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Bern, Switzerland
2325 27 May 1943
Allen Dulles, keeping eye contact with Wolfgang Kappler, said to the agent, “Yes, please show him in.”
Kappler wordlessly raised his eyebrows.
They looked toward the door as a man entered and the agent slipped back out the door and closed it.
Kappler studied the man. Because of the dimly lit room, details were difficult to make out from the distance. But the fact that Dr. Bernhard was massive was unmistakable. He stood six-foot-six and had broad shoulders.
“Come join us,” Dulles called out.
As the man approached, walking somewhat hunched over, Kappler could make out that, with the rumpled tweed jacket, unkempt thin hair, and horn-rimmed eyeglasses with very thick lenses, he looked very much like a university professor of about age forty.
An enormous university professor, Kappler thought.
And a familiar-looking one . . .
Reaching Dulles, the man held out his hand and said in a deep, almost abrasive voice, “A pleasure to see you again, Allen. I hope I am not interrupting anything.”
I think I know that voice, Kappler thought.
In fact, I know I do!
Then the man turned toward Kappler and seemed to be trying to focus on him through the thick lenses.
He offered Kappler his hand and said, “I am Dr. Bernhard—”
No, I don’t think so . . . Kappler thought.
“I know who you are!” Kappler suddenly said, his tone cordial. “Hans, it’s me, Wolfgang. We met when you worked for Hjalmar Schacht at the Reichsbank in Berlin. You were involved with providing me funds for the expansion of my coal mine operations in the Ruhr Valley, near Ruhrpott.”
There was a moment’s hesitation, then he replied, “Wolfgang Kappler?”
He instantly pulled back his great big hand as if he had touched a red-hot stovetop. He glared down at Dulles.
“You asked me here to meet with a messenger of the devil himself?” he said. “This man can go to hell—he is closer to Hitler than Hitler’s own mistress!”
Kappler puffed out his chest and declared, “It is you who can go to hell, Hans!”
Then he looked at Dulles and added, “What is this Dr. Bernhard nonsense? And how dare he speak of me that way! I thought that we were friends, Allen.”
“It is his code name,” Dulles explained evenly. “I think you know for obvious reasons why.”
His other code name being Tiny, which is equally obvious.
When Kappler did not respond, Dulles added: “Hans is as much an anti-Nazi as you and Franz Messner.”
Gisevius grunted derisively as he looked between Kappler and Dulles.
Then, as Kappler watched with shock, Gisevius casually dropped into one of the deep-cushioned leather armchairs. He leaned forward and poured himself a snifter of cognac, spilling some on the floor as he did so.
He acts as if this is his own home! Kappler thought.
Next, he flung open the humidor, fished out a fat cigar, and slammed shut the top.
Such arrogance!
