Considering that many of the prisoners of war were injured, Ponejelin briefly introduced the situation and ordered people to take the prisoners to a nearby field hospital, where they were arranged to have a simple physical examination and be fed appropriately.
something.
The rescued prisoners of war slowly walked towards the designated location under the guidance of the commanders and soldiers. Seeing that some prisoners of war had difficulty moving, soldiers immediately came up to help them. A middle-aged prisoner of war with messy strips of cloth on his head
, walked staggeringly to Ponejelin.
"Comrade soldier," Ponejelin had already learned from Dürer that basically all the officers in the prisoner of war camp were shot by the Germans shortly after entering the camp, so he instinctively thought that the prisoner of war in front of him was...
He was just an ordinary soldier. He thought the other party wanted to ask him something, so he smiled and said, "If you don't understand anything, you can ask the soldier who escorts you."
"Comrade Commander," the middle-aged prisoner of war said with tears in his eyes, "You don't recognize me anymore?"
Ponjelin looked at the middle-aged man in front of him carefully, his eyebrows knitted into a knot. He tried hard to search for names and experiences that matched this person in his memory. But after looking for a long time, he finally chose
Giving up, he shook his head with a wry smile and said, "I'm sorry, comrade soldier, I think I must have never seen you before."
"Comrade Commander," seeing that Ponedelin did not recognize him, the middle-aged prisoner of war became excited: "Don't you really know me? I am Kharitoev, commander of the 164th Infantry Division of the 17th Army.
"
When Ponejelin heard what the other party said, he had a shocked expression on his face. He looked at the other party carefully again, trying to confirm whether the other party was the person in his memory. After carefully looking at him for a long time, Ponejelin finally confirmed,
The middle-aged prisoner of war in front of him was indeed his former subordinate.
"Kharitoev! You are Kharitoev!" Ponedelin grabbed the other person's arm and said emotionally: "I didn't expect that you are still alive."
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I am still alive." The middle-aged prisoner of war, no, it was Colonel Kharitoev who once served as the commander of the 164th Infantry Division, said to Ponedelin with tears streaming down his face: "Our division is defending
During the battle in Vinnytsia, we were defended by the superior German army. Although we put up tenacious resistance, because the Germans had aircraft, tanks and artillery, we were ultimately unable to stop them."
Ponedelin saw his old subordinate wearing a prison uniform and knew that he had just been exchanged today. He was eager to know how he became a prisoner of the German army, so he curiously asked: "Kharitoyev, how did you get captured?"
of?"
"When I broke out with a few soldiers, I encountered a large German army that had detoured to the rear." Kharitoyev replied: "I was unfortunately injured during the battle. A surviving soldier joined me in order to cover my escape.
I changed my clothes and lured the enemy away. Unfortunately, my injuries were too serious and I fainted not long after walking. When I woke up, I was already in a German prisoner-of-war camp."
"I heard that all the officers in the prisoner-of-war camp were killed by the Germans." Ponejelin waited for the other party to finish speaking before explaining why he had not recognized him just now: "First, because there are no officers in the prisoner-of-war camp.
, so I was just thinking about which army you are a soldier in and have I seen you before. Secondly, you have been in the prisoner of war camp for such a long time and have suffered so much that your whole appearance has also changed.
It’s still very difficult to recognize you at a glance.”
He looked at the rags wrapped around Kharitoev's head and couldn't help but asked curiously: "Colonel Kharitoev, what's the matter with the wound on your head?"
When Ponejelin asked, Kharitoyev told in detail the escape of five prisoners of war last night, and finally said: "If the German major had come earlier, we would have killed three fewer people."
, in this way, we will have three more forces to fight against the German invaders in the future. But I am very grateful to the major. If he had come a minute or two late, I am afraid my life would have been lost."
"Colonel Kharitoev, don't worry." Ponedelin comforted the other party and said: "Sooner or later, we will pay back the blood debt owed by the Germans to us."
Although Kharitoyev stayed in the prisoner-of-war camp for two and a half years, he could still occasionally hear some rumors about Sokov from the newly arrived prisoners of war in the prisoner-of-war camp. He curiously asked Ponedelin: "Commander
Comrade Communist, you just said that the commander of the 53rd Army is General Sokov. I wonder if this General Sokov is the one who makes the Germans fearful?"
"Who else could it be besides him?" Hearing Kharitoyev ask about Sokov, he couldn't help but said with emotion: "To tell you the truth, if he hadn't protected me, I might still be in the prison of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Here, I anxiously awaited my punishment. Fortunately, with General Sokov, I was able to see the light of day again and have the opportunity to return to the front line."
Having said this, Ponedelin saw blood seeping from Kharitoyev's bandage, and quickly turned to the guard standing aside: "Hurry up and call a health worker. Just say there are wounded people here."
"No, no, no." Kharitoyev waved his hands in a hurry and said, "Comrade Commander, my injury is not serious. There is no need to bandage it. It will be fine in two days."
"How can this be done? If it is not treated in time, your wound will be infected." After Ponjelin finished speaking, he turned around and saw that the guard was still standing there, so he urged unhappily: "You still have to do it?"
What are you doing here? Why don't you go find a hygienist quickly?"
A few minutes later, a female health worker followed the guard and came to Ponedelin. Ponedelin pointed at Kharitoyev with his hand and said: "Comrade health worker, his wound is bleeding. Please help him quickly."
He bandaged it again."
The female health worker agreed and came to Kharitoyev. Looking at Kharitoyev who was a head taller than herself, she said politely: "Comrade soldier, please lower your head, please? I can't reach him!"
When Kharitoev lowered his head, she untied the tattered cloth wrapped around his head, carefully cleaned the wound with alcohol, and then applied iodine. When the female hygienist was bandaging it, Kharitoev felt a tingling sensation on his head.
It hurt, but he gritted his teeth and remained silent.
"Okay, comrade soldier." After the female health worker bandaged Kharitoyev's wound, she suggested to him: "I suggest you find a hat to wear, otherwise you will have a headache when the cold wind blows."
"I understand, comrade health worker. I will go find a hat." Kharitoyev nodded and expressed his gratitude to the female health worker: "Thank you for bandaging my wound."
"You're welcome, this is what I should do." After the female hygienist finished speaking, she packed up her things and left.
While the health worker was still bandaging Kharitoev's wound, Ponedelin ordered someone to find a set of military uniforms so that Kharitoev could change into it. At this moment, seeing that the wound on his head had been bandaged, he handed over the clothes.
He went over and said: "Kharitoyev, put on this military uniform and I will take you to see someone."
Regardless of the severe cold, Kharitoev immediately took off his prison uniform, threw it to the ground, and then took the military uniform from Ponedelin's hand and put it on.
After Kharitoyev changed into his military uniform, Ponedelin looked at him carefully and found that although he was still unshaven, he looked much more energetic than before, so he nodded and said: "Not bad, not bad, now
Come with me, I will take you to meet an important person, and he will arrange a proper position for you."
Since Ponedelin didn't say who he was going to meet, Kharitoyev naturally didn't ask. He knew Ponedelin very well. If he could have told him, the other party would have told him. Since he didn't tell him, he would have asked again.
Most of them are useless.
Sokov, who was busy, noticed someone walking in from outside. He looked up and saw that it was Ponedelin. He stood up straight and asked: "Lieutenant Colonel Ponedelin, is the exchange ceremony completed?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Ponejelin replied seriously: "The exchange ceremony has been completed, and the number of rescued commanders and combatants is 3,214."
Sokov walked up to Ponedelin with his hands behind his back and asked with a serious expression: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, please tell me how many people can be incorporated into the army immediately?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Ponedelin hesitated for a moment, and then replied: "There are only about 1,500 people, and the remaining people are either disabled or injured. They can persist until the exchange
The location is already a miracle, if we let them participate in the battle, it will definitely not be possible."
"Only more than 1,500 people can participate in the battle. The number is too small." Sokov shook his head after hearing this and said: "It is best to add more to a certain division. In this way, the combat effectiveness of the division will be reduced."
It can be greatly improved.”
After Sokov said this, he accidentally saw a middle-aged man wearing a new military uniform standing behind Ponedelin. He had a bandage on his head, no hat, and no military rank. See the wave.
Nedelin actually brought an ordinary soldier into the headquarters. Sokov was a little unhappy in his heart. He pouted at the man and asked Nedelin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, who is he?"
, why are you here?"
"Comrade Commander, let me introduce you." Hearing the dissatisfaction in Sokov's tone, Ponedelin quickly pulled Kharitoyev over and introduced Sokov with a smile on his face: "This
It was Colonel Kharitoev. In the early days of the war, he was the commander of the 164th Infantry Division of the 17th Army under me. Later, during the battle to defend Vinnitsa, he was unfortunately wounded and captured."
Unexpectedly, Sokov frowned: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, as far as I know, except for soldiers, there are no officers, political workers or Jews in this prisoner of war camp, because these people were brutally killed by the Germans.
.”
"Yes, Comrade Commander, I had the same view as you at the time." Ponedelin said: "But after listening to Kharitoyev's explanation, I figured out what was going on."
Sokov glanced at Kharitoyev and asked: "What's going on?"
"Comrade Commander, the situation is like this." Ponejelin said: "When Vinnitsa fell, Kharitoev broke out with several soldiers, but unfortunately he was seriously injured. In order to cover him, one of the soldiers and
He changed his clothes and fled in the opposite direction to attract the attention of the Germans. Unfortunately, Kharitoev was seriously injured and was captured by the Germans during the transfer."
"So that's it." After Sokov figured out what was going on, the expression on his face softened. He took the initiative to extend his hand to Kharitoyev and said friendly: "Hello, Comrade Kharitoyev, welcome.
You come back safely!"
"Comrade Commander," Kharitoyev held Sokov's hand tightly and said with some emotion: "I ask you to incorporate me into the combat unit, even as an ordinary soldier. I
We must take up arms to fight the Germans and demand repayment from them for the blood debt we have owed over the past two years."
Before Sokov could reply, Smirnov came over, stood next to Sokov and said: "Comrade Commander, Colonel Kharitoev used to be a division commander, how do you plan to arrange for him to hold what position?"
?”
Sokov turned to look at Smirnov and said: "Although Colonel Kharitoev should have been the commander of the infantry division at the beginning of the war, it is impossible for me to let him serve as the division commander now, and let someone who does not understand
Nowadays, when officers with tactical thinking hold important positions, they are irresponsible to the grassroots commanders and fighters."
"You are right, Comrade Commander." Smirnov expressed support for Sokov's statement: "Colonel Kharitoev was captured at the beginning of the war, and the tactics he was familiar with
, has long become outdated. If he is allowed to command a division or a regiment, I am afraid he will suffer great losses. In my opinion, let him start as company commander."
Sokov thought about it and felt that Smirnov's proposal made sense. Let Kharitoyev serve as company commander first. If he performs outstandingly in the future, it will not be too late to promote him. The idea was made, and he expressed his gratitude to Kharitoyev.
Yev said: "Comrade Kharitoev, if you have no objection, I would like you to serve as company commander, with the tentative rank of lieutenant. Do you have any objections?"
"No." Kharitoyev was very self-aware. He knew that he had been in a prisoner of war camp for more than two years and was completely out of touch with the outside world. He needed to get familiar with it for a while before he could adapt to life outside. If he rashly assumed an important command position
, I am afraid it will be difficult to command the troops to win the battle. Therefore, he readily agreed: "Comrade Commander, I will resolutely obey your order."
"Very good!" Sokov was very satisfied with Kharitoev's reaction. He nodded, and then said to Ponedelin: "Comrade Lieutenant Colonel, you take Lieutenant Kharitoev to rest first. As for his
We will arrange the specific duties another day."
Kharitoyev followed Ponedelin and walked outside. Seeing that he was about to reach the door, he suddenly stopped and turned to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I know a prisoner of war camp. There are about
There are between 20,000 and 30,000 prisoners of war, and if they can be liberated, enough soldiers will be provided for the army."
"What, there are twenty or thirty thousand prisoners of war?" Sokov couldn't help but his eyes lit up when he heard this number, and he quickly asked: "Lieutenant Kharitoev, can you tell me where this prisoner of war camp is located?"
I secretly thought to myself that if the prisoner of war camp was not far away, I would immediately send people to clear it and rescue all the captured commanders and soldiers.
"In the Uman area." Kharitoyev replied: "At the beginning of last year, several captured officers came to our prisoner-of-war camp. I heard one of them say that they had been there since they were captured in the Battle of Uman.
He was imprisoned in a nearby open-pit mine." From Sokov's facial expression, he guessed that the other party wanted to know the specific location, and quickly added, "I originally wanted to find a chance to ask for the specific location, but unfortunately I didn't wait.
When they found an opportunity, they were shot by the Germans."
