"Yes, General Sokov." Dürer nodded and said, "I will not regret it."
"My conditions are very simple." Sokov said: "If you want to return General Stemerman's body, then use 10,000 captured commanders and fighters of our army in exchange."
Smirnov looked at Sokov with incredible eyes. He did not expect that Sokov would put forward such harsh conditions. After a moment, he turned his eyes to Dürer to see what the other party would do after hearing this condition.
What kind of reaction.
Dürer's face turned the color of pig liver. He never dreamed that Sokov would actually ask for 10,000 prisoners of war in exchange for the body of General Stemmermann.
"I'm sorry, General Sokov." Dürer shrugged and said he had nothing to do: "Your condition is too harsh. Please forgive me for not being able to agree to it."
"Major Dürer, I haven't finished speaking yet." Sokov said calmly: "In addition to General Stemermann's body, there are two thousand wounded who can also be exchanged."
"Okay, General Sokov. Please wait a moment, and I will report your conditions to Marshal Manstein." Dürer learned that there were still two thousand wounded. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "It depends on him.
how about."
"Yes, Mr. Major." Sokov knew very well that Dürer was just a minor major. He couldn't make the final decision on the conditions he proposed. He must ask Manstein for instructions and only after receiving instructions could he agree with him.
Carry out the next step of negotiation. So he said readily: "I'm here waiting for your reply."
Dürer made a sign of waiting, turned around and walked out of the headquarters, preparing to return to the car outside and report Sokov's conditions to Marshal Manstein using the radio he carried.
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov asked Sokov in a reproachful tone as soon as Dürer left: "How can you propose such harsh conditions? You must know that 10,000 prisoners of war is not a small number. If
We have added so many experienced commanders and fighters to each unit, and the combat effectiveness of the supplemented units will be greatly improved. The Germans are not fools. They can definitely take this into consideration. I don’t think they will agree to your proposal.
conditions of."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, please be patient." Sokov said with a relaxed expression: "The negotiations between us and the Germans are like doing business. I can ask for high prices, but they can also bargain. For Manstein
Therefore, General Stemmermann, who took the initiative to cut off the soldiers' rear, was a great hero. He would definitely retrieve General Stemmermann's body at all costs.
After the war, our army suffered heavy casualties and there were signs of shortages of medicines. I had promised General Stemmermann to give preferential treatment to the wounded German soldiers. Even if there was a shortage of medicines, their treatment could not be stopped. Now that there is an opportunity
In front of us, not only can we exchange wounded German soldiers for our captured commanders and fighters, but we can also throw this burden to the Germans, so why wouldn't we do it?"
After understanding Sokov's wishful thinking, Smirnov also showed a smile on his face: "Yes, the more than two thousand wounded German soldiers who gathered from various places consumed a lot of our medicines. For this
The director of the field hospital specifically complained to me about this matter. As long as these wounded German soldiers are sent away, our shortage of medicines can be alleviated."
But his smile did not last long and turned into a sad look: "Comrade Commander, your idea is great, but can the Germans agree? You know, they are not idiots."
"Don't be anxious. When Major Dürer comes back, we will listen to what Manstein said." Sokov always kept a clear head. "With Manstein's character, he will never give up to 10,000 prisoners."
of commanders and fighters, it would be great to give us one or two thousand people."
Dürer came to the car outside the headquarters and used the radio he carried to send a telegram to Manstein about the conditions proposed by Sokov.
Manstein, who received the telegram, was holding a military meeting. After reading the contents of the telegram, he slammed the table and said repeatedly: "Crazy, crazy, this Sokov is simply crazy."
Lieutenant General Hube, commander of the 3rd Armored Group, was standing not far from Manstein. He asked tentatively: "Marshal, what has made you angry?"
"General Hube!" Manstein looked at Hube and said: "I ordered Major Dürer as my representative to negotiate with Sokov, hoping that he could return the body of General Stemmermann. As a result,
He put forward extremely exorbitant conditions and required us to agree before we would return Stemmermann's body."
"What conditions?"
"He asked us to exchange 10,000 captured Russian soldiers for the body of General Stemmermann and 2,000 German wounded soldiers." Manstein said angrily: "Tell me, it's so excessive.
Can we agree to his conditions?"
"No, absolutely not."
"We cannot compromise with the Russians, and we must not exchange prisoners for General Stemerman's body."
"Once these prisoners of war return to the Russians, they will become a terrible force. We cannot do such stupid things."
When many generals in the headquarters unanimously opposed compromise with Sokov, General Giller, the commander of the Viking Division, spoke up. He said to Manstein with a solemn expression: "Marshal, I think we should agree to Sokov's request.
.”
Manstein asked with a straight face: "Why?"
"The death of General Stemmermann was a huge loss for us." Giller said: "The reason why my troops were able to successfully break through the Russian encirclement was because the soldiers knew that Stemmermann
The general came to our rear in person, thus boosting our morale and displaying super combat effectiveness in the battle. If we gave up the exchange for General Stemerman's body because Sokov's conditions were too harsh, I'm afraid it would be very harmful to us.
It has a negative impact on military morale."
"General Giller," said 24th Armored Corps Commander Valtenenainen: "We know General Stemermann's heroic performance in this breakout battle. This is why Marshal Manstein sent a special envoy to negotiate with the Russians.
, the reason for trying to get the body back. If we really follow Sokov's conditions and return 10,000 captured Russian soldiers to him, these veterans with rich combat experience, once added to the army, will make the army's
The combat effectiveness has been greatly improved, which is equivalent to replenishing the strength of the Russians in disguise. We cannot do such a stupid thing."
Seeing that Giller was still arguing, Manstein raised his hand and interrupted him: "General Giller, you don't have to say any more. I thought about it and we can partially agree to Sokov's conditions in exchange for Shit.
General Mermann's body."
Hearing what Manstein said, Giller couldn't help but his eyes shone, and he quickly asked: "Marshal, what are you going to do?"
"Chief of Staff," Manstein did not immediately answer Giller's question. Instead, he turned to ask his Chief of Staff: "Where is the prisoner of war camp closest to the front line?"
"Your Excellency, Marshal!" Hearing Manstein ask himself, the chief of staff quickly replied respectfully: "There is a prisoner-of-war camp for Russian prisoners of war in the Shebinka area. There are more than 3,000 prisoners of war in it."
"Very good." After listening to this, Manstein ordered the chief of staff: "You send a telegram back to Major Dürer and tell him that we can exchange the body of General Stemerman with the Russian prisoners of war in the Shebinka prisoner of war camp.
and two thousand wounded. This is our final limit, and there is no room for further bargaining."
Soon, Dürer received a telegram from the chief of staff, and he hurriedly took the telegram and re-entered Sokov's headquarters.
Seeing Dürer coming in, Sokov asked knowingly: "Major Dürer, has Marshal Manstein given an answer?"
"Yes, General Sokov." Dürer replied respectfully: "The Marshal's call back has arrived."
"Oh," Sokov asked slowly, "I wonder what Marshal Manstein said in the telegram?"
"He said that he would prepare 10,000 prisoners of war for you, which is obviously impossible." Dürer said: "Not to mention that there are not such a large number of prisoners of war. Even if there are, they must be gathered and transported to the border between the two sides.
I'm afraid it will take a lot of time, and some prisoners of war may die on the way because they are too weak."
"Marshal Manstein is very thoughtful." Sokov asked in a mocking tone: "Then does he want to replace General Stemerman's body?"
"Change, we must change." Major Dürer said in a panic: "I haven't finished reading the telegram. The marshal said that in order to show our sincerity, all three thousand prisoners of war detained in the Shebinka prisoner of war camp can be handed over to you.
"
Sokov quickly lowered his head to search for the location of Shebinka on the ground in front of him, and found that it was less than twenty kilometers away from Highland 239. Even if the prisoners of war marched on foot, it would still take half a day to reach the exchange location.
However, in order to prevent Dürer from discovering the ecstasy in his heart, he deliberately pretended to be careless and said: "It's only three thousand people, which is too few. You know, the number of people I want to exchange is 10,000."
"Exchanging all the prisoners of war in a prisoner-of-war camp for the general's body and two thousand wounded is already our limit." Dürer raised his voice and said, "This is a condition that cannot be modified."
"No, no." After Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, he shook his head and said: "Mr. Major, there should be a lot of sick and wounded among these three thousand people. Even those who are not sick or injured, I am afraid their health status is not good."
It’s worrying.”
"General Sokov," Dürer said a little anxiously: "If you don't agree to this condition, then our deal ends here. Goodbye!" After saying that, he turned and walked outside.
"Wait a minute, please wait a minute!" When Dürer sent a telegram to Manstein in the car outside, Sokov and Smirnov had already agreed that one would be a bad guy and the other a bad guy. Soko
The husband's shameless scene has been played, so naturally it was Smirnov's turn to appear. He quickly walked a few steps, stopped in front of Dürer, and said with a smile: "Major Dürer, please tell me what you have to say.
Since you are the negotiator of the German army, we can sit down and talk slowly."
Although Dürer turned around and walked outside, he actually didn't really want to leave, but just wanted to take the initiative in the subsequent negotiations. Seeing Smirnov coming forward at this moment, he pretended to be thinking hard, and finally reluctantly agreed to stay.
After inviting Dürer to sit down, Smirnov said with a smile: "Major Dürer, three thousand people are indeed a bit too few. To get rid of two thousand wounded is equivalent to using the body of General Stemmermann and only replacing
We have a thousand captured commanders and fighters. See if you can discuss with Marshal Manstein and give us some more."
Dürer knew very well that the more prisoners of war exchanged by the Soviet army, the greater the combat effectiveness of the army would be improved. If he could make the decision, not a single Soviet prisoner of war would be handed over to Sokov. But now people are not allowed to live under the roof.
Without bowing his head, he could only say tactfully: "General Smirnov, I am just a messenger. I can only tell you truthfully what orders Marshal Manstein gave me. In a prisoner of war camp
The number of prisoners of war in exchange for the general's body and wounded is already our limit, and there is no possibility of any change."
After several attempts by Smirnov, Dürer insisted that Marshal Manstein had issued an order to complete the exchange with all prisoners of war in a prisoner-of-war camp. This was already the limit and there was no room for change.
Sokov knew that unless Manstein sat in front of him, according to Dürer's old-fashioned character, no matter how much he talked, it would be in vain. He quickly winked at Smirnov, signaling the other party to end this meaningless situation as soon as possible.
of negotiations.
Smirnov nodded slightly in understanding, and then said loudly to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you have also seen that Major Dürer can meet our conditions, that is, all the people in a prisoner of war camp and us
Make an exchange. You see, what should we do?"
"Okay, Major Dürer, you win." Sokov pretended to be helpless and said: "Just do what you said and use a prisoner of war camp person to exchange with us. I want to ask, what do you plan to do?
At what time and where will you exchange with us?"
Seeing that Sokov agreed to the terms of exchange, Dürer could not help but feel relieved. He hurriedly said: "General Sokov, if nothing else happens, the exchange location will be near Shebinka. As for the time... you
How about two o'clock tomorrow afternoon?"
"Okay." Sokov remembered that the area was near the defense area of the 5th Mechanized Army, and he was not afraid of any tricks from the Germans, so he readily agreed, but he specifically warned: "But I have one condition, you must guarantee
The personal safety of all personnel in the prisoner of war camp."
Sokov's words reminded Smirnov that he was worried that the Germans would have some evil intentions. If they massacred the commanders and fighters held in the prisoner-of-war camp, he would be mute and eating coptis, and he would not be able to tell the story of his suffering.
He quickly added: "Yes, Major Dürer, you have to promise us that from now until the end of the exchange ceremony tomorrow, our commanders and soldiers in the prisoner of war camp will not encounter life danger."
"Don't worry, two generals!" After Dürer understood the concerns of Sokov and the two, he assured them: "I assure you with the honor of a soldier that all prisoners of war in the Shebinka prisoner-of-war camp will be held accountable from now on until
After the exchange ceremony is over, we will ensure the safety of everyone's lives."
After receiving Durer's assurance, Sokov nodded slightly and added: "Major Durer, you have a lot of wounded. You should bring more ambulances by then, otherwise most of the wounded will