The next morning, Sokov met the legendary Major Gavrilov in the headquarters.
Gavrilov, who was skinny and haggard, was sent to the headquarters by Kirillov. He had taken a bath, had his hair cut, shaved, and changed into a clean uniform without military rank. See
When Sokov arrived, he immediately guessed the other party's identity and quickly raised his hand to salute.
"Hello, Major Gavrilov!" Sokov extended his hand to Gavrilov and said friendly: "Let me introduce myself, I am General Sokov, commander of the 48th Group Army. Nice to meet you.
You, I have heard from others about your heroic actions in the defense of the Brest Fortress. Even though all the defenders of the fortress were sacrificed, you still fought tenaciously with the enemy until you were injured and fell into coma.
Captured by the Germans."
When Gavrilov heard Sokov talking about what he had done in the Brest Fortress, he couldn't help but burst into tears with excitement.
After Sokov shook hands with Gavrilov, he unexpectedly found that his right hand was curled up and could not be completely put down. It could only be placed on his abdomen. He couldn't help but asked in surprise: "Major, your hand has been injured."
?"
"Yes, Comrade Commander." Gavrilov nodded and replied truthfully: "Two days before I was captured, I was chased by the Germans in the fortress. In desperation, I hid in a pile of collapsed rocks.
Among the masonry and rubble. The Germans searched for me and found no trace of me, so they fired at my hiding position. Unfortunately, one of the ricochet bullets hit my arm. You also know that there were no conditions at that time.
After treatment, the wound began to suppurate. It was not until I was captured that the German military doctors simply helped me with the treatment. As a result, my right hand became disabled. I am afraid it will never be cured again..."
Sokov knew that Gavrilov was telling the truth. His right hand had become disabled, and even if Bian Que and Hua Tuo were reincarnated, they might not be able to cure it. Originally, he wanted him to go to Kirillov's division.
He wanted to be a group leader, but now he had to reconsider how to arrange the other party.
"Major Gavrilov," Sokov looked at him and asked, "What are your plans next?"
Hearing Sokov's question, Gavrilov couldn't help but smile bitterly: "Comrade Commander, I am just a man who escaped death, what can I plan? Of course it is your arrangement, and I will resolutely obey."
"
"Major Gavrilov, before you came here, I originally planned to let you serve as regimental commander in the 3rd Infantry Division, the unit that rescued you." Sokov once again focused his attention on
Gavrilov's right hand: "But based on your current situation, it seems that you are not suitable for the position of leader."
"Comrade Commander," Gavrilov learned that Sokov originally planned to let him serve as the regiment leader, but changed his mind because of his disability. Although he was disappointed in his heart, he still tried his best to express it on his face.
With a hint of smile, he said: "I will resolutely obey your arrangements. Even if you ask me to be a soldier, I will definitely not hesitate."
"Misha," just as Sokov was thinking about how to settle Gavrilov, Runev next to him spoke: "Didn't we capture many German prisoners and set up prisoner-of-war camps to hold them? Now.
Although Major Gavrilov is unable to return to the combat unit due to his disability, why not let him manage the prisoner of war camp we established, what do you think?"
Sokov couldn't help but applaud Luniev's proposal. The prisoner-of-war camp established by his army group contained thousands of German prisoners of war. Without a suitable commander to manage it, he really couldn't do it.
Don’t worry. Since Lunev proposed to let Gavrilov take this position at this moment, he said smoothly: "Comrade Military Commissar, you are right. I also think that Major Gavrilov is suitable for this position. I will wait for him."
A letter of appointment will be drawn up soon and Major Gavrilov will be appointed as the head of the prisoner of war camp."
"Misha, there is one more thing." Seeing Sokov preparing to draft the appointment letter, Lunev hurriedly stopped him and reminded him: "Before the formal appointment, I think you should say hello to Comrade Marshal. As long as he
Nodding can avoid a lot of trouble."
Lunev's words reminded Sokov that in any case, Gavrilov is now a prisoner of war who has just been rescued. Before he can be formally appointed to any position, he must obtain permission from his superiors. Thinking of this, Sokov ordered
Sidorin: "Chief of Staff, please arrange for Major Gavrilov to rest first, and his work will be arranged later."
After Sidorin left with Gavrilov, Sokov answered the phone from the front army headquarters, reported Gavrilov's situation to Rokossovsky, and finally said: "Comrade Marshal
, our army group has established a prisoner of war camp, which houses thousands of German officers and soldiers. I plan to appoint Major Gavrilov as the manager of the prisoner of war camp. What do you think?"
"Misha, if I remember correctly, among the thousands of rescued commanders and fighters, Major Gavrilov should have the highest rank, right?"
"Yes, Comrade Marshal, his military rank is indeed the highest."
"It stands to reason that captured personnel at the level of major should be sent directly to Moscow and handed over to personnel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for review." Rokossovsky said with some embarrassment: "If you even bypass this procedure
, and directly appointing him to such an important position as the head of the prisoner of war camp, I am worried that it will cause you unnecessary trouble in the future."
"It's okay, Comrade Marshal." Sokov glanced at Lunev beside him and said confidently: "The appointment of him as the manager of the prisoner of war camp was proposed by my military commissar, General Lunev. You know,
He is the deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and he said there is no problem, so there should be no problem."
"Okay then." Seeing that Sokov had already considered all the issues that should be considered, Rokossovsky nodded and said, "Then you can do it according to your own wishes. By the way, he was a prisoner of war among the Germans.
He has been in the camp for so many years and is still disabled. You should pay more attention to him and see if there is anything you can do to help him."
After Sokov put down the phone, he said to Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, the marshal has agreed to our request and allowed Major Gavrilov to serve as the head of the prisoner of war camp. I think the appointment letter will be prepared immediately. As long as he
If your physical condition permits, you can take office at any time."
"Comrade Commander," Sidorin came in from outside and said to Sokov: "Major Gavrilov just made a request to me. I think it is necessary to report it to you to see how we can do it.
solve."
Upon learning that Gavrilov actually made a request, Runev showed an unhappy expression on his face: "What request?"
"He said that when the German army attacked the Brest Fortress, there were many women and children staying with them in the underground fortifications." Sidorin said to Sokov and Lunev: "The Germans were slow to take action.
They refused to leave their fortifications, so they used loudspeakers to persuade them to surrender. In order to prevent women and children from sacrificing their lives in vain, the major ordered them to go out and surrender to the Germans. But since then, he has never heard anything about his wife and children.
The news. His request is that we help him find his lost wife and children to the best of our ability."
"So that's what happened." Sokov tried to recall the information related to Gavrilov. He vaguely remembered that because he could not find his wife and children for many years, Gavrilov thought that they had been captured by the Germans.
After a man was killed, he remarried a new wife. Unexpectedly, ten years later, he accidentally got the news that his wife was still alive. He hurried over and took her out of the home for the disabled and took care of her carefully.
Four years until her death.
He suddenly heard Sidorin continue: "Major Gavrilov also told me that he received news in the prisoner of war camp that some women and children who went out to surrender were shot randomly as soon as they approached the German-occupied area.
He died, and the remaining people were all killed by the Germans in Zabinka the next year. He felt that his wife and children might have died in the hands of the Germans."
After saying this, Sidorin paused for a moment, and then raised his own question: "Comrade Commander, I'm a little worried now."
"What are you worried about?" Sokov asked.
"Major Gavrilov spent several years in a German prisoner-of-war camp, and his wife and children were also killed by the Germans. His heart must be filled with hatred for the Germans," Sidorin said cautiously.
: "If he is the person in charge of the prisoner of war camp, will he use any drastic measures against the German prisoners of war in the camp?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, do you know why I proposed that he be the head of the prisoner of war camp?" Luniev sneered and said: "The Germans have committed so many crimes on our land, and now they have to pay the price.
At that time, I felt that no matter what method Major Gavrilov used to deal with the Germans, it was not an exaggeration. Only dead Germans are good Germans."
When Luniev said this, Sokov couldn't help laughing. He remembered that the original words seemed to be, "The dead Japanese are the good Japanese." However, Patton's big mouth seemed to be speaking unobstructed.
Said the same thing as Runev.
"Comrade Commander." Seeing Sokov laughing, Sidorin asked quickly: "Then tell me, should we follow our original idea and appoint Major Gavrilov as the manager of the prisoner of war camp?
"
"My chief of staff, when you just left, I already called to report the situation of Major Gavrilov to Marshal Rokossovsky." Sokov said: "Comrade Marshal, listen to me.
After the report, we agreed to omit the review of the major and directly appoint him as the manager of the prisoner of war camp. Since the superiors have issued the order, we can just implement it."
"Okay then." Sidorin said: "Since it is an order from Marshal Rokossovsky, I will just obey."
"Comrade Marshal also told me." Sokov continued: "Arrange for military doctors to conduct a physical examination on Major Gavrilov. If his physical condition allows, he can take office at any time."
"Before I came here, I had arranged for two military doctors to conduct a physical examination on him." Sidorin shook his head and said, "To be honest, he suffered so many years in the German prisoner-of-war camp. Not only did he have a disability in his right hand,
, and there is also a problem with his lungs, possibly tuberculosis. With his physical condition, I am worried that he will not be able to do the job of a prisoner of war camp manager."
Sokov remembered that after Gavrilov was rescued, his superiors appointed him to manage the prisoner-of-war camp. Since it was possible in real history, why not now? Thinking of this, he asked Sidorin
Said: "Don't worry, Comrade Chief of Staff, I believe that Major Gavrilov's body will definitely be qualified for the job we have assigned him."
The next day, Gavrilov came to Sokov's headquarters again and asked Sokov: "Comrade Commander, I have been examined by the military doctor. Although I have some physical problems, it does not affect my future work at all."
Work. Do you think, when can I go to the prisoner of war camp to take up my post?"
"Since your physical condition permits, you can take up the post at any time." Sokov said, picking up the appointment letter he drafted himself from the table and handing it to Gavrilov: "Comrade Major, this is your appointment.
Book, I will send someone to escort you to take office."
Gavrilov took the appointment letter from Sokov, bowed to him, and said gratefully: "Thank you, Comrade Commander. I will never forget your kindness to me. Please
Don't worry, I will definitely help you manage this prisoner of war camp."
Sokov did not ask how Gavrilov planned to manage the prisoner of war camp. His focus was on how to defeat the enemies standing between him and Berlin. He could simply choose to ignore the rest.
Just as Gavrilov was about to leave the room, Sokov suddenly remembered something and stopped him quickly: "Major Gavrilov, please wait a moment."
Gavrilov stopped and turned to look at Sokov, with a strange expression on his face: "Comrade Commander, do you have anything else to do?"
Sokov first raised his finger to his shoulder and said with a smile: "Major Gavrilov, the military uniform you are wearing does not have a military rank. Please wait a moment, I will order someone to send you a new military rank insignia.
come over."
After saying that, he picked up the phone on the table, dialed a number and said: "I'm Sokov, bring me a pair of major's rank insignia. Let Captain Koshkin send it over. I just have something to ask him."
."
While waiting for Koshkin to send his military rank, Sokov looked at Gavrilov and asked: "Comrade Major, I heard that you want to find your wife and children?"
"Yes, my wife's name is Ekaterina. She had to stay in bed to recuperate because of a long-term illness. Because my wife was infertile, we adopted a boy and named him Kolya. He was just one year old when the war broke out.
Ten years old." Gavrilov said with emotion: "Since that day in June 1941, I have never seen them again, nor have I heard any news about them. Both of them may have been killed by the Germans.
Killed. You know, the military families who surrendered to the Germans were all killed by the German army in Zabinka the next year."
"Major Gavrilov, do you know why I know your situation?" Sokov felt that in order to make Gavrilov trust him, it was necessary to give him a little surprise: "Others told me,
He said he had seen your wife and son with his own eyes, and they were both alive and well."
This chapter has been completed!