"Where are the Russians going to negotiate?" Major General Val asked.
The officer replied: "It is said to be at the headquarters of their 67th Guards Division."
"Send someone to contact the Russians immediately," Major General Val ordered: "Just tell them that we are ready to negotiate with them, and ask them to ensure the safety of our negotiators."
"Your Excellency, Division Commander," the Chief of Staff on the side heard what Major General Val said and quickly reminded him: "Are you really planning to negotiate with the Russians?"
"Chief of Staff, are we still unable to negotiate with the Russians in our current situation?"
"Your Excellency, Division Commander, please forgive me." The Chief of Staff said to Major General Wahl: "The Russians may treat the captured Wehrmacht officers and soldiers as prisoners of war, but they basically treat our SS officers and soldiers directly
Shooting. In other words, no matter whether we continue to fight or lay down our weapons and surrender to the Russians, we cannot escape the fate of death."
"But if there is no negotiation, the Russians will attack us with their rockets." Major General Val said: "Do you think our officers and soldiers can withstand the Russian rocket attacks?"
The Chief of Staff also saw the power of rockets with his own eyes. After an attacking team of several thousand people was attacked by Soviet rockets, they suffered heavy casualties. If they fired into the forest again and caused a forest fire, then those who survived now would
Even if the officers and soldiers were not killed by the explosion, they would be burned alive.
Seeing that the chief of staff was silent, Major General Val continued: "We send people to negotiate so that we can understand the Russians' bottom line. If it is beneficial to us, even if it is beneficial to us, it will not be a big deal even if we lay down our weapons and surrender. But if we find that they just want to eliminate them,
It’s not too late for us to continue to resist.”
After hearing what Major General Val said, the Chief of Staff nodded silently, and then asked: "Your Excellency, Division Commander, don't you know who you plan to send to negotiate with the Russians?"
Major General Val sighed softly and said: "I think in order to understand the true intentions of the Russians, I should personally serve as the negotiator."
"Ah, your Excellency, Division Commander, do you want to go to negotiate in person?" Hearing what Major General Val said, the Chief of Staff was startled: "No, it's too dangerous, you can't go."
"Chief of Staff, I don't want to go either." Major General Val said with a wry smile: "But if I just send ordinary officers there, if the Russians put forward any excessive conditions, he doesn't know how to bargain. Once the Russians are angered,
They may launch an attack in advance, and then our situation will not be good."
Seeing that Major General Val had made up his mind, and knowing that no more persuasion would be of any use, the Chief of Staff said tactfully: "I think it's better to have someone inform the Russians that you want to go over to negotiate in person. I think the middle and senior Russian officers
, it may not be detrimental to you, but I am afraid that the soldiers below will take a cold shot at you."
Major General Val agreed with the chief of staff's proposal. He quickly called another officer and told him: "Go and tell the officer just now that when you have contact with the Russians, you must tell them, just say I
I will personally go to negotiate with their supreme commander, hoping that the other party can ensure the safety of my life."
Besides, Merkulov had just learned that the German army planned to send people to negotiate, and suddenly heard that Major General Val was going to personally represent him in the negotiations. He couldn't help but be shocked. He quickly picked up the phone, called the headquarters, and asked: "
I am Merkulov, and I would like to ask, has Comrade Commander set out?"
The person who answered the phone was Chief of Staff Vitkov. He quickly asked: "Comrade General, what happened?"
"That's it, Comrade Chief of Staff." Merkulov said: "We have just received notification from the German army that their division commander, Major General Val, is going to come to negotiate in person and ask us to send people to protect their safety."
"Comrade General, we can agree to the enemy's request." Vitkov said: "The division commander and the military commissar will arrive at your place soon. Then you can report the matter to them in person."
Under the protection of the guard platoon, Sokov and Lunev arrived at Merkulov's division headquarters.
When they saw the two people entering the door, someone shouted loudly: "Stand at attention!"
Following the shouting, everyone stopped what they were doing, stood up straight and saluted Sokov and Lunev as they walked in. Merkulov even stepped forward and raised his hand to report to the two.
Said: "Comrade Commander, Comrade Military Commissar, on behalf of the commanders and fighters of the entire division, I welcome you."
After raising his hand in return, Sokov asked Merkulov: "Comrade General, have the Germans sent someone out to negotiate?"
"They have sent people to contact us, saying that the division commander, Major General Val, will come to negotiate in person." Merkulov reported to Sokov: "He hopes that we can protect his personal safety."
"No problem." Sokov replied without hesitation: "Comrade General, please inform the other party that anyone who comes to negotiate with a white flag will ensure the safety of the other party. Remember, they must be allowed to fly the white flag."
Hearing what Sokov said, Merkulov was stunned for a moment, and then replied loudly: "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will definitely let the enemy come over with a white flag."
After waiting for more than half an hour, a soldier came in and reported to Merkulov: "Comrade division commander, Major General Val of the Imperial Division has arrived at the door. Do you want to let him in?"
Merkulov quickly turned to look at Sokov. After seeing Sokov nodding, he ordered the soldier: "Let him in!"
A moment later, Sokov saw a German general wearing a big-brimmed hat and a German captain walking in behind the soldiers.
The general passed the soldier leading the way, took two steps forward, stopped, and spoke a lot in German arrogantly. After speaking, he turned to the German captain behind him and shook his head, indicating that he would translate for him.
The captain nodded and translated what the general said to everyone: "This is Major General Val of the Imperial Division. As a representative of the German army, he has come to negotiate with you. I hope we can negotiate in a peaceful manner."
, to end this battle so that no one on both sides will be injured."
"What does he mean?" After Merkulov listened to the interpreter, he turned to Sokov and Lunev and said angrily: "I heard the Germans' tone, it seems that they have the upper hand, come here
He's trying to persuade us to surrender. He's just an incomprehensible bastard."
Sokov did not get angry, but asked calmly: "Where is our translator?"
When Merkulov heard what Sokov said, he quickly called a sergeant and introduced to Sokov: "This is the interpreter in our division."
"Comrade Sergeant," Sokov said to the translator: "Tell the other party that they have fallen into our encirclement and reinforcements will definitely not be able to come. If they do not want to be completely annihilated by us, the only way is
Lay down your arms and surrender to us."
The arrogant German general was Major General Vaal. He saw a young Russian general say a few words to the translator, and the other party faithfully translated the original words. Major General Vaal looked at Sokov and then at Meyer.
Kulov, no matter how you look at it, Merkulov is much older. Logically speaking, in such an occasion, the first person to speak shouldn't be an older general. Why is it a young general?
Where is the general giving advice?
He looked at Sokov and asked tentatively: "I want to ask, who am I having the honor to speak to?"
After listening to the translation, Sokov sneered and said: "I am Major General Sokov, commander of the Sixth Army, Major General Val. I have admired you for a long time. You used to be the commander of the police division, because the troops you commanded
He achieved good results on the outskirts of Leningrad, so he was transferred to the position of commander of the Imperial Division. Am I right?"
When he learned that the person standing in front of him was actually Sokov, who was feared by many German generals, Major General Val could not help but be dumbfounded. After being stunned for a long time, he asked tentatively: "You are the one who stood on Mamayev Hill?"
A Russian Colonel Sokov?”
"Yes, it's me."
When Major General Val, who was still arrogant at first, learned that the young Russian general in front of him was Sokov, who had made the German army frightened, his attitude immediately changed 180 degrees. He took a step forward and approached Sokov.
Sokov stretched out his hand and said politely: "Hello, General Sokov, nice to meet you."
"Hello, General Val." Sokov held the other person's hand and said in a polite and distant tone: "I think it is a gratifying thing to see you here."
As soon as Sokov's words came out, not only Major General Val was confused, but also other commanders and fighters did not understand why Sokov said this. Finally, Major General Val asked the question in his heart: "General Sokov, I
I don’t quite understand what you mean, can you explain it in more detail?”
"General Val, your troops are now surrounded by us, and judging from various signs, Hauser may not be able to send you reinforcements. The destruction of your entire army is inevitable." Sokov said calmly:
"Originally, I wanted to order the troops to fire rockets directly into the forest and use artillery fire to completely eliminate you. But with your appearance, we have another way to end this battle."
"In what way?" Major General Val asked tentatively: "Do you want us to lay down our weapons and surrender?"
"That's right," Sokov nodded and replied, "This is the only way you don't want to be wiped out by our artillery fire."
"General Sokov," Major General Val said with a bitter look on his face: "It stands to reason that we are surrounded heavily and are extremely short of ammunition and supplies. Surrender is our only option. But..."
"But what?" Merkulov asked first.
"I heard that officers and soldiers of the Wehrmacht who surrender to you are usually treated as prisoners of war." Major General Waal said: "But the SS officers and soldiers captured by you, whether they voluntarily laid down their weapons or were captured after a battle,
They were all shot by you. I am worried that if my troops surrender to you, I am afraid that they will all be shot. If this is the case, we would rather choose to fight to the last man and use up the last bullet."
Although Sokov keeps saying that he will use rockets to destroy the remnants of the Imperial Division in the forest, he understands in his heart that now that all the rockets have been exhausted, he can only use conventional methods to launch an attack. If the Imperial Division in the forest
The officers and soldiers engage in a battle between trapped beasts. Even if they can completely annihilate this enemy force, the casualties will probably not be small.
In order to prevent the troops from paying unnecessary casualties, Sokov decided to take action on his own. He said to Major General Val: "Yes, all the SS officers and soldiers captured by our army were shot because they were on our soil.
, have committed numerous heinous crimes, and they can only die to forgive themselves for what they have done."
After Major General Val heard what Sokov said, he silently recalled what the Imperial Division had done after entering the Soviet Union. It was true that they had done many inhumane things. Even if they were shot ten times or eight times, they would still be unforgivable.
One percent of the sin.
Seeing Major General Val's silence, Sokov knew that he had hit the target, and continued: "Of course, we can also adapt to the specific situation on the battlefield. If you are willing to take the initiative to lay down your weapons and surrender, it will reduce the number of enemies on both sides.
Unnecessary losses, I can assure you that I will ensure the safety of the surrendered officers and soldiers."
"General Sokov," after hearing what Sokov said, Major General Val seemed to grasp a life-saving straw and quickly asked: "Can you really ensure the personal safety of our remaining officers and soldiers?"
"Yes, General Val." Sokov nodded and replied in a positive tone: "I can assure you."
After contemplating for a long time, Major General Val said to Sokov: "General Sokov, I have a request that I hope you can agree to."
"Mader, they are all desperate, and they still want to make demands from us." The division chief of staff gritted his teeth next to Merkulov: "I think we should just hit them with a rocket and blow them all up or burn them to death. That's it."
The world will be peaceful now."
"Stop talking." Merkulov turned to look at him and glared: "Listen to what Comrade Commander has to say."
"General Val," Sokov heard Major General Val say that he had a request. He thought that as long as it was not too excessive, he could agree to it, so he nodded and asked: "If you have any request, just say it."
"I hope that when you announce the results of the victory to the outside world, you must emphasize that all the officers and soldiers of our division were captured one after another after a tenacious battle, exhaustion of all ammunition, and fierce hand-to-hand combat with you." Val.
After the major general finished his request, he asked nervously: "General Sokov, can you agree to my request?"
"Why do you want us to carry out propaganda like this?" Merkulov asked puzzledly: "What is your conspiracy behind doing this?"
"General Merkulov, he asked us to carry out propaganda like this. There is no conspiracy." Seeing Merkulov staring at Major General Val with a wary expression, Sokov quickly explained: "He was worried that Hitler would know his order.
If the troops voluntarily lay down their weapons and surrender, their families in the country will definitely be affected."
"That's right." Seeing that Sokov had guessed what he was thinking, Major General Val showed a bitter expression on his face: "If the news of my surrender spreads, it will definitely affect my family, and I don't want to affect them."
"No problem, General Val, I agree with your request. In future propaganda, we will carry out propaganda according to what you said." After Sokov said this, he asked: "Since I have agreed
