Chapter 2555

"What, it took five months?" Vaserigov said in surprise: "From Belgrade to Berlin is only a thousand kilometers. Even if you only walk 20 kilometers a day, you can reach Berlin in two months at most. Why did it take you so long?"

"Major," Denarius explained with an embarrassed expression: "At the beginning, I could walk about 40 kilometers a day. According to my idea, I could return to Berlin and reunite with my family in a month at most. But who knew that after entering Germany, various checkpoints increased and the inspections became more and more strict. I once saw several deserters being pulled out of the crowd and then dragged to the roadside and shot.

I realized that if I continued to follow the refugee troops to the country, I would be caught sooner or later, or even executed directly, so I changed to hiding during the day and traveling at night. I would find a quiet place to hide during the day and wait until night to travel. If I encountered any checkpoints, I would be very worried. , the inspection is strict, I even have to hide for a week or more before I can find a chance to bypass the checkpoint and continue to move towards Germany. "

After hearing this, Sokov had a general understanding of Denarius's experience. He asked the other party a question that puzzled him: "Lieutenant Denarius, since you found that after entering Germany, the closer you go to Berlin, the stricter the inspection, why do you continue to move forward? Don't you know that this will only put you in danger?"

Denarius hesitated for a long time and said slowly: "I just wanted to see my family at the time, and didn't think so much."

In just two sentences, Sokov realized that the current Lieutenant Denarius was a person with a strong sense of family. In order to see his family, he even disregarded his own safety. He is a very responsible person and trustworthy. Let him join the Security Command can be considered.

Before Sokov could speak, Ajelina interrupted and asked, "Lieutenant Denarius, did you see your family later?"

"I just said that it took me five months to get to the vicinity of Berlin, and it was already the end of February." Denarius continued, "As the war went bad, the defenses near Berlin were strengthened, and there were countless checkpoints on the roads leading to the city. Probably to prevent Soviet or Allied spies from entering the city, the inspection became extremely strict. In this case, if I wanted to continue to enter the city, it would be tantamount to seeking death, so I had to change my mind and find an abandoned farm dozens of kilometers away from the city and hide there. And using the potatoes in the cellar and a small amount of canned vegetables, I survived until the end of the war.

Although with the end of the war, no one would catch deserters anymore, but there were Soviets, Americans and British everywhere. Once I fell into their hands, I would be put in a prisoner-of-war camp. Therefore, it took me almost another month, until mid-June, to return to Berlin. When I returned to my home on Wilhelm Street, I found that the house was empty and there were no clues left. I wanted to find it, but I didn't know how to start. "

I learned that Denarius's relatives were missing. Whether they temporarily fled to other places and were unwilling to come back, or died in the war, this was something no one knew. Even if Sokov wanted to comfort Denarius, he didn't know where to start.

"Lieutenant Denarius," but the considerate Ajelina said to Denarius kindly, "Don't be discouraged. No news now is the best news. I believe that one day in the future, you will be able to reunite with your family."

But Sokov thought differently. The war had ended for half a year. If Denarius's relatives could come back, they would have come back long ago. There are two possibilities for their disappearance: one is that they died in the war, and the other is that they felt that the areas controlled by the United States, Britain, France and other countries could give them a sense of security, so they chose to stay there. In this way, they will have to wait at least a few decades to reunite with their relatives who stayed in the Soviet-occupied area, until the moment the Berlin Wall fell, and the prerequisite is that they can live to that era.

"Lieutenant Denarius, I understand your situation." Sokov said to Denarius, "You go back and wait for news. When the garrison headquarters begins to be established, I will let Ernst notify you."

When the other party goes back to wait for notification, the difference between the future and the present is that in the future, it is likely to be a tactful refusal, and there will be no further follow-up; and in this era, it is just to say that the time is not yet ripe, and when the time is ripe, someone will be sent or called to notify immediately.

"Thank you so much, Mr. General." After Denarius stood up, he leaned forward slightly, stretched out his hands to Sokov, and said respectfully: "I am ready at any time, just waiting for your call, I will come immediately."

...

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

The newly established garrison headquarters has a special garrison department, which is under the jurisdiction of several garrison detachments.

The garrison commander and the director of the garrison department are both sent by Zhukov, and the Germans are all deputies.

"Comrade Marshal," Sokov went to see Zhukov in person, hoping to obtain the right to appoint certain positions and fulfill his promise to Ernst, Hosenfeld and others. After sitting down opposite Zhukov, he asked cautiously: "I once mentioned several former Wehrmacht officers to you. I wonder if they can be assigned to a certain guard unit under the Guard Department to take up certain positions?"

Zhukov did not answer Sokov's request immediately, but 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. More importantly, they are very friendly to our army and have no resistance."

Since Sokov was the guarantor and these people had no resistance to the Soviet army, Zhukov was very satisfied. He thought for a moment, then said: "Now that the Security Command has formed two security squads, I can let you be responsible for the formation of the third squad."

"The third security squad?" Sokov asked tentatively: "I wonder what level this squad belongs to, and what is the highest rank?"

"Of course it is a company-level organization." Zhukov said: "But I plan to let you be fully responsible for the appointment of all officers and the selection of soldiers in this unit."

Zhukov's arrangement was out of trust in Sokov. But Sokov didn't dare to agree casually, so he clearly remembered that Zhukov would be relieved of his post in more than three months. If this squad was full of his confidants, then after Zhukov left, this unit would also be affected to a certain extent, and it might be directly disbanded. It was for this reason that Sokov said cautiously: "Comrade Marshal, I can be responsible for the selection of soldiers for the 3rd Squadron. But when it comes to the appointment of officers, I think only a few positions are needed. The remaining officers should be arranged by you and the deputy commander."

The deputy commander Sokov was talking about was General Sokolovsky, who would soon be promoted to marshal and would also take over Zhukov's position as the second commander of the German group. By showing him goodwill through personnel arrangements, after Zhukov leaves, the troops he has formed will not be discriminated against.

"So which positions do you plan to choose?"

"I plan to choose the position of squad leader and the two platoon leaders below," Sokov just finished saying this, and suddenly realized that he was not familiar with the organization of the garrison command at all, so he asked casually: "Is there a platoon organization in the garrison squad?"

"Yes." Zhukov answered without hesitation: "Since this garrison command is established by us, then what kind of organization is there is up to me."

"That's great." Sokov said: "I want a squad and two platoon leaders. The rest of the officers will be decided by you and Comrade Sokolovsky."

As 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 outside. He stood by the door and raised his hand to salute Zhukov.

Zhukov did not return the greeting, but greeted him, "Comrade Dratvin, please come over, I'll introduce someone to you."

Sokov didn't care at all when he saw that the person who came in was a lieutenant general, after all, the other party's rank was lower than his. But when he heard Zhukov calling his name, he immediately stood up from his seat. Although the other party's rank was lower than his, he was the chief of staff whose position was only lower than Zhukov and Sokolovsky. Even if his rank was higher than his, he had to raise his hand and salute him when they met outside.

Dratvin walked over quickly and when he came to Marshal Zhukov's desk, he took a special look at Sokov and asked casually: "If I'm not mistaken, this should be Admiral Sokov."

"Yes, Comrade Dratvin." Zhukov nodded and said in an affirmative tone: "He is Sokov. Misha," he said to Sokov: "Let me introduce you, this is Lieutenant General Dratvin, Chief of Staff of the German Cluster, he took over Malinin's position."

"Hello, Comrade Chief of Staff." If Zhukov hadn't introduced him, Sokov could still pretend to be confused, after all, the other party's rank was lower than his, so it would be okay if he didn't salute him. But now Zhukov has revealed the other party's identity, if Sokov does not salute, it will be considered impolite, so he saluted first and said: "Nice to meet you!"

"Hello, General Sokov." Dratvin raised his hand to return the salute, shook Sokov's hand and said: "I am also very happy to meet you."

"Comrade Dratvin." Zhukov said to Lieutenant General Dratvin, "Before you came in, Misha and I were discussing the establishment of the 3rd Guard Squadron."

"Comrade Marshal," Dratvin asked politely after hearing what Zhukov said: "I wonder if there is anything I can do for you?"

"I'll let Misha arrange the positions of the squad leader of the 3rd Guard Squadron and the two platoon leaders." Zhukov looked at Dratvin and said, "As for the formation of the 3rd Squadron, we still need to select soldiers from the prisoner-of-war camp. The prisoner-of-war camp is now under your charge, so you need to inform the people below about Misha's going to the prisoner-of-war camp."

"No problem." Dratvin agreed very readily, "I will arrange for Major Poletenko, the director of the General Staff Office, to accompany General Sokov to the prisoner-of-war camp near Berlin and select suitable candidates from there to form the police 3rd Squadron."

"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov immediately thanked Dratvin for agreeing to send someone to accompany him to the POW camp to select personnel: "Thank you for your arrangement."

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

Sovkov saw people coming and going outside the headquarters. If his conversation with Vaserigov was overheard by passers-by, it would probably spread all over the city soon. 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, Vasherigov turned around and asked Sokov: "Comrade General, where are we going? Back to the Adlon Hotel?"

"No, no, no, we're not going back to the hotel for now. Let's go to William Street first."

"Go to William Street?" Vasherigov was stunned when he heard Sokov say this, and then he understood the other party's intention, and said with some surprise: "Comrade General, so the Marshal has agreed to your request?"

"Yes, Marshal Zhukov has given me the task of forming the 3rd Guard Squadron." Sokov said: "And I will also arrange the positions of the squad leader and two platoon leaders. In addition, the soldiers of the 3rd Squadron will be selected from the nearby prisoner-of-war camp."

The car came to William Street and stopped at the door of the unit where Hosenfeld and others lived. Then Sokov pushed open the door and got out of the car, and walked straight into the unit door. Vasherigov, who got out of the car immediately after, quickly arranged a sentry at the door and followed him in.

Sokov came to the door of Hosenfeld's house and knocked twice when he saw that the door was closed.

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

Seeing Sokov's sudden visit, Ernst was stunned: "Comrade General, why are you here?"

"Ernst, I have good news to tell you, so I came here in person." As he said, he stepped into the door and asked loudly: "Where is Captain Hosenfeld? This seems to be related to him."

Who knew that 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 Denarius, the old policeman named Bayer was also there.

When the three saw Sokov coming in, they also hurriedly stood up from their seats to greet him.

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

Ernst spoke in Russian the first time, and only Denarius understood it among the three. He spoke in German the second time, and all three understood it. They looked at each other and saw joy in each other's eyes.

After a moment, Hosenfeld asked on behalf of everyone: "General, can you tell us what the good news is?"