Red Moscow

Chapter 2540

　　Enter the prisoner-of-war camp and pass through a row of neatly arranged wooden houses. An open field appears in front of you. A group of German prisoners of war are playing football in the middle. There are hundreds of prisoners of war watching. In the middle of them, there are many American guards with live ammunition.

Jones took the initiative to explain to the members of the inspection team: "The relationship between our soldiers and German prisoners of war is very harmonious. Every time there is a football match, our soldiers will be on the sidelines to cheer for their favorites as long as they are not on duty. Cheering for the team.”

Hearing what Colonel Jones said, Kolb had a smile on his face. Seeing the scene in front of him, he couldn't help but have a suspicion about the rumors of prisoner abuse. After all, prisoners of war like this watched football games with their guards. This was the first time he had seen this situation.

When Sokov saw this, he laughed and said to himself: "I'm afraid these guards are not here to watch the football, are they? They are all loaded with guns and ammunition, and they are crowded among the German prisoners of war. I am afraid they are to maintain order and avoid unknown people. Prisoners of war, alive and dead, ran to tell the truth to the inspection team."

“Colonel Jones,” French General Tarsini pointed at a group of prisoners of war holding musical instruments on the sidelines and asked, “What do they do?”

"Band!" Jones said triumphantly: "They heard that you were coming to inspect, so they came to me specifically and made a request to me, hoping to let them play for you." After that, he turned to the band on the sidelines. He made a gesture to indicate that the performance could begin.

Music sounded, and the prisoner-of-war musicians used their own skills and emotions to play beautiful melodies.

 Even though Sokov was a layman about music, he quickly recognized that what was being played was Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony," also known as "Ode to Joy."

 In Europe, every year on December 31st and New Year's Day, Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony" will be performed in cities large and small. In Germany, this tradition has continued for a full 100 years, and this tradition has not been interrupted even during the mustache period and post-war East and West Germany.

In 1972, the European Commission announced that "Ode to Joy" would be the official anthem of Europe; in 1985, "Ode to Joy" officially became the EU's anthem.

When the Berlin Wall fell in 1989, the American conductor Bernstein went to Berlin and conducted the "Ninth Symphony" at the Brandenburg Gate, the dividing line between East and West Berlin, and changed the word "joy" in the lyrics to "freedom". ", so "Ode to Joy" became "Ode to Freedom."

 After the performance, Kolb and Tassini took the lead in applauding and said loudly: "Not bad, not bad, the performance level is no worse than that of a professional symphony orchestra."

"Mr. Kolb, General Tarsini." Jones said to the two of them respectfully: "Many of the prisoners of war who participated in the performance were members of the symphony orchestra before the war, so their performance level was quite high. "

When he heard Kolb using various words of praise to praise the band's performance, Sokov couldn't help but think of a movie he had seen before. Every time a new Jew arrived in the concentration camp, the Germans would arrange one. A Jewish band played on the railway platform, giving the newly arrived Jews the illusion that this new place was very friendly to them, but no one could have imagined that a gas chamber would be waiting for them.

Sokov's eyes saw a touch of sadness on the faces of the prisoners of war in the symphony orchestra, the prisoners of war playing football, and the onlookers. It was obvious that their presence here today was not their intention, but was being guarded by the US military. Brought here.

Although he guessed the real thoughts in the hearts of the German prisoners of war, Sokov still adopted the attitude of seeing through and not telling the truth. Since they chose the US military, whatever fate they suffered in the prisoner of war camp was their own fault and had nothing to do with them. Relationship.

"Colonel Jones," Kolb, who was in a good mood, said to Colonel Jones: "Can you introduce me to some officers in the prisoner of war camp? I want to know about the situation in the prisoner of war camp from them." Maybe he was worried about Jones. Bad thoughts, he also specifically explained, "I came here this time just to understand the real situation in the prisoner of war camp."

Jones had obviously already prepared a response to Kolb's proposal. He quickly called an officer and whispered a few instructions into the other's ear. The officer nodded after hearing this, then turned and left.

After the officer left, Jones smiled and said to Kolb: "Mr. Kolb, in order not to affect the ongoing football match, I specially ordered someone to find several officers who were among the German prisoners of war, and they will introduce them to you. Situation in the Prisoner of War Camp."

 A few minutes later, the officer came over with three German officers. Sokov took a look and saw that the one with the highest military rank was a major in his forties, the youngest was a lieutenant, and the one in the middle was a captain.

Jones raised his hand and clapped his hands several times. After all the inspection team's attention was focused on him, he said to the three German officers: "Gentlemen, let me introduce to you. This is from the Red Cross Mr. Charlie Kolb of the International Committee of the Communist Party of China is here to investigate the actual living conditions in the prisoner of war camp to see if there is any legendary prisoner abuse. You can answer whatever he asks without any scruples. Do you hear that? ?”

 “I heard it.” The three German officers replied weakly.

Kolb stepped forward and, with the help of an interpreter, asked the three officers his questions.

 The selection of these three officers was naturally arranged by Colonel Jones in advance. They should have prepared answers to questions Kolb might ask.

 In the subsequent questioning, Sokov heard the three officers describe the prisoner of war camp as being like paradise through Agelina's translation. According to them, in addition to the absence of any form of prisoner abuse in the prisoner-of-war camp, the guards also treated them as a family, asking about their welfare all day long, making them feel like home here.

Sokov couldn’t listen anymore, and quickly raised his hand to stop Agelina: “Okay, Agelina, there is no need to translate anymore.”

Agelina said with some surprise: "Misha, I haven't finished translating yet."

“No need to translate anymore.” Sokov shook his head and said, “They are all lies, whether you listen to them or not is the same thing.”

Vaseligov, who had been standing silently beside him, asked curiously: "Comrade General, do you also think these German officers are telling lies?"

"That's right." Sokov did not hide his true opinion at all: "Comrade Major, you must know what the situation is in the prisoner of war camp. Do you think one of the words said by these three German officers is true? "Vaseligov had just heard Agelina's translation, and he was already full of doubts. Now that he heard Sokov's question, he was sure that his doubts were justified, and he nodded quickly and said: "Comrade General, you are right. None of what these three German officers said is true."

Sokov took out the cigarette case from his pocket. With a shake of his hand, a cigarette jumped out of the cigarette case: "Major, have a cigarette!"

 When Vaselgov took away the cigarette, Sokov took out another one and held it in his mouth. Vaserigov quickly took out a lighter and lit it for him.

After Kolb finished asking the questions he wanted to ask, a satisfied smile appeared on his face. He turned to Patton, Tasini and Sokov and asked: "Three generals, do you have any questions that you need to ask? "

Patton first shook his head and said: "I have always believed that prisoner abuse is impossible in US military prisoner-of-war camps. The person who reported this news to you must have ulterior motives."

"I think General Patton is right." After Patton finished speaking, Tassini also echoed: "I think the character of the person who fabricated such rumors is very bad. Mr. Kolb, because of his rumors, harmed You had to come all the way from Switzerland, but the trip was in vain."

"It's not in vain." Kolb said with a smile: "I came here for such a trip. After I figured out the real situation in the prisoner of war camp, I could go back and explain to the committee."

Jones saw that Kolb, Patton and Tassini had all expressed their opinions, but Sokov, who represented the Soviet army, was smoking with his adjutant and seemed not to be interested in what was happening here at all. However, Jones stepped forward and asked Sokov politely: "General Sokov, do you have any questions?"

Sokov came to the prisoner of war camp today on behalf of Zhukov, just to go through the motions. He didn't want to get into trouble, so after hearing Jones' question, he quickly waved his hand to indicate that he had no questions to ask.

Unexpectedly, at this moment, something unexpected happened. The major among the three officers suddenly walked over quickly.

Vaserigov threw away the unfinished cigarette **** in his hand and quickly stood in front of Sokov. At the same time, he pulled out the gun from his waist and pointed the gun at the approaching German major. He shouted: "Stop, if you move forward, I will shoot."

When Vaserigov pointed his gun at the German major, the American guards standing next to Patton and Tasini raised their guns and pointed their guns at the German major. They could only After giving the order, he shot at the German major.

"Major Vaselgov, put down the gun." Seeing this situation, Sokov was worried that if he was not careful, it would lead to bloodshed. He quickly ordered Vaselgov to put down the gun in his hand, and then put it down. He pulled him aside, took a step toward the German major, and asked politely: "Mr. Major, what can I do for you?"

When Agelina translated Sokov's words, the muscles on the major's face twitched violently for a few times, and then asked with a trembling voice: "Mr. General, are you the one who served in the 27th Army Group?" Commander’s Sokov?”

“Yes, that’s me.” Sokov asked curiously, “Mr. Major, do you know me?”

"Mr. General!" The German major quickly stood at attention, raised his hand to salute Sokov, and said respectfully: "My name is Peterson. I am originally from the 19th Armored Division. My unit was in the Battle of Kursk. , was defeated by the troops under your command. Fortunately, I was injured and sent to the rear, otherwise I would have become your prisoner."

Hearing the other party mention the 19th Armored Division, Sokov couldn't help but remember that the other party sent people to attack the field hospital and captured Asiya and a group of medical staff. He was so angry that he personally commanded the troops to attack the 19th Armored Division. The division launched an attack, and it took only half a day to completely defeat this force.

"It turns out we are an old acquaintance." After Sokov figured out the identity of the other party, a smile appeared on his face. He took two steps forward and held Peterson's hand. He said politely: "Major Peterson, nice to meet you." you."

Peterson glanced at Agelina, who was translating for Sokov, and asked cautiously: "Mr. General, is this your wife? I later heard from my comrades that you had no plan to attack our division at that time. Just because the reconnaissance team sent out at night attacked your field hospital and captured your wife and several medical staff, you then changed your battle plan and directly commanded the troops to defeat us. "

"No." Now that the war is over, the German officers and soldiers have also put down their weapons and entered the prisoner of war camp. Sokov no longer regards the German major in front of him as an enemy. He responded politely: "She is not my wife, she is one of my My friend came here to help me as a translator."

 Patton saw that Sokov and Major Peterson were having a good chat, and couldn't help but come over and ask: "General Sokov, what do you think of this German major?"

Before Sokov could speak, Peterson said to Patton: "General Patton, you may not know that General Sokov's name is a taboo in our army, and no one is willing to mention it casually. Because once it is mentioned, It means that this unit will fight with the troops under his command. You know, the Imperial Division, the Skeleton Division, the Viking Division and the Flag Guard Division face other Russian troops, let alone one-on-one, even if the other side has a group army, we will. There is still a chance of winning, but we have no chance of winning when we encounter the troops commanded by General Sokov. The four SS divisions I just mentioned have all suffered defeats at his hands, and even some. Some divisions were defeated several times.”

When Patton first met Sokov, he felt that he was too young. He even guessed that to achieve such a high military rank at his age, he must have a very powerful background. But when I heard what Peterson said, I immediately realized that there might be something wrong with my guess, and quickly said to Peterson: "Major Peterson, please tell me what happened to General Sokov on the battlefield."

Peterson did not immediately answer Patton's question. Instead, he stared at Sokov and asked: "General Sokov, may I say something?"

"Of course, Major Peterson." Sokov knew very well that even if he didn't tell about his achievements on the battlefield, Patton would get a general idea when he went back to check. Since this is the case, why not say it openly, so he confidently said to Peterson: "Since General Patton wants to know, tell him everything you know."

With Sokov's permission, Peterson began to tell General Patton about Sokov's exploits on the battlefield.

Of course, Patton was not the only one who heard Peterson's story. Kolb, Tassini, and their entourage also heard it.

As Peterson told it, everyone's gaze on Sokov changed. They never dreamed that Sokov, a general who looked a little too young, would actually achieve such feats on the battlefield.