Mendelssohn is on the Roof by Jiří Weil Read Free Book Online

tour of duty in the field. Here they could rest and fatten up, here they could bask in the warmth before setting off once again for the Russian freezing cold.
    The job was easy, although discipline had to be maintained . The Protectorate had been turned into a non-combat zone. There were no air-raid sirens blaring there. Troop reviews were the most taxing duties.
    The telephone rang at the command headquarters. It was Krug, calling from the Municipal Division. Rottenführer Schulze II was on telephone duty. Krug introduced himself as a Scharführer, but that made no impact on the man who answered. Outside the Elite Guard such ranks were bureaucratic, not earned in the field. Just being an SS member was no guarantee of anything. Krug explained that he had an order from the Acting Reich Protector, and that it had to do with some sort of statue. Schulze II was surprised that they’d bother the SS Elite Guard with such a trivial matter. But if Heydrich wanted it done, then it hadto be done. But it wouldn’t be necessary to disturb the commander about it, Untersturmführer Wancke would do. Schulze II would inform him of the matter, and the gentlemen could visit him at his office.
    Krug had been very reluctant to turn to the Elite Guard for help. They’d surely scorn him as a civilian, even if he wore his uniform with the badge from the Polish campaign. He certainly couldn’t send Schlesinger alone, they’d throw him out in a flash. Krug ordered a car, though it wasn’t far from the New Town Hall to the barracks, because the barracks officers would assume the two of them were mere petitioners if they arrived on foot and then their reception would be even worse. Of course, someone, possibly Dr Buch, might accuse him of wasting valuable petrol at a time when the Reich needed every drop at the front. It was an official car and the driver had to keep a list of every trip. But Krug preferred risking such accusations to going on foot with that idiot Schlesinger. It was an official visit, after all, a matter of an order that had to be carried out quickly.
    He settled down in his car, and only then did he have Schlesinger summoned. Let him get a little exercise. Krug had to laugh to see him come running out of the door, all out of breath. Schlesinger was also wearing a uniform. They drove quickly to the barracks without having to avoid any cars. The streets were completely empty and the driver paid absolutely no attention to traffic signals.
    They were interrogated by the guard at the entrance for a long time before being admitted to the command headquarters . Everything here was run according to strict military rules.
    Untersturmführer Wancke was having a boring day receiving telephone reports and keeping the daily record.Suddenly his orderly Rottenführer Schulze II burst into the office. Upon giving the proper salute he announced the arrival of two officials from the Municipal Division. What the hell did they think they were doing at the Elite Guard headquarters? Schulze II was going on and on about some Jewish statue and some order from the Acting Reich Protector. He was obviously all mixed up. Schulze II was a former farm boy and didn’t even know how to make a decent telephone call. On the other hand, when it came to drill he was always in his place. He was such a good marksman you’d think he’d been in a circus. But that kind of amusement wouldn’t do now. Shooting, women, drinking and petty thievery were only for those in the East. Here it was strictly forbidden. The Czech and Moravian Protectorate was part of the Reich. The Reich laws all applied here. There was time enough for fooling around at the front. Once Frank told them that a time might come when their services would be necessary for taking measures against the traitorous Czechs. But that would probably never happen. They had quite a comfortable life in this Protectorate, but it was boring. Wancke would have a bit of fun with these Protectorate loafers. He’d