Before confirming that the commander of the 6th Armored Division, Honerdorf, died in his position, Sokov suddenly understood why the German offensive was so abnormal.
Malankin, the commander of the Guards Division who came after hearing the news, saw Hornadorf's body and asked Koida curiously: "Comrade Colonel, I heard that Hornadorf was in a Panther tank.
Killed in action?"
"Yes, he was in the Panther tank when it was destroyed."
"However, except for the wound on the chest and some of the clothes that were burned, his body is basically complete." Malanjin said with some surprise: "It stands to reason that not all the bodies pulled out of the destroyed tanks should be
Was it burnt?"
"I estimate that after the tank was destroyed, the tank soldiers around him pulled his body out of the tank in time, so that it could be so completely preserved." Koida explained to Malankin: "The comrades we sent to search for his body reported.
, saying that his body was found in a crater near the tank. According to the analysis of the situation at the scene, it should be two loyal subordinates who wanted to take his body back, but were killed by our army and then fell into the
In the crater.”
"The enemy who attacked our division's defense area sent all their troops here, presumably because they want to recapture Hornadorf's body?" Malankin asked puzzledly: "Since Hornadorf's body is lying just a few meters away from the tank.
In the crater not far away, why didn’t the enemy notice it?”
"This, this..." Malanjin's question really stopped Koida. He muttered for a long time without giving any reason.
Fortunately, Sokov came out in time to relieve the siege: "Perhaps the enemy thought that Hornerdorf's body was still in the Panther tank. Because the tank was burning all the time, they could not get close to the tank, so they desperately attacked our position.
Trying to organize people to find the bodies after seizing the position."
"So that's it." After Malanjin figured out what was going on, he asked Sokov tentatively: "General Sokov, I saw the enemy's fierce offensive, and I'm worried that you can't stop their attack with your strength. You see
, do you need me to send some troops over for reinforcements?"
"No, we still have two regiments of troops we can use." Although the German offensive was fierce, Sokov was unwilling to easily mobilize friendly troops. If their mobilization was noticed by the Germans, the Germans would use their defense areas as a
Choose to attack at the breakthrough point. Once the defense line is breached, you will not be able to absolve yourself of the blame.
"Comrade Commander," Koida felt ecstatic when he heard that Malanjin was willing to send troops to support him. However, after hearing that Sokov rejected the other party's kindness, he couldn't help but be a little anxious: "The enemy's offensive is very fierce. If it continues like this,
Go down and within an hour at most, the 562nd Regiment will be wiped out."
"The 562nd Regiment is all gone. Aren't there still the 564th Regiment and the 568th Regiment?" Sokov said disapprovingly: "When the front is tight, we can put them into battle."
"The 568th Regiment is deployed behind the 305th Division according to your order to ensure that the enemy can stop them in time when they break through the defense line." Koida reminded Sokov: "With such a fierce enemy offensive, even if we
If the 564th Regiment is thrown into the front line, I'm afraid it won't last long."
"Comrade Colonel," Sokov reminded Koida when he saw that Koida was always thinking about the small amount of troops in Malankin's hands: "With General Malankin's reinforcements, we can indeed increase our strength. But have you ever thought about it?
However, our defense on the left wing will become weak as a result. Once the enemy chooses that place as a new breakthrough and implements an effective breakthrough, who will bear this responsibility at that time, me or you, or General Malankin?
"
Sokov's words silenced both Koida and Malankin. It was impossible to mobilize troops in broad daylight without being discovered by the Germans. Once the Germans discovered that the defenders had transferred new troops from the left wing,
Maybe they will adjust the direction of their attack. After all, not long ago, their troops almost broke through the defenders' defense line.
"Then what should we do?" Koida asked angrily: "Are we just going to let the enemy break through our defenses?"
"We must find a way to make the enemy temporarily stop attacking and give us a chance to repair the fortifications."
"Will the enemy give us such a chance?"
"Yes, the Germans will definitely give it to me." Sokov smiled proudly, and then told Koida: "Comrade Colonel, please have someone bring the captured German second lieutenant Kahn over."
"The captured German second lieutenant?" Koida asked in confusion after hearing Sokov's strange order: "We have already interrogated him, and I'm afraid he has nothing to explain."
"I plan to send him as my messenger to meet Manstein and ask him to stop attacking our position."
Although Koida felt that Sokov's statement was too ridiculous, out of habitual obedience, he still picked up the phone, called the guard camp, and ordered: "I am Koida, please take that
Kahn, a captured German second lieutenant, was brought to my headquarters."
A few minutes later, German second lieutenant Kahn was brought into the headquarters. When he saw another elderly general in the room, he couldn't help but feel nervous, thinking to himself that he was not planning to shoot him.
?
"Second Lieutenant Kahn," Sokov said to him immediately after waiting for the translator to appear: "I would like to ask you to be my messenger to see Manstein and ask him to cease fire immediately."
After listening to the translation, Kahn couldn't help but sneer in his heart. Don't think that just because you are a general is great. You think that with just a few words of yours, you want our great Marshal Manstein to stop attacking your positions.
Attack? It's simply a fantasy.
After seeing the sneer on Kahn's lips, Sokov said calmly: "By the way, Mr. Second Lieutenant, I forgot to introduce myself to you. My full name is Mikhail Mihay.
Ernovich Sokov is the commander of the 27th Army. If you tell Manstein my name when you go back, he will definitely know who I am."
Unexpectedly, Kahn immediately stood in awe of Sokov after hearing this: "Are you General Sokov, the commander who commanded the troops to defend Mamayev Gunda for several months?"
"Yes, during the Battle of Stalingrad, the troops holding Mamayev Heights were indeed commanded by me."
After confirming Sokov's identity, Kahn quickly raised his hand and saluted Sokov with a solemn military salute: "Hello, General Sokov, Second Lieutenant Kahn is very happy to serve you."
"Very good." Seeing the other party's cooperation, Sokov smiled and nodded, and then said: "I want you to go back to see the commander of your 48th Armored Corps, General Knobelsdorff, and ask him to tell Manstein
Marshal, he said that the body of Honordorff, commander of the 6th Armored Division, has fallen into our hands. As long as he stops attacking, we can exchange it."
Knowing that Hornadorf's body had fallen into the hands of the Soviet army, Kahn was secretly relieved. He knew very well that even if the two sides were enemies, the Russians would not be able to do anything to a corpse.
After a short pause, he continued to ask: "Mr. General, may I ask, what should we exchange for the body of Hornerdorf and the body of the general?"
"I hope that Marshal Manstein can use the captured commanders and soldiers of our army in exchange for Hornadorf's body." Sokov didn't know what kind of response Manstein would make to his proposal, so he cautiously
Said: "If your Marshal Manstein agrees to the exchange, we can arrange the next step of negotiations."
"Mr. General," Kahn thought for a moment and asked Sokov, "please see if you can write a personal letter so that my report to General Knobelsdorf will be more convincing."
Regarding Kahn's proposal, Sokov felt that it made sense, so he went to the table, picked up a pen and paper, and wrote a letter to General Knobelsdorf and Marshal Manstein. The contents were similar, saying that he was willing to do so.
Hornadorf's body was exchanged for captured Soviet commanders and fighters. He wrote a letter and handed it into Kahn's hands. Kahn took the letter and carefully put it into his jacket pocket.
Sokov considered that a fierce battle was going on in his defense area, and even if Kahn went out with a white flag, he might be killed. So he asked Malankin who was sitting beside him: "General Malankin, I want to ask you a favor.
Please send this German second lieutenant from your defense area to the enemy's side."
Malankin readily agreed to Sokov's proposal: "Don't worry, General Sokov. I will definitely send someone to send him safely to the enemy."
Malanjin took Kahn back to his headquarters, found two clever soldiers, and ordered them to drive a jeep with a white flag and send Kahn to the enemy's side.
Although most of the enemies on the opposite side of the Guards Division moved to the left wing to attack the defense area of the 188th Division, when they saw a jeep with a white flag approaching in the distance, a German lieutenant and his men immediately went up to meet it.
In order to avoid misunderstanding, the jeep stopped ten meters away from the German officers and soldiers. When the car stopped, Kahn opened the door and got out of the car, walked towards the other party with his hands raised, and at the same time shouted loudly: "Don't drive."
Guns, don’t shoot. We are our own people!”
When the lieutenant heard the shouting, he quickly ordered his men to lower their guns. Then he walked up to Kahn and asked sharply: "What part are you in?"
After Kahn clearly stated his name, position and unit number, he said to the lieutenant: "Mr. Lieutenant, please send someone to take me to see General Knobelsdorf immediately. I have important information to ask for."
Report to him."
Although the lieutenant was full of doubts, since the other party said that he wanted to see the commander of the army on important matters, he did not dare to neglect and quickly arranged for Cohen to be sent to the headquarters of the 48th Armored Corps.
At this moment, the commander of the 48th Armored Corps, General Knobelsdorff, was like an ant on a hot pot, pacing back and forth in his command cabin anxiously. He received a death order from Manstein and must take it at all costs.
Go down to the Russian position and snatch Hornadolf's body back.
However, several hours later, although the troops' offensive was fierce, they still failed to break through the front position. When he was anxious, a staff officer came in from outside and reported to him: "Your Excellency, Army Commander, there is a second lieutenant outside who wants to see you.
"
Hearing that it was just a second lieutenant who wanted to see him, Knobelsdorff waved his hand and said impatiently: "See you, see you, go out and drive him away."
"Your Excellency, Army Commander," the staff officer saw that Knobelsdorf was unwilling to see Kahn and quickly explained: "This second lieutenant was captured by the Russians not long ago. It is said that the Russians sent him back to deliver a message."
"The Russians sent him back to deliver a message?" The staff officer's words aroused Knobelsdorf's curiosity, and he quickly ordered: "Let him come in."
After Kahn entered the command cabin along the small staircase, he raised his hand to salute Knobelsdorff and loudly announced his name, rank and position. Knobelsdorff waved his hand and said impatiently:
"Tell me, what did the Russians say when they sent you back to deliver the message? Are you ready to surrender to our army?"
"No, Your Majesty Commander, they are not surrendering." Kahn replied.
"Since we're not surrendering, what's there to say?" Knobelsdorf didn't hear the answer he wanted, so he waved his hand at Kahn, preparing to kick him out: "You go out first."
Unexpectedly, Kahn stood still and said respectfully: "The Russian who asked me to deliver the letter is Major General Sokov. He also wrote a personal letter to you and Marshal Manstein."
"What, Lieutenant, who do you think sent you to deliver the letter?" Knobelsdorff asked in surprise.
"Major General Sokov," Kahn replied clearly: "Major General Sokov, the commander of the Russian 27th Army."
Knowing that Kahn was delivering the message on Sokov's order, Knobelsdorf couldn't help but take a breath: "So, the position we have been unable to break through is Sokov's troops defending it?"
"Yes, Your Excellency, Army Commander." Kahn replied: "The Russian troops blocking us are indeed commanded by Major General Sokov."
"It's no wonder." When he found out that his opponent was actually Sokov, Knobelsdorf couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief. If he had been defeated by other Russian generals, he would have felt very useless.
When he learned that the troops commanded by Sokov were in front of him, he felt that the attack he launched could not make progress, which seemed to be a matter of course.
"Where is General Sokov's personal letter?" Knobelsdorff asked.
"Here." Kahn quickly took out the letter and handed it to Knobelsdorff.
Knobelsdorff opened the letter and looked at it. It was all in Russian, which he couldn't understand at all. He told the staff officer next to him: "Find a translator who understands Russian. I want to find out what is written in the letter.
"
"Yes, your Excellency, Army Commander." The staff officer quickly agreed, "I will find a suitable translator immediately."