Red Moscow

As soon as Sergeant Doppler climbed back to the trench, he saw the company commander standing in front of him, and quickly straightened his body and called out, "Hello, Mr. Captain."

"Sergeant Doppler, I heard that you were the first to take the lead and crawl towards the Russian position just now?" The company commander asked blankly, "Is that the case?"

"Yes, Mr. Captain, I was the first to climb to the Russian position." Sergeant Doppler didn't know what his company commander was going to do with him, so he could only honestly reply: "I haven't been there for several days. I had something to eat, and I couldn’t bear the hunger. I decided to take a risk when I heard the Russians shouting on the radio that as long as I ran over without a weapon, I would be full."

After quietly listening to Sergeant Doppler's words, the captain shook his head at the two soldiers behind him and said, "Search him."

The two soldiers immediately went forward, searched Sergeant Doppler, and found the black bread that Guchakov had given him from his pocket. The two soldiers had also been hungry for a long time, and now seeing such a large piece of bread, they couldn't help swallowing. But they didn't dare to hide what they found on Sergeant Doppler's body, and quickly handed it over to the company commander standing aside.

The German company commander took the black bread, weighed it in his hand, and said: "Sergeant Doppler, can't you see that this is a Russian bomb disguised as bread? You brought such a dangerous thing back , Do you want to help the Russians blow up our positions? In order to prevent unnecessary casualties of our company, I confiscated these things." After speaking, he put the black bread in his pocket, turned and left.

"Mr. Captain," Doppler felt like crying when he saw the company commander snatch the bread he brought back. Thinking of his wounded friend who had been starving for a few days, he quickly chased after him and begged the company commander: "Mr. Captain, leave some for me. I left this piece of bread for a friend who was wounded and died again." I haven't eaten for several days, if I don't eat again, I'm afraid I won't be able to support it."

"Bread, what bread?" The German company commander stopped and said disdainfully: "I just found it from you. It's just a bomb disguised as bread by the Russians. I want to take it back and have a good inspection, so that I don't even have to pay for it." Officers and soldiers caused unnecessary casualties."

In this way, the bread Sergeant Doppler brought back for his friend was snatched by the German company commander. He looked at the opponent's back and spit. If he had a weapon in his hand, he felt that he would definitely shoot the opponent's back without hesitation.

"Sergeant," said the soldier who followed Sergeant Doppler in the first group, approaching him and asked, "Shall we go over tomorrow?"

"It's needless to say." Sergeant Doppler looked at the company commander's leaving back, and said through gritted teeth: "As long as the Russians provide us with food, we will go there, otherwise we can only stay here and wait." die."

"Sergeant, I have something to tell you." The soldier pulled Doppler aside to see if there was no one around, and said to him in a low voice: "Even if the Russians can often provide us with food, I don't think it's too bad." Sounds good. Do you think they'll feed us if our superiors order us to go to war with the Russians?"

What the soldiers said caused Sergeant Doppler to fall into deep thought. During this period of time, the two sides were in a stalemate and did not fire at each other. It was barely reasonable for the Russians to provide food for their group. But if the two sides really fought, it might not be easy to get the Russians to provide food at night. Who knew if the other party would suspect that they were planning to go there for a sneak attack?

Thinking of this, he asked the soldier, "What are you trying to say?"

"Sergeant, I think we should stay there if we want to have enough food." The soldier pouted towards the Soviet army's position and said, "If they can continue to provide us with food tomorrow night, after I go there, we should stay there." I don't plan to come back again, I don't know what your plan is?"

Hearing his subordinates say that they were going to surrender to the Soviet army, Sergeant Doppler couldn't help but be moved. Just when he almost agreed to his subordinate's proposal, he suddenly thought of his wounded friend who was still lying in the bunker, and the thought that just came up was suppressed back again. He shook his head at the soldier and said, "No, I still have an important friend here, and I can't leave him alone." Seeing that the soldier wanted to say something more, he added, "How is the supply of the army now?" , even if I don’t say it, you should be very clear. If I really just pass by like this, then my injured friend may be starved to death.”

"However, you forgot that when you came back, the captain sent someone to search you." The soldier shook his head and continued, "I'm worried that the food you brought back tomorrow will be taken away by the captain in the end."

"Don't worry, I've thought of a good solution." Sergeant Doppler pointed to the bomb crater in front of the trench, and whispered to the soldiers: "When we come back tomorrow, we will hide all the food we brought with us in the bomb crater. After the long search and leave, we will go to secretly retrieve the food."

"That's a good idea." The soldier's eyes lit up when he heard what Sergeant Doppler said. "In this way, we no longer have to worry about the food we carry being searched by the company commander."

Besides, after the German soldiers who came to eat left, Guchakov immediately reported the situation here to Sokov. Sokov learned that there were indeed German officers and soldiers coming to eat, so he asked in a very detailed way: "Comrade Captain, how many enemies are there? Besides ordinary soldiers, are there any officers?"

"A total of 69 people came, including two officers." Guchakov had already guessed what Sokov would ask, so when the German officers and soldiers who had dinner entered the position, he personally counted the number of people, "One is a lieutenant , one is a second lieutenant."

Although only two lieutenant officers came here tonight, Sukov felt that he had achieved his goal. He said into the microphone: "Comrade Captain, you have done a good job. This is a good start. In the next few days, you may have to receive more German officers and soldiers. I estimate that after some soldiers come a few more times, they will definitely If you don’t want to go back, then you will arrange for people to send them to the regiment headquarters and hand them over to Commander Belkin.”

After finishing the call with Guchakov, Sokov asked Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, apart from the downsizing regiment, how are the positions of the other three regiments? Are there any enemies coming to eat?"

"No." Sidolin shook his head and replied, "There are barbed wire and minefields in front of the positions of the three regiments. I guess even if there are Germans who want to come to eat, they are afraid that they will be in danger."

"Since this is the case, after dawn tomorrow, a passage will be opened in the middle of the minefields of the three regiments so that the German soldiers who come to eat can come in and out freely."

"But, Comrade Commander, once we open up a road in the minefield and the enemy uses it to attack us, what shall we do then?"

"Don't worry," Sokov knew very well in his heart. Paulus' troops are now at the end of their strength, and they can't play any tricks. If they don't send troops to attack, they are already going to laugh. So he comforted Sidolin: "Even if we opened up a road in the minefield in front of the enemy, the Germans would not dare to do anything to us? For them, how to fill their stomachs is their first priority." Task."

Regarding Sokov's approach, Ivanov still has different opinions: "Our food supplies are actually not rich. Is it appropriate for you to take out so many things to entertain the enemies who are fighting with us? I am worried. If this matter spreads to the ears of the superiors, I am afraid it will be detrimental to you."

"Don't worry, Comrade Deputy Division Commander." Sokov replied with a smile: "Just shouting slogans at the German positions every day, the effect is very limited. But if the Germans know that they are here, they can fill their stomachs and make us more happy." They have a real experience, and then any publicity will be made, and the effect will be multiplied."

"What if the superiors pursue it?" Although Sokov had already said this, Ivanov still asked worriedly: "How should we answer then?"

"Tell the truth." Sokov didn't go around in circles, and said bluntly: "Report the purpose of our doing this and the effect we have achieved to the superior. I believe the superior will understand us. Even if they don't understand, we must It is up to me to pursue responsibility.”

…………

Cuikov learned through his own news channels that Sokov was providing food for the German army on the opposite side. On the first day, 69 German soldiers came to have a full meal, and he couldn't help frowning slightly. He waited until dawn and figured that Sokov should get up, so he called Mamayev Gang to inquire about the crime.

"Colonel Sokov, what's the matter with you?" Chuikov asked angrily, "Why did you provide our precious food to the Germans? Do you want them to attack us after they are full?"

"Comrade Commander, please listen to my explanation. Things are not as you imagined."

"Tell me, what's going on." Cuikov said angrily, "I'm waiting for your answer."

"That's right, we provided food for the enemy on the opposite side last night. But only the enemy on the opposite side of the downsizing regiment put down their weapons and crawled out of their position, and came to our position to have a meal." Sukov thought of his fate. The fact that people cleared the minefield must not be concealed, so they took the opportunity to report to Chuikov: "In addition, today I ordered the commanders of the three guard regiments to open a road in the minefield in front of their positions so that those who The German soldiers who came to eat can pass through without any problems."

"What, you asked someone to open a road in the minefield just to make it easier for the German soldiers to come and eat?" Cuikov couldn't help getting angry when he heard this: "Colonel Sukov, do you know that you are going to make a big mistake like this? .If the Germans use the road you have opened to attack, I ask you, can you stop it?"

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander, I can guarantee that the enemy will never use the road opened in the minefield to attack." In order to persuade Chuikov, Sokov used the information he obtained from Guchakov and his own Some of what is known from the history books is mixed, reporting to Chuikov: "Because of the shortage of supplies, the Germans have completely lost the ability to take the initiative to attack. Their soldiers are not fed and warm, and there are large numbers of soldiers almost every day. Soldiers died due to severe cold and hunger. We provide food to German officers and soldiers at this time, so that they can understand one thing. Only by laying down their weapons and surrendering can such lives be saved. As long as we persist for a while, I think there will be A large number of German soldiers came to surrender to our army. In this way, our army can reduce many unnecessary sacrifices."

"You mean, you provide food for the enemy to break their morale?" Cuikov finally understood Sukov's intention after hearing this, but he still asked cautiously: "Then tell me, it probably takes too much food." How long will it take for the Germans to come and surrender to us?"

"Two or three days at most." Sokov didn't know whether this trick would work, so he could only say ambiguously: "I think that after two or three days of providing food for the Germans, German officers and soldiers should come to surrender one after another. .”

"Okay." Hearing this, Chuikov said straightforwardly: "Then I will give you three days. If there are really German soldiers who have eaten your food and surrendered to you, then you can continue to carry out this work. .But if it doesn't work, stop immediately, we can't waste precious food on our enemies."

"Don't worry, Comrade Commander." Seeing that Chuikov did not object to his actions, Sokov felt relieved: "I will definitely not let you down."

Seeing Sokov put down the phone with a solemn expression on his face, Sidolin quickly asked with concern: "Comrade commander, what did the commander tell you?"

"Comrade Commander said, give me three days." Sokov grinned silently, and continued: "If no German officers and soldiers have surrendered to us, then stop providing food for the enemy. Waste precious food on our enemies."

"Mr. Commander," Sidolin said with a tense expression after listening, "Do you think we can do it?"

Although Sokov knew that the food tactics he used would be very effective a few years later, he was not sure whether the method of disintegrating the enemy used on the Soviet-German battlefield was effective, so he replied vaguely: "I I think, Comrade Commander’s order should be able to be carried out.”

That night, on the position of Guchakov Company, German officers and soldiers who were eating were ushered in again. But after eating today, several German soldiers were reluctant to leave, including Sergeant Doppler.

Guchakov asked Ulbricht to act as an interpreter for him, and asked Sergeant Doppler curiously: "Sergeant, since you are full, why don't you go back, don't you worry that you will be punished by your superiors?" ??"

"Captain," Sergeant Doppler replied respectfully, "we don't want to go back, we want to stay here, please accept us. As for the punishment, let it go to hell, since we have surrendered you, they will There's nothing I can do about it."

"Why do you want to stay?" Guchakov asked curiously.

Sergeant Doppler looked at the soldiers around, and murmured, "There is no food over there, and the clothes are thin. If we go back, it won't be long before we either starve to death or freeze to death. Therefore, after discussion, we decided to surrender to you."

"Where are your military overcoats?" Ulbricht asked curiously when he saw that the military uniforms on these soldiers were thin, with a small blanket wrapped around their heads to keep out the cold, "Didn't the military supply department distribute winter clothes to you?"

"Actually, we all had military coats," Sergeant Doppler explained with a wry smile. "Later, during the transfer to Karachi, in order to speed up the march, the superior asked us to burn the military coats and said that as long as we got out of the encirclement, we would be killed." We can get new military coats. Who knows that before we arrived in Karachi, the gap was closed by you, and those storage places for winter clothes were outside the encirclement, so we couldn’t get those winter clothes at all.”