Chapter 24: The Bastille

In the eyes of Gudrun, Himmler had rarely returned home over the past two years, yet his love for her remained palpable. Their father-daughter relationship had always been stable, and despite harboring suspicions about the relationship between her parents, Gudrun still felt a thrill of joy whenever her father came home.

"This child," Himmler chuckled, then added earnestly, "I have been working too much and have indeed neglected you both. It is my fault."

Himmler was still married to his wife, but this did not mean their marriage was without its problems; it was merely that the upper echelons of the Third Reich maintained moral standards regarding marital stability. As the Reichsführer-SS, and especially with Göring nearby cultivating an image as a devoted husband, Himmler was even less likely to commit an error in this regard.

Back home, Himmler patiently accompanied his wife and daughter, his gaze behind his spectacles filled with tenderness. Only after watching his daughter, Gudrun, return to her room did the smile on his face gradually fade. The exhaustion in his eyes resurfaced, and his previously upright posture slumped significantly.

Margarete took in her husband's demeanor, and only after listening to ensure there was no movement from their daughter's room did she ask softly, "Heinrich, what is wrong?"

Although their marriage had hit a rough patch, Margarete had long since convinced herself to accept the situation. Her husband was a powerful leader of the Third Reich, and divorce carried immense political risk; she felt she should understand.

"Looking back now, perhaps being a chicken farmer would have been the happiest life," Himmler sighed. His gaze toward Margarete was complex, a stark contrast to his usual self.

The current situation was extremely unfavorable for Germany. Following the Normandy landings on the Western Front, German soil lay exposed to the bombs of the British and American air forces, with losses incomparable to anything seen before. Compared to the West, the situation on the Eastern Front was even more alarming. Since the beginning of the year, the Soviet army—which the German forces had once treated as mere target practice—had undergone a complete transformation.

Starting in January, the Soviet army launched a series of offensives at the operational level. The German army, once hailed as the world's finest, found itself unable to resist. With every new offensive, the Soviet forces displayed greater combat prowess than the last, leaving the Germans completely outmatched.

In the last month alone, the Soviets had crushed Romania in just eight days, annihilating twenty of its divisions. Both Romania and Bulgaria had since exited the war. Hungary was the only remaining German ally in Eastern Europe, and even its ability to hold on was in doubt.

Conversely, Germany's former allies in Eastern Europe had become assets to the Soviet offensive. The German army on the Eastern Front had retreated time and again, effectively surrendering nearly all the gains made during the war against the Soviet Union. Although Goebbels was pulling out all the stops to ensure the German people remained committed to the war, the idea of finding an escape route was becoming more than just a passing thought for some in the upper echelons.

Facing a war on both fronts, Germany's situation grew grimmer with each passing day. Himmler’s current task was to assist the Führer’s latest directive: to assemble the Volkssturm (People's Storm) and fight the Allies to the death. The Volkssturm included all males between the ages of sixteen and sixty, and Himmler was the commander-in-chief of this force, which comprised every German across the entire Reich. At this point, it was clear there was no other way but to pit the blood of all Germans against the Allies.

Himmler, as commander-in-chief, was well aware of this. Lost in chaotic thoughts, he found himself back with his wife and daughter.

"If one day—though I hope it never comes—you and Gudrun must leave Germany, I will prepare the documents for you." Himmler’s voice was low, and Margarete broke into tears upon hearing this.

In her room, Gudrun Himmler was diligently writing in her diary: "There was another air raid siren last night. The Slavs on the Eastern Front are closing in on East Prussia. The Slavs are an inferior race, so why are Germany’s best young men collapsing before them? But I believe in Father. I will not spread defeatist rumors. Persist to the end; victory belongs to the Germans, with their bodies of steel."

"It is rare for Father to be home for a whole day. His face is paler than when we last met, and the shadows under his eyes are as deep as night. Father says everything is under control and that the German people need a firmer will."

Closing her diary with a heavy heart, Gudrun Himmler put it away and climbed into bed, hoping not to hear the air raid sirens tonight.

As dawn broke, Koman continued his work at the Judicial Purification Committee. He rose early to scour the newspapers; the short stories were of little substance, so he focused on the war reports. When Alain arrived at the committee, Koman had not yet finished.

"Reading about the Allied airborne operation in the Netherlands?" Alain, who had clearly risen earlier, had already finished reading the day's reports. "Once they occupy the Netherlands, they can break into German territory."

Koman did not respond, skimming the newspaper content before saying, "It isn't that simple. The risks of airborne operations are too high; Germany’s own airborne operation in Crete was also a failure."

If things went as expected, this airborne mission was Operation Market Garden. He remembered it being a failure, even if the British were still trying to save face. "Although Operation Market Garden did not fully achieve its goals, it severely weakened the German defensive strength in the Netherlands."

The failure of Operation Market Garden once again brought the conflict between Eisenhower and Montgomery into the open. Eisenhower was not merely a soldier; while his position was that of the highest military authority, his function was closer to that of a political leader than a military commander. From the landings in North Africa to the invasion of Sicily, the interests of multiple nations were at stake, and Eisenhower had long grown weary of the British habit of acting as the "boss."

Montgomery had insisted on his own views, persuading the Allies to launch the largest airborne operation in human history, only for the British command to descend into a mess. Montgomery repeatedly made amateurish mistakes, leading to a tragic end for American and British paratroopers who were dropped right into the midst of German armored divisions and massed infantry.

However, it was precisely after this campaign that the British tacitly accepted American leadership over Allied military operations, contenting themselves with a supporting role.

"The British and Americans have enough air power; that has nothing to do with us." Alain looked at things simply, avoiding what he shouldn't see, but he did have something to share. "We’ve made some progress on the investigation into Chanel. Should we pay her a visit directly, or...?"

"Wouldn't it be a bit much if we just showed up?" Koman gave Alain a knowing look, then changed the subject. "But I do respect women. Wasn't the Bastille reopened to house collaborators? Let's arrange to meet Madame Chanel at the Bastille. I also want to see if our German collaborators from all walks of life are satisfied with the current situation."