you knew of it?”
Hoffman took a few moments to survey his palatial and ornately furnished office while he considered his response. Finally, “Yes, I was fully briefed on the reason for his visit. Effectively, my role was simply to ensure that he received all necessary assistance and help in his mission.”
The pause stretched out and Marner knew that Hoffman was not going to simply volunteer the details. When pressed for more, Hoffman advised him that the mission was actually under the control of the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, above even Kriegsmarine command, at the most senior level. Therefore he was not authorised to divulge more without direct approval from Berlin to do so.
“But Herr Konteradmiral, this must be investigated immediately, by me or by someone else. Maybe they’ll send someone from Berlin, but that will take time and, whilst I am unable to do anything, we could have more attacks on our personnel. If I don’t know where to look, then you have to assume the responsibility for the lack of action and any resulting deaths or injuries.”
Hoffman snorted derisively. “A poor attempt, Lieutenant, but I take your point. I’ve had no response from Berlin to the news of his death and therefore, in the absence of any instructions from them, I agree to let you run as the investigating officer until I am told otherwise. So I’ll give you the essential details.” He went on to describe how Schull’s mission was actually an investigation: to determine how and where gold destined for the Reichstag and the Japanese embassy in Berlin was going missing. The gold was originating from Japan and was being brought into France by submarines. After being delivered to a port under German military control, the bullion was then transported by road and rail to Germany.
When Marner broke in to Hoffman’s discourse to ask what the gold was intended for, Hoffman declined to answer or to speculate. “I can only tell you that this is not simple opportunistic theft. The gold is in the form of very heavy ingots and they are being replaced by similar sized pieces of iron and lead disguised with gold paint, presumably to enable them to pass a basic visual check. When the Japanese recently discovered one of these in their embassy vault they investigated and found others. The subsequent complaint to the Chancellery caused them in turn to check what they had received and yet more were found. In total, about four tonnes of gold is missing. Schull’s task was to follow the trail and find out who was doing it.”
Marner considered for a moment. “I don’t understand why this was being investigated by Kriegsmarine. Why wasn’t it assigned to one of the RHSA departments?”
“That is a very good question Herr Lieutenant. There are only two common factors that we have been able to establish. The first is the sea transport by submarine. These shipments made landfall at different ports, including Bordeaux, Brest, Lorient and even one at Kiel in the fatherland. In each instance and regardless of the port of delivery, the same method of theft: substitution of the gold. So it clearly shows a degree of organisation, and the same organisation in each instance.”
Hoffman paused and sat calmly, as if finished with his narrative, leaving Marner to have to ask for the second factor. The reason for Hoffman’s ploy became clear. “The second is that the receipt on landfall and the overland shipping was managed by the Gestapo. Therefore, in their wisdom, the Chancellery have handed the matter over to Kriegsmarine rather than RHSA to investigate.”
Marner filed the Gestapo link away in his mind for the moment. “But the switch may well have been executed further back in the chain, in Japan presumably if that’s where the gold originates from. We don’t have any absolute proof that the thefts took place whilst in German hands.”
“You may well be correct,” conceded
Hoffman took a few moments to survey his palatial and ornately furnished office while he considered his response. Finally, “Yes, I was fully briefed on the reason for his visit. Effectively, my role was simply to ensure that he received all necessary assistance and help in his mission.”
The pause stretched out and Marner knew that Hoffman was not going to simply volunteer the details. When pressed for more, Hoffman advised him that the mission was actually under the control of the Reich Chancellery in Berlin, above even Kriegsmarine command, at the most senior level. Therefore he was not authorised to divulge more without direct approval from Berlin to do so.
“But Herr Konteradmiral, this must be investigated immediately, by me or by someone else. Maybe they’ll send someone from Berlin, but that will take time and, whilst I am unable to do anything, we could have more attacks on our personnel. If I don’t know where to look, then you have to assume the responsibility for the lack of action and any resulting deaths or injuries.”
Hoffman snorted derisively. “A poor attempt, Lieutenant, but I take your point. I’ve had no response from Berlin to the news of his death and therefore, in the absence of any instructions from them, I agree to let you run as the investigating officer until I am told otherwise. So I’ll give you the essential details.” He went on to describe how Schull’s mission was actually an investigation: to determine how and where gold destined for the Reichstag and the Japanese embassy in Berlin was going missing. The gold was originating from Japan and was being brought into France by submarines. After being delivered to a port under German military control, the bullion was then transported by road and rail to Germany.
When Marner broke in to Hoffman’s discourse to ask what the gold was intended for, Hoffman declined to answer or to speculate. “I can only tell you that this is not simple opportunistic theft. The gold is in the form of very heavy ingots and they are being replaced by similar sized pieces of iron and lead disguised with gold paint, presumably to enable them to pass a basic visual check. When the Japanese recently discovered one of these in their embassy vault they investigated and found others. The subsequent complaint to the Chancellery caused them in turn to check what they had received and yet more were found. In total, about four tonnes of gold is missing. Schull’s task was to follow the trail and find out who was doing it.”
Marner considered for a moment. “I don’t understand why this was being investigated by Kriegsmarine. Why wasn’t it assigned to one of the RHSA departments?”
“That is a very good question Herr Lieutenant. There are only two common factors that we have been able to establish. The first is the sea transport by submarine. These shipments made landfall at different ports, including Bordeaux, Brest, Lorient and even one at Kiel in the fatherland. In each instance and regardless of the port of delivery, the same method of theft: substitution of the gold. So it clearly shows a degree of organisation, and the same organisation in each instance.”
Hoffman paused and sat calmly, as if finished with his narrative, leaving Marner to have to ask for the second factor. The reason for Hoffman’s ploy became clear. “The second is that the receipt on landfall and the overland shipping was managed by the Gestapo. Therefore, in their wisdom, the Chancellery have handed the matter over to Kriegsmarine rather than RHSA to investigate.”
Marner filed the Gestapo link away in his mind for the moment. “But the switch may well have been executed further back in the chain, in Japan presumably if that’s where the gold originates from. We don’t have any absolute proof that the thefts took place whilst in German hands.”
“You may well be correct,” conceded