Red Moscow

Considering that many of these prisoners of war were wounded, after Pornejelin gave a brief introduction to the situation, he ordered the prisoners to be taken to a nearby field hospital, where they were arranged to have a simple medical examination and to eat properly. something.

Under the guidance of the commanders and fighters, the rescued prisoners walked slowly towards the designated place. Seeing that some prisoners of war were unable to move, soldiers immediately came up to help them. A middle-aged prisoner of war with messy cloth strips wrapped around his head staggered up to Ponegerin.

"Comrade soldier," Pornegering had learned from Dürer that all the officers in the prisoner-of-war camp were basically shot by the Germans shortly after entering the camp. Therefore, he instinctively thought that the prisoner in front of him, It was just an ordinary soldier. He thought that the other party had something to ask him, so he smiled and said, "If you don't understand anything, you can ask your escort."

"Comrade Commander," said the middle-aged prisoner of war with tears in his eyes, "you don't know me anymore?"

Pornegerin carefully looked at the middle-aged man in front of him, his eyebrows twitched into a knot, and he tried his best to search for the matching name and experience of this person in the memory of his mind. But after watching for a long time, he finally chose to give up. He shook his head with a wry smile and said, "I'm sorry, Comrade Warrior, I don't think I've seen you before."

"Comrade Commander," the middle-aged prisoner of war became agitated when he saw that Ponyjelin did not recognize him, "Don't you really know me? I am Harritoev, commander of the 164th Division of the 17th Infantry Army. "

Hearing what the other party said, Ponegerin showed a shocked expression on his face. He looked at the other party carefully again, wanting to confirm whether the other party was the person in his memory. After carefully looking at it for a long time, Ponegerin finally confirmed that the middle-aged prisoner in front of him was indeed his former subordinate.

"Kharitoyev! You are Kharitoyev!" Ponejielin grabbed the opponent's arm and said emotionally: "I really didn't expect that you are still alive."

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I'm still alive." The middle-aged prisoner of war, no, it was Colonel Kharitoev, who once served as the commander of the 164th Infantry Division, and said to Ponejielin with tears in his eyes: "Our division is defending the In the battle of Vinnytsia, defended by the superior German army, although we put up a tenacious resistance, but because the Germans had aircraft, tanks and artillery, we were finally unable to stop them."

Seeing that his old subordinate was wearing a prison uniform, he knew that he had just exchanged back today, and was eager to know how he became a prisoner of the German army, so he asked curiously: "Kharitoev, how did you get captured?" of?"

"When I broke through with a few soldiers, I encountered a large German army that had turned around to the rear." Kharitoyev replied, "I was unfortunately wounded in the battle. A surviving soldier came with me to cover my escape." I changed my clothes to lure the enemy away. Unfortunately, my injuries were too serious, and I passed out after walking a short distance. When I woke up, I was already in a German prisoner-of-war camp."

"I heard that all the officers in the prisoner-of-war camp were killed by the Germans." Pornegerin waited for the other party to finish speaking, and then explained why he didn't recognize him just now: "One is because there are no more officers in the prisoner-of-war camp. , so I was just wondering, which army soldier are you from? Have I ever met you? Second, you have been in the prisoner-of-war camp for such a long time, and you have suffered so much. Your appearance has also changed. It is still very difficult to recognize you at a glance."

He watched Kharitoyev wrapping the rags around his head, and couldn't help asking curiously, "Colonel Kharitoyev, what's the matter with the wound on your head?"

Hearing Ponejielin's question, Kharitoyev explained in detail how five prisoners of war escaped from prison last night, and finally said: "If the German major had come earlier, we would have saved three lives." , so that when we attack the German invaders in the future, we can have three more forces. But I am very grateful to the major, if he had come a minute or two late, I am afraid that my life would have been lost."

"Colonel Kharitoev, don't worry." Pornedelin comforted the other party and said, "We will pay back the blood debt owed by the Germans to us sooner or later."

Although Haritoyev stayed in the POW camp for two and a half years, he still occasionally heard some rumors about Sokov from the new prisoners of war in the camp, so he asked Ponejielin curiously: "Commander Comrade Comrade, you just said that the commander of the 53rd Army is General Sokov. I wonder if this General Sokov is the one who frightened the Germans?"

"Who else could it be?" Hearing Kharitoyev ask Sokov, he couldn't help saying with emotion: "To tell you the truth, if he hadn't tried his best to protect me, I'm afraid I'm still in the prison of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Here, anxiously awaiting my punishment. Thanks to General Sokov, I was able to see the light of day again and have the opportunity to return to the front line."

Speaking of this, Ponejielin saw blood oozing from Kharitoyev's bandage, and quickly turned his head to tell the guards standing aside: "Hurry up and call a health worker, and tell me that there are wounded here."

"No, no, no." Kharitoyev waved his hands hurriedly and said, "Comrade Commander, my injury is nothing serious. There is no need to bandage it. It will be fine in two days."

"How can this work? If you don't deal with it in time, your wound will be infected." After Pornegerin finished speaking, he turned his head and saw that the guard was still standing there, and urged him displeasedly: "You still What are you doing here, why don't you hurry up and find a hygienist."

A few minutes later, a female hygienist followed the guards to Pornejerin. Pointing at Kharitoev with his hand, Ponedelin said, "Comrade hygienist, his wound is bleeding, hurry up and re-bandage him."

The female hygienist agreed and came to Kharitoyev. Looking at Kharitoev, who was a head taller than herself, she said politely: "Comrade soldier, please lower your head, please? I can't reach it!"

When Kharitoyev lowered her head, she untied the rotten cloth strips wrapped around her head, carefully cleaned the wound with alcohol, and then applied iodine. While the female hygienist was bandaging, Haritoyev gritted his teeth and remained silent even though he felt the pain coming from his head.

"Okay, Comrade Soldier." After the female hygienist bandaged Kharitoyev's wound, she suggested to him, "I suggest you find a hat and put it on, otherwise you will have a headache when the cold wind blows."

"I see, Comrade hygienist. I'll go find a hat." Kharitoyev nodded his head to express his gratitude to the female hygienist: "Thank you for bandaging my wound."

"You're welcome, this is what I should do." The female hygienist finished packing her things and left.

While the medics were bandaging Kharitoev's wounds, Ponedherin ordered someone to find a military uniform so that Kharitoev could change into it. Seeing that the wound on his head had been bandaged, he passed the clothes over and said, "Kharitoyev, put on this military uniform, and I will take you to meet someone."

Regardless of the severe cold, Kharitoyev immediately took off his prison uniform and fell hard to the ground, then took the military uniform from Ponejielin's hand and changed into it.

After Kharitoev changed into his military uniform, Ponegerin looked him over carefully, and found that although he was still unshaven, he looked much more energetic than before, so he nodded and said, "Not bad, now Come with me, and I will take you to meet an important person, who will arrange a proper job for you."

Since Ponegerin didn't say who he was going to see, Kharitoev naturally didn't ask. He knew Pornegerin very well. If he could tell him, the other party would have already told him. Most are useless.

Sokov, who was busy, noticed someone coming in from the outside. He looked up and saw that it was Ponejielin. He stood up straight and asked, "Lieutenant Colonel Ponejielin, is the exchange ceremony complete?"

"Yes, Comrade Commander." Ponegelin replied solemnly: "The exchange ceremony has been completed, and the number of rescued commanders and fighters is 3,214."

Sokov walked up to Ponegerin with his hands behind his back, and asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please tell me, how many people can be incorporated into the army immediately?"

Hearing Sokov's question, Ponegerin hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "There are only about 1,500 people, and the rest are either disabled or injured. They can persist until the exchange. The location is already a miracle, if they are allowed to participate in the battle, it will definitely not be possible."

"There are only more than 1,500 people who can participate in the battle, and the number is too small." Sokov shook his head after hearing this and said, "It is best to add a certain division, so that the combat effectiveness of the division will be reduced." can be greatly improved.”

After Sokov finished speaking, he accidentally saw a middle-aged man wearing a new military uniform standing behind Pornegerin. His head was wrapped with a bandage, he didn't wear a hat, and he didn't wear any military rank. Seeing that Ponegerin actually brought an ordinary soldier into the command post, Sokov was still a little unhappy. He pouted at the man and asked Pornegerin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, he Who is it and why is it here?"

"Comrade Commander, let me introduce you." Hearing the dissatisfaction in Sokov's tone, Ponejielin quickly pulled Kharitoev over, and introduced to Sokov with a smile on his face: "This It was Colonel Kharitoev, who was the commander of the 164th Rifle Division of the 17th Army under me at the beginning of the war. Later, he was wounded and captured in the defense of Vinnitsa.”

Unexpectedly, Sokov frowned: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, as far as I know, there are no officers, political workers or Jews in this prisoner-of-war camp except soldiers, because these people were brutally killed by the Germans." .”

"Yes, Comrade Commander, I had the same opinion as you at the time." Ponedelin said: "But after listening to Kharitoev's explanation, I figured out what was going on."

Sokov glanced at Kharitoyev and asked, "What's going on?"

"Comrade Commander, the situation is like this." Ponejielin said: "When Vinnytsia fell, Kharitoyev led a few soldiers to break through, but was seriously injured. One of the soldiers tried to cover him with He changed his clothes and fled in the opposite direction to attract the attention of the Germans. Unfortunately, Kharitoev was seriously injured and was captured by the Germans during the transfer."

"It turned out to be like this." After Sokov figured out what was going on, the expression on his face softened. He reached out to Kharitoyev and said friendlyly: "Hello, Comrade Kharitoyev, welcome You come back safely!"

"Comrade Commander," Kharitoyev said emotionally, holding Sokov's hand tightly, "I beg you to incorporate me into a combat unit, even an ordinary soldier. I We must take up arms and fight the Germans, and pay them back the blood debt owed over the past two years."

Before Sokov could reply, Smirnov came over, stood beside Sokov and said: "Comrade Commander, Colonel Kharitoyev used to be a division commander, how do you plan to arrange him for what position?" ?”

Sokov turned his head and glanced at Smirnov, and said: "Although Colonel Kharitoyev should have been the commander of the infantry division in the early days of the war, it is impossible for me to let him be the commander of the division now, and let an unknown Today's military officers with tactical thinking occupy important positions, which is irresponsible to grassroots commanders and fighters."

"You are right, Comrade Commander." Regarding Sokov's statement, Smirnov expressed his support: "Colonel Khalitoyev was captured at the beginning of the war, and the method of warfare he was familiar with , It has long become out of date, if he is allowed to command a division or a regiment, I am afraid he will suffer great losses. In my opinion, let him start as a company commander."

Sokov thought for a while, and felt that Smirnov's proposal made sense. Let Kharitoyev take the position of company commander first, and if he performs outstandingly in the future, it will not be too late to promote him. Having made up his mind, he said to Kharitoyev: "Comrade Kharitoyev, if you have no objection, I want you to be the company commander, and the rank is tentatively set as lieutenant. Do you have any disagreement?"

"No." Kharitoyev is very self-aware. He knows that he has been in a prisoner-of-war camp for more than two years and has completely lost touch with the outside world. He needs to get familiar with it for a while before he can adapt to the life outside. , I am afraid it will be difficult to command the troops to win the battle. So he readily agreed: "Comrade Commander, I resolutely obey your orders."

"Very good!" Sokov was very satisfied with Kharitoyev's reaction. He nodded, and then said to Ponejielin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you take Lieutenant Kharitoyev to rest first. As for his We will arrange the specific duties at another day.”

Kharitoyev followed Ponejielin and walked outside. Seeing that he was about to reach the door, he suddenly stopped and turned to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I know of a prisoner-of-war camp that holds about 20,000 to 30,000 prisoners of war. Provide enough troops."

"What, there are 20,000 to 30,000 prisoners of war?" Sokov couldn't help but his eyes lit up when he heard this number, and asked quickly, "Lieutenant Kharitoyev, can you tell me where this prisoner-of-war camp is?" I secretly thought to myself, if the prisoner-of-war camp is not far away, I will immediately send people to clear it and rescue all the captured commanders and fighters.

"In the Uman area." Haritoyev replied: "At the beginning of last year, several captured officers came to our prisoner-of-war camp. I heard from one of them that after they were captured in the Battle of Uman, they have been He was imprisoned in a nearby open-pit mine." From Sokov's facial expression, he guessed that the other party wanted to know the specific location, and quickly added, "I wanted to find a chance to ask the specific location, but unfortunately I didn't wait. Given their chance, they were shot by the Germans."