Red Moscow

"We don't have German military uniforms here." Second Lieutenant Breliska said, "But if necessary, I can call and transfer them immediately. You know, there is a German military supplies warehouse not far from our place. There are A large amount of military supplies including military uniforms and uniforms.”

Upon hearing this, Poledenko quickly asked: "So, the bedding you just said you wanted to transfer came from this military warehouse?"

"Yes, Comrade Major." Bryliska nodded and said, "That's true."

"Then why are you still hanging around? Why don't you call quickly?" Poledenko urged the other party: "While the convoy transporting bedding has not come back yet, let them bring back a batch of new military uniforms to avoid waiting later. Let’s run again.”

After Breliska left, Poledenko said to Sokov: "Comrade General, I want to ask, what should we do if someone refuses to take a shower?"

"It's easy to handle." Sokov said casually: "Then send him back to the prisoner of war camp, and select other people to take his place. I believe that there are a considerable number of prisoners of war in the prisoner of war camp at this moment who want to leave there."

Ernst came over and reported to Sokov: "Comrade General, your guess is correct. Many prisoners of war are worried that the bath you mentioned is to prepare them to be sent to the gas chamber. No matter what we say, they don't believe it. You Look, what to do?”

"What else can we do?" Poledenko glared and said angrily: "Go back and tell those people that anyone who doesn't want to take a shower should sign up and we will send them all back to the prisoner of war camp immediately. , and other prisoners of war will take their place. If they don’t want to go into the bathroom to take a bath, there will naturally be people who are willing to go in.”

Ernst had a troubled expression on his face, and he cast a pleading look at Sokov, hoping to get a satisfactory answer from here.

"I agree with what Major Poledenko said." Although this idea was proposed by Sokov, he still agreed with Poledenko and said seriously: "If they don't cherish the opportunities we give them, then We just need to replace them, there are many prisoners of war who want to join the guard unit anyway."

At this time, Bayer and Hosenfeld also came over and said to Sokov: "Comrade General, the prisoners of war are all worried that we let them take a bath. In fact, we want to send them to the gas chamber. After all, this is This kind of thing happened all the time in concentration camps.”

"Is it that everyone is unwilling, or is it that a small group of people are unwilling?" When Sokov asked, he deliberately emphasized the word "a small group of people."

"It's the vast majority." Hossenfel said: "After repeated persuasion, although some prisoners of war agreed to go to the bathroom to take a bath, most of them still had concerns."

"Comrade General," Poledenko said to Sokov, "I think we can keep those prisoners of war who are willing to obey orders, and send the rest back to the prisoner of war camps."

To Poledenko's proposal, Sokov nodded slightly and was about to call Vaserigov over and ask him to transport those prisoners of war who were unwilling to obey orders back to the prisoner of war camp in vehicles. But Hosenfeld rushed over and begged Sokov: "Comrade General, I beg you, give them another chance, let me persuade them again, persuade them to obey your order."

To be honest, Sokov was quite angry when he learned that the prisoners of war were unwilling to obey his arrangements. He wished he could send all these ungrateful guys back to the prisoner of war camp to continue suffering. Who let them live up to his good intentions. But now seeing Hosenfeld interceding for these prisoners of war, he couldn't help but feel compassion.

"Okay, then I will go and persuade them myself later." Sokov said to Hosenfeld: "If they continue to refuse to obey my orders, then don't blame me for being rude."

Seeing that Sokov had changed his mind, Poledenko couldn't help but asked curiously: "Comrade General, do you really plan to personally persuade those prisoners of war?"

"Yes," Sokov already had an idea in his mind. Before implementing it, he didn't want too many people to know, so he said vaguely: "If these prisoners of war still refuse to obey our orders, , then send them all away."

"So what do we do?"

"Don't do anything for the time being." Sokov said to Poledenko: "We wait a little longer and persuade him when the time is right. This will have the effect of getting twice the result with half the effort."

"Wait a minute?" Poledenko became a little anxious when he heard what Sokov said: "Comrade General, I want to remind you that Marshal Zhukov will be coming soon. If he sees a group of clothes standing here, The ragged and haggard prisoners of war will definitely be furious. They are unwilling to obey your orders anyway, so I suggest they be sent away immediately."

"It's okay." Since Sokov had made up his mind, he naturally would not change it easily. He said lightly: "When Marshal Zhukov comes, I will explain it to him personally. Major Poledenko, if there is anything wrong The consequences will all be borne by me.”

Since Poledenko was ordered to cooperate with Sokov, he must have understood the relationship between Sokov and his superiors in advance. He learned that not only was he close to Marshal Zhukov and General Malinin, but he was even close to Deputy Commander Sokolow. General Fsky also had a certain personal relationship with him. Since he is willing to take all responsibilities, why should I go against him? So he shut his mouth in time and quietly observed the next development of events.

After making the call, Breliska came back and reported to Sokov: "Comrade General, the convoy transporting supplies will arrive in ten minutes. I wonder where you plan to unload these bedding and clothes?"

Sokov waited for the other party to finish speaking, pointed to the group of prisoners of war in the distance, and ordered: "Comrade Second Lieutenant, after the things arrive, let the convoy drive to the prisoners of war."

Although Bryliska did not understand the reason why Sokov wanted to do this, since the other party gave such an order, he did not have any refutation. After all, the other party was his superior, and a subordinate could only obey and execute the orders given by his superiors without questioning. and the right to discuss.

Soon, the convoy transporting bedding and military uniforms arrived.

Under Breliska's guidance, these vehicles parked near the location where the prisoners of war were staying.

The appearance of these vehicles caused panic among the prisoners of war. Looking at the trucks covered with tarpaulins, all pointing their rears at their location, many prisoners of war recalled that when they were in the occupied areas, they had herded villagers or prisoners of war together, and then drove several trucks with tarpaulins. The truck came and pointed its rear end at the crowd. When the officer gave the order, he opened the tarpaulin behind, revealing the machine gun hidden in the carriage, and fired at the crowd behind the car.

Today, these vehicles are parked neatly near the prisoners of war, and faint movements can be heard coming from the carriages. The prisoners of war who had participated in similar massacres suddenly panicked. They ducked to the other side of the crowd, trying to avoid the bullets fired by the machine guns in the carriage. But they also didn't think about it. If the Soviet army really wanted to massacre them here, it would be useless for them to lie on the ground and pretend to be dead, because someone would shoot them one by one.

After Sokov waited for the vehicle to park, he led Vaselgov, Ernst, Hosenfeld and others towards the prisoners of war. Agelina originally wanted to follow over and act as a translator, but Sokov raised his hand to stop her: "Agelina, just stay here. It will be inconvenient for you to go there."

Hearing what Sokov said, Agelina was full of questions, but it was hard to ask. She could only nod and stay where she was.

Although Poledenko did not receive Sokov's invitation, he saw Sokov personally leading people to the location where the prisoners of war gathered. He wanted to find out how the other party persuaded the prisoners of war, and he speeded up to follow him.

After Sokov arrived at the place where the prisoners of war were, he asked Vaserigov to find him a bench, then stood on it and said to the prisoners of war: "German officers and soldiers, now you line up here. Receive your bedding and military uniforms. Let me explain one thing first. You have been in the prisoner of war camp for too long, and there must be lice in your military uniforms and hair. So before you go to take a shower, everyone must shave their heads. Take off your military uniforms. After washing, put on the new military uniforms given to you, and take the bedding to the room we arranged for you to rest. After everyone has cleaned up, we will provide it for you. dinner."

After Sokov finished speaking, he got off the bench and asked Ernst to stand up and repeat what he had just said to all the prisoners of war. At the same time, he ordered people to lift the tarpaulin behind the carriage so that the prisoners could see what was inside.

Ernst quickly finished translating Sokov's words. Bayer, who was standing behind Sokov, quickly winked at Zolda, the second son in the crowd, and signaled him to come out first and set an example.

Seeing his father's gaze, Zolda immediately understood. He walked out on his own initiative, took the bedding and new military uniform handed to him by the soldiers in the carriage, and walked to the designated location to get a haircut and take a shower. Some prisoners of war who had a good relationship with Zorda saw that Zorda was the first to get a haircut and take a shower, so they also walked out of the queue to receive their own bedding and military uniforms.

Everyone knows how to do many things, but the reason why there has been no movement is because of the lack of a leader. Now Bayer's second son, Zolda, became the leader. When they saw someone taking the lead, more prisoners soon walked out of the crowd and came to the truck to receive bedding and military uniforms.

Breliska arranged for ten soldiers to serve as barbers to give these prisoners of war haircuts. After a few faders, the prisoners with long hair turned into bald heads. After they had their hair cut, the soldiers showed them where to take a bath. After finishing one, another one went in. In a short time, hundreds of people entered. The bedding and military uniforms distributed to them were neatly placed at the door of the bathroom.

Most of the prisoners of war outside were still standing there, looking at their companions who were receiving bedding and military uniforms, and taking things to get haircuts. After getting a haircut, he disappeared into the so-called bathroom. Watching their companions walk into the bathroom, many prisoners of war felt their hearts in their throats. According to their experience, after the person taking a bath entered the room, someone would come and close the door, and then release poisonous gas into the room from other places, filling the room with poisonous gas. All the people were poisoned to death.

Seeing the worried looks on the faces of these prisoners of war, Sokov suddenly became angry. He stood on the bench again and shouted at the prisoners of war: "You cowards, at this time, do you still think that we are... Will I send you to the gas chamber?"

The prisoners of war who had been scolded by Sokov were still folding their hands and hunching their necks, looking at the place where their companions disappeared, trying to figure out whether they really went to take a shower or were they sent to a gas chamber where they would lose their lives?

Fortunately, the prisoners of war who entered the bathroom first took a combat bath. After a brief rinse, they came out and began to put on their new uniforms at the door, leaving their old uniforms aside. Seeing these companions walking out of the bathroom alive, the prisoners of war suddenly became excited: "Come out, come out! Those who went to take a bath are out!"

"It seems that the Russians really didn't lie to us. They really let us take a shower instead of tricking us into entering the gas chamber."

Without waiting for any further persuasion from Sokov and others, the prisoners of war who were standing there and watching rushed to the place where supplies were distributed, reaching out to the soldiers to ask for their own bedding and new military uniforms, and they also wanted to look brand new like their companions.

"Comrade General." Breliska asked Sokov cautiously: "What should we do with these old military uniforms that the Germans took off?"

"What else can we do with it?" Sokov frowned and said, "These clothes must be full of lice. The best solution is to pour gasoline on them and burn them all without leaving a single piece."

"Okay, Comrade General." Breliska nodded and said, "I'll have someone prepare the gasoline."

After Breliska left, Poledenko walked up to Sokov and gave him a thumbs-up: "Comrade General, you are so awesome. I had already prepared to repatriate all these prisoners of war." To prepare for the camp, who would have thought that you succeeded in convincing them with just a few words."

"Comrade Major, you are very grateful. I don't have such great ability." Sokov knew very well that without the bedding and military uniforms brought by Breliska, as well as the repeated persuasion of Ernst, Hosenfeld and others, , without Bayer's second son Zolda taking the lead and setting an example, these German prisoners of war would definitely still be standing in a stalemate with him. Therefore, he said modestly: "Without everyone's help, how could we have convinced these prisoners of war so easily."

"Also." Sokov paused, and then said to Poledenko: "I won't tell you how these prisoners of war are treated in the prisoner of war camp. You must also know it in your heart. Since they have joined now We are our own people, so we hope we won’t be too harsh on them when it comes to food.”

"Comrade General, you can rest assured about this." After learning about Sokov's worries, Poledenko assured him: "Maybe it is impossible to provide them with delicacies, but to make every soldier well fed, it should be No problem at all.”

"That's good, that's good." Sokov nodded after hearing this and continued to ask Poledenko: "Comrade Major, there are no outsiders here. Can you tell me truthfully that our army plans to detain the prisoners in the prison camp?" Until when?”

Regarding the question raised by Sokov, Poledenko pondered for a long time and finally said slowly: "Comrade General, I don't think I can give you a satisfactory answer. You know, at the end of the war, someone once asked this question question, but did not receive any accurate answer. It seems that the superiors intend to keep them in custody until the day they feel the time is right, then they will be released. "