Part 39 (1/2)
”It's time we added to your education'” said Whiteside.
”Allow me to graphically transport you back to 1943. As you may have learned from the history books, there was a bit of a conflict going on in Europe.”
Thomas was silent, watching and listening as Whiteside folded his long narrow fingers into a steeple on the desk before him.
”Germany had several different phases of its war against Britain”
Whiteside continued.
”Not all were military. There is more than one way to destroy a nation. Militarily is one way. Economically is another. Operation Bernhard was of the latter.”
”A plan of economic destruction?” asked Thomas, his eyebrows lowered into a frown.
”Operation Bernhard was a highly secret German project,” explained Whiteside, leaning forward and speaking with more intensity now.
”The operation was to counterfeit British currency, specifically the five-pound note but also tens and twenties. This was the brainchild, as it were, of an SS colonel named Helmut Andorpher who conceptualized the project in 1940 and received approval directly from Hitler in 1941.
The intention was quite simple.
Inflate the pound sterling so catastrophically that its value on the world market would be destroyed.”
”Brilliant idea;' conceded Thomas.
”Not at all original,” sneered Whiteside dourly.
”Andorpher was a student of history.” Whiteside cleared his throat and allowed himself a thin smile.
”During your War of Independence our General Howe counterfeited Continental dollars to undercut their worth. With considerable success, I might add. The only distinguis.h.i.+ng quality separating the original from the facsimile was that the counterfeit was a better product.”
”But we won;'said Thomas.
There was a silence.
”Yes. I'm told you did. In any event, Andorpher headed Operation Bernhard. He was a formidable strategist and an ”cellent soldier. What he was not was an engraver.”
Thomas nodded.
”What he needed to make his operation work was the homme indispensable, the indispensable man who could engrave the plates and who could duplicate the paper. The man who could turn out the unquestionably perfect counterfeit product.”
”And he found him. Within German intelligence, I'll bet ”Very good, Daniels,” nodded Whiteside.
”Of course he found him. A man very intimate with international finance and currency.
A German intelligence officer named Heinrich Kinder.” Whiteside allowed himself another meager smile.
”A nom de guerre, of course.”
”Of course ' ”Arthur Sandler,” sighed Whiteside.
”Our dear, dear American double agent Pensively, he continued,