Red Moscow

Whether it was Konev or Vatutin, when they received a call from Antonov and learned that Stalin told them not to let go of any German soldiers in the encirclement, they knew in their hearts that the time for the general offensive had come.

Since Antonov stated that this was an order from the Supreme Commander himself, Konev and Vatutin immediately issued an attack order to their troops, and whether their subordinates were ready for battle was out of their consideration Inside, they only know that the enemy in the encirclement must be eliminated.

Troops that are not ready for battle immediately start dispatching troops after receiving the order to attack, and gather the main force in the area where the battle is about to take place. The troops that had already been prepared directly launched an attack on the German positions.

If other German troops were suddenly attacked from so many directions when the breakout operation was unfavorable, they must have been beaten long ago. However, after the powerful offensive of the two Soviet troops started, the progress made was very limited. The reason for this kind of opening has a lot to do with William Stemmerman's command ability. In addition to using the Viking Division and the 72nd Infantry Division to open the way ahead, other areas that may be attacked by the Soviet army, Elite troops were also deployed for defense, responsible for the offensive of the Soviet army, and tried their best to stop the attack of the Soviet army. Worst of all, it will also delay the time for the Soviet army to shrink the encirclement.

In the direction of Heights 239, William Stemmelman still organized the most powerful force and launched an uninterrupted attack. He knew very well in his heart that if he could not break through the 239 Heights, all his troops would be ruined.

The Soviet troops attacking from other directions in the encirclement exposed many shortcomings. Due to the hasty start of the attack, the artillery preparation time of each unit was too short, usually only half an hour. The German army deployed artillery in a targeted manner. After the battle started, it could not only bombard the Soviet offensive formation with artillery fire, block its reserve team, and even implement counter-suppression on the Soviet artillery positions.

Secondly, the tactics of many Soviet commanders were rigid. When their attack on the German positions was repelled, they did not sum up the experience and lessons well, but arbitrarily believed that their soldiers were not brave enough. After regrouping the troops, attack the enemy in the same area and using the same tactics. The final result is naturally self-evident, the enemy repelled them in the same way, and the sacrificed soldiers died miserable and worthless.

The battle continued from day to night, and the encirclement of Cherkasy was reduced by a third, and the area of ​​activity of the besieged German troops became narrower. However, none of the troops put down their weapons, and they were still fighting the Soviets tenaciously. attack.

In order to open a life channel for the besieged troops, William Stemmerman personally came to supervise the battle near Height 239, hoping to see his troops take this highland with his own eyes. The tragic tug-of-war unfolded on the high ground. The officers and soldiers of the Viking Division and the 72nd Infantry Division rushed to the high ground again and again, but before they could gain a firm foothold, the counterattacking Soviet army drove them down again.

Seeing that the sky was getting dark, even the famous Viking division could not completely capture the 239 Heights from the hands of the Soviet army. Looking at the German corpses covering the hillside, William Stemmelmann sighed, and then gave an order with difficulty: "Stop the attack on the 239 highland, temporarily withdraw to rest, wait until tomorrow morning, and then launch an attack on the highland. "

After receiving this order from William Stemmelman, Otto Giller, the commander of the Viking Division, called and asked: "Your Excellency, why do you want to stop the attack?"

"General Giller," William Stemmerman said indifferently, "I can see that both the officers and soldiers of the Viking Division and the 72nd Infantry Division have tried their best. It's a pity that the Russians on the high ground are too tenacious Now, even if we continue to fight, we will not be able to seize the high ground from them, so why not withdraw and rest for a night, and continue fighting tomorrow."

Hearing what William Stemmelman said, General Giller definitely believed that his troops had been fighting for a day, and the officers and soldiers should be exhausted. Let them rest for a night before continuing to fight, and they may achieve unexpected results.

At eight o'clock in the evening, William Stemmelman was commanding the troops in a tent, when a communications officer came up to him and reported, "Your Excellency, we have just received a call from the Russians."

"Calling from the Russians?" William Stemmelmann asked in surprise, "What did they say?"

"They want to negotiate with us." The communications officer replied, "If we agree, they will send us negotiators as soon as possible."

After the communication staff reported, before William Stemmelman could speak, the chief of staff came over and said, "Your Excellency, the Russians are sending people here to negotiate at this moment. They must be trying to persuade them to surrender. I don't think there is any need to meet with them. Just refuse their request."

However, William Stemmelman's consideration of the problem was different from that of the chief of staff of the army. He knew very well that the current situation was very unfavorable to him, and if he continued to fight, the entire army would be in danger of being wiped out. In order to allow more officers and soldiers to survive, he decided to meet with the negotiators of the Soviet army to see what the other party wanted to express.

"Captain," he said to the staff, "please tell the Russians that we agree to negotiate and let them arrange for the negotiators to arrive at our designated location as soon as possible, and we will ensure the personal safety of the negotiators."

After the staff officer recorded William Stemmerman's order, he asked cautiously, "Your Excellency, where do you want them to join our people?"

"Here." William Stemmelman pointed out a location on the map with his right hand, and said with a wry smile: "It's just one kilometer away from the 239 height. I think that the people sent by the Russians to negotiate, seven out of ten The eighth is the commander of the 53rd Army, I would like to see who is the commander of the 53rd Army that can withstand the crazy attack of the Viking Division."

"Okay, Your Excellency General." The staff officer said respectfully: "I will immediately convey your intention to the Russians and make an appointment with them."

Sokov never dreamed that Konev called himself, and did not ask about the battle situation of the day, but gave himself a difficult task: as a representative of the Front Army, to negotiate with William Stammermann , Persuading the other party to lay down their arms and surrender to the Soviet army.

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sukov said embarrassedly when he learned that Konev had entrusted him with an impossible task, "I think even if I go to see William Stemmermann, if I want to let him It is also impossible for him to surrender. In my opinion, it is better not to do such a meaningless thing.”

"Comrade Sokov, how can this be called a meaningless thing?" The troops participating in the attack during the day suffered huge casualties, which made Konev feel particularly heartbroken. Although he knew that it was unlikely that William Stemmelman would surrender, in order to reduce the casualties of the troops, he still decided to try his luck, so he said insincerely: "As long as there is some hope, we can't give up trying, you say right?"

Hearing Konev ask himself this question, Sokov, no matter how reluctant he was, could only say against his will: "Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, you are quite right. If General William Stemmelmann figured it out If you are willing to order the troops to lay down their weapons and surrender to our army, you can avoid a lot of bloodshed, I think you can give it a try."

"Since you have no objection, then you should get ready and go to see William Stemmermann." Konev looked at his watch and said, "It's a quarter past eight, and you have to catch up before nine o'clock." Go one kilometer in front of Height 239, there will be Germans to pick you up, and they will ensure your personal safety."

As soon as he put down the phone, Sokov began to explain the affairs of the army to Smirnov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I am going to meet with William Stemmelman as a representative of the Front Army. In case something happens to me , if you can’t come back, the 53rd Army will be handed over to you.”

"What, you are going to meet William Stemmermann." Smirnov dissuaded in surprise: "Comrade Commander, you can't go, it's too dangerous, I'm worried that after the Germans know your true identity, It will work against you."

"It's all right." Sokov waved his hands and said, "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't think that William Stemmelman is our enemy, but I still believe in him. Even if he knows my identity , and refuse to surrender, but will definitely not do anything against me."

Although Sokov said so, Smirnov still said uneasy: "For the sake of safety, let me send you a guard company. At the same time, I will also order the defenders on Height 239 to be ready. Whatever the problem, they will rush over to reinforce you in the shortest possible time."

"No need, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said confidently: "I'm going to negotiate, not to fight, so I don't need so many people. I think Lieutenant Koshkin will follow me, and another guard platoon will be enough." enough."

Hearing that Sokov only had one guard platoon, Smirnov was naturally worried: "But..."

"There's nothing wrong with it." Sokov interrupted his words: "It's getting late, I have to rush over to join the Germans, and I'll leave the affairs of the group army to you."

When Sokov and Koshkin were on their way to the meeting point in the same car, Koshkin asked worriedly: "Comrade Commander, if we go to meet the Germans, we will bring just a few people, will there be no accidents?"

"Don't worry, Lieutenant Koshkin." Sokov said with a smile: "It will be fine. Although the Germans are our enemies, as long as they make a promise, they will usually keep it."

"Even if the Germans won't do you any harm, we should still be prepared." When Koshkin said this, he unrecognizably glanced in the direction of Height 239, and then said: "At least we should let The troops stationed at Height 239 have sent people to serve as guards, and once they find that you may be in danger, they can rush over for reinforcements in time."

Sokov laughed: "Lieutenant Koshkin, do you think the chief of staff will not take any preparatory measures when he sees me taking risks? I think he is calling at this moment to arrange for troops to guard near our negotiation site. Seeing that something is amiss, these troops will be in our vicinity in time."

"So that's the case." Although Height 239 could not be seen from here, Koshkin glanced in that direction again, as if this would make him feel at ease: "Then I am at ease."

When he was more than a hundred meters away from the designated location, Koshkin slowed down and looked towards the opposite side, but because the light was too dark, he could only vaguely see a car and a few figures.

Seeing this, Sokov quickly ordered: "Lieutenant Koshkin, stop the car first, give them a signal, and see how they react."

Koshkin agreed, stopped the car, flashed the headlights a few times, and greeted the shadow opposite. Soon, the other party responded, and the two headlights came on, making it clear to Sokov that it was a barrel cart, and there were three people standing beside the cart.

Just when Sokov hesitated whether to send Koshkin forward to find out whether the other party was the one who came to pick him up. But he saw a figure running over quickly. When he came to the car, he bent down and looked into the car. He saw Sokov wearing a general uniform. He couldn't help being surprised, and then asked in proficient Russian. : "Are you the people who came to negotiate with us?"

Hearing that the other party speaks Russian so well, Sokov couldn't help being taken aback secretly, thinking to himself that his Russian is so good, is he a Russian? After a while, he collected himself and replied, "That's right, I'm here to negotiate with General William Stemmelman."

"I'm an interpreter in the army headquarters." The officer outside the car said to Sokov: "Mr. General, please leave your guard behind, just follow us in this car, and we will ensure your safety." Safety."

Sokov nodded, and then said to Koshkin: "Lieutenant Koshkin, please call for an interpreter. As for the soldiers of the guard platoon, let them stay here."

A few minutes later, Sokov and the interpreter followed the German barrel truck in the jeep driven by Koshkin and headed towards William Stemmermann's headquarters.

When the car arrived at the destination, Sokov didn't see William Stemmelman leading someone outside to greet him, and he couldn't help feeling a little disappointed, feeling that the other party looked down on him too much.

When getting out of the car, Sokov left Koshkin in the car, and followed the German officer with only an interpreter, and walked into William Stemmermann's tent.

Although the tent was only a temporary headquarters, there was a long table and a few matching chairs, which the German army found somewhere. William Stemmelman was looking down at the map in front of him, not noticing the arrival of Sokov and others at all.

When the officer reported to him, he casually raised his head to see what kind of person the negotiator was. When he saw Sokov's face clearly, his expression changed drastically. He hurriedly stood up from his seat, walked around the long table, came to Sokov, and started chattering.

"Comrade Commander," the interpreter said in a low voice, "He was saying that he didn't go out to greet you because he didn't know you were coming. If there is any impoliteness, please forgive me." After a short pause, he added, " I thought he might know you."

"It's all right." Sokov naturally wouldn't get angry over these trivial matters. He said to the translator, "Comrade translator, ask him if we can sit down and talk."