After listening to the excellence of Sokov's explanation, Cuikov began to ponder. Krelov next to him also heard Sokov's report and whispered to Cuikov: "Comrade Commander, I think Colonel Sokov's analysis still makes sense. No matter what, the terrain of the factory area is flat. If the attacking party has a large number of mechanized troops, it will be easy to break through the opponent's defense. Therefore, I think the possibility of Paulus building a new command in the factory area is very slim."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you and I know very well." Cuikov looked up at Krelov and said, "German soldiers are brave, but their officers are very timid. Our division-level command post is only 300 meters closest to the front, while the German division headquarters is usually no less than 30 kilometers away from the front. Their command post is not only far away from the front, but also is also heavily guarded. I am worried that it is not easy to break through the defense of the German command by relying on just a light-mounted regiment."
Speaking of this, Cuikov let go of his hand covering the microphone and asked Sokov: "Col. Sokov, are you really sure to use a regiment's force to break through the defense of the German Command?"
"Comrade Commander," Sokov laughed twice when he heard Cuikov's question, and said, "If a regiment is not enough, I can transfer another regiment to reinforce. As long as I take down Paulus's headquarters, even if the entire division is filled in, I think it will be very cost-effective."
Krelov heard this and approached Cuikov's ear again and said to him: "Comrade Commander, I think Colonel Sokov's words make sense. As long as he can eliminate Paulus's headquarters, even if he loses a division, it is acceptable. Besides, this is only the worst possibility. Maybe when we find Paulus headquarters, friendly troops from other directions have already met with us, and then we can draw more troops to besiege the German headquarters."
"It makes sense, Comrade Chief of Staff, you are very reasonable." After Chrikov praised Krelov, he said to the microphone: "Col. Sokov, I agree with your plan. I will arrange the troops as soon as possible, but take over the position of the Belkin regiment. But I think it is necessary to remind you that during the transfer of the troops, don't be noticed by the enemy, otherwise with Paulus's character, he will never set the headquarters in the places you mentioned."
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Cui Kov agreed to his proposal, Sokov was also very happy. He hurriedly said: "We are confident that we will not let the enemy notice the mobilization of our army."
…………
The day after the Belkin regiment quietly entered the third battalion position, the 321st infantry division of the 65th Army, under the command of Major General Makarenko, launched an attack on Pitomnik Airport.
The last time Sergeant Taflin led a squad to attack the airport, the German army found that the invasion was only a small group of Soviet troops, and when it was dark, they returned to the airport one after another. After learning the news, Paulus was furious and ordered the shooting of the officer in charge of the airport garrison, and sent a company of SS to be responsible for the defense.
The SS officers and soldiers knew very well that because they committed heinous crimes against the Soviet military and civilians, they would usually be shot and executed on the spot after being captured. Therefore, they saw that the Soviet army attacking from all directions did not retreat without fighting like the previous unit, but instead relied on the terrain to resist stubbornly.
Before the Soviet army attacked, five transport planes were parked on the airport. Not long ago, these transport planes had just transported supplies to the trapped German army, and are now carrying the wounded people next to the runway onto the plane, intending to transport them all outside the encirclement.
When the pilots were frightened when they saw the Soviet army attacking from different directions, they started to start the plane without waiting for all the wounded to board the plane and took off in a hurry, hoping to escape from this most dangerous place in the shortest time.
In less than two minutes, four transport planes took off one after another. In addition, the transport plane that had not had time to take off was blocked by dense crowds of people and could not taxi along the runway. The soldiers and wounded who were eager to escape rushed to squeeze into the plane, trying to get out of the cabin and follow the plane to leave this ghost place full of painful memories.
Seeing that the Soviet army in the distance had approached the airport and was about to break through the defense line of the garrison troops, the pilot was anxious. He was still unable to board the plane, so he suddenly started the plane, knocked down countless people blocking the road, and quickly glided forward along the runway.
The German soldiers in front of the plane did not expect that the plane would start suddenly. They were caught off guard and were knocked down countless times. Several unlucky guys were even crushed by the wheels on the landing gear and died on the spot. Some soldiers who had just squeezed into the spiral ladder rolled down as the plane started. Before they could get up, countless feet stepped on their bodies and chased the plane that was moving away.
In order not to let more people get into the cabin, a pilot squeezed to the cabin door and forced the door to close the cabin door, locking the German soldiers running forward with the plane outside. Seeing that there was no hope of escape, the somewhat desperate soldier raised his weapons and shot at the taxiing plane.
Although there were still thousands of people in the airport, the only company of the SS was fighting against the Soviet army. Faced with the powerful offensive of the Soviet army, they only supported the entire army in less than half an hour.
Seeing the Soviet army pouring into the airport like a tide, the remaining German soldiers knew that there was no point in continuing to resist, so they put down their weapons and surrendered to the Soviet army.
Major General Makarenko came to the airport and saw hundreds of German soldiers who were disarmed and hundreds of wounded soldiers lying beside the runway. He felt a little headache, so he turned around and asked himself the political commissar Duchenko: "Comrade Political Commissar, tell me, how should we deal with so many wounded people?"
"The enemy has surrendered and it is obviously unrealistic to kill them." Duchenko looked at the wounded lying beside the runway. Seeing that many people were blushed with cold faces, they probably couldn't last long. Even if the health workers came to treat them, the chances of being able to be saved were not high. After thinking for a while, he suggested to Makarenko: "I think it's better to report this to Commander Batov and let them make a decision?"
The phone was quickly connected, and Major General Makarenko personally reported to Batov: "Report to Commander, our division has successfully seized Pitomnik Airport and captured thousands of German soldiers."
"Good job," Batov said with praise when he heard this: "I didn't expect your division to take the airport so easily. Your next task is to build fortifications near the airport to prevent the possible counterattacks by the German army."
"I understand, comrade Commander, I will arrange for manpower to build fortifications immediately." After Makarenko agreed, hesitantly said to Batov: "There is another thing, I want to ask you."
"What's up?"
"Of the thousands of German troops we captured, there were about 300 wounded." Makarenko said with a bitter face: "I don't know what to do with them?"
According to Batov's idea, these wounded people are burdened and can only waste food and medicines when they are kept. You must know that medicines are very short of now for the Soviet army. But if he wants to issue an order to execute these wounded people, he can't say that if he really does this, it will not only be criticized, but may also affect his future.
It is precisely based on this consideration that Batov remained silent for a long time, and then said, "Major General Makarenko, no soldiers are allowed to harm the wounded German soldiers. Put them all together next to the runway. In two hours, I will send a medical team to you to treat these wounded soldiers."
After putting down the phone, Makarenko said to Duchenko: "Comrade Political Commissar, the commander has just issued an order to gather the wounded of the Germans. He sent people to treat these wounded people two hours ago."
"Comrade Commander, what did you say?" Duchenko couldn't help but widen his eyes in surprise when he heard Makarenko say that: "Comrade Commander said that in two hours, will he send someone here to treat these wounded people?"
"Yes." Makarenko nodded and asked back, "Is there any problem?"
Duchenko turned his head and looked at the wounded lying beside the runway, sighed softly, and said, "It's such a cold day, and the wounded's sheets are covered with so thin sheets. Do you think they can last for two hours?"
After hearing Duchenko's words, Makarenko was stunned at first, and then understood Batov's intentions. He nodded and said, "Comrade Commander is right. These Germans have committed heinous crimes against our country. Even if they are shot, it is not an exaggeration. Since Comrade Commander has given orders, let the wounded wait here for two hours. If they are lucky, they can get reasonable treatment."
After finishing the call with Makarenko, Batov did not immediately arrange medical staff and rushed to Pitomnik Airport to treat the wounded German soldiers who were trembling in the snow and ice. Instead, he called Rokosovsky and reported the good news to the other party: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I want to tell you good news. Major General Makarenko's 321st Infantry Division has successfully taken Pitomnik Airport and cut off the only contact between the Germans and the outside world."
"Beautiful job, Comrade Batov." Rokosovsky was overjoyed when he heard the news. He knew very well that as long as the Soviet army occupied the airport, Paulus's contact with the outside world would be completely interrupted. If they wanted to get supplies, they could only rely on airdrops. Now that the Soviet Air Force has obtained the air supremacy of Stalingrad, it would be a dream to have the Germans to airdrop unscrupulously. As long as Paulus's troops cut off supplies, they would be out of ammunition and food in less than half a month, and the difficulty of eliminating them will be greatly reduced.
Not only Rokosovsky thinks this way, but even Chief of Staff Malining also thinks the same way. He even asked Rokosovsky: "Comrade Commander, I have an idea, I don't know whether to say it or not."
"Say whatever comes to mind." Rokosovsky knew that his chief of staff would not say this for no reason. He must have had some new ideas, so he said carelessly: "Even if he says it wrong, I will not blame you."
"Last time we failed to persuade the German army to surrender. The comrades sent were not even able to enter the German army's position." Malining said: "But now we have occupied Pitomnik Airport and cut off the German army's last contact with the outside world. If we send people to surrender at this time, it might have an unexpected effect."
"Send someone to persuade the surrender again?" Rokosovsky frowned and asked thoughtfully: "Chief of Staff, who do you think you should hand over this task to complete?"
"Last time you handed this task to Colonel Sokov," said Malining, with a smile: "I think he can still try this time, maybe there is still hope of success."
"Let Misha persuade the enemy to surrender again?" Rokosovsky thought for at least five minutes about Malining's proposal, finally nodded and said, "Okay, Comrade Chief of Staff, I agree with your proposal. I personally telegram Misha and handed him over this important task."
A few minutes later, Sokov received a call from Rokosovsky. After hearing the orders given by the other party, he replied with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I am worried that it will be difficult to complete your order. Although the German army is at a loss, Paulus still has a slight fantasy in his heart, thinking that Manstein will lead the troops to rescue him again. Therefore, even if I go to persuade the surrender again, it will probably be of no effect."
Thinking of Guchakov's last time, he was fired by a machine gun before his enemy's position had even entered, Sokov said with a wry smile: "I'm worried that like last time, even the enemy's position would not be able to get close to it."
"Don't worry, Misha." Seeing Sokov trying to shirk away from the task he arranged, Rokosovsky comforted him and said, "The situation is different now than last time. At that time, we had not launched the 'Ring Operation', and the Germans were not sure about our power. Now, after a few days of attack, the Germans have re-recognized how powerful our army is. In addition, our army had just seized Pitomnik Airport and cut off their connection with the outside world. If we were sending people to persuade us to surrender at this time, I think Paulus should have carefully considered it."
Sokov originally wanted to shirk, but when Rokosovsky said he had seized the Pitomnik airport, he immediately realized that it was really the best opportunity to persuade him to surrender. Even if he could not convince Paulus to surrender, it could shake the morale of the German army and disintegrate their morale.
Thinking of this, Sokov changed his mind: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I accept your mission. I will go to the enemy's defense zone in the shortest time to carry out the second persuasion operation."
Chapter completed!