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The Gauleiter Coup: The Parallel Nazi - 11, page 1
The Parallel Nazi - 11
Ward Wagher
The Parallel Nazi - 11
Ward Wagher
Copyright © 2025 Ward Wagher
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 9798297560215
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
Books by Ward Wagher
The Saga of Scott Baughman
Hannah Sorpat’s Eye – A Novel of Alien Abduction
Without Beginning of Days
Witnesses in the Cloud
The Chronicles of Montora
The Mountains of Montora
The Margrave of Montora
The Snows of Montora
Christmas in Montora
The Diamonds of Montora
Harcourt's World
The Wealth of the Worlds
Stacking Centimes
The Parallel Nazi
1 - Accidental Nazi
2 - Improbable Nazi
3 - Impossible Nazi
4 - Inconsequential Nazi
5 - Resolute Nazi
6 - Threads of Despair
7 - This Throw of the Dice
8 – Things Never Known
9 – Yamamoto’s Gold
10 – These Fragile Regimes
11 – The Gauleiter Coup
The Munich Faction - 1 – Courier
The Munich Faction -2 – Enforcer
The Queen’s Consort
The Nazi Magician
Nazi Magician – Inventor
The Parallel-Multiverse
Rubracks, Nazis, the Death of the Universe and Everything
Gravity Rising
The Last Paladin
McNeel’s World
The Alter Schloss
The Baltic Regiment: Beginnings
Another Pennsylvania
The Caledon Emergence
Dynastic Ambition
By Bob Anderson & Ward Wagher
The Final Hero
DEDICATION
To Deb, as always.
CONTENTS
Contents
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
FORWARD
PROLOGUE
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
CHAPTER FORTY
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
CHAPTER FIFTY
CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE
CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
CHAPTER SIXTY
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
CHAPTER SIXTY-TWO
EPILOGUE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to Bob, Ric and Don who provided advice, criticism and encouragement.
FORWARD
If you have picked up this book and are not familiar with the Parallel Nazi series, you may find some aspects of the story confusing. While I have tried to explain elements that tie to earlier books in the series, it’s hard for the reader to be dropped into a parallel universe and immediately grasp everything going on. And since this is the 11th book of the series, there is a lot of water under that bridge.
And this confusion mirrors that of our main character, Heinrich Schloss. While visiting Tempelhof Airport in the spring of 1982, the history professor finds himself dropped into 1941, where he observes a Tempelhof that is the same, yet different. And immediately witnesses Hitler’s death in a plane crash.
The crux of the storyline for the whole series is summed up by the man standing next to Schloss, who exclaims, “Herr Parteileiter, what do we do now?” The onetime professor is now the leader of the German Nazi Party and has somehow replaced Borman in this strange place that is not quite the same as the history he remembered.
Schloss’s immediate challenges are in facing Hitler’s inner circle, which consists of some very evil men. Using the history of his own universe, Schloss develops a three-part strategy for Germany. First, he needs to stop the depredations against the Jews; secondly, he needs to somehow cancel the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union, and finally, at all costs, avoid a war with the United States.
Each book in the series has Herr Schloss facing new challenges, but hews to his strategy. Along the way, he builds a new life with a woman he now loves, children to nurture, a family that adores him, and good friends whom he has no recollection of.
At the height of his power and influence, Schloss is badly injured while protecting his wife from an assassination attempt. Left comatose in a hospital bed, his friends and colleagues watch in horror as a group of doctrinaire Nazis work to undo the five years of progress and then turn the world into a much more dangerous place.
And this is where Book 11 picks up. If you haven’t done so, before you begin reading, go back and read the previous titles in the series. Not only will the story be more coherent, but you will also gain a deeper familiarity with the characters.
And, once again, I thank you for reading my books.
PROLOGUE
August 27, 1946, 8 PM
Hotel Kaiserhof
Wilhelmplatz
Berlin, Germany
Had this already happened? Reich Chancellor Heinrich Schloss sat next to Gisela in the Mercedes 600. He looked around the car’s interior. Some things he could see clearly. The instruments on the dashboard in front of the driver softly glowed in the early evening twilight. Yet the driver seemed to be surrounded by a fog.
Am I dreaming? Has this already happened? What’s going on?
“I don’t know how you maintain that equanimity,” Gisela said.
“I have learned that there are some situations I cannot influence,” he heard himself say, “and there is no sense in being frustrated about it. Ribbentrop would be difficult to replace, so I accept that and put up with his quirks. And here we are.”
He looked through the car window at the front of the Hotel Kaiserhof, but could not seem to see it clearly. Everything was blurred.
I don’t think we should get out of the car, came Schloss’s voice like an echo. Stay in the car, Hennie!
Schloss watched as one of the hotel employees opened the door. He slid out and then turned to help Gisela exit the car. And why was the doorman reaching past him to help Gisela get out? He glanced down and, in stark clarity, saw the doorman slide a pistol from his pocket.
No, this can’t be happening again! I have got to stop this.
Schloss saw his hands grab the pistol and watched as the doorman tried to wrestle away from him. As they struggled, the gun swung around, and he looked directly down the barrel. It looked like a cannon.
No! he screamed to himself. This cannot be.
And then the muzzle flash and darkness.
CHAPTER ONE
September 12, 1946, 9 AM
Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital
Near Potsdam, Germany
The Wehrmacht doctor observed as the corpsman checked the patient’s temperature and blood pressure, and then recorded general observations. He then stepped forward and used his thumb to gently peel open an eyelid, aiming a small flashlight. He repeated the process for the other eye. He then pulled a stethoscope from the side pocket of his white coat and listened to the patient’s heart and lungs.
“How is he this morning, Doctor?” the slim woman asked, pushing her flaming red hair aside from her eyes.
The doctor shrugged. “Physically, he is recovering well from the trauma. His vitals are fine, and there is no apparent infection.”
“But what about the coma? Will he come out of it?”
“I don’t think I would characterize it as a coma,” the doctor replied. “He is awake intermittently, but also sleeps a lot.”
“But he doesn’t seem to recognize me when he awake ns.”
The doctor gave her a sad smile. “I am sorry, Frau Schloss, but brain injuries like this are unpredictable. Herr Schloss’s current condition is hopeful, as there have been no complications. But we must allow time for the brain to heal itself.”
“So, you really don’t know?” Gisela asked in a pleading voice.
“That is essentially correct, gnädige Frau. We know little about the brain and how it functions. The best we can do is keep Herr Schloss comfortable and give him time to recover.”
“You are aware of the political situation?” she asked.
“I am, and I am not pleased. Herr Schloss saved the Fatherland, and it has now been hijacked by these so-called leaders. Be assured that I will give him the best care possible. And he is in my prayers.”
“Thank you, Doctor.”
“Now, I understand he is taking food?”
Gisela nodded. “When I put the spoon to his mouth, he opens it and takes the food, even though he remains asleep.”
“That is very good. Eating is a higher-level function and indicates the damage is limited.”
Gisela suddenly dropped back into the chair next to the bed.
“I just don’t know what we are going to do,” she lowered her head and wept. “Hennie is injured, and I don’t know if he will ever recover. The children are guarded at our apartment, but they are really hostages. Things are collapsing everywhere.”
The doctor stepped over and placed a hand on her shoulder. “When did you last leave this room, Frau Schloss?”
“Oh, I leave to visit the toilet.”
“I mean to sleep?”
“I sleep in the chair,” she said.
“Come,” he said. “You have exhausted yourself and need some rest.”
“But I cannot leave Hennie.”
“Herr Schloss is not going anywhere, and you will be just in the next room. You will not help him by collapsing. Now come.”
The doctor took her arm and eased her to her feet. As he guided her from the room, Schloss’s eyes opened and followed the movement.
As the premier military hospital in Germany, the Beelitz-Heilstätten Hospital maintained VIP facilities for flag officers and other notable individuals. And Heinrich Schloss was one of the most important patients they had treated. The VIP suite included a sitting room, a hospital room, where Schloss lay, and a guest bedroom. It was monitored twenty-four hours a day by a senior nurse, and a select staff was immediately available. Even Doctor Mannheim was under orders not to stray far from the suite.
The nurse followed the doctor and Gisela Schloss into the room.
“Please prepare her for bed,” the doctor ordered. “I will bring a sedative. She needs to sleep.”
“Of course, Doctor,” the nurse replied.
Ten minutes later, the nurse returned to where the doctor observed the patient.
“She is sleeping.”
“Thank you for informing me about her condition,” Mannheim said. “She requires nearly as much care as the Reich Chancellor.”
“Will Herr Schloss recover?” the nurse asked.
He gave her a frank look. “You know as much as I. These things are unpredictable. As I told Frau Schloss, we can hope, and I will pray.”
“Yes, Doctor. I worry that those criminals in Berlin will try something here.”
“You mean to directly attack Herr Schloss?” Mannheim frowned. “Reichsmarshal Guderian assured me that the army has tight security around the hospital. They will not allow the Polizei or the SS to enter. He is serious about protecting Herr Schloss.”
“But General Guderian is no longer the Reichsmarshal,” the nurse replied.
“I had not heard that.”
“The Gauleiter Düsseldorf is now the Reichsmarshal. Does that mean they control the army?”
“You obviously are better informed than I,” the doctor replied. “But my instructions have not changed. We are responsible for providing Herr Schloss with the best care possible and maintaining security here. But considering the situation, Herr Schloss must recover.”
Meanwhile, Heinrich Schloss slept. The one-time ruler of the German Reich had been seriously injured while fighting against an assassination attempt against his wife, Gisela. Occasionally semi-conscious, fragments of memories scudded through his mind like wind-driven storm clouds over a wild sea. Memories of another Berlin, of 1982, where he was a history professor, married to a black-haired woman named Trudy.
He did not know how he had come to this place. But in his fragmented dreams, he knew he belonged here, although he was not sure why. The term Accidental Nazi slipped past, but he didn’t know what it meant.
§ § §
September 12, 1946, 2 PM
Reich Chancellor’s Office
Reich Chancellery
Berlin, Germany
Otto Telschow groaned as he looked at the pile of paper on his desk. He had worked until midnight every night for the past two weeks, and yet the pile only grew. In addition to battling the paperwork, he was out every day visiting various government departments, issuing new directives to the leadership. Schloss had forced the people who managed the government to make their own decisions. The new Reich Chancellor had immediately stopped that insanity. The only way for the new regime to get its arms around what was happening was to review all the critical decisions. This further increased the workload.
And now he had to abandon his office once again to meet with his government, so they could attempt to chart a way through the chaos. When the Gauleiters had taken over the federal government, their experience in managing the German districts should have prepared them for managing the whole. He wondered how Schloss had allowed things to become so disorganized.
Telschow heaved himself to his feet with a sigh, fished his notebook from the confusion before him, and walked out of the office. Being short and portly, this activity required effort. He was already breathing heavily when he stopped in front of the desk occupied by Adolph Klein, his secretary.
“Adolph, see if you can make some sense of my desk,” Telschow said. “There’s more than I can handle right now, but I absolutely must deal with the priority items after the government meeting.”
“Of course, Herr Reich Chancellor. I will see to it.”
Telschow launched himself down the short hallway to the meeting room where the other senior members of the government waited. He could hardly think of a group of more disagreeable people, yet they were united in their opposition to Heinrich Schloss’s so-called reforms. While there was no gainsaying Schloss’s accomplishments for the Reich, they could not ignore the threat he presented to the Gauleiters with his plans for elections.
“Good afternoon, meine Herren,” Telschow said as he walked into the meeting room. “I trust we can cover a lot of ground today. I’m sure we all have a surfeit of things waiting for us in our offices.”
Many of those gathered chuckled sourly. Probably none wanted to meet today, but all agreed on the importance of keeping everyone informed.
“First of all, I would like the Reichsmarshal to give us a summary of the Wehrmacht status.”
Friedrich Florian, the Gauleiter of Düsseldorf, now also held the title of Reichsmarshal. None of the Gauleiters – now senior members of the government – felt the need to surrender their territorial positions when they accomplished the regime change.
Florian cleared his throat. “Thank you, Herr Reich Chancellor. I believe retaining Field Marshal Guderian as the OKW Chief of Staff will prove to have been a wise decision. The man was relieved to be removed from the Reichsmarshal position. He has been very cooperative and is also a highly capable manager. He has carefully followed my initial directives on the structure of the Wehrmacht.
“Our first initiative is to halt the reduction in force of the Heer. While the war with Russia has stopped, we do not trust their assurances. The Russians lie about everything. It is safe to assume that they are waiting for the opportunity to stab us in the back. Again.”
“Has the Wehrmacht given any indications of retaining their loyalty to Schloss?” Telschow asked.
Florian shrugged. “While we cannot look into men’s heads, the Heer has been quiet. I think the risks are manageable.”
Telschow nodded. “Thank you. Please continue.”
“As we know, Schloss was gradually introducing the next generation of weapons into service. I have accelerated that. I informed Heinkel that we plan to triple the planned production of the Boeing 540. Messerschmidt is in the design phase of the D model 262. We have several manufacturers preparing proposals for the next-generation fighter aircraft. We are also initiating orders for more Type XXII U-boats – the quantity being a topic for discussion in this group. And new infantry weapons are flowing into the Heer.”
