Red Moscow

The tank brigade commander blushed and replied sheepishly: "Understood, Comrade Commander."

Seeing that the other party realized his mistake, Sokov sighed softly and continued: "Comrade Brigadier, we have been fighting the Germans for four years, and we are about to hit their doorstep. Knowing that the attack on Berlin has nothing to do with us. Let alone you, even if it were anyone else, I am afraid that there will be emotions in my heart. But what can we do? An order is an order. Since the Supreme Command has arranged it this way, There must be their overall consideration, as our subordinates, we can only obey the order unconditionally, instead of discussing whether the order is reasonable in private."

"Comrade Commander," the radio operator following Sokov came in from the outside and reported to Sokov, "I just received a telegram from the Chief of Staff saying that I have something important to report to you. I hope you'd better give him a call back."

"Comrade Brigadier, can your phone contact the headquarters?"

Hearing Sokov's question, the brigade commander did not answer immediately, but turned his attention to the communications company commander next to him, hoping that he could give Sokov an affirmative answer.

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Seeing the brigade commander looking at him, the communication company commander immediately understood what the other party meant, and quickly replied, "The phone here can directly communicate with the group army headquarters."

"Very good." Sokov told the other party, "Please help me get through to the headquarters. I want to talk to the chief of staff."

The call was quickly connected: "Hello, Chief of Staff? I'm Sokov. Do you have something important to ask me?"

"Comrade Commander," Sidolin reported to Sokov, "I have just received a notification from the Front Command that there is a Volksgrenadier division of the German Army in the direction our army is advancing. There was an agreement to cease all hostilities and to give us a way out."

Hearing what Sidolin said, Sokov immediately connected the matter with Rednikova's mission, and quickly asked, "What's the number of that unit?"

"It's the 613th Volksgrenadier Division of the German Army Reserve, and the division commander is Colonel Schwartz." Sidolin reported to Sukov: "The whole division has a total of 6,000 people, except for a few veterans who have experienced many battles. The rest are old people and children who have just been recruited. In order to save more innocent lives, Schwartz decided to stop hostilities with our army and open the road leading to the Elbe River for our army after consultation with our army representatives. aisle."

Sokov covered the microphone and asked Rednikova: "Lieutenant Rednikova, do you know the 613th People's Grenadier Division? The division commander is Colonel Schwartz."

Hearing Sokov's question, Rednikova showed a shocked expression on her face, but she hesitated for a moment and did not answer Sokov's question.

Although Rednikova didn't say anything, Sokov had figured out what was going on from her expression. It turned out that Major Mischenko brought Rednikova and others to the front to persuade Colonel Schwartz of the 613th Division to surrender. Now it seems that their mission has been successfully completed.

Thinking of this, Sokov asked into the microphone: "Comrade Chief of Staff, what does the Front Army Command mean? What should we do?"

"Let us send troops forward to take over the division's defense zone." Sidolin continued: "I have ordered the 1st Guards Division to move forward and prepare to take over from the Germans in two hours. over defense."

Sokov did not disagree with Sidolin's arrangement. Now all the units at the front have combat missions, but the 1st Guards Division is now on standby. It will not have much impact on their overall deployment if they receive the defense area handed over by the German army. "Comrade Chief of Staff, you are doing the right thing, then let the 1st Guards Division take over the defense zone of the 613th Division."

After putting down the phone, Sokov spoke to the tank brigade commander again, and then left.

Back in the car, Sokov said to Rednikova: "Lieutenant Rednikova, I have some good news for you. Major Mischenko has completed his task by the way, convincing the German 613th people to throw Colonel Schwartz, the commander of the bombardier division, renounced hostilities with us and was about to hand over the defense zone to our army and give way to the Elbe River."

Rednikova was stunned when she heard what Sokov said: "What, Major Mischenko completed the task so quickly?" After saying this, she said with some annoyance, "It's a pity that I Did not follow the past, otherwise I would also have a share of the credit."

"Lieutenant Rednikova, don't get lost." Sokov comforted her and said, "You helped us catch the German agents who sneaked into our defense area, which is considered a great achievement. Although it is not as good as Major Mischenko credit, but it is no problem to get a medal."

But Rednikova was thinking in her heart that Major Mischenko and the others had successfully completed the task this time, and a Red Banner Medal would definitely not be able to escape. Although he assisted Sokov in capturing the German agents, he could only get a medal at best. The same is awarded, the weight of the Red Banner Medal and the medal is too far apart. But even if she was dissatisfied in her heart, she couldn't show it on her face. She could only smile bitterly and say, "Comrade General, do you think I still have a chance to make meritorious deeds?"

"Comrade Rednikova," Sokov said with a smile, "as long as the war is not over, then you have a chance to be rewarded for your meritorious service."

"But I just heard from you that the war will be over in a month at most." Rednikova said with some disappointment: "If it is really like what you said, the war will end in a month, how can I still An opportunity for meritorious service."

"Yes, I did say just now that the war in front of me may end within a month." Sokov explained to Rednikova: "But the end of the war in Europe does not mean that the war is over." That's it, we have one more enemy to defeat."

"There is another enemy?" When Sokov said this, not only Rednikova's eyes widened in surprise, but even Koshkin's face was also surprised. He couldn't understand, except for the Germans in front of him. Besides, where are the enemies? After a long time, he tentatively asked: "Comrade commander, who is the other enemy you mentioned?"

"In the Far East, there is another enemy who once fought against us." Sokov couldn't help sneering when he thought of the little devil, "At the beginning, the Supreme Command made it clear that they would not send troops, so they boldly sent the Far East The troops were transferred to participate in the defense of Moscow."

Hearing what Sokov said, Koshkin immediately understood who the enemy Sokov was talking about. He glanced at the bewildered Rednikova, and tentatively asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, are you talking about the Japanese pirates in the Far East?"

"That's right." Sokov nodded vigorously, and gave the other party an affirmative answer: "The Axis powers are Germany, Italy, and Japan. Now Italy has long since surrendered and Germany is about to be defeated. The only thing left is this little one." Devils. Only when they are completely defeated can this war be truly over."

"From Berlin to the Far East, there are thousands of kilometers in between." Regarding Sokov's statement, Koshkin expressed doubts: "I am afraid that it will not be possible to mobilize a large number of troops to the Far East in a few months. Bar."

"Yes, if you want to mobilize the troops fighting in Germany at this moment to fight in the Far East, it will indeed take several months to transport soldiers and technical equipment, and hoard ammunition and supplies needed for the war." Sokov said: "Based on our country's current transportation capacity, it only takes three months at most to deploy all the offensive troops in place."

"Comrade Commander," Koshkin is very clear about his identity. Sokov's words are just speculations. Whether it will become a reality is still unknown. What he has to do is to ensure the safety of Sokov and prevent him from happening outside. What a surprise: "Where are we going next?"

"When I was on the phone with the chief of staff, he told me that the 1st Guards Division had been sent to receive the defense area of ​​the 613th Division of the German army. We will go to the landing site on the shore, and we may meet them halfway."

When Sokov's convoy arrived at the supply point where the German agents were captured, they found that food was still being distributed here. Among the people queuing up to receive food, apart from Soviet commanders and fighters, there were actually many German refugees, including women, children, the elderly, and even some young adults.

Seeing this scene, Koshkin said in surprise: "Comrade commander, look quickly, there are actually quite a few Germans in the queue for food."

Sokov raised his hand and patted the driver on the shoulder, and said to him, "Comrade driver, stop! Let's go down and see what's going on."

"Comrade Commander," Koshkin turned to Sokov and said after the car stopped, "it's a pity that we didn't bring a translator. Even if the Germans said something, we couldn't understand it."

Unexpectedly, Rednikova interrupted and said: "Comrade General, I understand German. I participated in this mission as a reserve translator."

"Oh, that's really great." Sokov was overjoyed when he learned that Rednikova knew German, and quickly said, "In this way, we won't worry about language barriers when dealing with German civilians. "

When Sokov led Koshkin and Rednikova towards the team not far away, the soldiers who were queuing up to receive food quickly stood at attention and raised their hands to salute Sokov. But the Germans in those teams showed panic expressions on their faces. They obviously found that Sokov was a high-ranking official, and they were worried that they would order them to be driven away as soon as he came.

"Lieutenant Rednikova," Sokov told Rednikova after raising his hand to return the salute to the soldiers, "Go and ask two German civilians, why are they queuing here?"

Rednikova nodded, then walked up to several German women and started talking with them. While speaking, she turned around and pointed at Sokov from time to time, as if to dispel the other party's worries.

After a while, Rednikova returned to Sokov and reported to him: "Comrade General, I have asked everything clearly. They are all residents of nearby towns. People came to tell them that our army would kill all the Germans when they got here, and they fled their homes because of fear."

"Then why are they back now?" asked Koshkin.

"They encountered our army's troops on the way to escape." Rednikova explained: "After contacting our army, they found that our army's commanders and fighters were not as evil as the SS propaganda. She made things difficult for them, and even provided them with food and supplies. Now," she pouted at the German women, children, and old people in the team, and continued, "They have been receiving food here for two consecutive days."

After listening to Rednikova's narration, Sokov remembered the later reports on the Soviet army's entry into Germany, and tentatively asked: "They were not bullied by our army's commanders and fighters, right? Tell them, if there is such a thing, If so, just tell me, and I will punish the person concerned accordingly."

But Rednikova looked at Sokov blankly, and asked puzzledly: "Comrade General, I don't know what you mean by bullying?"

Sokov was really caught by the question, and for a while he didn't know how to answer Rednikova. He couldn't say to her: "Go and ask those German women, who has been bullied by our officers and soldiers? Something unspeakable has happened. If anything, feel free to report it to me and I will deal with it fairly."

But seeing that Sokov was silent, Rednikova asked curiously: "Comrade General, I don't understand what you mean, can you explain in more detail?"

Facing Rednikova's questioning, Sokov could only perfunctorily say: "I just want to ask if my subordinates have entered their homes casually and taken away their belongings."

"I have already asked." Rednikova said: "They said that when they returned home, they found that the house was in a mess, gold and silver jewelry, silver tableware and valuable clothing, etc., all disappeared. Also I don’t know if the Germans took it, or our military commanders did it.”

"I think it's all possible." Before Sokov finished speaking, Koshkin rushed to say: "Although the town where they are located is now under the control of our army, before we seize the town, no one can guarantee that those fleeing The German officers and soldiers did not take advantage of the fire to loot these uninhabited buildings."

Seeing that Koshkin had found a step for himself, Sokov couldn't continue to ask, so he could only change the subject in time: "Lieutenant Rednikova, go over and ask, what can we do for them?" A place to work?"

"Comrade General, I have already asked." Rednikova said: "They all know that this supply point will not last long. Once the supply point is withdrawn, they will not be able to find a place to eat. Can you think about it?" way to solve this problem.”

Rednikova's words are equivalent to creating a problem for Sokov. The troops have to move forward. It will be a matter of time before the supply point here is cancelled. problem. Thinking of this, he said embarrassingly: "Comrade Lieutenant, this matter is of great importance, and I have no right to make decisions. But I will report to the front army headquarters immediately, and Comrade Marshal will make the final decision."

At first, Rednikova was worried that Sokov would not want to ask about this matter, but when he heard that he was going to report the matter to Marshal Rokossovsky, a smile appeared on his face: "Comrade General, this is really a Good news, I will tell them now, so that they can feel at ease."