Red Moscow

  Chapter 172 Commander's gift

   "Second Lieutenant Elizabeth," Sokov waited for Schwab to finish speaking, and immediately said to the female second lieutenant: "I am Major Sokov, can I help you?"

   "Thank you, Mr. Major. No need." The beautiful blond female second lieutenant with a high bun said coldly, "I can handle it by myself."

Sokov called an officer, pointed to the prisoners who were walking outside, and told him: "Comrade lieutenant, you take these prisoners back to the division headquarters and hand them over to the commander. Remember, you have to Promise me with your life that they will not make the slightest mistake on the road."

"Understood, Comrade Major." The lieutenant who spoke was a company commander. Most of the soldiers in his company died in the attack on the church. He originally planned to shoot all the German prisoners after leaving the church. Revenge for fallen comrades. After listening to Sokov's instructions at this moment, he could only look at the prisoners who were walking outside with hatred, and replied helplessly, "I will definitely send them back to the division headquarters safely."

Although Elizabeth refused Sokov's help, Sokov knew very well in his heart that there must be a lot of dead German soldiers parked beside the stairs in the basement at this moment, and let such a beautiful female second lieutenant see this scene , I will definitely have nightmares at night. So he called Oleg over and said to him: "Comrade Sergeant, take a few people and bring up the radio station below."

  Oleg led someone to bring the radio up, and said to Sokov: "Comrade Battalion Commander, it's really scary down here, there are bombed corpses everywhere..."

"Okay, Sergeant Oleg, stop talking." Hearing that the situation below was exactly as he had imagined, Sokov hurriedly interrupted Oleg's words, and ordered: "Every minute of delay now, Many people will die, immediately set up the antenna of the radio station, let Colonel Schwab inform the German army to stop resisting, put down their weapons and surrender to our army."

After the radio was connected, Elizabeth first established contact with all the radio stations in the town, and then Schwab took the microphone and said to his subordinates over and over again in German: "I am Colonel Schwab, and the resistance is gone." In any sense, in order to save the lives of more soldiers. I now order that all hostilities against the Russians cease immediately, lay down their arms and surrender."

  After Schwab's surrender order was issued, the sound of gunfire in the town quickly became sparse.

Rokossovsky, who was in the division's observation post, heard the sound of gunfire in the direction of the town of Marklaki gradually subsiding, and asked Chernyshov on the side in some puzzlement: "What's going on? How did I hear that?" The sound of the guns in the town has become less?"

"That's right, Comrade Commander, I heard that too." After Chernyshov said this, he immediately turned his head and told the radio operator sitting in the corner: "Get in touch with Major Sokov immediately and see what's going on. What's going on?"

  If Chernyshev's order had been issued a few minutes earlier, it is estimated that the radio operator would not be able to contact Sokov for a while. But as the third echelon entered the town of Maklaki, Belgin took a radio and found Sokov in the church. He was about to report the results to the division headquarters, but he received a call from the division headquarters first.

Chernyshov was eager to learn about the situation in the town, so he shouted directly in plain language: "Major Sokov, I am Chernyshov, how is the situation in the town? Why did I hear the guns coming from inside?" The sound gradually became thinner?"

"Report to Comrade Commander," Sokov said into the microphone with some pride, "Our department has successfully captured the church and captured the German regiment commander, Colonel Schwab. The army surrendered."

   "What, what did you say?" Chernyshov asked back in surprise: "Say it again."

Sokov understood what was going on with Chernyshov's reaction, and quickly repeated: "Comrade commander, after our army successfully captured Colonel Schwab, the commander of the German army, the enemy has stopped resisting in an organized way. , is surrendering to our army."

"Major Sokov," Rokossovsky vaguely heard Sokov's report from the side, he took the earphone and microphone from Chernyshev's hand, and asked cautiously: "You Have you confirmed that the German troops in the town have begun to surrender?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Sokov quickly replied, "After Colonel Schwab shouted, the sound of gunfire in the town subsided. I also sent someone to check. Come out of your hiding place, lay down your arms and surrender to our army."

"Major Sokov," Rokossovsky said to him after listening to Sokov's answer, "According to the information we have, the area of ​​the basement is about the same as the entire church. You must send someone in. Search carefully to prevent enemies from hiding inside."

"Understood, Comrade Commander." Although Sokov knew in his heart that no matter how big the basement was, there would be no German soldiers hiding in it, he still replied respectfully, "I'll send someone down to search. "

  ...

  When the resistance in the town stopped completely, Sokov and Belkin left the town and returned to the division headquarters to report, while Sergei followed behind with a platoon of guards to ensure the safety of the two.

As soon as Sokov entered the division headquarters, Chernyshov stepped forward to give him a warm hug, patted his back vigorously with his hands, and said happily: "Well done, Major Sokov, You and your subordinates are doing well. I really didn't expect you to capture this important German stronghold in such a short period of time. If I hadn't seen groups of prisoners with my own eyes, in our I walked out of the town under the **** of soldiers, and I couldn't believe it was real."

  Although Sokov was taken aback by Chernyshov, he could only grit his teeth and endure it, because according to Russian tradition, the harder you shake hands or hug, the more friendly the other party is to you.

"Comrade Commander," Sokov waited for Chernyshov to let go, then scanned the room and found no trace of Rokossovsky, so he asked curiously, "I don't know where Comrade Commander is going. place?"

Chernyshov said with a smile: "Comrade Commander reported the results of our battle to the Commander of the Front Army, but General Zhukov didn't believe it and thought we were deceiving him. No, Comrade Commander hurriedly I rushed back to the Army Group Headquarters and planned to write a written report and hand it in.”

After Chernyshov finished speaking, he turned around and walked to the table, picked up a paper package on the table, handed it to Sokov, and said, "This is a gift from the commander to the female soldiers of your battalion. "

   "A gift for the female soldier?" Sukov, who was confused, took the paper bag, opened it in front of everyone, and saw a few beautifully wrapped chocolates and two bars of soap inside. Seeing these things, Sokov looked up at Chernyshov and asked in puzzlement: "Comrade commander, I don't understand why the commander suddenly gave gifts to the female soldiers?"

  Chernyshov did not immediately answer Sokov's question, but asked back with a smile on his face: "Do you know what day it is today?"

   "What date?" Sokov couldn't help blurting out: "March 6th."

   "That's right, today is March 6th. In two days' time, it will be March 8th Women's Day." Chernyshov said with a smile, "This is a holiday gift from Comrade Commander to the female soldiers of your battalion!"

  After being reminded by Chernyshov, Sokov immediately thought that March 8th Women's Day in Russia might be a major festival after New Year's Day, May 1st, and October Revolution Day. According to tradition, on this day, men have to give gifts to women they are familiar with, usually flowers, chocolates and some gadgets. But in March in Russia, it is still a world of ice and snow, so you can imagine how expensive the price of flowers is. But now on the battlefield, even if you have money, you have no place to buy flowers. On the contrary, the two pieces of soap given by Rokossovsky are extremely precious.

Sokov wrapped the gift carefully, looked at Chernyshov and said: "Comrade Commander, if possible, please convey to Comrade Commander our thanks to him for the gift he gave to the female soldiers. After finishing speaking, he raised his hand and saluted Chernyshov with a solemn military salute.

  (end of this chapter)