When Mustache and Manstein were worrying about the current situation of the German army, Sokov received a call from Konev: "Hello, Comrade Sokov? I am Konev. The battle in the area you occupy,
Is it all over?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander of the Front Army, it's all over." Sokov quickly reported to Konev: "After two days of searching, we have basically eliminated the remaining German officers and soldiers in the occupied area."
"Well done, Comrade Sokov! Your soldiers are also well done! Please convey my gratitude to them." Konev said with a smile: "Come to my headquarters at ten o'clock tomorrow morning.
Come on, I have something to discuss with you."
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," In the just-concluded battle to liberate Kharkov, Sokov's troops suffered more than 30,000 casualties. He was eager to replenish his troops in order to participate in the next phase of the battle. Konev heard
He was called to the headquarters and asked tentatively: "Is it about replenishing soldiers and weapons and equipment?"
"Comrade Sokov," Sokov's question made Konev feel very embarrassed. After all, in the battle to liberate Kharkov, all units of the front army made huge sacrifices. If we talk about replenishing troops, how can we
Doesn’t this unit need to be replaced? "Judging from the current situation, the Supreme Command is temporarily unable to replenish us with urgently needed soldiers and equipment. It is estimated that for a long time, you can only rely on your existing strength to complete the tasks of your superiors.
combat mission."
Sokov was not happy when he heard this. Although his army group had seven infantry divisions, a tank corps and an infantry brigade, the total strength was less than 50,000. This small amount of troops can be used to fight small battles. If
It's a battle at the battle level, and I'm afraid it's not enough to put a hole in the Germans' teeth.
"Comrade Commander of the Front Army," Sokov felt that since he could not get additional troops from Konev, he had to think of his own way, and said quickly: "Can we find a way to supplement our troops ourselves?"
"Replenish your own troops?" Hearing what Sokov said, Konev couldn't help but frowned: "You want to recruit new soldiers from Kharkov, right? You know, temporary recruits have not gone through systematic military training.
Training, but there is no combat effectiveness..." As soon as he said this, an idea flashed through his head. He guessed how Sokov planned to replenish his troops, so he asked tentatively: "Comrade Sokov, won't you do it again?
Are you planning to take prisoners of war?"
Seeing that Konev had guessed his intention, Sokov no longer concealed it: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, I think as long as we strengthen the troops, replenish the soldiers lost in the battle, and try to rescue the prisoners of war, there is nothing wrong with it.
What about?"
Konev originally wanted to criticize Sokov, but then he thought about it. From the beginning of the Battle of Kursk, there were many rescued prisoners of war in Sokov's troops. In the later stages of the battle, the number of rescued prisoners of war increased.
The number reached tens of thousands. Especially the rebuilt 73rd Infantry Brigade, most of the commanders and combatants in it were rescued commanders and combatants.
"Comrade Sokov," since there are so many rescued prisoners of war who have replenished Sokov's troops without any problems, it seems that it is not a big deal to continue to add rescued prisoners of war to him. Thinking of this, Konev
Speaking into the microphone, he said: "After our troops occupied the Kharkiv area, they discovered a large number of prisoner of war camps in the forests on the outskirts, and rescued 20,000 to 30,000 commanders and fighters from them."
"Twenty or thirty thousand?!" Sokov couldn't help but shine when he heard this number, and asked quickly: "Comrade Commander of the Front Army, may I ask where these rescued commanders and fighters are now?"
"They are being gathered in the square in front of the train station, preparing to send them to Siberia by train."
"Don't do it, Comrade Commander of the Front Army." After learning that his superiors wanted to send these rescued commanders and fighters to Siberia to grow potatoes, Sokov felt that it was a waste of money and quickly said: "If they are transported to Siberia, at least
We need two to three hundred wagons, plus one or two regiments of troops, right? You know, every wagon and every soldier today is very precious to us. In my opinion, we should keep these rescued commanders and soldiers
Leave it all to me?"
"I guessed you would say that." Konev saw through Sokov's little thought and said with a smile: "They are all in the square in front of the Kiev train station now. You take someone to receive them."
Sokov knew Russian customs. Train stations are basically named after their terminal stations. For example, if the terminal station is Moscow, it is called Moscow Railway Station; if it is bound for Leningrad, it is called Leningrad Railway Station. Kiev Train
The station indicates that its focus is on Kiev.
Sokov put down the phone and excitedly said to Samyko and Lunev who were standing in front of him: "Chief of Staff, Comrade Military Commissar, let me tell you some good news. General Konev asked us to go to the square in front of the Kiev train station.
Go and receive the commanders and fighters rescued from the prisoner of war camps. Let’s set off now.”
Samyko was equally excited when he learned that his superiors were going to replenish his troops, and that they were commanders and fighters who had been rescued from prisoner-of-war camps. As Sokov's chief of staff, he knew very well that these commanders and fighters who had been added to the army would be very useful on the battlefield.
How was the performance? He breathed heavily and asked nervously: "How many people are there?"
"There are probably twenty to thirty thousand people."
"Twenty or thirty thousand people?!" Samyko exclaimed: "How is this possible? You know, in this Battle of Kharkov, our army was basically on the offensive. How could so many people be captured?
"
Hearing Samyko's question, Sokov secretly thought that at the beginning of the year, Manstein's troops defeated the 8th Army of the Southwestern Front, the 1st Guards Army, and Popov's Army.
The army, 10 infantry divisions and 5 special brigades, captured more than 9,000 people. The Soviet army was on the offensive in the Kharkov battle. The number of captured commanders and fighters should not be many. I am afraid that after adding last year or so,
The number of prisoners of war in earlier periods could barely reach 20,000 to 30,000 people.
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you may have made a mistake." Sokov reminded Samyko: "The 20,000 to 30,000 rescued officers and men mentioned by General Konev did not refer to those captured in this battle.
There are prisoners from the last Battle of Kharkov, and even from the last time, and the last time before that. After all, we have fought four battles with the Germans in the Kharkov area."
After listening to Sokov's analysis, Samyko felt that what the other party said was very reasonable. The 20,000 to 30,000 rescued prisoners of war now gathered in the station square were not captured during this battle. Perhaps most of them were from previous battles.
After the first battle. After thinking about this, Sameko asked: "How many people should we take to the train station square?"
"Comrade Commander," just as Sokov and Samyko were excitedly preparing to take people to the train station to pick up the soldiers, Lunev, who had been silent, spoke up: "Our group army has received such rescued commanders and fighters many times.
Some of the people above already have opinions on you. If so many troops are added this time, I'm worried that the commanders of friendly forces will also have opinions on you."
Lunev's words poured cold water on the two of them, and the expression on Samyko's face became hesitant. He looked at Sokov, carefully observing the other person's expression, trying to figure out whether the other party was also about to back down. But he didn't.
Thinking of Sokov, he said carelessly: "Comrade Military Commissar, what's really wrong with you? As long as we can add enough troops to maintain a strong combat effectiveness of the troops, even if we make the friendly commanders unhappy, what does it matter?"
Seeing Sokov's resolute attitude, Samyko decisively chose to stand with him, "Comrade Military Commissar, I agree with the commander. With enough soldiers, we can achieve success in the coming days."
One victory after another.”
Seeing that neither Sokov nor Samyko cared about their reputation, Lunev also decided to risk his life: "Okay, since you don't care, then I will go to the train station with you. But I will take a few people with me.
"
Sokov heard what the other party said. He was preparing to receive soldiers in the train station square and arrange for the screening work to be carried out at the same time. He specifically said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, if we want to screen these commanders and fighters,
, I’m afraid you need to bring more people there, otherwise when will the screening of all personnel be completed.”
"Okay," Lunev nodded and said, "I will bring all the people from the political department of the group army there, and by the way, I will also transfer political workers from each division and each brigade to carry out the screening work together."
Although Konev said that he would notify the station to temporarily stop transporting prisoners of war, Sokov was worried that someone at the station would take it upon themselves to transport prisoners of war without authorization. If the train really left, it would be very difficult to recover the prisoners.
It is not an easy task. He said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, the Chief of Staff and I will take a guard battalion over first. After you have gathered enough people, come over and join us."
After the division of labor was clear, Sokov and Samyko took Seryosha's guard battalion and rushed to the Kiev train station by car.
On the way, Sokov asked Seryosha, who was sitting in the co-pilot's seat: "Seryosa, how does it feel to be a battalion commander?"
Seryosha had just been promoted to guard battalion commander three days ago. When he heard Sokov's question, he turned around, laughed a few times, and replied: "I'm still getting used to it, and I don't know if I can do it well."
This battalion commander."
"The company commander is responsible for the work in the company." Sameko said from the side: "You only need to manage a few company commanders."
"The chief of staff is right. The company commander is responsible for the company's work. You only need to manage a few company commanders." Sokov was worried that Seryosha had just assumed the position of battalion commander and had little experience, so he reminded him:
"If you don't understand anything, you can ask your deputy battalion commander for help. He is more familiar with the situation in the camp than you are."
The convoy arrived at the square in front of the Kiev train station and found that it was crowded with countless soldiers. But judging from their clothes and the expressions on their faces, Sokov knew that these were newly rescued commanders and fighters. Many of them described themselves as haggard.
, skinny as a stick, and the military uniform on his body was in tatters, he must have been captured very early. The square was surrounded by soldiers with loaded guns, staring at the rescued commanders and soldiers with vigilance.
When the guard battalion lined up at the entrance of the train station, the representative of the station army who got the news came out. This was a major. He came to Sokov and raised his hand in salute, and glanced at the soldiers of the guard battalion who were lining up.
, asked politely: "Comrade General, I am the military representative at the station. Why are you bringing so many troops to the station?"
"Comrade Major," Samyko said on behalf of Sokov, "we are here to receive troops."
"Soldiers?" the major asked in surprise, "Where did the soldiers come from?"
Samek pointed towards the square with his hand and said: "That's them."
"Them?" the major raised his eyebrows and said in surprise: "Comrade General, these are prisoners of war and will soon be transported to Siberia."
"Yes, it's them." Sokov continued: "They are the soldiers we want to replenish." After a pause, he asked, "Comrade Major, didn't your superiors tell you that we are coming here to receive the troops?"
Is it about the soldiers?"
"No." The major shook his head like a rattle and said with certainty: "Comrade General, I didn't receive any call at all."
"Comrade Major, my name is Sokov, and I am the commander of the 27th Group Army." Seeing that his guard battalion had been assembled, Sokov ordered the major: "Hurry up and call your superior and ask him if he has any
Got the order."
The major hesitated for a moment, then turned and walked into the station to call his superiors to find out whether what Sokov said was true.
"Seryozha," Sokov called Seryosha to him as soon as the major left and ordered him: "Immediately ask your people to find some tables and chairs and place them next to the square, and wait for Comrade Military Commissar to bring them.
After people arrived, the screening work began."
Seryosha had participated in screening the public with Lunev, so he naturally understood what was going on. He quickly called a group of subordinates and followed him to the station to set up tables and chairs.
The major came back from the phone call quickly and said to Sokov with a serious expression: "I'm sorry, Comrade General, I called my superior, but he didn't know anything about this."
When he heard that the other party said he didn't know about this, Sokov couldn't help but frowned and thought to himself: Did Konev deceive me? He didn't want to replenish this batch of rescued commanders and fighters to me at all?
I heard Sameko questioning the other party: "Comrade Major, have you really called your superior and asked about this matter?"
"Yes, Comrade General." The major replied truthfully: "I called the regiment commander first, and he said he didn't know about it at all. To be on the safe side, I called the division commander again, but he still didn't know about it.
.”
"What is the name of your division commander and what is the unit number?"
Unexpectedly, Sameko's question aroused the major's vigilance. He unconsciously put his hand on the holster on his waist and asked vigilantly: "Comrade General, why are you asking this?"
"Nothing, I just want to know if I know your teacher and if you told lies."
Sameko's words angered the other party, and the major gritted his teeth and said: "Comrade General, I have already told you that my superiors do not know about this at all, and I will not lie to you."
"Then tell me, what is the name of your division commander and what is the unit number?"
Hearing Samek's question, the major gritted his teeth and gave out the unit number he was in: "The 36th Division of the 24th Guards Infantry Corps, the division commander is Major General Denischenko."
After Samek read out the unit number and division commander's name, his pupils suddenly shrank violently and he said in surprise: "So you are from the 7th Guards Army?"
