"By the way, how many people are there in your division?" Sokov finally asked: "I heard that the structure of the Romanian army is based on the German army. A full division has 17,500 people. Am I right?"
"That's right, Mr. General." Ephraim nodded and said in a positive tone: "According to the original troop establishment, each division did have 17,500 people. But with the losses of our army on the battlefield, the surviving or rebuilt divisions
, the number of soldiers has been greatly reduced. For example, our division now has only more than 6,000 people, which is equivalent to one-third of the original number."
After hearing this, Sokov began to mutter in his heart: "During combat deployment, when we learned that the enemy on the opposite side was the Romanian army, we usually calculated it based on 17,500 troops. Now it seems that after a long battle, Romania can organize
There are fewer and fewer young adults in the army, so the size of the army has to be reduced."
He saw the Iron Cross on Ephraim's uniform and couldn't help but asked curiously: "Lieutenant Ephraim, can you tell me where you received this medal?"
"Of course, General Sokov." Eprem said respectfully: "This medal was obtained in Stalingrad."
"Oh, you got it in Stalingrad?" Sokov was full of curiosity about the Romanian officer in front of him: "In what battle did you get it?"
Eprem hesitated for a moment, but still said truthfully: "My unit participated in the battle to attack Mamayev Heights and started a hand-to-hand battle with your troops. Unfortunately, I was seriously injured while fighting with the bayonet.
, and after the battle, he was sent back to the rear for treatment."
"Being able to leave Stalingrad alive proves that you are a lucky man. When our cooperation began, for you and many people in the army, the war was already over early." Sokov said to Efrem.
: "Okay, Lieutenant Efrem, our negotiations are over. You should go back as soon as possible and report the results of our negotiations to your division commander. If you are willing to accept our army's proposal, the troops stationed in Chernivtsi will be stationed in Chernivtsi."
Head towards Otats in a short time."
After receiving Sokov's promise, Efrem, filled with joy, couldn't wait to return to Otac, preparing to report the results of the negotiations to division commander Antonetta.
"Mr. Division Commander, good news, good news." As soon as he walked into the division headquarters, Ephraim said to Antonetta excitedly: "There is great news."
"Lieutenant Ephraim," Dinu saw Lieutenant Ephraim being so excited, and knew that this negotiation must have unexpected gains, so he asked tentatively: "Do you have any good news to tell us?"
"Yes, Mr. Chief of Staff." Ephraim said happily: "This negotiation can be said to be unprecedentedly smooth."
"Oh, what a smooth way, you might as well tell us." When Dinu said this, his eyes unconsciously glanced at Antonetta sitting behind the desk: "Have the Russians agreed to our request?
"
"How should I put it?" Ephraim said hesitantly: "Although they did not clearly indicate that they would accept our conditions, they actually agreed to all our requests."
"Lieutenant, what on earth is going on?" Antonetta finally lost her temper after hearing this: "What on earth do you mean? I'm confused."
"Yes, Lieutenant Ephraim, please tell us carefully what is going on." Dinu also echoed: "You say a few words without any end, and no one can understand what is going on."
Something happened."
Eprem coughed twice, cleared his throat and said, "What the Russians mean is to work with us to defend Ortaz."
"Common defense?" Ephraim's words confused both Antonetta and Dinu. Dinu knocked on the table twice with his hand and asked with a serious expression: "Lieutenant, what does this mean?"
"That is to say, the Russian army will officially enter Otac after the agreement is reached." Ephraim explained: "But they will not take any situational hostile actions against our army in the city. Both sides will act like
Like allies, let’s protect this city together.”
"Not taking any hostile action against our army?" Antonetta showed a contemptuous smile after hearing this: "Lieutenant Ephraim, I wonder what level the Russians with whom you are negotiating are?"
Dinu heard the implication of Antonetta's words and felt that the Russians negotiating with Ephraim might be too low-level and casually made up lies to deal with Ephraim. Then he asked tentatively: "I don't know how to negotiate with you."
What is the rank of the Russian? Is he the commander of the 130th Infantry Division stationed in Chernivtsi?"
"No, Mr. Chief of Staff." Ephraim shook his head and said, "It's not him."
"That's the commander under him." Based on Ephraim's answer, Dinu judged that since the division commander was not personally involved in the negotiations, the person who could talk to Ephraim could only be the commander below, or someone of higher rank.
Lower Officer: "Or battalion commander or something. Am I right, Lieutenant Ephraim?"
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, he saw Ephraim shaking his head desperately: "No, no, Mr. Chief of Staff. You guessed wrong. The person negotiating with me is not the division commander stationed in Chernivtsi.
But the commander of the army group, General Sokov."
At this time, even if a cannonball fell and exploded in the room, the shock it would bring would definitely not be comparable to what Ephraim said lightly, and the whole room fell into silence.
After an unknown amount of time, Dinu broke the silence in the room. In a voice that became somewhat hoarse due to excitement, he asked cautiously: "Lieutenant Ephraim, you just said that it was General Sokov, the commander of the 53rd Army.
Did he talk to you in person?"
"That's right, Mr. Chief of Staff." Ephraim nodded vigorously and replied in a positive tone: "That's true."
At this time, Antonetta finally realized that what Eprem said was true, and quickly asked: "Lieutenant, I wonder what General Sokov looks like?" Don't see that Sokov has a lot of popularity among the Germans.
He has a high reputation, but not many people have seen him. Many German generals don't even know what Sokov looks like, let alone Antonetta, who is just a commander of a slave country.
"Very young, very young." Ephraim replied cautiously: "I originally thought that a general with such a famous reputation would be at least forty years old. Unexpectedly, I was shocked when I saw him.
, he is probably only in his twenties, and from the outside, he looks like an ordinary college student. No one would have thought that he is actually a powerful general."
"Lieutenant, what did you say?" Antonetta asked in surprise: "You mean General Sokov is just a young man in his twenties?"
"That's true." Ephraim said in a positive tone: "If I hadn't seen the officers in the headquarters with my own eyes and treated him with so much respect, I would have thought that he was just an ordinary college student who came to the front line through a relationship.
Experience life.”
"Mr. Division Commander." After Dinu confirmed that Ephraim was negotiating with Sokov, his attitude changed. He took the initiative and said to Antonetta: "I think the Russian proposal is very good. We can consider it carefully.
Consider it. If you think it's appropriate, we should sign an agreement with the other party as soon as possible."
Antonetta was still somewhat resistant to surrendering. Now that he learned Sokov's true thoughts, his thoughts suddenly changed 180 degrees. He looked at Ephraim and asked: "Lieutenant, come back.
What else did General Sokov tell you before?"
"He said that if you have no objections, you can sign the agreement immediately." Eprem said: "After the agreement is signed, the troops stationed in Chernivtsi will be stationed in Otats where we are."
"Chief of Staff," Antonetta waited for Ephraim to finish speaking, and then she couldn't wait to order Dinu: "Go to Chernivtsi in person immediately, sign an agreement with the commander there, and ask them to move in as soon as possible.
Otats. You have to be fast, otherwise if the Germans hear the news and station here in advance, your life and mine may be at risk."
"Mr. Division Commander." After accepting Antonetta's order, Dinu reminded the other party: "I have no problem going to Chernivtsi, but you must also issue an order to our troops so that they are not allowed to be enemies with the Russians.
.Otherwise, I worry that the agreement signed by both of us may be torn up by the Russians at any time."
"Chief of Staff, you can rest assured on this." Antonetta had a clear understanding of his troops, which were poorly equipped and severely undertrained. He said to Dinu: "I will notify all troops to stop everything.
Hostilities with Russian forces."
"Also." Dinu warned Antonetta: "Mr. Division Commander, before the agreement is formally signed, I suggest that this matter should be kept strictly confidential. Otherwise, once the Germans know about it, they will definitely send troops over. Then we will be
Once we disarm, we become lambs to be slaughtered."
Antonetta did not think Dinu's statement was alarmist at all. Just a few months ago, Italy announced its surrender and withdrew from the war. Then the Germans disarmed the Italian troops on the Soviet-German battlefield and even massacred them.
Part of him was worried that the same fate would eventually fall on him, so he cautiously asked Ephraim: "Lieutenant, if we are attacked by the German army, will the Russians provide us with support?"
"Mr. Division Commander, I haven't had time to report this to you yet." Eprem said quickly: "General Sokov said that after his troops stationed in Otac, they would be responsible for dealing with the Germans.
And our troops..."
Before Ephraim could finish speaking, Antonetta couldn't wait to ask: "What should our troops do?"
Eprem looked at Antonetta and said helplessly: "Mr. Division Commander, General Sokov made it very clear that the combat effectiveness of our troops is very poor, and I am afraid that we are no match for the Germans. Therefore, when the Germans launched an attack on the city,
At that time, the Russian army will resist the opponent's attack. And our task is to maintain law and order in the city and prevent residents from panic."
The only trace of worry that Antonetta had in his heart suddenly disappeared at this moment. He thought with peace of mind that his troops were definitely no match for the Germans. If the Germans knew that they were ready to surrender to the Soviet army, they would send troops to attack
, all he could do was sit back and wait for death. Now that Sokov has personally stated that he is willing to let troops help the Romanian army defend the city, he has nothing to worry about.
"Chief of Staff," when he saw that Dinu was still standing there, he urged him: "What are you still waiting for? Why don't you go to Chernivtsi to sign an agreement with the Russians quickly? If the Germans notice us,
Cooperation with the Russians will put our lives at risk, so go ahead."
After Ephraim left with Dinu, Antonetta picked up the phone on the table, dialed a number, and said into the phone: "I am General Antonetta, please have the three regiment commanders arrive immediately.
I’m here for a meeting.”
Soon, the commanders of the 52nd, 53rd and 54th regiments appeared at Antonetta's headquarters. The three regiment commanders did not understand the division commander's order to urgently summon them here, so they looked at each other in confusion and were at a loss.
"Three regiment leaders." Seeing that everyone had arrived, Antonetta did not mince words and said bluntly: "I called you here because I have something important to announce. Now the Germans are on the battlefield.
We are retreating steadily, and there is no future for us if we continue to follow the Germans."
"Mr. Division Commander," the head of the 52nd Regiment stepped forward and said, "Even the Germans are no match for the Russians, let alone us. You see, in just a few days, we started from the left bank of the South Bug River.
, retreated to the right bank area. If the situation goes bad, we still need to cross the Dniester River and retreat to the Moldavia area. What we can do now is to prepare for retreat, and act decisively if we find that the situation is not right.
choose to retreat."
"If we retreat, the Russians will definitely take the opportunity to attack." The commander of the 54th Regiment retorted: "Since they can occupy so many of our cities in just a few days, they can capture more. If we continue not to
If we stop retreating, we will find that we have retreated into Romania before long."
"We can no longer retreat." The head of the 53rd Regiment said: "We must build defenses in the existing area to resist possible attacks by the Russians."
After hearing this, the commander of the 52nd Regiment sneered: "Can we stop the Russian attack? Otherwise, our two regiments will switch defenses, and your 53rd Regiment will resist the Russian attack?"
"That's enough, that's enough, stop arguing." Seeing his three regiment leaders arguing endlessly about whether to fight or withdraw, Antonetta slammed the table several times to stop their argument.
After the room became quiet again, Antonetta expressed his plan: "I have carefully considered it. Whether it is defense or retreat, it is not the best choice for us."
The leader of the 52nd Regiment was smarter. When he heard what Antonetta said, he immediately realized that the other party might have some mature ideas, so he asked tentatively: "Mr. Commander, do you have any good ideas?"
"Since you can't defeat them, why not join." Antonetta said bluntly: "I plan to hand over this city to the Russians."
"What, hand over this city to the Russians?" The three regiment commanders were shocked by Antonetta's decision. The commander of the 53rd regiment quickly said: "Mr. Division Commander, are you kidding us?"
"No." Antonetta shook her head and said, "How could I joke with you on such a big matter? I have already sent people to contact the Russians, hoping to hand over the city's defense to them."
Learning that Antonetta had sent people to contact the Soviet army, the commander of the 52nd Regiment asked with some excitement: "Mr. Division Commander, what is the outcome of the negotiations?"
