“Fraulein. You look like a tea cup.”
“And you look like an SS officer.”
“… I am an SS Officer. However, my position stands differently than those bastards in my office.”
1945. The Second World War. The Nazi Socialist Party had already taken full control of Germany and declared war against the entire European Front. It all began with a Blitzkrieg offensive that involved capturing Poland, soon after the nations of France, Norway, Denmark, Austria, the Afircan Continent, and eventually the Eastern Front of the Soviet Russia. These were ambitious times, and the Germany Army of this era were sure they were going to win this war. Ever since the Treaty of Versaille, the bad taste of defeat were still bitter in their mouth like spoiled coffee. It was only a matter of time before they lift up their chins and raise their war banners high again.
Regardless of the war front, the true conflict did not just come from rifles, warplanes, or tanks. Often the case, there were moments in the chaotic war period that the conflict did not involve bullets or an artillery shell. One of the major struggles in this war, was to believing in the existence of a hidden nightmare that was being buried under the mud and rain. Where men and women, both of and outside of Germany, are fighting to bring about a truth that the world must see.
And everything that has been told, comes from the lips of a certain German Officer who wears the black uniform of a notorious armed division in the Germany Army, the Waffen-SS.
“I don’t understand. I’ve sent hundreds of letters to the Swiss Churches, hopefully asking for someone of high-rank in their society to witness the horrors of what I’ve endured, to tell to the world. Maybe even the Vatican. Instead, they sent a single nun no higher than my hip. What does this mean?”
“Hmm. I hate to say this but due to budgetary cuts, they couldn’t afford losing their important officials in the church due to the intensity of the war. They’ve already spent their resources in providing Red Cross packages and are too busy with managing the Geneva Convention of War Inspections and Reports. Also, I’m not a nun. I’m a clerk at one of their smaller branches. My position is part-time.”
“Which comes to the question again, why a tea cup?”
“Are you making fun of me, Mr. German?”
The battle in Germany didn’t involve facing the Allies head on. Often times, the groups that German Soldiers must face are not necessarily a British Commando, American Pilot, or even a Russian Tank. There have been many moments in the history of German Military, where they fought amongst themselves. This came from the source of extreme rivalry from between Germany's traditional Werhmacht and the newly annointed Waffen-SS. Soldiers of the Fatherland, and Agents who serve directly to the Nazi Party. If they didn't fall at the Western or Eastern Front, it wouldn't be shocking to see them fall in their own homeland for various reasons. Their only difference was who they truly served: Germany, or That Man. It was obvious the Waffen-SS would 'weed out' those who deny the existence of That Man, even if it mean removing key members of the Werhmacht.
“I’ve noticed the moment you entered the restaurant, Fraulein, that the men at the tables have been staring at you. Are you sure you should be meeting with me in such a showy nun robe? You really do look like the type of china cup my grandmother would often pride herself over.”
“…No. I believe the true intent of those eyes are meant for you. Do you not remember the fact that you are the only man in Black Uniform.”
“……………………….. Oh right.”
In a certain town in Germany, in a small little hamlet by the name of Dusseldorf there was a small restaurant. It was owned by a humble family of five, a wife, husband, and three children. They had the dream of opening many chains under their family name all across Berlin, until the nation itself decided to put all of their resources in invading other countries. And ever since the whole country went into high alert and martial law, business had altered significantly.
However, that didn’t meant the family weren’t flexible enough to cator their food and services to member of the German Army who drop by every now and then. Surprisingly, most of the Officers in the ranks are paid good money. And it became a popular gathering place because of that. Hence why all the patrons were men in the classic grey uniform. Most of them were high ranking officials in the Werhmacht themselves who enjoy dining, drinking, and having the occasional photos together.
This was one reason why everyone felt a sort of tension to see just that one certain SS Soldier sitting at a table. He was wearing a black uniform, the uniform of the notorious Waffen-SS. Sitting across from him, was a girl. Hard to say beautiful, because she didn’t look mature enough to carry the title confidently. Neither did she look like the person who enjoy people staring at her small round face or short legs. Instead, she covered herself head to toe in what appeared to be the habit of a nun. It was white, shocking white, almost too bright.
With the blue decorations that curled around her skirt and sleeve, she kind of looked like a tea cup made from the factories of Copenhagen, Denmark. But in fact, she was born and raised in neutral Switzlerland. For now, let’s refer to this peculiar girl as China Cup for simplicity.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
“Fraulein. I hope you would understand, the territory which I plan to transcend is riddled with turmoil and horrors that should never be seen by the chaste eyes like yourself. Let me be the one to burden those poisonous sins.”
“Which is exactly why I was forced to meet with you all the way from Geneva to formally decline your request to the Church you wrote to. Honestly, our offices are no bigger than a chapel in a hamlet, our influence could barely tip the scales of favor among the larger churches. They say they believe in your story of what your organizations is doing to millions of innocent people, but frankly they still think this is some kind of publicity stunt to get more attention to German propagand.”
"I assure you. Everything I've told you the moment you sat down is real. The people, the chemicals, the camps. All of it. If the people in your holy offices think this is some kind of joke, then you are free to go home."
"I for one, do not like to quit now that I've gotten my feet dirty on your muddy Berlin roads. Neither do I share the same public relations viewpoint as my superiors. So my reasons for personally meeting you in this smoke and alcohol ranking family restaurant are very clear."
“You say that, but you look too young to be following in my footsteps. If I am to fight my wars alone, so be it. I can see you are not a member of the highly praised Swiss Mercenary units, and dragging you into this minefield of espionage would make me look irresponsible. Waffen-SS or not, I don't want your blood on my hands."
"Every heard of the saying, the pen is mightier than the sword. If my use is strictly clerical, then I shall record everything you've accomplished up to the point where either the battlefield crushes us, or the firing squad greets us. The last thing I will accept, is a man rejecting a woman's good offer."
"...How older are you again?"
"27."
"Yet you look like you could fit in well at my daughter's boarding school?"
"Again, are you picking a fight with me?"
"If I truly rose up from my chair, the second I raise my hand these Werhmacht officers will shoot me. The bastards in my own organization are well known for pulling the trigger at the smallest of reasons, so don't put such a depressing impression on my own shoulders. I'm different from them!"
The man in the black uniform put on a small frown. It may have been not his nature, despite his services to that notorious group which he is part off, but it felt appropriate to say he felt conflicted by this interaction with the strange China Cup. Despite the fact he was the only man in the family restaurant who served members of the German Army to wear the iconical all black and red-armband, it didn’t seem to bother him that everyone was staring at him as if reading to pull out their Lugers to formally greet him. Not even his hand was shaking as he drank his coffee.
“...Is that alcohol I smell mixed in with your cup? It’s 9:00 in the morning and you’re already in need of an eye-opener!?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. A German can’t function without having his ritual cup of tea and schnapps. How do you think we can confidently dellud ourself that we are winning this war. The bad dreams of losing the First Great War still shake out hearts ever since Foreign Minister Hermann Mueller and Johannes Bell signed the Treat of Versailles on Germany's behalf!"
"I confess, that I'm not entirely a nun of the cloth, however, I still strongly believe no one should devote their life to the false gods living in the bottom of a damn whisky bottle! You need to invest your time and energy on something more productive! Ever heard of picking up a hobby!?"
“Fraulein Tea Cup. Schnapps is our national hobby!”
The conversation between the girl who resembled a china cup and a man in a black uniform and red band seemed to be in the middle of a heated argument. The words they were exchanging like bullets between two forces stuck in the trenches would force other grey-uniformed German Officers to glare in their direction. If the prescence of a certain SS Officer didn’t make them sit well, it would definitely the angry couple were disturbing their time with... their schnapps
“Here. Before I was forced to leave Switzerland to officially decline your request to help you, the head priest of the chapel stuffed these pamphlets in my dress. Be sure to attend the nearest Alcohols Anonymous meeting to deal with your problems.”
“Pardon my language, but are you a dummkoff, little tea cup? What is the point of questioning other's culture and traditions by comparing it to your own. How do you think the British Empire get so many enemies within its colony when they force a majority of their out of country citizen to turn to Anglican Christianity!"
"I'm Roman Catholic. So it's not my problem."
"Although I work for the Confessing Church as their acting agent, this is the first time in my life, where I've seen a nun give a 'I don't give a sheisse' look to me."
"I told you, I work as a part-time desk clerk in a Swiss Chapel no bigger than an elementary school. I'm not even ordained."
There was an awkward silence in the army-popular family restaurant, and it wasn't coming from the Werhmacht soldiers watching the bickering couple in the center of the place. The tenions was so heavy, they were already reaching their hands for their Lugers, Kar98 rifles, or even the MP40 submachine gun. Then, the invisible glass shattered.
"Hmph. Very well, I accept your offer to help me in my cause. Now, achtung, Fraulein. We have much work to do if we wish to bring the entire Waffen-SS down to their knees. They're preparing to mobilize the production of a new chemical plant to create more toxins for the war. I wish to bury their pride before its has the chance to stand on its own two feet!"
"Guwooh! D-don't pull at my robes like that! I-it'll give people the wrong impressions of what we're actually saying! Wi-with this kind of body language, th-these soldiers will think I'm some kind of tramp wife who needs to be reeled in by her husband!"
"...Apologies, Fraulein. I'm already married to a darling wife and I have a daughter whose about to start boarding school soon. Regardless of this god-forsaken black uniform, I am a family man through and through."
"Now my position has been converted to the tramp mistress!? I don't want that kind of misunderstanding for my first time in Germany!"
The Werhmacht saw an peculiar sight, that day of 1943. They would see this hated Waffen-SS soldier dragging a nun who looked like a fragile tea cup out of the restaurant. Little did they now, the moment they exit the room full of stale cigar fumes and cheap schnapps, those two will begin on a long and difficult journey to uncover a truth that no one believed them. Not the Allies, not the League of Nations, not even the High Cathedrels of the Vatican.
The man's name was Lieutenant Kurt Gerstein, an SS Officer serving the Confessing Churches.
"Schnell, schnell! We have much work to do with whatever free time we have in this messed up war. So let's make every second count to wipe off the smug look from the bastard's faces!"
"JUST PLEASE STOP DRAGGING MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"