At this moment, a burst of large and small flashes of light suddenly appeared in the distance in the direction of Highland 239.
The flash of light was in front, the roar of artillery was behind, and the bombardment that worried Stemmermann inevitably came. Raindrops of artillery shells roared in and exploded among the chaotic and crowded ranks.
The artillery fire shrouded all the retreating German troops. They were in a limited area and thousands of people were crowded together. Every artillery shell could kill a bunch of people. From time to time, you can see human limbs, broken arms and weapon fragments flying high, and screams come and go. The originally crowded team became extremely chaotic. Facing the Soviet artillery fire, they had nowhere to hide and could only bite their teeth and be bombed.
The truck where Stemmermann was standing was overturned by a shell and burst into flames. But Stemmermann miraculously remained uninjured. He tried to stand up and shouted at the top of his voice in the crowd of people pushing and shoving: "Don't panic, don't panic!" However, his shout was covered up by the rumbling sound of the cannon, and no one heard him at all. .
In the observation post on Highland 239, the staff officers couldn't help but cheer loudly when they saw the enemy being knocked upside down by artillery fire. This scene was so exciting. I didn't expect that the Germans would be like this.
However, just when everyone was happy, Kirillov suddenly issued an unexpected order: "Call the division artillery regiment immediately and order them to stop the shelling!"
"What, stop the bombardment?" Kirillov's words stunned everyone.
"Comrade division commander," a staff officer asked in confusion: "The enemy is being bombarded by us at the moment, why do they have to stop?"
"Didn't you see that not only the Germans were shelled, but also the Ukrainians captured by them?" After Kirillov finished speaking, he categorically ordered: "Order the artillery to stop the shelling immediately!"
Some staff officers did not believe what Kirillov said, and raised their binoculars to look at the area where the artillery fire was raging. Sure enough, they saw many civilians in plain clothes among the crowd running back and forth amid the artillery fire. Although it was night and visibility was limited, as an experienced commander, he could still distinguish which soldiers were soldiers with the help of the flames produced when the shells exploded. Which ones are civilians.
The artillery fire from the division artillery regiment soon stopped, but the artillery fire from the group army was still bombarding the retreating enemies, preparing to use powerful artillery fire to inflict great damage on them.
Kirillov quickly ordered someone to get through to the commander of the group army. As soon as he heard Sokov's voice, he couldn't wait to say: "Comrade Commander, please immediately order to stop the shelling of the German army!"
Sokov was stunned and asked in confusion: "Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov, why should I order the artillery to stop shelling?"
"Comrade Commander," Kirillov said urgently: "There are a large number of civilians in the area that was bombarded, and our shelling caused great casualties to them."
"What?!" Sokov was shocked: "Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov, why are there civilians? Did you read that correctly?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Kirillov replied in a positive tone: "I looked carefully several times and found that they were all people in civilian clothes, and none of them had weapons in their hands. After the shelling started, they They were also running around with stretchers, and I guess they were local residents that the Germans had forcibly recruited to help them carry supplies and carry the wounded.”
Sokov figured out what was going on, and without even having time to cover the microphone, he turned and told Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, call the artillery commander immediately and order him to stop the shelling immediately!"
Smirnov didn't know what was going on at the moment. Hearing what Sokov said, he was stunned for a moment, and then asked: "Comrade Commander, our shelling just started not long ago, why did we stop?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov reports." Sokov said loudly: "A large number of Ukrainian civilians were found in the area that was shelled. They should have been brought by the Germans. Immediately order the artillery to stop the shelling. , otherwise civilians will suffer heavy casualties."
"I understand." After Smirnov knew what was going on, he also realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly grabbed the phone in front of him and called Tsarev: "General Tsarev, Comrade Commander ordered, stop immediately. Shelling.”
Although Tsarev did not know what was going on, he was very decisive in executing the order. In less than two minutes, the army's artillery stopped firing.
The German troops who were being bombarded were stunned when they saw the sudden stop of shelling. They secretly wondered what happened. Why did the Russians suddenly stop shelling? Could it be that they had run out of shells? The Ukrainian civilians who were brought there first shouted and then fled in all directions.
Seeing Ukrainian civilians fleeing everywhere, the German soldiers escorting them immediately started yelling, trying to get them back in front of them. But their shouts seemed to have no effect, and the civilians still ran away without looking back. They were so angry that several German soldiers picked up their submachine guns and shot at the civilians who were retreating. The dense bullets knocked down a few civilians who fell behind.
"That's enough, that's enough, don't shoot anymore." Seeing soldiers shooting at fleeing civilians, Stemmerman quickly stopped them: "It's a burden to take them with you. If they want to leave, let them go." Bar."
Although he stopped shelling the Germans, Sokov would never let them escape easily. He quickly called Selivanov, commander of the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps: "Comrade Commander, the enemy near Hill 239 is approaching. Flee, it’s your cavalry’s turn.”
Selivanov heard what Sokov said and asked casually: "Is there artillery cover?"
Sokov said with some laughter and tears: "Comrade Commander, the enemy has already lost its organization after being shelled by our army, and is running around now. Do you think it is necessary to prepare for artillery fire under such circumstances? ?”
Knowing that the Germans had fallen into chaos, Selivanov smiled sheepishly, and then said: "Understood, General Sokov, I immediately sent the cavalry to pursue the fleeing German army."
"Comrade Commander, I think it is necessary to remind you." Sokov said: "Now there are a large number of Ukrainian civilians who are being held hostage, together with these fleeing enemies. When you attack, you must pay more attention and never harm them. to civilians.”
"You can rest assured about this, General Sokov." Selivanov assured Sokov: "I will definitely find a way to rescue all civilians and prevent them from being harmed by the Germans."
"Very good, Comrade Commander." Sokov was satisfied with Selivanov's answer. He nodded, and then said: "Then I will wait for your good news at the headquarters."
At this moment, a burst of large and small flashes of light suddenly appeared in the distance in the direction of Highland 239.
The flash of light was in front, the roar of artillery was behind, and the bombardment that worried Stemmermann inevitably came. Raindrops of artillery shells roared in and exploded among the chaotic and crowded ranks.
The artillery fire shrouded all the retreating German troops. They were in a limited area and thousands of people were crowded together. Every artillery shell could kill a bunch of people. From time to time, human limbs, broken arms and weapon fragments could be seen flying high, and screams could be heard one after another. The originally crowded team became extremely chaotic. Facing the Soviet artillery fire, they had nowhere to hide and could only bite their teeth and be bombed.
The truck where Stemmermann was standing was overturned by a shell and burst into flames. But Stemmermann miraculously remained uninjured. He tried to stand up and shouted at the top of his voice in the crowd of people pushing and shoving: "Don't panic, don't panic!" However, his shout was covered up by the rumbling sound of the cannon, and no one heard him at all. .
In the observation post on Highland 239, the staff officers couldn't help but cheer loudly when they saw the enemy being knocked upside down by artillery fire. This scene was so exciting. I didn't expect that the Germans would be like this.
However, just when everyone was happy, Kirillov suddenly issued an unexpected order: "Call the division artillery regiment immediately and order them to stop the shelling!"
"What, stop the bombardment?" Kirillov's words stunned everyone.
"Comrade division commander," a staff officer asked in confusion: "The enemy is being bombarded by us at the moment, why do they have to stop?"
"Didn't you see that not only the Germans were shelled, but also the Ukrainians captured by them?" After Kirillov finished speaking, he categorically ordered: "Order the artillery to stop the shelling immediately!"
Some staff officers did not believe what Kirillov said, and raised their binoculars to look at the area where the artillery fire was raging. Sure enough, they saw many civilians in plain clothes among the crowd running back and forth amid the artillery fire. Although it was night and visibility was limited, as an experienced commander, he could still distinguish which soldiers were soldiers with the help of the flames produced when the shells exploded. Which ones are civilians.
The artillery fire from the division artillery regiment soon stopped, but the artillery fire from the group army was still bombarding the retreating enemies, preparing to use powerful artillery fire to inflict great damage on them.
Kirillov quickly ordered someone to get through to the commander of the group army. As soon as he heard Sokov's voice, he couldn't wait to say: "Comrade Commander, please immediately order to stop the shelling of the German army!"
Sokov was stunned and asked in confusion: "Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov, why should I order the artillery to stop shelling?"
"Comrade Commander," Kirillov said urgently: "There are a large number of civilians in the area that was bombarded, and our shelling caused great casualties to them."
"What?!" Sokov was shocked: "Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov, why are there civilians? Did you read that correctly?"
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Kirillov replied in a positive tone: "I looked carefully several times and found that they were all people in civilian clothes, and none of them had weapons in their hands. After the shelling started, they They were also running around with stretchers, and I guess they were local residents that the Germans had forcibly recruited to help them carry supplies and carry the wounded.”
Sokov figured out what was going on, and without even having time to cover the microphone, he turned and told Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, call the artillery commander immediately and order him to stop the shelling immediately!"
Smirnov didn't know what was going on at the moment. Hearing what Sokov said, he was stunned for a moment, and then asked: "Comrade Commander, our shelling just started not long ago, why did we stop?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Kirillov reports." Sokov said loudly: "A large number of Ukrainian civilians were found in the area that was shelled. They should have been brought by the Germans. Immediately order the artillery to stop the shelling. , otherwise civilians will suffer heavy casualties."
"I understand." After Smirnov knew what was going on, he also realized the seriousness of the problem. He quickly grabbed the phone in front of him and called Tsarev: "General Tsarev, Comrade Commander ordered, stop immediately. Shelling.”
Although Tsarev did not know what was going on, he was very decisive in executing the order. In less than two minutes, the army's artillery stopped firing.
The German troops who were being bombarded were stunned when they saw the sudden stop of shelling. They secretly wondered what happened. Why did the Russians suddenly stop shelling? Could it be that they had run out of shells? The Ukrainian civilians who were brought there first shouted and then fled in all directions.
Seeing Ukrainian civilians fleeing everywhere, the German soldiers escorting them immediately started yelling, trying to get them back in front of them. But their shouts seemed to have no effect, and the civilians still ran away without looking back. They were so angry that several German soldiers picked up their submachine guns and shot at the civilians who were retreating. The dense bullets knocked down a few civilians who fell behind.
"That's enough, that's enough, don't shoot anymore." Seeing soldiers shooting at fleeing civilians, Stemmerman quickly stopped them: "It's a burden to take them with you. If they want to leave, let them go." Bar."
Although he stopped shelling the Germans, Sokov would never let them escape easily. He quickly called Selivanov, commander of the 5th Guards Cavalry Corps: "Comrade Commander, the enemy near Hill 239 is approaching. Flee, it’s your cavalry’s turn.”
Selivanov heard what Sokov said and asked casually: "Is there artillery cover?"
Sokov said with some laughter and tears: "Comrade Commander, the enemy has already lost its organization after being shelled by our army, and is running around now. Do you think it is necessary to prepare for artillery fire under such circumstances?" ?”
Knowing that the Germans had fallen into chaos, Selivanov smiled sheepishly, and then said: "Understood, General Sokov, I will immediately send the cavalry to pursue the fleeing German army."
"Comrade Commander, I think it is necessary to remind you." Sokov said: "There are a large number of Ukrainian civilians who are being held hostage, together with these fleeing enemies. When you attack, you must pay more attention and do not harm them. to civilians.”
"You can rest assured about this, General Sokov." Selivanov assured Sokov: "I will definitely find a way to rescue all civilians and prevent them from being harmed by the Germans."
"Very good, Comrade Commander." Sokov was satisfied with Selivanov's answer. He nodded, and then said: "Then I will wait for your good news at the headquarters." "You can do this. Don't worry, General Sokov." Selivanov assured Sokov: "I will definitely find a way to rescue all civilians and prevent them from being harmed by the Germans."
