The inhabitants who had fled from Betulf had been walking on the road for almost a night, and finally they saw the Lubov-Friyes River, and they knew in their hearts that they would only have to cross the bridge and walk along the road for a day to reach the port on the Baltic coast. From there, they can take a boat and travel to the islands across the sea to escape from this area where the war is taking place. Unexpectedly, when they were still a kilometer away from the bridge, they were blocked by a group of armed Soviet commanders and fighters.

The refugees were stupefied by the guns in the rows of black holes, and in the propaganda they heard, the Soviets were a gang of robbers who killed people, set fires, burned, looted, and did all kinds of evil, and it was precisely because of this that they fled their homes overnight, trying to escape to safety. But they never dreamed that they would meet the Soviet troops here, and everyone thought in despair: it's over, it's all over, and the next second they will definitely shoot at us without hesitation.

But what they feared did not happen, and the other side just pointed their guns at them and did not take further action. Unexpectedly, an officer wearing a large-brimmed hat came out of the crowd, holding a simple horn in his hand: "Listen, Germans, the front is our defense area, and we are not allowed to continue to advance, otherwise we will shoot." ”

Although the officer's German pronunciation was not very standard, and there were many errors in grammar, none of the refugees thought to correct him, but thought to themselves: "What shall we do?" Keep going, and the Russians will shoot at us; Turn around and go home, and when the Russians take the city, they will loot us as well. ”

The German refugees did not dare to advance, fearing that the Soviets would shoot at them; I didn't dare to leave, thinking that even if I returned to the city, I would inevitably be sacked, so why bother tossing back and forth.

Not only the German refugees, but also the Soviet soldiers on the task of interdiction, were also in a difficult situation, although they were ordered to shoot as soon as the refugees forced their way through the pass. If they were confronted by a vicious group of German soldiers, armed to the teeth, they would certainly carry out this order without hesitation. But standing in front of them were a group of unarmed old people, women and children, who couldn't do anything at all.

After a long wait, a new order came, ordering the commanders and fighters to try to persuade the refugees to return to Betuff. It would be great if the refugees were willing to return to their homes, and for those who really did not want to return, they were allowed to cross the bridge over the Rubov-Friyes River after strict checks.

But when the German-speaking Soviet officer loudly announced the good news, the refugees, who had been in a state of nervousness, cheered enthusiastically. After some persuasion, with the exception of a few who turned around and returned to Betuff, most of them stuck to their original idea and went to the ports on the Baltic coast via the bridge over the Lubov-Friyes River, and took a boat away from the war-torn land.

Since the order was given by the higher authorities to let them go, the soldiers did not embarrass the refugees, and after a simple search of them, they were allowed to let them go in turn. When the refugees were inspected, their hearts were beating all the time, and the Soviet army took the opportunity to loot the valuables they were carrying. However, they soon found that their worries were unfounded, as long as they did not carry any weapons, the Soviets were happy to let them go, and the few refugees with weapons were driven aside and guarded by a group of soldiers with loaded guns.

Over the course of six hours, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., more than 20,000 German refugees crossed the bridge over the Rubov-Friyes River and continued north along the road.

Bratash and his chief of staff, standing at the door of the temporary headquarters, looked at the endless contingent of refugees on the road, and said with a sneer: "I don't know what Comrade Marshal thinks, to let so many refugees pass through the Lubov-Friyes River." ”

"Comrade Division Commander," the chief of staff of the division said thoughtfully, after waiting for Bratash to finish, "I think Comrade Marshal must have his reasons for doing this. ”

"Why?!" Bratash turned his head to look at the chief of staff of the division, frowned and asked, "What is the reason?" ”

"I think the exodus of the residents of Betulf has two benefits for us." The chief of staff of the division said confidently: "First of all, there are fewer residents in the city, and when we attack the city, we will not be afraid of accidentally injuring civilians; Second, if we occupy a city, if the population is small, we will have much less logistical pressure. ”

"Makes sense, makes sense." After hearing the chief of staff's analysis, Bratash nodded again and again and said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, listening to what you said, this order given by Comrade Marshal is still very correct. ”

While the two were talking, a staff officer ran out of the command headquarters and hurriedly said: "Comrade division commander, your phone call is from an observation post. ”

Hearing that it was a call from the observation post, Bratash felt that there must be something unexpected, so he hurriedly rushed to the table and picked up the phone on the table: "I'm Colonel Bratash, what do you have to report?" ”

The observation post reported: "Comrade division commander, we noticed that on the road in the distance, enemy tanks and armored vehicles appeared, coming along the road, towards the defense area of our division. ”

"How many tanks and armored vehicles are there?" When Bratash heard this, he couldn't help but chuckle in his heart, but fortunately he still kept his calm: "How far is it from us?" ”

"I counted about ten tanks, and the number of armored vehicles was about the same." The observation post said excitedly: "They are still about three or four kilometers away from the defense area of our division. ”

"I see." Having learned about the situation of the incoming enemy, Bratash briefly ordered: "Continue to observe, if there is anything new, report to the division command in time." ”

After hanging up the phone, he dragged another phone in front of him, shook the crank vigorously a few times, picked up the microphone and put it to his ear, and said into the microphone: "I am Colonel Bratash, pick me up Colonel Shukin immediately." After the phone was answered, he went straight to the point and said, "Colonel Shukin, my observation post has reported to me that an armored unit of the enemy is rushing towards us along the road. At present, there is only a distance of three or four kilometers left from the defense area of our division. ”

Although this news came relatively suddenly, it was expected for Shukin, and he asked in a calm tone, "What kind of troops does the enemy have?" ”

"According to the reports of the observation post, the enemy has about ten tanks and the same number of armored vehicles, and no more enemies have been found for the time being."

"I see." After a moment of thought, Shukin said to Bratash: "Colonel Bratash, I will immediately order a battalion to attack along the road to meet the enemy's tanks, and I ask you to send at least one battalion of infantry to follow behind. ”

"So be it." Bratash thought that Shukin's plan was good, and replied decisively: "I immediately give the troops an order to follow the tanks of our army. Before the enemy notices the movement of our troops, we will attack them first. ”