Chuikov, who was on the ground, naturally saw the airdropped supplies falling from the sky, and quickly called an officer and told him: "You lead a battalion and are responsible for collecting the German airdropped supplies and delivering them to the place where prisoners of war are housed. "
The officer asked in confusion: "Comrade Commander, why do you want to send the supplies to the place where prisoners of war are housed?" According to his idea, our own supplies are also difficult, and we just use the airdropped supplies from the German army to replenish them. Why should we send these supplies? Hand it over to the enemy?
Seeing that the other party did not understand his intention, Chuikov regretted that he had chosen the wrong person. He pointed at the other party and said with hatred: "You have never thought about how much food we need to assemble for so many prisoners? After my order There must be a lot of food in the airdrop materials you collected. If we use them on the Germans, wouldn’t the food we need to mobilize be much less?”
After Chuikov explained this, the officer immediately understood what was going on. He quickly blushed and said, "Understood, Comrade Commander, I will take people to collect the German airdrop supplies."
After Chuikov completed a simple surrender ceremony, he returned to his headquarters. He planned to call Rokossovsky to inform him that the remaining German troops had surrendered.
But after the call was made, Malinin, who stayed in the headquarters, told him: "General Chuikov, Comrade Commander has left the headquarters and is driving to your place. I believe he will arrive soon."
Although the German troops in the city have laid down their weapons and surrendered, no one can guarantee whether there are still stubborn stragglers hiding in those ruins, and whether Rokossovsky will be attacked if he happens to pass by their location. , is an unknown quantity.
In order to ensure Rokossovsky's safety, Chuikov quickly asked Malinin for the driving route. Malinin was reluctant to say it at first, but he heard that there might be German stragglers along the way. Out of concern for Rokossovsky's safety, he immediately reported the detailed route to Chuikov.
At noon, Rokossovsky's convoy arrived near Chuikov's headquarters. Chuikov heard that Rokossovsky had arrived and immediately came out to greet him. When the two shook hands, Chuikov also said with emotion: "Comrade Commander, I really didn't expect that we would meet again just two or three weeks later."
"Yes, not long after we last met, you actually eliminated all the enemies in the city. It's really amazing." Rokossovsky said to Chuikov with a smile: "The headquarters commends your army. I think it won’t take long for you to come down. As far as I know, we plan to reorganize you into a Guards Army."
"Is this true, Comrade Commander?" Chuikov suddenly became excited after hearing Rokossovsky's words. He asked nervously: "Will we really be reorganized into the Guards Army?" Chuikov originally I thought that after the battle to defend Shandong Polytechnic, it would be good to reorganize the few infantry divisions under my command into the Guards Division. Unexpectedly, the base camp actually wanted more than one million to reorganize the entire group army into the Guards Group Army. The whole news was so surprising: "There's really a chance we'll be repurposed as Guards Army?"
"This is the reliable information I got." After Rokossovsky finished his answer, he asked Chuikov: "I plan to give a speech to the commanders and fighters who have established military exploits. Where do you think it is more appropriate?"
Chuikov originally wanted Rokossovsky to speak here, but then he thought that this place was not conducive to the assembly of large troops, and the best location was the Central Railway Station, so he volunteered: "Comrade Commander, I think it is better Choose the location of your speech at the central railway station, where as many troops as possible can be assembled."
"Okay, General Chuikov." Regarding Chuikov's proposal, Rokossovsky only thought about it for a moment before readily agreeing: "I will choose the place to speak to the commanders and soldiers at the Central Railway Station. Yours The troops are too far away, so we might as well send some representatives to participate.”
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Chuikov quickly replied: "I immediately called the commanders of each division and asked them to allocate manpower to the Central Railway Station."
Sokov received the notice and immediately arranged for personnel to clean up the rubble outside the central railway station and installed loudspeakers at different locations so that the commanders and fighters assembled in the square could hear Rokossovsky's speech.
Regarding the order issued by Sokov, Merkulov, the commander of the 67th Guards Division stationed at the Central Railway Station, said in embarrassment: "Comrade Commander, you also know that the square in front of the station has long been destroyed after a long battle. It has become pitted and filled with masonry and rubble, and I am afraid it will not be cleared in a short time.”
"General Merkulov," Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, then immediately continued: "I know the situation there very well. The entire square needs to be cleared. Without the help of large machinery, it may take several months. It can’t be cleaned up completely. But we will hold a conference there soon, so we must level a site that can accommodate thousands or even tens of thousands of people. You can order the soldiers to fill the crater with bricks, stones and rubble that can stand Just people.”
"Okay, Comrade Commander." After listening to Sokov's instructions, Merkulov said with a wry smile: "I will clean up the square in front of the station according to your order."
At four o'clock in the afternoon, more than 20,000 commanders and fighters of the Sokov Combat Group gathered in the square in front of the central railway station. Representatives from several other divisions of the 62nd Army also arrived at the same time. Fortunately, Merkulov obeyed Sokov's order and asked the soldiers to fill the craters with bricks and rubble piled nearby, so that everyone could have a foothold.
As soon as the troops were assembled, Rokossovsky's convoy arrived.
The motorcade stopped in front of the steps of the station. As soon as Rokossovsky got off the bus, Sokov came forward with a group of division commanders. After raising his hand in salute, he reported loudly to Rokossovsky: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, Colonel Sokov, Commander of the Combat Group, reports to you that the troops have been assembled. Please give your instructions!"
"Relax!" Rokossovsky raised his hand in return, then stepped forward to hold Sokov's hand and said with a smile on his face: "Colonel Sokov, you are really not simple, you can actually kill Paulus." Captured alive. The Supreme Commander himself heard about Paulus’s capture and had a very close relationship with you, and even praised you.”
Hearing that Stalin praised him, Sokov couldn't help feeling ecstatic. Although he tried his best to pretend that nothing had happened, the slightly raised corners of his mouth still revealed the secret in his heart.
After meeting and shaking hands with the commanders of each division, Rokossovsky came to the microphone on the steps. After glancing at the more than 20,000 broadcasters standing in the square, he said loudly into the microphone: "Hello, comrades, I am the commander of the Front Army Rokossovsky.
Today, I want to proudly and sincerely say the long-awaited words to you: 'Well done, Guardsmen, you are the heroes of the motherland.'
The Battle of Stalingrad was finally over. In addition to the more than 200,000 people we wiped out, nearly 100,000 enemies of the German Sixth Army who attacked the city laid down their weapons and surrendered to us. This is our great victory..."
As soon as he said this, a tsunami of cheers suddenly rang out in the square: "Ula! Ula!! Ula!!!" The sound soared into the sky, covering up what Rokossovsky wanted to say.
When calm returned to the square, Rokossovsky continued: "We destroyed the Paulus Group and dealt a heavy blow to the German army. But this is just the beginning. In the following days, we will also fight against The enemy continues to fight until he is driven beyond our borders."
When Sokov heard this, he muttered to himself: "It is not enough to drive the Germans out of the Soviet Union. At least we must go straight to Huanglong, seize Berlin, and bring those who started the war to trial."
When he thought of capturing Berlin, Sokov couldn't help but be distracted. He was thinking to himself: "Although the defense of Stalingrad was a victory, it was a tragic victory. Next, we will have to compete with Manstein's troops. However, it is regrettable that even though the Soviet army had the advantage in numbers and technical equipment, it was still beaten to the ground by Manstein.
Even the Battle of Kursk that took place in July, if the Allied forces had not landed in Sicily, tied up many German troops, and forced Sidorin to order Manstein to send troops for reinforcements, who would have won the Battle of Kursk? Negative is still an unknown number. "
After Rokossovsky's speech, the commanders and soldiers on the square dispersed. Rokossovsky came to Sokov, handed him a cigarette, took one and lit it in his mouth, and then asked: "Misha, what are your plans next?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that if he wanted to obtain a higher military rank and position, he needed to improve his combat theory, and studying at the Frunze Military Academy was undoubtedly the right choice for him. : "I feel that my ability is not enough. It is difficult to command a division. If I command more troops, my level will appear to be a bit incompetent. Therefore, I would like to ask my superiors to send me to the military academy to study for a period of time to improve myself. ability."
"Misha." After hearing Sokov's request, Rokossovsky was silent for a long time, and finally said: "To tell you the truth, we destroyed the enemies in Stalingrad, but the battle is not over. After a short rest, we will advance westward to eliminate the Manstein Group entrenched there."
Hearing that Stalin praised him, Sokov couldn't help feeling ecstatic. Although he tried his best to pretend that nothing had happened, the slightly raised corners of his mouth still revealed the secret in his heart.
After meeting and shaking hands with the commanders of each division, Rokossovsky came to the microphone on the steps. After glancing at the more than 20,000 broadcasters standing in the square, he said loudly into the microphone: "Hello, comrades, I am the commander of the Front Army Rokossovsky.
Today, I want to proudly and sincerely say the long-awaited words to you: 'Well done, Guardsmen, you are the heroes of the motherland.'
The Battle of Stalingrad was finally over. In addition to the more than 200,000 people we wiped out, nearly 100,000 enemies of the German Sixth Army who attacked the city laid down their weapons and surrendered to us. This is our great victory..."
As soon as he said this, a tsunami of cheers suddenly rang out in the square: "Ula! Ula!! Ula!!!" The sound soared into the sky, covering up what Rokossovsky wanted to say.
When calm returned to the square, Rokossovsky continued: "We destroyed the Paulus Group and dealt a heavy blow to the German army. But this is just the beginning. In the following days, we will also fight against The enemy continues to fight until he is driven beyond our borders."
When Sokov heard this, he muttered to himself: "It is not enough to drive the Germans out of the Soviet Union. At least we must go straight to Huanglong, seize Berlin, and bring those who started the war to trial."
When he thought of capturing Berlin, Sokov couldn't help but be distracted. He was thinking to himself: "Although the defense of Stalingrad was a victory, it was a tragic victory. Next, we will have to compete with Manstein's troops. However, it is regrettable that even though the Soviet army had the advantage in numbers and technical equipment, it was still beaten to the ground by Manstein.
Even the Battle of Kursk that took place in July, if the Allied forces had not landed in Sicily, tied up many German troops, and forced Sidorin to order Manstein to send troops for reinforcements, who would have won the Battle of Kursk? Negative is still an unknown number. "
After Rokossovsky's speech, the commanders and soldiers on the square dispersed. Rokossovsky came to Sokov, handed him a cigarette, took one and lit it in his mouth, and then asked: "Misha, what are your plans next?"
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that if he wanted to obtain a higher military rank and position, he needed to improve his combat theory, and studying at the Frunze Military Academy was undoubtedly the right choice for him. : "I feel that my ability is not enough. It is difficult to command a division. If I command more troops, my level will appear to be a bit incompetent. Therefore, I would like to ask my superiors to send me to the military academy to study for a period of time to improve myself. ability."
"Misha." After hearing Sokov's request, Rokossovsky was silent for a long time, and finally said: "To tell you the truth, we destroyed the enemies in Stalingrad, but the battle is not over. After a short rest, we will advance westward to eliminate the Manstein Group entrenched there."
