Red Moscow

"Please come in!"

After giving the order, Sokov said to the commanders standing inside and outside the house: "Since everyone is still here, let's stay and watch the handover ceremony."

Hearing what Sokov said, the commanders who were about to leave rushed in again. However, they did not return to their original seats, but stood together in the open space of the conference room.

Seeing that Samoilov was also in the room, Sokov told him, "Comrade Lieutenant, go and bring Paulus here again."

After a short time, Paulus, who was confused, followed Samoilov back to the conference room. He saw the Soviet commanders who had been sitting at the table for a meeting, but now they were all standing in a row in the open space, not knowing what happened. When something happened, he asked curiously: "Colonel Sokov, what did you ask me to do again?"

"Marshal Paulus, I want to give you a formal notice." Sokov said solemnly: "Wait a little longer, I will hand you over to our friendly commander. I called you here for the sake of Handle the handover."

After listening to Ulbricht's translation, Paulus couldn't help being shocked, and then asked nervously: "Colonel Sokov, are you going to shoot me?"

"Shoot you?" Sokov asked in confusion: "Marshal Paulus, who told you that we were going to shoot you?"

"I was captured by you, why should I hand it over to someone else?"

After figuring out what Paulus was worried about, Sokov said seriously: "Marshal Paulus, you should be very clear that the fighting in the north of the city is still going on, and for your safety, we must arrange for you The area where the battle took place. The new residence selected by our superiors for you is located in the defense zone of the friendly forces in the south of the city, so it is absolutely necessary to hand you over to them."

"So that's the case." Knowing that he was not going to shoot himself, Paulus heaved a sigh of relief: "It seems that I made a mistake."

"Don't worry, Marshal Paulus," Sokov understood that Paulus was in a state of fear at this time, and comforted him, "I can assure you that after the war, you will be able to return to your home safely. motherland."

There was a sound of hurried footsteps from the door, and then Seryozha came in with several soldiers. Sokov recognized at a glance that the general following Sergesha was Rastin, Chief of Staff of the 64th Army Group, and quickly shouted: "All stand at attention!"

The division and brigade commander standing aside heard Sokov's shout and stood at attention. Sokov straightened his military cap, trotted forward, stopped in front of Raskin, raised his hand and saluted, and said, "Hello, Comrade General, I am Colonel Sokov, the commander of the combat group, Waiting for the delivery of the prisoners to you."

Raskin raised his hand to return the salute, and said respectfully: "Hello, Colonel Sokov. I am Raskin, chief of staff of the 64th Army Group, and I am ordered to receive the prisoners from your place." After the salute, he grabbed Soko Holding the husband's hand, he said excitedly, "Well done, Comrade Colonel. Because you captured the German headquarters in time and captured Paulus and a group of generals under him, the troops of our army have reduced a lot of casualties. , On behalf of all the commanders and fighters of the group army, thank you and your commanders and fighters, you have saved the lives of thousands of soldiers."

After the pleasantries between the two parties were over, Sokov turned around and gave Samoilov a wink, signaling him to bring Paulus over.

After Paulus was brought over, Sokov first said to Rastin: "Comrade General, this is Field Marshal Paulus. I will hand him over to you now." Then he turned to Paulus and said, "Marshal Paulus, this is General Raskin who is taking you in. Follow him. He will guarantee your safety."

Raskin turned around and said something to the soldiers who followed, and immediately two soldiers stepped forward, grabbed Paulus' arms from left to right, and led him out of the house. When Paulus left the meeting room, Raskin reached out to Sokov and said friendlyly: "Colonel Sokov, our handover work has been completed, so goodbye, and good luck!"

After the handover was over, the commanders present dispersed again. Seryozha walked up to Sokov and asked cautiously, "Misha, where are we going next? Back to Mamayev Post?"

"No, we will not return to Mamayev Post for the time being."

"If you don't go back to Mamayev Post, where are you going?" Seryozha looked around and asked tentatively, "Are you going to stay in this basement?"

"Although I'm not going back to Mamayev Post for the time being," Sokov didn't want to stay in this cold and smelly place, he stood up and said, "I'm going to the Army Group Headquarters to see Commander Chuikov. "

Half an hour later, Sokov, under the protection of Seriosha and Samoilov, appeared in Chuikov's headquarters.

Seeing Sokov who suddenly appeared, Chuikov asked in surprise: "Colonel Sokov, aren't you commanding troops to attack the department store? How come you have time to come to me?"

"The battle to attack the department store is over." Sokov knew that Chuikov was not aware of the battle situation in the direction of the department store, so he took the initiative to say to him: "Paulus and his generals, as well as 50,000 to 60,000 German officers and soldiers, He has laid down his arms and surrendered to us."

"Paulus was captured alive by you?" Krylov on the side exclaimed: "Is this true?" Krylov's words alarmed other people in the headquarters, and everyone stopped their hands For his work, he cast his curious eyes on Sokov.

"That's right, I personally captured Paulus." After answering this question, Sokov said without waiting for Chuikov to ask another question, "But I have already handed them over to the 64th Army."

"What, handed over to the 64th Army?" Krylov asked in surprise, "Why?"

"This is an order from the superior." Sokov could only reply vaguely out of consideration of confidentiality: "The place where Paulus is being held is located at the rear of the 64th Army."

"So that's the case." After figuring out what was going on, Chuikov nodded slightly, and then changed the subject in a timely manner: "Colonel Sokov, what do you want to do when you come to the headquarters?"

"That's right, Comrade Commander." Sokov said to Chuikov: "Although Paulus surrendered, the enemies in the north of the city are still resisting. I have considered asking Paulus to persuade the enemies here to surrender, but He refused. Therefore, I suggest that you send someone to call out to the German army to spread the capture of Paulus and his headquarters to the enemy who is still fighting, so as to break their morale."

"This is a good idea." Chuikov turned to look at Krylov, and said with high spirits: "Comrade Chief of Staff, it is the German 11th Infantry Corps who is still fighting in the factory area. We know that their army headquarters has been taken away by us, and Paulus has also become a prisoner of our army, and they are ordered to drop their weapons and surrender immediately. If they want to continue to resist, they will face a devastating blow from us."