"Die Wannsen-Konferenz" (Flock'⁴⁴)

**"Die Wannsen-Konferenz"** is sixteenth episode of the Flock'⁴⁴ series, titled "Wannsen Twisted Logic," Jonah and Hazel find themselves under a brutal assault by the notorious Bloodstorm. They are captured and whisked away to the ominous Wannsen Castle, where they come face to face with the treacherous nephew of the Führer himself.

## Plot

On September 6th, 1944; Jonah and Hazel arrived in Nuremberg, Germany after a long flight. Hazel tried to lighten the mood by joking about the Nazis and their plans for world domination, but Jonah remained silent and lost in thought. Jonah was worried about Ellie Levi's safety and Hazel noticed his distress. After Jonah confided in him, Hazel assured him that they were doing everything they could to save Ellie. As they approached, they encountered Bloodstorm who was after them in the speed. Jonah grabbed his rifle and prepared for a gunfight while Hazel used her hand-to-hand combat skills to dodge his attacks. They both fired back at Bloodstorm but he managed to dodge their bullets with ease. Despite Bloodstorm being a skilled fighter, Hazel and Jonah were equally skilled and their teamwork was impeccable, leading to Bloodstorm managing to grab Jonah and throw him to a distance, with Hazel being shocked and trying to fly to get Jonah, but Bloodstorm grabbing him too, and only wanting to fight with Hazel, just him and him alone, while Jonah was able to fly down to safety, and Hazel decided to fight Bloodstorm, using his hand-to-hand combat skills and dodging Bloodstorm's bullets and punches while firing his own guns, and Bloodstorm using his Aikido moves and dodging Hazel's bullets while trying to get in close for a punch, with the two fighters being evenly matched, and the fight being intense. Hazel's wings were broad and powerful, propelling him through the air with incredible speed and agility.

Bloodstorm retaliated by grabbing hold of Hazel's hair and flipping him high into the sky, but Hazel was not one to be deterred so easily. In a flurry of lightning-fast movements, he thrust his fingers into Bloodstorm's elbows, jabbed him in the head, and dug his knuckles into his larynx. As Bloodstorm hurtled towards the ground, Hazel punctured his armpit and delivered a brutal knee kick to his head, causing him to fall down to the clouds below. Hazel flew down towards Jonah, his expression contorted with pain as he clutched his stomach. Jonah looked concerned as he asked if Hazel was okay, but before Hazel could respond, he vomited all over Jonah. Jonah recoiled in disgust, his face twisted in revulsion. The sight and smell of the vomit made Jonah's own stomach churn, and he too began to vomit uncontrollably. They both vomited all over the place, their faces red with embarrassment, Finally, they decided to head to an abandoned barn to wash off the vomit with a hose. As they flew away, Jonah tried to act nonchalant about the whole thing, but Hazel could see the embarrassment and disgust written all over his face, However, when Bloodstorm shows up and Bloodstorm lunged forward with his fists, Hazel deftly dodged most of his blows and countered with a powerful shadowstrike that landed a critical hit. Seeing Hazel from a distance, Bloodstorm quickly closed the gap and launched a barrage of speedy punches, but Hazel managed to evade them all. Watching from the sidelines, Jonah saw that Hazel was in grave danger and rushed to his aid. Using his shield, Jonah blocked Bloodstorm's attack, but the force of the clash sent both Hazel and Jonah hurtling to the ground. They tumbled and rolled through the cornfield until they finally came to a stop.

Bloodstorm swooped in, intent on capturing Hazel, but before he could make his move, SS officers appeared on the scene and apprehended him. Seizing the opportunity, Bloodstorm ordered the officers to arrest Jonah and Hazel as well, and they were taken into custody in shock and disbelief. As Jonah and Hazel were ordered to be taken to Wannsen Castle under the banner of loyalty to Herr Kurt Ächenberg, they were roughly grabbed, blindfolded, and had their hands tied tightly behind their backs, causing Jonah to feel uneasy and prompting Hazel to confront him as they were silenced by SS officers, with Hazel whispering that they realized the officers planned to throw them into a POW camp; they were then thrown into a car and driven to the castle, unsure of what fate awaited them, only to arrive at Wannsen Castle and be brought to Kurt's office for interrogation, led through the tense and foreboding halls of the castle, hearing the sounds of boots clicking against the stone floors, knowing they were in deep trouble. Upon entering Kurt's office, they were met with a tall, imposing figure dressed in full SS uniform, with slicked back hair and cold, piercing eyes; Hazel made a comment about his appearance, likening him to a little donkey, visibly upsetting Kurt, while Jonah, recognizing the dangerous situation, remained silent and offered no defense for Hazel's actions, leading Kurt to request that Jonah tell Hazel to stop mocking him; while Hazel apologized, albeit in a joking manner, it only further annoyed Kurt, who then talked about his relationships with Bloodstorm, his favorite Nazi soldier, and ordered him to make his favorite apple slices with milk for him and his guests, revealing that Bloodstorm came from a family of fruit makers and loved animals, mainly birds, which caused Hazel to look at Bloodstorm with a bugged look, while Jonah calmed him down, both aware that their fate was in the hands of the ruthless Kurt Ächenberg and his loyal soldiers.

As they sat in Kurt's office, Hazel couldn't help but feel a sense of dread and fear, knowing that they were at the mercy of a man who showed no hesitation in using violence and brutality to achieve his goals; meanwhile, Jonah kept his cool, trying to come up with a plan to escape or survive the ordeal, but the odds seemed stacked against them. Kurt, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy taunting and intimidating them, reveling in his power and authority as an SS officer, and making it clear that he had no sympathy or compassion for those who opposed the Nazi regime. As the interrogation continued, Jonah and Hazel tried to stay calm and composed, but the tension in the room was palpable, with every word and gesture from Kurt carrying a threat of violence or punishment. They knew that they had to be careful not to say or do anything that could further provoke him, but at the same time, they couldn't let him break their spirits or make them betray their principles. It was a delicate dance, one that required both courage and cunning, and one that they weren't sure they could pull off. Kurt then delved into his belief that Midgardland held valuable treasures and crucial connections to the Aryan people. However, Jonah had no knowledge of its location, having only heard about it from Norwegian soldiers in Narvika, led by a 13-year-old boy named Erik Elverum. Bloodstorm then arrived with the requested snacks, and while Jonah and Hazel agreed to partake, Kurt inquired about their journey.

Kurt grew increasingly frustrated as he discussed Italy's defeat by Anti-Fascists and the Allies' plans to head to the west side of the English Channel with heavy airships towards the Mediterranean Sea. He also believed that Midgardland was a myth or had vanished, though ancient Romans who traveled on old Scandinavian lands had discovered the Aryans, which Heinrich Himmler researched. Hazel's suggestion that Midgardland may not be located in Scandinavia infuriated Kurt even more, causing him to desperately beg Jonah for the location. During the interrogation, Hazel spotted a picture of Kurt and the Führer, which further piqued his interest. However, his efforts to uncover Kurt's secrets took a derogatory turn when Hazel made a hurtful comment about his appearance and culture, followed by a startling inquiry as to whether he was Jewish, which prompted Kurt to reveal that he was indeed half-Jewish and potentially even the nephew of the notorious Führer, leaving both Hazel and Jonah astonished and incredulous, especially since Jonah had never imagined that the Führer had any Jewish relatives, while Kurt proceeded to recount his family history. To make matters worse, Hazel proceeded to make insensitive jokes about Kurt's relationship with the Führer, which elicited a reprimand from Jonah, who admonished him for his boorish behavior, but Hazel refused to back down and defended himself by insisting that he was merely asking a question.

Nevertheless, Kurt laughed off the awkward situation and went on to reveal that he was actually the son of Wannsen Castle Conference chief Bukvić Ächenberg and, quite possibly, a nephew of the Führer, which left both Hazel and Jonah completely taken aback. Despite Jonah's lack of knowledge about the Führer's Jewish relatives, Kurt continued to explain his family history, while Hazel made derogatory jokes about Kurt's culture, which led Kurt to ask Jonah about his father's authority over the Nazi party in camps and factories. This made Jonah and Hazel feel uneasy, as Jonah realized that the same party responsible for the deaths of European people in death camps and labor factories was the SS Main Economic Administrative Office. Kurt, however, was more aware of this due to his father's involvement, although it had never been revealed to the public. Jonah looked out of the window as it started to snow, while Hazel walked around the office. Kurt talked to Jonah while looking out of the window, telling him about his father's plans for the final solution for a new world order. Kurt never left his father's loyalties and told Jonah that he and his Levis were better off under orders from Wolfram von Heinkel. This revelation shocked and anxious Jonah, who moved away from Kurt.

Jonah then told Kurt about the Levis, and Kurt had just heard from one of the maids who served Wolfram that he had planned to kill the Levi bloodline, causing Jonah to shake with fear. When they were shocked to find Hazel accidentally breaking a statue of the Führer, Kurt became angry and called for Sidi Hamza to move Hazel to another location. When Hazel saw Sidi Hamza, he realized that he was Arab. Kurt then explained that Sidi Hamza was a Muslim volunteer for the Nazi regime. Hazel and Jonah were not surprised by this revelation, and Hazel commented on how unusual it was to know that there were Muslim Nazis. Sidi Hamza then took Hazel away, and Kurt ordered his relocation to another area. As Jonah and Kurt continued talking, Kurt expressed his interest in finding the location of Midgardland in Northern Europe near the East. Jonah knew what he was talking about, but when Kurt showed him some pictures of runic symbols associated with Midgardland, Jonah was puzzled. Kurt seemed to have a lot more knowledge about the symbols than Jonah did. Kurt dismissed Bloodstorm and the other SS officers from his office, leaving only him and Jonah. He extended one final invitation to Jonah to join the Nazi regime if they shared his beliefs. He explained that Germany, with the assistance of Heinrich Himmler, could safeguard Europe, seek out the Aryan race, and recover from the Great Depression in Europe caused by WW1's aftermath. Kurt requested that Jonah and his black friend, Hazel, join the Nazi regime as they sought payback. However, Jonah declined, which Kurt dismissed with a laugh, Despite Kurt's seemingly nonchalant attitude, Jonah felt uneasy about his disturbing views and unwavering support for a regime responsible for the deaths of countless innocent citizens across Europe during their occupation. Kurt explained that individuals from various backgrounds, including half-breeds, Jews, Roma, and even some Slavs, had joined the regime for various reasons, including communism. He emphasized that Germany had non-Aryan allies like Japan and Italy who supported their cause despite not being Aryan. Kurt added that the Japanese army included Chinese, Korean, and non-Japanese groups who often supported imperialism, and the Italian army had blacks and non-Italians in their Fascist regime. The three groups had one thing in common: their fear of communism, as they went after Russians who were responsible for spreading communism. Communism was still on the rise in Europe and Asia.

As their conversation progressed, Kurt shared rumors he had heard about the Nazi regime sparing certain groups of people, such as homosexuals and young mothers, as long as they identified as Aryan or did not have Jewish or Roma heritage. However, he also acknowledged that people with disabilities and mental illnesses were not as fortunate if they aligned themselves with the regime. Despite these rumors, Jonah remained resolute in his belief that the regime would ultimately bring harm to the people. He expressed sympathy for Kurt, who seemed to hold a negative view of his own kind. Jonah questioned Kurt, wondering if he had been brainwashed or if he had suffered from abuse himself, leading to his current mindset. Jonah's sympathy for Kurt stemmed from a desire to help him escape from the nightmare he seemed trapped in, Growing increasingly impatient, Kurt decided to light the fireplace in an attempt to create a more comfortable atmosphere. He instructed Jonah to sit down, and as Jonah agreed, it signaled that he was about to share a cautionary tale derived from a German fairy tale. As they gathered around the crackling fire, Kurt began weaving a story about his own father, who had endured a difficult and tragic upbringing. According to Kurt's tale, his father Bukvić Ächenberg, not yet known as the Frounder of the Wannsen Castle Conference, was born to an unmarried mother who worked as a secret secretary in Austria. It is possible that she had a secret relationship with Alois Hitler before she left Austria while she was pregnant, which is why Bukvić carried the surname Ächenberg.

Despite the challenges they faced, Bukvić grew up without succumbing to drugs or rebelling against his mother. Instead, he pursued education and maintained a healthy lifestyle. He played with other children, respected his teachers and neighbors, and faced prejudice due to his mother's status as a single parent. To escape the turmoil in their lives, his mother eventually married a man who subjected her to frequent abuse. Despite the abuse, Bukvić never harbored hatred towards his step-father. Instead, he chose to confront him, hoping to put an end to the torment. However, this confrontation only fueled the step-father's animosity, leading to cruel taunts, including calling Kurt's father a "queer child." During his teenage years, Bukvić sought solace in churches, seeking advice from nuns while concealing his scars to avoid being seen as weak. He immersed himself in art, finding solace in painting at school and during his free time. The situation took a tragic turn when, in a fit of rage, the step-father entered the room and destroyed all of Bukvić's paintings. In a devastating turn of events, Bukvić's mother lost her life accidentally during this destructive act, right before Bukvić's eyes. Overwhelmed with despair, Bukvić turned to prayer, desperately seeking divine intervention, but no angels came to rescue him. As an adult, consumed by a deep-seated hatred for his step-father, Bukvić's life lost all meaning when the abusive figure met his demise. Driven by a sense of survival, Kurt's father took matters into his own hands and resorted to poisoning his step-father. Leaving the lifeless body on the table, Bukvić believed it was the only way to ensure his own survival – a lesson he passed on to his son, Kurt, who didn't want to end up like his step-father, enduring abuse from childhood to adulthood. As Kurt shared this cautionary tale with Jonah, the underlying message became clear: if they were not cautious, a similar fate could await them.

The story served as a warning, urging them to remain vigilant and make difficult choices to protect themselves from their own enemies. The atmosphere in the room grew heavy as the tale concluded. Jonah exchanged glances with Kurt, understanding the gravity of the situation they found themselves in. They realized that they needed to navigate the treacherous waters of the Nazi regime with caution, making choices that would ensure their safety and well-being. Deep in thought, Jonah contemplated the lessons he had learned from Kurt's story. He knew that he couldn't allow himself to become complacent or blindly follow the beliefs of those around him. The path ahead would be challenging, but Jonah was determined to stay true to his own convictions and protect himself and those he cared about from the dangers that lay ahead, Kurt and Jonah had a conversation by the fireplace, where Kurt shared some tragic family stories. However, Kurt realized that it might be too much for Jonah to handle, so he extinguished the fire with a glass of water, causing a small stream. Kurt then stretched his arms and decided to open his wine case. He offered Jonah some wine, and although Jonah agreed to drink it, he did so with a smile that hid his nervousness. Kurt then asked Jonah about his marital status and whether he had children, which made Jonah even more anxious. Jonah revealed that he was engaged to his girlfriend but they had not yet had children. Despite the tension, the two men shared random jokes. Kurt playfully warned Jonah that he would track him down if he tried to escape with more information, and Jonah laughed it off, finding the jokes amusing and even suggesting that Kurt should be a comedian in addition to being the Führer. However, behind his laughter, Jonah couldn't shake off his suspicion of Kurt.

When it was time for Jonah to leave, SS officers escorted him out of the room and down the hallway. As Jonah walked past a group of conference participants from the Wannsen Castle Conference, some of them gave him stern looks, which made him feel uncomfortable and nervous. Eventually, Jonah found Hazel and Sidi Hamza at the office. While Sidi Hamza was busy with the files, Hazel took Jonah to the window and whispered something to him about Kurt. This made Jonah even more nervous and made him feel that something was not right about Kurt. He believed that Kurt was not brainwashed but rather just a messed up kid. Although Hazel knew that Jonah often had suspicions about Kurt, Jonah declined her reassurance. Looking at Kurt, Jonah saw a troubled child who was getting more serious, but he wasn't worried about Kurt anymore. As Jonah accidentally bumped into Bukvić Ächenberg, Bukvić looked at him and realized that it was odd to see two soldiers, a black boy, and a Jude Spaniard together. Meanwhile, Kurt approached his father, treating them as guests, and it seemed to be a friendly meeting. The guards then took them somewhere, with the implication that if they ever escaped, they would meet again, Bukvić, who was often kind to Jonah and Hazel, greeted them nervously. He shook Jonah's hand and ordered his members to return to the room, Whispering to Hazel, Jonah expressed his lack of trust in Kurt and the Nazi regime. He was more determined than ever to find a way to resist their oppression. However, before they could take any action, SS officers ordered Jonah and Hazel to get into a car. Walking down the hallway surrounded by SS officers and outside, Jonah felt a sense of dread, knowing that he was in danger and that Kurt could betray him at any moment. When an SS officer hit Jonah, he discovered a paper in his pocket. Despite the violence, there was a glimmer of hope as Jonah approached the exit and found a small note that read "Stay alive, Frau Lehmann needs your help." The episode ends.

## Themes and Motifs

* The episode title "Wannsen Twisted Logic" is a reference to The Wannsee Conference (1984)
* Members of Wannsen Castle Conference:
	+ Frounder of Wannsen Castle Conference, Bukvić Ächenberg aka Number 1. based on SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich: Chief of the Reich Security Main Office (RSHA) and Deputy Reichsprotektor of Bohemia and Moravia.
	+ Untersturmführer Peter Gröss aka Number 2. based on SS-Obersturmbannführer Adolf Eichmann: Head of RSHA IV B4
	+ Obersturmbannführer Wolfgang Crüger aka Number 3. based on SS-Oberführer Dr Gerhard Klopfer: State Secretary, Party Chancellery.
	+ Dr. Anita von Ambesser was only female for State Secretary Number 4. based on Dr Wilhelm Stuckart: State Secretary, Reich Ministry for the Interior
	+ Konrad Kossel based on Reich Ministry for the Interior
	+ Albrecht Häfner based on
	+ Gerald Buchdahl based on
	+ Kritz von Crüger based on
	+ Clara Peukert based on
	+ Hans Villringer based on
	+ Dubislav Anker based on
	+ Anthoni Christensen based on
	+ Anastase Lupescu based on
* Kurt sat by the fireplace, sharing his father's tragic childhood story with Hazel and Jonah. The tale mirrored a scene from 2001 "Conspiracy" the scene of fireplace as Kurt spoke, the room was filled with both warmth and unease, the crackling flames casting flickering shadows. His father had witnessed the horrors of oppression, leaving deep scars. Just like Kritzinger, Kurt's father chose to join the resistance against the oppressive regime. Hazel and Jonah were moved by the story, making a silent vow to stand up against oppression. The scene at the fireplace left an indelible mark, reminding them that hope can be found even in the darkest times.
* . The bar is a replica of a bar in the movie, which itself was filmed in Acuña, a city in the Mexican state of Coahuila. Asimov bears a striking resemblance to Antonio Banderas' portrayal of El Mariachi (long hair, dark skin, and dark-colored wardrobe) and travels with a beautiful Hispanic woman bearing a resemblance to Salma Hayek's character in the film. Asimov is also able to single-handedly defeat a bar full of mercenaries hired to kill him just like the Mariachi character. Another scene reflecting this is when Spike confronts a car full of people, in a similar fashion of Dany Trejo character confronts the same scenario in Desperado.
* Fictional asylum called "St. Elling" that is referenced in Flock'⁴⁴/ıı to reference to 2001 Norwegian black comedy film "Elling,".

## Homages and References

* In "Waiting for Elva" in Flock'⁴⁴/ıı, Jonah becomes enraged when he confronts Father Bronebakk, who had previously sold innocent Lebensblood children. Jonah relentlessly pursues Father Bronebakk, causing chaos and destruction. Despite pleas for mercy, Jonah continues to inflict pain until he eventually feels remorse. Father Bronebakk survives physically but is deeply traumatized. This is not the first time Jonah has snapped, as seen in the flashback in "The Screams of Slients" when Jonah brutally defends a female fan named Anita from her abusive step-father, resulting in Jonah losing his job and feeling sickened by the world's treatment of abused children. This incident adds to Jonah's character development.

## Characters

* Jonah (focus)
* Hazel (focus)
* Kurt Ächenberg
* Bloodstorm
* Sidi Hamza
* Bukvić Ächenberg (mentioned, cameo)
* Heinrich Himmlmen (mentioned)
* The Führer (picture, mentioned)
* Ellie Levi (mentioned, flashbacks)
* "Erik Elverum" Sonia Kristiansen (mentioned)
* Wolfram von Heinkel (mentioned)
* Abelard Lehmann (frist appearance, cameo)
* Elva Lehmann (epistle, frist mentioned)