When the convoy set off again, Rokossovsky, who was sitting in the jeep, looked at the German soldiers passing by the car expressionlessly, thinking to himself: After these prisoners were imprisoned in the prisoner-of-war camp, they would not be kept there for long.
, will be released again. Some of them will return to their hometowns and live the lives of ordinary people. Others will return to cities destroyed by war and participate in the reconstruction work.
The Soviet major who was responsible for escorting the prisoners looked at the convoy going away and muttered to himself: "Why don't any of these damn Germans resist? Otherwise, I could justifiably shoot at the soldiers. Why?"
My fallen comrades and comrades are avenged."
The major shook his head vigorously, trying to drive this thought out of his mind. In any case, the Germans had surrendered and the war was over. It was no longer justifiable for him to shoot the prisoners. He waved at the soldiers around him.
He waved his hand and signaled them to escort the prisoners and continue towards the prisoner of war camp.
The adjutant sitting in the co-pilot's seat turned to Rokossovsky and said: "Comrade Marshal, we are entering the defense zone of the 48th Army. Should we go to the Army Headquarters or go directly to the Elbe River?"
"Go directly to the river." Rokossovsky said lightly: "Based on my understanding of Misha, he must be waiting for me in front of the pontoon on the Elbe River at the moment. If we go to the Army Group Headquarters, we will definitely
It was empty."
The adjutant expressed doubts about Rokossovsky's statement. He thought that when the convoy reached the Elbe River, Sokov would not be seen at all, and that he would need to send someone to the army headquarters to look for him.
People will inevitably waste time.
When the convoy approached the Elbe River, the adjutant saw that there seemed to be many people standing by the bridge. He squinted his eyes and took a closer look, and found that the people waiting there were basically middle- and senior-level officers, including not only school-level officers, but also
There were even several generals. Seeing this situation, the adjutant couldn't help but secretly admire Rokossovsky in his heart, and found that the marshal was right. Sokov and others would really wait for the convoy next to the pontoon. If he really followed the instructions
My own suggestion, if I drove to the Army Group Headquarters, it would be in vain.
"Comrade Marshal!" Seeing Rokossovsky's jeep stop, Sokov immediately came forward with a group of members from the headquarters, raised his hands and saluted: "Welcome to inspect the defense area of our 48th Group Army.
Work."
Rokossovsky said with a smile: "Misha, I'm not here to inspect your work, I'm just passing by." After his eyes scanned the people behind Sokov one by one, he finally
It stayed on Lunev's body.
"General Luniev," Rokossovsky looked at Luniev and asked, "I heard that you had an appendix operation a few days ago. How are you recovering now?"
"It's all healed, Comrade Marshal." Luniev was worried that Rokossovsky might think he was injured and was unwilling to take him to Wismar to meet with the British officers, so he quickly said: "My current activities
Not affected at all.”
The reason why Rokossovsky asked about Luniev's injury was because he was worried that the bumps along the way would cause his wound to burst. Now that he heard that the injury had healed, he nodded and ordered: "You all get in the car.
After the commanders of several other armies arrive, we will head to Wismar."
After waiting for another half hour or so, the group army commanders under the front army came to join Rokossovsky. Seeing that everyone was present, Rokossovsky ordered to set off. The convoy crossed the pontoon bridge.
Elbe River, heading towards Wismar, where the British Army Headquarters is located.
When he arrived outside Wismar, Rokossovsky found that a large number of British troops had already lined up to welcome his convoy.
The British officers and soldiers all wore ordinary combat uniforms. They did not wear helmets, but all berets.
Seeing the motorcade of Rokossovsky and others appearing, the military band immediately played a welcome song to welcome the friendly troops coming from afar.
Rokossovsky ordered the convoy to stop more than 20 meters away from the welcoming team, then got out of the car and walked towards the welcoming team.
Sokovsky, who was following Rokossovsky, saw a short officer walking out of the British army. He immediately recognized this as the famous Field Marshal Montgomery and quickly leaned into Rokossovsky's ear.
Said: "Comrade Marshal, the one coming our way must be Marshal Montgomery."
When the two sides were three or four meters apart, they both stopped. Rokossovsky said politely to the other side: "Is this Field Marshal Montgomery?"
"Yes, Marshal Rokossovsky, my name is Montgomery." The short man took two steps forward, stretched out his hand to Rokossovsky, and said in a friendly manner: "Nice to meet you!"
After listening to the translation, Rokossovsky stepped forward and reached out to hold Montgomery's hand: "Hello, Marshal Montgomery, nice to meet you."
After the two parties shook hands, Rokossovsky began to introduce his fellow personnel to Montgomery, and Sokov was the first to be introduced.
When Montgomery learned that the young general standing in front of him was actually the distinguished Sokov, he could not help but widen his eyes in surprise and said with emotion: "General Sokov, I have long admired your name. I heard that the Germans
Anyone who hears that they are going to fight with your troops will feel that they are so unlucky to have met such a strong opponent like you. I am very lucky that we are allies and not enemies, otherwise my troops may be defeated by you."
Sokov's English was pretty good. He understood everything Montgomery said before the translator could speak. As soon as Montgomery finished speaking, he smiled and said in English: "Hello, Marshal Montgomery, I'm very happy.
Meet you!" After saying that, he stretched out his hand to shake hands with the surprised Montgomery.
Rokossovsky did not expect that Sokov could speak English, but he seemed to speak English well. While waiting for Montgomery to shake hands with other commanders, he asked Sokov in a low voice: "Misha, you speak English well.
, when did you learn it?”
"I learned it when I was studying in college." Sokov tried to pretend to be nonchalant and said: "I thought it was quite fun at the time, so I spent more time on it. I didn't expect that the English I learned was actually good.
A day of use."
After the officers from both sides met and got to know each other, Montgomery ordered a salute to celebrate the victory. At the same time, he also invited Rokossovsky to review his guard of honor.
After reviewing the guard of honor, Montgomery said to Rokossovsky apologetically: "Marshal Rokossovsky, I think you may feel that your army is fighting bloody battles with the Germans, while we are staying on the Elbe River.
The West Bank has nothing to do. In order to avoid you having any bad associations, I feel it is necessary to explain to you. My troops did not undergo rest, replenishment, etc. for eleven months starting from the Normandy landing operation.
By the time they reached the Elbe River, they were already exhausted. They originally wanted to rest for a while before cooperating with you in attacking the German army, but they actually surrendered. This was beyond my expectation.
"
Sokov couldn't help but show a look of ridicule on his face when he heard Montgomery's defense. Eleven months have passed since the Normandy landing. The British army is not made of iron, so how can they always fight against the Germans?
What about maintaining a combat status? Everything Montgomery just said was nothing more than an excuse for his men's recent inaction.
This truth was understood not only by Sokov, but also by the Soviet commanders present. However, no one pierced this layer of window paper, which saved some face for the British.
The welcome song was played and the honor guard reviewed. Next, Montgomery invited everyone to enter the city and attend a banquet that had been prepared long ago in a hall of the municipal building.
Although the long table in the hall was filled with all kinds of delicacies, everyone's attention did not seem to be on the food, but on talking and taking pictures.
In order to avoid another embarrassing scene of the two sides joining forces, not only did Rokossovsky bring a lot of English translators this time, but Montgomery also arranged many Russian translators. When the British officers and the Soviet generals were talking,
There will be an English translator or Russian translator beside them, who can promptly translate what they say into a language that the other party can understand.
Although Sokov knew English, he had no interest in communicating with British officers, so there was no translator by his side.
"Are you General Sokov?" Sokov was hiding in the corner, holding a glass of champagne, looking at the officers and soldiers of both sides on the lawn outside. When he heard someone talking to him behind him, he quickly turned to look behind him.
He saw a British major general standing behind him.
"Yes, I am Sokov." Out of courtesy, Sokov quickly stood up, nodded slightly to the other person, and asked tentatively: "I wonder who you are?"
"Introduce yourself." The British Major General said politely: "I am Major General Wilson, commander of the Airborne Division!"
"It turns out to be Major General Wilson!" Thinking that his troops were joining forces with the opponent's airborne division, Sokov quickly transferred the champagne in his hand to his left hand, then took the initiative to extend his hand to the opponent and said in a friendly manner: "Nice to meet you.
.”
"General Sokov, in the prisoner of war camp you liberated, you not only rescued a large number of pilots, but also rescued many officers and soldiers of our division who were captured by the Germans." Wilson held Sokov's hand and said: "On behalf of
I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to you for these rescued officers and soldiers!"
"General Wilson, you are so polite." Sokov responded politely: "We are the Allies. Seeing your officers and soldiers being held in prisoner-of-war camps by the Germans, how can we stand still and do nothing? We must
Send someone to rescue them. By the way, what is the physical condition of the rescued officers and soldiers? Do you need me to send a military doctor to check their health?"
"Thank you for your kindness, General Sokov." Wilson said sincerely: "We have a good medical environment. After these rescued officers and soldiers came back, they were immediately sent to the hospital for a thorough examination of their physical condition.
.I believe that even some people in prisoner-of-war camps had some physical problems due to the brutal treatment by the Germans. But under the care of medical staff in the past two days, they have improved to a great extent."
"Wilson, what are you talking about?" At this time, Montgomery came over with a wine glass and asked with a smile: "I think you and General Sokov are having a very good conversation."
"Your Excellency, Marshal," Wilson said to Montgomery, "General Sokov's troops rescued many captured officers and soldiers of our division from German prisoner-of-war camps not long ago. I came here specifically to express my gratitude to him."
"So that's what happened." After hearing this, Montgomery said with emotion: "I heard that a group of generals and officers, including the Chief of General Staff of the Belgian Army, were still imprisoned in the prisoner of war camp. After they were rescued, they immediately used the best possible methods to
Returned to Belgium quickly."
"Mr. Marshal." Sokov asked Montgomery curiously: "Do you think the general can continue to serve as his chief of staff after returning to Belgium?"
"I think this is impossible." Montgomery shook his head and said, "I think he has been a German prisoner of war for a long time. His original position must have been replaced by others. Even if he returns,
In Belgium, it is basically impossible to reinstate the official."
"General Sokov," Wilson asked Sokov, "Now that the war is over, what are your plans next?"
Sokov shrugged his shoulders, spread his hands, and said: "I obey the arrangements of my superiors. If they let me stay in the army, I will stay in the army; if they let me transfer, I will immediately take off this military uniform and go back to my place."
Work."
"General Sokov, I think it would be a waste to let you change careers." Wilson said: "I have heard about your deeds a long time ago. Germans will tremble when they hear your name. You are so outstanding.
As an officer, it would be a pity not to continue to be a soldier."
Sokov knew very well that even if the war in Europe was over, this damn war was not over yet. The Soviet army would mobilize a large number of troops to the east in a short period of time to prepare for a blow to the Kwantung Army entrenched in the Far East.
A thunderous blow. But before the "August Storm" is officially implemented, everything needs to be kept secret, lest the Japanese pirates notice and take more precautions, making the next attack difficult.
No matter what Wilson said next, Sokov's answer was the same, saying that he would resolutely obey the orders of his superiors and stay if he was allowed to stay, and transfer if he was not allowed to stay. Seeing that the two sides were talking more and more, Montgomery suddenly proposed
A suggestion: "General Sokov, I would like to take a photo with you. Are you interested?"
Although Sokov looked down on the British army from the bottom of his heart, he still admired famous World War II generals like Montgomery. Now that the other party took the initiative to invite him to take a photo, there was no reason not to agree. He nodded quickly and said: "Mr. Marshal,
That’s really what you want!”
Seeing that Sokov agreed to take a photo with him, Montgomery also had a smile on his face. He waved to a photographer not far away and motioned for him to come over.
Soon, the photographer came to Montgomery and asked respectfully: "Mr. Marshal, what can I do for you?"
Montgomery naturally put an arm on Sokov's shoulder and said to the photographer: "I want to take a photo with this Russian general. Remember to take a good photo of us."
This chapter has been completed!