"Comrade division commander, isn't this too much?" Ivanov, who was standing aside, after confirming the authenticity of the message, angrily said to Sokov: "It is only us who can take down the German headquarters.
How can Paulus be handed over to the 64th Army due to the merits of the combat group?"
"Samoilov," Sokov stood up and shouted to Samoilov standing at the door: "Come to me."
Samoilov quickly came to Sokov and waited quietly for his instructions.
Sokov pointed at him with his hand and ordered: "Immediately order the communications troops to set up a special telephone line here that can communicate with the front army headquarters. I want to ask what is going on."
After Samoilov turned to leave, Sokov saw Paulus sitting aside and felt that it was inappropriate for him to stay here any longer, so he said to Ulbricht: "Comrade Ulbricht,
I have important things to deal with later, so you can go to another room with Paulus to rest first."
Ulbricht heard the contents of the telegram and guessed that Sokov must have something important to do next and it would not be appropriate for him to stay here, so he nodded and took Paulus to another room.
When Sokov saw that he, Ivanov and the radio operator were the only ones left in the room, he once again ordered the radio operator: "Send a telegram to the commanders of each division and the commanders of each brigade and ask them to come to me immediately."
"Comrade division commander," Ivanov asked Sokov curiously while the radio operator was delivering the report: "You called all the division commanders here. What's the matter?"
Sokov knew very well in his heart that since his superiors had issued an order, no matter how angry he was, he could not change the status quo. After hearing Ivanov's question, he replied with a wry smile: "Our commanders and soldiers and Paulus
The army has been fighting for so long, even if Paulus is to be handed over to friendly forces, I have to ask our division and brigade commanders to see what Paulus looks like."
"Oh, that's it." After listening to Sokov's explanation, Ivanov breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. He was really worried that Sokov would lose control of his emotions because of this inexplicable telegram and do something irreparable.
He felt that Sokov's approach was correct. He summoned all the division commanders and brigade commanders of the combat group. In addition to letting them visit Paulus, he could also explain to them why they had to hand over to friendly forces.
Paulus's reasons.
In fact, the division commanders and brigade commanders of the combat cluster all stayed not far from the department store. They did not dare to go to the department store without permission before receiving Sokov's order. Even those who were closely related to Sokov
Colonel Bely also stayed in his tank and was on standby.
As soon as everyone received Sokov's summons, they hurried to the basement of the department store.
"Comrade commanders, you are all here." Seeing that all the division commanders and brigade commanders were here, Sokov stood up and shook hands with everyone one by one. He pointed to the conference table nearby and said to them: "Everyone, sit down.
Right. Not long ago, there were a group of German generals sitting here, but now they are all replaced by our Soviet commanders."
Sokov's words caused everyone to burst into laughter, and the atmosphere in the room became relaxed.
After everyone sat down, Major General Makarenko asked first: "Comrade Commander, we have just been waiting outside and saw thousands of German prisoners being taken away, but we did not see Paulus.
Is he still in the basement?"
"Yes, he is still here." Sokov pointed to the room where Paulus was: "It's in that room."
"It's in the room over there." When the commanders present heard this, their eyes immediately reflected. They had been fighting the German army in Stalingrad for several months, but what did Paulus look like?
But none of them had seen it. Sivakov suggested excitedly: "Comrade Commander, we have been fighting in the Stalingrad area for several months. We all dream of defeating Paulus, but we don't even know what he looks like.
Let someone bring him out so we can see him."
"Yes, Sivakov is right." As soon as Sivakov finished speaking, someone immediately echoed: "Bring Paulus out and let us see."
Sokov did not stop them immediately, but waited for everyone's voices to gradually subside before he said: "Comrade commanders, don't worry, you will all see it when we hand Paulus over to friendly forces later.
.”
Merkulov, who had been silent for a long time, heard what Sokov said and immediately realized that something was wrong. He quickly interjected and asked: "Comrade Commander, what did you just say? You want to hand over Paulus to friendly forces. This
what is going on?"
The room, which was still full of laughter, suddenly became quiet with Merkulov's question. Everyone focused their attention on Sokov, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Let's take a look, comrades, commanders." Sokov put the telegram sent by Rokossovsky on the table, pushed it forward, and said: "This was sent to me by the Front Army Headquarters.
telegraph."
Major General Makarenko, who was closest to Sokov, took the lead to grab the telegram and read its contents carefully. After reading it, he slammed the table and said angrily: "This is too much. Our soldiers shed blood and died.
, finally captured the German headquarters and captured Paulus alive, but he had to hand it over to the 64th Army."
The telegram was circulated among the commanders. After reading it, everyone fell silent. No one expected that after taking down the German headquarters and capturing Paulus alive, they were just happy for a few minutes, but they would have to take such results.
Handed over to friendly forces. No matter who it was, I wouldn't feel comfortable.
"Comrade Commander," asked Sheyko, political commissar of the 67th Guards Division, "have you verified the authenticity of this telegram?"
One stone stirred up a thousand waves. Sheyko's words immediately resonated with everyone, and everyone said: "Yes, yes, yes, Comrade Commander, you should verify the authenticity of this telegram."
"Yes, let the telegraph operator send a telegram to the front army headquarters immediately for verification to avoid being deceived."
After everyone calmed down again, Sokov continued: "Comrade commanders, I have ordered someone to set up a telephone line with the front army headquarters. After the setup is completed later, I will personally call Rokossovs
General Key asked."
"Comrade Division Commander," Samoylov came in from the outside and reported to Sokov: "The money for the phone call with the Front Army Headquarters has been set up. Can you please pick up the phone?"
"It goes without saying, Comrade Lieutenant." Sokov said with a serious expression: "Put the call in immediately."
After the call came in, the communications soldier answered the phone to the front army headquarters in full view of everyone. When he heard a voice coming from the receiver, he immediately handed the phone to Sokov. Sokov said into the phone:
"Hello, I am Colonel Sokov, the commander of the Sokov Combat Group. Please help me pick up the commander, General Rokossovsky."
After waiting for two minutes, Rokossovsky's voice came from the receiver. He said in a businesslike tone: "Is it Colonel Sokov? I am Rokossovsky. I know you will definitely
Call and ask why Paulus should be handed over to friendly forces, right?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." After scanning the commanders in the room with his eyes, Sokov solemnly replied: "It's not just me who wants to know, but also the division commanders and brigade commanders under me.
I also want to know the answer. So that they can know how to answer when the warriors ask."
"According to the orders of the base camp, Paulus will be detained in the Beketovka district in the south of Stalingrad, which is a place that has not been damaged by the war." Rokossovsky said briefly on the phone: "And
That place now happens to be the defense area of the 64th Army, so it is only natural to hand over Paulus to them."
"So that's it." After Sokov figured out the reason, he said with a wry smile: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you should actually make it clear in the telegram, otherwise there will be no misunderstanding."
Rokossovsky naturally understood what the misunderstanding mentioned by Sokov was about. He did not dwell on this moment, but changed the topic in time: "By the way, I have something to ask you, your prisoner security guard."
After Luce, did he ask him to call or send a telegram to the place entrenched in the factory area?"
"No." Sokov thought that even if Paulus made the call, the enemies in the factory area in the north of the city would not surrender, so why should he go through all the trouble? But he said something else: "This matter is of great importance.
, I didn’t dare to act without authorization before getting orders from my superiors.”
Rokossovsky couldn't fault Sokov's impeccable statement. He thought about it and told Sokov: "Immediately ask Paulus to call or send a telegram to the factory area in the north of the city.
Urge them to surrender."
"Understood, I will execute your order immediately."
After Sokov put down the phone, he told Samoilov: "Go to the room over there and bring Paulus over."
While waiting for Paulus to come over, Sokov said to the commanders present: "Comrade commanders, we all understand that the base camp plans to detain Paulus in an area that has not been destroyed by the war. The specific location
In the Beketovka district south of Stalingrad. That is the defense area of the 64th Army, and there is nothing wrong with handing it over to them."
Paulus and Ulbricht came here again and were startled to see the room full of people. Paulus came to Sokov and asked expressionlessly: "Sokov
Colonel, what on earth are you going to do by bringing me in front of so many people?"
"Marshal Paulus, you misunderstood." Sokov said politely: "These are my subordinates. I called them here to discuss the next move."
After Paulus glanced at the Soviet commanders present, he sneered and said: "Colonel Sokov, don't lie to me. There are two generals here. Which army will be led by a colonel?"
, to command two generals?"
After listening to Ulbricht's translation, Sokov couldn't help laughing: "Marshal Paulus, you are wrong. In our army, commanders with lower military ranks serve as commanders, and commanders with higher military ranks serve as deputy commanders.
There are too many situations. What does it mean if I have a colonel commanding two generals?"
Then Sokov changed the topic and got down to business: "Marshal Paulus, I invited you here because I have an important thing to entrust you with."
Paulus asked: "What is it?"
"Although you and your men have surrendered, there are still many troops in the factory area north of the city who are still fighting with our army." Sokov did not beat around the bush and said straightforwardly: "I hope you can give me some help.
The commander over there makes a phone call or sends a telegram and orders them to stop resisting."
"I'm sorry, Colonel Sokov." Unexpectedly, after hearing Sokov's request, Paulus actually shook his head and refused, "Now that I have become your prisoner, I will command the 11th Infantry Corps in the factory area.
General Karl Strekel, the commander, will never obey my orders. I advise you that if you want to deal with the troops in the factory area, you can only use war."
Sokov understood this fact very well. Since Paulus was unwilling to cooperate, he did not force him. Instead, he ordered Samoilov to take Paulus back to his original room.
"This guy is really stubborn," Merkulov said through gritted teeth: "He has become our prisoner, but he is still so stubborn. Doesn't he know how many innocent lives can be saved by just giving the order to surrender?"
"Forget it, let's not talk about this." Sokov waved his hand, interrupted Merkulov's words, stood up straight and said to everyone: "Comrade commanders, although the enemy in the south of the city has been eliminated, we
There is still a lot to do next.”
Hearing Sokov say that there were still many things to do next, the division and brigade commanders all sat up straight and waited quietly for Sokov to give them orders.
"The work we have to do next is very tedious," Sokov said to everyone: "Reinforce the fortifications and improve the defense lines; eliminate the remaining enemies; clean up the corpses on the battlefield, whether they belong to our army or the enemy, and bury them properly
, otherwise the plague may spread when the weather warms up in May..."
After Sokov assigned the task, he scanned the people present again and asked, "Does anyone have any questions?"
"No more." The commanders present responded in unison.
"Since there are no more questions, let's adjourn the meeting."
Just as everyone stood up and filed towards the door, the guard company commander Seryosha squeezed in from outside and shouted to Sokov: "Comrade division commander, there is a general looking for you outside."
"A general?!" Sokov glanced at Makarenko and Merkulov who had not yet left the meeting. He thought to himself, aren't the two generals under his command here? Why did they pop up somewhere?
A general asked curiously: "Captain Seryosha, has he said who he is?"
"Yes." Seryosha nodded and replied: "He said that he is Major General Rastin, Chief of Staff of the 64th Army, and he was ordered to receive Paulus."
When the commanders who were walking out the door heard the arrival of the friendly commanders who had received Paulus, they all stopped and turned to look at Sokov, wanting to see his reaction.
