The generals present here showed some expressions of joy when they saw that Paulus was willing to ask Berlin for instructions on the surrender. Although everyone knew Hitler's character well, they were all lucky at this moment, and maybe they
After learning about the difficult situation of the Sixth Army, the head of state might change his mind.
Only Sokov knew best that even if Schmidt sent this telegram, it would not change Hitler's decision. On the contrary, it would make Hitler even more hysterical and issue wrong orders, allowing the officers and soldiers of the Sixth Army to fight to the last soldier.
Pawn, hit until the last bullet.
"Colonel Sokov!" While Schmidt was sending a telegram, Kurtzbach asked Sokov flatteringly: "If we surrender, what are your plans to do with us?"
"It's very simple. Ordinary soldiers and officers will be arranged to prisoner of war camps far away from the battlefield." After Sokov said this, he paused for a moment, glanced at Paulus sitting opposite, and continued: "Everyone here
Generals, you may be placed in a manor and enjoy the treatment you deserve. Except that you have no personal freedom and cannot bear weapons, there is not much difference between you and now."
Hearing what Sokov said, the generals present were shocked. General Hans Wurtz, commander of the 144th Artillery Group, who was sitting opposite Kurtzbach, couldn't help but asked Sokov in surprise: "Mr. Colonel, you
Is everything you say true? Will your superiors really not shoot us, but will arrange for us to be placed in the manor and enjoy treatment consistent with our status? "
"General Kurtzbach," Sokov looked at the unfamiliar face in front of him and asked Kurtzbach on the side for advice: "I wonder who this general is...?"
"He is Hans Wurz, commander of the 144th Artillery Group." After Kurtzbach introduced the other party's identity to Sokov, he couldn't help but curiously asked Sokov: "What you just said are all
Really?"
"Of course it's true." Sokov nodded vigorously and said in a positive tone: "If you declare surrender to our army now, you will be able to enjoy the benefits I just mentioned. But if you continue to resist, wait until we
When we capture you on the battlefield, I'm afraid we will have no choice but to put you in a prisoner-of-war camp with poor conditions like ordinary officers and soldiers."
"What's the difference between letting us stay in the manor and being locked up in a prisoner-of-war camp?" an elderly general said angrily: "Can we still return to our motherland alive?"
This time, before Sokov could ask, Kurtzbach took the initiative to introduce him: "This is General Ulrich Vassall, commander of the 153rd Artillery Group. He is a bit impatient. Please don't take it off."
"You are wrong, General Ulrich Vassall." Facing Ulrich Vassall, who was attacking him, Sokov said with a serious expression: "As long as our army captures Berlin and forms a
The new German government, then you captured soldiers will have the opportunity to return to your homeland one after another."
Even though all these generals hoped that Paulus would issue an order to surrender, that was because they were already facing the dilemma of running out of ammunition and food. In fact, from the bottom of their hearts, they were still very resistant to surrendering to the Soviet army. At this moment, they heard Soko
The husband said that they all had plans to return to Germany, and those who were still somewhat resistant to surrender became a little impatient. Their eyes were fixed on the door where Schmidt left, hoping that he could take Berlin back as soon as possible.
's reply.
"Colonel Sokov," Paulus asked after letting his subordinates chat with Sokov for a while, "I wonder what your superiors plan to do with me?"
"Don't worry, General Paulus." Sokov replied with a smile: "I think for the sake of your health and safety, the High Command may take you to Moscow as soon as possible and find a suitable place there to put you there.
You recuperate."
"If I order the troops to surrender, will I not be discriminated against by you?"
"How is this possible, General Paulus?" Sokov said: "If you now order the German army to stop resisting, lay down their weapons and surrender to our army, tens of thousands of lives will be saved. For your contribution,
It's too late for the officers and soldiers on both sides to be grateful, so how can they discriminate against you?"
Sokov's flattery made Paulus feel very comfortable. After he laughed twice, he said to Sokov: "Colonel Sokov, as long as Berlin agrees to our surrender, I will order the troops to stop resisting as soon as possible.
Surrendered to your army."
The generals present here all had relaxed expressions on their faces when they heard Paulus's statement. Since the commanders are ready to surrender, why is there any need to fight this battle? They just wait for Berlin's reply to order
His troops surrendered to the Soviet army.
However, for safety reasons, Kurtzbach asked Sokov tentatively: "Colonel Sokov, although my troops are far away from your defense area, can I drive to your defense area and surrender to your troops?"
?Among so many Russian troops, you are the one I trust the most."
As soon as Kurtzbach's words came out, Lieutenant General Helmut Schlemmer, commander of the 14th Panzer Corps, Lieutenant General Max Pfeffer, commander of the 4th Infantry Corps, and Walter Hei, commander of the 7th Infantry Corps.
General Ci also expressed his position to Sokov, hoping that his troops could march into his defense zone and surrender.
Facing the enthusiasm of these German generals, Sokov really couldn't stand it. He waved his hands vigorously and said to them: "Gentlemen, generals, please be quiet. My troops only control the area around the Mamayev Hills.
The territory cannot accommodate too many troops. If so many troops come here at once, I am afraid it will cause unnecessary chaos and cause problems in our supply to you."
When the generals showed their kindness to Sokov, Paulus remained silent. In fact, he also wanted to surrender to Sokov personally, but due to his status, he could not say these words. He looked at Sokov opposite.
Kokov, in his heart, hoped that the other party would take the initiative to ask him, and then he would be able to smoothly say that he was ready to go to Mamayev Heights in person and surrender to the troops of the 41st Guards Division.
However, what disappointed Paulus was that the generals under his command were chattering around Sokov, so that Sokov had no time to take care of himself.
Just when Paulus felt embarrassed, someone shouted: "The chief of staff is back!"
The room fell silent instantly, and everyone's eyes were focused on Schmidt, who had just walked into the room. Seeing Schmidt's expressionless face, Sokov immediately felt an ominous premonition in his heart. It seemed that he was still
As in history, Hitler did not agree with Paulus' surrender to the Soviet army, and the damn battle must continue.
Schmidt walked up to Paulus without looking away, and bent down close to Paulus, as if he was preparing to report to him the contents of the telegram he had just received.
"Chief of Staff," Paulus stretched out his hand to block Schmidt and said loudly: "Everyone here is eager to know what Berlin's answer is, so just read it in front of everyone.
"
After hearing Paulus's instructions, Schmidt nodded helplessly, took out a square piece of paper from his pocket, unfolded it, and read loudly: "I will never allow surrender. The Sixth Army's
Officers and soldiers must tenaciously hold on to their positions until all their ammunition is exhausted. Hitler."
After Paulus waited for Schmidt to finish reading, he took the telegram in his hand and read it carefully, and asked with a serious expression: "Chief of Staff, have you confirmed that there are no errors in the telegram from Berlin?"
"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." Schmidt replied respectfully: "I have repeatedly verified that the call back from the head of state is indeed like this."
"What should we do, generals and gentlemen?" Paulus threw the telegram in his hand on the table and asked the subordinates present: "The head of state rejected our request to surrender. What should we do next? Continue to fight.
Or should we immediately lay down our weapons and surrender?"
"Your Excellency, Commander," after Paulus finished speaking, Kurtzbach was the first to speak. He stood up and said: "You should be very clear about our current situation. It is meaningless to continue to hold on. I
I feel that we should make a decisive decision and order the troops to lay down their weapons and surrender in order to save the lives of more soldiers."
According to Kurtzbach's idea, there will definitely be many people supporting him. Unexpectedly, after he finished speaking, the whole room was silent. The generals were either staring at the table in a daze, or looking at the dusty ceiling.
, no one spoke.
Seeing that everyone except Kurtzbach remained silent, Schmidt became a little anxious. After coughing hard to attract everyone's attention, he raised his voice and asked: "Gentlemen, generals, who are you?
What do you think? Let me just say something, Colonel Sokov is still here waiting for our reply!"
After hearing Schmidt mention Sokov, the German generals remembered that there was a representative sent by the Soviet army to persuade them to surrender sitting near the door. Walter Heitz sighed and said helplessly: "Mr. Colonel, I'm very sorry.
I want to lead the troops to surrender to you. But that’s not possible. My wife and children are still in Berlin, and the families of my officers and soldiers are also in the country. If we go against the wishes of the head of state and surrender to you, I’m afraid it will implicate us.
My family. I’m sorry.”
"Mr. General," Sokov smiled bitterly when he saw that General Walter Heitz, who had once shown kindness to him and hoped to surrender near Mamayev Heights, had turned into a stranger. "
You are worried that leading the troops to surrender now will harm your family. But have you ever thought that even if you continue to resist, in the end, you will not surrender, and then you will not be afraid that Hitler will embarrass your family and send them to
Into a concentration camp?”
Walter Heitz's face immediately turned red, but in the face of Sokov's doubts, he still bit the bullet and said: "We will surrender then. After all, we have gone through the battle and surrendered as a last resort. I think Berlin must have surrendered."
They can understand us."
Walter Heitz's statement immediately aroused the echo of the two generals. The reasons they gave were similar. Surrendering now will affect his family. But if he surrenders for a while, the adverse impact on his family will be greater.
Much smaller.
Seeing that the attitudes of the other generals except Kurtzbach had become ambiguous, Sokov stood up and loudly asked Paulus, who was sitting opposite: "Your Excellency, Commander, your subordinates have made their views clear.
Now I want to ask you, what are your thoughts? Put down your weapons immediately and surrender, or continue to resist and sacrifice more soldiers?"
"I'm sorry, Colonel Sokov." Paulus stood up and said apologetically to Sokov: "Although I also want to surrender to the Soviet army, you have also seen that we all have scruples. If
If we surrender now, I am afraid that our family members who remain in the country will be persecuted by the Gestapo, so we can only continue to fight."
Perhaps seeing Sokov's face turn grim, he added: "But I assure you, as long as the fighting continues for a while and our army's situation becomes more difficult, I will apply to Berlin again,
Let the Führer allow us to surrender to you."
"General Paulus," seeing that Paulus always wanted to get Hitler's order before ordering the troops to surrender, so that he could logically shift the responsibility for the surrender to Hitler. Sokov said righteously: "What should be said
, Commander Rokossovsky has made it clear in his ultimatum to you that if you refuse to surrender, we will use war to eliminate you."
"Chief of Staff," faced Sokov's accusation, Paulus did not refute. He just smiled bitterly and turned to tell Schmidt: "Arrange manpower to send Colonel Sokov away. Remember, you must ensure his safety.
Safety."
Schmidt nodded, stood up and walked to a telephone beside the wall. After dialing a number, he said into the phone: "Immediately arrange two vehicles to transport the negotiating Colonel Sokov back to the Russian defense area."
After putting down the phone, Schmidt walked up to Sokov and said politely: "Mr. Colonel, the car is ready for you. Please come with me and we will take you back to your site safely."
Seeing Sokov getting up to leave, Kurtzbach also stood up and wanted to follow him out. But as soon as he took two steps, he was stopped by Paulus: "General Kurtzbach, what are you going to do?"
Place?"
"Your Excellency, Commander!" Kurtzbach turned to look at Paulus and replied with some embarrassment: "Colonel Sokov is leaving, and I plan to see him off."
"There is no need to do anything more." Paulus said coldly: "As long as the chief of staff sends him away, don't worry. You'd better sit down and study carefully how to block the Russians' possible attack on you."
Kurtzbach, who originally wanted to go out with Sokov and talk about something privately, heard what Paulus said, could only sigh softly, sit back in his seat, and wait for Paulus to make arrangements for him.
Defense mission.
As soon as Sokov left the room, Schmidt ordered someone to cover his and Ernst's eyes, and then said apologetically: "Mr. Colonel, I have arranged a car for you at the door. I will pick you up."
Officers, send you back to the opposite position. As for your safety, I will notify the troops along the way and order them not to shoot at the car you are riding in."
"Thank you, Chief of Staff." Sokov bowed slightly towards Schmidt and said with a smile: "I believe it won't be long before we meet again."