Kirillov, on the other hand, had the opposite of my light-hearted reaction, grabbing the newspaper and staring intently at the one on it. He didn't speak for a long time.

"Comrade Political Commissar, what's wrong with you?" In order to ease his nervousness, I deliberately said to him in a mocking tone: "Have you never seen a telegram with only one question mark?" ”

Unexpectedly, after Kirillov heard what I said, his face was still expressionless, and he stared at the telegram for a while, and then he raised his head and said to me with a straight face: "Comrade Oshanina, I always feel that something is wrong!" ”

"Something is wrong, what's wrong?" His words puzzled me, and I asked in confusion: "Comrade Political Commissar, have you noticed something wrong?" ”

Kirillov nodded, and continued; "Comrade Oshanina, do you think that we caught Hitler too smoothly? According to Sergeant Adil's report, tanks were parked at the entrance to the airport, and there were a number of fighters and bombers at the airport, as well as two companies of Wehrmacht. But when we attacked, we were engaged with only a company of Wehrmacht and a small squad of SS. Not only were there no planes at the airport, but even the tanks parked at the gate were nowhere to be seen. You must know that even if Manstein travels, it is impossible to bring only such a small guard force, let alone Hitler, the Führer? ”

After listening to Kirillov's words, my heart began to get nervous, and I said that it couldn't be a trap that Manstein deliberately set for us because he wanted to destroy us, right? But after thinking about it, it shouldn't be, the "bait" he used was too big, and he actually used Hitler himself, isn't he afraid of guns and eyes. Did you accidentally injure Hitler in a melee?

Just as Kirillov and I were relatively speechless. Pandereev and a group of his commanders walked towards us. Wait for them to salute us. I instructed Pandereev: "Comrade division commander, now you are responsible for the security work at the airport, and on the positions facing Zaporosh, you must have the most combat-ready troops. I feared that the enemy, knowing the news of Hitler's capture, would rush to the airfield like crazy. Whether you can stop their crazy attack or not depends on your division. Clear? ”

"Clear, Comrade Commander." Bandereev agreed. Turning around, he began to give orders to several regimental and battalion commanders under him, arranging the defensive positions of each regiment and battalion.

When Bandereev was assigned the task, Kirillov and I began to discuss how to reply to Zhukov's telegram. Kirillov asked with a wry brow: "Comrade Oshanina, how are you going to reply to this telegram from Marshal Zhukov?" ”

I thought for a moment and replied: "So be it, Comrade Commissar. Send another telegram to Marshal Zhukov saying that our division had seized the airfield in Zaporosh and captured the commander of the 'Skeleton Division', Theodor. Ike, as well as a German suspected of Hitler. ”

For my mention yì. Kirillov thought for a moment, and readily agreed: "Okay. Comrade Oshanina, just send another telegram to Comrade Marshal, by the way, what should we do with Hitler? ”

After the discussion was settled, I instructed Razumeeva: "Comrade lieutenant, immediately send another telegram to Marshal Zhukov, saying that we have captured Ick, the commander of the German 'skeleton division', and a German who resembles Hitler, and ask the marshal what to do?" ”

After receiving the order, Razumeyeva turned around and went to the makeshift communication room to deliver a message. And after arranging the combat mission, Bandereev also ran in front of us and said to us in a flattering tone: "Army commander, political commissar, I heard that Hitler was captured by us, I wonder if you can let me meet him?" You know, we've only seen Hitler painted on a target before, and we've never seen a real person, so if we want to see a real person today, I don't know if it's okay? ”

I could not find a reason to refuse Bandereev's request, so I raised my chin at the plane that was surrounded by our soldiers on the runway in the distance, and said: "Comrade division commander, Hitler and the SS general are on the plane, and in order to prevent him from escaping, I have specially sent a platoon of the special guard company to guard it. ”

These two words of mine immediately caused the laughter of Pantai Reyev, who said while laughing: "Don't say that there is a big crater at the airport, even if there is no big crater, it is impossible for Hitler to escape, unless he can fly this big plane himself." With that, he raised his hand and saluted us, and ran towards the plane in the distance with a few of his men.

Kirillov looked at the backs of Pantai Reev and asked thoughtfully: "Comrade Oshanina, tell me how Comrade Marshal will reply to us after receiving our telegram?" ”

Hearing his question, I shook my head and said with a wry smile: "Comrade political commissar, I don't know either. Unexpectedly, the capture of Hitler not only did not bring us any benefits, but became a big problem for us. At present, this matter has not been reported to the commanders of the group army and the front army, and I don't know how they will see us when they learn about it. ”

In the distance, there was the sound of rumbling gunfire, and it seemed that the enemy from Zaporosh had exchanged fire with our troops. I listened attentively, and all I heard was the sound of tank guns, mortars, and machine gun fire, and it seemed that the Germans were rat-throwers and did not dare to use heavy weapons such as cannons. When I heard this, I felt much more relieved, as long as the Germans did not dare to use heavy artillery or aircraft bombing, then we would have no problem holding the airfield.

Razumeyeva came out of the makeshift communications room and reported to us: "Comrade Army Commander, the return call from the marshal has arrived. ”

"What does the telegram say?" When I received the telegram, I habitually asked.

When Razumeyeva heard me ask, she was stunned for a moment, and then she reported fluently: "Comrade commander, the marshal said that he will arrive in Zaporosh in two hours, and I ask you to clear the runway so that the plane can land smoothly." ”

"What, Comrade Marshal wants to come here by special plane in person?" Kirillov was taken aback by this unexpected news, and he nervously said to me: "Comrade Oshanina, we should prevent Comrade Marshal from coming here. To know that from Moscow here, it is necessary to fly over the area occupied by the enemy, if the plane is intercepted by anti-aircraft fire. Comrade Marshal will have life. ”

I understand that what Kirillov said is true. The plane on which Zhukov was travelling. He had to fly hundreds of kilometers in an area occupied by the Germans, and if he was subjected to anti-aircraft fire from the ground, his plane would indeed be shot down. However, from what I know about Zhukov, the more dangerous the place, the more he wants to take risks, and even if I send a telegram to stop him, he will not change his decision lightly. Thinking of this, I said to Razumeyeva: "Lieutenant. Calling back Comrade Marshal, we have prepared a qiē to greet him at the Zaporosh airport and ask him to come to Zaporosh as soon as possible. ”

Seeing that Razumeyeva was about to leave, Kirillov hurriedly stopped him, turned to me and said loudly: "Comrade Oshanina, don't you know the danger you are facing here? The German troops coming out of Zaporosh were attacking our positions, and it was still unknown whose hands the airfield was in when Comrade Marshal's plane arrived. We have no right to let a Marshal of the Soviet Union take this risk. I beg you again, send a telegram to Comrade Zhukov. Let him cancel this crazy plan. ”

I waved my hand and said to him helplessly: "Comrade Political Commissar, with my understanding of Marshal Zhukov, as long as he makes a decision, no one can revise it. All we can do now is to do everything we can to hold back the German attack and make sure that the airport is still in our hands when the marshal's plane arrives. With that, he waved at Razumeeva and motioned for her to go back to the communication room to send a message.

After seeing Hitler who was locked in the plane, Pandereev happily returned to us, and he said with a disdainful face: "What a bullshit Führer, just a coward." When he saw me go in with a few people, he was so frightened that he hid in the corner and shivered. It's a pity that he doesn't know Russian, otherwise he would have begged us in our language for mercy. ”

"General Bandereev," I ordered as soon as he had finished speaking, "I have just received a telegram from Marshal Zhukov that his plane will arrive in Zaporosh in two hours. I order you, at once, organize manpower to fill in the craters at the airfield and ensure that Comrade Marshal's plane can land safely. ”

"Comrade Marshal is coming here?" Pandereev was also taken aback by the news, and then he said nervously: "Comrade commander, could you send another telegram to Comrade Marshal saying that the airfield is being attacked by the Germans, and for his safety, ask him to cancel this operation?" ”

"Alright, Comrade Bantai Leev." I waved at him and said impatiently, "That's not what you're supposed to care about. Now you have to do two things, one is to repel the German attack on the airfield and ensure that when the marshal's plane lands, the airfield is still under the control of our army. Second, immediately organize manpower to fill in all the big potholes on the runway of the airport, so that Comrade Marshal's transit can land smoothly. ”

Before going to the mission, Bantai Leev pointed to the side and said to us in a concerned tone: "Commander, political commissar, it's cold outside, you better go back to the tent." ”

I looked in the direction of Pandereev's finger and noticed that he was referring to a tent that had been erected for a long time. Originally, this was the temporary command post for me and Kirillov, but because of Hitler's affairs, we actually stood outside stupidly and froze for an hour without realizing it.

By the time Zhukov's plane and two escort fighters appeared in my telescope lens, the German assault on the airfield had been repulsed again, and the runway had been completely repaired enough for Zhukov's plane to land safely.

Seeing that the plane's elevation was getting lower and lower, I hurriedly summoned Bandereev and several battalion commanders under him to stand in line next to the runway with my special guard company, and waited patiently for the plane to land.

When the plane landed successfully and stopped near us, I hurriedly led everyone to meet us. I walked quickly in front of Zhukov, raised my hand and saluted, and then reported loudly: "Comrade Marshal, welcome to Zaporosh, Major General Oshanina and all the commanders and fighters of the 79th Infantry Army are waiting for your orders. ”

"Where is Hitler?" Zhukov just nodded at me, and then asked, "Can you confirm that it's him?" ”

Zhukov's words stopped me, and in a hurry I didn't know how to answer his question, and when I opened my mouth a few times, I realized that I really couldn't answer Zhukov's question, so I closed my mouth in amusement.

"Why don't you speak?" Seeing that I had not replied to him for a long time, Zhukov could not help frowning and snorted heavily.

Seeing that Zhukov had a precursor to anger, I quickly straightened up and said: "Report to Comrade Marshal, Hitler and the wounded commander of the 'Skeleton Division' were locked up on the big plane next to him, which was Hitler's special plane. ”

"Take me to see it." Zhukov did not introduce me to the group of commanders who were following him, and after simply giving me an order, he headed for Hitler's plane.

We passed among the fighters guarding the plane, ascended the gangway to the plane, and followed the corridor to where Hitler was. At this moment, Hitler was sitting in a chair with a haggard face, looking out the window in despair, while Ike, wounded, was lying on a large sofa opposite him. Looking at the shirtless Ike wrapped like a mummy by the hygienist, I knew how badly he had been injured in the battle.

When Hitler saw so many people standing in front of him, he hurriedly got up from his seat, and instead of that arrogant and domineering expression, he whispered something to Zhukov standing in front of him with a humble attitude, and Gretka, who was standing next to him, translated the other party's words to Zhukov in time.

Seeing Hitler's reaction, my heart couldn't help but chuckle, and my heart said that this German, who was captured by us, was really Hitler? When I thought of this, a word popped into my head: stand-in, yes, stand-in. During the defense of Moscow, there were cases of Stalin's stand-ins inspecting Rokossovsky's 16th Army, and it is not surprising that Hitler's stand-ins are now near Zaporosh.

After listening to Greitka's translation, Zhukov said a few more words to the real and indistinguishable Hitler, and then turned to me and said: "Lida, the identity of this Hitler is very suspicious, and we cannot confirm whether he is himself or a stand-in, so I will take him back to Moscow and hand him over to the comrades of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for interrogation to find out what is going on." ”

I didn't dare to have the slightest objection to Zhukov's decision, but pointed to General Ike who was lying on the sofa and asked: "Comrade Marshal, will this SS general also be taken away?" ”

Zhukov turned his head to look at Ike, and said in a disgusted tone: "I'm not interested in this kind of person who wants to die, so I'd better leave it to you to deal with it yourself." Then he turned to one side, waved at the men who followed him to the plane, and asked them to take Hitler away. (To be continued......)