The Eagle Has Landed Read Online Free PDF Page A

Russian lines which had achieved little.
     
     
'Exactly,' Hitler said. 'What have your precious Brandenburgers done? Nothing worth a moment's discussion.' He was working himself into a fury again now, and as always at such times, seemed able to draw on his prodigious memory to a remarkable degree.
     
     
'When it was originally formed, this Brandenburg unit, it was called the Company for Special Missions, and I remember hearing that von Hippel, its first commander, told them they'd be able to fetch the Devil from hell by the time he'd finished with them. I find that ironic, Herr Admiral, because as far as I can remember, they didn't bring me the Duce. I had to arrange for that myself.'
     
     
His voice had risen to a crescendo, the eyes sparked fire, the face was wet with perspiration. 'Nothing!' he shrieked. 'You have brought me nothing and yet men like that, with such facilities, you should have been capable of bringing me Churchill out of England.'
     
     
There was a moment of complete silence as Hitler glanced from face to face. 'Is that not so?'
     
     
Mussolini looked hunted, Goebbels nodded eagerly. It was Himmler who added fuel to the flames by saying quietly, 'Why not, my Fuhrer? After all, anything is possible no matter how miraculous, as you have shown by bringing the Duce out of Gran Sasso.'
     
     
'Quite right.' Hitler was calm again now. 'A wonderful opportunity to show us what the Abwehr is capable of, Herr Admiral.'
     
     
Canaris was stunned. 'My Fuhrer, do I understand you to mean...?'
     
     
'After all, an English commando unit attacked Rommel's headquarters in Africa,' Hitler said, 'and similar groups have raided the French coast on many occasions. Am I to believe that German boys are capable of less?' He patted Canaris on the shoulder and said affably, 'See to it, Herr Admiral. Get things moving. I'm sure you'll come up with something.' He turned to Himmler. 'You agree, Herr Reichsfuhrer?'
     
     
'Certainly,' Himmler said without hesitation. 'A feasibility study at the very least - surely the Abwehr can manage that?'
     
     
He smiled slightly at Canaris who stood there, thunderstruck. He moistened dry lips and said in a hoarse voice. 'As you command, my Fuhrer.'
     
     
Hitler put an arm around his shoulder. 'Good. I knew I could rely on you as always.' He stretched out his arm as if to pull them all forward and leaned over the map. 'And now, gentlemen - the Italian situation.'
     
     
Canaris and Himmler were returning to Berlin by Dornier that night. They left Rastenburg at the same time in separate cars for the nine-mile drive to the airfield. Canaris was fifteen minutes late and when he finally mounted the steps into the Dornier he was not in the best of moods. Himmler was already strapped into his seat and, after a moment's hesitation, Canaris joined him.
     
     
'Trouble?' Himmler asked as the plane bumped forward across the runway and turned into the wind.
     
     
'Burst tyre.' Canaris leaned back. 'Thanks very much, by the way. You were a great help back there.'
     
     
'Always happy to be of service.' Himmler told him.
     
     
They were airborne now, the engine note deepening as they climbed. 'M God, but he was really on form tonight,' Canaris said. 'Get Churchill. Have you ever heard anything so crazy?'
     
     
'Since Skorzeny got Mussolini out of Gran Sasso, the world will never be quite the same again. The Fuhrer now believes miracles can actually take place and this will make life increasingly difficult for you and me, Herr Admiral.'
     
     
'Mussolini was one thing,' Canaris said. 'Without in any way detracting from Skorzeny's magnificent achievement, Winston Churchill would be something else again.'
     
     
'Oh, I don't know,' Himmler said. 'I've seen the enemy newsreels as you have. London one day - Manchester or Leeds the next. He walks the streets with that stupid cigar in his mouth talking to the people. I would say that of all the major world leaders, he is probably the least