Steel Soviet Union

Almost at the same time as Malashenko and Lavrinenko were lying sprawled on the ground, in the Red October Steel Plant in Stalingrad, at the headquarters of the 62nd Army of the Stalingrad Front of the Soviet Red Army. .

Chuikov, who was signing a report with a pen in his hand, was crouched in front of the case. He still had no idea what great things had happened in the city he was in. There was a sound of hurried footsteps that suddenly opened the door. Suddenly the silence of the room was broken.

"Comrade Commander, Comrade Commander! Something big has happened!!!"

Chuikov, who was holding a pen in his hand and was obviously startled, blinked his eyes and froze for a moment. Then he put down the pen and report in his hand, and in just a moment he let out a sigh. stood up from the chair.

"What happened?! Say it quickly! Report it immediately!"

Chuikov, who was pounding in his heart, was really frightened by everything that happened unexpectedly.

The war has reached this juncture. What other tricks can the Germans who have been pinned to death in the city do?

It must not be a small matter for the chief of staff to come in like this. Chuikov guessed that Manstein, who had been driven away before, was back again? This doesn't make sense.

If Manstein or the Germans really planned to get their precious Sixth Army out of the brutal street fighting encirclement of Stalingrad.

The strategic rescue operation led by Manstein last year was actually achievable. Manstein's tanks were able to rush into the city in less than an hour, but it was at this critical moment that They chose to give up at the critical moment, and the Sixth Army, which was pinned down in the city, made no movement and had no intention of breaking out of the encirclement by cooperating internally and externally.

Chuikov still couldn't figure out which song the Germans sang at the end of last year. After thinking about it, he felt that neither Manstein nor Paulus could carry out large-scale actions at this time. , the matter is completely meaningless at this point.

The confused Chuikov didn't have to wait too long.

It was obvious that he had been running so fast that he was out of breath. He waved his hand and signaled to the commander that he didn't need to worry.

After taking a breath, he finally raised his head and gave an answer to Chuikov, who was already impatient.

"We have won! Comrade Commander! The Kraut's Sixth Army has declared its surrender!"

"Marshal Paulus, the commander of the Sixth Army, was captured and surrendered with his headquarters staff, generals, and a large number of guards! Our siege commando team broke through Paulus's last defense. He could not Don't do this! The order for the remaining German troops in the city to lay down their weapons has been issued, and our frontline troops are clearing out the enemy's last strength!"

There is a legendary situation that nothing in this world cannot be frozen and still. Even time will fall into a still state on certain occasions. For example, this is the scene in Chuikov's office at this moment.

I don’t know how much time passed in the still time. Chuikov, who was as motionless as a sculpture, finally blinked his eyes and spoke slowly again.

"What did you just say? Say it again, how are we doing? How are the Red Army doing?"

The chief of staff did not feel any strange about Chuikov's state, because even he himself was in a similar situation when he just received the news. With a look of astonishment on his face, he felt extremely shocked by what he had just learned. It's unbelievable, the expression on his face is even worse than Chuikov's.

"Victory! It's victory! Comrade Commander, we are victorious! Stalingrad is held! The blood of commanders, comrades, political workers, and soldiers was not shed in vain! Those fascists surrendered!!!"

The chief of staff, who had all the excitement and joy in his heart written on his face, gestured with his slightly trembling right hand to the telegram that he had been holding tightly in his hand and never let go.

Chuikov, who could no longer hold himself back, almost flew across his desk, rushed to the chief of staff and snatched the brand new telegram with his hands, staring with eyes bigger than a cow's egg. With the speed of light, he quickly read through the not too much content in the letter.

"Really, this is actually true! For half a year, we really won! Those Germans who resisted desperately actually surrendered!"

This unprecedented super battle, which lasted for half a year and involved millions of soldiers and civilians, finally came to an end with our side's victory.

Chuikov had imagined countless times what the scene would be like in the final victory. Will Paulus, a fascist lackey who was fanatically loyal to Hitler, drink a bullet and commit suicide? Or did the heroic Red Army soldiers smash his headquarters with tanks and submachine guns and kill this Hitler lackey?

Chuikov felt that he had anticipated all possible outcomes, but he never expected that Paulus would end in surrender.

Chuikov must admit that, whether in terms of combat quality or fighting will, Paulus and the Sixth Army under his command are worthy of the violent title of "the strongest field army of the Wehrmacht".

This damn Sixth Army was like a follower that couldn't be shaken off, chasing the retreating Red Army all the way from Kharkov to the gates of Stalingrad.

The field defense positions deployed on the outskirts of Stalingrad were easily penetrated by the Sixth Army like newspapers. This group of fanatical fascists who could not stop the brakes immediately turned the entire Stalingrad upside down, and then even more Use a group army to fight against our own strategic counterattack with absolutely superior strength.

Even if they are too hungry to walk and eat only 100 grams of bread slices a day and drink melted snow water to satisfy their hunger, these die-hard fascists will not surrender no matter what they say. Still fighting to the death with various siege commandos of the Red Army in the ruins, streets, and alley corners, their crazy fighting will and tenacious combat performance are both remarkable.

But now, the obvious facts tell Chuikov: the powerful opponent you thought has laid down its arms and raised its hands in surrender. No matter what you think, the reality comes so suddenly and without warning.

There were too many details and problems in his head that he needed to calm down and think about. Chuikov, who walked slowly to the window sill with his head lowered, could see that the soldiers in the yard outside had begun to raise their hands in celebration amidst the boiling cheers.

The more talented soldiers even started singing and dancing on the spot, clapping their heels and engaging in an enthusiastic and cheerful tap dance.

What's more, they even brought out the accordion. They sat down cross-legged on the ground and immediately started playing music. The exciting shouts of victory were louder than the waves, spreading throughout the entire sky of the Red October Steel Plant.