As soon as the cheers in the headquarters stopped, the phone on the table rang.
Sokov thought it was a call from the front army headquarters, asking all units to accept the German surrender. Unexpectedly, when he put the phone to his ear, he realized that the caller was Ivanov, commander of the 6th Guards Division.
Colonel: "Comrade Commander, I am Ivanov, and I have something important to report to you."
"Report important things to me?" Sokov asked in reply: "Isn't it the Germans who surrendered to you on their own initiative?"
There was silence for a moment on the other end of the phone, and then Ivanov's surprised voice came: "Comrade Commander, how do you know?"
"The positions of the five German divisions in front of the 120th Guards Division have hung white flags, indicating that they have begun to surrender on a large scale." Sokov briefly explained the situation, and then asked: "Comrade Colonel, where are you?
What was the situation and how many German troops surrendered to you?"
"A few SS officers came." Ivanov replied: "One of them is an SS major. He said that he was the person in charge of a nearby prisoner of war camp and received an order from his superiors to stop interacting with our troops.
hostilities with the Allied forces and laid down their arms and surrendered to our forces."
Hearing that a prisoner-of-war camp had been discovered, Sokov couldn't help but secretly rejoice. In this way, he could replenish a lot of soldiers. Thinking of this, he quickly asked: "How big is the prisoner-of-war camp? Our troops are detained in it."
How many commanders and fighters?”
Ivanov hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "The other party said that there are 3,517 prisoners of war in the prison camp, and there is not a single prisoner of war from our army."
"What, there are no prisoners of war from our army?" Sokov couldn't help but frowned when he heard this: "Then where did the prisoners of war they imprisoned come from?"
"He said that the prisoners of war were soldiers and officers from France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Belgium and the Netherlands." Ivanov explained: "Among these prisoners of war, there were a large group of generals and officers from the Belgian army, including the chief of general staff.
officer."
"Hell, there's not a single one of our own." When he learned that there was not a single Soviet commander and fighter in a prisoner-of-war camp that held more than 3,000 prisoners of war, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He spoke into the microphone.
Said: "Comrade Colonel, now that the war is over, you should immediately send people to take over the prisoner of war camp and rescue all the officers and soldiers detained there."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Ivanov replied resoundingly: "I will immediately liberate the officers and soldiers detained in the prisoner-of-war camps."
In a prisoner of war camp that was about to be liberated, so many friendly prisoners of war were discovered. Sokov felt that this matter was of great importance, so he personally called Rokossovsky and reported to him what happened here:
"Comrade Commander, the German commander of a prisoner-of-war camp surrendered to Colonel Ivanov, commander of the 6th Guards Division. According to his confession, there were 3,517 prisoners of war in the prisoner-of-war camp, from France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
, officers and soldiers from Belgium and the Netherlands, and even a group of officers and generals including the Chief of General Staff of the Belgian Army. I am calling you to ask how you plan to resettle these friendly prisoners of war."
"Misha, you have thrown a difficult problem to me." Rokossovsky heard what Sokov said and shook his head with a wry smile: "With so many friendly prisoners of war, I can't make the decision. I can only ask the highest authority."
Let’s ask the high command for instructions and see what they think.”
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov continued, "not only did the German officers guarding the prison camp surrender to us, but even the five German divisions on the attack route of the 120th Guards Division stopped resisting, laid down their weapons and surrendered to our troops.
surrender."
The news of the German surrender in Berlin has not yet reached Rokossovsky, so he had deep doubts about Sokov's words: "What is going on? Why did the Germans
Will mass surrenders begin?"
From Rokossovsky's tone of voice, Sokov guessed that the other party must not know the news of the German surrender in Berlin, and quickly reminded him: "Comrade Marshal, I suggest you contact the Supreme Command immediately. Maybe there will be someone in Berlin."
What good news has come."
Hearing what Sokov said, Rokossovsky responded casually: "What good news can come out of Berlin?!" But as soon as he said this, he immediately thought of a possibility, and his whole body was shocked, and then his voice
He said with some trembling, "Misha, are you saying that Zhukov's troops have occupied Berlin and completely defeated the Germans?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal." Sokov nodded and replied in a positive tone: "Other than that, I can't think of any other reasons."
"How is this possible?" Although it was only a matter of time before the Germans were defeated and Berlin was occupied, when Rokossovsky heard the news, he still felt it was a bit fantasy. He was eager to know the real answer and quickly spoke faster.
Said: "Misha, I will call the High Command right now to find out what happened in the direction of Berlin. Once I have the latest news, I will inform you as soon as possible." After that, he did not call Sokov.
When I got the chance to talk, I hung up the phone.
After putting down the phone, Sokov said to Sidorin and Lunev: "The Chief of Staff, Comrade Military Commissar, and the Marshal said that he would contact Moscow immediately, and if there is any latest situation, he would inform us in time."
"Well, it should have been like this a long time ago." Lunev nodded and said: "Although we know that defeating the Germans and occupying Berlin will be a matter of time, but what the situation is now, we are just guessing, and we have no definite information.
. Now we can only wait and see what kind of good news Marshal Rokossovsky will bring us."
Half an hour later, Rokossovsky called Sokov himself.
As soon as the phone call came through, Rokossovsky said emotionally: "Misha, you are right, the Berlin defenders have laid down their weapons and surrendered to Chuikov's troops. Moreover, Berlin's city defense commander General Weidelin and
Propaganda Minister Fritsch also issued talks on unconditional surrender to the military and civilians in Germany."
At this point, Rokossovsky paused for a moment, and Sokov clearly heard the sound of the other party drinking water.
After drinking the water, Rokossovsky continued: "Also, Mustache committed suicide in the bunker on the afternoon of April 30. His body was poured with gasoline by a group of his men and dumped at the entrance of the bunker.
Burned in a bomb crater. The notorious Goebbels also committed suicide on May 1; another Mustache's right-hand man, Holman, detonated a grenade in his own home, killing everyone in his family. Although Mustache was there
Before the interim, Admiral Dönitz was appointed as the new head of state, but this person did not have much prestige. Although he called on the Germans to fight us to the end on the radio, no one responded to him at all. It seems that the Germans are also tired of it.
After this damn war, now that they have a chance to survive, they will naturally not give up."
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov added immediately after Rokossovsky finished speaking: "I have moved the 211th and 284th Infantry Divisions to the front line to assist the 120th Guards Division in accepting the German surrender."
"Misha, you are doing the right thing." Rokossovsky agreed with Sokov's approach and reminded him: "Your troops will continue to advance and will soon reach Yi."
On the edge of the North River. On the other side is the British defense area. You can join them as soon as possible."
A few days ago, the troops commanded by Konev joined forces with the U.S. military on the Elbe River west of Berlin. This incident has been recorded in history. Even if Sokov's troops accelerated their advance, they would not be able to join forces on the Elbe River north of Berlin.
The meeting with the British army did not seem to have much historical significance, so Sokov was not very interested in the matter. However, since it was Rokossovsky's personal order, he could not refuse it and could only be vague.
He said politely: "Understood, Comrade Marshal. I will send troops to the Elbe River as soon as possible to join forces with the British troops on the other side."
After putting down the phone, Sokov lowered his head and stared at the map in front of him to check the defense status of his troops.
After watching for a while, he raised his head and said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, please call Lieutenant Colonel Victor, commander of the 122nd Infantry Brigade, and order the brigade to advance toward the Elbe River immediately and find a way to
Join forces with the British troops on the other side."
After listening to what Sokov said, Runev, who sat upright next to him, said with a wry smile: "It was also the meeting on the Elbe River, but Marshal Konev's troops joined up with the US military a few days earlier than us and completed the siege of Berlin. Their troops
The rendezvous is destined to be recorded in the annals of history. But as for us, even if we rush over to join forces with the British army at this time, I am afraid it will only be an understatement in the history books of future generations."
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar, you are right." Although Sokov agreed with Lunev's statement, since it was Rokossovsky's personal order, he had to carry it out, so he
Let Sidorin order the 122nd Infantry Brigade to advance quickly towards the Elbe River and rush to join the British army. If the friendly forces on the left and right wings take the lead, I am afraid that this honor, which is better than nothing, will also fall on the friendly forces: "I think
I am afraid that the meeting between us and the British army at the Elbe River will not be mentioned in the history books of future generations. In the future, when our descendants talk about the meeting at the Elbe River, all they can think of is the First Ukrainian Front commanded by Marshal Konev and the
The Allies met at the Elbe River, and our actions would be obscured by their dazzling light."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," although the significance of this meeting on the Elbe River cannot be compared with the meeting a few days ago, Rokossovsky still urged Sidorin: "Hurry up and call Lieutenant Colonel Victor.
Tell him to move quickly and don't let other friendly forces get ahead of us."
"Yes, yes, Comrade Commander, you are right." Sidorin also agreed with Sokov's statement: "Although our upcoming rendezvous operation cannot be compared with the rendezvous between Marshal Konev's troops and the US military.
It's nothing like a scene, but at least it's an honor that must not be taken away by friendly comrades." After saying that, he grabbed the phone and started calling the infantry brigade headquarters.
Lieutenant Colonel Victor received a call from Sidorin and knew that this was a good opportunity for him and his troops to make a difference. As soon as he put down the phone, he ordered several battalion commanders to gather all the troops and take all the troops they could find.
Transport vehicles, buses, private cars, carriages and bicycles, then hurried to the defense line of the Elbe River, preparing to join forces with the British troops stationed on the other side.
An hour later, the leading battalion of the 122nd Infantry Brigade arrived at the river.
When the soldiers saw the tents in the British camp on the other side, they couldn't help but ask their battalion commander: "Comrade battalion commander, aren't the British our allies? Why do they stay on the other side of the Elbe River and don't attack the Germans?"
How about launching an attack from the flank and rear to reduce the resistance our army encounters?"
In response to the questions raised by the soldiers, the battalion commander smiled and said: "I am just an ordinary battalion commander. I think only the commander of the group army or the commander of the front army can answer the questions you raised."
The battalion commander then called a soldier with a loud voice and ordered him: "Go to the river and call the British on the other side and tell them that we are here to join forces with them."
The soldiers sent by the battalion commander did indeed have a loud voice. As soon as he shouted a few times, two British sentries on the other side came to the river and looked across the wide river towards the location of the Soviet army. After watching for a while, one of them
A British sergeant said to the senior soldier next to him: "Sir, go back and report to the major that a group of unidentified people are coming from the other side and ask him to tell us what to do."
The superior soldier squinted his eyes and looked at the Soviet commanders on the other side. After looking for a while, he turned to the sergeant and said: "Sergeant, these people coming across are not wearing German uniforms. Could they be us?"
Allies of the Russians?”
Hearing what the private said, the sergeant felt that it seemed to make sense. If the Germans who appeared on the other side were really Germans, they might have fired at his position. However, he still ordered the private to go back and report that the other side was coming.
Unidentified troops asked the major to come here and check it out in person.
"Yes, sergeant." The superior soldier agreed, holding his gun and running towards the camp. He wanted to report the discovery of the army on the other side to the major in the camp as soon as possible.
But when the British major received the report from his subordinates, he said disapprovingly: "Maybe they are not Russians, but Germans."
Hearing what the major said, the superior soldier quickly explained: "But after they saw us by the river, they didn't shoot at us and seemed to be very friendly."
"Soldier, you may not know that the Germans have announced their surrender." The major said smartly: "I think the troops appearing on the other side may be some Germans who do not want to surrender to the Russians, so as not to suffer unfair treatment.
They are preparing to put down their weapons and surrender to our troops after entering our defense zone."