"General Sokov," Selivanov obviously didn't have much confidence in persuading the German troops to surrender, so he said to Sokov: "The reason why these Germans stay here is entirely because they can't escape. But to It is obviously very difficult for them to surrender to us, so I don’t think there is any need to try to persuade them to surrender.”
"Comrade Commander," Sokov said seriously: "Although this group of enemies, including a large number of wounded, has been surrounded by our cavalry, if we choose to attack, they will definitely fight against the trapped beasts. Our losses are still inevitable."
Seeing Selivanov's hesitant look, Sokov continued: "I will try to persuade this unit to surrender first. If they continue to resist to the end, it will not be too late for us to launch a final attack."
Although Sokov planned to persuade him to surrender in person, he could not go directly. If those desperate German soldiers saw an enemy general approaching, they would definitely shoot him without saying a word. By that time, Sokov would have died before he left the battlefield. Therefore, someone must go to the position and shout in advance to ask the German commander to come out. Then Sokov shows up again, and safety can be guaranteed.
"Comrade Commander," seeing that Sokov planned to personally persuade the Germans to surrender, Koshkin volunteered: "Leave it to me to complete the task of shouting in front of the enemy's positions."
Sokov stared at Koshkin in front of him for a long time. He felt that the other person was now his adjutant, and it would be more appropriate for him to speak out. So he nodded in agreement, but at the same time he asked: "Koshkin Lieutenant, do you need another German translator for you?"
Unexpectedly, Koshkin shook his head and said: "No, Comrade Commander, I understand German."
This time it was Sokov's turn to be surprised. He had known Koshkin for a long time, but he didn't know that he actually understood German. The muscles on his face twitched a few times, and then he said: "Lieutenant Koshkin, pay more attention to safety. If you find a German shooting at you, turn around and come back immediately, and then we will use artillery fire to destroy the surrounded Germans." "
"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Koshkin assured Sokov: "I will let the German commander come out to talk to you."
Standing in the observation post, Sokov saw Koshkin driving to the front of the German army and using the loudspeaker on the car to shout at the German army. Not long after shouting, I saw a German officer walking out of the position.
After Koshkin stepped forward to negotiate with the other party for a moment, he sent a signal to Sokov, indicating that everything was safe and that he could go over and negotiate. Seeing Koshkin's signal, Sokov, under the protection of a guard platoon, drove to a place fifty or sixty meters away from the German army.
Sokov stood on the jeep without a roof, picked up a loudspeaker, and shouted to the thousands of German troops on the opposite side: "I am Lieutenant General Sokov, commander of the 53rd Army of the Soviet Army. Let your supreme commander Come out and negotiate with me.”
When Koshkin repeated Sokov's words in German, it immediately caused confusion and commotion in the German army. It can be seen that Sokov's reputation has deeply imprinted fear in the hearts of every German officer and soldier.
Seeing the reaction of the German army, a sneer appeared on Sokov's lips, and he continued: "German officers and soldiers, I guarantee on my honor that as long as you are willing to lay down your weapons and surrender, I will ensure your personal safety and be present. Every injured person can receive timely treatment."
This time, after Koshkin translated Sokov's words, he saw a German general walking out of the position surrounded by several officers. Sokov recognized at a glance that it was none other than Commander Stemerman of the 11th Army. He quickly opened the door and got out of the car, limping toward the other party with a cane.
"General Stemermann," although Sokov knew that this German general personally led his troops to cut off the rear during the breakout operation in the Battle of Cherkasy and was eventually killed, but at this moment he saw with his own eyes that he was not thinking about himself. He ran away, but chose to stay with one or two thousand wounded soldiers. He couldn't help but respect him: "Nice to see you here."
"Hello, General Sokov!" Stemerman raised his hand and saluted Sokov, and said with a wry smile: "I knew that once we encountered you, our breakout operation would likely fail. "
"General Stemerman, since you know that the breakout cannot be successful, why do you have to let so many soldiers die in vain?" Sokov said euphemistically: "It is better to let them lay down their weapons and let our army surrender. I surrender to you." I guarantee that I will give them the treatment they deserve as prisoners of war. Once the war is over, I will send them back to their countries to reunite with their families."
The officers standing next to Stemmermann were very interested in Sokov's tempting proposal, and they all looked at their commander to see his reaction.
"General Sokov." Stemerman noticed his subordinates' gaze, but he did not reply immediately. Instead, he asked: "I remember that when I met with you last time, you promised me that if our When the wounded fall into the hands of your troops, you not only ensure their safety but also treat them."
"Yes, I did say this last time." After Sokov said this, he also emphasized: "And I just made the same promise in public."
After listening to Sokov's words, Stemmerman nodded, then pointed to the jeep not far away and asked politely: "General Sokov, can I borrow the speaker on your car to speak to my subordinates?" A few words?"
When Sokov heard this, he felt that there was something wrong. It seemed that Stemelman was planning to lead his troops to surrender, so he nodded and agreed to his request: "Yes, General Stemelman, you can use it as you like."
"Soldiers and officers!" Stemermann spoke to his subordinates in the distance with a loudspeaker: "This is a long war and an arduous war. You fight for the motherland bravely and proudly. You are Extraordinary warriors, closely connected to each other, a friendship that only exists in battle, between brothers. You share foxholes and support each other when you need it most. You have seen death and suffered together. I am proud to be Fight with you! You have the right to enjoy a happy and peaceful life. For you now, the war is over. All you have to do is to survive until the war is over and you can return to your motherland to reunite with your family..."
While Stemmermann was speaking, Sokov saw an officer wiping tears with his palms, and several other officers also had red eyes.
After Stemmerman finished his speech, he paused briefly and asked loudly: "Do you believe General Sokov's promise?"
There was silence on the German position.
Upon seeing this, Stemmerman raised his voice and asked: "Soldiers, officers! Answer me, do you believe the promise made to you by General Sokov?"
This time the German officers and soldiers responded in unison: "Believe it!"
In response to the officers and soldiers' reply, Stemmermann nodded with satisfaction, and then said: "Hand over your weapons!"
After hearing Stemmermann's order, the German officers and soldiers who were still able to move came out in batches without hesitation and threw their weapons in the open space. After a while, various weapons were piled up like mounds. Weapons pile.
The officers and soldiers who laid down their weapons lined up again and stood in silence with their hands down.
Seeing that the officers and soldiers had laid down their weapons, Stemmermann turned to Sokov again and said: "My men have laid down their weapons. I hope you can fulfill your promise."
Sokov knew that although Stemermann ordered the German officers and soldiers to lay down their weapons, he would never surrender. He guessed what the other party would do next, sighed softly, and asked: "General Stemmermann, are you really prepared to do this?"
Stemmermann was shocked and asked in surprise: "Do you know what I am going to do?"
"Yes." Sokov nodded: "Your military honor does not allow you to surrender. The reason why you ordered the officers and soldiers to lay down their weapons and surrender is simply to save more lives."
"I really didn't expect that the person who knows me best is actually my enemy." Stemerman smiled sadly: "General Sokov, it is my honor to know such a respectable opponent like you. If not In this damn war, maybe we still have a chance to be friends.”
As soon as he said this, he took out the Browning pistol from his waist and shot himself in the forehead.
Looking at Stemmermann who fell in front of him, Sokov sighed softly, and then ordered Koshkin: "Lieutenant Koshkin, General Stemermann is a respectable opponent. You immediately go find a coffin, collect his body first, and find a proper place to store it. Wait for the right thing to happen, and then return his body to the Germans."
After making arrangements to receive the German prisoners and treat the wounded who could not move, Sokov returned to his headquarters and continued to direct the unfinished battle.
The long-term shelling has turned the snow-covered open areas into mud. Finding no way to retreat, the German officers and soldiers and Ukrainian civilians sat in groups in the mud, looking at the Soviet troops rushing from all directions. They neither wanted to resist nor wanted to escape, but just wanted to be prisoners quietly.
During the offensive process, Konev's troops had already been disrupted in their organization. They were now moving through the mountains and plains in units of companies or even platoons, amid the defeated troops. Although they were exhausted, they were all in high spirits. While capturing prisoners, they began to reorganize their organization.
They ignored the civilians sitting in the mire and only captured the German soldiers. The German troops acted very cooperatively and followed the instructions given by the Soviet commanders and soldiers. They placed their weapons in the open space and walked slowly towards the designated assembly point with their heads lowered.
"General Sokov," Selivanov obviously didn't have much confidence in persuading the German troops to surrender, so he said to Sokov: "The reason why these Germans stay here is entirely because they can't escape. But to It is obviously very difficult for them to surrender to us, so I don’t think there is any need to try to persuade them to surrender.”
"Comrade Commander," Sokov said seriously: "Although this group of enemies, including a large number of wounded, has been surrounded by our cavalry, if we choose to attack, they will definitely fight against the trapped beasts. Our losses are still inevitable."
Seeing Selivanov's hesitant look, Sokov continued: "I will try to persuade this unit to surrender first. If they continue to resist to the end, it will not be too late for us to launch a final attack."
Although Sokov planned to persuade him to surrender in person, he could not go directly. If those desperate German soldiers saw an enemy general approaching, they would definitely shoot him without saying a word. By that time, Sokov would have died before he left the battlefield. Therefore, someone must go to the position and shout in advance to ask the German commander to come out. Then Sokov shows up again, and safety can be guaranteed.
"Comrade Commander," seeing that Sokov planned to personally persuade the Germans to surrender, Koshkin volunteered: "Leave it to me to complete the task of shouting in front of the enemy's positions."
Sokov stared at Koshkin in front of him for a long time. He felt that the other person was now his adjutant, and it would be more appropriate for him to speak out. So he nodded in agreement, but at the same time he asked: "Koshkin Lieutenant, do you need another German translator for you?"
Unexpectedly, Koshkin shook his head and said: "No, Comrade Commander, I understand German."
This time it was Sokov's turn to be surprised. He had known Koshkin for a long time, but he didn't know that he actually understood German. The muscles on his face twitched a few times, and then he said: "Lieutenant Koshkin, pay more attention to safety. If you find a German shooting at you, turn around and come back immediately, and then we will use artillery fire to destroy the surrounded Germans." "
Standing in the observation post, Sokov saw Koshkin driving to the front of the German army and using the loudspeaker on the car to shout at the German army. Not long after shouting, I saw a German officer walking out of the position.
After Koshkin stepped forward to negotiate with the other party for a moment, he sent a signal to Sokov, indicating that everything was safe and that he could go over and negotiate. Seeing Koshkin's signal, Sokov, under the protection of a guard platoon, drove to a place fifty or sixty meters away from the German army.
Sokov stood on the jeep without a roof, picked up a loudspeaker, and shouted to the thousands of German troops on the opposite side: "I am Lieutenant General Sokov, commander of the 53rd Army of the Soviet Army. Let your supreme commander Come out and negotiate with me.”
When Koshkin repeated Sokov's words in German, it immediately caused confusion and commotion in the German army. It can be seen that Sokov's reputation has deeply imprinted fear in the hearts of every German officer and soldier.
Seeing the reaction of the German army, a sneer appeared on Sokov's lips, and he continued: "German officers and soldiers, I guarantee on my honor that as long as you are willing to lay down your weapons and surrender, I will guarantee your personal safety. Every injured person can receive timely treatment."
This time, after Koshkin translated Sokov's words, he saw a German general walking out of the position surrounded by several officers. Sokov recognized at a glance that it was none other than Commander Stemerman of the 11th Army. He quickly opened the door and got out of the car, limping toward the other party with a cane.
"General Stemermann," although Sokov knew that this German general personally led his troops to cut off the rear during the breakout operation in the Battle of Cherkasy and was eventually killed, but at this moment he saw with his own eyes that he did not care about himself. He ran away, but chose to stay with one or two thousand wounded soldiers. He couldn't help but respect him: "Nice to see you here."
