When Ponejelin learned that the reconnaissance company he sent had reached an agreement with the Romanian 27th Border Guard Regiment and was ready to take over the regiment's defense area at any time, he suddenly felt confident and called Sokov to report this to him.
good news.
"Comrade Commander," Ponedelin said quickly when he heard Sokov's voice coming from the receiver, "I have good news to tell you."
"You want to tell me the good news?!" After hearing this, Sokov thought for a moment and then asked tentatively: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, have your troops entered Romania?"
"I sent a divisional reconnaissance company into Romania, but unexpectedly I met Lieutenant Colonel Luca, the regimental chief of staff of the 27th Border Guard Regiment. He said that his troops were unwilling to fight with our army and were willing to hand over their defense to us.
"
After learning that another Romanian army surrendered without a fight, Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed and said repeatedly: "Great, this is really great. Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, I congratulate you and congratulate your troops on their victory."
It’s great to have established a foothold in Romania in such a short period of time!”
However, Sokov suddenly thought of a question and couldn't help but ask Ponedelin: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, have you discovered a problem?"
"what is the problem?"
"The reason why our attacks went so smoothly during this period is entirely because those fighting us were all Romanian troops." Sokov frowned and said, "The German troops seemed to have suddenly disappeared."
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I have also discovered this problem." Ponejelin said on the phone: "I initially thought that we were about to enter Romania, so we encountered relatively more Romanian troops. But
Now it seems that it is not the case at all, it seems that there is something wrong in some link."
Sokov knew that he could not find an answer to this matter yet, so he did not waste time on the phone. Instead, he ordered Ponejelin: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin, immediately order the troops to enter the defense area of the Romanian Border Guard Regiment, in Prut
Establish a landing site on the right bank of the river."
After putting down the phone, Sokov called Trofimenko, Samyko, Smirnov and others to him and said to them: "Comrades, commanders, let me tell you some good news. Romania's 27th Border Guard Regiment
, have voluntarily surrendered to Ponejelin's troops and are willing to hand over their defense area."
"Great, this is simply great." After hearing this, Sameko said excitedly: "Comrade Commander, if our troops can often encounter such troops who abandon the dark side and turn to the bright side, I won't think about it for a few months.
Can occupy the entire territory of Romania."
Sokov knew very well that the smooth progress now does not mean that the progress will be smooth in the future. Maybe in a few days, the troops will fight a tough battle, even a tough battle with heavy casualties. But that is a story for another day.
Putting aside the topic, what he was eager to know now was what caused the German army to disappear from the direction of his attack.
"Comrade commanders, I have a question to ask you and see what you think."
Everyone didn't know what Sokov wanted to say, so they all focused on him.
"Have you noticed that in recent times, the proportion of Germans among the enemies fighting us has been getting smaller and smaller." Sokov said: "Especially in the recent battles, the number of enemies fighting us has become smaller and smaller.
They are all Romanian troops. I want to ask, where are the Germans?"
Regarding Sokov's question, everyone fell into deep thought.
After a while, Smirnov was the first to break the silence: "Comrade Commander, do you think it is because we have advanced to the Romanian border, and the Germans feel that Romania's strength is enough to protect their country, so they have no choice.
Fight alongside them."
"This reason is not valid." Sokov shook his head and said: "The Germans know very well that once their ally is defeated by us, it means that Romania may join our camp, and they will never allow this to happen.
of."
"Could that be a conspiracy?" Seeing Sokov denying Smirnov's guess, Sameko put forward his own idea: "The Germans deliberately let us compete with the Romanians, and after we have both lost,
, and then unexpectedly launched an attack on us. By then, we had already suffered heavy losses, and the commanders and soldiers had become exhausted and unable to resist their attack."
Sokov felt that Sameko's statement meant that the Germans were sitting on the mountain and watching the fight between tigers, waiting until both he and the Romanian army were defeated, and then they would benefit. But then he thought: "It's not like that. Could it be that the Germans are here?"
When specifying this combat plan, no consideration was given to the negative impact it would have on the morale and morale of the military once the Soviet troops entered Romania."
Ideas were put forward one after another, but they were quickly overturned one by one. Finally, Military Commissioner Gorokhov said: "I think this question should be asked to Marshal Konev. As the commander of the front army, he knows the information
More than us, maybe they can tell us what the right answer is."
Gorokhov's suggestion immediately aroused everyone's approval. Seeing that no one objected, Sokov found the director of the communications corps and asked him to connect the phone to the front army headquarters.
After listening to Sokov's narration, Konev couldn't help but fell into deep thought.
After a long time, he said: "Comrade Sokov, I really have the answer to the question you asked."
Knowing that Konev had the answer he wanted, Sokov quickly said: "Comrade Marshal, what is the reason? Can you tell me?"
"Comrade Sokov, I'm not entirely sure." Konev said cautiously: "But I think it must be related to the fact that you encounter fewer and fewer German troops."
"Comrade Marshal, don't whet my appetite, just tell me quickly."
"I think this matter may be related to the surrender letter issued by Marshal Zhukov to the German army a few days ago."
"Marshal Zhukov's letter of persuasion to the Germans to surrender?" Sokov asked with some confusion: "What is the connection between the two?"
"I wonder what is written in the surrender letter?"
"Wait a minute, Comrade Sokov, let me look for it first." Soon, Sokov heard the sound of rummaging for something from the receiver. Fortunately, not long after, Konev's voice sounded again.
: "I found it, I'll read it to you."
"First, in order to avoid further casualties, I suggest that you stop unnecessary resistance and surrender all auxiliary units before the end of March 25. You are surrounded on all sides and there is no hope. You cannot escape from our encirclement.
"
"Second, if you do not surrender before the end of March 25, 1944, then all officers and soldiers who do not accept this proposal to end useless resistance will be shot one out of every three. This is the punishment for useless resistance. You should form a group
Offer to surrender as a group, because you have been surrounded by three groups."
"All officers who voluntarily cease resistance will be allowed to keep their weapons, medals and vehicles."
"Signed: Zhukov, Commander of the Front Army, Marshal of the Soviet Union."
After listening to this letter of persuasion to surrender, Sokov felt that Zhukov's tone was a bit aggressive, and it was strange that the Germans agreed. "Comrade Marshal," Sokov knew that he had to express some opinions, so he said into the microphone: "I think
Marshal Zhukov's letter of persuasion not only failed to make the Germans lay down their weapons and surrender, but even caused some German officers and soldiers to develop a rebellious mentality."
"Comrade Sokov, you are right." Konev expressed a strong interest in Sokov's statement: "This nonsense full of cruelty has made all German commanders
shocking."
"However, after Marshal Zhukov sent this telegram, he realized that his surrender letter was too simple and crude, and he was going to revise it again." Konev said: "So he drafted a new surrender letter. Some of the original text was inexplicable.
If so, it has been cleverly modified.”
"New surrender letter?!" Sokov asked curiously, "What does it look like?"
"At 11 o'clock in the morning, the proposal of the Commander of the Front Army, Marshal Zhukov of the Soviet Union, was sent to you, but there were some discrepancies after translation. The proposal is as follows: German officers and soldiers who voluntarily lay down their arms will be treated well. Only those who
Officers who have received the marshal's proposal but still refuse to stop needless resistance before tonight will be shot mercilessly. And will be executed in front of their subordinates. This is a needless sacrifice for the soldiers entrusted to them.
Sacrifice as a punishment.”
After listening to this, Sokov immediately expressed his opinion: "Comrade Marshal, I think the new surrender letter is impeccable in terms of language, but I don't know what the final outcome will be?"
"What else could I do, of course I refused directly." Konev said: "In fact, Marshal Zhukov's letter of persuasion to surrender was too harsh. Not only did it not achieve the desired effect, but on the contrary, it intensified the battle of the German officers and soldiers in disguise.
will."
"Comrade Marshal, after listening to what you said, I feel more and more that the reason why we can't see any Germans on the front of the attack may be that Marshal Zhukov's letter of persuasion to surrender successfully angered the Germans, which led to the
The commander concentrated all his troops in that direction, preparing for a decisive battle with Marshal Zhukov's troops."
"What you say makes sense, Comrade Sokov." Konev said on the phone: "In the recent battle of Vinnitsa launched by Marshal Zhukov, the resistance encountered has become stronger and stronger. It seems that the Germans have
All troops that can be collected nearby will be transferred to the area fighting the First Front Army."
When Sokov heard this, he was quite surprised. He did not expect that Zhukov's letter of persuasion to surrender would cause such an uproar and attract all the Germans in the nearby area to his direction. Next, the troops commanded by Zhukov
, what we will face is one fierce battle after another.
When a blind tone came from the receiver, Sokov still held the receiver for a long time and refused to put it down, thinking in his mind whether he should take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to quickly expand his achievements in Romania.
"Comrade Commander, Comrade Commander." Seeing Sokov holding the microphone and not speaking, Samek knew that he was thinking about a problem and quickly touched him twice with his hand, "What are you thinking about?"
Samyko's voice woke Sokov out of his thoughts. He looked at Samyko with grateful eyes, and then said to everyone: "Comrade commanders, there is no reason why we can't find any Germans in the direction of our attack."
, I think I found it."
After learning that Sokov had found the reason why the Germans were still alive, Trofimenko asked anxiously: "Comrade Commander, tell me quickly, what is going on?"
Sokov told everyone the news he heard from Konev, and finally said: "If the analysis of Marshal Konev and I is correct, then for a long time to come, the Germans will
Let’s focus on Marshal Zhukov’s First Front, and the only enemy we have to deal with is the Romanian Army.”
"Comrade Commander, this is a great good thing for us." Trofimenko discovered the problem very keenly: "If the Germans all go to Marshal Zhukov, and what we are facing
The only one we have is the Romanian army, so we can adopt a two-pronged approach to achieve greater results."
As soon as he finished speaking, Smirnov asked curiously: "General Trofimenko, what do you mean by a two-pronged approach?"
“If we want to achieve huge results in Romania, we must adopt two methods.” Since Smirnov asked, Trofimenko naturally would not hide his true thoughts: “The first is military attack;
Our main means; the second is political offensive, which is an auxiliary means to military attack."
Sokov knew in his heart that in order to destroy the enemy and achieve final victory, military power alone was far from enough. Political propaganda was also needed to assist in dismantling the enemy. So he nodded and agreed with Troffi
Menko's opinion: "Comrade Deputy Commander is right, in order to completely defeat the enemy, a two-pronged approach is indeed needed."
"Comrade Military Commissar," Gorokhov is the only military commissar in the combat cluster now, so he can only be responsible for dismantling the enemy through propaganda: "This kind of thing is your strength, I think it is
You'll be responsible. How about it? You don't have any different opinions?"
"No, no." Gorokhov shook his head vigorously and said in a positive tone: "Comrade Commander, I will resolutely obey your order."
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov said to Trofimenko: "I think our right wing still needs to send capable troops to strengthen the defense, lest the German army turn around and attack south after unsuccessfully attacking Marshal Zhukov.
Therefore, it is completely necessary for us to send elite troops and strong generals to ensure the right wing of our group."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Trofimenko nodded and said, "I will arrange two divisions to strengthen the defense there and ensure the safety of the right wing of the combat cluster."
"Very good!" Sokov turned to Sameko again and ordered him: "Get in touch with General Kravchenko immediately and order him to speed up the attack and strive to reach Romania as soon as possible." At this point, Sokov said
Cove picked up the tea cup on the table and took a sip of water, and continued: "Tell him that the 41st Guards Division commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Ponejelin has successfully entered Romanian soil and occupied an area of the Romanian Army.
Defensive position. If he doesn't work hard, he will fall behind."
Samek knew that Sokov was using a provocative method, but he still said: "Comrade Commander, not only can we see no trace of the Germans on our right wing, but even the troops fighting in the south have encountered Romanian troops.
You see, should we ask General Kravchenko to consider forming a small force to enter Romania first?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander. I will convey your opinions to General Kravchenko."
This chapter has been completed!