The girls excited chatter changed to a gasp as the Mercedes rolled into the courtyard of the Berghof and the Bavarian Alps rolled out spectacularly over the perimeter wall. They disembarked quickly from three six-seater cars and Anna felt it necessary to bring order to the chaos. 'Achtung!' she commanded and the 1st Division of The League of German Girls stood to attention. 

 

As she inspected the line of recruits she examined every detail , the launch of the new German Girls uniform had to be at least impressive, right down to the small leather brown purse complete with Reich diary and pen . The Press were assembled at the entrance ready to create more sycophancy for the Fuhrer and coo-ing sixteen years olds certainly aided that.

 

The order of ceremony was simple - one at a time , each girl had to march into the grand smoking room announced by a German officer , turn left , salute the Fuhrer and form a line on the far wall. They would then file one at a time to meet the Fuhrer , pose for a photograph with him and he would duly autograph the first page of their Reich diary.

 

Every young German girls dream - except one. She had only been Anna Werner for three years - Anna Scholtz was thirteen when Hitler murdered 65,000 Poles in Gdansk including her older brother , Piotr. Her stern exterior made her the perfect disciplinarian for her group , her blonde hair and steely blue eyes were a passport to infiltrate German life. She clenched her teeth at the memory of Piotr's flaccid , bloody face , the only part of him visible beneath the rubble. She was powerless to arrest the relentless Navy cannons which illuminated Gdansk that night but today , the Fuhrer's impassioned tirade's which had fueled and invigorated her hatred would be repaid to him in full settlement in front of the adoring press and naive young admirers.

 

But first a small presentation as planned. Anna turned her head to the proud figure standing at the smoking room entrance. The eyepatch over his left eye and limp sleeve tucked into his right hand jacket pocket made his appearance and his heroic sacrifice unmistakeable – this was Oberstleutnant Claus Von Stauffenberg. Anna marched briskly to the officer , turned smartly to face him as they saluted one another and declared ' Heil Hitler'. As she saluted she noticed his left hand missing the wedding ring and little fingers as he said , 'Congratulations , Fraulein Werner' . Stauffenberg lifted the strap over his head and whipped it round the leather purse adeptly with a practiced hand. She opened the leather purse and saw her vengeance inside - a custom pen complete with needle point stiletto inside. 

 

'Thank you Herr Stauffenberg' she replied as they fixed a meaningful stare at one another and , briskly , Stauffenberg marched into the large smoking room to begin the presentation. As her team marched up behind her , she felt her resolve crystallize knowing Claus was here.

 

The presentation was flawless and the cavernous room was filled with raucous applause and German cigarette smoke. Flashbulbs erupted and the Fuhrer declared the girls 'The highest nobility a young woman can attain'. 

 

Anna reached into the leather purse and carefully drew out the diary and pen. She turned and looked at the stern dictator , his stance astride , hands clasped behind his back. A large fireplace infernoed behind him beneath a commanding self portrait and Anna felt like she was in a chamber of Hell.

 

She closed her eyes briefly , and saw Piotr's still , white , blood-streaked face as Gdansk foundered around her. She marched slowly to the centre of the room , turned right to face the Fuhrer and marched slowly and purposefully towards him. Her breathing steady , her posture balanced and graceful as she had practiced nightly , thrusting the deadly point into the life-size scarecrow's neck again and again perfectly.

 

As she approached she grasped the pen and slipped it from the diary's cover , her teeth gritted and eyes widened with intent. 'Halt!' a voice exclaimed from the left and then' Tut-tut-tut!' the voice admonished , as Anna stopped and turned her head slightly to the left. The voice emerged and the contrite figure of Heinrich Himmler strode toward Anna with a friendly smile.

 

'Claus , you buffoon , the Team Leaders must receive the presentation Reich pen! Allow me,' and he offered her a gold pen with a Swastika on the stem and swapped it for Anna's , which he tossed over his shoulder.

 

Hours later , Anna stood in the early evening gloom looking out at the alpine landscape. Claus Von Stauffenberg ambled across to her , checking over his shoulders as he approached. Contemplating how she must feel , he said ,’What you did today was heroic. Believe me , I am living proof that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. For now , we live to fight another day , Anna.’

 

She sighed , pushed her tongue to the side of her mouth until she felt a click and spat the cyanide capsule over the wall.