Burning Moscow

Chapter 1721 New negotiator

Klebs was sent away, and after learning that Colonel Duffervänger and the interpreter had returned to Hitler’s bunker smoothly, the 8th Guards Army stalled the battle for almost a day and restarted.

At one noon, Cui Kefu received a call from the command of the 28th Guards Corps. General Rezhov reported to Cui Koff on the phone: “Comrade Commander, the radio station of the 79th Guards Division received the German call in Russian in plain language.”

When Cui Kefu heard this, he couldn’t help showing a slightly surprised expression on his face, and then asked, “What did they say?”

“The Germans said that they belonged to the 56th Tank Army. They requested a call. Please send a representative to Potsdam Bridge at 2pm Berlin time to continue negotiations. The identification mark is a white flag. They are waiting for our reply. ”

Cui Kefu turned his head to look at me and asked my opinion with his eyes. I only thought for a moment, and then decisively said to him: “General Cui Koff, although our negotiations with the German command team ended in failure. However, there are still a lot of understanding among the German army. They realized that the fighting has continued. There is no hope, so they hope to end this meaningless **** war in a decent way.”

After I finished speaking, Cuikov nodded slightly, and then said into the microphone: “General Reyzhoff, the ceasefire is limited to the area where the negotiators of the two sides meet. Please tell the German Tank 56th Corps Command, within the designated time and place, The life and safety of the negotiating representative of the other side will be protected by our army during the passage and meeting.

After putting down the phone, Trikov yelled at Vladimirov: “Chief of staff, call the combat staff Lieutenant Colonel Matusov and the translator, Captain Kleber, I have an important task to give them.”

Without much effort, the two officers walked in from outside. Cui Kefu got up and walked in front of the two of them, and said to Matusov with a serious expression: “Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I now have an important task for you to complete.”

When Matusov heard what Cuikov said, his face suddenly showed surprise, and he couldn’t help but interject and ask: “Should I command the troops to occupy the Parliament?”

“The task of occupying the Capitol will be completed by other commanders.” Cui Kefu said with a smile: “I called you here. There is something else.”

Hearing that the task assigned to him by Trikov was not to command troops to occupy the parliament building, Matusov couldn’t help showing disappointment on his face. I quickly walked over to Matusov and said: “Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, the task assigned to you by General Trikov is also very arduous. As a representative of the group army headquarters, you will go to Potsdam Bridge to negotiate with representatives of the German 56th Tank Corps. Discuss with them about surrender.”

“Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, I remind you to pay attention.” Seeing that Matusov was a little absent-minded, Cui Kefu quickly reminded him: “In the negotiations you are conducting this time, apart from asking them to immediately lay down their weapons and unconditionally surrender to our army, don’t do anything. Other conditional negotiations. Understand?”

“Understood.” Matusov finally realized what an important and honorable task Cuikov had entrusted to him, and hurriedly straightened his body and replied loudly: “I must follow your order and notify them when negotiating with the German army. We must immediately put down our weapons and surrender unconditionally to our army.”

I knew that this kind of negotiation could not end in a short while, so I greeted Cui Kefu and went to rest in the next room. After sleeping for less than an hour, he was woken up by someone sent by Cui Kefu.

As soon as I walked into the headquarters, Trikov reported to me: “Lida, Lieutenant Colonel Matusov called from the 47th Division of the Guards, saying that they had seen the 56th German Tank Army at Potsdam Bridge. The representative who came is responsible for leaving Colonel Dufervanger just this morning. He is participating in this negotiation as the chief of staff of the 56th Tank Army.”

From the expression on Cui Kefu’s face, I knew that this negotiation was much smoother than ours, so I asked curiously: “What was the result of the negotiation, do the Germans agree to surrender?”

“Yes, the Germans have promised to surrender.” Cui Koff nodded and said excitedly: “Col. Dufferwenger said that they were entrusted by the commander and artillery major general Weidlin to announce to the Soviet command that General Weidlin had been appointed. The decision was made regarding the cessation of resistance and disarmed surrender of the units of the 56th Tank Army. Duffervänger also showed Lieutenant Colonel Matusov a document, which was a letter of authorization for negotiations from General Weidlin.”

After I listened, I asked, “How long will it take for the Germans to start surrendering to our army?”

“According to Colonel Duffervenger, they need three to four hours.” Cui Koff introduced to me: “It is unforgettable that Goebbels once ordered fire on all those who tried to surrender to our army, so they planned to After dark, let the troops lay down their weapons and transfer all personnel and equipment of the troops to our army in an organized manner.”

“General Cui Kefu, how did you reply?” I asked as soon as he finished speaking.

“I asked Lieutenant Colonel Matusov to inform Colonel Duffervanger that their surrender had been accepted by our army.” Cui Koff quickly replied, “I asked him to return to the German headquarters and report this to General Weidlin.”

As soon as the surrender of the 56th Tank Army was negotiated here, Cui Koff received a call and reported to him: “Comrade Commander, a delegation sent by Goebbels arrived at our defense zone and said Negotiations for surrender.”

When I heard this, I couldn’t help but sigh in my heart that it was really a fall. As soon as Hitler died, the Germans began to lose their will to resist, and they actually sent representatives one after another to discuss surrender negotiations with us.

This time there are still three representatives, but they are all dressed in casual clothes. As for the soldiers holding the white flags who escorted them, they were blocked by our soldiers long before they entered our defense zone.

One of them, a middle-aged man in a gray woolen coat and a bowler hat, walked in front of us, took off his hat with his right hand and placed it on his chest, bowed to me and Cui Kefu, and said respectfully in Russian: ” The two generals, please allow me to introduce myself. I am Heinersdorf, the government adviser of the German Propaganda Department. I am appointed by the new minister of Propaganda, Dr. Hans Frisch, to surrender with your army. Negotiating.”

After speaking, he took out a letter from his pocket and walked to us. After hesitating for a moment, he handed it to Cui Kefu: “Mr. General, this is a letter from Dr. Frich to you.”

When Cuikov opened the letter paper to read, not only I tilted my head and looked at the content, but even Vladimirov, Pozharsky, and Weinrub were staring at the content from behind Cuikov.

The letter is written in Russian. Although there are some grammatical errors, I can still understand the meaning of the above expression: “As General Klebs told you, Hitler, the former imperial chancellor, has ascended to heaven. Goebbels The doctor is no longer in the world. I, as one of the survivors, ask you to put Berlin under your own protection. My name is well known, and the Minister of Propaganda, Dr. Frich.”

The death of Goebbels had long been expected by me. Otherwise, the newly appointed Minister of Propaganda Frich will not send new negotiators just a few hours later.

Thinking of Goebbels’ six innocent and lovely children, I couldn’t help but ask Heinersdorf who was still standing in front of us: “Mr. Heinersdorf, I once heard General Klebs say that Goebbels ‘S children are also in Hitler’s bunker, how are they doing now?”

“Your Excellency General!” Heinersdorf looked at me and said respectfully: “They are all dead, and together with their parents, Goebbels, they followed the head of Germany.”

“How did they die?” Cui Kefu, who had just read the letter, heard the conversation between me and Heinersdorf and couldn’t help asking: “Did you kill it?”

“No, no, General Cui Kefu, where did you think about it? How could it be us?” Heinersdorf quickly shook his hands, and replied in a flustered manner: “We are not butchers and executioners, so how can we be so cute? What about the children of Goebbels? It’s Goebbels’s wife. She said that the children are Goebbels’ children. She absolutely let them be caught alive by you, and then put poisonous drugs in the water the children drank… …”

“A beast, it’s a beast.” When Cui Kefu heard this, he lifted his leg and kicked an empty chair next to him, cursing fiercely: “Even his own children will not be spared.”

I glanced at the angry Trikov, and then asked Heinersdorf: “Where are the children’s bodies? Stay in the bunker or be burned with the bodies of the Goebbels Lost?”

“Of course it’s still in the bunker.” Heinersdorf looked at me nervously and replied: “After the armistice agreement is reached, we will bury the children’s bodies properly.”

“Comrade Commander,” at this moment, Deputy Commander Dukhanov walked out of the communication room, walked to Cuikov’s side, and reported to him: “The 47th Guards Division Commander Colonel Semchenko reported, saying Major General Weidlin, the commander of the German 56th Tank Corps, and the artillery Major General Weidlin, with two generals preparing to cross our army’s defenses, came to the headquarters for formal surrender negotiations.”

I know that Weidlin was appointed by Hitler as the commander of the Berlin city defense not long ago. Seeing that Cuikov was still on fire, he ordered Dukhanov on his behalf: “General Dukhanov, please call Colonel Semchenko back and let him Personally **** General Weidlin to our place.”

Just as Dukhanov was about to leave, I suddenly remembered something, so I stopped him and asked: “General Dukhanov, Weidlin and their surrender, have you reported to Goebbels?”

“No.” Dukhanov shook his head and said, “General Weidlin said that the surrender was his own decision and he had not reported to Goebbels.”