Burning Moscow

Chapter 1682 The shadow of the famous tree of man

Katukov’s tank troops successively passed the Meseritz fortification area. Since the German reserve team had not arrived yet, the People’s Stormtroopers, which was serving as a blocking task along the way, were vulnerable, so the vanguard troops successfully reached the east bank of the Oder River. After learning the news, Katukov and I celebrated with high fives and cheered for his troops reaching the bank of the Oder River.

Although I reported this exciting good news to Zhukov in the form of telegram at the first time. However, I still felt that I was still not satisfied, so I urged Katukov’s communications director to establish a telephone connection with the front army headquarters.

Hearing Zhukov’s familiar voice from the earpiece, I immediately reported to him with excitement: “Comrade Marshal, the two guard tank brigades and one guard mechanized brigade of General Katukov have successfully arrived. By the Oder River.”

Zhukov waited for me to finish, and asked unhurriedly: “Then when can you cross the Oder River and build a landing field on the other side of the river?”

I turned my head and glanced at Katukov, who was sitting next to him. He heard the conversation between Zhukov and I through the extension. After a moment of silence, I said: “Comrade Marshal, I plan to establish a landing field on the opposite shore early tomorrow morning. .”

Zhukov immediately became interested: “Tell me about your plan.”

“According to the report of the vanguard, although the river is frozen, tanks cannot be passed.” Katukov said carefully: “So I plan to let the engineers build bridges for tanks overnight. At the same time, I will send out infantry tonight. Build artillery positions on the opposite bank. In this way, as long as our artillery crosses the river, they can immediately enter the firing position.”

When the two were discussing the details of the battle to cross the river, I began to think of Cui Koff in my heart. I wonder what the results of the attack on Poznan launched by his 8th Guards Army?

After a while, I heard Zhukov call his name on the phone, and quickly agreed: “Comrade Marshal, do you have any instructions?”

“Because the city of Poznan and the fortifications are equipped with powerful artillery and are heavily guarded. Cuikov and the others have tried to break into the city many times, but they have not succeeded.” Zhukov said in a low voice: “Fortunately yours. The action was swift. Before the German reserve team arrived, they successfully broke through the fortified area of ​​Messeritz. Otherwise, waiting for the enemy to destroy the defeated troops and the newly arrived reserve team, they will be deployed on the German-Polish border. In the fortification area, we will have to make breakthroughs again in the future and destroy these defensive areas. In a word, your actions have greatly reduced our army’s unnecessary casualties.”

I know that Zhukov talked so much to me, and there must be important things to explain later, so after patiently waiting for him to finish, he asked: “Comrade Marshal, where should I go next? Go back to General Cui Kefu. , Assist him in capturing Poznan?”

“Yes, that’s what I meant.” Zhukov didn’t go in circles with me, but told the truth: “When it comes to the experience of siege and street fighting, it is estimated that no one in the army can compare with you, because I intend to let you renew Go back to the 8th Guards Army and assist Cuikov in capturing this fortress city.”

“Well, Comrade Marshal, since you have given the order, I will rush back to Poznan as soon as possible.” I was afraid that Zhukov urged me, and added specifically: “I will leave overnight.”

After a night of turbulence, I appeared tiredly in Cui Kefu’s headquarters at dawn.

Seeing my appearance, Cui Kefu was taken aback, and quickly walked over and asked with concern: “Lida, why did you come back from General Katukov?”

“I was ordered to come back to assist you in commanding the siege operations.” I covered my mouth and yawned, and then asked: “General Cui Kefu, tell me about your intelligence here!”

“Lida, the situation is very bad.” Cui Kefu said to me with a bitter face: “The Germans have built a lot of material warehouses in the residential areas of the city, which are filled with weapons, ammunition and various supplies, even in the entire city. Under the condition of being encircled, they can continue to fight for a long time. Because there are still a large number of civilians in many areas, in order to prevent accidental injuries, our artillery cannot shell these areas and can only rely on infantry to move forward a little bit. The progress of the troops was slow, and the casualties were high.”

After Zhukov finished speaking, I asked, “General Cui Koff, I wonder if you have sent someone to shout to the German troops who are standing in this area and use political offensives to force the German troops to lay down their weapons and surrender.”

Hearing my question, Cui Kefu smiled bitterly and said: “Lida, Marshal Zhukov asked us to seize the city within a day and night. Due to the tight time limit, only a military offensive and a political offensive can meet his requirements. , So I personally went to the forefront to speak out, hoping that some Germans would surrender.”

“General Cui Koff, I killed you.” I apologized to Cui Koff. “It’s because we captured Lodz so fast that Marshal Zhukov gave him the illusion that he thought the Germans defending the city were because of The army is weakened and has already become vulnerable. That’s why such harsh conditions have been offered to you.”

“Lida, in fact, this is not a bad thing.” When Cui Kefu said this, his eyes were swept from his deputy’s face, and he said to me with some embarrassment: “To be honest, he is easily taking the city of Rhodes. After that, I also had the idea of ​​underestimating the enemy. I felt that the enemy was vulnerable. As long as our commanders rushed up, the Germans would collapse without fighting. But today’s battle made me realize that I am too much. I underestimated the enemy, so that the troops paid a price they shouldn’t pay.”

“General Cui Kefu, you just said that you personally went to the front to speak to the Germans.” I remembered that when Cui Kefu used to go to the front to speak, I couldn’t help asking curiously: “Are there any Germans coming out to surrender to our army?”

“No, after I finished speaking, I waited for a long time, but I didn’t see the appearance of the white flag.” Cui Kefu shook his head and said, “Since the Germans are unwilling to accept the olive branch we throw out, then we will use force to conquer them. “After that, he picked up a piece of paper on the table and handed it to me, “This is my ultimatum to the German soldiers.”

I took a look and saw that it said: “The soldiers of the besieged defenders of Poznan: Poznan has been encircled, and you have no way out. I, General Cuikov, advise you to lay down your arms and surrender immediately. I promise. Your lives are safe and you will be sent back to your home country after the war. Otherwise, you will be annihilated, and many residents of Poznan will be sacrificed innocently because of your crimes.

Raise the white flag and bravely come over to our army! ”

The signature is “Cui Kefu”.

After I saw this ultimatum, I felt that the above content was a bit too blunt. People who have a little temperament would not surrender when they heard Cui Kefu say this, let alone those diehards who were brainwashed by the Nazis.

I put the ultimatum on the table, then looked up at Cui Koff and said, “General Cui Koff, before our army has launched a new attack on the city, I want to try it. Maybe it will have a certain effect.”

“Comrade Deputy Commander of the Front Army, please forgive me.” Hearing what I said, Military Commissioner Pronin stood up and poured cold water on me. “The Germans are too stubborn, and General Cui Kefu’s attempt has failed. I don’t think it can be done by changing individuals. To achieve the kind of effect we want to achieve.”

I looked at Pronin and smiled and said: “Comrade Military Commissioner, if I go to speak to the Germans, it may not have any effect; but if I don’t go, the Germans will definitely not surrender. If this is the case, it’s better to touch it. Try your luck, what do you think?”

Hearing my question, Pronin said awkwardly: “Maybe, maybe you are right, you should try it and see what effect it can achieve.”

Seeing that I wanted to go to the front to speak to the Germans, Cui Kefu gave a few words to Deputy Commander Dukhanov and Chief of Staff Vladimirov. Then he took me, surrounded by the company of guards, and drove to the city. Residential area in the southeast.

We went to the headquarters of the 27th Guards Infantry Division. The area was only 500 meters away from the German defense position. Seeing me and Cui Kefu walking into their headquarters, the division commander Major General Glebov couldn’t help but widened his eyes and asked in surprise: “Two commanders, why did you come to me?”

Cui Koff walked quickly towards the lookout, and at the same time asked, “Master Glebov, how is your situation here? Are there any movements from the Germans?”

“No,” Glebov said to Cuikov, standing next to Trikov, pointing to the rubble in the distance: “Because there is no support from artillery fire, it is very difficult for us to clear the German soldiers hiding in the rubble. “.

“Comrade commander, you can’t use artillery.” Cuikov put down his binoculars and said to Glebov who was standing next to him: “There are still a lot of civilians in those areas. If we fired artillery, we would inevitably injure them.”

“But in this way, we have to sacrifice the lives of our soldiers to occupy these areas.” Glebov said reconciledly: “Know that the Poles are not very friendly to us. Sacrifice our soldiers for them. does it worth?”

“It’s worth it, it’s totally worth it.” Cui Koff said decisively: “This is a great opportunity to change the image of our army in the minds of the Poles. If they see that our commanders and fighters even use tanks and artillery to protect their lives. No need, just use flesh and blood to attack the area occupied by the Germans, the perception of us will change.”

“Well, Comrade Commander, since you have said so, then I will obey your orders unconditionally.” Glebov said reluctantly, “I will give the troops an offensive order.”

“Wait a minute,” Cuikov raised his hand to stop Major General Glebov, and said, looking at me: “The deputy commander of the Front Army intends to try to call the Germans again to see if they are willing to lay down their weapons and surrender.”

“Comrade Commander, didn’t you yell once in person yesterday?” Glebov shrugged his shoulders and spread his hands: “But there is no effect at all.”

“It doesn’t hurt to try.” After Cui Koff said these words, he immediately told Glebov: “Comrade commander, stop talking nonsense, hurry up and take us to the broadcasting room.”

The broadcasting room was located in a building only two hundred meters away from the front. We bent over and walked through the rubble to the building. When we walked into the studio, there was music playing on the phonograph. Glebov said to the soldiers who stood up: “Hurry up and prepare. The deputy commander of the front army will speak to the German officers and soldiers.”

The soldier quickly handed a microphone into my hand, pointed to a button on it and said: “Comrade General, as long as you press this button, you can speak.”

I nodded, and then looked around. Seeing that I hadn’t come to my side, I asked Cui Kefu curiously: “General Cui Kefu, why haven’t people come yet?”

“Who?” Cui Kefu asked confusedly: “Lida, who else are you waiting for?”

“Translation. You never think that I can speak fluent German to the German soldiers hiding in the ruins.” After I said this, I couldn’t help but think of one of the most critical questions, and then whispered to Cui Kefu: “General Cui Koff, you didn’t directly yell at the Germans in Russian yesterday, did you?”

“Yes, I yelled in Russian.” As soon as Cui Koff finished saying this, he raised his hand and slapped his forehead severely, and said annoyedly: “No wonder I yelled for a long time, a surrendered There are no Germans, so I forgot to find someone to translate.” Then he told Glebov, “What are you still trying to do? Go and find a soldier who understands German.”

The content of what I said was only slightly modified in Cui Koff’s manuscript yesterday: “German soldiers, Poznan has been surrounded by our army, and you have no way to retreat. I am the deputy commander of the Belarusian First Front. General Oshanina, I advise you to lay down your weapons and surrender to our army. I guarantee the safety of all of you. Once the war is over, you can return to your homeland and reunite with your family. If you continue If you resist to the end, I will be completely wiped out.

Brothers of the German army, lay down your weapons and come out to surrender to us. This is your last chance! ”

Every time I yell a word, the interpreter next to me yells it in German. But after shouting, I saw that the rubble on the opposite side was still quiet, there was no movement at all. I was thinking to myself: Is it true that my call, like Cui Kefu yesterday, has no effect at all?

Thinking of this, I added a few more words: “Brothers in the German army, Hitler is about to die, and you don’t want to die for them. Bravely raise the white flag and walk towards us. After the fascist Germany is over, you will still be needed. Come to re-establish a brand new Germany.

We want to eliminate the fascists, not the German people. As long as you lay down your weapons and surrender to our army, you will no longer be our enemies, but allies on the united front. Don’t be obsessed anymore, hurry up and raise the white flag and walk towards us. Don’t forget that in the distant motherland, your relatives are looking forward to your return. ”

“Okay, Lida, stop yelling.” Cui Kefu saw that I had yelled repeatedly several times, and some couldn’t stand it, so he quickly persuaded me: “The German on the other side seems to be ready to fight to the end, so we can only Use force to force them to submit. I will prepare the troops for the offensive.”

I looked at the pile of rubble on the opposite side again, and saw that there was still nothing moving, and my heart was suddenly disappointed to the extreme. I nodded and said helplessly: “General Cui Kefu, it seems you are right. We can only use force to destroy them. Let’s go, let’s go back to the division headquarters.”

Just when a few of us turned around and were about to leave the studio the translator standing at the window suddenly shouted: “Comrades generals, come and see, what is that?”

We stopped, turned and looked out the window, only to see what seemed to be movement in the rubble in the distance. I quickly rushed to the window in a vigorous step, and concentrated my eyes on the opposite side. I saw a white flag moving forward among the rubble. First, a steel helmet appeared, and then more steel helmets appeared. Soon, we saw people wearing steel helmets, dozens of unarmed German soldiers, raising their hands to their shoulders, step by step coming out of the rubble. Behind them, more people in casual clothes followed, but from the armbands on their arms, I immediately recognized that this was a member of the People’s Stormtrooper.

“Damn it, the Germans really surrendered!” Cui Koff pushed heavily on Glebov’s shoulder in a daze, and ordered: “Why are you standing here in a daze, don’t you hurry up and take someone to receive the prisoner!” ”

“Yes!” Glebov regained his senses with a loud promise, then turned and ran out of the broadcasting room.

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