Alptraum
An Alternative History Affair
By TekcoR
Alone in the Bunker
Seconds had passed since the “attempted” assassination of Hitler by the former Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg; his corpse eerily remained in the bunker. “Sit, sit down,” the Führer said calmly and quietly like an aged grandparent. I was awestruck by the demeanor the Führer had been displaying, and took time to recover from the paralysis. I eventually removed myself from my attentive stance and sat where the private secretary, Bormann, had been sitting.
“Tristan, as you are aware, the Fatherland is facing enormous pressures both externally and unfortunately internally. The events that transpired today highlight the combination of my worst fears – external and internal threats are working together. People within the National Socialist structure that I have built have been deliberately calculating with the sworn enemy! There is no excuse for such dastardly acts of cowardice,” he said after I had sat down, quickly removing the notion he had become like a grandparent.
I waited a handful of seconds before daring to speak; Hitler had a reputation of collecting his thoughts before continuing his speech. “I full heartedly agree my Führer. There is no excuse for betraying the nation and the people you have sworn to protect,” I stopped there, though I knew I could say more to further infuriate him.
The attempt to increase the intensity had failed; Hitler began a new in a more collected tone. “I have recently been reading about the magnificent contributions that the Schnack family has contributed to the people of the master race,” he paused as he reached into a drawer near the couch. After fidgeting with the drawer he pulled out a copy of my grandfather’s memoirs. I was stunned. I had not read words from my grandfather since after his death. I held back tears and frustration, my grandfathers words were eloquent and true definition of the Führer’s feeble mind. He was not for the extension of dictatorships or absolute monarchs, but rather preferred the style of government that was prevalent in the United Kingdom. Either the Führer could not comprehend the words, or he had deliberately skipped over the three chapters dedicated to the type of government Germany needed.
“Your grandfather would proud of the service you have accomplished in the name of the Fatherland,” he said with an enormous smile. I forced a smile; though for obviously different reasons than the Führer.
I have always tried to live by the values my grandfather has instilled into the family. He is quoted to have said: “it is better to act in a calculated way than hastily; and it is better to proceed at your pace than be forced into action.” In retrospect, my actions have not always been in the words of my grandfather. Himmler’s death while calculated was a moment of passion, I had not expected his arrival. But an opportunity had been presented that could not simply been ignored. Stauffenberg’s betrayal had caught me off-guard, forcing me to hastily act. As I sat there with Hitler, I was following the words of my grandfather. The life of the Führer would require additional time to calculate and prepare. As much as I dreamt of killing Hitler, knowing the fact that getting him all alone in a room was near impossible, he would live to see another day.
Hitler cleared his throat, snapping me from my daydream of Hitler’s corpse next to Stauffenberg’s. “Tristan, what I am about to say is important not only to the future of Germany, but also to you. The dedication of your service has propelled this momentous decision upon you. There are two powerful openings within the regime, and one of them has been reserved specifically for you. The other position while also of vital importance should be filled as soon as possible by a person of your choosing. This person must be somebody who has valiantly served and displayed the equal dedication as you have to the National Socialist cause. Do you have any names in mind my Reichsführer?”
The bombshell exploded, sending me into a mental whirl. I sat there paralyzed for what felt an eternity, the room totally quiet, Hitler’s stare into my eyes sending alarm bells that I should react, but I was incapable of response. “I do my Führer. I will need to visit him back at his home and advise him in detail of the gravity of the situation we find ourselves in,” I said after one full minute had passed from the bomb bursting in air.