I'm a Profiteer in Cold War Germany

Chapter 265: Chapter 48: Countdown: The Seven-Month Window

From today, he had only seven months.

The door opened and Anna came in. She took off her coat and sat down beside Werner.

"Dubcek’s in power," Anna said.

"I know." Werner poured her a drink.

Anna took the glass, had a sip, then turned to look at Werner. "Are you making your final preparations?"

Werner didn’t answer.

"Are you planning to run?"

Werner was silent for a long time. Finally, he said, "Not yet. But soon."

"When?"

"When the dust settles." Werner watched the dancing flames in the fireplace. "Then, we’ll leave. We’ll take the money, our new identities, and start over."

Anna stared at him for a long time, then smiled. "The way you talk, it sounds like it’s already a certainty."

"Because it is," Werner said. "Anna, the Berlin Wall won’t stand forever. One day, that wall will fall. When it does, everyone will be scrambling to get to the West."

Anna closed her eyes and leaned her head gently on his shoulder, saying nothing more.

***********

「January 15, 1968.」

Werner arrived in Prague once again.

This wasn’t a covert operation, but an official business survey. He came as the deputy director of Koko, carrying a letter of authorization signed by Gunter, to "investigate market opportunities in the wake of the Czech reforms."

But only Werner himself knew his true purpose.

In the next seven months, he planned to pull off an insane gamble.

Jaroslav met him at the train station. The young official from the Ministry of Foreign Trade was flush with excitement.

"Werner! You’ve arrived at the perfect time! Comrade Dubcek just announced new policies—loosening import restrictions, simplifying approval processes, allowing companies to choose their own suppliers!" He grabbed Werner’s hand and shook it vigorously. "Do you know what this means? The market is going to open up completely!"

"I know," Werner said with a smile. "That’s why I’m here."

As the car crossed the Charles Bridge, Werner looked out the window at Prague.

There were more people on the streets than last year, bookstore windows were filled with Western magazines, and young people loudly discussed politics in the cafes.

The entire city was suffused with a feverish energy, as if two decades of pent-up pressure had suddenly been released.

"Market demand is soaring," Jaroslav went on and on. "Factories want to buy West German equipment, shops want to stock Western goods, and the people want jeans, records, cosmetics—everything is in short supply! Prices are getting higher every day!"

Werner listened silently, his mind already running the numbers on a different matter.

’Seven months.’

He had to make every cent he could in these seven months, then pull out completely before the Soviet tanks rolled in.

"Jaroslav," Werner said suddenly, "can you do me a favor?"

"Of course! What is it?"

"I need a list of the procurement requirements for all Czech state-run enterprises," Werner said. "The more detailed, the better. Machinery, industrial raw materials, consumer goods—all categories."

Jaroslav was taken aback. "That... could be difficult. That kind of information isn’t generally available to the public—"

"I know it isn’t," Werner cut him off, taking an envelope out of his briefcase. "So I’ve prepared a little ’consulting fee.’"

Jaroslav took the envelope, weighed it in his hand, and his eyes lit up. "Werner, you’re always so direct. Okay, give me a week. I’ll find a way to get it."

"Three days," Werner said. "I only have three days."

Jaroslav gritted his teeth. "Deal."

***********

「Three days later.」

Werner had the list.

He sat in his hotel room under the light of a desk lamp, poring over the list page by page.

The list was over fifty pages long, detailing the procurement requirements of every major Czech state-run enterprise—from precision machine tools to industrial solvents, from electronic components to textile raw materials.

Each item was marked with a budget and a delivery deadline.

Werner took out a calculator and began punching the keys rapidly.

He wasn’t calculating what these enterprises needed. He was calculating how much he stood to gain.

Industrial equipment from West Germany, costing ten thousand West German Marks, could be sold to the Czechs for twenty thousand.

Chemicals from Switzerland, costing five thousand, could sell for twelve thousand.

Textile machinery from Italy, costing thirty thousand, could sell for sixty thousand.

The profit margin on every deal was over one hundred percent.

Because the Czech Republic was desperate for goods. Absolutely desperate.

Werner quickly drew up a procurement plan in his notebook.

He would procure massive quantities of these goods from West Germany, Switzerland, and Austria, then flood the Czech market over the next few months.

But there was one problem: funding.

The procurement cost for these goods would be at least five hundred thousand West German Marks.

Werner had money, but he couldn’t put it all in. He had to keep some in reserve for his exit strategy.

He needed to find a partner.

Werner picked up the phone and dialed a number in West Berlin.

"Ms. Schneider’s office," the operator’s voice came over the line.

"This is Werner. I’m looking for Margaret."

"Please hold."

A moment later, Margaret’s smoky voice came on the line. "Werner? What is it?"

"Business," Werner said. "I have a proposition for you. A big one."

The sound of a lighter clicked on the other end; Margaret was clearly lighting a cigarette. "Go ahead, what’s the business?"

"The Czech market," Werner said succinctly. "Dubcek’s in power. The reformists are opening up the market, and demand is exploding. I need to procure huge amounts of industrial equipment and consumer goods, fast, and then flood the Czech market. The profit margin is, conservatively, one hundred fifty percent."

There were a few seconds of silence on the other end.

"It sounds good. But why ’fast’? Aren’t the Czech reforms just starting?"

"Because I’ve heard some things through my channels in the East," Werner said, his voice low. "The people in Moscow are extremely unhappy about the Czech reforms. I’m not sure how long this window will stay open, but it certainly won’t be for long."

"You mean—"

"I mean this is a quick score," Werner cut her off. "Get in, make the money, get out. Clean and simple. All proceeds must be transferred to a Swiss account immediately. Not one cent stays in the Czech Republic."

Margaret exhaled a plume of smoke, a trace of excitement in her voice. "You’re playing with fire."

"I know. But the reward is worth the risk," Werner said. "How long do you need to think it over?"

"No need to think," Margaret said crisply. "I’m in for two hundred and fifty thousand West German Marks. But I have three conditions. One: all procurement has to be run through my company’s books. It’s legal and it’s a tax shelter. Two: the proceeds from every single deal get transferred to Switzerland immediately. Nothing stays in the Czech Republic. Three—" she paused, "if the situation turns, you notify me instantly, and we get out. I don’t do business with gamblers."

"Deal," Werner said. "One more thing. I need your help contacting suppliers. Machine tools, chemicals, consumer goods—the sooner, the better."

"No problem. You’ll have a list in three days," Margaret said. "By the way, Werner... being in such a rush to make money... are you planning on making a run for it?"

Werner just smiled. "Just preparing for any eventuality."

Margaret’s laugh came over the line. "Smart man."

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