The story is set in an alternate universe where Germany won World War II and the Nazi regime still exists. The plot revolves around a murder investigation involving a high-ranking Nazi official, which unravels a web of deceit and corruption within the Nazi party.
The protagonist, Charlie Maguire, a journalist, becomes entangled in the investigation and helps the investigator, March, uncover the truth. As they dig deeper, they discover that the murder is linked to a conspiracy involving art smuggling, corruption, and atrocities committed during the war.
Charlie receives a cryptic message from a mysterious figure, Luther, who is being hunted by the Gestapo. Luther provides Charlie with documents revealing the atrocities committed by the Nazis, including the extermination of Jews in gas chambers.
March, a devoted SS officer, begins to question his loyalty to the Nazi party as he uncovers the truth. He eventually decides to help Charlie escape to the United States, but is killed by the Gestapo before he can join her.
Charlie manages to deliver the documents to the American ambassador, who conveys the information to President Kennedy, leading to the cancellation of a peace treaty with Germany.
The story concludes with Charlie waiting for the Gestapo to come for her, knowing that she has fulfilled her responsibility to expose the Nazi atrocities. The ending hints at a possible collapse of the Nazi regime and a new beginning for the German people.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. In this alternate reality, Germany won World War II.
2. The Soviet Union continues to resist the German Empire.
3. In 1964, the Nazi-German Empire is preparing to celebrate Hitler's 75th birthday.
4. American President Joseph Kennedy Sr. is scheduled to visit Germany to discuss a peace treaty.
5. A journalist named Charlie Maguire, who was born in Berlin, returns to the city to cover the event.
6. Charlie is being watched by a man named Luther, who once participated in the Wannsee Conference.
7. A body is found in a lake, identified as Joseph Bühler, who lived nearby.
8. An autopsy reveals that Bühler died from drowning or a heart attack, but Sturm-Bahnführer March suspects foul play.
9. March discovers that Bühler was involved in the smuggling of art, along with Stuckart and Luther.
10. General Globus is involved in the investigation and is revealed to be hiding information about the case.
11. Luther provides Charlie with information about a secret meeting between Heydrich, Bühler, Stuckart, and others.
12. Most of the participants in the meeting have died, and Luther believes the Gestapo is cleaning up their tracks.
13. Luther asks Charlie to arrange for him and his girlfriend to escape to the United States in exchange for secret information.
14. Luther is killed by the police during a chase.
15. Charlie meets with Anna von Hagen, who provides her with documents containing evidence of atrocities committed by the Nazis.
16. March sees the documents and is shocked by the truth about the Nazis.
17. March decides to defect to the United States with his son.
18. March is killed by the Gestapo during a shootout.
19. Charlie attends a parade where Hitler is speaking and notices she is being followed.
20. Charlie breaks through the crowd and asks the American ambassador to convey secret documents to the president.
21. The president cancels the meeting with Hitler and the signing of the peace treaty.
22. The German government claims the meeting was canceled due to a Russian bomb threat.
23. Charlie decides to stay in Germany to continue fighting against the Nazis.
24. Without American support, the Nazi regime eventually collapses.