Chapter 944 Operation Ring (Part 2)

   Sokov felt very embarrassed about the task Rokossovsky entrusted to him. Persuading surrender is easy to say, but it is another thing to do. Now the Germans have not reached the point of desperation, not to mention Sokov, even Rokossovsky himself will not be able to do it.

   But an order is an order. Now that Rokossovsky has handed over the task, Sokov can only bite the bullet and agree. As soon as he returned to Mamayev Post, he called several of his deputies before him, repeated Rokossovsky's order, and asked, "Tell me, how should we persuade the Germans to surrender? "

   "Comrade commander, before answering your question, I would like to ask." Sidolin asked cautiously: "How many troops and equipment has the superior added to the city?"

   "In terms of strength, a fortified area force has been supplemented, which consists of command organs and some detachments with powerful firearms." Sokov replied: "But the equipment, unfortunately, is exactly the same as before."

"Only added troops in one fortified area?" Seeing Sokov nodding his head in affirmation, Sidolin showed a puzzled expression on his face: "That is to say, the superior only added a few thousand troops to the city, at best It can only fill the vacancies of those transferred troops, and our army is still at an absolute disadvantage in terms of the strength and equipment of the enemy and ourselves inside and outside the city. Comrade division commander, under such circumstances, it is tantamount to persuading the enemy to surrender. "

"The Chief of Staff is right." In order to make everyone aware of the seriousness of the problem, Sokov did not go around in circles, but said bluntly: "Even if we send people to persuade us to surrender, the Germans will not pay attention to us. On the contrary, Comrades who go on this mission will run into danger instead."

"Comrade Commander," Anisimov said anxiously when he learned that those who went to persuade them to surrender would be in danger, "Since we know that persuading them to capitulate is not effective, and the comrades who go there are also in danger, I think it's better to give up this futile task." let us go."

   "No." Sokov shook his head and said, "Even if we know that persuading the surrender will not have any effect, the comrades who go to persuade them to surrender will be in danger. We must try."

   "Why is this, Comrade Commander?" Anisimov asked inexplicably, "Comrades who persuaded them to surrender would be in danger even if they knew it would not work, so why take the risk?"

"It's only a matter of time before the besieged German army is wiped out." Sokov explained to the three people: "The reason why we sent people to persuade them to surrender this time is to let the besieged German army understand that they have fallen into our siege , Resistance has no meaning, completely shattering their illusion of being rescued. This will be very helpful for our next battle."

   After Sokov ended it like this, everyone also understood the importance of this persuasion. Ivanov was the first to ask: "Comrade commander, I don't know who you plan to send to carry out the task of persuading surrender? The people who go there are too low-level, the enemy will think that we are teasing them, and may kill the comrades we sent; Too high a position is not good, if the enemy turns his face, we will sacrifice an excellent commander."

   "Comrade Commander," Sidolin looked at Sokov and asked, "Do you have a suitable candidate?"

"I think, let Lieutenant Samoilov go." Ivanov pondered for a while, and replied before Sokov: "Anyway, he is from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he is responsible for persuading him to surrender. , it couldn’t be more appropriate.”

"No, his rank is too low." Sokov interrupted in time: "I think it's better for Captain Guchakov to carry out this task. He was a prisoner of the Germans before and was eaten in a prisoner-of-war camp." I have suffered a lot, and I think he will be happy to complete such a proud thing."

Regarding the candidate proposed by Sokov, Sidolin and Ivanov, after discussing in a low voice, nodded in agreement with Sokov: "Okay, Comrade Commander, Captain Guchakov will carry it out." That mission. Also, which interpreter are you going to send? Also, where should we go to persuade the Germans to surrender?"

"The new commander of the front army will send someone to send a letter of persuasion later. Captain Guchakov's task is to find a way to get the Germans in contact to pass the letter of surrender to Paulus." Sokov said in After considering the candidate for an interpreter in his mind, he said: "As for the interpreter, in my opinion, let Corporal Ernst go. Now, Comrade Chief of Staff, please call Captain Guchakov first and ask him to come to the division. Ministry to accept the task."

   After receiving the notification, Guchakov rushed over in only half an hour. On a very cold day, when he walked into the division headquarters and took off his hat, Sokov saw that his forehead was covered with sweat. After Guchakov raised his hand to salute several division leaders, he asked respectfully, "Captain Guchakov, commander of the 3rd Battalion and 9th Company, was ordered to come here, please give instructions!"

"Comrade Captain, please come here." Sokov waved to him, called him to the wall, pointed to the map hanging on the wall and said to him: "We are about to launch a new offensive against the German army. , there is a arduous and glorious task to be entrusted to you to complete."

  Since the last time he led a sneak attack on the enemy's rear and achieved great results and was promoted to captain, Guchakov has become keen on performing various difficult tasks. Although the task was very dangerous, it was easy to make meritorious deeds, so he said to Sokov respectfully: "Comrade commander, please give me an order, and I assure you that I will resolutely complete the task you entrusted to me. "

"It is like this. Due to the powerful offensive of our army, Manstein's army group was defeated, and the invaders were driven by our army to Kharkov, Luhansk and Rostov-on-Don, and were surrounded by the enemy. The morale of the army began to decline. Not only the soldiers and officers, but even the generals no longer believed that they could break out." Sokov said to Guchakov: "At this time, we have to take some special measures. This further demoralized and demoralized the German officers and soldiers."

   It was the first time that Guchakov heard the definite news of victory from Sokov. His face was flushed with excitement, and he asked anxiously: "Comrade commander, I wonder what special measures you plan to take?"

"Take Corporal Ernst and drive to the German position." Sokov said with a smile on his face, "You find a way to hand over the surrender letter written by Comrade Front Army Commander to Paulus. "

"Hand over the letter of persuasion to Paulus?" Hearing the task assigned by Sokov, Guchakov showed a troubled expression on his face: "Comrade commander, I'm worried that before I get close to the enemy's position, I will would be shot by the Germans."

"Don't worry, Captain Guchakov." Sokov comforted him and said, "Before you go to the German positions, we will release a few prisoners in advance, and let them go back and report to the enemy, saying that we have someone to negotiate with. Wait for the enemy After being notified, you and Ernst can take the jeep to the enemy's position."

  (end of this chapter)