A Higher Call

by Adam Makos

Fresh in Luetzow’s mind was the news of the day. Galland had received a call from Hitler’s bunker in Berlin. Hitler’s minister of armaments, Albert Speer, wanted JV-44 to arrest Goering. More importantly, Speer’s orders to Galland stipulated, “I ask you and your comrades to do everything as discussed to prevent Goering from flying anywhere.” Deep within his bunker, Hitler and Speer had suspected Goering would try to represent Germany and negotiate the country’s surrender to the Americans. “What are you going to do?” Luetzow had asked Galland, nearly smiling. “Ignore the order and stay with the unit,” Galland laughed. Hearing this, Luetzow’s frown had lifted. As Luetzow briefed Franz and the others, hope flickered in his brown eyes. He knew the war was just days from its end. News had escaped Berlin that Hitler was staying in the doomed city to die as eight Soviet Armies tightened their noose of encirclement. The SS had arrested Goering because Galland had declined to do so. With his enemy Goering under arrest and Hitler surrounded by Soviet Red Stars, Luetzow felt a surge of optimism. All he wanted was to outlive the war, his honor intact. To him, this meant serving until the arrival of peace.