23. Enemies on a Joint Mission
The two sides eventually decided upon a joint mission to escape their predicament. British Captain Partridge and German Sergeant Strunk would set out together to explore the surroundings and try to spot civilization or other people. The duo did not end up going far on their joint mission. Within moments of exiting the Grotli Hotel, Partridge and Strunk came upon a Norwegian ski patrol. Strunk shouted “Ingleesh“, to which a Norwegian responded with a warning shot. Partridge immediately dove to the ground for cover.
The commotion outside the hotel resulted in consternation inside, and Bostock came rushing out, fearing betrayal and suspecting that the German had shot Partridge. He arrived just in time to witness Strunk make the foolhardy decision of trying to pull out his pistol. It is unclear just what was going through the German’s mind, and his intentions will never be known. The ski patrol, seeing Strunk reaching for a weapon, shot him dead on the spot. Lieutenant Schopis and Lance Corporal Auchtor surrendered to the Norwegians. They were handed to the British, who shipped them to POW camps in Canada where they spent the rest of the war.