The Night of the Generals Page #2

the dregs of the army,

the misfits.

Well, that was General Tanz's word.

"Incompetence."

Not to mention subordinates

who shirk responsibility.

And because of our failure,

the Fuhrer has ordered General Tanz

to solve the problem of Warsaw.

How?

Meticulously.

In three phases.

Using the most

drastic means, I suppose.

Drastic?

Monstrous.

Lieutenant General Tanz

commanded the Nibelungen Division.

He was the youngest

Wehrmacht general.

A hero at Leningrad, a pet of Hitler,

a remarkable officer.

We Poles detested him.

He arrived in Warsaw on the day

the woman was killed.

He, too, was unaccounted for

that night.

First roadblock, set up there.

Yes, sir.

The sniping last night came

from a street two blocks away.

The entire quarter

is to be sealed off.

We shall take a leaf

from the fisherman's book.

First, we'll mark out a wide

perimeter, then we'll start

combing the outlying streets.

That should set the fish in motion.

Of course, they'll try to make off

in the opposite direction,

but we'll have roadblocks there

to cut them off.

By the time we've closed the net,

we'll have them exactly

where we want them.

With their backs to the ghetto wall.

Excuse me, general, what about

the civilian population?

The latest estimate,

this section of the city contains

about 80,000 inhabitants.

One can hardly talk of a normal

civilian population in this place.

I regard the experience to

be gained from this operation

as absolutely indispensable.

Hold it at 20.

Now, about those

flamethrowers, sir,

to be on the safe side,

I've requested three times

as many as needed.

What are you scared of,

children?

I think they're hungry.

What food do we have?

Some sandwiches, sir.

Bring them to me.

Yes, sir.

Yes, you're quite right,

they do look hungry.

Poor little devils.

Your lunch, sir.

Open.

Yes, sir.

Filth.

Your hands.

Look at those nails.

Not even Polish children

should be given such muck.

Make a note.

Food and sweets to be carried

at all times for the children.

It does no harm

to win their confidence.

As for him,

he's relieved as my orderly.

Home leave cancelled.

Filthy pig. Last week

he offered me an unwashed glass.

Now he enters my sight looking

as though he just exhumed

his grandmother with his bare hands.

Absolute cleanliness,

that's what I demand

from the people around me.

Do I make myself clear?

Yes, sir.

As for our immediate requirements,

see they're fully met.

Once they are,

I shall seal off the district

and put the inhabitants

through a sieve.

All 80,000?

General Tanz,

forgive me,

but just as a matter

of curiosity,

what do you feel is the exact

purpose of this exercise?

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