After the troops arrived at the new defense zone, everything was as Sokov expected. They would not launch an attack on the German army for the time being, and the first priority at the moment was to build fortifications in the defense zone.
After Ponedelin returned from inspecting the defense area with Sokov, he began to complain: "What the hell, the friendly forces have been here for nearly a month, but they don't even have decent fortifications. Fortunately, the main force of the German army was
The troops of the First Front Army are restrained and unable to launch attacks in other areas. Otherwise, as long as they launch an attack in our area, they will be able to drive our troops originally stationed here far away."
"Yes, Comrade Deputy Commander, you are right." Sokov agreed with Ponedelin's complaints: "I really didn't expect that the friendly forces didn't even think about it after they occupied this place.
Repair fortifications, do they really think that the Germans are vulnerable?"
"If we want to build fortifications in the defense area, this is a big project." Poniejelin said with emotion: "In the next two or three months, our commanders and fighters will probably have to do only repair fortifications every day.
Stop and repair the fortifications."
Sokov was thinking that the East Prussia Campaign was launched in January 1945, and his troops would be stationed here for several more months. If there were no fortifications at all, it would be difficult to stop the German attack once they encountered them.
Thinking of this, he said to Ponejelin and Sidorin: "Deputy Commander, Comrade Chief of Staff, no matter what, the fortifications must be built. Otherwise, when the Germans come over, how can we stop them?"
"But after a long battle, our troops have become exhausted." Sidorin reminded Sokov: "If we continue to build fortifications on a large scale under such circumstances, I am afraid that the commanders and fighters will not be able to survive."
My body can’t bear it.”
"This is easy to handle." Sokov felt that although his defense area might be attacked by the Germans, the Germans did not dare to take the initiative in a short period of time. So he planned to use this rare opportunity to let the commanders and soldiers divide the troops into groups.
They took turns to build fortifications and rest and recuperate: "This is how I thought about it. Divide the troops into three parts and carry out fortification construction work in batches. And those commanders and soldiers who have not had their turn can use this time to rest and recuperate. You see, I
How about this plan?"
After Ponejelin and Sidorin looked at each other, they both nodded slowly: "We agree."
"Okay, since everyone has no objections, let's inform it and implement it according to this plan."
"Comrade Commander, I have a suggestion." Unexpectedly, Sidorin added here: "Can we recruit local residents to participate in the construction of fortifications?"
When Sokov was still considering Sidorin's suggestion, Ponedelin had already said, "I don't think it's appropriate. You know, if we recruit local residents to participate in the construction of fortifications, we don't know whether there is anything hidden inside."
There are spies following the Germans. If there are any, before our fortifications are repaired, the defense plans may be on the desk of the German commander."
Originally, when Sidorin proposed to let local residents participate in the construction of the fortifications, Sokov almost agreed. But after hearing what Ponedelin said, he couldn't help but become hesitant. Yes, if he really wanted to recruit local people
If the residents participated in the construction of the fortifications, they would definitely recruit a lot of manpower. If there were two or three German spies hidden among them, they would really not be discovered.
However, Sokov then thought about it. Even if German spies got into the residents building the fortifications, it would not matter much, as long as they were not allowed to come into contact with the important defensive areas.
Thinking of this, he said: "I think what the chief of staff said makes sense, so let's recruit local residents to help us build fortifications."
"What if a German spy sneaks in?" Ponedelin felt that he needed to remind Sokov, so he emphasized: "In this way, the Germans can understand the defense situation."
"Comrade Deputy Commander, I do not deny that there may be German spies among the residents involved in building fortifications." Sokov said to Ponedelin: "But we cannot refuse just because of this.
The help of the Poles. I think as long as we are not allowed to contact our important defense areas, it will not be a big deal even if the German army knows some of our defense conditions."
"Okay, Comrade Commander." Ponejelin also felt that just having commanders and combatants to build fortifications would not only take a long time, but also easily make the commanders and combatants exhausted, which would be detrimental to the future.
Fighting is very unfavorable. Since Sokov has considered all the issues that need to be considered, it shouldn't be a bad thing to recruit a group of local people to build fortifications. So he followed suit and said: "I will do it according to your suggestion.
We will start recruiting local residents tomorrow to build fortifications here."
But what was unexpected was that after the recruitment notice was posted the next day, there was no response. Not even one local resident signed up, which surprised Sokov and others.
Seeing that no one came to sign up, Ponejelin couldn't help but start to analyze the reason with Sokov: "Comrade Commander, tell me, the conditions we have given are so good, why are the local residents still unwilling to sign up?
?”
Sokov thought for a while and said tentatively: "Could it be that the Poles in these areas are unfriendly to us? Otherwise, how could it be possible that after the notice was posted, not a single person signed up?"
"It is possible." Ponejelin agreed with Sokov's statement: "If nothing else, even if the Warsaw uprising broke out some time ago, the person in charge of the Krajow army who led the uprising actually blocked the news from us.
.And we barely got the information until one and a half months after the uprising broke out. From this we can see that there are not a few Poles who are unfriendly to us."
Sokov thought for a while and then said to Ponedelin: "Comrade Deputy Commander, I plan to leave it to you to recruit local people to participate in the construction of fortifications. Do you have any objections?"
"No objection." Ponejelin shook his head and said, "I don't have much to do recently anyway, so I will go to various villages in person and make use of the local residents."
"Comrade Deputy Commander," Sokov suddenly remembered Vatutin's lesson, and quickly reminded Ponedelin: "When you go to the village, take more people with you. After all, this is a place we just occupied, and the local area
We still don’t know what people’s attitude is towards us.”
"It's okay, Comrade Commander." Ponyjelin said with a smile: "I usually just bring two soldiers. If I bring too many people, I'm worried about frightening the local residents."
"No, this is absolutely not possible." Seeing Ponedelin's disapproval, Sokov reminded him with a straight face: "Don't forget how General Vatutin was injured."
Sokov's words reminded Ponedelin, because they had talked about Vatutin's injury on different occasions. Ponedelin also said that if Vatutin had brought more guards with him, he might have been injured.
It can be avoided. If he had not been injured, he would not have died due to wound infection, and he would not be General Vatutin, but Marshal Vatutin.
"Thank you for the reminder, Comrade Commander." Ponejelin nodded and said, "I will pay attention to it."
At this time, the phone on the table rang. It was Major General Kirillov, commander of the 3rd Infantry Division.
Upon hearing Sokov's voice, Kirillov immediately reported: "Comrade Commander, there are several Ukrainians who have fled to Poland and want to see you."
"Ukrainians who fled to Poland?" Sokov asked in confusion: "What did they see me for?"
"They didn't say." Kirillov said: "They said they would not explain their purpose until they see you in person."
"Okay, bring them here."
After Sokov put down the phone, he called Koshkin in and told him: "Comrade Captain, General Kirillov will send someone to send some civilians over later. Remember to search them before you let them in."
Koshkin asked curiously: "Who is he? He can come to see you directly?"
"Not sure." Sokov shook his head and said, "It is said that they are several Ukrainians who fled to Poland."
Soon, Kirillov sent someone to send the Ukrainians over. When Sokov saw it, they looked like a family, an old man with a gray beard, and two young boys.
Sokov saw Koshkin standing at the door and nodded to him, indicating that he had searched the three of them. Then he walked up to the old man and asked politely: "Old man, I am the commander of the group army Soko
Admiral Husband, I wonder if you have anything to do with me?"
"Hello, Comrade General!" the old man introduced himself to Sokov: "My name is Vojicic Smazowsky. I am a Ukrainian. I fled to Poland early last year."
When Sidorin heard this, he couldn't help but interjected and asked: "Old man, if you talk about fleeing, shouldn't you run east from Ukraine to the hinterland of Russia? Why did you run to Poland?"
"Hey!" Wojcic Smazowski sighed and continued: "Our family has lived in the Warren area for generations, but starting at the end of last year, a group of thugs started massacres in the Warren area.
As long as you are a Pole, regardless of whether you have always lived in Volyn or moved there later, you will be killed. In order to avoid disaster, we fled from Volyn to Poland to join our relatives here."
After Sokov figured out the identity of the other party, he asked: "Old man, is there anything I can do for you? Do you want me to help you return to the Warren area?"
"Warren is my hometown, and I have always dreamed of going back." Vojicic Smazowski raised his hand to wipe a handful of tears on his face, and asked tentatively: "Comrade General, can you let us go back?"
?”
"Of course, of course you can go back." Sokov said: "Now that we have driven the Germans out of our land, you can return to your hometown and live in peace."
"But if we go back like this, we won't be massacred by those thugs again, right?"
"No, old man." Sokov comforted Wojisich Smazowski and said: "Those thugs have been eliminated by us long ago. You can go back boldly and live your life in peace. I wish you
I promise that no one will ever disturb your peaceful life again."
After Wojisic Smazowski thanked him profusely, Sokov asked curiously: "Old man, we have recently been recruiting people from various villages to help us build fortifications. How come one of them has signed up now?"
No one there? Do you know what’s going on?”
Hearing Sokov's question, Vojicic Smazowski hesitated for a moment, and then murmured: "Someone came to the village some time ago to say hello, no one is allowed to help you, otherwise they will be given to you.
You have brought about the end of your family being exterminated. Tell me, who would dare to help you in this situation?"
Now Sokov finally understood why there was no response after his notice was posted. It seemed that someone had threatened the local residents before, so that everyone did not dare to participate in the construction of the fortifications out of fear.
"Old man," Ponejelin also understood at this time why no one signed up. He decided to open a gap with Wojisic Smazowski's family: "I wonder if the three of you, father and son, are willing.
Come and help us build fortifications?”
Seeing that the other party was still silent, he added: "Don't worry, we are not only responsible for your three meals a day, but we also have subsidies for you. How about it, don't you think about it?"
Wojisic Smazowski hesitated for a moment, and then asked cautiously: "If we really help you, will we not be killed?"
"No, old man." Ponejelin assured Wojisich Smazowski: "During the construction of fortifications, you can stay in our camp, and there will be absolutely no problem with your safety."
"What about after the fortifications are built?" Vojicic Smazowski asked cautiously: "Can you also protect my safety?"
"You don't have to worry about this." Ponejelin continued: "By the time the fortifications are completed, we will have completely controlled this area, and I believe no one will make trouble for you."
"Okay, Comrade General." After a fierce ideological struggle, Vojicic Smazowski finally made the final decision: "That's it for you, I'll help you." He looked at it.
He glanced at his two sons standing beside him and added, "My two sons will also work for you."
In fact, when the local residents saw the generous treatment on the notice, they all wanted to help the Soviet army build fortifications. However, they had been threatened, so for the safety of themselves and their families, they could only choose to endure it. When they saw Woji
When Sici Smazowski and his son helped build the fortifications and received enough remuneration every day, they were naturally a little moved.
At first, only three or five residents sneaked in to help with the work, but as time went by, more and more residents came to help, so that Ponejelin had to divide them into several groups, each responsible for an area.
Construction work.
The defense area of Batov's 65th Group Army was right next to Sokov's defense area. He saw an endless stream of local residents helping to build fortifications in Sokov's defense area, but he could not find any of them on his side.
, couldn't help but be a little surprised, so he called Sokov himself to find out what was going on.
"General Sokov," Batov asked with a smile, "I want to ask why there are so many local residents in your defense area to help, but we can't recruit even one. What's going on?
