It was necessary to send troops to the forest area to rescue the commanders and fighters captured in the prisoner of war camp. This matter was of great importance. Before Kirillov dispatched the troops, he specially called Sokov and reported to him: "Comrade Commander, we have just
We have obtained reliable information that there is a prisoner-of-war camp for our commanders and fighters in the forest area north of Lezen."
After learning that the 3rd Infantry Division had discovered a hidden prisoner of war camp in such a short period of time, Sokov asked curiously: "General Kirillov, I don't know who you got this information from.
What about?"
"I got this information from the Gestapo leader in the city."
"Oh, Gestapo leader?" Sokov said in surprise: "They are all die-hards. How did you get information from him?"
When Kirillov recounted the damaging moves he had used, Sokov couldn't help laughing: "General Kirillov, if the Gestapo leader doesn't confess, will he be blown into two pieces by the explosive pack?"
Woolen cloth?"
"No, Comrade Commander." Kirillov explained: "The first explosive package is real, but the explosive package tied to his body is fake. Even if he doesn't say it, he won't be punished.
It poses no harm. But I didn’t expect that these extremely stubborn enemies would actually be so scared that they wet their pants.”
Sokov laughed a few more times, and then told Kirillov: "General Kirillov, now that you know the location of the prisoner of war camp, send someone to greet them as soon as possible."
"I have given an order to the chief of staff, Lieutenant Colonel Myakov, to personally lead a regiment of troops to the rescue."
"General Kirillov," Sokov reminded the other party: "The commanders and soldiers imprisoned by the enemy must lack food and clothing on weekdays. Even if they are still alive at this moment, I am afraid they will be very weak. When you go, you must bring enough
Food, medicine and clothing, and equipped with enough vehicles and medical staff to treat them in a timely manner."
When Kirillov was arranging manpower to rescue prisoners of war, he didn't think about Sokovti at all. After hearing this, he quickly replied: "I understand, Comrade Commander, I will prepare enough vehicles for the commanders and fighters in the prisoner of war camp."
, medical staff and sufficient supplies will ensure that as many people as possible can return to our queue."
After Kirillov put down the phone, he said to Miyakov: "Comrade Chief of Staff, the troops are temporarily setting off..."
"What, the troops have postponed their departure?" Miyakov asked in surprise: "Comrade division commander, what happened?"
"I didn't think carefully just now. I only asked you to lead the troops to the rescue, but I neglected many important things." Kirillov said guiltily: "But I forgot that these commanders and soldiers suffered in German prisoner-of-war camps.
After being tortured, most people must have injuries on their bodies. Therefore, the troops participating in the rescue must also carry a sufficient number of medical staff, various supplies and vehicles."
"Understood, Comrade Division Commander." Miyakov nodded and said, "I will immediately start preparing these supplies."
An hour later, a convoy of more than a hundred trucks left Letzen and headed toward the forest to the north, preparing to rescue the commanders and fighters held in the prisoner of war camp.
Fortunately, the Gestapo leader marked the specific location of the prisoner of war camp on the map, otherwise it would not be easy to find such an isolated prisoner of war camp in the vast forest.
When the 3rd Infantry Division sent men to the forest to rescue captured personnel, Sokov received a call from Rokossovsky: "Misha, come to the front headquarters immediately. We are going to hold an emergency meeting.
Military meeting."
After receiving a call from Rokossovsky, Sokov did not dare to neglect and hurriedly drove to the front army headquarters to prepare for accepting a new combat mission.
On the way, Sidorin curiously asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, you said Comrade Marshal asked us to go to a meeting. What would happen?"
Sokov recalled the history of this period in his mind, and felt that the meeting called by Rokossovsky should be to discuss the launch of offensive operations in the East Pomerania area to cover the advance towards Berlin.
The right wing of the 1st Belorussian Front would not be attacked by the German Vistula Group.
However, although he knew these things, he could not tell them in advance, otherwise it would arouse Sidorin's suspicion: After all, Rokossovsky has not assigned the task yet, you already know, where did this information come from?
After arriving at the front army headquarters, seeing that all the commanders of the friendly forces had arrived, Sokov and Sidorin found a seat at the back and sat down, patiently waiting for Rokossovsky and others to deploy tasks to them.
.
The meeting was chaired by Chief of Staff Bogolyubov. He pointed at the map hanging on the wall with his explanatory stick and said to everyone: "Comrades, commanders of all group armies, I have called you here today to deploy to you.
An important combat mission."
After learning that the military meeting convened by Rokossovsky was indeed related to the new combat mission, the commanders below all sat up and stared at Bogolyubov, waiting for him to announce the latest
What is the combat mission?
“Comrade generals,” Bogolyubov continued: “Everyone knows that our Second Belorussian Front, Marshal Zhukov’s First Belorussian Front, and Marshal Konev’s First Ukrainian Front are advancing hand in hand towards
We are advancing in the direction of Berlin. According to the original plan, we will launch a full-scale attack on Berlin in early March."
When they heard that Bogolyubov said that the attack on Berlin would be launched in March, everyone became excited and began to murmur quietly. Even Sidorin, who was sitting next to Sokov, touched him with his elbow and lowered his voice.
The voice said: "Comrade Commander, do you hear this? Our troops will launch an attack on Berlin in March."
Sokov tilted his head to one side of Sidorin and said in a low voice: "Comrade Chief of Staff, don't be too blindly optimistic. If we can really launch the final attack on Berlin in March, I think today's meeting will be
There is no need to convene.”
Hearing what Sokov said, Sidorin's face was full of surprise. Just when he was about to ask for a clear answer, he heard Bogolyubov standing above continue to say: "But because Marshal Zhukov's troops are attacking
The westward advance was too fast, and we delayed too long in the East Prussia area, which resulted in a gap of 150 kilometers wide between our two front armies. Based on the latest situation we have obtained, the German army’s maintenance
It is possible that the Swarovski Group could launch an assault from Marshal Zhukov's right flank, thus preventing them from continuing to advance towards Berlin."
When everyone learned that the two front troops who were supposed to be fighting side by side actually had a gap of 150 kilometers wide in the middle, their expressions became serious. Everyone knew very well that even though Zhukov's troops were attacking smoothly, if the Germans were to
If his right wing carries out a powerful assault, he will definitely suffer huge losses. By that time, let alone continuing to advance towards Berlin, he may be driven back to the original starting point by the Germans.
"So the Supreme Command gave us a new combat mission, which is to launch an offensive campaign in Eastern Pomerania to severely attack the German Vistula Group and eliminate the threat from Marshal Zhukov's right wing." Bogolyu
Bov said: "At the same time that we launch the Eastern Pomerania offensive campaign, Marshal Konev, who is on the left wing of Marshal Zhukov, will also launch an attack at the same time. Together with us, we will sweep away the enemies on both sides of Marshal Zhukov to ensure that we are in the battle to attack Berlin.
The center, sides and rear will not be attacked by the German army."
After Bogolyubov introduced the entire situation, he assigned combat tasks to each unit. After Bogolyubov assigned the tasks, Rokossovsky stood up and asked: "Does anyone have any questions?"
After hearing what Rokossovsky said, many commanders immediately raised their hands and asked him some questions that they were concerned about. Fortunately, Rokossovsky had prepared in advance and responded to the questions raised by his subordinates.
, he answered them all patiently.
After the meeting, Sokov and Sidorin came out of the headquarters, but were stopped by Ponedelin from behind: "Comrade Commander, please wait a moment."
Sokov stopped, smiled and said to Ponedelin: "General Ponedelin, your army group is responsible for the main offensive mission in this offensive campaign. I really envy you for having such an opportunity to make contributions."
Ponjelin smiled awkwardly and said: "Comrade Commander, you are joking. The combat effectiveness of the 50th Group Army is far inferior to that of the 48th Group Army. I am worried that I will not be able to complete the tasks assigned to me by my superiors. That's why I stopped you.
I hope to get your help at the right time."
The 48th Group Army was assigned to the second echelon this time. Sokov thought in his mind that the purpose of Rokossovsky's arrangement was to let other troops consume the German army's effective strength first. After the enemy was almost exhausted,
, and then put your troops into battle, you will be able to achieve unexpected results.
At this moment, when he heard Ponejelin talking about this matter, he smiled and said: "General Ponejelin, Comrade Marshal arranged for our group army to serve as the second echelon. Whether we are qualified to participate in this offensive campaign is still unknown. But you
Don’t worry, even if you don’t get orders from your superiors, if you need anything, just call me and I will give you my full support.”
After receiving Sokov's promise, Ponedelin felt much more at ease. He then asked tentatively: "By the way, how is Kirillov doing now?"
"He's doing well." Sidorin said with a smile: "A few days ago, the 3rd Infantry Division under his command launched an attack on Lezen. The enemies in the city only put up simple resistance before laying down their weapons and surrendering to him.
for which the division was awarded the Order of the Red Banner."
"That's really good." Ponedelin nodded and said, "Comrade Commander, if I need your help, can you send Kirillov's troops over?"
"No problem." Sokov replied readily: "If you need help, just say hello to me, let alone the 3rd Infantry Division, even if it is other troops, I will give it to you without hesitation.
Sent there."
After expressing his gratitude to Sokov and Sidorin, Ponedelin left the front headquarters in a car.
Looking at the vehicles going away, Sidorin asked Sokov tentatively: "Comrade Commander, if General Ponedelin asks you for reinforcements during the offensive campaign, will you really send troops for reinforcements?"
"The answer is yes, Comrade Chief of Staff." Sokov said in a positive tone: "Don't mention that General Ponedelin was the deputy commander of the 48th Group Army. Even if he is a person with no connection, when he meets
When difficulties come to us for help, we should not hesitate to lend a helping hand to them."
Sokov raised his hand and looked at his watch and said to Sidorin: "Let's go, Chief of Staff, we will rush back to the army headquarters immediately. I want to know how the rescue operation of the 3rd Infantry Division went."
After bumping on the road for more than an hour, the two finally returned to the army headquarters.
As soon as Sokov entered the door, Lunev came up to him and asked curiously: "Misha, I wonder what tasks were assigned to us in today's meeting?"
"According to the order of the Supreme Command, Marshal Zhukov's 1st Belorussian Front will launch an attack on Berlin in March." Sokov said to Lunev: "But now there is a gap between his troops and our troops.
A gap of 150 kilometers wide. The German Vistula Group is gathering on its right wing at the moment and may launch an attack at any time. Comrade Marshal called us to a meeting today just to remove the danger on Marshal Zhukov's right wing. Therefore, in the next
In the coming days, we will launch a major offensive operation in the Eastern Pomerania region."
"So that's it." Lunev nodded and said, "I guess they have arranged another main attack mission for us this time, right?"
"Comrade Military Commissar, you guessed wrong." Sidorin, who was beside Sokov, said: "Comrade Marshal asked us to serve as the second echelon this time and not directly participate in the early attack."
"What, put our army in the second echelon?" Lunev couldn't help but asked in shock: "Why is this?"
"I think Comrade Marshal must have made such an arrangement because of his careful consideration." Sokov said: "If the most elite troops were lost in the Battle of Eastern Pomerania, when we start to attack Berlin,
Which force should be sent to capture this city?"
Lunev thought about it carefully and felt that what Sokov said made sense. The offensive campaign launched in Eastern Pomerania must have been extremely tragic. If the 48th Army suffered huge losses, it would be impossible to wait until the attack on Berlin.
After the battle started, he probably wouldn't have anything to worry about. Thinking of this, he nodded and said, "Comrade Marshal is still thoughtful."
"By the way, Comrade Military Commissar." When Sokov first entered the door, he wanted to ask Kirillov about sending troops to rescue the captured personnel, but was interrupted by Runev. At this moment, he finally found the opportunity, and he couldn't wait
He asked: "Is there any news from Commander Kirillov?"
Unexpectedly, Lunev shook his head after hearing this and said: "No, it has been several hours, but I have not received any news. I guess their troops have not found the location of the prisoner of war camp yet."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Sokov told Sidorin: "Call General Kirillov and ask him what the situation is like there. Has the rescue force arrived at the prisoner of war camp at this moment?"
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Sidorin nodded, "I'll make a call right now."
This chapter has been completed!