Shortly after Paulus surrendered, Berlin received the news.
General Zeitzler, Chief of the German General Staff, felt that this might be a Soviet conspiracy, a conspiracy to get the German base camp to abandon the besieged force.
But when he told Hitler his speculation, the short man with a mustache said without hesitation: "Zeitzler, this is not a conspiracy. Paulus must have surrendered. This is absolutely the case, otherwise our
As long as the soldiers have one bullet left, they will never let the Russians get close to their positions."
"My Führer." Zeitzler could never believe Paulus's statement of surrender. After all, from the outbreak of the war to the present, there had never been a precedent of a marshal being captured or surrendering. He tried to convince Hitler that
Prove to him that this is a conspiracy. "Perhaps Marshal Paulus is seriously injured and lying in his headquarters at this moment..."
"No, they really surrendered." Hitler said with unprecedented stubbornness: "According to my judgment, after Paulus, a coward, surrendered to the Russians, he would definitely issue an order to the troops trapped in the northern factory area to let them go.
They also surrendered to the Russians."
Just as Zeitzler was racking his brains and considering how to persuade Hitler, a telegram he had just received was placed in front of him. The telegram was from Strei, commander of the 11th Army who was stationed in the factory area north of the city.
Sent by General Kerr, he confirmed the news that Paulus had been captured, and at the same time stated that he was unable to hold on and hoped to be approved to surrender with his remaining troops.
"You see, Zeitzler." Hitler said angrily after reading the telegram: "Paulus is a coward. I promoted him to marshal just because I hope he can use a pistol to shoot at the headquarters when the Russians occupy it.
He shot himself in the head. If he did this, he could set an example for other officers and soldiers to bravely fight the Russians until the last moment. But he actually surrendered. The bad example he set has given us
The military has had a huge negative impact.
Look at General Strekel's telegram. This brave German soldier actually sent me a telegram asking me to approve their surrender. This is all a bad example set by Paulus, a coward and idiot, and led him to
The consequences will be bad..."
When he heard Hitler yelling at Paulus, Zeitzler was worried that the other party would anger him, so he did not dare to speak and could only stand aside with an embarrassed look on his face.
After Hitler was tired of cursing, he finally stopped. After resting for a while, he looked up at Zeitzler and said: "Chief of Staff, in the name of the headquarters, immediately send a telegram to General Strekel to promote him to the rank of general.
And ordered him to lead the remaining troops to continue fighting."
"However, the Air Force's supplies to Stalingrad have been basically interrupted." Zeitzler carefully reminded Hitler: "Without ammunition and food, it is basically impossible for our soldiers to continue to hold on.
"
"I will call Göring immediately." Hitler said hysterically: "Order him to immediately dispatch at least 500 transport planes to airdrop enough ammunition and food to the German soldiers who are besieged in the factory area to the north of the city so that they can
Keep fighting while surrounded by Russians."
Zeitzler originally wanted to remind Hitler that Goering's air force today simply could not dispatch so many aircraft to carry out airdrops for the besieged troops. But seeing Hitler's look on his face, he stopped talking,
Swallowed it into the stomach again.
At the regular meeting at noon the next day, Goering triumphantly reported to Hitler: "My head of state, I have given orders to the forward field airports to airdrop ammunition and food for the besieged troops north of Stalingrad.
.At this moment, there should be thirty transport planes airdropping our officers and soldiers."
For Hitler, the situation reported by Goering was undoubtedly the best news he had heard recently. He tried his best to put a smile on his face and said: "Goering, you did a great job. Although the defenders in the south of the city, we
It has been lost, but as long as the troops in the north of the city are still fighting, we have not lost this battle..."
Unexpectedly, before he finished speaking, he saw Goebbels rushing in from outside. As soon as he saw Hitler, he couldn't wait to say: "My head of state, the Russian Intelligence Agency is broadcasting news about Stalingrad."
, I think you need to listen to it." As he said that, he came to the floor-standing radio on the wall, twisted the knob, and turned on the radio.
A Russian translator who followed Goebbels in immediately stood next to the radio and translated what was said on the radio for those present: "Today, February 2, the troops of the Red Army's Don Front have completely cleared the surrounding areas.
The enemy's resistance in the factory area north of Stalingrad forced them to lay down their weapons and surrender to our army. The enemy's last point of resistance was crushed, and the historic Battle of Stalingrad was fought with the complete victory of our army.
It ends with victory.
In this great battle, the German army lost a total of 1.5 million troops, 3,500 tanks, 12,000 artillery pieces, and 3,000 aircraft. The remaining 100,000 people of the Sixth Army included the army commander Marshal Paulus and his men.
23 generals have all become our prisoners..."
"Turn it off, turn off the radio quickly." When Hitler heard this, he immediately roared and asked Goebbels, who was standing next to the radio, to turn off the radio. Goebbels did not dare to neglect, quickly turned off the radio, and shouted to the translator:
He made a gesture and asked him to leave the room.
"My Führer," before Hitler could speak, Zeitzler stood up and said to him respectfully: "The Russians have destroyed our Sixth Army, and their next target is Marshal Manstein's
Troops. I think we need to remind Manstein to prepare for defense in advance."
"Chief of the General Staff, you are right." After getting angry, Hitler finally calmed down. He stared at the map on the wall, nodded and said, "The next target of the Russians will definitely be
Manstein's troops must be prepared for defense as soon as possible to deal with possible attacks by the Russians."
"My Führer," Zeitzler continued: "Marshal Manstein's troops fought a fierce battle with the Russians to rescue Paulus's troops some time ago, and suffered relatively heavy losses in terms of strength and technical equipment. You see, we
Should we draw troops and equipment from Army Group Center and replenish them?"
"No, absolutely not." Hitler picked up the explanation stick leaning against the wall, knocked on the location of Moscow, and said loudly: "Our Army Group Center is stationed at its current location and has successfully contained no less than seventy
The Russian troops of three divisions had to stay near Moscow and did not dare to move to other directions at will.
If we really transfer troops and technical equipment from Army Group Center, the Russians will soon notice it, so that they can transfer troops from Moscow and rush to join the troops around Manstein. In this way, Manstein
The situation will become more difficult because of it.”
"But, my Führer, we cannot ignore the situation of Field Marshal Manstein." Zeitzler reminded Hitler: "Once his troops are severely damaged or defeated by the Russians, then the flanks of our Army Group Center will be exposed.
In front of the Russians."
"Send a group of tanks to Manstein." After Hitler stared at the map for a while, he turned to Zeitzler and said: "Send him the newly manufactured Tiger tanks and the improved Panzer IV tanks.
Let’s see if these improved tanks can defeat the Russian T-34 tanks.”
"Understood, my head of state." Zeitzler calculated the transportation time of these tanks in his mind, and felt that they could be installed into the troops within a week, so he nodded and said, "I will arrange the transportation immediately."
…………
In the headquarters of Mamayev Heights, Sokov was chatting with Rokossovsky who was staying here.
Rokossovsky smiled and asked Sokov: "Misha, I want to tell you an interesting thing."
"Interesting thing?" Sokov asked curiously: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I wonder what interesting thing it is?"
"I met General Kurtzbach, the commander of the German 51st Army yesterday." Rokossovsky said with a smile: "He actually suggested that I recruit a group of people from German prisoners to form a team to cooperate with our army.
anti-Japanese troops."
Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Sokov immediately remembered that in real history, Kurtzbach did propose this plan to the top brass of the Soviet army after being captured. But unfortunately, his
The proposal was rejected.
Sokov considered that in this time and space, many things have changed because of his arrival. For example, the 13th Guards Division, which was so brilliant in real history, has become unknown due to his appearance.
, even the division commander Rodimtsev was rarely mentioned. As for Kurtzbach’s proposal to form an anti-Japanese army, I wonder if there will be changes.
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov asked cautiously, "What do you think?"
"I have to admit that General Kurtzbach's starting point is good." Rokossovsky said thoughtfully: "But if such an army is really formed, will they obey our commands in battle?
, it’s hard to say. What’s even more dangerous is that once our troops with whom they are fighting are at a disadvantage, do you think they will fight tooth and nail for our troops and their compatriots, or will they turn their guns and attack us?”
Sokov is convinced of Rokossovsky's concerns. After all, the families of these soldiers are still in Germany. Once their identities are leaked, their relatives at home will definitely be affected. With just one point, this army is destined to be defeated.
After being organized, I am afraid that most of the officers and soldiers will be in the Cao camp and their hearts will be with the Han. During the Three Kingdoms, why the generals of the Wei army surrendered but could not take the army with them was because the families of the officers and soldiers in the army lived in the heart of the Wei state.
to the existence of hostages.
Thinking of this, Sokov nodded and said to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you are right. Even if the prisoners reluctantly join us, they are also an unstable factor on the battlefield and may be destroyed at any time.
The danger of defection. Therefore, I think it is completely correct not to form such an army."
Hearing Sokov's answer, Rokossovsky showed an expression of surprise on his face. He said to Sokov: "Misha, I didn't expect that your idea is very similar to mine. Maybe you don't think so."
I know that many people in the front army headquarters agree with Kurtzbach's plan to recruit men from prisoners to form a special German force.
According to their idea, use this force as a punishment battalion. When encountering dangerous battles, let them charge forward..."
"This is tantamount to letting them become cannon fodder." Sokov interrupted before Rokossovsky could finish his words: "The family members of the German prisoners are all in the country, and they will definitely worry about what will happen if they join such an army.
They will cause trouble for their relatives. Even if they are reluctantly incorporated into our army, I am afraid their loyalty will not be too high. If they are used as cannon fodder again, I am worried that they may take the opportunity to escape back to the enemy's position during an attack."
"Misha, your concern is completely correct." Rokossovsky replied with a smile: "I have reported the matter to the Supreme Commander himself. After listening to it, he put forward the same view as you.
It is absolutely forbidden to use prisoners to form an army, otherwise it will be a huge hidden danger."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov added immediately after Rokossovsky finished speaking: "Although prisoners cannot be recruited to form a new army, those German generals who surrendered can be used.
"
"Use, how to use?"
"Let them give a speech on the radio, calling on the German military and civilians to oppose the rule of the Communist Party and stop this meaningless war." Sokov said: "Although their speeches will not be of much help to the development of the war situation, they will
But it can make the German soldiers understand that they can no longer run rampant in our motherland like they did in the early days of the war, and they are in danger of being annihilated at any time."
"It makes sense, it makes sense." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "I will let the Political Department arrange this as soon as possible."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I would like to ask: When will the troops under my command return to their posts?"
Thinking that the combat group was about to be disbanded, Sokov still felt a little disappointed. Even though he had not been with several division commanders for a long time, because he had fought in the past and had sincere friendships, he really wanted to let them leave.
Somewhat reluctant to give up.
"In about four or five days, you will return the three infantry divisions, one tank brigade and two artillery regiments in the combat cluster to Batov's 65th Army." Seeing Sokov's look of disappointment.
, Rokossovsky comforted him and said: "But I will keep Colonel Bely's tank brigade and continue to be under your command."
Hearing that Colonel Bely's tank brigade could stay, Sokov felt somewhat comforted. Although one tank brigade was missing a bit, he and Bely were already old partners, so there was no big problem in cooperation.
When we encounter any fierce battles in the future, we may be able to rely on the tank brigade to fight our way out of the encirclement.
But as soon as the idea came up, Sokov forced it down: The battle to defend Stalingrad had just ended, how could he think about how to break out of the encirclement? This was not a good sign.
"Misha." Rokossovsky stood up and said to Sokov: "After your combat group is disbanded, I will immediately prioritize the replenishment of your division."