"General Sokov," Selivanov obviously didn't have much confidence in persuading the German troops to surrender, so he said to Sokov: "The reason why these Germans stay here is entirely because they can't escape. But they have to
It is obviously very difficult for them to surrender to us, so I don’t think there is any need to do anything to persuade them to surrender."
"Comrade Commander," Sokov said sternly: "Although this enemy group, including a large number of wounded, has been surrounded by our cavalry, if we choose to attack, they will definitely fight against the enemy.
Our losses are still inevitable."
Seeing Selivanov's hesitant look, Sokov continued: "I will try to persuade this unit to surrender first. If they continue to resist to the end, it will not be too late for us to launch a final attack."
Although Sokov planned to persuade him to surrender in person, he could not go directly. If those desperate German soldiers saw an enemy general approaching, they would definitely shoot without saying a word. By that time, Sokov
But he died before leaving the army. Therefore, someone must go to the position and shout in advance to let the German commander come out. Then Sokov shows up again, and safety can be guaranteed.
"Comrade Commander," seeing that Sokov planned to personally persuade the Germans to surrender, Koshkin volunteered: "Leave it to me to complete the task of shouting in front of the enemy's positions."
Sokov stared at Koshkin in front of him for a long time. He felt that the other person was now his adjutant, and it would be more appropriate for him to speak out. So he nodded in agreement, but at the same time he asked: "Koshkin
Lieutenant, do you need another German translator for you?"
Unexpectedly, Koshkin shook his head and said: "No, Comrade Commander, I understand German."
This time it was Sokov's turn to be surprised. He had known Koshkin for a long time, but he didn't know that he actually understood German. The muscles on his face twitched a few times, and then he said: "Lieutenant Koshkin, pay more attention."
Safety. If you find any Germans shooting at you, turn around and come back immediately, and then we will use artillery fire to destroy the surrounded Germans."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Koshkin assured Sokov: "I will let the German commander come out to talk to you."
Standing in the observation post, Sokov saw Koshkin driving to the German position and using the loudspeaker on the car to shout at the German troops. Not long after shouting, he saw a German officer walking out of the position.
.
After Koshkin stepped forward to negotiate with the other party for a moment, he sent a signal to Sokov, indicating that everything was safe and that he could go over for negotiations. Seeing the signal sent by Koshkin, Sokov was protected by a guard platoon.
, drove to a place fifty or sixty miles away from the German army.
Sokov stood on the jeep without a roof, picked up a loudspeaker, and shouted to the thousands of German troops on the opposite side: "I am Lieutenant General Sokov, commander of the 53rd Army of the Soviet Army. Let your supreme commander
Come out and negotiate with me."
When Koshkin repeated Sokov's words in German, it immediately caused confusion and commotion in the German army. It can be seen that Sokov's reputation has deeply imprinted fear in the hearts of every German officer and soldier.
Seeing the reaction of the German army, Sokov's mouth showed a sneer, and he continued: "German officers and soldiers, I guarantee on my honor that as long as you are willing to lay down your weapons and surrender, I will guarantee your personal safety.
Every injured person can receive timely treatment."
This time, after Koshkin translated Sokov's words, he saw a German general walking out of the position surrounded by several officers. Sokov recognized at a glance that it was none other than the third general.
11th Army Commander Stemmermann. He quickly opened the door and got out of the car, limping towards the other party with a cane.
"General Stemmermann," although Sokov knew that this German general personally led his troops to cut off the rear and was eventually killed during the breakout operation in the Battle of Cherkasy, but at this moment he saw with his own eyes that he was not thinking about himself.
He ran away, but chose to stay with one or two thousand wounded soldiers. He couldn't help but respect him: "Nice to see you here."
"Hello, General Sokov!" Stemerman raised his hand and saluted Sokov, and said with a wry smile: "I knew that once we encountered you, our breakout operation would likely fail.
"
"General Stemerman, since you know that the breakout cannot be successful, why do you have to let so many soldiers die in vain?" Sokov said euphemistically: "It is better to let them lay down their weapons and let our army surrender. I surrender to you.
I guarantee that I will give them the treatment they deserve as prisoners of war. Once the war is over, I will send them back to their country to reunite with their families."
The officers standing next to Stemmermann were very interested in Sokov's tempting proposal, and they all looked at their commander to see his reaction.
"General Sokov." Stemmerman noticed his subordinates' gaze, but he did not reply immediately. Instead, he asked: "I remember when I met you last time, you promised me that if it were our
When the wounded fall into the hands of your troops, you will not only ensure their safety but also treat them."
"Yes, I did say this last time." After Sokov said this, he also emphasized: "And I just made the same promise in public."
After listening to Sokov's words, Stemmerman nodded, then pointed to the jeep not far away and asked politely: "General Sokov, can I borrow the speaker on your car to speak to my subordinates?"
How many words?"
When Sokov heard this, he felt that there was something wrong. It seemed that Stemelman was planning to lead his troops to surrender, so he nodded and agreed to his request: "Yes, General Stemelman, you can use it as you like."
"Soldiers and officers!" Stemerman spoke to his subordinates in the distance with a loudspeaker: "This is a long war and an arduous war. You fight for the motherland bravely and proudly. You are
Extraordinary warriors, closely connected to each other. This kind of friendship only exists in battle, between brothers. You share foxholes and support each other when you need it most. You have seen death and suffered together. I am proud to be
Fight with you! You have the right to enjoy a happy and peaceful life. For you now, the war is over. All you have to do is to survive until the war is over and you can return to your motherland to reunite with your family..."
While Stemmermann was speaking, Sokov saw an officer wiping tears with his palms, and several other officers also had red eyes.
After Stemmermann finished his speech, he paused briefly and asked loudly: "Do you believe General Sokov's promise?"
There was silence on the German position.
Upon seeing this, Stemmermann raised his voice and asked: "Soldiers and officers! Answer me, do you believe the promise made to you by General Sokov?"
This time the German officers and soldiers responded in unison: "Believe it!"
In response to the officers and soldiers' reply, Stemmermann nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "Hand over your weapons!"
After hearing Stemmermann's order, the German officers and soldiers who were still able to move came out in batches without hesitation and threw their weapons in the open space. After a while, various weapons were piled up like mounds.
Weapons pile.
The officers and soldiers who laid down their weapons lined up again and stood in silence with their hands down.
Seeing that the officers and soldiers had laid down their weapons, Stemmermann turned to Sokov again and said: "My men have laid down their weapons. I hope you can fulfill your promise."
Sokov knew that although Stemermann ordered the German officers and soldiers to lay down their weapons, he would never surrender. He guessed what the other party would do next, sighed softly, and asked: "Stemermann
General Mann, are you really prepared to do this?"
Stemmermann was shocked and asked in surprise: "Do you know what I am going to do?"
"Yes." Sokov nodded: "Your military honor does not allow you to surrender. The reason why you ordered the officers and soldiers to lay down their weapons and surrender is simply to save more lives."
"I really didn't expect that the person who knows me best is actually my enemy." Stemerman smiled sadly: "General Sokov, it is my honor to know such a respectable opponent like you. If it weren't for
In this damn war, maybe we still have a chance to be friends."
As soon as he said this, he took out the Browning pistol from his waist and shot himself in the forehead.
Looking at Stemmermann who fell in front of him, Sokov sighed softly, and then ordered Koshkin: "Lieutenant Koshkin, General Stemermann is a respectable opponent.
You immediately go find a coffin, collect his body first, and find a proper place to store it. Then when the time comes, return his body to the Germans."
After making arrangements to receive the German prisoners and treat the wounded who could not move, Sokov returned to his headquarters and prepared to continue commanding the unfinished battle.
While Sokov's troops were fighting, neighboring troops were also fighting. The long-term shelling had turned the snow-covered open fields into mud. Groups of German officers and soldiers and Ukrainian civilians who had no way to retreat were found.
Sitting on the ground in the mud, looking at the Soviet troops rushing from all directions, he neither resisted nor fled, he just wanted to be a prisoner quietly.
During the offensive process, Konev's troops had already been disrupted. They were now fighting in companies or even platoons among the defeated troops in the mountains and plains. Although they were exhausted, every one of them was
In high spirits, they captured prisoners and began to reorganize their organization.
They ignored the civilians sitting in the quagmire and only captured the German soldiers. The Germans were very cooperative and acted according to the instructions of the Soviet commanders and soldiers. They placed their weapons in the open space and lowered their heads slowly towards the designated assembly point.
Walk to the location.
The first thing Sokov did when he returned to the headquarters was to call Konev and report to him about Stemmermann: "General Stemmermann, commander of the front army and commander of the German 11th Army,
Killed in action."
"What, Stemmermann was killed in action?" You must know that the German command headquarters above the corps level are all located far away from the front line, because even if ordinary German soldiers suffer heavy casualties, their middle and senior commanders are
Deaths are rare. After hearing Sokov's report, Konev couldn't wait to ask: "Comrade Sokov, tell me quickly, how did you kill Stemerman?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov saw that Konev had misunderstood, and quickly explained to him: "General Stemerman was not killed by our troops, but shot himself."
"He shot himself?" Konev asked with some confusion: "Why did he commit suicide?"
When Sokov reported the situation in detail, Konev breathed a sigh of relief and then said: "This is a respectable opponent and a true soldier. He will not hesitate to sacrifice for the honor and dignity of soldiers."
He took his own life. Remember to bury him with grand military honors."
"I have ordered people to collect his body." Seeing that his arrangement was different from Konev's idea, Sokov quickly explained: "I am going to wait for the right time to return his body to the Germans.
So that he can be sent back to Germany for burial."
After listening to Sokov's words, Konev was silent for a long time, and finally sighed and said: "Comrade Sokov, if you really return Stemmermann's body to the Germans, I believe you will
It can win more respect from German officers and soldiers."
Sokov laughed awkwardly, then remembered the difficulties he was facing now, and asked tentatively: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, we have received more than 1,700 wounded people at once, and the medicines are obviously not enough. I wonder if the superiors can
Can you support us?"
"It's very difficult, Comrade Sokov." Konev said awkwardly to Sokov's request, "After the war, the troops suffered a lot of casualties, and there was already a big gap in medicines. Where are the extra medicines?"
Come to treat the Germans in western Zhejiang."
Sokov heard that Konev did not pay any attention to these German wounded soldiers, and was worried that he would become a dishonest person, so he quickly said: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, before the Germans surrendered, I made a promise to them that I would let them
Their wounded soldiers have been properly treated, so you can’t let me be someone who breaks my word.”
Konev understood that once he rejected Sokov's request, he might be accused of being unkind. After thinking for a long time, Konev said cautiously: "There is also a batch of penicillin donated by the Allies in the logistics warehouse. It is said that this kind of
The medicine had just been launched and had not undergone sufficient clinical trials. Even the Allies rarely used it. Therefore, after receiving this batch of medicine, it has been sealed in the warehouse and has never been used. Otherwise, this batch of medicine will be used to treat Germany.
It’s a wounded soldier.”
"No, this is definitely not possible." Hearing that Konev planned to use penicillin to treat wounded German soldiers, Sokov immediately objected: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you may not know that penicillin is a drug stronger than sulfonamides.
Take several times the amount of anti-inflammatory drugs and use this drug to effectively prevent postoperative wound infection."
"This is impossible." Konev expressed doubts about Sokov's statement: "I heard from the director of the field hospital that the effect of this drug requires a large number of clinical trials. Only after the efficacy of the drug is determined can we
To promote these medicines supported by the Allies, they just want our wounded to help them test the medicine."
"I used penicillin after I was injured. I have the best say in the anti-inflammatory effect of this drug." Sokov, who comes from a later generation, naturally understands which drug is better compared with sulfa drugs and penicillin.
, so he said bluntly: "I think sulfa drugs can be given to German wounded soldiers, while our wounded soldiers use penicillin."
This chapter has been completed!