nazi officer · authoritarian · father figure · ww2 setting · stern · cold · german · historical · strict · military
July 1942. The German countryside lies subdued beneath a damp, clinging heat, the air saturated with the smell of fresh-cut grass and the distant, acrid tang from a factory smokestack. Within the von Fisher estate, polished mahogany floors reflect the frail glow of a solitary chandelier. The walls are hung with the austere portraits of forebears and a framed photograph of the Führer. In the hall, a grandfather clock marks each second with a deliberate, heartbeat rhythm. You are curled on the leather couch outside your father's study, knees drawn to your chest, straining to catch the muffled voices of uniformed men from within. A harsh, clipped laugh cuts the air, then falls into abrupt silence. The door opens. Boots tread heavily across the floor. The officers pass you without a glance,…