Road to War; Very Easy, all manual control (with notable exceptions). This was a vanilla game and did not employ any mods or cheats. Saves were monthly and yearly. Only one CTS reported over the several days of this game (9/13/09—9/21/09). Run on AMD Athlon 64x2 Dual Core Processor 4800+964MHz 1.00GB RAM; XP Pro v2002 SP3.

Preamble: Turkey is something of a “learn to play” country as it has an army, navy, and air force, as well as important frontiers in Europe, Asia, and Mid East. I have waged a number of successful campaigns in HOI2 on the Easy setting. One reason alliances are shunned is because Turkey has such long-running fronts that can be easily over-run by any one of of the major powers. So, to win as Turkey is to simply end the game with more territory than you started. Nobody expects Turkey to be the next super-power, the strategy is more subtle. Now comes HOI3. Naturally I tried this strategy and once again I was surprised with the result. It's still hard to say how much all the spying activity paid off, but I surely learned how to employ spies to a better advantage. Hopefully readers will come away with new information and possible suggestions for improved game play.

[Valentinan]

S H A D O W * A X I S
(Turkey in WWII AAR)

Turkish youth!

Your first duty is to project and preserve the Turkish independence and the
Turkish Republic forever. This is the very foundation of your existence
and your future. This foundation is your most precious treasure.

By violence and ruse, all the fortresses of your beloved fatherland may be captured, all its shipyards occupied, all its armies dispersed and every part of the country invaded.

And sadder and graver than all these circumstances, those who hold power within the country may be in error, misguided and may even be traitors. Furthermore, they may identify their personal interests with the political designs of the invaders.

The country may be impoverished, ruined and exhausted.

You, the youth of Turkey's future, even in such circumstances, it is your
duty to save the Turkish independence and Republic. The strength you need
is in your noble blood within your veins

[Valentinan]

Historical Note:
Independence War vet; one survivor left:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=382_1207293244


AAR 27 Sept 1947 Tehran Conference:

Tehran. I can't believe I'm back in Tehran.

It's not like any city in the world, certainly not like Brooklyn where I grew up. I sighed as the political official at the hotel was checking my credentials. Just then the clerk blurts out "Your usual room Mr. Rick?"

The General slammed the newspaper down on the desk. It had been about two weeks now since calm was restored the city following it's occupation in July. General Mehmet Ali, Chief of the Turkish Navy gazed over the day's newspaper showing a map of the victorious army's progress.

Source: Gunes (Conservative), Istanbul, 30 Apr 36, page 1 above the fold: VICTORY a lightning strike into Tehran by several light armor formations supported by the elite mountain corps insures a quick victory against extreemest elements in Persia.




The general was blessed with a photographic memory and could instantly recall any information on a particular subject. His memory was organized by dates, as for example, he recalled seeing the actual specs of the units involved at a briefing on 6 January 1946:





The General's knowledge of the mountain troops came from an army briefing during the elimination of the Caspian Sea pocket on 24 July 1947:




A decorated veteran of WW1, the navy secretary job is largely ceremonial. The general makes a tremendous impact at state functions in full dress uniform, the "Hero of Gelibolu" (English: Gallipoli) is what they called him. In this capacity Ali reported directly to Ataturk himself, who liked having the general around to harass the British and serve as a reminder to western powers what Turkey is capable of.


Historical: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news_detail.php?id=40694


But, what most people don't know is he was also head of military intelligence, the secretive Turkish Marine Service (TMS), and the next thing on the General's mind was his latest report to the directorate. He writes; "I have our number one on the detain list currently under house arrest at the Golden Lion Hotel here in Tehran. Because of the war ministry's sensitivity to the subject I will lead the investigation and report to you as soon as a verdict is reached."

Back at his hotel room Rick found himself looking at the closeness of his shave in the bathroom mirror. All those efforts to keep this beautiful country out of war, and this is what it comes down to. The move to Tehran at this moment was tricky, but if any facts of his involvement became known it was best to be in Tehran for damage control. Rick brushed the shoulders of his superbly tailored black tuxedo, then stuffed a couple of the General's favorite Havana cigars in his vest pocket. Time to go.

Rick was waiting at his usual table in the bar when the General made his appearance. The fat man. Can't ever get around the fat man. But, I think my intelligence photo of the radar works around Igdir may be my ticket out of here.

Background. The town of Igdir is on the Turkish border with Persia. The following is a detail from from Ataturk's mapboard during the wargames in 1942 (source: Ihlas Haber Ajans (trilingual news agency (French, Russian, Turkish), Istanbuul 18 Nov 42, page 1, The German ambassador to Ankara was recalled today for consultations after several members of the embassy staff werer declared persona non grata by Turkish investigative services. This according to a high government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. A map of southeast Turkey was featured in the investigation.)





General Ali had come from a long line of old Armenian fishermen, and was a stout and barrel-chested gentleman. Fortunately in his line of work he need not wear his uniform, and that allowed him to wear very expensive suits that were loosely tailored to his specifications. For a big man he moved amazingly fast. Rapidly pulling off his traditional hat he eased into Rick's booth with the grace of gazelle. There was no need for security, the only customers at the hotel were military personal, mostly staff officers from the local headquarters units. There were police units at every corner of the city, and his aid's were waiting out in the car to sound the alarm on his immediate word. But, as usual, Rick insists on meeting in public, and that's what makes him so dangerous.

Rick leaned forward towards the General, smiled, and greeted his old friend Mehmet. Pulling out the Cuban cigars he quickly located his waiter and using his limited Persian lexicon ordered the General a drink.

As head of intelligence it was his job to gather information, not fill the jails. So long as Rick cooperated he could stay out of jail, and fear of never again seeing the light of day is just the edge he needed to maintain control over his victims. “Thanks Rick. By the way, here's a map that we recently found in the archives of the Persian War Ministry.”





“ and this:”






“What do you think of these Rick? The Persian Ministry says they got these from you!”

Rick examined the maps carefully, saying something about them looking like ordinary political maps, with no military significance whatsoever. Don't worry about this Mehmet, it's nothing.

“No, no, no Rick. Look at the dates, look, look at the dates. Fourteen June, 1943. Just two months prior to the invasion. Also, the disposition of forces is most correct. No no no, I would consider this to be of great military significance. So, now you come clean or go to jail. You decide."

Rick looked up from his drink and looked the fat man right in the eyes, then smiled. Relax, I told you I'd give you everything you wanted. Just give me a few minutes. You know that was over four years ago. I can't remember every thing from four years ago as if it was yesterday. First, lets have a cigar and toast to the glory of the Turkish military and it's most audacious victory! Besides, I thought you wanted to talk about Igdir. Let's talk about Igdir first, then get back to the subject of history.

"Where did you get this information Rick. I want names and places, names and places! The dates I will work out on my own later, you know me. No more delays!”


Continued ...

[Myth]

Ooh, an espionage AAR, how fun! Reminds me a bit of Casablanca and The Maltese Falcon, so far. Rick, the fat man...

[Valentinan]

Myth if you could ask a question or make a comment we'll move the story along.

[Myth]

Hmm, what kind of questions? What were your priorities for spies, I want countries and tasks. Did the Turkish intelligence services get any juicy insider details about backroom political deals or the like?

[Valentinan]

Rich thought to himself'; The fat man is digging up ancient history. Why? That was four years ago and a whole war away. What's his angle. Let's start with the standard cover story:

Ok, OK, OK! I said impulsively. After the German invasion I left Paris for Istanbul. There I bought a partnership in a night club, and my partner, Mr. Archer, was murdered in a botched robbery while walking an employee home. I was cleared of all charges, you can verify that. The commandant was General Seven. Call Seven, he'll verify all this.

Background: Deutsche Turkei Zeituang (German-Language), Alanya/Antalya, 11 Dec 40, page 1; German armed forces declared victory in the struggle with France, while a new French government was organized in Vichy. Henri-Philippe Petain signed the armistice requiring the French Army to be disbanded except for a force of 100,000 to maintain domestic order. The 1.5 million French soldiers captured by the Germans were to remain prisoners of war. The north and west of former France would temporarily remain under German occupation until Great Britain recognizes the German and Russian hegemony over the former Poland. Photo: Marshall Petain





Ali thought to himself, “General Seven in Istanbul” Humm. His photographic memory came back with the very record he was searching for; General Seven's intelligence report on Vichy France dated January of 1942.





At that time the intelligence was still saying that Vichy France had no energy, oil, or fuel. It had forty-three IC's, and almost no manpower. Also, the officer corps was fairly depleted. Based on current research projects it appears that Vichy France was currently doing nothing but make-work projects. They were also weak in construction technology, so despite the forty-three IC's available to it, Vichy had no plans for growth, and no way of holding onto any of her many possessions in Africa.


Background: Turkish Daily News (liberal English language) Istanbul, 28 Apr 41, editorial page cartoon:






General Ali later learned from an intercepted Vichy diplomatic bag just how accurate Sharp's report was. This intercept is dated 31 Jan 42;





The French intercept fairly confirmed everything the Ali had suspected, excepting, that is, the status of the officer corps. It also seems that the French were trying to hide IC's currently in use (9), as the country was obviously in full production.

As Rick droned on and on, the General suddenly blurted out, “I know all that. I have seen your dossier. It is quite extensive. Proceed by telling me what you know about a certain Vichy diplomat pouch that disappeared in Istanbul. You were in on that job, weren't you Rick?”

Rick became animated with that question. You're not going to drag up that old caper again are you? I already told Sharp everything I know. Go ask him if you so interested. There's nothing more to say.

“Not so fast Rick. As I remember there was a French woman who had a plane to catch. Somebody bribed Sharp to let her plane leave the airport. These two events were tied together wern't they? You didn't really think we'd believe it was all just a circumstance, did you?

Well, Rick, start talking. Talk now you'll make a fine washer-boy at the prison in Istanbul.”

[Myth]

That's a fantastic picture of the German soldier and Petain. But what is Rick hiding?

[BoemsiBoemsie]

Jeah funny picture. The old dude waiving his walking cane and the Nazi soldier behind him. Wouldn't that be cool to have when you end up in a retirement home? Make way you oldies, Wehrmacht coming thrue!

Edit - the Nazi storm trooper looks a bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger. haha

[Valentinan]

S H A D O W * A X I S
(Turkey in WWII AAR)

1941: We'll Always Have Paris





(above) Background; Security ministry file: Undercover surveillance photo of suspected American spy talking with General Mehmet Ali, Chief of the Turkish Navy, and head of military intelligence (Turkish Marine Service; TMS) taken at the Golden Lion Hotel in Tehran on 27 Sept 1947.

Staring across the table from perhaps the most dangerous man in Turkey, Rick began spinning his usual web of lies. If you remember by 1942 most of Europe was occupied by the Nazis, and people from all over came to Istanbul, an independent city, to try to get exit visas to countries that are still free. Many people wait in Casablanca to get transit letters. I simply owned a night club attractive to foreign visitors, but there were a few Mafia types lurking about who sold visas and sometimes forged papers, anything for a price. The Mafia also bribed the local officials, so you couldn't say boo to the authorities, you know General, the usual Istanbul rif-raff.

“Give me his name Rick, I need names.”

Signor Ferrari. An Italian from Sicily, if I remember correctly.

The General's photographic memory soon located the file he wanted, this from 27 Aug. 1941. Some sensitive government facts were found during the routine arrest of a criminal. The document, he remembers looking at just the once:





Background: Adalet (Right-wing), Ankara, 18 Apr 41, page 3; A hotbed of spies. An unnamed source in the security directorate informs us that foreign intelligence activity in the capitol has reached unprecedented levels with nearly thirty arrests over the past five months. Photo: Authorities arrest Signor Ferrari as he pulls out a gun at Rick's American nightclub.






A smile overcame the general face, and he laughed deeply. “I should have known you'd give me that tired story. You are an incredible specimen Rick, impeccable and completely predictable. It's like watching an old motion picture.” The General now leaned in and spoke very softly on a very touchy subject. “Do you know what papers Renault was caught with??

If the story had to be told, at least put your own spin on it. Listen General, you got it wrong. Just like you, Sharp believed I was tied up in the thing, so I got a ride downtown. But, it was the Frenchman, Renault, the man in photo struggling with Ferrari. He wanted to hire a boat to smuggle the papers out of the country and somehow got into a fight with the local Mafia over the cost of a bribe.

“Of course Rick, but don't avoid the question. I'll ask again, only a little slower this time: Do you know what those papers were? They were a diplomatic report for President Ataturk showing him that relations with Vichy France had fallen so far that a declaration of war was now in the works.”

Gaging Rick's expression from the previous kernel the General now set him up the kill: “But, the real question is: Who in the Government leaked the papers?”

Rick anticipated this ploy, and in the course of the verbal jujitsu reversed the question and acted curious about who it could be, speculating even that it might be someone who hung out at the club? Perhaps it was some low-level bureaucrat trying to make an extra buck. He came into the club on a lark, hoping to make contact with a foreigner and the mafia gave him the bite. I can't watch everyone who comes into this club, I'm just a businessman.

“Humm,” the general groaned. "OK Rick, maybe this will refresh your memory. Who is this girl?”

[Myth]

Who is that girl? Why did relations deteriorate so much the war came between Turkey and Vichy? What did the Germans think of this?

[Valentinan]

The memories all came flooding back for Rick.

Ilsa. Ilsa Lund. She was a beautiful Mata Hara working for the Germans, but he didn't know it at the time. A real cool customer, and easy on the eyes. One day in '42 she came strolling into my office at the club, playing that innocent act so well. She'd been escorted by Laszlo, Victor Laszlo, an agent working for the Free French. Victor was under cover as an archeologist, and the two had recently been to Beriut, Lebanon for the opening of the national historical museum.


Historical: http://www.lebanon.com/where/lebanon...onalmuseum.htm


I had known Ilsa from Paris, and who knows, we could have been something if the German Army hadn't arrived when it did. I remember the exact day the city fell, the German's wore grey and Ilsa wore blue. I had my American passport and arranged a flight to Istanbul for the two of us. This was one of the few destinations the German's were not concerned about. But, at the last moment Ilsa told me she had to go to Marseilles to visit her sister. Still, somehow I knew I'd see her again someday, and that's why I wasn't surprised when of all the gin joints in the world, she came into my club in Istanbul.

If there's one thing in my business that is fatal, it's getting caught in a lie. The key is to mix in just the right amount of truth to make it palitable. The fat man was angling for something, so there was no denying him an answer. I simply told him what he already knew. Yes, I remember that face, who could forget it? That's Ilsa Lund. Ya, I'd seen her at the club, what of it?

The General grinned like a Cheshire cat playing with its dinner. “I think she was more than an ordinary customer. Perhaps these surveillance photos will jog your memory. You American's are so pathetic, a non-smoking club in the heart of Istanbul! Forcing your customers to stand outside to smoke, and you call yourselves civilized! Still, it makes an easy mark for our operatives. Take these photos for example. Do you recognize that man on the left that you and the pretty lady are talking to?





I should have known he'd ask that question, and it's my own fault for not making mention of it first. Now I have to tell more than I'm prepared to. Oh ya, that's Victor Laszlo, the French archeologist. Ilsa was planning on marrying him. They had just arrived from Lebanon for the opening of a new history museum. Laszlo was out of work, with the war on and all. I had known Ilsa from Paris, and she had stopped by to borrow some money. But, I had to turn her down.

Given the name of Victor Laszlo, the General's memory instantly revealed an important clue. Laslow had been working for the Free French, and doing all he could to see to it that Lebanon was returned to France. Seems he came to Istanbul to gain intelligence on Turkey's military intentions in the region. And he had the right bait; somehow he obtained this top secret report on the defences of Beriut:





“Yes Rick, it all makes sense now. Laszlo had come to the club to meet with Ferrari. Ferrari obtained that secret Turkish report and must have wanted to trade it to Laszlo for information on the Turkish military build-up on the border of Syria-Lebanon. Captain Louis Renault of the French Embassy got wind of the plan and tried to intercept Ferrari before the transfer could take place. The secret Vichy report ended up on the desk of General Sharp, and the Turkish secrets never left the country. Laszlo had come up empty-handed, but you apparently bribed Sharp to get the couple out of the country. Why'd you do that Rick? What was your real involvement in this plot?"

Rick was becoming emotional now. His eye's welled up, but he was somehow able to maintain his composure. Well, you got me there General, I admit it, I was in love with her. She didn't come to the club to ask for money, she really asked for my help in getting her and Victor out of the country. She knew I had connections to get the necessary visas, and so I helped her. Really, I'm just a love-sick American in Istanbul trying to help an old flame.

The General now had the complete story. What he didn't reveal was that Renault was a double-agent in the Vichy embassy working on operation Cobra, the Turkish invasion of Syria-Lebanon. The General had first been briefed about the operation on 13 July 1941:




It now seems that Renault had gotten wind of the Turkish plans, and tried to intercept Ferrari, but without blowing his cover. That's the reason why Ferrari went to jail and Renault went back to Vichy France (on pretext of diplomatic immunity). But, it wouldn't be long before war broke out. Yes, he remembers that date too, 8 Aug, 1943:





It was a thread-bear operation as the Turkish army had to maintain it's presence on the Russian border. Thus, they could only spare one infantry division and a few cavalry for the job. If not for the prime intellegence obtained by General Sharp, the invasion would never have happened:





The meger force would prove more than a match for the token resistance.





Within a week the Turkish army was on the road to Beriut.





The city's fall came not a month into the campaign.





The General also couldn't forget the look on President Ataturk's face when he met with him to discuss further adventures against the French in Africa. "Now who's the sick man of Europe," the President quipped!


Background: President's map board after the fall of Beriut:





Ataturk was praised as a hero. Balancing on the edge of a sword between the Soviets and the Axis, all for the greater glory of Turkey. It was viewed as a great victory by the people, and praised by Imam's as a move for the greater good of Islam.


Source: Yeni Safak (Islamist), Istanbul, 28 Oct 1943, article page 1: The Righteous Forces of Islam on the March. Photo: Map of greater Turkey:





Still, General Ali suspected that Rick was more involved than he was led to believe. Ferrari was the key. Ferrari was a small fry. A middleman who kept to the Mafia code and met his fate under rough interogation. They never found out who his handler was. But, Rick might know. The General had to get the information from Rick. Ahh. Now he was developing a plan. “Rick. Tell me what you know about the Italian Mafia and it's underground connections in Turkey?

Rick was becoming increasingly alarmed. He knew he was getting into a lot of trouble, but didn't show it. He smiled. Now's time to switch the conversation, so he told the general in so many words that he was becoming tired with all talk, and was looking forward to a night with a little entertainment. Have you found any good belly-dancing clubs here in Tehran since you arrived General?

Mehmet could not believe his ears. Rick was playing right into his hands. A little more time was all he needed to find the source of leaks within the Government. Rick would serve up the information on a silver platter while he watched the dance of a hundred veils. “Yes. Yes. Perhaps a little entertainment would be beneficial. We'll take my car.”

Rick immediately swiveled in the direction of the waiter with the universal sign of “check please.” He was really trying to hid the expression of relief on his face because he hadn't given up his true involvement in the caper. It was he who had set up the meeting between Laszlo and Ferrari, that's what Ilsa had really asked him to do. But, at the time he didn't know she was really working for the Germans, and this had all been a set-up to get Turkey involved in the middle-east to stave-off the British. Nothing like getting one neutral to knock off another.

The British never had an inkling of the German plan. Even on the eve of the invasion, Churchill was asked a direct question by the press, and he hadn't a clue what was going on.

Background: Turkish Daily News (liberal English language) Istanbul, 7 Aug 1943, page 1: British Prime Minister makes light of Turkey policy saying: “Everything is still way up in the air. Call on me again when the Turks wake-up from their long slumber.” Photo:





Ilsa would cover her tracks at Rick's expense. Rick never suspected her motives, and he didn't find out about the deception until well after the invasion was over. Ilsa was behind obtaining the defence plans of Beirut, and she used Laszlo to gain a meeting with Ferrari. Ilsa cleverly used the documents as the packaging for the cash payment, and Laszlo was none the wiser. Knowing the Vichy defence plans would fall into the hands of the Turks and Laszlo would be made the patsy, Ilsa made the call to the police. But, when Renault unexpectedly showed-up it was he who was detained instead of Laszlo. Ilsa planned on staying with Rick for the time being, but after the botched caper she pleaded with Rick to bribe General Sharp to allow her and Laszlo escape the country. General Sharp had the intelligence coup of a lifetime, and seemed ever so grateful to take the money and fulfill the request for visas.

After Ferrari died suddenly in prison General Sharp would be tasked by Headquarters in Ankara to continue the hunt for the source of the leaked documents. By now the General realized it was far too late, that he had no more leads, yet he still issued the famous command: "Round up the usual suspects!"

Rick went on with his life knowing now he'd never see Ilsa again. But then again, they'd always have Paris.

[Myth]

My goodness, Rick seems to be something of a sucker!

[Artr Thormodr]

Excellent read and very interesting. Nice to see Vichy France get pummeled.

[Valentinan]

S H A D O W * A X I S

(Turkey in WWII AAR)

Ch:3 The Stuff Dreams are Made of


The doorman led Rick out of the hotel and into the back seat of large Mercedes parked in front. He slid onto the seat next to the General, who barked at the driver. The car sped away in the cool night air, arriving a few minutes later in front of a large warehouse building surrounded by Turkish guards.

Hey, Rick acclaimed, I thought I asked to see some dancing girls.

“Indeed you will my good friend, ” pronounced the General “We happened to find one working right here in Tehran, she was picked up by our security forces for spying not a day ago. I think you might like to meet her Rick. “

The two took the open elevator to the top floor where the General explained he'd set up offices. When the elevator reached its destination Rick looked out through the grate, his eyes meeting those of a woman standing on the opposite side:





Rick did indeed recognized her. A lump developed in his throat, and for once he was speechless. The General was a ruthless individual, and he knew now just how much danger he was in.

[Insentient]

Nice AAR but there's an inconsistency there. Atatürk should be dead when Turkey invaded Syria in 1943 as he dies november 10th 1938... Or isn't it in the events for HOI 3? I never played with Turkey so i might be mistaken.

Or in your story Atatürk never dies and is a figure who would like to see the lands lost in the WW1 retaken for the Republic of Turkey?

[Subcomandante]

I want my sun-drenched wind-swept Ingrid Bergman kiss!

[Valentinan]

**Insentient** You are correct about the historical Ataturk. I'll explain that in this chapter (somehow).

**Subcomandante** She has departed in the previous chapter. But, since you requested it, I'll deliver in a future chapter (not this one).

[Valentinan]

Flashback *** FLASHBACK *** Flashback


December 31, 1939:

It was new-years eve, 1939, and a mysterious woman came into the club. She was a Russian who went by the name of Ruth, Ruth Wonderly, which is as best as I can pronounce it. She claimed to be looking for her missing sister, taken-up in the slave trade no doubt, she claimed, by a man named Thursby. Ruth was to meet Thursby to negotiate for the release of her sister, but she was afraid for her own kidnapping, so my partner, Miles Archer, volunteered to follow her that night for her own safety.



I was at the club early the next day working on my hangover when the police came knocking. Archer, it seems, was found shot, dead, lying in the gutter. I told them what I knew about the meeting with Thursby. It was all the truth, but from those looks I knew they would soon be back. So. I'd better try to get the the bottom of things to save my own skin. I vaguely remember her mentioning the name of a hotel, and as soon as the police departed I called. Seems she had already checked out, and didn't leave a forwarding address. The police soon returned, faster than I had expected, this time to tell me that the Thursby was also dead. They continued to grill me about my my story. Seems that Thursby was known to deal in military secrets, and they believed I was making up the whole story about the mysterious woman. They might have thrown me in jail if I didn't have a few political connections. A few years back at a party at the American embassy I made an impression on President Ataturk, the big cheese. I kept a signed photo of his on the office wall. It was my “get out of jail free” card, and it again worked its charm time and again.




No sooner than the police left that a man burst into my office brandishing a gun. He got the drop on me all-right:





The man searched my person and my entire office, but came-up empty. Go ahead, I said, search the place, the police were just here, maybe you want ask them what they found. It was then his entire disposition changed, and he put the gun away.

“I apologize Mr. Rick, but I had to make sure you were not hiding anything from me. My name is Cairo, Joel Cairo. May a stranger offer condolences for your partner's unfortunate death?"

Cairo now became my only lead, so I played along. He wanted to know if there is any connection between Archer's and Thursby's death. I told him about the woman, just to see if his eyes light up. And they did!

”I'm trying to recover, an ornament that, ah, shall we say has been mislaid...I thought and hoped you could assist me. The ornament, ah, is a statuette, the black figure of a bird...I am prepared to offer $5000 and a promise that - what is the phrase? (He gestures knowingly) No questions will be asked!”

Listen, I said. I'll tell you what you want to know, but first tell me where Ruth is. He seemed most agreeable to the suggestion. She was in his hotel room, and he'd take me there. So, we made for Cairo's room, and sure enough the Ruth met us at the door. We were all on friendly terms now, and had a round of drinks. Ruth and Cairo then had a semi-private conversation, and all I could make out was something about “the Fat Man” That's when I passed out from the micky they slipped into my drink.

When I awoke the two were gone. I washed my face in the bathroom sink, and was about to leave when I noticed the newspaper on end table with a circle around the arrival time of the Orient Express. That got me to thinking, so I took a cab to the train station. The whole place was a mess with cops and firemen all about. It seems a fire had broken out on the loading dock. So, I returned to the club. I no sooner arrived when a man burst into my office. He staggered towards me clutching a bundle wrapped in newspaper. Then he collapsed and died. From the contents of his wallet I discovered his name was Jacoby, a Captain in the German Army.




Now I had a dead body on my hands! But, this was not something new in Istanbul. I called a good friend of mine in the Mafia, a man who did my dirty laundry for a fee. Then I sent Jacoby's package home with one of the bartenders for safe keeping, before heading out to Cairo's hotel room for the showdown. That was when I finally got to meet the “Fat Man.”

The man in Cairo's room was none other than General Ali. He offered me a drink, which I reluctantly turn down.

The general says; “We begin well, sir. I distrust a man who is careful not to drink too much, it's because he's not to be trusted when he does.”

I swore off drinking since I went to college, I'm hear to talk about the bird.

The General smiles, “Better and better. I distrust a close-mouthed man. He generally picks the wrong time to talk and says the wrong things. (he offers Rick a cigar—his favorite, Cuban.) Talking's something you can't do judiciously unless you keep in practice. Now, sir, we'll talk if you like. I'll tell you right out - I'm a man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk.

Your man Cairo here offered me $5000, does that still go?

General (chuckling): “You're the man for me, sir. No beating about the bush, right to the point. Let's talk about the black bird, by all means. But first, answer me a question. Are you here as Miss Wonderly's representative?”

No, I said. I'm here only for myself. What's so special about a black bird anyway?

“I'm surprised you don't know anything about it, but again you're an American. It was made in 1539 from gold and jewels from the coffers of the crusading Knights of Rhodes (the order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem). We all know the Holy Wars to them were largely a matter of loot. Buccaneer pirates stole the jewel-encrusted bird when it was sent by galley ships to Emperor Charles V of Spain, as a tribute, in appreciation for his granting them the island of Malta. It never reached Spain. Then in 1826 after its long disappearance, the bird turned up in Turkey in the possession of Sultan Mahmud II, the man who broke the power of the Janissaries, enabling him to reform the military and begin Westernization of the empire. That's his portrait on the wall behind you.




After the Sultan's death it re-appeared in Vienna, where by that time, it had acquired a painted coat of black enamel so that it looked nothing more than a fairly interesting black statuette. Afterwards, it kicked around Vienna for four score years, something of an expensive paper weight owned by people too stupid to see what it was under the skin."

Seems an antique dealer had recognized its real value, and hoping to get the best price contacted two known buyers, one in Turkey and the other in Bulgaria. President Ataturk's had a passionate, obsessive quest for the bird—in order to make his connection with the famous Sultan. But, the other bidder, a Bulgarian general named Zhekov, had connections in Germany, and after the Anschluss he had the bird stolen and sent to him.

Historical:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Zhekov


On behalf of Ataturk, General Ali secretly offered to buy the bird, and sent his Bulgarian agent by the name of Thursby, to close the deal with General Zhekov. But, Thursby had betrayed him: “I made him an offer, so I sent him some - ah, agents, to get it. Well, sir, he got it - and I haven't got it - BUT I'm going to get it.”

Now the Fat Man promises to offer Rick $50,000: $25,000 for the bird's delivery and either another $25,000 later on or one-fourth of the proceeds from its to Ataturk. He gloats while speculating on the bird's real value - possibly between a quarter of a million and a million dollars.

Just after dawn, when the club has closed, Rick makes a call and has the bartender bring the bundle to the hotel. In a frenzy, General Ali, Cairo, and Ruth unwrap it, revealing a black statuette: the Maltese Falcon.





"Now, after seventeen years..." the General stands the statue up, turns it slowly, and strokes and caresses it with lascivious lust. The others salivate at the sight of the valuable, ebony statuette. To "make sure" it is genuine, he repeatedly and frantically scrapes and hacks at the enamel covering with his penknife, marking it and peeling back layers - horribly realizing that its surface can easily be scarred, and that the lead-coated bird doesn't contain jewels. In total frustration, he declares “Fake! It's a phony! It's a fake!”

Cairo erupts into a temper tantrum, “You, it's you who bungled it, you and your stupid attempt to buy it. General Zhekov double-crossed us. No wonder we had such an easy time in negotiations. You, you imbecile! You bloated idiot! You stupid fathead!” Cairo collapses into an arm chair, blubbering and whimpering, while the General rubs his neck.

Recomposing himself and accepting another failed attempt, General Ali vows to continue his pursuit of the real bird that presumably is still in Bulgaria: "Well sir, what do you suggest? We stand here and shed tears and call each other names, or shall we find General Zhekov?" The Fat Man leaves with Cairo, instantly his companion again, to continue their quest for the real falcon.

After the two had left, Rick turns to Ruth and says; We've only got a few minutes, the General will certainly send the police after us. Now give me all of it fast. When you first came to my office, why did you want Thursby shadowed?

“I thought he was betraying me and I wanted to find out.”

Rick: You told Archer he was dangerous, and that negotiations needed to take place at the point of a gun, didn't you?

She sobs: “I told him. I told him. Yes, but please believe me, Sam. I wouldn't have brought him if I thought Thursby would kill him.”

Rick: With a gun to his head Thursby told you the whole story about how the Bulgarian General never got the bird, that the art dealer double-crossed him. The dealer decided the bird was worth more in Istanbul. But, Thursby didn't want to return empty handed, so instead he obtained military secrets from the General using the cash he was going to use the buy the falcon.”

Ruth: “Yes, something like that.”

Rick: Now that Thursby had given you everything you wanted, he had to prevent you from getting away, but he had to tackle Archer first. So, he shot him as the two of you were leaving. Since you lost your protection, you grabbed Archer's gun and shot Thursby, and I bet he never saw that one coming. That's when you grabbed the military plans from his coat pocket. But, you knew that Cairo and the Fat Man would be looking for you, and you knew you needed another protector, somebody to fill Archer's boots. That's where I came into the picture.

Ruth; “Yes. But oh, sweetheart. It wasn't only that. I'd have come back to you sooner or later. From the very first instant I saw you, I knew...”

Rick: Somehow you got a telegraph to Jacoby on the train, telling him to bring the bird to the club. That would keep me in the loop and take the heat off yourself. When you, Cairo, and the General arrived at the train station, you excused yourself, and set a fire in a trash barrel. In the smoke and confusion Jacoby got away, but not before taking a bullet from Cairo.

Ruth: “You know down deep in your heart and in spite of anything I've done I love you.”

Rick: The cheaper the crook, the gaudier the pattern! You're taking the fall.

At that moment the police burst into the room. Hey guy's, Rick says. I got another one for you—she shot Thursby for those military secrets. I believe you'll find them over there in the desk drawer.



The police find the papers and examine them, noting that Rick's story seems to pan out. Ruth is taken away, but, there was one last thing. That statue of the black bird. The police sergeant looks down at the heavy black bogus statuette and lifts it up as they are leaving the room: "It's heavy. What is it?" Rick responds grimly while touching the bird, That sir, that's the stuff that dreams are made of.

[Myth]

Oh dear, now the Falcon gets caught up in all this! Though to be fair, the Fat Man was off to Istanbul at the end...