Alpha Threat by Ron Smoak Read Free Book Online Page B

inevitable.   Allied bombings wreaked havoc on the German rail system.   Tracks open one day were completely destroyed the next.   It took nearly a week for a normal two day trip.  
    Germany’s cities and towns were ravaged.   Only very small portions of the countryside did not reflect the horrible effects of war.   Many of the towns and cities they passed were bombed into rock and dust, utterly destroyed.   Time and time again they saw hordes of German civilians fleeing the populated areas as the enemy drove closer.  
    The people carried everything they considered precious, but only what they could bear.   Women, children and old men trudged along roads and track sidings.   As they got closer to Rostock, the results of the heavy allied bombings from 1942 and 1945 were everywhere.   The central city itself was mainly rubble and looked like a ghost town.  
    The Allies targeted the Heinkel Works facilities at Rostock-Marienehe specifically.   They were important German aircraft production facilities and a prime bombing target.   The remaining residents wandered in the rubble-filled streets.   They searched for loved ones, food and shelter.   The residents that could leave were gone.   This was what Hitler’s dream had brought upon the people of Germany.  
    Even though the weather was murky and cold, at least the air had a fresh smell.   The low, gray clouds made the town seem dreary.   War does strange things to people and places.   Germany was a tired, beaten country.   After the years of war since 1938, the bleak weather fit the mood perfectly.   Rauch watched a light snow continue to fall as the train slowed and made its way through the outskirts of town and toward the waterfront.   This was the first time Rauch had seen a true port city.   Sure Saarbrucken, near his home, was a “port” city.   But the port was on the Saar River, not the ocean.  
    Even though he tried not to show it, he was very interested in all of what he was seeing.   His attention was focused on what was outside of the train’s window.   The train slowed down to nearly a crawl as it neared the waterfront.   Even with the dank weather the town looked strangely peaceful.   Even though it had been bombed extensively, Rauch could see some well-kept buildings with very little damage.   This used to be a nice place to live, he thought.    
    The train jolted heavily as it stopped.   Rauch ceased his focus on the town itself and noticed a whirlwind of activity around the station and stopped train.  
    Several officers were barking out orders and soldiers were scurrying around in all directions.   Rauch heard heavy footsteps coming down the corridor of the train.   Seconds later the door to the train compartment slid open and an SS captain from the station stepped into the door opening.   He stood like a statue.   Again he was perfectly dressed, his uniform crisp and clean.   His steely eyes scanned the occupants of the compartment.   Rauch and Schneider sat there not moving and stared back at the captain.   
    “We have arrived at our destination.   Talk to no one and follow me,” he stated coldly and succinctly.   Rauch decided it was in his best interest to not make a scene with the way the SS captain had addressed a major.   He was still very unsure of what was happening and who was in charge.   One thing Rauch did know, however; he was not in charge.   Rauch and Schneider got up, stretched for a second and followed the captain down the narrow passage to the door.  
    “Maybe we can get some food while they are unloading the cargo,” asked Schneider.  
    Just as Rauch was about to answer, they stepped off of the train into bedlam.   Like Ohrdruf, the SS guards again surrounded the train and more trucks pulled up to the train cars.  
    “Order our men to stay with the cargo,” Rauch told Schneider.   “I will check in.”
    Schneider took three steps back toward the door of the railcar two cars in