"Comrade Commander, is this too much?" Ivanov, who was standing aside, confirmed the authenticity of the message, said to Sokov angrily: "It is entirely due to our combat cluster that can destroy the German headquarters. How can we hand over Paulus to the 64th Army?"
"Samoilov," Sokov stood up and shouted at Samoilov who was standing at the door: "Come to me."
Samoilov quickly came to Sokov and quietly waited for his instructions.
Sokov pointed at him with his hand and ordered: "Immediately order the communications soldiers to set up a dedicated telephone line for me to talk to the Front Command here. I want to ask what's going on."
After Samoilov turned and left, Sokov saw Paulus sitting beside him and felt that it was inappropriate to let him stay here again, so he said to Ubrich: "Comrade Ubrich, I have important things to deal with later. You can go to rest with Paulus in other rooms first."
Ubrich heard the contents of the telegram and guessed that Sokov must have something important to do next. It was not appropriate for him to stay here, so he nodded and took Paulus to another room.
When Sokov saw that he was the only one left in the house, Ivanov and the radio operator, he again ordered the radio operator: "Send telegrams to the commanders of each division and the brigade commanders of each division, so that they can come to me immediately."
"Comrade Commander," Ivanov took advantage of the time the radio operator sent a message and asked Sokov curiously: "Is there anything wrong with calling the commanders here?"
Sokov knew very well 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 Paulus' army have been fighting for so long. Even if we want to hand over Paulus to friendly forces, I have to let our division and brigade commander see what Paulus looks like."
"Oh, so that's how it is." Ivanov felt relieved after hearing Sokov's explanation. He was really worried that Sokov would lose control of his emotions because of this inexplicable telegram and did some irreversible mistakes. He felt that Sokov's approach was correct, and he summoned all the division commanders and brigade commanders of the combat cluster. In addition to letting them visit Paulus, he could also explain to them why he handed over Paulus to friendly forces.
In fact, the division commanders and brigade commanders of the combat cluster were all staying not far from the department store. Before receiving Sokov's orders, they did not dare to go to the department store without authorization. Even Colonel Bere, who had close ties with Sokov, stayed in his tank and stood on standby.
As soon as everyone received Sokov's call, they rushed to the basement of the department store.
"Comrades Commanders, you are all here." Seeing that all the division commanders and brigade commanders were coming, Sokov stood up and shook hands with everyone one by one, and pointed to the conference table beside him and said to them: "Sit down. Not long ago, there were still a group of German generals sitting here, and now they are all replaced by our Soviet commanders."
Sokov's words aroused everyone's 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 didn't see Paulus. He is still in the basement?"
"Yes, he's still here." Sokov pointed at the room where Paulus was: "It's in that room."
"It's in the room there." When the commanders present heard this, their eyes suddenly reflected. Don't see everyone fighting with the German army in Stalingrad for several months, but none of them here have seen Paulus before. Sivakov suggested excitedly: "Comrade Commander, you have been fighting in Stalingrad for several months. You dream of defeating Paulus, but you don't even know what he looks like. Let's take him out and let us meet."
"Yes, Sivakov is right." As soon as Shivakov finished speaking, someone immediately agreed: "Take Paulus out and let us see."
Sokov did not stop them immediately, but waited for everyone's voice to diminish, and then said, "Comrades Commander, don't worry, you will see it when we hand over Paulus to friendly forces later."
When Merkulov, who had not spoken, heard Sokov say this, he immediately realized that something was wrong. He quickly asked, "Comrade Commander, what did you just say? What was going on to hand over Paulus to a friendly army?"
The room, which was originally laughing and laughing, suddenly became quiet with Merkulov's question, and everyone focused their attention on Sokov, trying to figure out what was going on.
"Look, comrades in command." Sokov put the telegram sent by Rokosovsky on the table, pushed it forward, and said, "This is the telegram sent to me by the Front Command."
Major General Makarenko, who was closest to Sokov, took the lead in snatching the telegram and carefully checked the content above. After reading it, he slapped the table suddenly and said angrily: "It's so too much. Our soldiers bleed and sacrificed. They finally took the German command and captured Paulus alive. They could all be handed over to the 64th Army."
The telegram was circulated in the hands of the commanders, and after reading it, everyone was silent. No one expected to take down the German headquarters and capture Paulus alive. After a few minutes of happiness, he had to hand over such a result to a friendly army. If it were anyone, he would not feel comfortable.
"Comrade Commander," asked She Yike, the political commissar of the 67th Division of the Guards, and said: "Have you verified the authenticity of this telegram?"
A stone stirred up a thousand waves, and Sheyike's words immediately resonated with everyone, and everyone said: "Yes, comrade Commander, you should verify the authenticity of this telegram."
"Yes, let the radio operator send a telegram to the Front Army Command immediately to verify it so as not to be deceived."
Sokov waited for everyone to calm down again before continuing: "Comrades Commander, I have ordered people to set up a telephone line that can be used to the Front Command. After the establishment is completed, I will personally ask General Rokosovsky."
"Comrade Commander," Samoilov walked in from outside and reported to Sokov: "The phone money from the Front Command has been set up. Have you answered the phone?"
"It's all right, Comrade Lieutenant." Sokov said with a serious expression: "Click the phone in immediately."
After the phone was answered, the communications soldier connected the phone from the Front Command in full view. When he heard a sound from the receiver, he immediately handed the microphone to Sokov. Sokov said to the microphone: "Hello, I am Colonel Sokov, the commander of the Sokov combat cluster. Please help me pick up the commander General Rokosovsky."
After waiting for two minutes, Rokosovsky's voice came from the receiver. He said in an official tone: "Is it Colonel Sokov? I am Rokosovsky. I know you will definitely call and ask why you should hand over Paulus to friendly forces, right?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front." Sokov glanced at the commander indoors and replied solemnly: "Not only do I want to know, but also the division commanders and brigade commanders under my commanders want to know the answers. In this way, they know how to answer when the fighters ask."
"According to the order of the base camp, Paulus will be held in the Bektovka district in the south of Stalingrad, which is a place that has not been destroyed by war." Rokosovsky said briefly on the phone: "And it happens to be the defense zone of the 64th Army. It is natural to hand over Paulus to them."
"So that's how it is." Sokov said with a wry smile after he figured out the reason: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you should actually make it clear in the telegram, otherwise there will be no misunderstanding."
Rokosovsky naturally understood what the misunderstanding mentioned by Sokov was. He did not get involved at this time, but changed the topic in time: "By the way, I want to ask you, after you captured Paulus, did you ask him to call or send a telegram to the place entrenched in the factory?"
"No." Sokov thought that even if Paulus called, the enemy in the factory area in the north of the city would not surrender. Why should he be thankless? However, he had another statement: "This matter is of great importance. I did not dare to act without authorization before I received the order from my superiors."
Rokosovsky really couldn't make any mistakes in Sokov's statement. He thought about it and ordered Sokov: "Immediately ask Paulus to call or send a telegram to the factory area in the north of the city to urge them to surrender."
"I understand, I will execute your order immediately."
After Sokov put down the phone, he ordered Samoilov: "Go to the room over there to bring Paulus."
While waiting for Paulus to come, Sokov said to the commanders present: "Comrades, I have figured it out. The base camp intends to detain Paulus in an area that has not been defeated by the war. The specific location is in the Bektovka area in the southern part of Stalingrad. It is the defense area of ​​the 64th Army, and it is understandable to hand it over to them."
Paulus and Ubrich came here again and were startled to be shocked when they saw the room full of people. Paulus came to Sokov and asked expressionlessly: "Col. Sokov, what are you going to do when you bring me to so many people?"
"Marson Paulus, you misunderstood." Sokov said politely: "These are my subordinates. I called them here to discuss the arrangements for the next action."
Paulus's eyes swept over the Soviet commander present, sneered and said, "Col. Sokov, don't lie to me anymore. There are two generals here. What unit will be a colonel to command two generals?"
After hearing Ubrich's translation, Sokov couldn't help laughing: "Master Paulus, you're wrong. In our army, commanders with low ranks serve as commanders, and commanders with high ranks serve as deputy positions. What is the point of a colonel who commands two generals?"
Then Sokov changed his topic and talked about the main thing: "Marty Marshal Paulus, I invite you here. There is an important thing to ask you."
Paulus asked back, "What's the matter?"
"Although you and your subordinates surrendered, there are still many troops in the factory area in the north of the city, and they still fight against our army." Sokov did not go around in circles and said bluntly: "I hope you can call the commanders over there, or send a telegram to order them to stop resisting."
"Sorry, Colonel Sokov." Unexpectedly, after hearing Sokov's request, Paulus shook his head and refused. "Now that I have become your prisoner, General Karl Strakel, the commander of the 11th Infantry Army who commands the troops in the factory area, will never obey my orders. I would like to advise you that if you want to resolve the troops in the factory area, you can only use war."
Sokov understood this truth very well. Since Paulus was unwilling to cooperate, he did not force it, but instead ordered Samoilov to take Paulus back to his original room.
"This guy is really stubborn," said Merkulov gritted his teeth. "All of us are still so stubborn. Don't he know how many innocent lives can be saved with the next order of surrender?"
"Forget it, I won't say that." Sokov waved his hand, interrupted Merkulov's words, stood up straight and said to everyone: "Comrades Commander, although the enemy in the south of the city has been solved, we still have a lot to do next."
When he heard Sokov say that there was still a lot to do next, the brigade commanders sat upright and waited quietly for Sokov to give orders to them.
"The next work everyone has to do is very cumbersome," Sokov said to everyone: "Reinforce fortifications, improve the defense line; clear the remaining enemies; clean up the bodies on the battlefield, whether it is our army or the enemy, must be properly buried, otherwise when the weather is warm in May, there may be a plague...."
After Sokov assigned the task, he glanced at the people present again and asked, "Who has any questions?"
"No more." The commanders present replied in unison.
"Since there is no problem, let's go."
Just as everyone stood up and walked towards the door, the guard company commander Selyosha squeezed in from outside and shouted at Sokov: "Comrade Commander, there is a general outside looking for you."
"A general?" Sokov looked at Makarenko and Merkulov who had not yet walked out of the meeting. He thought that the two generals under him were all here, and another general appeared. He asked curiously: "Captain Seryosha, did he say who he is?"
"Say it." Seryosha nodded and replied, "He said he was Major General Rastin, chief of staff of the 64th Army, and was ordered to take over Paulus."
Chapter completed!