Red Moscow

When Mustache and Manstein were worrying about the current situation of the German army, Sokov received a call from Konev: "Hello, Comrade Sokov? I'm Konev. You occupy the battle in the area, Is it all over?"

"Yes, Comrade Front Army Commander, it's all over." Sokov quickly reported to Konev: "After two days of searching, the remaining German officers and soldiers in the occupied area have basically been eliminated by us."

"Well done, Comrade Sokov! Your soldiers are also doing well! Please convey my thanks to them." Konev said with a smile: "Come to my headquarters at ten o'clock tomorrow morning for a visit." Come on, I have something to discuss with you."

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," said Sokov, whose troops suffered more than 30,000 casualties in the just-concluded battle to liberate Kharkov, and he was eager to replenish his troops so that he could participate in the next stage of operations. Hearing Konev call him to the headquarters, he tentatively asked: "Is it about replenishing soldiers and weapons?"

"Comrade Sokov," Sokov's question made Konev feel very embarrassed. After all, in the battle to liberate Kharkov, all the units of the front army paid huge sacrifices. Don't you need an army? "Judging from the current situation, the Supreme Command is temporarily unable to replenish our urgently needed soldiers and equipment. It is estimated that for a long time, you can only rely on your own existing strength to complete the combat tasks of your superiors."

Sokov was not happy when he heard it. Although his group army had seven infantry divisions, one tank army and one infantry brigade, its total strength was less than 50,000. This amount of troops can be used to fight small battles. If it is a battle at the battle level, I am afraid it is not enough to give the Germans teeth.

"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that since he could not obtain reinforcements from Konev, he could only find a way by himself, and quickly said, "Can we find a way to replenish troops by ourselves?"

"Replenish the troops yourself?" Hearing what Sokov said, Konev couldn't help frowning: "You want to recruit recruits from the city of Kharkov, right? You know, the recruits recruited temporarily have not undergone systematic military training. Training, but there is no combat effectiveness..." As soon as he said this, a thought flashed in his head, guessing how Sokov planned to replenish his troops, he tentatively asked: "Comrade Sokov, will you not fight again?" The idea of ​​playing prisoners of war?"

Seeing that Konev had guessed his intentions, Sokov no longer concealed it: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I think as long as the troops are replenished, the soldiers lost in the battle are replenished, and there is nothing wrong with thinking about those rescued prisoners of war." where?"

Konev originally wanted to criticize Sokov, but then he thought about it. From the beginning of the Battle of Kursk, there were many rescued prisoners of war in Sokov's army. It reached tens of thousands of people. Especially in the rebuilt 73rd Infantry Brigade, most of the commanders and fighters in it are rescued commanders and fighters.

"Comrade Sokov," since so many rescued prisoners of war were added to Sokov's troops without any problems, it seems that it is not a big deal to continue to replenish him with rescued prisoners of war. Thinking of this, Konev said into the microphone: "After our troops occupied the Kharkov area, they found a large number of prisoner-of-war camps in the forest on the outskirts, and rescued 20,000 to 30,000 commanders and fighters from them."

"20,000 to 30,000?!" Sukov couldn't help his eyes sparkle when he heard this number, and asked quickly, "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, may I ask, where are these rescued commanders and fighters now?"

"They are being gathered in the square in front of the railway station, and they are going to be sent to Siberia by train."

"Don't do it, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." Knowing that his superiors were going to send these rescued commanders and fighters to Siberia to grow potatoes, Sokov felt that it was a waste of money, and quickly said: "If we send them to Siberia, at least Need two or three hundred wagons, plus one or two regiments of troops? You know, every wagon and every soldier is very precious to us. In my opinion, it is better to use these rescued commanders and fighters Leave it all to me?"

"I guessed that you would say that." Konev saw through Sokov's little thoughts, and said with a smile: "They are all in the square in front of Kiev Railway Station now, and you take someone to receive them."

Sokov knew the customs in Russia. Railway stations are basically named after the terminal station. For example, if the terminal station is Moscow, it is called Moscow Railway Station; if it is bound for Leningrad, it is called Leningrad Railway Station. Kiev railway station means that its focus is in Kiev.

Sokov put down the phone and excitedly said to Sameko and Lunev standing in front of him: "Chief of Staff, Comrade Military Commissar, I have good news for you. General Konev asked us to go to the square in front of Kiev Railway Station. To pick up the officers and fighters rescued from the POW camps. Let's go now."

Knowing that his superiors were going to add troops to him, and that they were rescued from prisoner-of-war camps, Sameko was equally excited. As Sokov's chief of staff, he was well aware of the performance of these recruited commanders and fighters on the battlefield. Panting heavily, he asked nervously, "How many people are there?"

"There are 20,000 to 30,000 people."

"20,000 to 30,000 people?!" Sameko exclaimed, "How is this possible? You know, our army was basically on the offensive in this Battle of Kharkov, so how could so many people be captured? "

Hearing Sameko's question, Sokov thought to himself that at the beginning of the year, Manstein's troops defeated the 8th Army formed by the 6th Army, 1st Guards Army, and Popov Army of the Southwest Front. The 1st army, 10 infantry divisions and 5 special brigades captured more than 9,000 people. The number of captured commanders and fighters of the Soviet army who was on the offensive in the Battle of Kharkov this time should not be large. I am afraid that with the addition of the prisoners of war from last year or earlier, it can barely make up 20,000 to 30,000 people.

"Comrade Chief of Staff, you may have made a mistake." Sokov reminded Sameko: "The 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers rescued by General Konev did not refer to those captured in this battle. There are prisoners from the last Kharkov battle, and even the last time, the last time. After all, we have fought the Germans four times in the Kharkov area."

After listening to Sokov's analysis, Sameko felt that what the other party said was very reasonable. The 20,000 to 30,000 rescued prisoners of war gathered in the station square were not captured during this battle. Perhaps most of them were from the previous few days. battle. After trying to understand this truth, Sameko asked, "Then how many people should we bring to the train station square?"

"Comrade Commander," Lunev, who had been silent all along, said when Sokov and Sameko were in high spirits and were about to take people to the train station to receive soldiers: "Our group army has received such rescued commanders and fighters many times. A few people above already have opinions on you. If you add so many soldiers this time, I am afraid that the commanders of the friendly forces will also have opinions on you."

Lunev's words poured cold water on the two of them, and the expression on Sameko's face became hesitant. He looked at Sokov and carefully observed the other's expression, trying to figure out whether the other party was also going to retreat. Unexpectedly, Sokov said carelessly: "Comrade Military Commissioner, what's the matter with you? As long as we can replenish enough soldiers to maintain a strong combat effectiveness, even if we offend the friendly commanders, what's the point? "

Seeing Sokov's firm attitude, Sameko decisively chose to stand with him, "Comrade Military Commissar, I agree with the commander, with enough soldiers, we will be able to obtain Victory after victory."

Seeing that Sokov and Sameko didn't care about their reputation, Lunev also decided to go all out: "Well, since you don't care, then I will go to the train station with you. But I will take a few people there. "

Sokov heard the implication of the other party's words. He was preparing to receive soldiers at the train station square and arrange the screening work at the same time. He specifically said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissioner, if you want to screen these commanders and fighters, you may have to bring more people there, otherwise when will you be able to complete the screening of all personnel."

"Okay," Lunev said, nodding his head, "I'll bring all the people from the Political Department of the Army Group over there, and by the way, I'll transfer political workers from each division and brigade to carry out the screening work together."

Although Konev said that he would notify the station to temporarily suspend the transport of prisoners of war, Sokov was worried that someone at the station would make their own decisions and transport the prisoners of war away without authorization. If the train really leaves, it may not be an easy task to chase the person back. He said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, the chief of staff and I will take a guard battalion there first. After you gather enough people, come over and join us."

After the division of labor was clarified, Sokov and Sameko drove to Kiev Railway Station with Seryozha's guard battalion.

On the way, Sokov asked Seryozha, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat: "Seryozha, how does it feel to be a battalion commander?"

Seryozha was just promoted to the commander of the guard battalion three days ago. Hearing Sokov's question, he turned around and laughed a few times, and replied, "I'm still getting used to it, and I don't know if I can be a good one." This battalion commander."

"The company commander is in charge of the work in the company." Sameko said from the side: "You only need to manage a few company commanders."

"The chief of staff is right. The company commander is responsible for the company's work. You only need to manage a few company commanders." Sokov worried that Sergei had just assumed the position of battalion commander and had no experience, so he reminded him: "If you don't understand anything, you can ask your deputy battalion commander. He is more familiar with the situation in the battalion than you."

The convoy arrived at the square in front of Kiev Railway Station and found that it was crowded with countless soldiers, but judging from their clothes and facial expressions, Sokov knew that these were just rescued commanders and fighters. Many of them were haggard, skinny, and their military uniforms were in tatters. They should have been captured very early. Soldiers with loaded guns and live ammunition stood all around the square, staring vigilantly at the rescued commanders and fighters.

When the guard battalion was queuing up at the entrance of the railway station, the military representative of the station got the news and walked out. This is a major. He came to Sukov and raised his hand to salute. He glanced at the soldiers of the guard battalion who were lined up and asked politely: "Comrade general, I am the army representative at the station. May I ask you to bring so many troops to the station?" What are you doing at the station?"

"Comrade Major," Sameko said instead of Sokov, "we are here to receive soldiers."

"Soldiers?" The major asked in surprise, "Where did the soldiers come from?"

Sameko pointed to the square with his hand and said, "That's them."

"They?" The major raised his eyebrows and said in surprise, "Comrade General, these are prisoners of war and will be transported to Siberia soon."

"That's right, it's them." Sokov continued: "They are the soldiers we want to replenish." After a pause, he asked, "Comrade Major, didn't your superior tell you that we are going to come here to receive soldiers?" Is it about the soldiers?"

"No." The major shook his head like a rattle, and said firmly, "Comrade General, I haven't received any calls at all."

"Comrade Major, my name is Sokov, and I am the commander of the 27th Army." Seeing that his guard battalion had assembled, Sokov ordered the major: "Hurry up and call your superior and ask if he has Orders received."

The major hesitated for a moment, then turned around and walked into the station to call his superior to find out whether what Sokov said was true.

"Seryozha," as soon as the major left, Sokov called Serezha to him and told him, "immediately ask your people to find some tables and chairs and place them by the side of the square. After the people arrive, the screening work will begin.”

Seryozha had followed Lunev to participate in the screening of the public, so he naturally understood what was going on, and hurriedly greeted a group of subordinates, and followed him to the station to set up tables and chairs.

The major quickly returned from the phone call and said to Sokov with a serious expression: "I'm sorry, Comrade General, I called my superiors, and he didn't know anything about it."

Hearing that the other party said he didn't know about it, Sokov couldn't help but frowned, thinking to himself: Could it be that Konev was fooling me, he didn't want to add these rescued commanders to me at all?

I only heard Sameko asking the other party: "Comrade Major, did you really call your superior and ask about this?"

"Yes, Comrade General." The major replied truthfully: "I called the regimental commander first, and he said he didn't know about it at all. Just to be on the safe side, I called the division commander again, but he still didn't know about it. .”

"What is the name of your division commander, and what is the number of the unit?"

Unexpectedly, Sameko's question aroused the major's vigilance. He unconsciously put his hand on the holster around his waist and asked vigilantly, "Comrade General, why are you asking this?"

"It's nothing, I just want to know if I know your teacher and if you're lying."

Sameko's words angered the other party, and the major gritted his teeth and said: "Comrade General, I have already told you that my superiors don't know about this at all, and I will not lie to you."

"Then tell me, what is the name of your division commander, and what is the number of the unit?"

Hearing Sameko's doubts, the major gritted his teeth and said the number of his unit: "The 36th Division of the 24th Guards Rifle Corps, the division commander is Major General Denisenko."

After reading the unit number and the name of the division commander, Sameko suddenly constricted his pupils violently, and said in surprise, "So you belong to the 7th Guards Army?"