The SD Raid on Nippon Times Building

The Man in the High Castle

A Nazi commando team attempts to kidnap Rudolf Wegener from Japanese territory, and Nobusuke Tagomi violently resists.

increasingupBearing stren­gth in each eventdowndecreasing
Kreuz vom Meere's PlanKreuz vom Meere's Plan
Kreuz vom Meere's Plan Context Bruno Kreuz vom Meere bursts into Hugo Reiss's office and announces that the Abwehr man has been spotted. He plans a commando snatch against the Nippon Times Building. Turning Point Reiss protests but is overruled by a phone call from the Reich Chancellery. He signs the authorization and resents it. Significance The raid is the SD's attempt to enforce Reich law on Japanese soil, a violation that could trigger a diplomatic firestorm.
The Building SurroundedThe Building Surrounded
The Building Surrounded Context Inside the Trade Mission office, Wegener is handing over microfilm. Outside, SD men appear in the lobby and begin fighting with Japanese guards. Turning Point Mr. Ramsey calls on the intercom to report the assault, and Tagomi instructs him to cut power to the elevators. Significance The security of the Japanese state is about to be tested by a small band of Nazi commandos.
Tagomi ShootsTagomi Shoots
Tagomi Shoots Context Two SD men burst into the office. Tagomi is holding his antique Colt .44, and he fires, killing one and horribly wounding the other. Turning Point Wegener and Tedeki grab the dead men's pistols. The attack collapses as Japanese employees swarm into the corridor. Significance Tagomi has crossed the boundary from collector to killer. His soul is scarred in a way that no amount of official gratitude will heal.
Deniable Hired HelpDeniable Hired Help
Deniable Hired Help Context Afterward, Wegener inspects the wallets of the dead. They carry PSA citizen identities and Japanese-made pistols, a careful cover. Turning Point Wegener and Tagomi understand that the SD will deny everything. A diplomatic crisis will be buried, and the two bodies will be called common thieves. Significance The cover-up shows the mechanics of Nazism in a foreign land. Violence is efficient and deniable at every level.
Reiss's ReckoningReiss's Reckoning
Reiss's Reckoning Context Hugo Reiss comes to the Trade Mission to disavow the raid. He offers a handshake and pretends the whole affair is a demented nightmare. Turning Point Tagomi confronts him and calls the Reich an abyss, then rejects the extradition of Frink. Reiss leaves feeling the foundation of his world crack. Significance The encounter reveals that even a loyal German consul is repelled by the machine he serves. It is also the prelude to Tagomi's heart attack.
early morning at the German Consulate
mid-morning while Wegener and Tedeki speak
the moment the office door is kicked open
as the dead men's identities are checked
when Hugo Reiss visits Tagomi later