Just as Chernesov was disappointed, Romanov, the director of the Political Department who stood aside and never spoke, suddenly spoke: "Comrade Commander, it is not impossible to replenish troops to the troops. Didn't General Popov's 61st Army just liberate several prisoner-of-war camps in the Kozelisk region? We can get the necessary soldiers from there."
Romanov's words opened up a new idea for Chernesov: That's right, since the superiors cannot replenish new troops for the troops, they can completely select some prisoners of war from the newly liberated prisoners of war camp to supplement.
Thinking of this, Chernesov said to Rokosovsky: "Comrade Commander and the Director of the Political Department make sense. You can select some healthy prisoners of war from the liberated prisoners of war to supplement the Istria camp." He was afraid that his proposal would be rejected, so he quickly added, "As far as I know, the battalion has replenished rescued prisoners of war on a large scale before."
Rokosovsky waited for Chernesov to finish speaking, turned his head to look at Lobachev and asked with a smile: "Military Commissioner, what do you think?"
"I think it's OK," Lobachev said cheerfully: "In addition to replenishing the rescued prisoners of war, they can also enrich the divisions of the army."
Seeing that the military committee member and the political director suggested replenishing the troops with prisoners of war, Rokosovsky nodded and asked Chernesov with a side face: "General Chernesov, how many people do you think you should add to the Istrian Battalion?"
Chernesov thought for a while and said hesitantly: "Before they entered the nameless Heights, there were 630 people in the entire battalion. After this period of battle, there were only 375 people left. I think, at least one hundred people should be added to them."
"Comrade Chief of Staff," Rokosovsky called Malinin over and told him: "You should contact General Popov of the 61st Army immediately and say that I am going to send someone to the Kozelisk area to select some prisoners of war, hoping that he can provide us with convenience."
"Comrade Commander," Malinin asked carefully after recording Rokosovsky's order: "Do you see if you need to report to General Zhukov?"
Rokosovsky thought about Malining's proposal and nodded in agreement: "I will call General Zhukov and report this to him."
When the call was reached at the Front Command, Zhukov was not there. The person who answered the call was Major General Golushkevich, the new chief of staff. He said that the general had visited the troops below and would not know when he would come back. As for the matter of replenishing prisoners of war from the prisoner-of-war camp, he only needed to negotiate with the 61st Army.
So, Rokosovsky called the 61st Army Command again. This time, the commander of the army was General Popov. After Rokosovsky finished speaking about his desire to replenish soldiers from prisoners of war, he replied: "Comrade Rokosovsky, if you want to replenish soldiers, please come here today. Because I may be removed from my post at any time."
"What, being removed from office?" Popov's words surprised Rokosovsky, "What happened? Why should you remove yourself from office?"
Regarding Rokosovsky's questions, Popov smiled wryly and said, "There is a special commissioner from the Front Command who is very dissatisfied with the current situation of the troops and criticized my command method. I heard the news that General Zhukov had plans to let him take over my position after reading his report."
Changing generals at the last stage is a taboo in the army, especially when the two armies are about to launch joint combat. Rokosovsky was afraid that the combat plan that had been agreed upon had been ruined, so he quickly asked: "General Popov, if you are really dismissed, can the combat plan that we agreed upon in advance be implemented as planned?"
Popov said in an uncertain tone: "I think it's okay." After pausing for a moment, he reminded Rokosovsky again, "Comrade Rokosovsky, if you really need to replenish troops from the prisoner-of-war camp, you must send someone here today, otherwise it will be too late."
"I understand, General Popov," said Rokosovsky. "I will send someone as soon as possible."
After putting down the phone, Rokosovsky said to Romanov: "Comrade Director, I will leave this matter to you. You will immediately transfer the command staff, political workers and doctors to form a special team to go to the Kozelisk area to select healthy prisoners of war to supplement our troops."
Then, Rokosovsky ordered Chernesov: "You should contact Captain Sokov immediately and let him arrive at Sushinic immediately and go to the Kozelisk area with Comrade Romanov's special team."
…………
After receiving the notice from Chernesov, Sokov immediately handed over the work in the camp to Berkin, and hurried to Sushinic with a guard squad.
When he arrived at the division headquarters, Sokov raised his hand to salute Chernesov and reported: "Comrade Commander of the Division, Captain Sokov, the battalion commander of the Istrian Battalion, came to report to you. I am waiting for your order, please instruct!"
"Captain Sokov, you are here!" Cherneshov stood up and shook hands with Sokov, pointed sideways at a political worker wearing round-frame glasses sitting opposite him, and said to him: "Let me introduce you to you. This is the director of the political department of the group army and the battalion-level political commissar Comrade Romanov."
Sokov hurriedly faced Romanov, saluted him, and said respectfully: "Hello, Comrade of the Battalion-level Political Commissar."
"Hello, Captain Sokov." Romanov came over, shook hands with Sokov, and said enthusiastically: "I have heard of your deeds for a long time. This is the first time I have seen you today. Don't stand, please sit quickly."
After the three of them sat down, Chernesov said to Sokov: "Captain Sokov, I called you to the city today because I wanted you to join Comrade Romanov's special team and go to the prisoner-of-war camp in the Kozelisk region to receive a group of healthy prisoners of war and enrich them to the army."
Replenishing soldiers from prisoners of war? Hearing Cherneshov said this, Sokov suddenly felt a feeling of a pie falling from the sky. You should know that among the prisoners of war, there are many veterans with combat experience in the prisoners of war. If you add them to the army, you can quickly form combat power if you run in for a few days.
Thinking of this, Sokov immediately asked Romanov impatiently: "Comrade of the battalion level political commissar, when will we set off?"
Chapter completed!