Red Moscow

Before confirming that Hornadorf, the commander of the Sixth Armored Division, died in his own position, Sukov immediately understood why the German offensive was so abnormal.

After hearing the news, Marankin, the commander of the Guard Division, saw Hornerdorf's body and asked Keida curiously: "Comrade Colonel, I heard that Hornerdorf was in a Panther tank. Killed?"

"That's right, he was in the Panther tank when it was destroyed."

"However, except for the wound on the chest and the charred part of his clothes, his body is basically intact." Marankin said with some surprise: "It stands to reason that the bodies dragged out of the destroyed tanks should not be all Was it burnt?"

"I guess it was because the tank crew around him dragged his body out of the tank in time after the tank was destroyed, so that it could be preserved so completely." Keida explained to Marankin: "The comrades we sent to search for his body reported , said that his body was found in a bomb crater near the tank. According to the analysis of the situation at the scene, it should be two loyal subordinates who wanted to take his body back, but they were shot dead by our army, and then fell into the tank. In the crater."

"The enemy who attacked our division's defense area drew all their troops here. Presumably they want to take back Hornerdorf's body?" In the bomb crater not far away, why didn’t the enemy find it?”

"This, this..." Marankin's question really caught Keida's mind. He muttered for a long time, but he didn't say a reason.

Fortunately, Sokov came out in time to make a rescue: "Perhaps the enemy thought that Hornadorf's body was still in the Panther tank. Because the tank was burning all the time, they couldn't get close to the tank at all, so they desperately attacked our position. After trying to seize the position, organize people to find the corpse."

"So that's the case." Marankin asked Sokov tentatively after he figured out what was going on: "General Sokov, I saw the enemy's offensive is fierce, and I'm worried that your strength will not be able to stop their attack. You see , do you need me to send some troops over for reinforcements?"

"No, we still have two regiments of troops at our disposal." Although the Germans were attacking fiercely, Sokov was unwilling to easily mobilize friendly troops. The breakthrough point chooses to attack. Once the defense line is broken, I can hardly escape the blame.

"Comrade Commander," Keida was overjoyed when he heard that Marankin was willing to send troops to support him, but after hearing that Sokov rejected the other party's offer, he couldn't help feeling a little anxious: "The enemy's offensive is very fierce. If it continues like this Go on, at most an hour, and the 562 regiment will be wiped out."

"The 562 regiments have all been wiped out, don't they still have the 564 and 568 regiments?" Sokov said disapprovingly, "When the front is tight, they can also be put into battle."

"The 568th Regiment was deployed in the rear of the 305th Division according to your order to ensure that the enemy can block them in time when they break through the line of defense." Koyda reminded Sokov: "With such a fierce offensive from the enemy, even if we Putting the 564 regiment into the front line, I'm afraid it won't last long."

"Comrade Colonel," Sokov saw that Keida was always thinking about the strength in Marankin's hands, and reminded him: "With the reinforcements of General Marankin, our strength can indeed be enhanced. But have you thought about it?" However, the defense of our left wing will become weak because of this. Once the enemy chooses there as a new breakthrough and implements an effective breakthrough. Who will bear the responsibility at that time, me or you, or General Marankin? "

Sokov's words silenced both Keida and Marankin. It was simply impossible to mobilize troops in broad daylight without being discovered by the Germans. Once the Germans find out that the defenders have transferred new troops from the left flank, maybe they will adjust the direction of attack. After all, their troops almost broke through the defenders' defense line not long ago.

"Then what should we do?" Keida asked in a low voice, "Should we just let the enemy break through our defense line?"

"We must find a way to temporarily stop the enemy's attack and give us a chance to repair the fortifications."

"Will the enemy give us such an opportunity?"

"Yes, the Germans will definitely give it." Sokov smiled triumphantly, and then told Koida: "Comrade Colonel, ask someone to bring the captured German second lieutenant Kahn over."

"A captured German second lieutenant?" Keida heard Sukov's strange order and asked in puzzlement: "We have already interrogated him, and I am afraid he has nothing to explain."

"I plan to send him as my messenger to meet Manstein and ask him to stop attacking our position."

Although Kuida felt that Sokov's statement was too ridiculous, but out of habitual obedience, he still picked up the phone, called the guard battalion, and ordered: "I am Kuida, take that Kahn, a captured German second lieutenant, and bring them to my headquarters."

After a few minutes, the German Second Lieutenant Kahn was brought into the headquarters. When he saw that there was another elderly general in the room, he couldn't help but feel hairy, wondering if he was going to shoot himself?

"Second Lieutenant Kahn," Sokov and other translators appeared, and immediately said to him, "I want you to be my messenger to see Manstein and ask him to cease fire immediately."

After listening to the translated content, Kahn couldn't help but sneered in his heart. Don't think that you are great as a general. You think that with your few words, you want our great Marshal Manstein to stop attacking your position. Offensive? It is simply a fantasy.

After seeing the sneer on Kahn's mouth, Sokov said calmly: "By the way, Mr. Second Lieutenant, I forgot to introduce myself to you. My full name is Mikhail Mikhail Ernovich Sokov is the commander of the 27th Army. If you tell Manstein my name after you go back, he will know who I am."

Unexpectedly, after listening to Kahn, he immediately respected Sokov: "You are General Sokov, the commander who commanded the troops to hold on to Mamayev Gangda for several months?"

"That's right, during the Battle of Stalingrad, I was indeed in command of the troops that defended Mamayev Post."

After confirming Sokov's identity, Kahn quickly raised his hand and saluted Sokov with a solemn military salute: "Hello, General Sokov, Second Lieutenant Kahn is very happy to serve you."

"Very good." Seeing the other party's cooperation, Sokov nodded with a smile, and continued: "I want you to go back to see General Knobelsdorf, commander of your 48th Panzer Army, and ask him to tell Manstein Marshal Yin said that the body of Hornerdorf, the commander of the Sixth Armored Division, has fallen into our hands. As long as he stops attacking, we can exchange."

Knowing that Hornerdorf's body had fallen into the hands of the Soviet army, Kahn was secretly relieved. He knew very well that even if the two sides were enemies, the Russians would not be able to do anything to a corpse. . After a short pause, he continued to ask: "Mr. General, can I ask, what should we exchange for Hornerdorf's corpse and the general's corpse?"

"I hope that Marshal Manstein can exchange the captured commanders and fighters of our army for Hornerdorf's body." Sokov didn't know how Manstein would respond to his proposal, so he cautiously Said: "If your Marshal Manstein agrees to an exchange, we can arrange the next step of the negotiation."

"Mr. General," Kahn thought for a while, and proposed to Sokov: "Look, can you write a personal letter, so that when I report to General Knobelsdorf, it will be more convincing."

Regarding Kahn's proposal, Sokov felt that it made sense, so he picked up a pen and paper at the table, and wrote a letter to General Knobelsdorf and Marshal Manstein. Use Hornerdorf's body in exchange for captured Soviet commanders and fighters. After writing the letter, it was handed over to Kahn. Kahn took the letter and carefully put it in his coat pocket.

Sokov considered that the fierce battle in his defense zone was in full swing, even if Kahn was allowed to go out holding the white flag, he might be killed. So he asked Marankin who was sitting on the side for help: "General Marankin, I would like to ask you to send this German second lieutenant from your defense zone to the enemy's side."

Marankin readily agreed to Sokov's proposal, "Don't worry, General Sokov. I will definitely send someone to send him safely to the enemy's side."

Marankin took Kahn back to his headquarters, found two smart fighters, and ordered them to drive a jeep with a white flag and send Kahn to the enemy's side.

Although most of the enemies on the opposite side of the Guards Division were transferred to the left flank to attack the 188th Division's defense area, when they saw a jeep with a white flag driving over in the distance, a German lieutenant led his men to meet him.

In order to avoid misunderstanding, the jeep stopped more than ten meters away from the German officers and soldiers. When the car stopped and asked, Kahn pushed the door open and got out of the car. He raised his hands and walked towards the other party. At the same time, he shouted loudly: "Don't shoot, don't shoot. Your own people, your own people!"

Hearing the shout, the lieutenant quickly ordered his subordinates to lower their guns, then walked up to Kahn, and asked sharply, "Which part are you from?"

After Kahn articulated his name, position, and the number of his unit, he said to the lieutenant: "Mr. Lieutenant, please send me to see General Knobelsdorf immediately, I have important information. Report to him."

Although the lieutenant was full of doubts in his heart, since the other party said that he had something important to see the army commander, he did not dare to neglect, so he quickly arranged for someone to send Cohen to the headquarters of the 48th Armored Army.

At this moment, General Knobelsdorf, the commander of the 48th Panzer Army, was like ants on a hot pot, pacing back and forth in his command cabin anxiously. He received Manstein's death order to take the Russian positions at all costs and snatch Hornerdorf's body back.

However, a few hours later, although the army's offensive was fierce, they still failed to break through the front position. When he was in a hurry, a staff officer came in and reported to him: "Mr. Commander, there is a second lieutenant outside who wants to see you."

Hearing that it was only a second lieutenant who wanted to see him, Knobelsdorf waved his hand and said impatiently: "No see, you go out and drive him away."

"Your Excellency, Commander," the staff officer saw that Knobelsdorf was unwilling to see Kahn, and quickly explained: "This second lieutenant was captured by the Russians not long ago, and it is said that the Russians sent him back to deliver a letter."

"The Russians sent him back to deliver a letter?" The staff officer's words aroused Knobelsdorf's curiosity, and he quickly ordered: "Let him in."

After Kahn entered the command cabin along the small stairs, he raised his hand to salute Knobelsdorf, and loudly announced his name, military rank and position. Knobelsdorf waved his hand and said impatiently: "Tell me, what did the Russians send you back to deliver the letter? Are you planning to surrender to our army?"

"No, Your Excellency Commander, they are not going to surrender." Kahn replied.

"Since it's not about surrender, then there's nothing to say." Knobelsdorf didn't hear the answer he wanted, so he waved his hand at Kahn, ready to throw him out: "You go out first."

Unexpectedly, Kahn stood still and said respectfully: "The Russian who asked me to deliver the letter is Major General Sokov. He also wrote a personal letter to you and Marshal Manstein."

"What, lieutenant, who did you say sent you to deliver the letter?" Knobelsdorf asked in surprise.

"Major General Sokov," Kahn replied clearly, "Major General Sokov, the commander of the Russian 27th Army."

Knowing that Kahn was delivering the letter under Sokov's order, Knobelsdorf couldn't help but gasped: "So, Sokov's troops are defending the position that we have been unable to break through for a long time?"

"Yes, Your Excellency Commander." Kahn replied, "The Russian troops standing in front of us are indeed commanded by Major General Sokov."

"It's no wonder." When he found out that his opponent was actually Sokov, Knobelsdorf couldn't help but secretly heaved a sigh of relief. If he was defeated by other Russian generals, he would feel very useless. When he learned that the troops commanded by Sokov were in front, he felt that the attack he launched could not make progress, which seemed to be a matter of course.

"Where is General Sokov's personal letter?" Knobelsdorf asked.

"Here." Kahn quickly took out the letter and handed it to Knobelsdorf.

Knobelsdorf opened the letter and saw that it was all in Russian, which he couldn't understand at all. Then he ordered the staff next to him: "Go find a translator who understands Russian, and I want to find out what is written in the letter."

"Yes, Your Excellency, Commander." The staff officer quickly agreed, "I'll find a suitable translator immediately."