After Shechtman received Sokov's order, before he had time to convey it to the troops, the commander of the 764th Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan, called him and reported the battle situation to him: "Comrade Division Commander, our regiment has already moved the troops in the city center.
The church was besieged. However, the enemy took advantage of the strong building of the church and resisted stubbornly inside. Our first attack on the church ended in failure."
"What, the attack failed?" Shechtman, who had not yet had time to convey Sokov's order, couldn't help but frowned after listening to Lieutenant Colonel Ivan's report: "Didn't your regiment break through the enemy's defense?"
"Comrade Commander, the church is surrounded by open areas. The enemy can hide on the bell tower of the church and shoot at our officers and soldiers from a high position, causing us huge casualties." After reporting the situation, Lieutenant Colonel Ivan reported to She.
Hertman asked for instructions: "I ask you to allow us to use rocket launchers or new rockets, so that we can take down the church controlled by the enemy in the shortest possible time."
"No need to bother." Although Shechtman didn't feel that the enemy would lay down their weapons and surrender to him after understanding Sokov's intentions, but since the force attack failed, he might as well use a political offensive to persuade the enemy to surrender. "
You immediately send a soldier who understands German to shout in front of the church. Say that according to the commander's order, if they lay down their weapons and surrender, their lives can be guaranteed. If they continue to resist to the end, we will not be able to attack the church when we attack it.
One person will be left alive."
When Ivan learned that it was Sokov's order, he immediately replied unambiguously: "Don't worry, comrade division commander, I will immediately send someone to persuade the enemies in the church to surrender. If they do not surrender, I will resolutely destroy them."
"Wait a minute, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel." Shechtman was worried that the other party did not understand his intentions, so he quickly stopped him: "How do you plan to persuade the enemy to surrender?"
"It's very simple. Let comrades who understand German speak to the enemy and ask them to immediately lay down their arms and surrender to us. Otherwise, we will resolutely destroy them."
"No, Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, this is ineffective." Shechtman told Lieutenant Colonel Ivan: "The enemy never listens to our broadcasts on the battlefield. You can't make them put down their weapons by shouting to them.
Surrendered.”
"Then what should we do?"
"Send an officer and a translator directly into the church to persuade them to surrender." Shechtman said solemnly: "Only by persuading them face to face to surrender can it be effective."
"But, Comrade Commander, this is too risky." After Ivan waited for Shechtman to finish speaking, he defended him: "Even if the people we sent to negotiate were not shot by the enemy when they approached the church, wait
When they enter the church to persuade the enemy to surrender, they will also be in danger..."
"Comrade Lieutenant Colonel," Shechtman interrupted before Ivan could finish his words, "Where is it absolutely safe on the battlefield? If we cannot persuade the enemy in the church to surrender, then what will happen if we capture the church?"
In the process, we will make more sacrifices. As a commander, don’t you know what choices you should make?”
Shechtman's words were like a revelation to Ivan. He suddenly understood that even if the people sent to negotiate were in danger, only two or three people would be sacrificed. If a strong attack on the church was carried out, at least hundreds of people would have to sacrifice their lives.
Casualties. After weighing the pros and cons, he quickly said: "I understand, comrade division commander, I will immediately dispatch personnel and go to the church for negotiations."
After Ivan put down the phone, he called his chief of staff to him. After conveying Shechtman's meaning to him, he asked in a questioning tone: "Who do you think should be sent to carry out this task?"
The chief of staff thought for a while and then replied: "Captain Mikhailov, the deputy commander of the second battalion, is courageous, knowledgeable and eloquent. It is perfect for him to carry out this task. As for the translator, we can let him
Sergeant Vadim from the regiment headquarters is in charge.”
Regarding the chief of staff's proposal, Ivan thought for a moment and then decisively agreed, "Okay, let's send the two of them to perform this task."
Mikhailev was called to the temporary command post by Ivan. When he learned that he was going to carry out the task of persuading the enemy to surrender, he looked reluctant: "Comrade commander, I think you should send someone else to carry out this task."
"Why?" Ivan asked puzzled.
"If we want to enter the church smoothly, we must go there with a white flag." Mikhailev said with a face filled with sorrow and indignation: "If I am asked to raise a white flag to the enemy, it is better for me to hold a pistol and shoot at my own head.
One shot."
After understanding the reason why Mikhailev was unwilling to perform the mission, Ivan straightened his face and said seriously: "Captain Mikhailev, your superiors are now ordering you to go to the church to persuade the Germans to surrender, not to go to the enemy."
Surrender. As long as you can persuade the enemy to surrender, thereby reducing the casualties of our army, this is a great achievement, don't you understand?"
Although he said this, Mikhailev still couldn't accept it mentally. Ivan and the chief of staff took turns to persuade, but the effect was very little. When the two were helpless, Ivan stood beside him and remained silent.
The translator Vadim suddenly said: "Comrade Commander, since Captain Mikhailov is not willing to fly the white flag, then you can leave this matter to me and I won't have any psychological burden."
Seeing that Vadim took the initiative to take over the things that embarrassed him, Mikhailev couldn't help but cast a grateful glance at him.
"Okay, since Sergeant Vadim is willing to fly the white flag, you will feel that the white flag is at the front of the team later. After entering the church, your task is to be responsible for everything Captain Mikhail said.
words, translate it accurately to the Germans, do you understand what I mean?"
"I understand completely, comrade leader." Vadim straightened his back and replied, "I will never betray your trust."
A few minutes later, Vadim held a white flag in his hand and walked cautiously across the church square towards the church. Captain Mikhail followed closely behind and walked towards the church step by step.
The commanders and soldiers on the Soviet position suddenly saw someone walking towards the church with a white flag, and they couldn't help but have some questions: "What is going on? Didn't we win? Why did we surrender to the Germans?"
"Is it possible that we were surrounded by enemies, so our superiors issued orders to surrender to the Germans?"
"..."
Just as everyone was speculating, Mikhailev and Vadim arrived at the door of the church. Soon, the door of the church opened, and a German second lieutenant walked out of it, followed by two German soldiers holding submachine guns.
Soldier.
The three came to Mikhailev and Vadim, and the German second lieutenant asked: "Russians, what's the matter with you?"
Upon hearing the other party's question, Mikhailev replied in a calm and humble manner: "I am the negotiator sent by Major General Sokov. I want to see the supreme commander in the church. Please go in and let me know."
If it was a negotiator sent by another Soviet commander, the German second lieutenant would probably not pay attention to it. But when he heard that it was a negotiator sent by Sokov, he couldn't help but feel moved. He smiled at Mihaye along with him
The husband said: "Mr. officer, please wait here for a moment. I will go in immediately and report to our commander."
When the second lieutenant turned around and led people into the church, Vadim approached Mikhailev and whispered: "Comrade Lieutenant, it seems that our commander is quite famous. The Germans will obey his orders."
, and immediately became respectful to you.”
Mikhailov smiled faintly and said: "The Germans who have interacted with our commander are all afraid of him. I think as long as we go in and explain our intentions, the enemy may lay down their weapons and surrender."
Not long after, the second lieutenant ran out of the church again, but this time he did not take the two soldiers with him. He came to Mikhailev, leaned forward slightly, and said respectfully: "Mr. officer, please
Come in, my commander is waiting for you inside."
The two Mikhailevs followed the German second lieutenant into the church and saw people sitting everywhere in the hall, including wounded soldiers lying on stretchers and health workers taking care of them; there were also people sitting on the ground to rest because they were tired.
Ordinary soldiers saw the second lieutenant coming in with two Soviet commanders and combatants, which immediately attracted everyone's attention. Everyone was thinking: How can we see live Russians here? Could they be captured prisoners?
The three of them walked through the hall and came to a corner of the hall. There was a square table with several German officers sitting at the table.
After the second lieutenant stepped forward to report to one of them, he returned to the two Mikhayevs and made a gesture of invitation to them, indicating that they could come forward.
An SS officer sitting at the table first asked: "Russians, tell me why you are here!"
Mikhailev looked at the other party's collar insignia and recognized that it was a SS Commando Squadron Leader II. He snorted lightly and deliberately did not call the other party a SS Commando Squadron Leader II, but changed it to
Ordinary military rank: "Mr. Lieutenant, are you in charge here?"
"I'm in charge here." Before the SS officer could answer, a Wehrmacht captain sitting next to him took over: "Explain your purpose."
"Mr. Captain," Mikhailov looked at the other party and said, "You must have seen the situation outside. We have almost a regiment of troops surrounding them. It is obviously impossible for you to break through.
The only choice now is to immediately lay down your weapons and surrender to us, and we will protect your personal safety."
"Bah," before the captain had time to speak, the SS officer rushed to say: "Many of our officers and soldiers who laid down their weapons were inhumanely killed by you. Now you are here to trick us into surrendering. As soon as we lay down our weapons,
, will be shot by all of you."
The words of the SS officer struck a chord in the ears of the surrounding soldiers, and they immediately resonated. Everyone gathered around, pointing their guns at Mikhailev and Vadim intentionally or unintentionally. As long as the other party had something,
If the place is not right, they may shoot at any time.
Facing the countless black gun muzzles all around, Mikhailov just snorted, and then said disdainfully to the German captain: "We only have two people and we don't carry any weapons. Are there so many of you still afraid of us?"
Mikhailev's words made the German captain feel ashamed. He quickly made a gesture to the soldiers surrounding him, indicating that they should put away their weapons. Then he said to Mikhailev: "Mr. Captain, I believe you
You have also seen that there are still many of us here. Even if you launch a strong attack, we can hold on for a day or two and cause you huge casualties."
"Mr. Captain, I would like to remind you that the troops besieging you are not ordinary troops, but troops commanded by General Sokov." Mikhailev said proudly: "Under his command, we have
The Imperial Division, the Skeleton Division and the 19th Armored Division were annihilated. As for the other units that were severely damaged by us, I will not give examples one by one. Tell me, under the command of such an excellent commander, couldn't we still be annihilated?
You guys?"
After listening to Mikhailev's words, the German captain couldn't help but fell silent, and began to think in his mind: Should he continue to fight, or should he lay down his weapons and surrender to Sokov's troops?
"Captain Grams, we must not surrender." After listening to Vadim's translation, the SS officer immediately loudly said to the Wehrmacht captain: "We still have almost two hundred people here, even if we are besieged by ten times the number of Russians.
, and fully capable of persevering.”
Mikhailev couldn't understand what the SS officer was shouting, so he turned to look at Vadim: "Comrade Sergeant, what is he talking about?"
After listening to Vadim's translation, Mikhailev faced the SS officer and said: "Mr. Lieutenant, if you think you have the ability to defend the church, you might as well give it a try. You can hold on under our strong attack."
How long will it take? I don’t believe that you can defeat the Skeleton Division and the Imperial Division with just a handful of defeated troops like you.”
The achievements of the 27th Army gave Mikhailev the confidence to say this, but the SS officers became as dejected as a deflated rubber ball.
Grams considered surrendering when he was surrounded. But he was still worried about how the Soviet army would deal with him once they laid down their weapons. Could it really be like what the SS officer said?
Will they all be shot? So he hesitated for a long time, and finally asked tentatively: "Mr. Captain, if I and my men lay down their weapons and surrender, can you guarantee our personal safety?"
"Of course it can be done." Mikhailev said decisively: "Since we have made such a promise, we will definitely do what we say. Not only can we protect your personal safety, but we will also provide medical care to the wounded.
Treat you and provide you with necessary food."
When Vadim translated Mikhailev's words, the German officers and soldiers surrounding him breathed a sigh of relief. Although they could fight to the last man under the Soviet attack, if they could survive,
But it was everyone's inner wish, so they all turned their attention to Captain Grams and waited nervously for his answer.
Grams' eyes swept over the faces of his men, and when he saw that they were all looking at him expectantly, he immediately understood their thoughts. After a fierce ideological struggle, he decisively announced: "
I declare that everyone should lay down their arms and surrender to the Russians..."
Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, there was a loud shout from the side: "Whoever dares to surrender to the Russians, I will beat him to death."
Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw the SS officer pointing his pistol at Grams' head and saying loudly: "Captain Grams, cancel the order you just issued immediately, otherwise I will
