Red Moscow

For the next two days, Tonya came over to change Sokov's dressing in person. Originally wanted to chat with him, but every time she came, either Ponegerin or Sidolin was by Sukov's side, so she never had a chance to talk to him, and she could only have a conversation. gossiping.

When she came to change Sokov's dressing that day, she checked the wound and said to Sokov, "Misha, after changing today's medicine, you don't need to change your wound. Be careful when you walk in the future. Don't get hurt again."

Knowing that Tonya might not come back in the future, Sokov couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. He looked at Bonejelin who was sitting next to him, and he swallowed the words of confidant again, and began to have an awkward chat with Tonya: "By the way, Tonya, what are you going to do next? place?"

"I don't know." Tonya shook her head and said with a wry smile, "We will go wherever the superior tells us to go."

"Donia," now that she knew that Donia would leave soon, Bonejelin began to chat with her: "Your name is the same as the heroine in "How the Steel Was Tempered", isn't it you?" parents liked the book?"

"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander." Tonya responded politely: "My father liked this book very much, so when he named me, he took the name Tonya."

"I really can't tell, your father is quite knowledgeable." Ponegerin asked, "Is he an intellectual?"

"No, Comrade Deputy Commander." Tonya shook her head and said, "He is just an ordinary worker. Ostrovsky, the author of "The", can be regarded as a comrade-in-arms. Knowing that my comrade-in-arms has written a remarkable book, even if the level of education is not high, I have read it several times. "

"So this is ah."

When Tonya was chatting with Ponedelin, Sokov was thinking in his heart: Ostrovsky is a Ukrainian, and his book "How the Steel Was Tempered" is very popular all over the world. have a name. But among the Ukrainians I knew in later generations, except for the elderly who knew more or less about this book and the author, the young people basically knew nothing about it.

When Sokov was meditating, he suddenly heard Tonya mention Leo Tolstoy, and couldn't help asking: "What do you say about Leo Tolstoy?"

"Comrade Commander," Ponejielin asked in surprise when he heard Sokov ask, "Didn't you hear what we just said?"

"I was thinking about something, and I didn't pay attention to what you were talking about." Sokov asked, "What happened to Leo Tolstoy that you were talking about just now?"

Tonya said in amazement: "Misha, don't you really know what Guderian did in Tolstoy's manor?"

"I don't know." Sokov said to himself that when Guderian occupied Tolstoy's manor, I hadn't traveled to this era, so what could I know? Then he asked back: "Dongnia, what happened, why don't you tell me?"

"Misha, this incident was originally reported by a guerrilla." Tonya said: "It is said that he discovered that the Germans who occupied Tolstoy's manor dug up Tolstoy's coffin, and the Germans put The bones in it were thrown all over the place, and in that pit, two dead officers were buried..."

Even if a thunderstorm exploded beside Sokov at this moment, the shock it brought to him was definitely not comparable to these words of Tonya: "Donia, what are you talking about? Guderian's people put Is it reliable that Tolstoy's coffin was dug up and his bones were thrown all over the place?"

"At the beginning, I didn't believe that such a thing would happen." Tonya said: "I think Guderian is a gentleman among the German generals, and he would never do such a thing. But not long ago, Relevant authorities sent people to dig up Tolstoy’s tomb, and found two coffins inside, and when they were opened, only skeletons remained of the corpses inside, but the German military uniforms they wore could not be faked.”

Upon hearing this, Ponegerin said through gritted teeth, "So, it is true that the Germans dug up Tolstoy's remains."

"Comrade Deputy Commander, this matter should be true." Tonya nodded and said, "But due to certain considerations, this matter is still kept secret. So I hope that after you know this matter, you must not Just tell anyone."

"Don't worry, Tonya." Sokov took the lead and said, "I will never tell others casually about such things."

After Tonya left, Ponejielin said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I had a good impression of Guderian, but I didn't expect him to do such a thing. I really misjudged him. When we conquer Berlin and capture him in the future, I will make him pay for it."

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov said slowly, "if we stayed in the order of battle of the 1st Belarusian Front until the end of the war, we might be the first troops to break into Berlin." .”

"By the way, Comrade Commander." Upon hearing Sokov's mention of storming into Berlin, Ponegerin no longer pestered Guderian and Tolstoy, but turned his attention to the current battle situation. Top: "The two divisions sent in the direction of Lublin have already assisted General Chuikov's 8th Guards Army to capture Lublin. I wonder where our next battle will be?"

"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov asked: "Where are the prisoners in the Majdanek concentration camp transferred now?"

"There are about 10,000 prisoners from Belarus, and now they have been transferred to the city of Brest, and accommodation has been arranged for them." Ponedelin reported to Sokov: "As for the remaining prisoners, there are still 10,000 prisoners. Staying in concentration camps, they wanted to wait until we had liberated all of Poland before returning to their respective homelands."

"They will go home after we liberate Poland." Sokov said with a sneer, "That's not a short time to wait."

At this time, Sidolin came over and said to Sokov: "Comrade commander, I just received a call from the logistics chief of the group army. He said that recently, food and water have been transported to the Majdanek concentration camp every day. The transportation of weapons and various military supplies has had some adverse effects. He asked, now that the friendly army has occupied Lublin, can the friendly army be asked to resupply nearby?"

"Comrade Commander, I think it's okay." Ponedelin reminded Sokov: "Transporting the food and water needed by the prisoners from the Brest Fortress every day requires a considerable proportion of our transportation force. This affects the normal troop mobilization and supply of our army. In my opinion, it is undoubtedly the most correct choice to entrust the supply task to the friendly army."

In fact, even if Bonejelin and Sidolin did not mention this matter, Sukov planned to discuss this matter with them. When his own troops captured the Majdanek concentration camp, Chuikov's troops were still far away in Chelm, and even if they wanted to provide supplies for the concentration camp, it was beyond their reach.

But now they have successfully occupied Lublin, and the distance from the concentration camp is only a few kilometers, so it is indeed more convenient to supply than themselves. After making up his mind, he nodded and said, "Okay, I will immediately contact Comrade General and ask him to let the 8th Guards Army take over our supply mission."

However, before Sokov called Rokossovsky, he told Sidolin: "Chief of Staff, you call the two division commanders Liuzhikov and Ismailov and ask them to send someone to take the Mine detectors, explore the slopes of the concentration camp and see if you can find anything useful."

When Sidolin heard this, he was stunned: "Comrade Commander, is there anything on the hillside in the concentration camp that our soldiers need to use mine detectors to find?"

Sokov clearly remembered that in the materials about the Majdanek concentration camp, it was mentioned that many Jews knew that they would die, so they buried a large number of valuables with them on the hillside in the camp. It was discovered by a group of Israeli archaeologists and it took three days and three nights to dig.

Hearing Sidolin's question at this moment, Sokov organized the vocabulary in his mind, and then said: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the situation is like this. Those Jews transported from other places first arrived at the concentration camp. If they don’t find them, they will bury some valuables on the hillside, so I don’t think there is any harm in sending people to search for it.”

Regarding Sokov's statement, although Sidolin thought it was ridiculous, but as his superior, since the other party had issued such an order, he had to execute it unconditionally, so he could only say helplessly: "Okay!" Come on, Comrade Commander, I will convey your intention to the two division commanders and order them to send people to search on the hillside."

When Sokov waited for Sidolin to call, he asked the director of the communications corps to help him connect to the front army headquarters. He was going to report to Rokossovsky himself.

After the call was connected, Sokov said to the staff officer who answered the phone: "Comrade staff, this is Sokov, please ask Comrade General to answer the phone."

"General Sokov," the staff officer who answered the phone said with a smile, "Are you looking for Comrade Marshal?"

After being reminded by the staff officer, Sokov immediately thought that Rokossovsky was now the marshal, and quickly changed his words: "You are right, comrade staff officer, I just want the marshal to answer the phone, I have important matters report to him."

"Misha, I'm Rokossovsky." Rokossovsky's voice quickly came out of the receiver: "What do you want from me?"

"Hello, Comrade Marshal." Hearing Rokossovsky's voice, Sokov said respectfully: "Please accept my congratulations to you, congratulations on your attainment of the rank of Marshal."

"Thank you!" It may be that he has answered too many similar calls in the past two days, and there is no excitement in Rokossovsky's tone through the receiver. What's the matter?"

"Comrade Marshal, the situation is like this." Sokov said cautiously: "Didn't the 8th Guards Army of General Chuikov take Lublin? I would like to ask if his troops can take over the battle against Majda." Resupply work at Necker Concentration Camp."

Fearing that Rokossovsky would not take this matter to heart, Sokov also deliberately added: "When my troops occupied the Majdanek concentration camp, they rescued more than 40,000 prisoners, and now tens of thousands have arrived. Brest, but there are still more than 30,000 people left in the concentration camp, and my logistics department delivers food and water to these people every day..."

Before Sokov could finish speaking, Rokossovsky interrupted him, "Misha, you don't need to say anything, I understand what you mean. You think it's wrong for you to deliver food and water to these prisoners. Troop movement and resupply, had some adverse effects. Right?"

"Yes, Comrade Marshal, your analysis is correct." Seeing that Rokossovsky had guessed his intention, he quickly replied affirmatively: "That is indeed the case."

"Majdanek Concentration Camp is only four kilometers away from Lublin," Rokossovsky glanced at the map in front of him, and continued, "It would be much more convenient for Chuikov's troops to transport supplies than yours." .Well, starting tomorrow, I will order Chuikov to take over the task of transporting supplies for the concentration camp."

"Great, this is really great." Seeing that his goal had been achieved, Sokov couldn't help but be overjoyed, and said repeatedly: "Comrade Marshal, thank you so much."

"Misha, what are your plans for the future?"

This question from Rokossovsky made Sokov fall silent. He clearly remembered that the new Polish parliament was formed and born in Lublin. Before the establishment of the parliament, Chuikov's troops might not continue to attack westward. If you rush directly to Warsaw, you may be frantically besieged by the German army, and your troops may suffer heavy casualties.

Thinking of this, he said into the microphone: "Comrade Marshal, although I really want to march to Warsaw immediately. But I can't do it now. After a long period of fighting, my troops have not only lost a lot of troops, but also consumed almost the same amount of ammunition. gone."

Rokossovsky couldn't hear the meaning of prevarication in Sokov's words, but fortunately he didn't intend to let Sokov march at this moment. From the situation on the map, it can be seen that Sokov's troops have already separated the troops on the left and right flanks by hundreds of kilometers. If they advance deep into the German defense, they will be in danger of being cut off and encircled by the Germans. For a commander like Sokov who has repeatedly made military exploits, once something happens, it will have a negative impact on the morale and morale of the troops.

"Misha, don't worry, I won't let you attack the enemy rashly." Rokossovsky felt that Sokov should be given a reassurance at this moment, lest he think wildly all day: "Now the position of your army Too far ahead, if you are ordered to continue to advance in depth of the German defense, then you will become a lone army. Once the German army surrounds you from all directions, your connection with the friendly army will be cut off, and you will fall into the encirclement of the German army. Therefore Your current task is to consolidate an occupied area, wait until the friendly front is leveled with you, and then launch a new attack on the depth of the German defense."

Seeing that Rokossovsky did not issue a coercive order to himself, the boulder hanging in Sokov's heart finally fell safely. He was going to let the troops who had been fighting for a whole month take the time to rest so that they could take a rest in the next few days. In the battle, you can always ensure that you have plenty of physical strength and combat effectiveness.