Holocaust - Khurram Bukhari

Holocaust 94This drew me up short. Kurt should have watched his language, buthe was always an outspoken, rather unsophisticated man. “Blond . . . ?”I asked.“A street expression. You look shocked.”I stared at him. Heydrich escorted Marta back to me. She bowed tohim, told him what a great honor it had been. He kissed her hand. Hesaid we would have to arrange another opera party some evening.Marta then recognized Uncle Kurt, threw her arms around him andkissed him. Heydrich watched.I made the introductions. “General, my uncle, Kurt Dorf.”Kurt said it was an honor to meet the head of the SS and that he hadencountered many of his field commanders in Poland.Heydrich studied Kurt’s strong face, the civilian tuxedo for a moment,then said, “Dorf, Kurt, engineer and road-building expert. Assigned toGeneral von Brauchitsch. In charge of roads and termini in theoccupied territories. Correct?”“Totally. I had no idea your office was so well informed about humbleroad builders.”“We’re well informed about everyone.”Heydrich moved away. The music resumed. Marta suggested I dancewith Eichmann’s wife. It would not hurt my career, she hinted.Uncle Kurt escorted Marta to the bar. They drank champagne. Whatfollowed was a most curious conversation, a bit disturbing to her. Kurt,not especially diplomatically, said in a rather low voice that Heydrichdid not at all seem to him what some people called him—the party’s“evil young god of death.”Marta was shocked and said so. Who would dare say such a thing?Oh, the usual political enemies. Marta informed my uncle that we bothworshipped Heydrich. He was the shining example of the Germany ofthe future—fearless, sensitive, intelligent, noble. Kurt tried toapologize; he was an engineer, not a politician, a mere road builder.That’s why he had remained outside party politics, a civilian. Hechanged the subject, and praised Marta for being so beautiful, forhaving a successful husband and a lovely family.“It was simple,” my wife said. “We became part of the new Germany,with all our hearts and souls.”