«ZUGZWANG OF OBER LIEUTENANT BRUNO THEVS» Page #17

106. INT. THE HOUSE OF A WEALTHY AFGHAN — EVENING. ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING.

TITLE:
KUNDUZ, SOUTHERN OUTSKIRTS, SEPTEMBER 1941

The house of a wealthy Afghan. A meeting of employees of the German diplomatic mission in Kabul (Abwehr residents) Karl RASMUS and Dietrich WITZEL with Uzbek kurbashi Mahmud-BEK is taking place.

WITZEL:

(grandiloquently)

Dear Mahmoud Bek, We appreciate your long-term persistent struggle with the Soviet government, and the presence of your own large detachment and authority among the kurbashi of the Uzbek and Turkmen Basmachia.

However, your extensive network of agents in the republics of Central Asia and northern Afghanistan is more important to us. Three months have already passed since the approval of you at the head of the "Union" organization in September 1941.

If you remember, at our previous meeting we outlined to you a list of the main tasks of the 1st stage of the Union's activity?

There were four of them.

Expansion of the agent network in the southern regions of the republics of Central Asia — the Turkmen, Tajik and Uzbek SSR.

The establishment of the exact number of Basmachi in northern Afghanistan on a national basis, the places of their concentration on both sides of the Amu Darya, the names of influential Kurbashi.

Creation of a stronghold of German sabotage

groups near Kunduz for transfer to the USSR.

Preparation of sabotage groups from among the Basmachi.

It is also not superfluous to recall that you have received a tranche of 40 thousand Afghani for these purposes.

(smiles)

And that in addition to us, you successfully provide intelligence services of our respected axis allies — Italy, Japan and have made a solid fortune on this.

Mahmud bek calmly listened to the patrons and starts from afar in oriental.

MAHMOUD BEK:

The German attack on the USSR in the emigrant environment in the north of Afghanistan and in the capital Kabul was met with deep enthusiasm.

The Mujahideen, all as one, are ready to stand up for the Amu Darya against the Red Army at the call of their hearts in order to step into their native firmament and return our shrines – Bukhara, Samarkand, Khiva, Ferghana!

With regard to the expansion of the agent network and the funds I received for this: the base of our agents in 3 Central Asian republics has increased significantly.

In addition to the local dehkans, it included figures of the executive, state power of the Soviets, military personnel from the national formations of the Central Asian military district of the Red Army of various levels.

Regarding my contacts with the Axis intelligence services: as far as I know, this August, the German Ambassador in Kabul, Hans Pilger, not without your participation, dear Gentlemen Witzel-Rasmus, organized a meeting of the Japanese attorney Katsubi with the Bukhara Emir Seyid Alim Khan! Outwardly observing the commitment to King Zahir Shah, his policy of neutrality, Emir Seyid Alim Khan at this meeting evaded the proposed cooperation.

However, intelligence agents from Japan, Italy, and Turkey soon established cooperation with his inner circle, agreed on monetary and military assistance.

Their personalities are well known.

I think it is useful to recall that at the stage of the "Union" organization, I was approved by the commander-in-chief of the Basmach formations in Afghanistan.

There is also an agreement that assistance to the Basmachs will be carried out entirely through me.

But the precedent with the Emir of Bukhara suggests the opposite.

My plans are transparent and known to everyone — the seizure of the territories of the Emirate of Bukhara and the Khanate of Khiva, the return of the deposed rulers to their thrones!

Now about the report of funds for the creation of a strong point in Kunduz for the sabotage forces of the Third Reich: Instead of one, I created two.

The second one is in Baglan. Hamra Gul-bek, a former officer of the Afghan army under my control, has been temporarily appointed as their head until your approval.

Now about the true number of Basma formations in the north of Afghanistan. Based on the data collected from Kurbashi on ten Afghan cities and their districts, she compiled 22.300 Basmachi, only 15 thousand of them are properly armed.

Rasmus' question interrupts Mahmud-bek

RASMUS:

Turkmen kurbashi Ishan Khalifa Kyzyl-ayak, in a letter to Afghan Prime Minister Mohammad Hashim Khan in August of this year, cited a different figure, it differs significantly from yours. Kyzyl-mayak writes about the readiness to put a 40-thousandth group of Turkmens alone under arms.

The same amount, according to him, will flow in case we supply additional weapons and funds.

Kyzyl-ayak, according to our data, has an army not exceeding 11 thousand Basmachi. Wanting to get more help, is he deliberately overestimating the figure by 4 times?

MAHMOUD BEK:

(lamenting)

This is one of the pernicious consequences of my unity of command destroyed by you!

The total number of Turkmen formations based on the left bank of the Amu Darya doubled from the beginning of 1939 to the autumn of 1941.

It should be taken into account that the Turkmen emigration is the most numerous, that's why it has large detachments.

On the issue of training sabotage groups from among the Basmachi, we have identified a list of the most combat-ready detachments, from where it will be possible to conduct a selection in a short time.

Their numbers and skills depend solely on your means!

In conclusion, I would like to note: the supreme power in Kabul is following the events on the fronts of the Second World War, waiting for the capture of Moscow and Leningrad by the Wehrmacht and the beginning of the fall of the USSR. If, or when, this happens, Kabul will not miss the historic opportunity to establish power over the territories of the Bukhara Emirate and the Khanate of Khiva with the bayonets of the invading Basmachi.

Therefore, King Zahir Shah is forced to tolerate our many thousands of troops in his northern territories, without taking steps to establish control over them.

Unlike the Kabul authorities, the Basmachi have no other choice but not to count on the Reich. Only with him can we return to our homes! We are strangers here in Afghanistan! Kabul uses us all: you as a money bag, us as cannon fodder!

Mahmud-bek has completed his report. Rasmus opened a small leather suitcase, gave Mahmud Bek another tranche in Afghanistan. Mahmud-bek left.

107. EXT. YAKUB KHAN'S TEAHOUSE — DAY.

The taxi stop on the other side of the road - opposite the teahouse. Yakub Khan, standing at the entrance to the teahouse, sees Otto and his friend getting out of the taxi, waving his hand in greeting. Otto and Bruno skip the flow of honking cars, cross the road. Yahya Mukhadi is waiting at the entrance to the teahouse.

OTTO:

(to Yakub Khan)

AsSalamu Alaikum!

Yakub Khan nods back with a smile, puts his palm to his heart.

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