High Profile Espionage
Shortly after, they arrived at the German military detachment in Krakow and met Maj. Schellnetz. They were led to an isolated room and began to confer their plans.
Aaron explained the status of Ariel being a dismissed SS soldier and agreed with their consensus to deploy him as spy by joining the German invading forces in Poland in the remote area, where Ariel was assigned and dismissed.
They believed that his military record would not be traced since he would be recruited by the Command detachment that was not so particular about religion, as long as one was German citizen and qualified to serve the Nazi regime. The impending plan to invade Poland would hastily require more German citizens to enlist in the military for reinforcement in response to any military retaliation by Poles.
Schellnetz endorsed Ariel Schrobber to Col. Schneider, his detachment commander, who was not so particular about anyone's religion, be it Jew, Muslim, Christian, or communist. But there were strict things he would like one to obey and observe: loyalty and honesty.
Aaron and his men went to different directions for a mission. His surreptitious move was numbered and cautious in the midst of inimical elements surrounding the area and, yet, he struggled his way to radio Erzen and Jora in Berlin, who were waiting for him. The rest of his men headed to France to recruit more members near the German-besieged cities.
In the meantime, in the Berlin High Command, Hitler and the assembly of his top Nazi officers, such as Gen. Herman Goering, Gen. Heinrich Himmler, Gen. Erwin Rommel, and Gen. Reinhard Heydrich, were discussing about the military development and campaign in Europe and Africa.
Observant and clever in this event was Gen. Guxim Dosier, who always had his vital documents ready whenever the Fuhrer needed them as he also performed secretarial task taking minutes of meeting for documentation. He had to exercise extra caution in the presence of other military confidants and staff around the Fuhrer. It would be observed and noted that, whenever an assembly was called, Hitler's adjutants and military confidants would tend to create a double oval formation surrounding the Fuhrer and his top officers. It was an apparent gesture of securing their safety from any possible eventualities wherever they go for a meeting and inspection. But all the events that transpired and all tactical and strategic plans to be enforced by the High Command were being transmitted in a very secure, cautious and surreptitious manner by Dosier.
In their smart, technical, and methodical capability, Erzen, upon receiving all top military secrets, was able to monitor the movements of the German forces, particularly in Germany, Poland, and France. Equipped with weapons and sophisticated war machines, Qamil and his rebel-recruits who were deployed to France fiercely fought the German forces to prevent the enemy from penetrating towns and cities.
Sophisticated German Panzers and German MG-42 machine guns were the most feared war machines the enemy had that could in any unfortunate encounter would eradicate and totally stop them. Their chances of surviving in any encounter lay in their tactical and strategic planning ability to respond to critical situation, although they had inadequate war machines, just as the enemy had.
They blew up bridges, cut lines, planted mines, and ambushed ranking officers along the roads and highways. Likewise, they gathered German ammunitions and all sorts of guns to be used against them.
Samron Frasheri remained at the German Military Headquarters in France to obtain more valuable information he could feed to Qamil Leka pertaining to strategic plans of the German forces.
In effect, frustrations and anger among the top commanders would become a big issue for which anyone among them could not find any answer. Nevertheless, they did not spend so much time in a questionable issue they could not resolve, but they left it for the meantime since there were other military issues to be undertaken. The Fuhrer and his right hand, Goering, talked about the changing situation within their operation. He warned his confidants and staff, "Be vigilant, and keep an eye."
Dosier, not affected and prepared for any eventualities, stayed calm and was at ease, as if nothing was affecting him, or anyone else, within the operation. He moved courageously confident all around taking advantage of his position. Much more, he thought of disseminating vital information to the movement.
"The plan is on. Poland is set for invasion," he announced.
Invasion of Poland
On September 1, 1939, at 04:40, Luftwaffe attacked the Polish town of Wielun, killing at least 1,200 people, and ruining seventy-five percent of the city. Thus, World War II had just begun, as the German pre-dreadnought battleship, Schleswig-Holstein, opened fire at the Polish military depot at Westerplate in Danzig on the Baltic Sea.
At around 08:00, without a formal declaration of war, German troops attacked near the Polish town of Mokra, which started the Battle of the Border.
Likewise, on the same day, German forces attacked Poland's western, southern, and northern borders, followed by air strike on Polish cities. The main Axis of attack started from Germany proper through western border of Poland. Attacks originated from East Prussia in the north in cooperation with German-Slovak tertiary attack by units from German-allied Slovakia in the south. All these assaults converged on the Polish capital of Warsaw.
After a day, German troops began to storm the gates of Poland, in airfields, cities, towns, and avenues creating massive attack on establishments and parks as the Polish Army exchanged fire. Hostilities occurred day and night while many civilians were caught in a crossfire. Many were killed when drops of bombs pulverized structures everywhere while there was no safe place to go.
The invasion of Poland was also known as the September Campaign in which Germany, the Soviet Union, and a small Slovak contingent participated; that marked the beginning of World War II. It was one week after the signing of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, or the Molotov-Togo pact, ending the Russian and Japanese hostilities in the east on September 16, 1939. Germany and the Soviet Union divided and annexed the entire Poland.
The Soviet invasion of Eastern Poland on September 17, 1939 rendered the Polish plan of defense obsolete in accordance with the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. The Polish government concluded, and the defense of the Romanian Bridgehead was no longer feasible, thus, all troops were all evacuated to neutral Romania.
On Oct 6, the Soviet and German forces gained full control over Poland following the Polish defeat at the Battle of Kock that marked the end of the Second Polish Republic, though Poland never formally surrendered.
In the aftermath of the invasion, underground resistance organizations formed the Polish Underground State within the territory of the former Polish state. Many of the military exiles managed to escape Poland and subsequently joined the Polish Armed Forces in the west.
On Aug 23, 1939, Germany signed a non-aggression pact with the Soviet Union to neutralize the possibility that the Soviet Union would come to Poland's aid. Secretly disclosed in the agreement was the ideological enemies agreed to divide Poland between them.
On August 25, Hitler delayed the attack when he learned that Britain had signed a new treaty with Poland, promising military support should it be attacked. Hence, Hitler ordered the invasion of Poland to begin on August 26. Likewise, Hitler turned to propaganda and misinformation to forestall British intervention, alleging persecution of German speakers in eastern Poland.
Poland began to call up its troops, fearing imminent attack, but Britain and France persuaded Poland to defer general mobilization until August 31 in a last-ditch effort to dissuade Germany from war. The Polish government in exile. Nazi diplomats and propagandists scrambled to head off hostilities with the Western powers but, on September 2, Britain and France demanded that Germany withdraw by September 3, or face war.
At 11:00 p.m. on September 3, the British ultimatum expired and, fifteen minutes later, British Prime Minister, Neville Chamberlain, went on national radio to solemnly announce that Britain was at war with Germany. Australia, New Zealand, and India followed suit shortly thereafter.
At 5:00 p.m., France declared war on Germany. Soviet and German troops met on a number of occasions, however, most of their sphere of interests were separated by water barriers.
One remarkable event of this kind happened at Brest-Litovsk on September 22, 1939. The city which lay within the Soviet sphere of interest had been occupied by the German 19th Panzer Corps commanded by Gen. Heinz Guderian. But, when the Soviet 29th Tank Brigade commanded by S. M. Krivoshein, the two negotiated that German troops would withdraw, as the Soviet would enter the city saluting each other.
Eventually, in Brest-Litovsk, the two commanders celebrated a joint victory parade before the German forces withdrew in a new demarcation line.
However, after three days, the parties had a hostile encounter near Lwow-Lviv, Lemberg, when the German mountain infantry regiment attacked a reconnaissance detachment of the Soviet 24th Brigade, which incurred casualties on both sides.
Later, the two parties negotiated, which resulted in the consensus that the German troops withdraw and the Red Army troops entered Lviv on September 22.
In the meantime, Ariel Schrobber, in a clandestine dialogue, was being urged by Maj.Schellnetz to re-enlist in the German forces in the western front of Poland to obtain information on the troops' movement while the war was raging in strategic regions.
In his willingness to carry on the resistance's objective, Ariel went to the western front and abandoned his job in the steel plant. "I just can't loiter around here in this critical time when the SS and Gestapo will not hesitate to kill when they learn about me!" he exclaimed.
"That would be a helpful decision. Good luck, and take care," Schellnetz said.
Shortly after, Ariel left for the western front to re-enlist for the German Army. In the western front, his personal background would not matter, but one should be more extra cautious of the commanding officer who would know of any German-Jewish soldier and, consequently, assign him in the most critical battle ground.
For Ariel Schrobber, the job of spying was just beginning, and he was willing to sacrifice his life for a heroic mission than die without any use. He took up arms and fought side by side for the German forces, but he was still at war with Hitler, as he was cautious of being noticed of sparing some lives of the enemy. He would try to get a chance to score in the radio in the midst of hostilities to relay his message to Aaron.
All the German military detachments were in red alert, and mobile, as Schellnetz was tensed in providing information to Dosier in a secure and surreptitious area because of the frequent interruptions in the line that was being used by the SS soldiers in relaying communication. Unfortunately, Schellnetz's data feeding was being monitored and intercepted at times that caught the attention and suspicion of an adjutant in the radio room. The latter became skeptical and realized of the former's treachery.
Without hesitation, and curiosity, the adjutant attempted to trap his action by his technical knowhow and eventually affirmed his belief of Schellnetz. The latter being unaware that he was already being the subject of suspicion was reprimanded.
"It's all over, Major Schellnetz," Col Schneider said, pointing his Luger while four SS soldiers quickly grabbed the major.
Schellnetz kept silent while he slowly put his two hands on the back of his head.
Two SS tied his arms at the back as they dragged him out of the building. No trial was served for his offense since it was treason, and the price for this guilt is death. Immediately, he faced the firing squad and against the wall; blazing bullets went through his body.
Immediately, Col. Schneider alerted all Waffen SS checkpoints on his way to the Western Front of Poland. He was stopped, arrested, and investigated.
"You are under arrest, Schrobber, by order of Col. Schneider," the SS said.
"For what valid reason?" Schrobber asked.
"For high treason."
"That's impossible, and profane! I was discharged from service and, now, you're gonna charge me for high treason?" he exclaimed.
"Regret being a Jew. You were given a chance to live."
Schrobber was confined at the checkpoint for days, until the decision from the military detachment was received. Later, Schrobber was deported to Auschwitz.