Neither Sokov nor Konev knew that what the scouts saw was the officers and soldiers of the 8th Army Law Enforcement Team executing Wheeler's order to execute all officers of the 282nd Infantry Division at battalion level and above.
When the last batch of officers to be executed were brought up, everyone could clearly see that these officers were basically all wounded. There was even a lieutenant colonel lying on a stretcher and being carried up by two strong soldiers. .
Some officers and soldiers from the law enforcement team stepped forward and tied the injured officers to the execution pole one by one. Even the seriously injured lieutenant colonel was dragged up from the stretcher by several officers and soldiers and carried When he arrived at an execution pillar, he tied him up with all kinds of tricks.
After doing all this, the officers and soldiers returned to their positions. According to the executioner's order, they raised their guns and pointed the black muzzles at the officers tied to the pillars, just waiting for their superiors to kill them. He waved his hand down and fired without hesitation.
Before the executioner could wave his hand, a barrel truck and four trucks full of soldiers came from a distance. After the small convoy stopped thirty meters away from the execution site, the soldiers in the truck jumped out of the vehicle and lined up next to the vehicle.
Upon seeing this, the executioner knew that a big shot was coming, so he temporarily stopped the execution. He shouted to his subordinates: "Put down the gun!" As the order was given, the soldiers immediately took back their weapons.
The executioner slowly put down his raised right hand, trotted to the barrel truck that had just stopped, and waited quietly for the big man inside to come out.
The person who came out was the commander of the 11th Army, William Stemmerman. After he got out of the car, he asked the executioner who was standing straight beside the car: "Captain, I am the commander of the 11th Army, William Stemmerman." General Mann, I would like to ask if the death sentence against Lieutenant Colonel von Leferholz has been carried out?"
After hearing Wilhelm Stemmermann's question, the executioner immediately turned around and called his clerk and asked: "Check quickly, has the death sentence against Lieutenant Colonel von Leferholz been executed?" ?”
The clerk quickly looked through the documents in his hand, then shook his head and said: "Mr. Captain, since Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz was seriously injured, and according to your order, the injured officer was executed last, so his The death sentence has not yet been carried out.”
When William Stemmermann heard that the death sentence had not yet been executed, he couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, and then ordered the executioner: "Captain, bring him to me immediately!"
Unexpectedly, after the executioner listened to William Stemmermann's instructions, he stood still and said plausibly: "Your Majesty General, do you have Commander Weller's warrant?"
"No."
"I'm sorry, General." The executioner said confidently: "In the 8th Army, only the commander has the right to change the judgment of the military court. Before getting the commander's warrant, I have no right to change the death sentence of the person who is about to be executed. Officer, leave it to you."
Facing the executioner's difficulties, William Stemmermann frowned, and then said: "Captain, Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz is not a coward who is afraid of death. On the contrary, he still tried his best to stop the troops on the battlefield. The rout of...
After the 848th Grenadier Regiment under the 282nd Infantry Division was dispersed by the Russian armored forces, Lieutenant Colonel Leferholtz tried his best to stop the fleeing troops. When it had no effect, he held a pistol and Standing bravely in front of a Russian tank heading towards him until the tank knocked him down.
Fortunately, he did not die after being knocked down by the tank. Instead, he was rescued from the battlefield by several loyal soldiers and returned to our defense area. Such a brave officer did not die in the hands of the Russians, so naturally we cannot let him die in the hands of our own people."
The executioner patiently listened to William Stemmerman's story and said expressionlessly: "Your Excellency, I still say that without Commander Wheeler's warrant, no one has the right to change the military court's decision. judgment."
Seeing that the executioner was so stubborn, William Stemmermann became a little angry. He raised his hand and waved forward. The officers and soldiers who saw his gesture rushed over and surrounded the execution team with weapons in hand.
"Your Excellency General," the executioner's expression suddenly changed when he saw at least ten guns pointing at him around him, but he still said bravely: "Although you have more people, you can shoot us to death. But, Have you thought about the consequences of doing this?”
"Of course I have thought about it," William Stemmermann said without changing his face: "Let me tell you carefully. If you insist on talking to me in an official tone, you need a commander's warrant. Since you are too soft, then I will Only hard ones."
One side wanted to steal people, but the other side was determined not to give them. Just when the two sides were at war with each other and friction was about to break out, another barrel truck and two trucks full of soldiers drove over.
Wilhelm Stemmer and the executioner both turned to look in the direction of the car, wondering who it was that was coming.
The answer was soon revealed. It was Lieutenant General von Spenneck, commander of the 42nd Infantry Corps.
He brought an officer and two soldiers to the front of William Stemmer, raised his hand to salute the other party, and said with a smile: "Hello, General William Stemmer, I am glad to be here. See you."
"Hello, General von Spenneck." Wilhelm Strummer extended his hand to the other party and said friendly: "I am also very happy to see you here."
After the two shook hands, Spenneck asked: "General William Stemmer, why are you here?"
"It's like this, General Spenneck." Wilhelm Stemmer explained to Spenneck: "I learned about Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz's actions from some of the broken troops who fled into my defense area. After his heroic performance on the battlefield, I learned that he had been sentenced to death by a military court. I felt that such a brave officer should not die on the execution ground, so I led people to save him."
"Your Excellency, General," the executioner waited for William Stemmer to finish speaking, and then asked Spenneck for help: "After General William was rejected by me, he actually ordered his men to prepare to rob the officer who was sentenced to death. Please You must make the decision for me."
After hearing this, Spenneck asked the executioner expressionlessly: "Captain, I want to ask you, how can we take away Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz?"
The executioner was stunned. He did not expect that Spenneck was also coming towards the seriously injured lieutenant colonel. He hesitated for a long time, and finally said hesitantly: "General, if you want to take away the lieutenant colonel, , there must be a warrant from Commander Wheeler."
"Commander Wheeler's warrant, right?" Spenneck turned to the officer behind him and shook his head: "Lieutenant, show him the thing."
The officer quickly took out the briefcase tucked under his arm, opened it, took out a document, and handed it to the executioner.
The executioner took the official document from the officer's hand and after reading the contents clearly, his eyes widened in surprise.
"Captain," Spenneck said, "This is Commander Weller's order. Now can you hand over Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz to me?"
Seeing that Spenneck actually took out Wheeler's warrant, William Stemmer was surprised and said: "General Spenneck, I really didn't expect that you are also here for Lieutenant Colonel Leferholtz."
"General William," Spenneck said with a smile: "You are right. Such a brave officer cannot be allowed to die on the execution ground. We should let him continue to live. Maybe we can send bigger troops in the future." use."
After saying these words, Spenneck turned to face the executioner again, his face changed from spring breeze to as cold as frost: "Captain, I have shown you the commander's warrant, why don't you let him go?"
"Your Excellency, General, I...I..." The executioner read the warrant and wanted to let him go immediately, but there were countless guns pointing at him around him. He could only lick his lips at the guns all around to express his embarrassment. place.
Now that the executioner agreed to let them go, William Stemmer no longer made things difficult for him and quickly waved his hand. The soldiers who pointed their guns at the execution team immediately put away their guns and retreated, making way for the executioner.
Several officers and soldiers from the firing squad came to Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz, removed him from the pillar, placed him on a stretcher nearby, and carried him to the two commanders.
Before William Stemmer came here, he knew that Leferholz was seriously injured, so he brought a military doctor specially. Seeing Leferholz being carried over at this moment, he quickly ordered the military doctor: "Check him quickly to see if his injury has worsened."
The military doctor put the small suitcase he was carrying on the ground, squatted in front of the stretcher and began to examine Leferholtz's body. After some inspections, he raised his head and said to William Stemmer: "Your Excellency General, his injury is very serious. The sutured wound on his body has opened again due to the torment just now. He needs to be re-sutured and repaired as soon as possible." Get a blood transfusion, otherwise your life will be in danger.”
Knowing that Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz's life was in danger, William Stemmer quickly ordered the military doctor: "Then why are you still dawdling? Why don't you take him back quickly?"
Just as the military doctor agreed and was about to stand up, he was stopped by Spenneck. He said to William Stemmer: "General William, Commander Wheeler has agreed to hand over Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz to our army. I think you don't have to worry about this." After that, He raised his hand and waved to his subordinates not far away, gesturing for them to come over and take over.
Seeing Spenneck's men coming, William Sternmer felt bitter in his mouth, but he had nothing to say. After all, someone else had obtained Commander Weller's warrant and could justifiably kill Lefer. Lieutenant Colonel Holtz brought back his own zone.
As soon as General Spenneck's men lifted up the stretcher, Leferholtz, who was lying on it, began to speak. Spenneck put his ear close to his mouth and heard him say in a weak voice: "Your Excellency, General, I beg you, please save my comrades, they are all brave officers..."
"Don't worry, Lieutenant Colonel." Spenneck said to Leferholz confidently: "I will rescue all your companions, and you can rest in peace and recover." After saying that, he rushed to the soldiers. He waved his hand and motioned for them to take the stretcher away.
After the stretcher went away, Spenneck said to the executioner: "Captain, please give me all the remaining officers."
But what he didn't expect was that as soon as he finished speaking, the executioner rejected him: "I'm sorry, General Spenneck, Commander Weller's order only changed Lieutenant Commander Leferholz. The death sentence for one person in the school and not for the others. Therefore, I cannot hand over the others to you and their death sentences must be carried out."
The executioner's refusal had good reasons, and neither William Stemmer nor Spenneck could refute it. The two looked at each other and saw a hint of helplessness in each other's eyes. They shook their heads with a wry smile, stepped forward to shake hands, and then separated and returned to their own convoys.
Shortly after the two convoys left one after another, a row of crisp gunshots came from the execution ground. It was the executioner commanding his men to faithfully execute the judgment of the military court and execute those officers who had been sentenced to death.
Hearing the gunshots coming from behind, William Stemmer felt as if his heart had been severely tugged. Although the 282nd Division was defeated on the battlefield, causing the defense line between the 6th Armored Division and the 42nd Infantry Corps to be split by the Russians, there was a reason for this.
The 282nd Division was formed in France. Not only did most of the officers and soldiers in the division lack experience in fighting on the Eastern Front, but their weapons and equipment were also very backward. When ordered to disengage with Russian troops, the retreating troops were suddenly attacked by a powerful Russian armored force.
On the way to retreat, encountering an enemy tank attack would be a disaster, let alone a unit with little experience in moving line operations, even an experienced and tenacious unit. It was inevitable that they would collapse under such circumstances. It would be a bit inappropriate to execute all officers above the battalion level. You know, it takes at least two or three years to train a qualified battalion-level commander.
"Your Excellency, Commander," the adjutant sitting in the co-pilot's seat asked tentatively when he saw William Stemmer looking gloomy all the time: "We just watched helplessly as the 42nd Infantry Corps destroyed Leferhall. Lieutenant Colonel Ci picked him up?"
"Then what else can we do?" William Stemmer said angrily: "Someone else came with Commander Weller's warrant, and they are bound to get it from Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz."
"What a pity." The adjutant sighed after hearing what William Stemmer said: "Even if we can't get Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz, it would be good to rescue those injured officers. It was a choice. Unfortunately, the executioner was too stubborn and shot them all anyway."
"Adjutant, the captain did the right thing." Even though the executioner had just offended William Stemmer, William Stemmer knew very well in his heart that what the other party did was right and he was fulfilling his duty. responsibilities. What's even more rare is that he can still stick to his principles when facing himself, who has a much higher military rank than him, and countless guns pointed at him. This is very rare. "If it were me, before seeing Commander Wheeler's warrant, no matter who comes forward, I would not let go of Lieutenant Colonel Leferholz easily."
