At dawn, Samyko reported to Sokov, who was lying on the camp bed: "Comrade Commander, we just received a telegram from Chuvashov saying that his troops have arrived outside Klemenkoug.
Ready to attack at any time..."
Sokov was woken up from his sleep by Samyko, and he was still in a state of unconsciousness. Hearing Samyko read this, he said feebly: "I understand, Comrade Chief of Staff, call them back. If the sneak attack can be successful, then
Don’t turn it into a violent attack…”
Unexpectedly, Sokov was interrupted by Samyko just in the middle of what he said: "Comrade Commander, I haven't finished speaking yet."
"Is there anything else?" Sokov closed his eyes, planning to seize the time to sleep for a while before dawn.
But Sameko's next words shocked his drowsy mind into oblivion: "Among the more than 2,000 commanders and fighters of our army who had been imprisoned for many years and were rescued from prisoner of war camps, several generals of our army were found."
"Senior general?!" When Sokov heard this, he sat up suddenly. Since Sameko used the word "general", the person who was rescued was at least the same rank as himself. He asked nervously: "Who is it?"
"Major General Ponedelin, former commander of the 12th Group Army of the Southwest Front, Lieutenant General Muzichenko, commander of the 6th Army, and Major General Kirillov, commander of the 13th Infantry Army."
After Samek finished reading these names, he asked Sokov with a serious expression: "Comrade Commander, what should we do with these rescued generals?"
Sokov stood barefoot on the ground, walking back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back, thinking rapidly in his mind. Even though his troops had liberated so many prisoner of war camps, the highest rank among the rescued commanders and fighters was only a major.
, now actually found three generals in a prisoner of war camp with only 2,000 people, and they were also generals who were captured at the beginning of the war. How should they be dealt with?
He walked back and forth in the room several times, but still couldn't think of a good solution, so he stopped and asked Samyko: "Chief of Staff, how did Colonel Chuvashov arrange for them?"
"Since the troops have arrived outside the city of Kremenchug, the trains that took them are about to return to carry new troops." Samyko explained to Sokov: "Chuvashov is going to let the three generals take the train.
What do you mean by returning to Merefa Fortress?"
"I agree with Colonel Chuvashov's opinion." Although Sokov had not yet figured out how to place the three rescued generals, he still said to Samyko: "Bring them back first. As for how to deal with them, just
The superiors have the final say."
Samyko agreed and was about to return to the telegraph machine to ask the operator to call Chuvashov back, but unexpectedly met Lunev who had just arrived. He asked politely: "Comrade Military Commissar, why are you so early?"
coming?"
"If you can't sleep, come here early." Lunev saw Sokov standing on the ground barefoot, but Samyko looked anxious, and couldn't help but curiously asked: "Comrade Commander, here is
What happened?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, please go and answer the telegram first." Sokov dismissed Samyko and asked Runev to sit down. He also sat on the bed and put on his boots. By the way, he told Runev the telegram he had just received.
My husband told me once.
After hearing this, Runev showed a look of astonishment on his face: "Comrade Commander, what did you just say? In the prisoner of war camp outside Kremenchug, the former commander of the 12th Group Army Ponedelin was rescued.
Major General?"
"Yes, Comrade Military Commissar." From the tone of Lunev's words, Sokov realized that the other party might know General Ponedelin, so he asked tentatively: "Is there something wrong?"
"Comrade Commander," Runev said seriously, "don't you know that Ponedelin has become a shameful traitor. In October 1941, a military court held a public trial in absentia against him, and he was sentenced to death.
and confiscate personal property and deprive him of all awards granted.”
"Comrade Military Commissar," Sokov opened his mouth in surprise after listening to Lunev's words. It took him a long time to speak: "Is it wrong? If General Ponedelin becomes a traitor, how can he be punished?
What about being held in a prisoner of war camp?”
"Who knows." Luniev shook his head and said, "Maybe after he became a traitor, the Germans felt that he had no use value, so they continued to detain him in the prisoner of war camp and left him to fend for himself."
Sokov disagreed with Lunev's statement. He thought of the famous Soviet rebel general Vlasov. After surrendering to the Germans, he was no longer locked up in a prisoner of war camp, but
He received the necessary preferential treatment. If Ponedelin was also a traitor, how could he have stayed in the prisoner-of-war camp outside Kremenchug and been tortured?
Thinking of this, Sokov waved his hand and said resolutely: "Comrade Military Commissar, I think there may be some misunderstanding about this matter. Maybe Ponedelin was framed, and he did not become a traitor at all."
"But the fact that he became a traitor was the conclusion reached by the Supreme Military Court." Lunev asked rhetorically: "Are you planning to question the decision of the military court?"
When Luniev talked about the military court, Sokov immediately shrank his neck. He did not think he had the ability to challenge such authority. He quickly shook his head and said: "I think this matter is of great importance. We must listen to the parties involved.
Only by speaking can you make an accurate judgment."
Lunev has been partnering with Sokov for a long time. Knowing that he said this, there must be his reasons. After a moment of silence, he put forward his own suggestions to Sokov: "Comrade Commander, this matter is of great importance. I
I suggest you report it to your superiors, and finally report it to Marshal Zhukov personally to hear what he means."
Sokov felt that Lunev's suggestion was very good. This matter was of great importance. Not to mention that he was just a minor general, I am afraid that even a general like Konev would have to deal with Ponedelin.
He has no right to speak. For the current plan, the only way is to contact Zhukov first and listen to his opinion.
It only took the director of the communications corps a few minutes to get through Zhukov's phone.
Zhukov may have just been awakened from his sleep by his subordinates, and he spoke somewhat rudely to Sokov: "Misha, what happened, did you call me so early?"
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov said quickly: "The troops I sent to attack Kremenchug rescued more than two thousand captured commanders and fighters from the prisoner of war camp outside the city. They were all Ukrainian soldiers in the early stages of the war.
Captured at the Battle of Man."
"Oh, they were captured in the Battle of Uman?" Zhukov was somewhat surprised when he heard this: "It's really not easy for them to survive until now."
"Yes, Comrade Marshal. According to Colonel Chuvashov's report, these people were tortured by the damn Germans until they became inhumane." Sokov said to Zhukov: "Because they have not been able to have food and clothing for a long time, many people
They are all suffering from one disease or another, and we will continue to treat them..."
"Okay, Misha, you don't have to say anything." Zhukov thought about Sokov's next words, "I understand what you mean. You want to integrate these commanders and fighters into your army, right? I have the final say on this matter.
, integrate them all into your army group. As for whether their physical condition is suitable for combat missions, that is your business."
Sokov's call to Zhukov was not to recruit these rescued commanders and fighters. If it was just to recruit, Sokov would not have to say hello to anyone at all. He would only need to conduct a simple screening and directly integrate them into his own team.
Troops. Even if the superiors knew about this matter, but seeing that Sokov often won battles, they would naturally turn a blind eye and ignore the matter.
"No, Comrade Marshal, I am calling you not for the purpose of recruiting the rescued commanders and fighters, but for other things." Sokov said nervously: "Among the more than two thousand rescued commanders and fighters, my
The subordinates discovered three generals, all of whom were former senior commanders of the Southwest Front Army."
"The former senior commander of the Southwest Front Army?" When Zhukov heard this, he couldn't help but frowned and asked: "Misha, who are you talking about?"
"Major General Ponedelin, former commander of the 12th Group Army of the Southwest Front, Lieutenant General Muzichenko, commander of the 6th Army, and Major General Kirillov, commander of the 13th Infantry Army."
After Zhukov heard this, he slapped his hands on the table and said sternly: "I never expected that you could find a traitor like Ponejelin in a German prisoner-of-war camp. By the way, the 13th Infantry Corps
Major General Kirillov is not a good person either. He also betrayed the motherland and became a shameful traitor."
"Comrade Marshal," Sokov could tell from Zhukov's tone that Zhukov was very angry, but in order to prevent an unjust, false or wrongful conviction, he still said cautiously: "I don't think this matter is that simple."
"Misha, what do you mean?"
"Comrade Marshal, before I explain to you, I want to ask a question." Sokov said into the microphone: "Is it okay?"
"Ask, what's the question?"
"How did the Supreme Military Court learn that General Ponejelin had become a traitor? Is there any evidence?"
Sokov's words stopped Zhukov. He frowned and tried hard to think about the original review and approval of Ponedelin. But unfortunately, when the trial in absentia was going on, he was commanding the troops of the Western Front to prevent the German army from approaching Moscow.
, there is simply no time to care about such things.
"I don't know." Zhukov shook his head and said: "At that time, I was commanding the troops of the Western Front. There were so many unfinished tasks every day. How could I have the time to pay attention to a trial?"
"Comrade Commander," Seeing that Zhukov did not understand the details of this trial, Sokov could not help but feel a little disappointed, but Lunev standing next to him suddenly said: "I know what the Supreme Military Tribunal is based on.
Major General Zhibo Nejelin became a traitor."
"Based on what?" Sokov asked.
"After the Battle of Uman, German aircraft dropped leaflets on our positions, including a leaflet with several photos of Ponedelin, Kirillov and German officers." Lunev said: "I
I remember one of them, Ponedelin was chatting and laughing with a German general... It was based on these photos that the Supreme Military Court concluded that Ponedelin had become a traitor, so he was sentenced to death in absentia.
"
After figuring out what was going on, Sokov quickly repeated the situation to Zhukov and finally said: "Comrade Marshal, I think it is very hasty to judge whether a person has become a traitor based on one or two photos. Maybe at that time
When the German army airdropped these leaflets, it was to use these photos to undermine the morale and morale of our army. We must not fall into the German trap."
Sokov's words made Zhukov think deeply. He felt that what the other party said was reasonable. The Germans were indeed good at making some conspiracies to create suspicion within the Soviet army. For example, before the war, Marshal Tukhachevsky was influenced by the Germans.
He was framed by others and was executed as a German spy. Although many people knew that Tukhachevsky was wrongly accused, now is not the best time to rehabilitate him.
Thinking of this, Zhukov said slowly: "Misha, I once heard Comrade Bagramyan, the former Chief of Operations of the Southwest Front Army, say: Ponedelin is probably the most educated among the group army commanders of the Southwest Front Army.
He has commanded an infantry division, served as chief of staff of the Leningrad Military District, and led the Tactics Teaching and Research Section of the Frunze Military Academy. He is well versed in advanced regiment tactics, proficient in military academic issues, and enjoys high prestige in the Kiev Special Military District."
When Sokov heard this, he felt that Zhukov seemed to agree with his statement, no longer insisting that Ponedelin was a traitor, and might even persuade the bearded man to cancel the military court's verdict against Ponedelin. He quickly
He struck while the iron was hot and said: "Comrade Marshal, the three generals are now on their way back to Merefa Fortress. If it is convenient for you, you can come to me and ask the three of them personally to see what they say."
"Okay," Zhukov agreed with Sokov's proposal: "When they arrive at your headquarters, call me immediately and I will rush over immediately."
After Zhukov put down the phone, he began to wonder whether the matter needed to be reported immediately to the Supreme Commander himself to hear his opinion. But then he thought about it, and he didn't know what the truth was, so he hurriedly reported it to the bearded man.
, it might be self-defeating. The best way is to wait for the three generals to arrive at Merefa Fortress and talk to them yourself. After figuring out what is going on, it is not too late to report to the Supreme Commander himself.
After Sokov put down the phone, he said to Samyko, who had just returned from sending the telegram: "Comrade Chief of Staff, I think several generals have been tortured in German prisoner-of-war camps and their physical condition must be very poor. You should immediately
Arrange two highly skilled military doctors on standby and conduct physical examinations on them as soon as they arrive."
"Understood, Comrade Commander." Sameko nodded and replied, "I will arrange for the best military doctors to conduct physical examinations on these three rescued generals."
