The 84th Division led by Major General Fomenko was the second echelon. Less than five kilometers away from Merefa Fortress, they encountered an oncoming train. Fomenko quickly ordered his men to signal the train and ordered them to immediately
parking.
When the driver saw someone blocking the train in front of him, he thought that this was his own defense area, so he stopped the train boldly. As soon as the train stabilized, a captain from the 98th Guards Division got out of the car and ran towards the lieutenant who blocked the train.
, asked loudly: "Which department are you from, and why are you blocking the train here?"
"Comrade Captain," the lieutenant who blocked the train said to him politely, "I am the combat staff officer of the 84th Infantry Division. Our division has been ordered to go to Kremenchug to participate in the battle, and we need to requisition your train."
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, the captain showed a troubled expression on his face: "Comrade Lieutenant, I don't think I can agree to your request."
"Why?"
"Because the vehicle also carried more than 2,000 commanders and fighters who had just been rescued."
It turned out that after Chuvashov rescued the prisoners of war, he found that they were all very weak and could not be integrated into the combat troops. Just as he was about to send the three rescued generals back to Merefa Fortress, he temporarily decided to send all the rescued commanders and fighters
Send it back in the same car.
After hearing this, the lieutenant felt that this kind of thing was beyond his control, so he said to the captain: "Comrade Captain, I will take you to see General Fomenko. You should report the specific situation to him in person."
Soon, the captain appeared in front of Fomenko.
After he raised his hand in salute, Fomenko asked straight to the point: "Comrade Captain, what's going on? Why are there more than two thousand rescued commanders and soldiers in the car?"
"Comrade General," the captain replied respectfully: "After we rescued these prisoners of war outside the city of Kremenchug, the division commander found that their bodies were too weak to be integrated into the army for combat. If they stayed in place, they would not be able to fight.
With great self-preservation ability, he sent them all back."
"Comrade Captain, because we have to rush to Kleminchug as soon as possible, we need to commandeer this train." Fomenko, who was eager to rush to Klemenkoug, waited for the captain to explain the reason, and said to him: "Please, please
Order the commanders and fighters to get off the bus and head to Merefa Fortress on foot."
"Comrade General," the captain said with some embarrassment: "There are three generals in the car, and they are all not in good health. If they are asked to walk a few kilometers, I am worried that they will not be able to bear it."
"Oh, there are three generals in the car?!" Fomenko had no idea that there were three generals among the rescued commanders and fighters, so he was extremely surprised: "Who are they? In what year were they captured?
?”
The captain answered clearly: "The three generals who were rescued are Major General Poniedelin, the former commander of the 12th Army Group of the Southwest Front, Lieutenant General Muzichenko, the commander of the 6th Army, and the commander of the 13th Infantry Army.
Major General Rilov. They were captured during the Battle of Uman shortly after the war broke out."
Fomenko was shocked when he heard the three names read out by the captain. He turned to Colonel Manokhin who was standing behind him and said: "Comrade Political Commissar, have you heard of the names of these three generals?"
"No." Manoxin shook his head and replied: "I have never been in the Southwest Front Army and I don't know these three commanders."
"Comrade Captain," Fomenko said to the captain, "please get the people out of the car as soon as possible and let us board. As for the three generals, please take our jeep to Merefa Fortress."
Since neither he nor Manokhin knew the three rescued generals, Fomenko naturally had no intention of meeting them. After instructing the commanders and soldiers to help the comrades in the carriage get out of the car, he took the members of the division headquarters with him.
Walk towards the special compartment at the rear of the car.
Knowing their special status, Ponedelin and others declined Uzakov's kindness when boarding the train. Instead of going to the special compartment at the rear of the train, they insisted on being squeezed into the same compartment as the soldiers. Just then.
Because of this, they didn't see Fomenko at all when they got off the bus.
The captain who escorted them quickly stepped forward to say hello when he saw the three generals getting off the bus one after another.
Ponedelin asked in confusion: "Comrade Captain, what's going on? Why are we getting off here? As far as I know, Merefa Fortress is still several kilometers away from here."
"I'm sorry, Comrade General." Even though Ponedelin had just been rescued, the captain was extremely polite to him. He patiently explained to the other party: "Because our troops are eager to rush to Kremenchug, they need to be mobilized urgently."
This train, therefore, I have no choice but to get off the train and walk to Merefa Fortress."
"This is what it should be." After hearing what the captain said, Ponejelin said reasonably: "Since the troops who are eager to go to the front need to requisition the train, let's get off the train. Anyway, it's only a few kilometers away, so we can walk slowly.
, it won’t take long.”
"Comrade generals," the captain said to the three of them, "General Fomenko, commander of the 84th Infantry Division, was worried that you were too weak to cover such a long distance, so he left his jeep behind.
Used to send you to Merefa Fortress."
"What about the other soldiers?" Lieutenant General Muzichenko, who rarely spoke, said, "Many of them are very weak and are still incapable of such a march."
"Comrade Lieutenant General," the captain said to him quickly: "I see there are many trucks nearby. I can go and negotiate with them and ask them to keep these trucks for us to transport the wounded."
However, before the captain could go over to contact him, the lieutenant who blocked the truck had already walked over and said to the captain: "Comrade captain, on the order of the division commander, I leave five trucks for you. You can use these vehicles to transport the wounded."
"Comrade Lieutenant, thank you so much." The Captain held the other party's hand and said excitedly: "Having these five trucks has been a great help to us."
After the train restarted, Fomenko, who was sitting in a special carriage, looked at the slowly moving troops beside the railway. As soon as he saw these skinny rescued commanders and fighters, he felt uncomfortable. He turned around and told the operator, "Here."
The group army headquarters sent a telegram saying that we met the returning train five kilometers away from the fortress. Now we have boarded the train and headed for Klemenkoug. The commanders and soldiers who got off the train were slowly walking along the railway.
March, I hope the headquarters can send more vehicles to meet them."
After seeing the telegram, Sokov immediately ordered Samyko: "Comrade Chief of Staff, notify the logistics department to send fifty trucks along the railway to find those marching troops and transport them to the fortress as soon as possible. In addition, notify again
Prepare enough food for them in the kitchen. They must be starving after riding in the car for so long."
"Comrade Commander," as soon as Sokov finished speaking, Lunev interjected: "It is precisely because the commanders and soldiers are so hungry that if they eat too much at one time, they are prone to danger. I think, give them
It is enough to prepare some porridge, mashed potatoes and seaweed soup. After a few days, their appetites have adapted, and it is not too late to slowly increase the amount of food for them."
"Comrade Commander, there is another question." Samyko reminded Sokov: "Since Colonel Chuvashov has sent all the rescued personnel, the three generals must be among them. You see, we are
Should we report to Marshal Zhukov now, or should we talk to them first and then report?"
"Comrade Chief of Staff, you should contact the logistics department first. As for the situation of the three generals," Sokov thought for a moment, and then replied: "I think we should talk to them first and figure out what to do.
After the incident, it’s not too late to report it to your superiors.”
While Samyko went to make a call, Sokov tentatively asked Lunev: "Comrade Military Commissar, do you think these three generals are shameful traitors?"
If it was a year ago, Lunev would have answered "yes" without hesitation when he heard such a question. But as he and Sokov partnered, they have already met so many commanders and fighters who were rescued and integrated into the army.
After his outstanding performance on the battlefield, his attitude towards the captured personnel also changed 180 degrees.
Hearing Sokov's question at this moment, he thought for a long time, and then said slowly: "Comrade Commander, it is difficult for me to answer your question, but in my opinion, it is more likely that they are not traitors. But the specific situation
How, we have to wait until we talk to them before we can figure it out."
"Lieutenant Samoilov," Sokov walked to the door and shouted outside: "Come to my place."
Following the shout, Samoylov ran out of a nearby room. He quickly came to Sokov, and while hurriedly tying his belt, he asked: "Comrade Commander, what are your instructions?"
?”
"Comrade Lieutenant," Sokov smiled faintly when he saw Samoilov in a hurry, and then ordered him: "A troop will arrive at the fortress later, and there will be three generals sitting in one of the jeeps. You
As soon as the car arrives, take someone to help the three generals to my place."
"Bring them here?" Samoilov had no idea what was going on. When Sokov said this, he couldn't help but asked in confusion: "Are they injured?"
"That's it, Comrade Lieutenant." Fortunately, Runev also came to the door. Seeing Samoilov's expression, he explained to him: "The 98th Guards Division is outside the city of Kremenchug.
, liberated a prisoner of war camp and rescued more than 2,000 commanders and combatants, including three generals. They had endured cruel torture by the Germans and were now very weak. The comrade commander was worried that they would not be able to walk.
I sent you to pick them up."
After Lunev's explanation, Samoylov immediately understood what was going on and quickly replied: "Understood, comrade commander, comrade military commissar, when the three generals arrive, I will escort them as soon as possible."
From the headquarters.”
Half an hour later, Samoylov walked into the headquarters, followed by two soldiers, who supported an officer who could not even walk. Sokov and others came to him,
Looking carefully at the officer being supported, he saw that he had long hair, a full beard, and a dirty and ragged military uniform. Even the two gold stars on the rhombus collar badge had become rusty.
Sokov asked tentatively: "Are you General Ponedelin?"
"Yes, I am Ponejelin." After the other party looked Sokov up and down, he broke away from the two soldiers who were supporting him, tried to straighten his body, and raised his hand to salute a solemn military salute: "Hello,
Comrade General! I am Major General Ponejelin, Commander of the 12th Group Army of the Southwest Front!"
"Hello, General Ponejelin!" Although there was a stench from the other party's body, Sokov still pretended to be nonchalant, stretched out his hand to him, and said friendly: "My name is Sokov, I am from the grassland.
Commander of the 27th Army Group of the Front."
Hearing Sokov announce his identity, Ponedelin showed a surprised expression on his face: "What, you are General Sokov?"
This time it was Sokov's turn to be surprised: "What, have you heard of me?"
"Yes, General Sokov." Ponedelin nodded and said: "I heard the Germans mention your name many times in the prisoner of war camp. They seemed to be afraid of you, saying that all troops fighting against you
, it seems that I can’t get anything good from you.”
"You are right, General Ponedelin." Lunev interjected: "All enemies who fought against Sokov's troops were either annihilated or suffered a devastating blow. Tell me, what can the Germans do?
Aren’t you afraid of them?”
Ponedelin looked at Lunev with a puzzled expression on his face. Major General Sokov was the commander of the 27th Army, so who was the lieutenant general in front of him?
Sokov saw the doubt in Ponedelin's eyes, and introduced him with a smile: "General Ponedelin, please forgive me, I forgot to introduce you to my comrade military commissar. This is General Lunev
, he used to be the deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."
Ponedelin, who was still smiling at first, heard Sokov say that Lunev turned out to be the deputy minister of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and his eyes immediately showed a vigilant look. He looked at Lunev and asked Sokov tentatively: "Soko
General Husband, I would like to ask when will our superiors plan to send us to Siberia?"
"To Siberia?" Sokov asked in surprise: "Who told you that you would be sent to Siberia?"
"I heard it in the prisoner of war camp," Ponedelin said with a serious expression: "It is said that anyone who has been captured by the Germans, whether they escaped on their own or were released by the Germans, will be sent to Siberia.
, even their relatives will be implicated."
"General Ponedelin, I don't know who put such ridiculous things into your head, but I guarantee you." Sokov said righteously: "You don't have to go to Siberia, but you will be reorganized.
Army, take up arms and fight the Japanese invaders." He did not hide the real reason for transporting them to Merefa Fortress from Ponejelin. "The reason why you are sent here is entirely because of your body.
He is too weak and needs to rest for a while. When he is almost recovered, it is not too late to return to the battlefield.
