‘Yes.’ Ritter tapped his false foot. ‘I could still fly, but they won’t let me.’
‘What a pity,’ Hoffer said and led him over to the seating area. ‘You’ll miss the big show.’
‘You think it will come?’ Ritter asked, easing himself down and taking out his cigarette case.
‘Don’t you? And by the way, no smoking. Fiihrer’s express order.’
‘Damn!’ Ritter said, for his pain was constant and cigarettes helped.
‘Sorry,’ Hoffer said sympathetically. ‘But coffee we do have and it’s the best.’
He turned, went to his desk and picked up the phone.
When the guard opened the enormous door to Hitler’s study, Canaris was surprised at the number of people in the room. There were the three commanders-in-chief, Goering for the Luftwaffe, Brauchitsch for the Army and Raeder for the Kriegsmarine. There was Himmler, von Ribbentrop, generals like Jodl, Keitel and Haider. There was a heavy silence and heads turned as Canaris entered.
‘Now that the Admiral has deigned to join us we can begin,’ Hitler said; ‘and I will be brief. As you know the British today gave the Poles an unconditional guarantee of their full support in the event of war.’
Goering said. ‘Will the French follow, my Fiihrer?’
‘Undoubtedly,’ Hitler told him. ‘But they will do nothing when it comes to the crunch.’
‘You mean, invade Poland?’ Haider, who was Chief of Staff at OKW, said. ‘What about the Russians?’
They won’t interfere. Let us say there are negotiations in hand and leave it at that. So, gentlemen, my will is fixed in this matter. You will prepare Case White, the invasion of Poland on September the ist.’
There were shocked gasps. ‘But my Fiihrer, that only gives us six months,’ Colonel-General von Brauchitsch protested.
‘Ample time,’ Hitler told him. ‘If there are those who disagree, speak now.’ There was a profound silence. ‘Good, then get to work, gentlemen. You may all leave except for you, Herr Admiral.’
They all filed out and Canaris stood there waiting while Hitler looked out of the window at the rain. Finally he turned. ‘The British and the French will declare war, but they won’t do anything. Do you agree?’
‘Absolutely,’ Canaris said.
‘We smash Poland, wrap things up in a few weeks. Once it’s done, what is the point of the British and French continuing? They’ll sue for peace.’
‘And if not?’
Hitler shrugged. ‘Then I’ll have Case Yellow imple- mented. We’ll invade Belgium, Holland, France and drive the English into the sea. They’ll come to their senses then. After all, they are not our natural enemies.’
‘I agree,’ Canaris said.
‘Having said that, it occurs to me that I should demonstrate to our English friends as soon as possible that I do mean business.’
Canaris cleared his throat. ‘Exactly what do you have in mind, my Fiihrer?’
Hitler gestured towards the huge map of the world that hung on the far wall. ‘Come over here, Herr Admiral, and let me show you.’
When Canaris returned to the reception hall at the Chancellery an hour later, Hoffer was seated behind his desk with the two orderlies. There was no sign of Ritter. The SS Captain stood up and came to greet him.
‘Herr Admiral.’
‘My aide?’ Canaris asked.
‘Hauptman Ritter was badly in need of a smoke. He went back to your car.’
‘My thanks,’ Canaris said. Til find my own way.’
He went out of the huge doors and stood at the top of the steps, buttoning his greatcoat, looking out at the rain. He went down the steps and had the rear door of the limousine open before his driver realized what was happening, and climbed in beside Ritter.
‘My office,’ he called to the driver, then closed the glass partition.
Ritter started to stub out his cigarette as they drove away, and Canaris sat back. ‘Never mind. Just give me one of those things. I need it.’
Ritter got his cigarette case out and offered a light. ‘Is everything all right, Herr Admiral? I saw them all leave. I was worried.’
‘The Fiihrer, Hans, gave us his personal order to invade Poland on September the ist.’
‘My God,’ Ritter said. ‘Case White.’
‘Exactly. He has been negotiating with the Russians, who will do a deal. They’ll let us get on with it in return for a slice of eastern Poland.’