Red Moscow

When Ponegerin learned that the reconnaissance company he had dispatched had reached an agreement with the Romanian 27th Border Guard Regiment and was ready to take over the regiment's defense zone at any time, he felt confident and called Sokov to report the incident to him. good news.

"Comrade Commander," Ponedelin hurriedly said upon hearing Sokov's voice from the receiver, "I have some good news for you."

"You want to tell me the good news?!" Sokov asked tentatively after listening to it, "Lieutenant Colonel Ponejerin, has your troops already entered Romania?"

"I sent a divisional reconnaissance company into Romania, but I met Lieutenant Colonel Luca, the chief of staff of the 27th Frontier Regiment, who said that his troops were unwilling to fight our army and would hand over their defense to us. "

Knowing that another Romanian army surrendered without a fight, Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed, and said repeatedly: "Great, this is really great. Lieutenant Colonel Pornegerin, I congratulate you, congratulations to your troops on the It's great to have a foothold in Romania in such a short period of time!"

But Sokov suddenly thought of a question, and couldn't help asking Ponegerin: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponegerin, have you noticed a problem?"

"what is the problem?"

"The reason why our attack has been so smooth during this time is entirely because we are fighting with the Romanian army." Sokov frowned and said, "The German troops seem to have disappeared suddenly."

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I also discovered this problem." Ponegelin said on the phone: "At first I thought that we were about to enter Romania, so we encountered relatively more Romanian troops. But Now it seems that it is not the same thing at all, it seems that something went wrong in a certain link."

Sokov knew that there was no answer to this matter for the time being, so he didn't waste time on the phone, but told Ponegerin: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponegerin, immediately order the troops to enter the defense zone of the Romanian Border Guard Regiment. Establish a landing field on the right bank of the river."

After putting down the phone, Sokov called Trofimenko, Sameko, Smirnov and others to him, and said to them: "comrades commanders, I have good news for you. The Romanian 27th Frontier Regiment , has voluntarily surrendered to Ponegerin's troops and is willing to surrender their defense zone."

"It's great, it's just great." After hearing this, Sameko said excitedly: "Comrade commander, if our troops can often encounter such troops who abandon the dark and turn to the bright, I don't think it will be a few months. capable of occupying the whole of Romania."

Sokov knew very well in his heart that the smooth progress now does not mean that the future progress will also be smooth. Maybe in a few days, the troops will fight a tough battle, even a tough battle with heavy casualties. But this is something for later, leaving aside, what he is eager to know now is what caused the German army to disappear from his attack direction.

"Comrade commanders, I have a question to ask you to see what you think."

Everyone didn't know what Sokov wanted to say, and all focused their eyes on him.

"Have you noticed that in the recent period, among the enemies fighting us, the Germans accounted for less and less." Sokov said: "Especially in the recent battles, the enemies who fought us It's all Romanian troops. I want to ask, where are the Germans?"

Regarding Sokov's question, everyone fell into deep thought.

After a while, Smirnov took the lead to break the silence: "Comrade commander, do you think it is because we have advanced to the Romanian border, and the Germans feel that Romania's strength is enough to protect their country, so they have no choice. Fight alongside them."

"This reason is not valid." Sokov shook his head and said: "The Germans know very well that once their ally is defeated by us, it means that Romania may join our camp. They will never allow this to happen. of."

"Could it be a conspiracy?" Seeing that Sokov denied Smirnov's guess, Sameko put forward his own idea: "The Germans deliberately let us fight with the Romanians, and after we lose both , and then attacked us unexpectedly. At that time, we had already suffered heavy losses, but the commanders and fighters had become exhausted and could not resist their attack at all."

Sokov felt that Sameko's statement meant that the Germans were sitting on the hills and watching the tigers fight, waiting for themselves and the Romanian army to lose both sides, and then come to fish for profit. But then I thought about it: "It's not like, didn't the Germans consider how badly it would affect the morale of the army once the Soviet army entered Romania when they designated this combat plan?"

Ideas were put forward one by one, but were quickly overturned by the big guys one by one. In the end, the military commissioner Gorokhov said: "I think this question should be asked Marshal Konev. As the commander of the front army, he knows more information than us, and he may be able to tell us what the correct answer is."

Gorokhov had to propose, which immediately aroused everyone's approval. Seeing that no one objected, Sokov called the director of the communications corps and asked him to connect to the front army headquarters.

After listening to Sokov's narration, Konev couldn't help but fell into deep thought.

After a long time, he said, "Comrade Sokov, I really have the answer to the question you asked."

Knowing that Konev had the answer he wanted here, Sokov hurriedly said: "Comrade Marshal, what is the reason, can you tell me?"

"Comrade Sokov, I'm not entirely sure." Konev said cautiously: "But I think it must have something to do with the fact that you encounter fewer and fewer German troops."

"Comrade Marshal, stop teasing me, just hurry up and talk."

"I think this incident may have something to do with the surrender letter issued by Marshal Zhukov to the German army a few days ago."

"Marshal Zhukov's persuasion letter to the Germans?" Sokov asked with some puzzlement: "What is the connection between the two?"

"I don't know what was written in the persuasion letter?"

"Wait a minute, Comrade Sokov, I'll look for it first." Soon, Sokov heard the sound of rummaging through the receiver. Fortunately, not long after, Konev's voice sounded again: "I found it, I'll read it to you."

"1. In order to avoid further casualties, I recommend that you stop your useless resistance and surrender all auxiliary units before the end of March 25. You are surrounded on all sides and there is no hope. You cannot escape from our encirclement. "

"Two, if you do not surrender before the end of March 25, 1944, all officers and soldiers who do not accept this proposal to end futile resistance shall be shot one out of every three as punishment for futile resistance. You should be in groups Offer to surrender in groups, for you are already surrounded by three circles."

"All officers who voluntarily cease resistance will be permitted to keep their arms, decorations and vehicles."

"Signed: Zhukov, Commander of the Front Army, Marshal of the Soviet Union."

After listening to the persuasion letter, Sokov felt that Zhukov's tone was a bit aggressive, and it was no surprise that the Germans agreed. "Comrade Marshal," Sokov knew that he had to express his opinion, so he said into the microphone: "I think this letter of persuasion from Marshal Zhukov not only failed to make the Germans lay down their weapons and surrender, but even caused some German officers and soldiers to rebel. psychology."

"Comrade Sokov, you are right." Konev expressed great interest in Sokov's statement: "This whole piece of cruel nonsense made the German commanders all shocking."

"However, after Marshal Zhukov sent this telegram, he realized that his letter of persuasion to capitulate was too simple and rude, and he was going to revise it again." Konev said: "So he drafted a new letter of persuasion, and some of the original text were inexplicable. The words were subtly modified."

"A new letter of persuasion?!" Sokov asked curiously, "What is it like?"

"At 11 o'clock in the morning, the proposal of the commander of the front army and Marshal Zhukov of the Soviet Union was sent to you, but there were some discrepancies after translation. The proposal is based on the following: German officers and soldiers who voluntarily lay down their arms will be treated well. Only those who Officers who have received the Marshal's proposal but refuse to stop their senseless resistance before tonight will be shot mercilessly. And they will be executed in front of their subordinates. A punishment for sacrifice."

After listening to it, Sokov immediately expressed his opinion: "Comrade Marshal, I think the language of the new persuasion letter is impeccable, but I don't know how it will end?"

"What else can I do? Of course I directly refused." Konev said: "Actually, Marshal Zhukov's persuasion letter was too harsh. will."

"Comrade Marshal, after hearing what you said, I feel more and more that the reason why we can't see any Germans on the front of the offensive may be that Marshal Zhukov's letter of persuasion successfully angered the Germans, which led to the German army The commander concentrated all his troops in that direction, ready to fight to the death with Marshal Zhukov's troops."

"You make a lot of sense, Comrade Sokov." Konev said on the phone: "In the recent Battle of Vinnytsia launched by Marshal Zhukov, the resistance encountered has become stronger and stronger. It seems that the Germans are putting The troops that can be collected nearby are all transferred to the area where the first front army is fighting."

When Sokov heard this, he was quite surprised. He didn't expect that Zhukov's surrender letter would cause such an uproar, and even attract the Germans in the nearby area to his direction. Next, the troops commanded by Zhukov will face fierce battles one after another.

When the blind tone came out from the receiver, Sokov held on to the receiver for a long time and refused to let it go, thinking in his mind whether he should take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rapidly expand his achievements in Romania.

"Comrade Commander, Comrade Commander." Seeing Sokov holding the microphone and not speaking, Sameko knew that he was thinking about something, so he quickly touched him twice with his hand, "What are you thinking?"

Sameko's voice woke up Sokov from his contemplation. He glanced at Sameko with gratitude, and then said to everyone: "Commanders, the reason why we can't find the Germans in the direction of our attack. , I think I've found it."

Knowing that Sokov had found the reason why the Germans were always there, Trofimenko asked anxiously: "Comrade Commander, tell me quickly, what is going on?"

Sokov told everyone what he had heard from Konev, and finally said: "If the analysis of Marshal Konev and I is correct, then for a long time to come, the Germans will Focus on the First Front Army of Marshal Zhukov, and the only enemy we have to deal with is the Romanian Army."

"Comrade Commander, this is a very good thing for us." Trofimenko was keenly aware of the problem: "If all the Germans go to Marshal Zhukov, and we are facing If there is only the Romanian army, then we can use a two-pronged approach to achieve greater results."

As soon as his words fell, Smirnov asked curiously: "General Trofimenko, what do you mean by the two-pronged approach?"

"If we want to achieve huge results in Romania, we must adopt two methods." Since Smirnov asked, Trofimenko naturally would not hide his true thoughts: "One is a military offensive, and this is also Our main means; the second is the political offensive, which is the auxiliary means of the military offensive.”

Sokov knew in his heart that if he wanted to destroy the enemy and achieve the final victory, it was far from enough to rely solely on military affairs. Political propaganda was also needed to help him achieve the goal of disintegrating the enemy. So he nodded and echoed Trofimenko's opinion: "Comrade Deputy Commander is right. If you want to completely defeat the enemy, you really need to use two approaches."

"Comrade Military Commissar," Gorokhov is the only military commissar in the combat group now, so the matter of disintegrating the enemy through propaganda can only be entrusted to him: "This kind of thing is your strong point. You are in charge. How about it, do you have any disagreement?"

"No, no." Gorokhov shook his head vigorously, and said in an affirmative tone: "Comrade Commander, I resolutely obey your orders."

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov said to Trofimenko, "I think our right wing still needs to send capable troops to strengthen the defense, lest the German army turn around and attack south after the unsuccessful attack on Marshal Zhukov. We. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary to send elite soldiers to ensure the right wing of my cluster."

"Okay, Comrade Commander." Trofimenko nodded and said, "I will arrange two divisions to strengthen the defense there and ensure the safety of the right wing of the battle group."

"Very good!" Sokov turned to Sameko again, and told him: "Get in touch with General Kravchenko immediately and order him to speed up the attack and try to reach Romania as soon as possible." Having said that, Sokov Cove took a sip of water from the teacup on the table, and continued: "Tell him that the 41st Guards Division under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Ponegerin has successfully marched into Romanian land and captured a Romanian army. Defensive positions. If he doesn't work hard, he will fall behind."

Sameko knew that Sokov was using the aggressive method, but he still said: "Comrade commander, not only can we see no trace of the Germans on our right wing, but even the troops fighting in the south encountered Romanian troops. You see, should we ask General Kravchenko to consider whether to form a small force to enter Romania first."

"Yes, Comrade Commander. I will pass on your opinion to General Kravchenko."