Chapter 2030:

  Chapter 2030

  Sokov received a telegram from Milesyev, and learned that he had rescued the commanders and fighters in the prisoner-of-war camp, with a knowing smile on his face. He put down the telegram, and said to Ponedelin and Kirillov: "Lieutenant Colonel Milesyev did a good job. He took away the German prisoner-of-war camp without paying much price, and sent more than 4,000 commanders and fighters inside." They were all rescued."

   "Comrade Commander," Kirilov said suddenly, "why did the person who reported this to you was Lieutenant Colonel Milesiev and not General Onuprienko?"

  Kirilov's meaning is obvious. For the liberation of the prisoner-of-war camp and the rescue of the prisoners of war, Milesiev should report directly to Onuprienko, and then the commander of the 6th Guards Division reported to Sokov. But now it is Milesyev who reports directly. This kind of reporting by leapfrogging is very unflattering.

  Sokov smiled a little embarrassedly, and then said: "It may be that Lieutenant Colonel Milesyev was too excited to rescue so many officers and fighters, and forgot this step, so he made the mistake of leapfrogging the report."

"Comrade Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Milesyev has been in the army for a long time, how could he make such a low-level mistake?" Kirillov said with a straight face, "I think he should be criticized. Let him learn his lesson from this time."

   "Forget it, Kirillov, don't be so demanding on others." Fortunately, at this time, Ponejielin came out to smooth things over: "I think this matter is fine, and the next one is not an example."

  Since there were steps handed over by Ponegerin, there was no reason for Sokov not to use them. He nodded vigorously and echoed: "That's right, that's right, we won't pursue the matter of skipping the report this time. Let's not make an example."

Sokov and Ponedelin both said the same thing. Even if Kirillov had objections, he couldn't say anything. He could only change the subject in time: "Comrade Commander, the more than 4,000 commanders and fighters rescued , which unit do you plan to add to?"

   "Yes, Comrade Commander." Pornegelin also echoed: "I don't know how to distribute this batch of troops?"

"The group army currently has six divisions and three brigades. If these commanders and fighters are evenly distributed, there will not be many soldiers in each army." Sokov thought for a moment, and made the final decision: "I think we should just take them Assign it to the 1st and 6th Guards Divisions and the 122nd Infantry Brigade."

"That's fine." Anyway, the troops of the two divisions and one brigade were brought out from Minsk by Ponegerin, and they were troops that helped them build meritorious deeds. It is a good thing that they can be replenished as soon as possible. The reason for not agreeing: "After Lieutenant Colonel Milesyev brings back the rescued commanders and fighters, they will be assigned to two divisions and one brigade according to a certain ratio."

"Comrade Commander," said Ponedelin, Kirillov suggested to Sokov: "Why don't I call General Onuprienko and see if he knows about Milesi? What about Yev's liberation of the POW camp?"

   "Yes." Sokov was also worried that Milesyev only sent a telegram to himself, and forgot about his immediate boss, Onuprienko. It happened to be through this phone call to check, and he readily agreed to the other party's request: "Colonel Kirillov, you can call him now."

The call was connected quickly, but when Onupriyenko heard that it was Kirillov's call, he said first: "Colonel Kirillov, I was just about to call you. I didn't expect You called first."

  Kirillov was taken aback: "What are you calling me for?"

"That's right, Colonel Kirillov." Onuprienko explained with a smile: "I received a telegram from Lieutenant Colonel Milesiev that their regiment had successfully liberated the prisoner-of-war camp. They are bringing the rescued commanders and fighters towards our defense zone."

   "What?" Kirillov was stunned again: "General Onuprienko, you mean that Milesiev sent you a telegram, reporting on his liberation of the prisoner-of-war camp?"

   "That's right, that's exactly it." Onuprienko asked back: "Colonel Kirillov, is there anything wrong?"

Kirilov is now embarrassed. Not long ago, he was asking Sokov to punish Milesiev for reporting to the higher level. But now after hearing Onuprienko's words, he realized that he There may be a problem with the judgment. He replied in a panic, "It's nothing, I just asked casually."

   "By the way, you called. Does Comrade Commander have any latest combat missions?"

"There is no combat mission for the time being, General Onuprienko." Kirillov said: "The commander knows that Lieutenant Colonel Milesiev has rescued more than 4,000 commanders and fighters, and plans to assign these people to the 1st, 6th Division and 122nd Infantry Brigade."

   "Great, this is really great." Onu Priyenko couldn't help feeling ecstatic in his heart. You must know that nearly half of his troops suffered casualties in recent battles. Even if the more than 4,000 people are distributed equally, I can get more than 1,000 soldiers: "With the addition of these soldiers, we can continue to fight the enemy without rest."

  Kililov remembered that not long ago, Sokov was still discussing with Ponejielin which troops to send to attack the nearby German strongholds and destroy or defeat the two German regiments there. He quickly added: "The commander and the deputy commander have just studied the issue of attacking nearby enemies. That is to say, once you have been replenished, you must rejoin the new battle."

"Don't worry, Colonel Kirillov." Knowing that Sokov is about to assign an important combat mission to himself, Onuprienko said hastily: "As long as we can replenish our troops, we will be able to carry out even more difficult missions." .”

Kirilov was very satisfied with Onuprienko's statement. He nodded and said: "There is a German territory near us, and there are about two regiments in it. The task of your division is to Launch an attack on this enemy. How about it, are you confident of winning the final victory?"

   "Of course the answer is yes." Onuprienko said with a smile: "Comrade Colonel, please tell Comrade Commander, we will never let him down."

"Very well said," Kirilov was very satisfied with Onu Priyenko's answer to me, nodded and said: "General Onu Prienko, I will convey your words to Comrade Commander of."

   After putting down the phone, Kirillov said to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, General Onuprienko said that he assures you that he will never let you down."

"The 6th Guards Division has been playing well recently." Ponejielin also helped Onu Prienko: "I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with entrusting the task of attacking the German army to their division. .”

"It's not easy for them to eat two German regiments with just one division." Sukov didn't think of underestimating the enemy just because his troops won successive victories, but solemnly said: Said: "I think in this battle, the two divisions and one brigade can be put into battle, and the deputy commander comrade will be responsible for the unified command."

  Seeing that Sokov specifically mentioned this matter, Ponejielin asked, "When do you plan to go into battle?"

"When the rescued commanders come back, they must take a good rest, eat something to replenish their strength, and then distribute equipment to them. It will take half a day or longer." Sukov thought for a while, and then proposed a time: "How about launching an attack on the enemy at noon tomorrow?"

"I think it's okay." Pornejelin nodded and said, "The reconnaissance team we sent has not yet returned any information, which just left time for the rescued commanders and fighters to rest." After saying this, his gaze Voted to Sokov, "Is there anything else that needs to be added, Comrade Commander?"

   "If possible, capture more prisoners." Sokov replied: "It will be good for us if we can provide more prisoners to the Front Army Command."

"Understood." Ponegerin remembered what Sokov said, knowing that these captives were used to show the Allies, so he was naturally very concerned: "Before the battle starts, I will specifically tell the commanders Yes, let the soldiers take more prisoners."

   "Comrade Commander, I think of one thing." Kirillov said suddenly: "I wonder if the superiors will know which part of the enemy is provided by us after these prisoners are sent to Moscow?"

"How is this possible?" Sokov shook his head after listening to Kirillov's bold idea, and said, "The superiors only count the number of captured German troops, and they have no time to care about which troops sent the prisoners. .”

"That's such a pity." Hearing what Sokov said, Kirillov immediately expressed regret: "I thought that when the superiors inspected these prisoners, someone pointed out to them which army captured these prisoners. Which army provided the captives. Now it seems that I have thought too much."

  Sokov thought to himself, these prisoners of war were all sent to Moscow to parade in the streets. The purpose of the parade was to show the results of Bagration's operation to the skeptical Allied forces. In addition, ordinary Moscow citizens could see these prisoners. As for the members of the Supreme Command, no one would go to see the parade of prisoners in person.

  In the evening, the commanders and fighters rescued by Milesyev returned to the city of Baranovich.

As soon as these ragged and emaciated commanders and fighters entered the city, they attracted the attention of the friendly forces. Soon, Sokov received a call from Batov: "General Sokov, I heard from my subordinates that your men brought back Is it true that thousands of commanders and fighters were rescued from prisoner-of-war camps?"

"That's right, General Batov." Sokov knew that even if he wanted to hide this matter, he couldn't hide it, so he might as well admit it straightforwardly: "My troops just captured a prisoner-of-war camp and rescued more than 4,000 prisoners from it. Detained commanders and fighters."

  Batov hesitated for a moment, then asked: "Then how do you plan to deal with them?"

   "How to deal with them?" Sokov asked in confusion, "General Batov, I don't quite understand what you mean?"

   "I mean, are you going to put these people in a punishment camp, or send them to the rear?"

   "I will not put them into the punishment camp or send them to the rear," Sokov replied simply: "I will wait for the medical staff to check their bodies before they are put into various combat units as appropriate."

   "Aren't you afraid of making mistakes?"

"General Batov, anyone who is familiar with me knows that." Although Sokov understood that the other party asked this question with good intentions, he still said plausibly: "For those commanders and fighters who were rescued from the prisoner-of-war camps, I am After a simple review and screening, they will be incorporated into various combat units. As for whether there will be mistakes in doing so, I have never considered it. All I know is that being able to defeat the enemy is better than anything else.”

"You're right, as long as you can defeat the enemy, it's better than anything else." Batov echoed Sokov's opinion: "It seems that I will also learn from you in the future, and those commanders and fighters who were rescued from the prisoner-of-war camps, After being reviewed and screened, they were all incorporated into my combat troops. This will not only make up for the difference in the number of soldiers, but also help to improve the combat effectiveness of the troops.”

  Military Commissar Rajecki waited for Batov to put down the microphone, and reminded him kindly: "Comrade Commander, it is very important to put the rescued prisoners of war directly into the army. You must seriously consider it."

  The reason why Rajecki said this is because Stalin once signed a document, as long as they came back from the enemy's rear, they must be strictly reviewed, and the review of those officers and fighters who were rescued from prisoner-of-war camps was even stricter. If Batov recklessly incorporated these rescued commanders and fighters into the army, a disaster might be planted.

"Comrade Military Commissar, I understand what you said." Batov said helplessly: "Look, in this half-month-long battle, although our army has won successive victories, the consumption of troops is also Everyone is amazing. This Operation Bagration has invested more than two million troops. Even if the logistics troops want to supply, where can they find such soldiers? Therefore, we must find our own way to organize Those who join the army are armed to make up for the shortage of troops."

Regarding Batov's statement, the chief of staff promptly agreed: "I agree with Comrade Commander, our troops have suffered relatively large losses, but we cannot get timely replenishment from our superiors, so we can only find another way and think about it." There are ways to solve the situation of troop replenishment.”

  Batov saw Rajecki's scruples, and he took the initiative to say: "Comrade Military Commissioner, this matter is all my idea. If the superiors blame me in the future, I will bear all the responsibilities."

Hearing what Batov said, Rajecki looked embarrassed instead, and he murmured: "Comrade Commander, see what you said, I am your military commissar, since you plan to incorporate prisoners of war into our If you come to the army to make up for the shortage of soldiers, I will no longer object. Even if the superiors hold you accountable in the future, as your deputy, I will naturally admit the responsibility together with you."

   "That's right, Comrade Military Commissioner." A smile appeared on Batov's face: "With your full support, I believe that our army group will achieve even more brilliant results in the next battle."

"Comrade Commander," seeing that Batov and Rajecki reached an agreement, the chief of staff tentatively asked: "Then should we learn from the 48th Army and send people to reconnaissance nearby to see if there are other Prisoner of war camps. If there are any, we will send troops to capture the prisoner of war camps and free all the prisoners of war held in them."

  (end of this chapter)