"Yes, General Sokov." Dürer nodded and said, "I will not go back on my word."
"My conditions are very simple." Sokov said: "If you want to return General Stemerman's body, then use 10,000 captured commanders and fighters of our army in exchange."
Smirnov looked at Sokov with disbelief. He did not expect that Sokov would put forward such harsh conditions. After a moment, he turned his attention to Dürer to see how the other party would react after hearing this condition.
Dürer's face turned the color of pig liver. He never dreamed that Sokov would actually ask for 10,000 prisoners of war in exchange for the body of General Stemerman.
"I'm sorry, General Sokov." Dürer shrugged and said there was nothing he could do: "Your condition is too harsh. Please forgive me for not being able to agree to it."
"Major Dürer, I haven't finished speaking yet." Sokov said calmly: "In addition to General Stemermann's body, there are two thousand wounded who can also be exchanged."
"Okay, General Sokov. Please wait a moment, and I will report your conditions to Marshal Manstein." Dürer learned that there were still two thousand wounded. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "It depends on him. how about."
"Yes, Mr. Major." Sokov knew very well that Dürer was just a small major. He couldn't make the final decision on the conditions he proposed. He must ask Manstein for instructions. Only after receiving instructions could he agree with him. Carry out further negotiations. So he said cheerfully: "I'm waiting for your answer here."
Dürer made a wait gesture, turned around and walked out of the headquarters, preparing to return to the car outside and use the radio he carried to report to Marshal Manstein about the conditions proposed by Sokov.
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov asked Sokov in a reproachful tone as soon as Dürer left: "How can you put forward such harsh conditions? You must know that 10,000 prisoners of war is not a small number. If We have added so many experienced commanders and fighters to each unit, and the combat effectiveness of the supplemented units will be greatly improved. The Germans are not fools, and they will definitely take this into consideration. I don’t think they will agree to your proposal. conditions of."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, please be patient." Sokov said with a relaxed expression: "The negotiations between us and the Germans are like doing business. I can ask for high prices, and they can also bargain. For Manstein Therefore, General Stemelman, who took the initiative to cut off the soldiers' rear, was a great hero. He would definitely retrieve General Stemelman's body at all costs.
After the war, our army suffered heavy casualties and there were signs of shortages of medicines. I had promised General Stemmermann to give preferential treatment to the wounded German soldiers. Even if there was a shortage of medicines, their treatment would not be stopped. Now that there is an opportunity before us, not only can we exchange wounded German soldiers for our captured commanders and fighters, but we can also throw this burden to the Germans, why not do it? "
After understanding Sokov's wishful thinking, Smirnov also showed a smile on his face: "Yes, the more than two thousand wounded German soldiers who gathered from various places consumed a lot of our medicines. For this The director of the field hospital specifically complained to me about this matter. As long as these wounded German soldiers are sent away, our shortage of medicines can be alleviated."
But his smile did not last long and turned into a sad look: "Comrade Commander, your idea is great, but can the Germans agree? You know, they are not idiots."
"Don't be anxious. When Major Dürer comes back, we will listen to what Manstein said." Sokov always kept a clear head. "With Manstein's character, he will never give up to 10,000 prisoners." Commanders and combatants, it would be great to give us one or two thousand people."
Dürer came to the car outside the headquarters and used the radio he carried to send a telegram to Manstein about the conditions proposed by Sokov.
Manstein, who received the telegram, was holding a military meeting. After reading the contents of the telegram, he slammed the table and said repeatedly: "Crazy, crazy, this Sokov is simply crazy."
Lieutenant General Hube, commander of the 3rd Armored Group, was standing not far from Manstein. He asked tentatively: "Marshal, what has made you angry?"
"General Hube!" Manstein looked at Hube and said: "I ordered Major Dürer as my representative to negotiate with Sokov, hoping that he could return the body of General Stemmermann. As a result, He put forward extremely exorbitant conditions and required us to agree before we would return Stemmermann's body."
"What conditions?"
"He asked us to exchange 10,000 captured Russian soldiers for the body of General Stemmermann and 2,000 German wounded soldiers." Manstein said angrily: "Tell me, it's so excessive. Can we agree to his conditions?"
"No, absolutely not."
"We cannot compromise with the Russians, and we must not exchange prisoners for General Stemerman's body."
"Once these prisoners of war return to the Russians, they will become a terrible force, and we cannot do such stupid things."
When many generals in the headquarters unanimously opposed compromise with Sokov, General Giller, the commander of the Viking Division, spoke. He said to Manstein with a solemn expression: "Marshal, I think we should agree to Sokov's request. .”
Manstein asked with a straight face: "Why?"
"The death of General Stemmermann is a huge loss for us." Giller said: "The reason why my troops were able to successfully break through the Russian encirclement was because the soldiers knew that Stemmermann The general came to our rear in person, thus boosting our morale and displaying superior combat effectiveness in the battle. If we gave up the exchange for General Stemerman's body because Sokov's conditions were too harsh, I'm afraid it would be a disservice to us. adversely affects military morale."
"General Giller," said 24th Armored Corps Commander Valtenenainen: "We know General Stemermann's heroic performance in this breakout battle. This is why Marshal Manstein sent a special envoy to negotiate with the Russians. , the reason for trying to get the body back. If we really follow Sokov's conditions and return 10,000 captured Russian soldiers to him, these veterans with rich combat experience, once added to the army, will make the army more powerful. The combat effectiveness has been greatly improved, which is equivalent to replenishing the strength of the Russians in disguise. We cannot do such a stupid thing."
Seeing that Gille was still arguing, Manstein raised his hand and interrupted him: "General Gille, you don't have to say any more. I thought about it and we can partially agree to Sokov's conditions in exchange for Shit. The body of General Merman.”
Hearing what Manstein said, Giller couldn't help but his eyes lit up, and he quickly asked: "Marshal, what are you going to do?"
"Chief of Staff," Manstein did not immediately answer Giller's question. Instead, he turned to ask his Chief of Staff: "Where is the prisoner of war camp closest to the front line?"
"Your Excellency, Marshal!" Hearing Manstein ask himself, the chief of staff quickly and respectfully replied: "There is a prisoner-of-war camp for Russian prisoners of war in the Shebinka area. There are more than 3,000 prisoners of war in it."
"Very good." After hearing this, Manstein ordered the chief of staff: "You should send a telegram back to Major Dürer and tell him that we can exchange the body of General Stemerman with the Russian prisoners of war in the Shebinka prisoner of war camp. and two thousand wounded. This is our final limit, and there is no room for further bargaining."
Soon, Dürer received a telegram from the chief of staff, and he hurriedly took the telegram and re-entered Sokov's headquarters.
Seeing Dürer coming in, Sokov asked knowingly: "Major Dürer, has Marshal Manstein given an answer?"
"Yes, General Sokov." Dürer replied respectfully: "The Marshal's call back has arrived."
"Oh," Sokov asked slowly, "I wonder what Marshal Manstein said in the telegram?"
"He said that he would prepare 10,000 prisoners of war for you, which is obviously impossible." Dürer said, "Not to mention that there are not such a large number of prisoners of war. Even if there are, they must be gathered and transported to the border between the two sides. I'm afraid it will take a lot of time, and some prisoners of war will die on the way because they are too weak."
"Marshal Manstein is very thoughtful." Sokov asked in a mocking tone: "Then does he want to replace General Stemerman's body?"
"Change, we must change." Major Dürer said in a panic: "I haven't finished reading the telegram. The marshal said that in order to show our sincerity, all three thousand prisoners of war detained in the Shebinka prisoner of war camp can be handed over to you. "
Sokov quickly lowered his head to search for the location of Shebinka on the ground in front of him, and found that it was less than 20 kilometers away from Highland 239. Even if the prisoners of war marched on foot, it would still take half a day to reach the exchange location.
However, in order to prevent Dürer from discovering the ecstasy in his heart, he deliberately pretended to be careless and said: "There are only three thousand people, which is too few. You know, the number of people I want to exchange is 10,000."
"Yes, General Sokov." Dürer nodded and said, "I will not go back on my word."
"My conditions are very simple." Sokov said: "If you want to return General Stemerman's body, then use 10,000 captured commanders and fighters of our army in exchange."
Smirnov looked at Sokov with disbelief. He did not expect that Sokov would put forward such harsh conditions. After a moment, he turned his attention to Dürer to see how the other party would react after hearing this condition.
Dürer's face turned the color of pig liver. He never dreamed that Sokov would actually ask for 10,000 prisoners of war in exchange for the body of General Stemerman.
"I'm sorry, General Sokov." Dürer shrugged and said there was nothing he could do: "Your condition is too harsh. Please forgive me for not being able to agree to it."
"Major Dürer, I haven't finished speaking yet." Sokov said calmly: "In addition to General Stemermann's body, there are two thousand wounded who can also be exchanged."
"Okay, General Sokov. Please wait a moment, and I will report your conditions to Marshal Manstein." Dürer learned that there were still two thousand wounded. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "It depends on him. how about."
"Yes, Mr. Major." Sokov knew very well that Dürer was just a small major. He couldn't make the final decision on the conditions he proposed. He must ask Manstein for instructions. Only after receiving instructions could he agree with him. Carry out further negotiations. So he said cheerfully: "I'm waiting for your answer here."
Dürer made a wait gesture, turned around and walked out of the headquarters, preparing to return to the car outside and use the radio he carried to report to Marshal Manstein about the conditions proposed by Sokov.
"Comrade Commander," Smirnov asked Sokov in a reproachful tone as soon as Dürer left: "How can you put forward such harsh conditions? You must know that 10,000 prisoners of war is not a small number. If We have added so many experienced commanders and fighters to each unit, and the combat effectiveness of the supplemented units will be greatly improved. The Germans are not fools, and they will definitely take this into consideration. I don’t think they will agree to your proposal. conditions of."
"Comrade Chief of Staff, please be patient." Sokov said with a relaxed expression: "The negotiations between us and the Germans are like doing business. I can ask for high prices, and they can also bargain. For Manstein Therefore, General Stemelman, who took the initiative to cut off the soldiers' rear, was a great hero. He would definitely retrieve General Stemelman's body at all costs.
After the war, our army suffered heavy casualties and there were signs of shortages of medicines. I had promised General Stemmermann to give preferential treatment to the wounded German soldiers. Even if there was a shortage of medicines, their treatment would not be stopped. Now that there is an opportunity before us, not only can we exchange wounded German soldiers for our captured commanders and fighters, but we can also throw this burden to the Germans, why not do it? "
After understanding Sokov's wishful thinking, Smirnov also showed a smile on his face: "Yes, the more than two thousand wounded German soldiers who gathered from various places consumed a lot of our medicines. For this The director of the field hospital specifically complained to me about this matter. As long as these wounded German soldiers are sent away, our shortage of medicines can be alleviated."
But his smile did not last long and turned into a sad look: "Comrade Commander, your idea is great, but can the Germans agree? You know, they are not idiots."
"Don't be anxious. When Major Dürer comes back, we will listen to what Manstein said." Sokov always kept a clear head. "With Manstein's character, he will never give up to 10,000 prisoners." Commanders and combatants, it would be great to give us one or two thousand people."
Dürer came to the car outside the headquarters and used the radio he carried to send a telegram to Manstein about the conditions proposed by Sokov.
Manstein, who received the telegram, was holding a military meeting. After reading the contents of the telegram, he slammed the table and said repeatedly: "Crazy, crazy, this Sokov is simply crazy."
"General Hube!" Manstein looked at Hube and said: "I ordered Major Dürer as my representative to negotiate with Sokov, hoping that he could return the body of General Stemmermann. As a result, He put forward extremely exorbitant conditions and required us to agree before we would return Stemmermann's body."
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