Red Moscow

"What, it took five months?" Vaserigov said in surprise: "It's only a thousand kilometers from Belgrade to Berlin. Even if you only walk 20 kilometers a day, you can reach Berlin in two months at most. Why did you use it?" Such a long time.”

"Mr. Major," Denaris explained with an awkward expression: "In the beginning, I could walk almost forty kilometers a day. According to my assumption, I can return to Berlin in a month at most and be with my husband. The family was reunited. But after entering Germany, checkpoints increased and interrogations became more and more strict. I once saw several deserters being picked out from the crowd and then dragged to the roadside and shot.

I realized that if I continued to follow the refugee troops into the country, I would be caught sooner or later, or even be executed directly, so I changed to walking at night, finding a quiet place to hide during the day, and then rushing on at night. If there are many checkpoints and strict inspections, I may even have to hide for a week or more before I can find a chance to bypass the checkpoints and continue moving towards Germany. "

After hearing this, Sokov had a general understanding of Denaris's experience. He asked the other party a question that he was confused about: "Lieutenant Denaris, since you found that after entering Germany, the further you went to Berlin, the more you investigated. Yan Mi, why do you continue to move forward? Don’t you know that this will only put you in danger?”

Denaris hesitated for a long time and said slowly: "I just wanted to see my family at that time, and I didn't think about it that much."

In just two sentences, Sokov realized that the current Lieutenant Denaris was a man with a strong sense of family. In order to see his family, he even risked his own safety. He was a very special person. He is a responsible person and worthy of trust, so he might be considered to join the Security Command.

Before Sokov could speak, Agelina interrupted and asked: "Lieutenant Denaris, did you see your family later?"

"I just said that it took me five months to arrive near Berlin, and it was already the end of February." Denaris continued: "As the war went unfavorable, the defenses near Berlin were strengthened. , there are countless checkpoints on all roads leading to the city, probably to prevent Soviet or Allied spies from entering the city, and the interrogations have become extremely strict. In this case, if I want to continue to enter the city, there is no way. It was like seeking death, because I had no choice but to change my mind, find an abandoned farm dozens of kilometers away from the city, and hide there until the end of the war, using the potatoes in the cellar and a small amount of canned vegetables.

Although with the end of the war, deserters would no longer be captured, there were Soviets, Americans, and British everywhere, and if I fell into their hands, I would be locked up in a prisoner of war camp. Therefore, it took me almost another month until mid-June before I returned to Berlin. When I returned to my home on William Street, I found that the house was already empty and there were no clues left. I wanted to look for it, but I didn’t know how to find it. "

After learning that Denaris' relatives were missing, no one knew whether they had temporarily fled to another place and were unwilling to come back, or they died in the war. Sokov even wanted to comfort Denaris. Si, I don’t know where to start.

"Lieutenant Denaris," but the considerate Agelina still said to Denaris in a kind manner: "Don't be discouraged. There is no news now, which is the best news. I believe that one day in the future , you will definitely be reunited with your family.”

But Sokov had a different idea. The war had been over for half a year. If Denaris's relatives could come back, they would have come back long ago. There are two possibilities: one is that he died in the war, and the other is that he felt that the areas controlled by the United States, Britain, France and other countries could give them a sense of security, so he chose to stay there. As a result, they would have to wait at least a few more decades to reunite with their relatives who stayed in the Soviet-occupied areas, until the moment the Berlin Wall fell. The prerequisite was that they could survive until that time.

"Lieutenant Denaris, I understand everything about you." Sokov said to Denaris: "You go back and wait for the news. When the garrison headquarters starts to be formed, I will ask Ernst to inform you. of."

When the other party goes back and waits for notification, the difference between future generations and this moment is that when future generations say this, it is most likely to be a polite refusal, and there will be no further consequences; but in today's era, saying this just means that the time is not yet ripe, and when the time is ripe, it will , we will send someone or call you immediately.

"Thank you so much, Mr. General." After Denaris stood up, he leaned forward slightly, stretched out his hands to Sokov, and said respectfully: "I am always ready, just waiting for your call. Will come right away.”

…

A week later, the establishment of the garrison headquarters began in full swing.

The newly established garrison headquarters has a dedicated garrison office and several garrison detachments under its jurisdiction.

The garrison commander and the garrison director were both served by personnel sent by Zhukov, while the Germans held deputy positions.

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov ran to see Zhukov in person, hoping to obtain the right to appoint certain positions and fulfill his promise to Ernst and Hosenfeld. After sitting down opposite Zhukov, he asked cautiously: "I once mentioned several officers of the former National Defense Force to you. I wonder if they can be allowed to hold certain positions in a certain security detachment under the Security Department?"

Regarding Sokov's request, Zhukov did not answer immediately. Instead, he stared at Sokov for a long time, and finally said slowly: "Misha, are these people reliable?"

"I have carefully observed the character of these people and feel that they are reliable people. More importantly, they are very friendly to our army and do not have any resistance."

Since Sokov was the guarantor and these people did not have any resistance to the Soviet army, Zhukov was very satisfied. He thought for a while and then said: "Now that the Security Command has formed two security detachments, I can leave the formation of the third detachment to you."

"The 3rd Security Detachment?" Sokov asked tentatively: "I wonder what level this detachment belongs to, and what is the highest military rank?"

"Of course it is a company-level organization." Zhukov said: "But I intend to leave the appointment of all officers of this unit and the selection of soldiers to you."

Zhukov's arrangement was based on his trust in Sokov. But Sokov did not dare to agree casually, so he clearly remembered that Zhukov would be dismissed from his post in more than three months. If this unit was all his confidants, then after Zhukov resigned, this unit would also be affected to a certain extent. Depending on the extent of the impact, it may be directly disbanded. It was out of this consideration that Sokov said cautiously: "Comrade Marshal, I can be responsible for the selection of soldiers for the 3rd detachment. But when it comes to the appointment of officers, I think only a few positions are enough, and the rest It’s up to you and the deputy commander to decide on the selection of officers.”

The deputy commander Sokov was talking about was General Sokolovsky. He will soon be promoted to marshal, and will also take over Zhukov's position and serve as the second commander of the cluster in Germany. Show him goodwill through personnel arrangements, so that after Zhukov leaves, the army he formed will not be discriminated against.

"Then which positions are you planning to choose?"

"I'm going to choose the squad leader and the two platoon leaders below." As soon as Sokov finished saying this, he suddenly realized that he was not familiar with the organization of the garrison headquarters at all, so he asked casually: "Who is in the garrison squad?" Is there a platoon organization?”

"Yes." Zhukov replied without hesitation: "Since we established this garrison headquarters, I have the final say on what kind of organization it will have."

"That's a good relationship." Sokov said: "I want a detachment and two platoon leader positions. You and Comrade Sokolovsky will decide on the remaining officers."

While the two were talking, the phone on the table suddenly rang.

Zhukov grabbed the microphone and put it to his ear: "I am Zhukov!... Let him in."

After a while, the door opened and a lieutenant general walked in from the outside. He stood by the door and raised his hand to salute Zhukov.

Zhukov did not return the greeting, but greeted him and said: "Comrade Dratvin, please come here, I will introduce you to someone."

Sokov originally saw that the person entering the door was a lieutenant general, so he didn't care at all. After all, the other party's military rank was lower than his. But when he heard Zhukov calling the other party's name, he immediately stood up from his seat. Although the other party's military rank was lower than his own, he was the chief of staff whose position was only lower than Zhukov and Sokolovsky. Even if his military rank was lower than his own, He is tall, so if you meet him outside, you have to raise your hands to salute him.

Dratvin walked over quickly and came to Marshal Zhukov's desk. He took a special look at Sokov and asked seemingly casually: "If I admit my mistake correctly, this should be Colonel Sokov." "

"That's right, Comrade Dratvin." Zhukov nodded and said in a positive tone: "He is Sokov. Misha," he said to Sokov: "Let me introduce it to you. Look, this is Lieutenant General Dratwein, the chief of staff of the German cluster, who took over Malinin's position. "

"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." If Zhukov didn't introduce him, Sokov could still pretend to be confused. After all, the other party had a lower military rank than him, so it would be okay even if he didn't salute him. But now that Zhukov has revealed his identity, Sokov would be considered impolite if he did not salute, so he saluted first and said: "Nice to meet you!"

"Hello, General Sokov." After raising his hand in return, Dratvine held Sokov's hand and said, "I'm glad to meet you, too."

"Comrade Dratvin," Zhukov said to Lieutenant General Dratvin, "Before you came in, Misha and I were discussing the formation of the third security detachment."

"Comrade Marshal," after hearing what Zhukov said, Dratvin asked politely, "I wonder if I can help you?"

"I will leave the duties of the captain of the 3rd Garrison Detachment and the two platoon leaders to Misha." Zhukov looked at Dratvin and said: "As for the formation of the soldiers of the 3rd Detachment, they still need to come from the prisoner of war camp. You are in charge of the prisoner-of-war camp now, so you still need to say hello to Misha about going to the prisoner-of-war camp."

"No problem." Dratvin agreed very readily, "I will arrange for Major Poledenko, the director of the General Staff Office, to accompany General Sokov to the prisoner of war camp near Berlin and select suitable candidates to organize Security Detachment 3."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," seeing Dratvin agree to send someone to accompany him to the prisoner of war camp to select personnel, Sokov immediately expressed his gratitude to him: "Thank you for your arrangement."

After coming out of Zhukov's headquarters, Vaselgov, who was waiting by the car outside, immediately came up to him and asked with concern: "Comrade General, what did Marshal Zhukov say about the request you made?"

Sokov saw people coming and going outside the headquarters. If his conversation with Vaserigov happened to be overheard by people passing by, it would soon spread throughout the city. So he said briefly: "Let's talk about it after we get in the car!"

After both of them got in the car and closed the door, Vaselgov turned and asked Sokov: "Comrade General, where are we going? Back to the Adlon Hotel?"

"No, no, no, we won't go back to the hotel for now. Let's go to William Street first."

"To Wilhelm Street?" Vaserigov was stunned when he heard what Sokov said. Then he understood the other party's intention and said with some surprise: "Comrade General, so Comrade Marshal has agreed to your request." ask?"

"Yes, Marshal Zhukov gave me the task of forming the 3rd Guard Detachment." Sokov said: "And I will also arrange the positions of the detachment leader and the two platoon leaders. In addition, the 3rd Detachment will be appointed by me. Soldiers will be selected from nearby prison camps."

The car came to William Street and stopped at the door of the unit where Hosenfeld and others lived. Then Sokov opened the door and got out of the car and walked straight into the door of the unit. Vaserigov, who got out of the car, quickly set up sentries at the door and followed him in.

Sokov came to the door of Hosenfeld's house. Seeing that the door was closed, he raised his hand and knocked twice.

Soon, the door was opened from the inside, and the person who appeared at the door was Ernst.

Seeing Sokov's sudden visit, Ernst couldn't help but be startled: "Comrade General, why are you here?"

"Ernst, I have good news to tell you, so I came here in person." With that, he stepped into the door and asked loudly: "Where is Captain Hosenfeld? This seems to have something to do with him.”

Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the door, Sokov saw three people sitting at the dining table in the living room. In addition to Hosenfeld and Denaris, the old policeman named Bayer was also there.

When the three of them saw Sokov entering, they hurriedly stood up from their seats and came to greet him.

"Comrade General said," Ernst, who followed closely, said to the three of them: "He came here today to bring us good news." After finishing speaking, he repeated what he just said in German.

The first time Ernst spoke was in Russian, only Denarius of the three understood him; the second time he spoke was in German, and all three of them understood. They looked at each other and saw the expression of joy in each other's eyes.

After a while, Hosenfeld asked on behalf of everyone: "Mr. General, can you tell us what kind of good news it is?"