But what was unexpected was that while the anti-tank man was shooting, the T-34 tank stopped and turned the turret sideways and rearward. The rocket hit the rotating turret and turned into a ricochet, which landed on the hillside and exploded.
"Wait a minute." Sokov saw this T-34 tank with a white cross painted on it and turned the turret to the side and rear, assuming a harmless posture. He felt a little strange and quickly stopped the anti-tank man. fired again, but ordered Samoilov: "Comrade Lieutenant, send two people over to see what is going on."
In order to find out what was going on, Samoilov personally led two soldiers and cautiously approached the tank with his waist down. When they arrived at the tank, the roof cover was opened from the inside. A white handkerchief was tied to an MP40 submachine gun, stretched out and shaken twice.
Seeing that the opponent was ready to surrender, Samoylov straightened up and shouted sharply into the tank: "People inside listen, come out and surrender immediately!"
Following his shout, three people emerged from the tank, two men and one woman. Although they were wearing tank hats, they were wearing civilian clothes. Samoilov, who was about to capture them, couldn't help but be startled: "Who are you?"
The three of them came to Samoylov, still raising their hands. One of the older men replied: "I am Rykov, the technician at the tank maintenance station. This is Cocakin next to me. He Before he was captured, he was a tank driver in the Southwest Front. The girl next to him is called Katayeva, and she is a villager from the village next to the prisoner of war camp where we were held."
"Put your hands down." When Sokov saw that it was not German soldiers who came out of the tank, but three people in civilian clothes, he walked over from his hiding place and happened to hear what Rykov said. He signaled the three of them to put down their hands first, and then said: "Rykov, please tell me, what is going on?"
Cocakin next to him glanced at Sokov's rank, quickly raised his hand to his forehead, and said respectfully: "Hello, comrade general, Sergeant Cocakin, a tank soldier from the 1st Battalion of the 19th Independent Tank Brigade, is reporting to you. My unit is part of the Popov Rapid Group."
If the other party was talking about other troops, maybe Sokov really didn't know, but after Popov's rapid group was defeated by the Germans, he sent people to respond, and Colonel Ruhle, commander of the 19th Independent Tank Brigade, I also have a relationship with him. He asked calmly: "What is your brigade commander's name?"
"Ruhle!" Cocakin replied without hesitation: "Colonel Ruhle!"
The name and rank matched. Sokov looked up at Samoylov who climbed onto the tank to check. After seeing the other party make a gesture to him that everything was normal, Sokov continued to ask: "Tell me, Coca Gold." Sergeant, why are you driving a tank with a white cross painted on it and showing up here?"
"Comrade General, the situation is like this." Kokkin explained to Sokov: "During the battle at the end of February, I was captured by the Germans because I was wounded. The enemy detained us in a prisoner of war camp near Barvinkovo. The daily job of the two men is to help the Germans maintain their tanks and armored vehicles.
One day, a damaged tank suddenly came back from the front line. Well, this is the car behind me. The Germans asked us to clean the inside of the tank and restore it. There were a total of four corpses of tank soldiers in the car. They were killed by the high-temperature jet that penetrated the tank. When we were collecting the bodies, we unexpectedly discovered that there were more than a dozen artillery shells in the tank, so we secretly hid them while the Germans were not paying attention.
The day before yesterday, the German army said there was an important military operation and asked us to drive the repaired T-34 tank for testing. I felt that an opportunity had come, so I discussed with Rykov and two other technicians to take advantage of the opportunity of testing to drive a tank out of the enemy prisoner-of-war camp. "
"How many of you participated in the escape?" Samoilov interjected.
"Not counting Katayeva, there are four people in total." Kokkin replied: "Except me and Rykov, the other two are captured mechanical technicians."
"Then where are they?"
"Sacrificed." Cocakin replied with a heavy expression: "We took advantage of the opportunity to test at the tank proving ground and shelled the German observation post. While the enemy was in chaos, we successfully escaped from the testing ground and headed towards Drive here. When the Germans discovered our escape, they immediately sent tanks and armored vehicles to pursue us. During our escape, we destroyed two German tanks and two technicians unfortunately died."
"How did they die?" Sokov asked.
"Shortly after we took out the test site, the tank broke down. The two of them were hit by enemy shell shrapnel while they were getting out of the car to deal with the malfunction. They died on the spot." When Cocakin said this, he turned his head and looked aside. Katayeva continued: "While we were escaping, we met Katayeva. We were worried that something might happen to her if she was discovered by the Germans, so we took her with us to escape."
"Tell me, how many tanks did the Germans dispatch to pursue you?"
Kokkin thought for a moment and replied: "There are at least five of them, all of which are Panzer III or Panzer IV tanks. In a one-on-one situation, they are no match for the T-34 at all."
Hearing what Cocakin said, Samoylov came close to Sokov's ear and whispered: "Comrade Commander, do you think the tank we just encountered was chasing them?" Did you encounter us by accident?”
"Well, it's possible." Sokov thought carefully in his mind. If the German tank was not chasing Cocakin and the others, how could it have appeared deep in his defense zone? Thinking about it this way, the reason for the sudden appearance of the German tank can be explained clearly.
However, out of caution, Sokov still said to Cocakin: "Comrade Sergeant, we still need to review what you said. Are you willing to come with us?"
"That's great." Cocakin was originally worried that Sokov didn't trust him, but when he saw him asking him to leave with him, he suddenly said excitedly: "I am willing to go with you."
When they set off again, Katayeva failed to enter the tank again, but sat in a jeep at the back, while Samoylov sent two soldiers to sit in the tank to monitor Cocakin and others. Prevent possible accidents. Cocakin and others did not have any resistance to Samoylov's arrangements. In any case, they had just escaped from the German defense zone, and it was understandable that the other party did not trust them.
Cocajin cooperated very well and waited for the two jeeps in front to pass by the tank, then started the tank, sandwiched in the middle of the four jeeps, and headed towards the defense area of the 182nd Division.
