Chapter 23
A loud banging at the door wrenched Leonore from sleep. She blinked. More banging, like a fist beating the door. Footsteps – presumably the woman living in the other room – sounded in the hallway.
Then a roar, “Open up, or we’ll break down the door!”
Within a second, Leonore was wide awake, jumping out of bed and throwing on her summer dress.
Under no circumstances did she want to be in her nightgown when the police came bursting in.
Feverishly, she scanned the room for her purse.
Safely stowed inside was her letter of protection, confirming that she worked for the Abwehr and was, in the interests of the Reich, exempt from deportation.
She grabbed the purse with its precious document and walked to the door of her room, opening it a crack to watch what was going on.
“You have to come with us,” a man in SS uniform was ordering the woman.
“Please, no. My mother.”
“Shut up.” He grabbed her roughly by the arm, asking, “Are there any more Jews living here?”
“Y-y-yes. But they’ve already gone to work,” stammered the terrified woman.
Usually, at this time of day, Leonore would have been long gone.
But today, of all days, she had taken the morning off to run errands for her upcoming emigration.
Naturally, she hadn’t told her boss this, but had pretended she was visiting her seriously ill mother.
Her boss was a good man, with sympathy for the hardships his Jewish forced laborers suffered and hadn’t probed further, even though Leonore could tell that he didn’t believe a word.
“Check the rooms!” the SS officer ordered, and his colleagues fanned out. Just as they were approaching Leonore’s room, she tore open the door with a determined jerk and stepped out, holding the Abwehr document at chest height like a shield.
“Who are you?” The SS man raised his weapon in shock, aiming it straight at Leonore’s heart.
Ignoring the crippling fear that gripped her, she said in a firm voice, “My name is Leonore Vogel. I have an official document stating I am carrying out duties critical to the war effort.” Even though her activities as an agent were entirely fictional, she didn’t want to trumpet it out loud in front of her neighbor, since strict secrecy had been impressed upon everyone at the Quenzgut.
“That’s what they all say. Come along.”
“I really do have… please, see for yourself.” Her throat constricted in panic and it took all her strength to hold the letter of protection out to him.
He took the paper, scanned it and shook his head. “You still have to come with me. You can show this later when you’re registered at the detention camp.”
Leonore feared it would be too late by then, but she couldn’t think of anything to say that might change his mind. As the SS officer turned away, she at least had the presence of mind to ask, “May I please have my document back?”
He shrugged his shoulders in boredom, handed her the letter and barked at his colleagues, who returned empty-handed from the other two rooms: “We leave!”
Walking between the men, Leonore stumbled down the stairs and onto the street, where a small group of Jews was already waiting to be transported away. Right next to the inconspicuous gray van, she spotted a public telephone.
This might be her last chance. Quick as lightning, she rummaged in her purse for coins, while turning to the friendliest-looking SS officer.
“Excuse me, this is a terrible misunderstanding. May I call my contact person at the Abwehr? He can sort this out. I’m exempt from deportation, because I’m being sent to South America as an agent, on orders from the Führer himself. ”
The young man seemed unsure, but when he heard the word Führer, he stood to attention and looked down at Leonore with a slightly friendlier expression.
“Please. There’s a public telephone right there.” She held up the coins between her fingers. “If you accompany me, we can sort it out directly over the telephone.” Leonore chewed nervously at her bottom lip, casting him a pleading gaze.
Finally, he nodded. “Alright. But if you try to escape, I’ll shoot you.”
“I won’t.” Leonore had no doubt he would carry out his threat.
In the telephone booth, her fingers trembled as she dialed the number she had learned by heart, given by Eberhard Lange to every member of Operation Seven.
“Abwehr and Foreign Office,” a female voice answered.
“This is Leonore Vogel. May I please speak to Lieutenant Hesse, it’s extremely urgent.” Leonore’s fingers were gripping the receiver so tightly, her knuckles hurt.
“I’m very sorry. He’s not in the office. Do you want to leave a message?”
Her knees threatened to give way and she had to lean against the wall of the telephone booth to avoid falling over. The SS officer stood in the open door watching her impatiently.
“It’s extremely urgent. It’s about Operation Seven. The SS are here and they’re trying to take me away, despite my letter of protection.”
The secretary understood instantly. “One moment. Let me connect you with Lieutenant Ruben. He’s familiar with the operation.”
With a pounding heart, Leonore took a deep breath before covering the mouthpiece with her hand and telling her guard, “You can talk to Lieutenant Ruben yourself right away.”
Then, at last, a male voice came on the line. “Lieutenant Ruben, what can I do for you, Fr?ulein Vogel?”
“Thank God.” Leonore was ready to cry with relief. “The SS came to my apartment to take me away. Can you please explain to them that I mustn’t be deported?”
“Stay calm. I’ll sort this out. Please put one of the SS officers on the line.”
“Certainly.” Relieved, Leonore held the receiver out to her guard. “Lieutenant Ruben wants to speak with you.”
Then she sank trembling against the wall. She was so preoccupied with regaining her composure, she didn’t listen to what was said. When the SS officer called her name, she startled. “Yes?”
“The lieutenant wants to talk to you again.”
Her hand was trembling so much as she reached out that the receiver almost fell to the floor. Finally, she held it to her ear. “It’s me again.”
“Fr?ulein Vogel. The matter has been resolved. You may leave,” said Lieutenant Ruben’s deep, reassuring voice. “As a precaution, do not return to your apartment. Meet me in half an hour.” He gave an address nearby, made sure she knew how to get there, and hung up.
Breathing deeply, Leonore tightened her shoulders and hung the phone on the hook. As she looked around, the SS officer had already disappeared. She was just in time to catch a glimpse of him hurrying after his colleagues who were herding a group of Jews into the van. Then the vehicle sped off.
Suddenly, her knees were trembling so violently, she had to sit on the curb. That had been damn close. Too close.
She didn’t want to think what would have happened if nobody had answered the telephone, or if Lieutenant Ruben hadn’t intervened, or… Undoubtedly she’d be sitting in the van with the others, driving toward an unknown fate.
Slowly the trembling subsided, and she got to her feet.
Legs still shaking, she walked to the rendezvous point with Lieutenant Ruben.
She was a little early, so she took a turn around the block, since she wasn’t allowed to enter a café or sit on a bench with the star on her jacket.
She briefly considered removing the star, but decided against it, because she didn’t want to give Lieutenant Ruben a reason to scold her.
When she passed the agreed spot a second time, there stood a slender, tall man in Wehrmacht uniform with dark blond hair and a bushy moustache.
She approached him hesitantly.
He beamed at her from warm brown eyes and said, “You must be Fr?ulein Vogel.”
“Yes.”
“I’m Lieutenant Ruben. It looks like they have given you an almighty scare.”
“They certainly did.” In Ruben’s protective presence, relief coursed through her body. “I’m so glad you answered the call. Thank you for coming right away.”
“It’s my pleasure.” He scrutinized her face. “You’re not about to faint on me, are you? You look very pale.”
“No, definitely not. I’m fine now.” Leonore sighed. “I was terrified.”
“I can imagine. I don’t think the SS will be lying in wait for you, but just for safety’s sake, I will accompany you to your apartment.”
“Thank you.” She had to quicken her pace to keep up with his long strides. Just before they reached her street, a thought occurred to her. “What if the Gestapo have sealed the apartment?”
“Let that be my concern.” His friendly expression helped her regain enough chutzpah to engage him in conversation.
“How long do you think it will be before we… well, you know.”
“It sounds like you can’t wait,” he laughed.
“Honestly, I’d rather get going today than wait until tomorrow.”
“That’s all too understandable. Especially after your experience just now.”
“I live over there.” Leonore pointed to the dilapidated building.
“Should I take a look by myself first, or would you rather come with me?” Lieutenant Ruben’s deep voice had a wonderfully calming effect on Leonore.
His entire appearance radiated authority, making her feel safe in his presence.
If only he could be with her all the time, she’d never have to be afraid of the Gestapo or the SS again.
“I’d rather go with you.” Under no circumstances did she want to wait alone on the street or in the hallway.
He let her take the lead and she led him to her apartment on the second floor.
Luckily, there was no seal on the door, so she dug the house key out of her purse.
When her trembling fingers failed to hit the keyhole on the third attempt, Lieutenant Ruben gently took the key out of her hands and unlocked it himself.
In the hallway, Leonore stared at the apartment for the first time with the eyes of a stranger: the yellowed wallpaper, detached from the walls in places, the musty smell, the ragged, dingy carpet, with stains that wouldn’t go away even after scrubbing.
“Please excuse the condition.”
“You don’t have to apologize. I’m familiar with the conditions Berlin Jews are forced to live in.” He looked around and walked through the open door into the kitchen. “Were all the occupants taken away?”
“No. Two had already gone to work. They only caught the woman who lived in the front room.”
Lieutenant Ruben inspected the kitchen, the shared bathroom and all the bedrooms, before asking, “Do you feel safe, or would you rather stay with friends for a while? I’d be happy to accompany you there.”
Leonore thought it over, before she shook her head. “I think it’s safer here. The SS won’t come a second time so soon.”
“I think so too. However, if you’re afraid to stay here…”
A crazy thought occurred to Leonore, though of course, she didn’t say it aloud. I’d have no objection to you taking me home with you. “Thank you. I’ll manage.” She gave a rueful smile. “And if not, I can always call again.”
“That was good thinking on your part, to call me. The call saved you – for now, at least.”
“Actually, it was you who saved me.” She was gradually regaining her composure. “If I can ever return the favor, please let me know.”
Lieutenant Ruben had the decency not to laugh out loud. “That’s a very generous offer, thank you,” he responded with a serious expression. “I’ll be sure to call in that favor if I ever need it.” After offering some advice on precautions she should take, he bade her goodbye.
As soon as he’d left the apartment a terrible trepidation constricted her throat.
In her mind, she heard thundering footsteps, fists beating at the door, saw SS officers storming into the hallway and felt them grab her arm – Leonore blinked and the figures disappeared, yet her heart continued to pound furiously against her ribs.
Maybe it would have been better to move in with Birgit for a while. Leonore shook off the fear and walked into her room to take off the nightdress she was still wearing under her summer dress and put on stockings.
Then she made her way to the employment office, to pick up the clearance certificate for her forthcoming departure, never suspecting the nasty surprise awaiting her there.