The regiment commander returned to the regiment, summoned the remaining commanders and fighters around him, and said loudly to them: "Comrade commanders and fighters, the division commander asked our regiment to serve as the vanguard out of trust in us. But what about our performance? But I have betrayed this trust. In order to restore the reputation of our regiment, I plan to attack the enemy's positions again. In the next battle, some people may be injured and others may die. If anyone is afraid, they can withdraw now. , I’m definitely not going to say anything. Is anyone quitting?”
After the regiment leader asked, he scanned the commanders and fighters in the queue one by one to see if anyone applied to withdraw because of fear.
Fortunately, what he was worried about did not happen, and no one asked to quit. The regiment leader nodded and continued: "I am very relieved to see that no one has quit. But before the battle begins, I want to tell you one thing. Once the attack starts, all of us can only move forward and not retreat. , even if you are sacrificed, your face must be facing the direction of the enemy's position. Do you understand?"
As soon as the regiment leader finished speaking, all the commanders and soldiers said in unison: "I understand!"
"The first battalion will first attack the enemy's position, and the second and third battalions will serve as reserves. Once the first battalion's attack is frustrated, the second battalion will take the lead, and so on." After briefly explaining the rules, the regimental leader waved his hand. , decisively issued the order to attack: "Start the attack!"
When the commanders and fighters of the first battalion formed and rushed towards the German positions, the regiment commander ordered the mortar company to provide artillery cover for the attacking troops. As soon as the German firepower points were discovered, they would be destroyed immediately.
At the beginning, there was silence on the German position. If the regiment commander who was observing the enemy's situation at the back had not seen his troops encounter a bloody blow here, he would have thought that the German troops on the position had already retreated. He knew very well that this was the calm before the storm. The calmer it was at the moment, the more intense the firepower would be when his troops approached the position.
When the commanders and fighters of the first battalion were still 150 meters away from the German position, the machine gun fire on the position opened fire. The crossfire of two MG42 machine guns blocked the troops' path forward. After the few soldiers who rushed at the front fell down, the remaining soldiers hurriedly found bunkers on the spot and fired back at the enemy.
The mortar company discovered the German firepower point and fired directly at the firepower point without waiting for the regimental commander's order. After six artillery shells drew beautiful arcs in the air, they landed on the German position and exploded. One of the shells fell squarely into the trench and exploded next to one of the machine guns. The air wave lifted the machine gunner from the trench, threw him high into the air, and threw him heavily to the ground.
"Well done!" The regiment leader couldn't help but cheered when he saw that the mortar company's first round of shelling destroyed a German machine gun, and then ordered: "The artillery company continues to fire, and be sure to use all the firepower points on the position." wipe out."
The commanders and fighters of the first battalion, who were originally suppressed by machine gun fire, saw that one of their fire points was destroyed by artillery and the firepower to block them was greatly weakened. They jumped out of their hiding places one after another, using short leaps to jump from one bomb crater to another. Gradually approach the enemy's position.
As the commanders and fighters got closer and closer to the enemy's position, the gunfire on the position became intensive. Not only machine guns fired, but rifles, submachine guns and pistols also joined in the shooting. There was even a mortar firing rapidly. , the fired artillery shells landed in the attacking formation and exploded, knocking down some commanders and soldiers.
However, the German mortars were quickly suppressed by Soviet artillery fire and were immediately silenced. After destroying the German mortars, the Soviet artillery launched artillery bombardments at areas with relatively dense firepower, eliminating the firepower points there and opening a path for the attacking comrades.
Under the cover of artillery, the commanders and fighters of the first battalion quickly rushed into the trenches and engaged in close combat and hand-to-hand combat with the enemies inside. Upon seeing this, the commander of the regiment in the distance quickly ordered the second and third battalions to join the battle, making sure to clear the enemy positions in the shortest possible time.
At the same time, a battalion of the 109th Infantry Brigade commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Victor rushed into the German position from the other direction to assist the friendly forces in eliminating the enemies in the trenches.
Facing a pincer attack from two directions, the officers and soldiers of the 28th SS Division put up a tenacious resistance. Even if they were seriously injured, they would fire grenades and die together with the rushing Soviet commanders and soldiers, causing considerable damage to the Soviet army. of casualties.
When the Soviet commander saw that the enemy was so stubborn, he gave up the plan to capture prisoners and directly ordered the soldiers not to show mercy. As long as they saw the enemy showing up, they would immediately greet the enemy with grenades and bullets. Even if the opponent came out with his hands raised, he would never surrender. Show mercy.
The battle lasted for an hour and a half, and it did not come to an end until no more standing German soldiers could be seen on the position.
When the leader of the vanguard arrived at the position, he loudly asked his subordinates: "Have you captured the German commander?"
"No." The soldiers who heard his question shook their heads and replied: "Besides dead people, there is no one alive on the battlefield."
"What a pity." The leader of the regiment was a little disappointed when he saw that not a single prisoner was captured on the battlefield. He ordered the soldiers: "Search carefully to see if there is anyone pretending to be dead among the corpses."
"Comrade Commander," a soldier ran over to report to him at this time: "In a trench in front, we have surrounded dozens of German soldiers. They seem to be out of bullets."
Knowing that a small German unit was surrounded and out of bullets, the regiment leader couldn't help but be happy and quickly ordered: "Send someone over immediately to persuade them to surrender. As long as they are willing to put down their weapons and surrender, I guarantee their lives."
When the German translator shouted at the trapped German officers and soldiers at the turn of the trench, a voice suddenly came: "If we surrender to you, can you really ensure our personal safety?"
After hearing this, the group leader said to the translator: "Tell them that we mean what we say."
After listening to the interpreter's words, the surrounded German officers and soldiers gathered together to discuss for a while, then walked out of the trenches with weapons raised and surrendered to the Soviet army. The regimental commander stood on a high place and carefully counted every German officer and soldier who came out. He found that there were 35 people in total, including 21 soldiers and 14 officers.
Walking at the end was an SS colonel wearing a big-brimmed hat and a military coat. He came to the regimental commander and said with a solemn expression: "I am Leon de Gray, commander of the 28th SS Division. Colonel Le, I want to see your supreme commander."
The regiment commander was overjoyed when he saw that his subordinates had actually captured the commander of the SS division. He quickly ordered an officer beside him: "Captain, take a few people and send this German colonel to the division headquarters. Let's say that our regiment has captured him." living."
News of Leon Degrelle's capture quickly reached the army headquarters.
When Sokov heard the news, he thought Kirillov had made a mistake. He didn't know the fate of other German commanders, but in the case of Leon Degrelle, the commander of the Walloni Division, he was more or less still Some people know that after the army was destroyed, this person first fled to Norway, which was still under German control, and then fled to Spain by plane.
After World War II, the Allies pressured Spain to hand over Léon de Grelle and Laval, Prime Minister of Vichy France, or else they would take military action against the country. However, Franco adopted a compromise approach and handed over Laval, while keeping Leon de Grelle on the grounds that he was injured and unfit to move. After Leon Degrelle was discharged from the hospital after recovering from his injury, he was arranged to live in seclusion in a monastery.
But Leon Degrelle's relatives, friends and supporters were arrested after they were deported to Belgium. His seven daughters and one son were sent to detention centers in Europe for custody. Belgium held a trial in absentia for Léon Degrelle, sentenced him to death, and introduced laws prohibiting anyone from transporting, possessing, and collecting works about Léon Degrelle.
Leon Degrelle lived in Spain until his death in April 1994. During this period of more than 40 years, he repeatedly proposed to the Belgian side that he could return to his motherland and face trial in a fair environment, but he was rejected without exception. He even wanted to have his ashes collected when he died. Requests to be sent back to Belgium were also not approved.
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov said to Sidorin: "Ask General Kirillov again, is the German colonel they captured really the commander of the Varoni Grenadier Division? No. Someone else must have pretended to be someone else."
"That's right, Comrade Commander." Sidorin nodded and said in a positive tone: "I asked General Kirillov carefully, and he said that the other party took the initiative to say that he was Leon Degrelle, and at the same time from Documents proving his identity were found on him."
After confirming that Leon Degrelle had indeed become his prisoner, Sokov felt that this was a hot potato and he really didn't know how to deal with it. He thought for a while and then told Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, tell General Kirillov to send this person directly to the front headquarters and hand it over to Comrade Marshal."
Sokov knew very well that Leon Degrelle was the person the Soviet army wanted to catch most. Now that he fell into his hands, he was probably not qualified to deal with him at his own level, so he handed him over directly. Rokossovsky, how he handles it has nothing to do with him.
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin heard what Sokov said and quickly reminded him: "Don't you plan to learn more about the enemy's troop deployment from his mouth?"
"There is no need." Sokov shook his head and said: "For the Germans, the 28th Volunteer Grenadier Division is their cannon fodder. And Colonel Leon Degrelle, who commands this unit, knows I guess we don’t know much about the situation. Okay, don’t talk anymore, just ask General Kirillov to send him to the front headquarters and hand him over to Comrade Marshal.”
When Kirillov sent someone to send Leon Degrelle to the front army headquarters, Rokossovsky looked at the Belgian wearing a German uniform in front of him in shock and felt unbelievable. Not long ago, he received a call from Beria, who asked him to capture some important figures in the German camp and send them back for trial. And this Leon Degrelle happened to be one of them.
"Are you Leon Degrelle?"
Leon Degrelle heard someone asking him, and after looking Rokossovsky up and down, his eyes stayed on the opponent's epaulettes. He asked with some hesitation: "You are the Marshal of the Soviet Army, are you Rokossovsky?" Marshal Kossovsky?”
"Yes, you guessed it right." Rokossovsky nodded and said, "I am Rokossovsky."
Leon Degrelle stared at Rokossovsky for a while, then sighed and said: "Marshal Rokossovsky, you are an amazing commander. I can be defeated by you." I am convinced. I wonder what you are going to do with me next?"
Rokossovsky said coldly: "I will send someone to send you to Moscow. As for how to deal with you, people from the Ministry of Internal Affairs will have the final say."
Hearing what Rokossovsky said, Leon Degrelle couldn't help but smile coldly and said casually: "So, I will be sent to Moscow to be shot soon. Mr. Marshal, before I die, Can I ask you something?"
"If you have anything, just say it." Facing the dying man in front of him, Rokossovsky felt a trace of compassion: "As long as it is within my ability, I will definitely help you. It’s done.”
"There are 34 officers and soldiers captured with me this time, half of whom are wounded." Leon Degrelle looked at Rokossovsky and said: "I hope they can get the treatment they deserve. "
"No problem." Rokossovsky replied simply to Leon Degrelle's request: "Since they have laid down their arms and surrendered to our army, they will enjoy the treatment that a prisoner of war deserves. Not only can personal safety be ensured, but the injured will also be treated."
After letting people take Leon Degrelle down, Rokossovsky asked the director of the communications corps to help him connect to Moscow. He wanted to inform Beria of the capture of Leon Degrelle alive, and he would to decide what to do with the person.
After the call was connected, Beria learned that it was Rokossovsky who was looking for him, and he couldn't help but be a little surprised: "Comrade Marshal, why do you want to see me?"
"Hello, Comrade Beria." Rokossovsky said: "In the battle that ended not long ago, our commanders and fighters captured alive the 28th Division of the German SS, also known as the Walloni Volunteer Grenadier Division. Division Commander Colonel Leon Degrelle. I remember that this person was on the arrest list you gave me last time. So I’m calling you to ask what to do with him?”
"What, Comrade Marshal, you captured Leon Degrelle?" Beria said excitedly after hearing this: "This is really great. I will immediately send a plane to you and have him taken back to Moscow. , after the war is over, we will conduct a public trial on these heinous enemies and give them the punishment they deserve."
"I understand, Comrade Beria." Rokossovsky said: "Before your people arrive, I will instruct my men to keep a close eye on him and never let him make any mistakes."
"Comrade Marshal, I would like to express my gratitude to you and thank your subordinates for helping us catch this heinous guy." Beria continued on the phone: "I will report this matter to the Supreme Commander himself as soon as possible and apply for an application for you. The award you won." a>vas>div>Scan the QR code to download Red Sleeves and Xiaoxiang to give out benefits for newcomers to read for free for a limited time div>div>div>
