"Absurd, this is simply ridiculous." A few hours later, Sokov received the emissary sent by Kurtzbach in his headquarters. After listening to the translator relay the words of the German lieutenant colonel, he
He couldn't help asking repeatedly: "Mr. Lieutenant Colonel, what exactly does your commander Kurtzbach want to do?"
The German lieutenant colonel replied with a confused look: "Colonel Sokov, I don't understand what you mean."
"Mr. Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov said with a sneer: "According to the intelligence possessed by our army, as early as the night of November 23 last year, General Kurtzbach gave the subordinate 3rd Motorized Infantry Division and 94th Infantry Division
Issued a retreat order and abandoned the area south of Yerzovka without authorization, trying to force Paulus to disobey Hitler's order and direct the main force of the Sixth Army to break out to the southwest of the encirclement. As a result, because Paulus gave up the breakout
This plan resulted in the loss of more than half of a fully-equipped infantry division."
"Colonel Sokov, you are right." The German lieutenant colonel said with great embarrassment: "The army commander did issue such an order at that time, just to force the commander to change his mind and let the main force break out from the southwest and rush to fight with
General Hoth's tank armies joined forces. However, after the troops were ordered to withdraw from the defense area, the commander did not change his mind. As a result, a unit that stayed in place suffered a huge blow because its flanks were exposed to your army.
Loss."
This was the first time for several other commanders in the room to hear what Sokov said. Sidorin even thought strangely: I am the chief of staff of the division. No matter what information is fed back, I will
You have to see it for yourself, but why have you never seen the information the division commander mentioned?
"Mr. Lieutenant Colonel," Sokov did not realize that Sidorin was suspicious of him, and continued to say to the German Lieutenant Colonel: "General Kurtzbach's starting point is good, but I am worried that he may end up being suspicious.
It will be self-defeating. You go back and tell him that if you really want to surrender, don't worry about Paulus at all and let him directly lead the 51st Infantry Corps to surrender to us."
After finishing speaking, without waiting for the other party to speak, Sokov said to Samoylov who was standing at the door: "Comrade Lieutenant, please take a few people to escort the Lieutenant Colonel back to their position."
After seeing off the German officers, Sidorin curiously asked: "Comrade division commander, I'm curious, how did you learn that Kurtzbach ordered the troops to withdraw from the defense area? You know, those two divisions you mentioned
The defense area is not within our reconnaissance range."
"Chief of Staff," Sokov heard Sidorin's question and immediately realized that he had just spilled the beans. Fortunately, the matter was not irreversible. After a moment of silence, he said in a relaxed tone: "I will stay in the previous section.
When I was in Moscow, I learned about this through the battle reports sent back from the front. I was just asking casually, but I didn't expect it to be true."
Sokov's statement was reasonable and impeccable, and Sidorin really believed it. He then asked: "Comrade division commander, do you think Kurtzbach really wants to surrender?"
Sokov was not familiar with other commanders of the German army, but he was very familiar with Kurtzbach. If Vlasov was a rebel general of the Soviet army, then Kurtzbach should be considered a "commander of the German army"
Vlasov". After he was captured, he repeatedly proposed to Rokossovsky that a unit composed of German prisoners of war should be formed to assist the Soviet army in fighting. However, his proposal was rejected without mercy.
rejected.
Because of this, after hearing Sidorin's question, Sokov replied without hesitation: "Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff, I think he should be one of the few generals in the German army who can objectively analyze the current situation.
, so it is completely reliable to surrender to our army."
"This matter is of great importance," Ivanov reminded Sokov: "I think it should be reported immediately."
"That's right, I want to report this matter to my superiors immediately." Sokov knew very well that the German army sent representatives to negotiate with him privately. Soon, the news would reach the superiors through other channels. If he
If he delayed reporting, he might cause unnecessary trouble. He quickly ordered the communications company commander: "Maxim, please get me through the front headquarters immediately. I have important information and I need to report it to the commander immediately."
After the call was connected, the person who answered the phone was still Ma Linin: "Colonel Sokov, what can I do for you?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov immediately asked respectfully after hearing Malinin's voice: "Is Comrade Commander here? I have important matters and I need to report to him immediately."
"Didn't I tell you that Comrade Commander went to Moscow?" Malinin asked impatiently: "If you have anything, you can report it to me the same way."
"That's it, Comrade Chief of Staff." Since Rokossovsky has not returned yet, he can only report such an important matter to Malinin: "Not long ago, Kurtzbach, Commander of the German 51st Infantry Corps,
The general sent a secret envoy to my headquarters to negotiate."
"Negotiation? What is there to talk about?" Malinen said angrily: "All the Germans can do is surrender unconditionally. There is nothing to talk about between us and them."
Sokov waited for Malinin to finish before continuing: "Comrade Chief of Staff, according to the emissary, Kurtzbach has summoned a group of senior German officers to prepare for military remonstrance against Paulus tonight and force him to order the troops to cease fire.
Lay down your arms and surrender to us."
"What, what did you say?" After listening to what Sokov said, Malinin couldn't help being shocked: "Kurzbach is preparing to carry out military remonstrance against Paulus. How is this possible?"
"It's true, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov continued: "According to what the emissary said, General Schmidt, Chief of Staff of the German Army Group, also participated in the conspiracy. He used his authority to remove the guard troops and soldiers around Paulus.
The troops of the 100th Jäger Division changed their defenses. In a word, Paulus has no available cronies around him now. As long as Kurtzbach issues an order, there will be countless guns pointed at Paulus' head."
"I'm afraid things are not that simple." Malinin was skeptical about Sokov's statement. "The German army has a strict hierarchy. Even if Kurtzbach wanted to stage a mutiny, I'm afraid the officers and soldiers below would not
You will obey his orders."
"I think so too, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov remembered that Kurtzbach was captured together with Paulus in history, which means that his military advice was of no use.
The emissary said that if General Kurtzbach really wants to surrender to our army, then he can surrender to us with his direct troops without having to drag Paulus with him."
"Colonel Sokov, what do you think about it?" Malinin did not ask anymore about Kurtzbach, but turned the topic to the attack on Paulus' headquarters: "Your troops will attack the Paulus headquarters at the scheduled time.
Department store attack?"
"Yes, Comrade Chief of Staff. My troops will officially launch the final attack on the German headquarters entrenched in the department store tomorrow morning." Sokov said: "Because we successfully recaptured the station and eliminated the occupation
The German 297th Division here, I only need to leave one regiment to hold the station, and transfer the other two regiments to participate in the attack."
Malinin waited for Sokov to finish speaking, paused for a moment, and then asked: "The commander of the attack on the Central Railway Station is called Merkulov, right?"
"That's right, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said: "The commander who directed the attack on the station is Colonel Merkulov, commander of the 67th Guards Division..."
Unexpectedly, Malinin interrupted Sokov before he finished speaking: "From now on, he is no longer a colonel."
"Why, Comrade Chief of Staff?" Sokov shuddered, wondering if Merkulov had made any mistakes that prompted his superiors to dismiss him? In order to find out what was going on, he asked tentatively.
: "Did he make any mistakes?"
"He didn't make any mistakes." Ma Linin was stunned when he heard Sokov ask this question. Then he must have misunderstood what he meant. He quickly explained with a smile: "On the contrary, in recognition of his taking back the enemy's
train station and captured the German division commander, the headquarters of the Supreme Command decided to award him the rank of major general. Please convey this good news to him."
"Understood, Comrade Chief of Staff." After learning that Merkulov was promoted to major general, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. As a result, there were two major generals and division commanders in the combat group under his command, and he
This group commander is carrying the colonel's card.
Putting down the phone, he smiled bitterly and said to Sidorin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I just received a notice from my superiors. It said that in order to commend Colonel Merkulov for his heroism in the battle to liberate the Central Railway Station, and
He achieved great results and decided to promote him to the rank of major general."
"What, promote Merkulov to major general?" This unexpected news stunned several people sitting at the table. After a while, Ivanov asked cautiously: "Comrade division commander, what about that?"
Did you get a promotion?"
"No." Sokov shook his head and replied: "This promotion has nothing to do with our division."
"Comrade division commander, this is unfair." Anisimov, who was sitting next to him silently, defended Sokov and said: "There are two division commanders in the combat group who are major generals, but you, the commander of the combat group, are still
The rank of colonel, this is too unfair."
"Comrade Political Commissar." Sokov naturally felt disappointed because he was not promoted to military rank. However, some things are very sensitive. It's okay to complain in your heart, but if you speak out, the situation will be different. He quickly stopped Anisi.
Mo Fu's next words were in an official tone: "The superiors have an overall arrangement for who they want to promote or not. As subordinates, we should not question the superiors' arrangements."
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin asked Sokov tentatively in order to change the subject as quickly as possible: "Will we still attack the department store as planned tomorrow?"
"Yes." Sokov nodded and replied: "First use troops to clear out the peripheral strongholds, and then launch the final attack on the department store from several directions at the same time."
"Comrade Commander, I have another question." Sidorin said hesitantly.
"If you have any questions, just ask." Sokov said impatiently: "You are my chief of staff, what questions can't you ask directly?"
"That's it," Sidorin said: "If before we attack, Kurtzbach sends someone to contact us again and says that he is willing to surrender, what should we do with the area controlled by his troops?"
"As long as the opponent does not lay down his weapons, he will still be our enemy." Sokov said without hesitation: "Fight as you want. Tell the commanders and soldiers not to show mercy."
The German lieutenant colonel who returned to the basement of the department store repeated Sokov's words to Kurtzbach, and then asked: "Your Excellency, Army Commander, what should we do next, or should we continue to implement military admonishment?"
"Everything has been arranged. It is impossible to give up at this time." Kurtzbach raised his hand and looked at his watch, and then said to the lieutenant colonel: "When ten o'clock comes, you can bring a guard company with us to take command.
Ministry. If the Commander agrees to surrender, that's all. If he doesn't surrender, arrest him immediately, and then send a telegram to all armies and divisions to ask them to stop hostilities with the Russians, lay down their weapons and surrender."
Although Kurtzbach was a military commander, the lieutenant colonel under him did not think he had such authority. But now that the order had been issued, he could only agree, turned around, left the room, and went outside.
The troops were mobilized.
At the appointed time, all the officers involved in the premeditation came to Kurtzbach's room. Schmidt asked with a bitter look: "General Kurtzbach, if the commander still refuses to change his mind, what are you going to do?"
manage?"
"What else can we do?" Kurtzbach said with a sneer: "I will let my security company arrest him, and then we will jointly send a telegram to other troops, asking them to stop their meaningless resistance, lay down their weapons and surrender."
"It's time, let's go." After Schmidt finished speaking, he took the lead and walked out of the room.
Kurtzbach and his accomplices, as well as more than a hundred German soldiers, walked forward along the corridor. The soldiers along the way were all from the 100th Jäger Division. When they saw that their division commander was among them, they not only did not stop them
Instead, they leaned against the wall and raised their hands to salute them.
In addition to Kurtzbach, Schmidt and a few accomplices, there were five or six soldiers who broke into Paulus' room. When Paulus saw so many people suddenly pouring in, he couldn't help but frowned and shouted sternly.
Said: "What do you want to do by bringing so many people in? Do you want to rebel?"
"I'm sorry, Commander." Kurtzbach pulled out his pistol, pointed it at Paulus, and said coldly: "We are not trying to rebel, but to save more people from death.
I specially give you military advice."
"Military remonstrance?!" Hearing what Kurtzbach said, Paulus smiled instead of being angry: "You guys want to implement military remonstrance against me." As he said that, he tilted his head to the side and shouted outside.