The generals present showed some joy on their faces when they saw that Paulus was willing to ask Berlin for instructions on surrender. Although everyone knew Hitler's character well, they were all taking chances at this moment. Maybe their leader would change his mind after learning about the difficult situation of the Sixth Army.
Only Sokov knew best that even if Schmidt sent this telegram, he would not be able to change Hitler's decision. On the contrary, it made Hitler even more hysterical and issued wrong orders, asking the officers and soldiers of the Sixth Army to fight to the last soldier and to the last bullet.
"Colonel Sokov!" While Schmidt was sending a telegram, Kurtzbach asked Sokov flatteringly: "If we surrender, how do your army plan to arrange for 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, you are not much different from 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 befitting 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 I capture you on the battlefield, I’m afraid I’ll have to put you in a prisoner-of-war camp with poor conditions just 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 and introduced: "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."
Although each of 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, hearing Sokov say that they all had plans to return to Germany, those who were still somewhat resistant to surrender became a little impatient. Their eyes were directed toward the door through which Schmidt had left, hoping that he would get Berlin's answer back as soon as possible.
"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, I won't be discriminated against by you, right?"
"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 and surrender to your army as soon as possible."
The generals present showed relaxed expressions on their faces when they heard Paulus's statement. Since the commander was ready to surrender, there was no need to fight this battle. He only waited for Berlin's reply to order his troops to surrender 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 to send his troops into his defense area to surrender.
Facing the enthusiasm of these German generals, Sokov really couldn't stand it. He quickly waved his hands vigorously and said to them: "Generals and gentlemen, please be quiet. My troops only control the territory around Mamayev Heights and cannot accommodate too many troops. If so many troops come here at once, , I’m afraid it will cause unnecessary confusion and cause problems with our supplies to you.”
While 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, hoping that the other party would take the initiative to ask him, and then he would be able to say that he was ready to go to Mamayev Heights in person and surrender to the troops of the 41st Guards Division.
However, to Paulus's disappointment, the generals under his command were chattering around Sokov, leaving Sokov with no time to take care of him.
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, 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 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 hold their positions tenaciously until all 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 his 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 fell into silence. The generals either stared at the table in a daze or looked at the dusty ceiling, and no one spoke.
Seeing that everyone remained silent except for Kurtzbach who spoke, Schmidt became a little anxious. He coughed hard to attract everyone's attention, then raised his voice and asked: "Gentlemen, generals, 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 really want to lead the troops to surrender to you. But I can't. My wife and children are still in Berlin, and the families of my officers and soldiers are also there. Domestic. If we go against the wishes of the head of state and surrender to you, I'm afraid our families will be implicated. I'm sorry."
"Mr. General," Sokov saw that General Walter Heitz, who had once expressed his kindness to him and hoped to surrender near Mamayev Heights, had turned into a stranger. He smiled bitterly and said to him: " You are worried that if you lead the troops to surrender now, your family will be harmed. 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 make things difficult for 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 would affect their families. But if he surrendered after fighting for a while, the negative impact on his family would be much less.
Seeing that except for Kurtzbach, the attitudes of the other generals became ambiguous, Sokov stood up and loudly asked Paulus, who was sitting opposite: "Your Excellency, Commander, your subordinates have made their views clear. I want to ask you now, what are your considerations? Should you immediately lay down your weapons and surrender, or should you 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 promise 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, he ordered the troops to surrender, so that he could logically pass the responsibility for the surrender to Hitler. Sokov said righteously: "What should be said, Commander Rokossovsky has already made it clear in his ultimatum to you. If you are unwilling to surrender, we will resort to war tactics." Means to destroy 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 he had just taken two steps when Paulus stopped him: "General Kurtzbach, where are you going?"
"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: "Don't worry about the chief of staff sending him away. You'd better sit down and study carefully how to block the Russians' possible attack on you."
Seeing Sokov getting up to leave, Kurtzbach also stood up and wanted to follow him out. But he had just taken two steps when Paulus stopped him: "General Kurtzbach, where are you going?"
"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: "Don't worry about the chief of staff sending him away. You'd better sit down and study carefully how to block the Russians' possible attack on you."
