Red Moscow

When people of later generations mention the concentration camps established by Germany, they will definitely mention the Auschwitz concentration camp, known as the death camp, where 1.1 million people were massacred during World War II.

But the concentration camps established by the Germans in Poland are not limited to Auschwitz. Near Lublin, where the 48th Army is about to attack, there is an equally notorious Majdanek concentration camp.

When Sokov saw the place name of Lublin on the map, he suddenly remembered the concentration camp that killed 360,000 Jews and Soviet prisoners of war, although it was not as famous as Auschwitz, and told Sidolin: "Comrade Chief of Staff, immediately call the commanders of the 211th and 284th Infantry Divisions and ask them to adopt a rapid marching speed and quickly advance in the direction of Lublin."

Hearing Sokov's order, Sidolin couldn't help being taken aback, and then reminded Sokov: "Comrade Commander, our task is to assist the troops on the left wing of the Front Army to launch an attack on the Lublin area, but to be the main attacker. Task."

"I know," Sokov said to Sidolin, pointing at the map with his hand: "As far as I know, the German army established a Majdanek concentration camp on the outskirts of Lublin, in which a large number of Jews were detained. In addition, there are many prisoners of war of our army. If we do not act quickly, I am afraid that the Germans will kill them."

Regarding Sokov's statement, Sidolin and Ponejielin both expressed doubts: "Comrade Commander, where did you get the news? Why have we never heard of any concentration camps here?"

Naturally, Sokov would not tell the two that his knowledge of the concentration camp came from books of later generations, so he could only vaguely say, "I have my own source of information, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it."

Hearing what Sokov said, the two naturally couldn't ask each other what the source of the news was. After all, there were some things that they were not qualified to know at their level. Pornegelin was silent for a moment, then asked: "Comrade Commander, can you tell us about the situation in this concentration camp?"

Sokov nodded, and repeated what he remembered to the two of them: "The purpose of the Germans establishing the Majdanek Concentration Camp was to destroy the enemies of the Third Reich, assist in the extermination of the Jews, participate in deportation and' Resettlement of 'Poles living in the Zamość area.

The concentration camp covers 667 acres on the road connecting Lublin, Zamość and Chełm. It is surrounded by double-layer barbed wire with high voltage electricity and 19 watchtowers. The camp consisted of five parts: 22 cells, 7 gas chambers, 2 wooden gallows, a small crematorium and various other 'essential' structures such as storerooms, workshops, laundry and coal storage room etc. In September 1943, a large cremator was added. "

"Comrade Commander," Pornegelin said with some surprise, "The information you obtained is quite detailed. You even know the number of buildings in the enemy's concentration camp."

Sidolin asked a little puzzled: "Comrade commander, I don't understand why the Germans built crematoriums in the concentration camps, and there were two ones, one big and one small? Could it be that the death rate of prisoners in the concentration camps is so high?" Is it tall?"

Since the inside story about the concentration camp has not been released yet, many people confuse the death camp with the ordinary prisoner-of-war camp. In order to let everyone have a clear understanding of the death camps, Sokov said to the two: "The concentration camps of the Germans are different from the prisoner-of-war camps we are familiar with. Anyone who enters the concentration camp will be screened. Strong men , and skilled people will be left to work for the Germans. The remaining thousands of old and weak women and children will be tricked into the gas chamber by the Germans in the name of bathing, and then their bodies will be poisoned. , sent to the crematorium for burning."

"No way, Comrade Commander." Sidolin still expressed doubts about Sukov's statement: "If you say that the Germans shot a part of the concentration camp, I believe it. It is too far-fetched to send the old and weak women and children of the army to the gas chamber to be poisoned to death. I think it may be a rumor deliberately spread by the British and American countries for some purpose."

Sokov did not expect that Sidolin would not believe what he said, and even thought that the gas chambers in the concentration camps he mentioned were deliberately fabricated by Britain and the United States for a certain purpose. Instead of arguing with the other party, he turned his head and asked Ponejielin who was beside him: "Comrade Deputy Commander, do you believe what I said?"

"How should I put it, Comrade Commander." Pornegerin is much more experienced than Sidolin. Although he also doubted what Sokov said in his heart, he said it very tactfully: "It is said that the Germans often massacred tens of thousands of people." Thousands of old and weak women and children, I think it's a bit unbelievable."

Seeing that neither of them believed what he said, Sokov didn't bother to waste any more words, but said to Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, call the two division commanders and ask them to speed up and advance towards Lublin. Wait for them to liberate After you go to the Majdanek concentration camp, you will understand whether everything I have said is true or unrealistic rumors."

As Sokov's troops advanced rapidly towards Lublin, Arthur Libchenchel, the guard commander in the Majdanek concentration camp, was arranging his men to prepare for the liquidation of the concentration camp.

As the second caretaker commander of Auschwitz concentration camp, Arthur Liebsincher has his ruthless side. In order to avoid the crimes in the concentration camp being exposed, he decided to kill all the prisoners in the concentration camp and burn all the buildings at the same time.

His deputy, a major named Miller, learned that Arthur Liebsincher had issued such an order, and asked him: "Your Excellency, I don't think it is right to kill all the prisoners in the concentration camp." wise conduct."

Arthur Libchenchell looked at his subordinate, frowned and asked, "Why?"

"Your Excellency, the main reason why you want to kill these prisoners is to prevent the secrets of our concentration camp from being discovered by the Russians who are rushing towards Lublin. Am I right?"

"That's right." After reluctantly admitting this, Arthur Libchenchell asked, "What exactly do you want to say?"

"There are many skilled craftsmen in the concentration camp. It would be a pity to kill them like this. After all, relying on their skills, they can do more things for Germany." Miller said: "Also, killing them After the prisoners in the concentration camps, someone needs to dispose of their bodies, otherwise everything we do will be in vain, and through undisposed corpses, the Russians will easily obtain the secrets of the concentration camps."

After listening to Miller's words, Arthur Liebhenchell had to rethink his order. If he really followed his original plan and killed all the prisoners in the concentration camp, who would be responsible for the pile of corpses? Deal with it, you can't let the guards in the concentration camp do it, right? Besides, among the prisoners in the camp, there were indeed quite a few talents, so it would be a pity to kill them all involuntarily.

Thinking of this, he said to Miller: "Major, you immediately select a group of well-skilled technicians and send them to Auschwitz by train. For the rest, let them dig a big hole by themselves, and then shoot them all. After all this is done, the hole is filled with a bulldozer."

"Yes, Your Excellency Commander." Major Miller said, "I will start arranging the matter immediately."

Miller returned to his office and immediately ordered his subordinates to sort out the list of technicians, preparing to pick out a group of skilled technicians and transport them to Auschwitz concentration camp as soon as possible.

But in the concentration camp that can accommodate 45,000 prisoners, there are more than 30,000 skilled workers alone. It will take a lot of time to select qualified candidates from these 30,000 people.

Before the list was sorted out, the vanguard of the 211th Infantry Division appeared near the concentration camp.

Knowing that the vanguard of the Soviet army appeared nearby, Arthur Libsinger was taken aback. He asked Miller, "Major, what's going on? Didn't it mean that the Russians were still at sea?" Umm, didn’t you step into the Polish border, why did you suddenly appear near our concentration camp?”

"Your Excellency, Commander!" Miller replied in a panic: "Judging from the location where they appeared, these Russians did not come from the direction of Chelm, but more like from the Brest Fortress."

"What, from the Brest Fortress?!" Hearing what Miller said, Arthur Libchenchell's eyes widened in surprise: "Our army is not in the direction of the Brest Fortress, and has deployed heavy defenses. How did they get here?"

Miller didn't know what was going on, so he could only answer vaguely: "The specific situation is not clear, but this Russian army is indeed from the direction of the Brest Fortress."

"Are the technicians who are going to be transferred to Auschwitz concentration camp arranged?"

"Not yet, Commander." Miller replied with some embarrassment: "According to my idea, no less than 5,000 technicians should be transferred to Auschwitz concentration camp. However, because the number of technicians in the concentration camp exceeds three Ten thousand, so the screening and screening work is not in progress."

"If there are technicians who can be transferred immediately, how many people are there?"

"There are about eight hundred people."

"Load them all at once!" cried Arthur Libhinchell. "Get them to Auschwitz before the Russians arrive."

"What about the rest?" Miller asked, "Are we going to deal with them all as planned?"

"Major, there are only 1,300 guards in our concentration camp." Arthur Libchenchell said: "If the Russians who attacked were really the troops that had just occupied the Brest Fortress, do you think we can stop them?" Are they?"

"Then what should we do?"

"Leave some of them to stand firm, and the rest will be transferred immediately by boarding the car." Arthur Liebsincher was already panicking at this time: "We must leave this damn concentration camp before the arrival of the Russians."

When the Germans began to drive the technicians who were about to be sent to Auschwitz, the vanguard of the 211th Infantry Division was no more than two kilometers away from the concentration camp.

Seeing the Soviet army so close at hand, Arthur Libhingchel panicked even more. He knew that if he fell into the hands of the Soviet army, there would be no good end, so he quickly told Miller: "Drive, drive quickly! "

"But Commander, the number of technicians boarding the train is less than 300, and the rest are still waiting to board the train on the platform."

"Leave them alone." Arthur Liebsincher, who was eager to escape, didn't care about the life and death of the prisoners in the concentration camp, and ordered repeatedly: "Drive, drive immediately!"

In this way, under the strict order of Arthur Libchenchell, the train carrying 900 guards and 290 technicians slowly drove out of the Majdanek Concentration Camp, towards the direction of Auschwitz Concentration Camp drive away.

The remaining four hundred guards in the concentration camp were demoralized and demoralized when they saw Arthur Liebsincher fleeing without them. Originally, their combat effectiveness could not be compared with that of the ordinary National Defense Forces, but now they have no fighting spirit. Facing the charging Soviet army, some soldiers even trembled with their trigger fingers.

As soon as the Soviet army rushed in front of them, the German guards who had already lost their fighting spirit, no longer had the courage to fight, threw away their weapons one after another, and raised their hands to surrender to the Soviet army.

When Colonel Liujikov, the commander of the 211th Division, walked into the concentration camp, he was immediately stunned by the scene in front of him. Groups of skinny prisoners in prison uniforms were standing on the open ground, looking numbly at the Soviet commanders and fighters who entered the concentration camp. . About 2,000 corpses were piled outside the crematorium before they could be burned.

The dressing room outside the gas chamber was full of victims before they entered the gas chamber. The large and small shoes and clothes that were taken off piled up like a mountain, which was shocking.

"Comrade Commander," the head of the vanguard regiment walked in front of Liujikov and asked with red eyes, "We have captured about 300 German prisoners. How should we deal with them?"

"Shoot, shoot them all," Liuzhikov yelled at his subordinates, "They are not prisoners, but a bunch of two-legged beasts, shoot them all."

Regarding Liujikov's order, the head of the leading regiment said hesitantly: "Comrade division commander, why don't you ask the group army headquarters for instructions and see what the commander's attitude is?"

"What can I ask for instructions?" Liuzhikov said angrily, "Shoot them all immediately. If the superiors want to investigate, I will bear all the responsibilities."

Then, the surviving prisoners of the Majdanek Concentration Camp saw a scene they would never forget: the guards who oppressed and could kill them at will were pulled to the front of the barbed wire fence by Soviet commanders and fighters in groups of ten, and then shot them with machine guns. Do a sweep.

In a short time, more than 300 captured German guards were all shot by the Soviet army. The blood oozing from under the pile of corpses flowed around like a stream.

Seeing that the guards who oppressed him were all sent to see God by the Soviet army, the obedient prisoners walked slowly towards the pile of corpses. After watching for a while, someone spit on the corpse first, and then someone picked up a lump of soil on the ground and smashed it hard at the corpse.

Not far away, Soviet commanders and fighters saw the actions of the prisoners. Some people tried to stop them, but Liujikov stopped them. He whispered, "Let them go."

At this time, the chief of staff of the division came over and asked Liujikov for instructions: "Comrade commander, since we have successfully captured the concentration camp, should we report this news to the army headquarters immediately?"

"This is as it should be, Comrade Chief of Staff." Liuzhikov nodded and said to his chief of staff: "In the telegram, you report the situation we have seen truthfully. At the same time, don't forget to tell me The matter of ordering the execution of the guards shall also be reported."